Most Holy Name of Jesus Homily

Merry Christmas! Today we observe the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

As we were told of this Most Holy Name in our Epistle, “There is no other Name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.”

As the angel instructed Saint Jospeh in his dream, “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The Most Holy Name of Jesus expresses his mission as the Saviour sent by the Father for the salvation of the world. His Name literally means “God saves.”

In veneration of this Most Holy Name we are told in Saint Paul’s words to the Philippians, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under earth.”

Sadly, our society often fails to venerate such a Holy Name. The Name of Jesus and well as God is so easily taken in vain. We instead must go to this Name in true faith for through such devotion we will be given the grace that is necessary to endure.

As Christ states in the Gospel of Saint John, “If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it to you.”

In the midst of all spiritual trials call upon this Name. From the snares of Satan call upon this Name in order to be delivered. No matter what lies in wait for us always let us always call upon the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

In the Book of Acts the apostles used the Name of Jesus in order to give strength to the lame and life to the dead. To think what waits for us if we foster such devotion to this Most Holy Name which saves.

The world in which we live is in need of such faith in the Saviour. Let us make room for Him to enter into our life in order that we may persevere in the journey that exists from this life to the life which is to come in Heaven.

As the Lord stated to Saint Paul in the Book of Acts, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.”

Let us go in such fashion doing all things with the Most Holy Name of Jesus firmly upon our lips for it is this Name which saves.

Epiphany Homily

Merry Christmas! Today we observe the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

This word “epiphany” is a Greek word meaning “manifestation.” Therefore, what is being celebrated is Jesus’s manifestation to the whole world as Messiah, the Son of God, and the Saviour.

In the account of the magi coming to do homage to the Christ child we are given the image of a star. It was this star that they saw “at its rising” and “preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.”

The “star” is defined today differently then what it would be defined as to those who heard such words in our gospel. A star could be what we now call a star as well as anything that creates light in the sky such as the moon, planets, meteors, or comets.

This particular light which was seen by the magi was significant for it signaled to them a great joy. Through this star they were given the knowledge of the birth of “the newborn king of the Jews.”

Through such knowledge they traveled to see Herod in Jerusalem for they assumed that “the newborn king of the Jews” would be Herod’s own son. Instead they were sent elsewhere for the land to which they must travel was that of “Bethlehem of Judea.”

Some hold the theory that this star is Jupiter and Regulus staying within its setting for this would be seen as the rise and fall of a king and another who would take his throne. This light would of led them westward from Jerusalem, would of remained in front of them as they traveled, and would of been seen overhead once they arrived.

This child whom they came to do homage filled them with joy for He was not just any king, but the Messiah. This was God who has taken on our human flesh and made His dwelling place among us. This was the Saviour of the world who came in order that we be redeemed from our sinfulness.

The star lights the way to the perfect Light who is Christ. During this season of Christmas may we come to do Him homage with our life. Let us choose to live for Him for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To such a light we must make such a journey which leads us to being receptive of Him in all that we say and do.

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night, Star with Royal Beauty bright, Westward leading, Still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Today we observe the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which brings about the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas.

In our Gospel we were told that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” This is a great contrast to what we were told only a few days ago in the gospel for Christmas at night, “there was no room for them in the inn.”

With such a statement we are able to look inward upon those many ways in which we have failed to allow Christ to enter into the inn of our heart and dwell with us. In this world it so easy to allow something else to grab our attention thus pulling us away from Christ who ushers peace into our life.

We must be like Mary who remained firm in her love for her Son. During this season of Christmas we see how much unfolded concerning her due the importance of her Son as Word made Flesh. As we come to honor Mary as the Mother of God we proclaim that her Son is indeed God the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

Mary did not allow herself to grow distracted by all that was taking place around her. Instead she took these things to her heart and through pondering them came to put the picture together concerning her Son and her role in all of this. It was He who was revealed to her by the angel Gabriel to be the “Son of the Most High.” Her sight was elevated to this truth.

We too must come to ponder Him in our heart. It is so easy to move about our life without making time for the silence of prayer. It is so easy to enter into the world and forget that we are Christian and are called to live as such. It is so easy to lose sight of the importance of what is proclaimed through this season of Christmas.

