I certainly have enjoyed spending time with my family over the past week, first on Nativity Eve, then Nativity Day. Yesterday, it was such a delight to visit with my six-month-old cousin Ava, and her wonderful parents. I'm sure many other families have delighted in getting together to celebrate.
It only seems appropriate that the Feast of the Holy Family comes during the Christmas liturgical season. On the Feast of the Nativity, we celebrate how God came to Earth as a baby, in human flesh and blood. Coming as a human, it would only make sense that He would put Himself into family life, with Mary His mother and Joseph His father.
And in so doing, He was able to demonstrate how to live godly in the context of the family, in the midst of good times, and in challenging times, like when the Holy Family had to flee to escape those who endangered the child.
In some ways, this represents what it means to live life as a Christian. Jesus was God, in need of nothing from anyone, but came to Earth so that Mary and Joseph could live godly lives by caring for Him. We serve God, not because He needs it, but we need to perform deeds that honor God as a way for us to live the life that pleases Him.
That is where Church comes in. I've heard it said often on this occasion that the family is a smaller unit of Church, a domestic Church, as much as the assembled Church is a family.
In the gathered assembly at Church week after week, we hear God's Word telling us how to live godly lives in relationship with others, and receive nourishment for doing so. Then we go out of the Church to live out what we have learned and experienced, within our relationships, in the home, and with others with whom we regularly interact.
Living in the ways laid out in the passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians is part of the process of living a life that pleases God, as we journey toward Eternal Life in Heaven. Perhaps this is what is alluded to in the reading from Sirach, that honoring parents is a way to atone for sins.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
December 25, 2013: The Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas)
Ah, one of the great feasts of the Church.
The one thing that always stands out for me about this feast is the idea that God became Flesh here on Earth. Think about that: God, who created the Heavens and the Earth and rules over them--came to Earth, into Creation, and became a human. That's pretty mind-boggling. And that's what makes this such a great celebration. In a world so in tune with darkness, evil, and fear, God entered in, bringing light, joy, and peace, through the birth of a child. That's why the angels praised God, and so many soon joined them, including the shepherds.
When I went to Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Cornelius Parish with my family, the presider, Father Dan, invited the children to gather around him up at the altar. Then he asked them questions about angels, asking them what angels can do that humans can't. The responses included flying, and seeing God Himself. Then Father Dan changed the question around a bit, asking what angels can't do that humans can. His very insightful response was that humans can make God present on Earth. Even the angels, who are in God's very presence in Heaven, can't make Him present.
That insight speaks to what this occasion of the Nativity is all about: God came from outside His Creation and made Himself present in it, taking on human flesh. And God remains in His Creation, inside each person who professes faith in Him, through the Holy Spirit. With God inside of us, we now make Him present here on Earth to others, even those who don't yet acknowledge His presence.
God present within us, as we make Him present in the world, just as was foretold in the prophecies: Immanuel, God with us, right here in our world.
Come, let us adore Him!
And may God rest you merry!
The one thing that always stands out for me about this feast is the idea that God became Flesh here on Earth. Think about that: God, who created the Heavens and the Earth and rules over them--came to Earth, into Creation, and became a human. That's pretty mind-boggling. And that's what makes this such a great celebration. In a world so in tune with darkness, evil, and fear, God entered in, bringing light, joy, and peace, through the birth of a child. That's why the angels praised God, and so many soon joined them, including the shepherds.
When I went to Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Cornelius Parish with my family, the presider, Father Dan, invited the children to gather around him up at the altar. Then he asked them questions about angels, asking them what angels can do that humans can't. The responses included flying, and seeing God Himself. Then Father Dan changed the question around a bit, asking what angels can't do that humans can. His very insightful response was that humans can make God present on Earth. Even the angels, who are in God's very presence in Heaven, can't make Him present.
