God came to us in Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, and identified Himself so closely with humanity that He chose to put Himself in family life. He chose Mary as a mother, and Joseph as a father, to raise Him, underscoring the importance of a mother and father to raise children. And the Holy Family provides a model for how we can engage meaningfully in family life.
We see in the Holy Family an example of the kind of virtues we should exhibit toward one another, manifesting the love God has shown us by coming to us in Jesus Christ. It is this love that aids us through the difficulties of this world unto Eternal Life.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Sunday, December 25, 2016
December 25, 2016: Nativity of the Lord/Christmas Day
God spoke through the prophets in ages past, many of whose words we heard during Advent. But now He speaks to us in fullest expression through His Son Jesus Christ, the Word Made Flesh who comes to dwell with us--O! the wonder and mystery of God in flesh in the baby born of Mary and Joseph at Bethlehem.
God is no longer distant, but has come to be with us like never before, filling us and our world with Light. This is good news of exceedingly great joy that is worth going out to proclaim exuberantly as the whole world rejoices that in the restoration to beauty that occurs as God comes to establish His Reign of peace, justice, and righteousness.
God is no longer distant, but has come to be with us like never before, filling us and our world with Light. This is good news of exceedingly great joy that is worth going out to proclaim exuberantly as the whole world rejoices that in the restoration to beauty that occurs as God comes to establish His Reign of peace, justice, and righteousness.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
December 18, 2016: Fourth Sunday of Advent
In the midst of the uncertainties of this world, God makes promises to us, and gives us signs to accompany them.
He gives us a rather stunning sign in the prophecy in Isaiah to show how much He cares about us, which speaks of a virgin who will give birth to a child, Who will be Immanuel, God with us.
That is the reassurance an angel gives to Joseph, who is inclined to divorce Mary after she becomes pregnant. Joseph is assured this is all God's doing and is part of His plan. God is with us, and He saves us through Jesus Christ. That is the Gospel message that transforms us, that we answer the call to be holy, preparing a place in our hearts to welcome in the King of Glory.
He gives us a rather stunning sign in the prophecy in Isaiah to show how much He cares about us, which speaks of a virgin who will give birth to a child, Who will be Immanuel, God with us.
That is the reassurance an angel gives to Joseph, who is inclined to divorce Mary after she becomes pregnant. Joseph is assured this is all God's doing and is part of His plan. God is with us, and He saves us through Jesus Christ. That is the Gospel message that transforms us, that we answer the call to be holy, preparing a place in our hearts to welcome in the King of Glory.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
December 12, 2016: Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe (Te Quatlaxupe)
I attended a festive Mass at St. Mary of Celle Parish in Berwyn for this special feast.
One thing that stood out to me, noted especially in Padre Hugo's homily, was the idea that all humans have dignity that should be respected because God came to save us by becoming a human in Christ Jesus, born as a baby to Mary and Joseph. He values human life so much that He came to be one of us.
And He continues to make Himself known to all peoples of the world, as He gave the knowledge of salvation to the indigenous people in colonial Mexico through the apparition of La Virgen de Guadalupe (Te Quatlaxupe) to San Juan Diego. La Virgen looked like an Aztec, with darker skin.
How fitting the Psalm response is, "You are the Highest Honor of our race", that God should make known His salvation in Christ through such messengers as la Virgen and San Juan Diego.
And so we are now called to value all people as He does.
One thing that stood out to me, noted especially in Padre Hugo's homily, was the idea that all humans have dignity that should be respected because God came to save us by becoming a human in Christ Jesus, born as a baby to Mary and Joseph. He values human life so much that He came to be one of us.
And He continues to make Himself known to all peoples of the world, as He gave the knowledge of salvation to the indigenous people in colonial Mexico through the apparition of La Virgen de Guadalupe (Te Quatlaxupe) to San Juan Diego. La Virgen looked like an Aztec, with darker skin.
How fitting the Psalm response is, "You are the Highest Honor of our race", that God should make known His salvation in Christ through such messengers as la Virgen and San Juan Diego.
And so we are now called to value all people as He does.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
December 11, 2016: Third Sunday in Advent/Gaudete Sunday
Even as we await the coming of the Lord Jesus, we are filled with great joy because of the greatness of what's coming.
We anticipate how the Earth will burst forth alive in fullness of new life when God comes, as well as the people. When John sends his disciples to ask Jesus if He's the One, He talks about how people will be made whole again, the blind, the deaf, and the lame, with good news proclaimed to the poor--this is a true sign of God's justice in the world.
That's why the people were filled with such great anticipation and went into the desert to see John the Baptist, because he was pointing the way to the Greater One.
This joy of anticipation sustains us as we wait for God to do His work, which is already underway in us, as we seek to be in harmony and stay steadfast in the midst of all troubles we face.
Lasting joy is that which truly sustains us.
I rejoice further on this occasion as I mark three years since Gaudete Sunday 2013, which inspired the launch of this Scripture reflection blog.
Gaude! Gaude!
We anticipate how the Earth will burst forth alive in fullness of new life when God comes, as well as the people. When John sends his disciples to ask Jesus if He's the One, He talks about how people will be made whole again, the blind, the deaf, and the lame, with good news proclaimed to the poor--this is a true sign of God's justice in the world.
That's why the people were filled with such great anticipation and went into the desert to see John the Baptist, because he was pointing the way to the Greater One.
This joy of anticipation sustains us as we wait for God to do His work, which is already underway in us, as we seek to be in harmony and stay steadfast in the midst of all troubles we face.
Lasting joy is that which truly sustains us.
I rejoice further on this occasion as I mark three years since Gaudete Sunday 2013, which inspired the launch of this Scripture reflection blog.
Gaude! Gaude!
Thursday, December 8, 2016
December 8, 2016: Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
This feast gives us great reason to rejoice because God took an important step to reverse the curse of sin that came upon humanity when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. He sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary, who obediently heard the Word of God and offered herself to Him as His servant.
Her affirmative response made passage for Jesus the Son of God to enter the world and bring us salvation. As St. Paul writes, we are blessed because God chose us to be free from the stain of sin and be holy before Him, that we may praise our great God.
Her affirmative response made passage for Jesus the Son of God to enter the world and bring us salvation. As St. Paul writes, we are blessed because God chose us to be free from the stain of sin and be holy before Him, that we may praise our great God.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
December 4, 2016: Second Sunday in Advent
The prophets declare that God will come to the Earth once again, with justice, to make everything right, removing all that is wrong. John the Baptist uses powerful images of fire to describe the impact the Messiah will make when He comes to the world.
God's coming to our world will totally remake the world, as the prophecy in Isaiah speaks about, with all creatures being in harmony, just like in Eden.
It seems fitting then we are called to change our ways to be in line with the new world God is bringing to us, to be in harmony with all other people.
St. Paul talks about being in harmony with others, even the Gentiles, whom God seeks to bring into His fold.
Indeed, Christ came as a light for all people, and that is the glory that we are waiting to behold.
God's coming to our world will totally remake the world, as the prophecy in Isaiah speaks about, with all creatures being in harmony, just like in Eden.
It seems fitting then we are called to change our ways to be in line with the new world God is bringing to us, to be in harmony with all other people.
St. Paul talks about being in harmony with others, even the Gentiles, whom God seeks to bring into His fold.
Indeed, Christ came as a light for all people, and that is the glory that we are waiting to behold.
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