Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The time of day determined when blessings and prayers were offered in the synagogues of the first century. Today, we hear that same beautiful “priestly” blessing (from Numbers) which began and ended each day:
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace.
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
We are still in the season of Christmas. During this time, I find myself reflecting on shopping, sales, and consumerism that have become a part of this holiday. In many ways, it seems that the spirit of consumerism supersedes the spirit of Christmas, even trying to make them the same. Perhaps unbeknownst to us, consumerism has become a form of spirituality. The rituals and practices are shopping. The holy days (or weeks) are sales. The temple/church is the store whether physical or online. The market is seen as an idol that acts and controls the world in the way that it wants. We attain spiritual highs when we get something new and lows when that feeling wears off. Virtue comes in the forms of finding the best deals, the things we have, and wealth. Since we do need things like food to live, shopping isn’t entirely bad. However, through consumerism during this time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in getting what we don’t need, in trying to find our worth in stuff, and feeding our spiritual lives with material objects. Fortunately, today’s readings can help us redirect our attention and love to God, the one who has loved us the most.
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Today marks the fifth day in the octave of Christmas. While most of the world has now left Christmas behind, we continue to celebrate the birth of our savior: Merry Christmas!!! Our gospel passage from Luke continues our focus on the infant Jesus, and today we hear the beautiful story of Jesus’ presentation at the Temple, with a particular focus on the person of Simeon. This Simeon was an old man, who knew that he would not see death until after he had encountered the Messiah. We have just lived through another season of Advent, of waiting, of joyful anticipation. Much of Simeon’s life was this sort of Advent season, where the whole purpose of his life seemed to be subsumed under the waiting for this very moment of holding the infant Jesus in his arms. We see the theological virtues embodied in Simeon: faith, hope, and love. He had faith in God’s goodness, knowing that there would be a Messiah and that he would meet this person. Simeon lived his life in the hope of encountering the Messiah in a personal way. And Simeon loved God with all his heart, soul, and mind. After great patience and perseverance, Simeon is rewarded by God, and he takes the opportunity to hold the child Jesus and to praise God, saying “My own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel” (Lk. 2:29-32).
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Over the past 10 years, I have been blessed to be able to travel with UD pre-medical and pre-dental students to Central America. We go to provide medical care in rural areas of these resource poor countries. On these medical service trips, we have seen firsthand the poverty and some of the safety issues related to the lack of resources. As I read today’s gospel, I was reminded that Jesus was a refugee. Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt to prevent Jesus’ death at the hands of Herod’s army. Many countries today, including the US, face concerns regarding the large influx of refugees traveling from their homelands to find safety and the simple necessities of life. How are we called as Disciples of Christ to share compassion and love with these people in need?
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
For many in our world, Christmas has come and gone. But for those of us who are Catholic, the celebrating continues. And how appropriate that today we celebrate the feast of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist. As both one of the Twelve and the author of the Gospel of John as well as 1 and 2 John and the book of Revelation, St. John is for us a model of the great and complete joy that we ought to have as Christmas continues.
Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
It’s always struck me as very profound that on the second day of the octave of Christmas, the second most important feast in the entire year, the Church has deemed it appropriate to celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. Lest we get caught meditating too long on the pastoral beauty of the holy family in the stable, surrounded by barn animals, shepherds, and angels, we are immediately thrust into a graphic vision of the radical implications of the birth of Christ.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
“What can be said about Christmas that hasn’t already been said?” This is the lament of homilists and writers I have known or worked with over the years. There are two solemnities that offer challenges like none other: Christmas & Easter.
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Today’s Gospel is about the birth and naming of John the Baptist. There is a whole conversation between Elizabeth, Zechariah, and their relatives of what the baby’s name should be. The name John didn’t run in their family, but it was the name that the angel Gabriel told Zechariah to name his son.