Come to foster devotion to Mary for devotion to her never takes away from her Son, but leads us into closer relationship with Him. She did not know what lied ahead for her as we do not know. As was said of her in the Gospel of Saint Luke, “And you yourself a sword will pierce.” Despite this unsettling prophecy and the trials of the cross which lied ahead she continued to ponder her Son and dwell with Him. So too, no matter what lies ahead for us, let us come to place our trust in Christ the Prince of Peace.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and the hour of our death. Amen.

Sunday of Octave of Christmas Homily

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve Pope Francis opened the Jubilee Doors at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. These Holy Doors will also been opened in four other locations throughout Rome to help usher in the Jubilee Year which happens every 25 years. These doors symbolize the path of salvation and the spiritual journey that leads from sin to grace. Passing through these doors is symbolic of passing into the presence of God thus leaving behind our life of sin.

The theme for this Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of hope.” Hope is an important virtue where one places their trust not in their own strength, but on that which is given to us by God. Through the virtue of hope we realize that we are not alone, but are given the grace that is necessary to make the journey from this life to Heaven.

In our world there are many who have lost this virtue of hope. They are perpetually joined to the cross without the ability to look outward towards something greater which is to come. They only know the pleasures of this life, but have nothing to fall back on when the road before them gets tough. It was for this reason that Pope Benedict exclaimed that in order to have hope we must know both the cross and the resurrection.

As Saint Paul remarks of this virtue in his letter to the Romans, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” These words show the importance of hope in the midst of a world that is searching for such hope.

As Pope Francis recently stated on the virtue of hope, “The image of the anchor is eloquent, it helps us to recognize the stability and security that is ours amid the troubled waters of this life, provided we entrust ourselves to the Lord Jesus. The storms that buffet us will never prevail, for we are firmly anchored in the hope born of grace, which enables us to live in Christ and to overcome sin, fear, and death.”

This season of Christmas is about such hope. On this silent night of Christmas Christ was borne into the world as Word made Flesh. It was this encounter with Him that a world touched by sin and death had been longing for. In the taking up of the Lord to the Temple at His presentation we see this revelation of hope professed for “behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel.”

Let us foster such hope in our life in the Lord Jesus. It is He who lifts us our of our sinfulness and assists us on that path to Everlasting Life. Let us make use of His mercy that is found in the sacrament of confession for this mercy endures forever and without it there would be no hope. Let us be people of hope who embrace this virtue in the midst of every hardship that lies in wait for us.

Holy Family Homily

Merry Christmas! Today we observe the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh.

The 2nd Vatican Council document, Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), proclaimed that “the family…is the foundation of society.” Saint John Paul II remarked “society, far from putting itself at the service of the family; attacks it violently in its values and fundamental requirements.”

This comment made by Saint John Paul II should be of no surprise to us. There is a increase of broken homes. There is a rejection of children at the heart of marriage. There have been attempts to redefine marriage for something that cannot be. Most of all we have taken our sight off of Christ and have ceased integrating our life of faith into the family.

This Feast of the Holy Family points our attention to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and assists us in being given a glimpse into what family life is meant to be. At the heart of this relationship is Jesus who should remain at the heart of our life. Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh teach us about the importance of the family and its role in society.

In our gospel we were told of Jesus being taken by Mary and Jospeh to the temple in order to be consecrated to God. This was done to follow in obedience what was required in the Book of Exodus; that every firstborn be consecrated to God. Mary and Jospeh acted in obedience to this ritual and thus more profoundly handed their Son over to God which points towards His Divinity.

We too must strive to consecrate ourselves, our children, and our families unto God. The domestic church is the church which should exist within the home. Sadly, it is the domestic church which is so often left overlooked and forgotten. Our faith does not stay inside of the church, but is taken out into the world and into our own homes to be lived.

There are many things that we can do to model your family in such a way. The Legion of Mary promotes the traveling statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the consecration of one’s home to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Both of these serve as reminders that our home must be a place of prayer. Also, don’t forget to study the faith, scripture, readings of the day, and more to model your family after Christ.

May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph be our guide for the family is truly the foundation of society. We receive so many models that do nothing more then attack the family and rip it apart. We cannot allow ourself to buy into the ways of the world, but to hold firm in choosing to live for Christ.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer. Amen.