That insight speaks to what this occasion of the Nativity is all about: God came from outside His Creation and made Himself present in it, taking on human flesh. And God remains in His Creation, inside each person who professes faith in Him, through the Holy Spirit. With God inside of us, we now make Him present here on Earth to others, even those who don't yet acknowledge His presence.
God present within us, as we make Him present in the world, just as was foretold in the prophecies: Immanuel, God with us, right here in our world.
Come, let us adore Him!
And may God rest you merry!
Monday, December 23, 2013
December 22, 2013--4th Sunday of Advent
In an exchange with King Ahaz, Isaiah prophesied, in chapter 7 of his book, that the virgin would give birth to a child, who would be called Immanuel, which means "God with us".
This is a prophecy that resonates through the ages, to the birth of Christ, which fulfilled it, and beyond, to our day. In a world full of sin and evil, it is such a comfort to know that God is with us. He came to Earth to be born, to do His work of ministry, and then to die and rise again.
I couldn't help but notice how references to the Resurrection appeared throughout the liturgy this weekend. Truly Christ's Birth points to His saving work, by which we now have life. And in this life, we answer the call of the Gospel, which is of Jesus Christ, who was heralded by the prophets of long ago, that we may be holy in this world where He is now ever present, especially in the Holy Spirit within each person who has faith. His presence helps us face anything. And so we are no longer afraid, just like the words of the Angel in Joseph's dream in the Gospel reading in Matthew 1.
God is truly with us.
This is a prophecy that resonates through the ages, to the birth of Christ, which fulfilled it, and beyond, to our day. In a world full of sin and evil, it is such a comfort to know that God is with us. He came to Earth to be born, to do His work of ministry, and then to die and rise again.
I couldn't help but notice how references to the Resurrection appeared throughout the liturgy this weekend. Truly Christ's Birth points to His saving work, by which we now have life. And in this life, we answer the call of the Gospel, which is of Jesus Christ, who was heralded by the prophets of long ago, that we may be holy in this world where He is now ever present, especially in the Holy Spirit within each person who has faith. His presence helps us face anything. And so we are no longer afraid, just like the words of the Angel in Joseph's dream in the Gospel reading in Matthew 1.
God is truly with us.
December 15, 2013-Third Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday
(Note: I recognize that this post is going up over a week late, owing to the logistics of getting this blog started. But as I thought about the occasion of Gaudete Sunday, I was inspired to start this blog.)
This is an occasion that speaks of joy, as given by the name of this Sunday, "Gaudete", which comes from the Latin term for joy.
As people of the Church, we are filled with joy because by His coming, God is bringing life to our weary world, full of so much that speaks to death. This sense of life is evident as the lame leap, the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, and those who are poor, cast to the side of society, hear the Good News of God's salvation proclaimed to them, as mentioned in the Gospel reading in Matthew, and referenced in the reading from Isaiah, too.
We know that God's promises are certain, just as certain as the farmer expects the crops to grow, as in the 2nd reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Being so confident that God is coming, we are unable to contain our joy. And this joy is not some type of fleeting happiness. It is joy that goes deep down into our being, as God fills us with His presence, bringing us a renewed sense of life. And so we leap in wonder, as God proclaims His Good News to, and through, us.
This is an occasion that speaks of joy, as given by the name of this Sunday, "Gaudete", which comes from the Latin term for joy.
As people of the Church, we are filled with joy because by His coming, God is bringing life to our weary world, full of so much that speaks to death. This sense of life is evident as the lame leap, the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, and those who are poor, cast to the side of society, hear the Good News of God's salvation proclaimed to them, as mentioned in the Gospel reading in Matthew, and referenced in the reading from Isaiah, too.
We know that God's promises are certain, just as certain as the farmer expects the crops to grow, as in the 2nd reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Being so confident that God is coming, we are unable to contain our joy. And this joy is not some type of fleeting happiness. It is joy that goes deep down into our being, as God fills us with His presence, bringing us a renewed sense of life. And so we leap in wonder, as God proclaims His Good News to, and through, us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)