Friday of the Third Week of Advent
What do you think happened to the innkeepers? You know, the ones who turned away Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary? They were just doing their job, right? They were taking care of the people who got to their inn first and they were likely already overwhelmed by the task. Joseph and Mary were probably not the only ones turned away that night. But what if the innkeepers had known that they were turning away the Holy Family? Would it have mattered to them? Would they have believed it? Would they have offered to displace other guests in order to care for the Mother of God? Is that what Mary would have wanted?
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
I love the idea of paper calendars, and I even have one. But the truth is, I completely rely on my electronic calendar. Because it’s on my phone and because I have my phone with me all the time, I never fail to enter a new appointment or event. And I love it that it rings a delightfully cheerful “bell” ten minutes before I need to be somewhere like a meeting or class.
Monday of the Third Week of Advent
O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.
Yesterday we began the ‘O’ Antiphons, alerting us that Christmas is only an octave (8 days) away. This year’s short Advent feels compressed since its last days fall early in this Third Week of Advent.
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Interestingly today’s first reading and Gospel reference Elijah. The first reading from Sirach praises Elijah the prophet for doing what God called him to do. This passage can inspire us to reflect on God's call for us. We are reminded that, like with Elijah, God equips us with what we need to fulfill our call.
Friday of the Second Week of Advent
You’ve probably heard this saying (or something like it), “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Well, today’s gospel reading from Matthew (11:16-19) reminds me of this.
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
When I hike amidst the tall pine trees or the thick tropical trees of the rainforest, I am filled with awe and wonder at the beauty of creation. Today’s first reading reminds us that God has given all of this beauty to us. How often do we take time to be grateful for these gifts and to be mindful of how we are caring for these treasures?
Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
“The words of the living God cannot be suppressed or put to silence.” That statement, attributed to St Lucy, whose Feast we commemorate today, is a powerful reminder to us as we approach God’s Word today. Jesus, you are the Living Word; as we open your written Word today, open our hearts by your irresistible grace. May the Word read us so that by its power we might be transformed. Grant us the grace we need and humility of heart. We begin our prayer in your mighty Name, Jesus, Amen.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates the miraculous appearance of Mary to a poor Indian near Mexico City some 470 years ago. On this Marian feast, I find myself reflecting on the Mother of God by thinking about my mom, my own motherhood, and the motherhood of all the many other women in my life (including the many ways to be mothers: biological, adoptive, foster, and spiritual).
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
The prophet Isaiah shines during Advent. “Isaiah twas foretold it…” as we sing in the beautiful carol Lo How a Rose. In fact, unique to the first two weeks of Advent, unlike the rest of the liturgical year, is priority for the first reading, more often than not from Isaiah of Jerusalem. The chosen Gospel of the day is supportive of that reading, rather than the other way around.
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to listen and act on what God is asking us to do to build the Kingdom of God. In the above quote, we are the laborers and God is the master of the harvest. Further in the passage, Jesus instructed that the Twelve apostles (and us) are to be generous with what God asks us to do since God generously gave to us: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is one of my favorite feasts in the church for a variety of reasons. Mary is quite simply an incredible model of faith, discipleship, strength, compassion, and love. My devotion to Mary is rooted in my childhood experiences of listening to stories from my great aunt Helen about her trips to Marian apparition sites and praying the Rosary with my family at home in the living room with the statue of Mary. This relationship with the Immaculate mother of Jesus continued into my college years at the University of Dayton, learning more about the Marianist charism, and being involved in music ministry–each year on December 8th, the university hosts a wonderful community event called Christmas on Campus that finishes with a beautiful liturgy for today’s feast.
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
In today’s psalm we are told, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” I hear in this message that we must take all things we do to prayer. In this prayer we must ask the Lord, to be our guide and to show us the way. It is better to live a life following God’s will and living out Jesus’ message than it is to give into the worldly pressures of our society. We are told that those who build their houses on rock – Christ – will survive and those who build their homes on the things of this world – sand – will crumble.