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.

Christmas Homily

Merry Christmas!

Venerable Fulton Sheen stated in the Life of Christ, “When finally the scrolls of history are completed down to the last word of time, the saddest line of all will be, ‘There was no room in the inn.’”

These same words were echoed in our Gospel, “She wrapped him is swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

During the season of Advent we prepared the way for the Lord’s coming among us as Word made Flesh. Seasons such as Advent or Lent assist in staying focused on what is to come. Even outside of these seasons we must continue to look forward and strive with the assistance of God’s grace to live out good and holy lives.

The world in which we live is a very busy place. There is constantly noise that exists around us. There is always some looming fear of what might take place in the future. It is no wonder that it is so easy to take our sight off of Christ and live for worldly pursuits. Therefore, we are those who fail to make room for Him to dwell in the inn of our heart.

On Christmas Day the world finally begins to shut down even if only briefly. This gives us a moment to ponder the peace that the Lord ushers into the world. As the multitude of the heavenly host exclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” We cannot allow this day to be brief and without any further commitment to the Lord.

As we come to say prior to the reception of Holy Communion, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” These words sum up the fervor that ought to exist in daring to receive Christ in the Eucharist. The one whom we receive here is the same that we come to adore on this Christmas Day.

Hopefully, when we wonder away from here we will continue to choose to live for Christ. He is not just one among many, but the one for whom our heart longs. In entering back into the world we must live making room for Him to dwell with us in order that room may be found within the inn of heart for Him to enter in and dwell.

As is stated in the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint John, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” These words remind us of the reality of what is celebrated on this day. God has made His dwelling place among us. Let us choose to live for Him not just for one night, but for each day of our life for “a savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord.”

4th Sunday of Advent Year C Homily

We have finally arrived at the final Sunday of Advent. When we gather together on Wednesday we will come to celebrate Christmas and thus the birth of the Messiah. It is for His coming among us that we have been longing and preparing during this season. Hopefully we will continue to remain on guard in order that we may always come to receive Him with joy.

Our Gospel gave us the account of the Visitation. It is here that Mary went in haste to be with her cousin, Elizabeth, who was found to be with child. Elizabeth exclaimed, “blessed is the fruit of your womb” and Saint John the Baptist “leaped for joy” within her womb. As Elizabeth understood in her question, “that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

It must be understood that Elizabeth as well as John the Baptist came to receive a great gift in this encounter. They had received the one into their midst whom they had been longing for. Soon Saint John the Baptist would be born and he would serve as the precursor to the Messiah in order that others may also be found ready to receive Him with joy.

Elizabeth was a person of great faith who lived a righteous life. She placed her trust in God no matter the hardship set before her and through such faithfulness she conceived her son in her old age even thou she was once thought to be barren. She lived her life with preparation for this day when she would encounter the Messiah.

It is Christ who remains at the heart of this Gospel. He is the God who has taken on our human flesh and made His dwelling place among us. This is the Messiah for whom the world has longed and the prophets have pointed towards. All of the world throughout its history has been made ready for this encounter.

As we transition into the season of Christmas we must continue to prepare the way in order that we may encounter Him with joy. There is so much in this life that we allow to get in the way of such a reception. No matter what we must undergo in this life we must always remember that it is Christ who is at the heart of this season as it is Christ who is at the heart of the Visitation.

Christ must be the one for whom our life is lived. All that we do should flow from this relationship that we have with Him. This is truly what could be said of Elizabeth, John the Baptist, and Mary. They lived their life in preparation for the Messiah and continued to live their life oriented towards Christ. Let us live accordingly in order that Christ may always remain at the center of our life.

3rd of Advent Year C Homily

Saint John the Baptist was asked on three occasions in the Gospel of Saint Luke, “What should we do?” His answer given to the these questions point the way towards the one who is to come and what they must do if they are to be found receptive of Him. Saint John the Baptist makes it clear that he is not the Messiah, but only the precursor of the one who is to come.

As he stated in this gospel, “one mightier than I is coming.” During this season of Advent we prepare ourself for this coming of the Lord. He comes to us as Word Made Flesh, He comes to us in the Eucharist, and He will come again at the end of time. For this encounter with Him we must be found prepared.

Therefore, we too must ask this question which was given to Saint John the Baptist. “What should we do? This season of Advent assists us in making these preparations which are necessary in order that we may come to receive Him with joy. Sadly, we often spend Advent chasing after other pursuits that make us ready for Christmas in a worldly sense instead of a spiritual sense.

Whenever something is being asked of us it can be easy to forget that we are being called to place our trust in the Lord. Those who came to Saint John the Baptist were called to undergo hardships which would cause them to grow in their love of the Lord once He came. We too must undergo such penances in order that we may grow in our love for Him.

When we are liberated from our passions which hold us captive we are able to see the life that has been given through such action. We should never act as slaves to our passions, but as those who have been given freedom. Saint John the Baptist’s words were invitation to those who heard them to be liberated from all that held them captive.

On this 3rd Sunday of Advent we are told in the words of Saint Paul to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Whenever we called upon to let go of that which is not necessary we are given reason to rejoice for we have been liberated. The world looks upon such acts of penance and is confused on why they would be a reason to rejoice.

We are able to rejoice for the Lord’s coming is nigh and through Him we have been given everything that we will ever need in order to be happy. Saint John the Baptist was giving aid to those who came to Him in order that they in due time could rejoice. So too by asking what we must do are we given reason to rejoice.

Let us dare to rejoice with the Lord always by doing whatever is necessary for us to receive Him at His coming. This is not a call to partially receive Him because we are found unwilling to to let go of something. This is a call to allow our whole to be lived in relationship with Him without compromise.

Immaculate Conception Homily

Today we observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the commemoration of the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

The Immaculate Conception is the infallible statement that Mary was conceived without the stain of sin which includes original sin. This is not an achievement made by her, but by God who worked on her behalf in order that she would be the pure and spotless vessel that would be the mother of Christ.

Theotokos is a Greek title given to Mary which means “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” This is a statement which points towards the divinity of Christ. He is both fully human and fully divine. Through the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary He became flesh and made His dwelling place among us.

It is this womb which contained the very presence of God. In the Old Testament it was the Ark of the Covenant which held God’s presence. The ark had to be pure and spotless due to the one which it contained, God. Likewise, Mary becomes the New Ark of the Covenant for she is the God-bearer.

At the Annunciation the angel Gabriel came to Mary and exclaimed, “Hail, full of grace!” This salutation is significant for it conveys the truth that Mary was conceived without the stain of sin and was in the state of grace at this moment in time. This is so because she was filled with grace to its fullest degree by God for in the past as she was prepared for this role in salvation history.

In the Book of Acts we are told that Saint Stephen was “filled with grace.” Despite being the same word in the English language it is a different word in the Greek. What is being implied by its use in connection to Saint Stephen would be the same that could be used concerning us through our baptism or sacramental confession.

As we continue this Advent journey we must be concerned with opening our heart unto God in order that we may be found receptive to the gift of His grace. It is through our willingness to entertain temptation and fall into the occasion of sin that we turn away from such a reality. Where we have been thrust into darkness we must allow the Lord in His mercy to lift us out of it.

The Blessed Mother is often depicted standing on top of a serpent for in the words of the Book of Genesis, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.” Through her intercession may we come to more perfectly open ourself up to the grace of God and turn away from the assaults of the devil for she has already crushed him under her foot.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Anniversary of Dedication of Church Homily

Today our parish observes the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of our Church. On this day in the year 2000 this Church was dedicated unto God that it may be set apart from the rest of the world as a place that is fitting for the celebration of the sacraments and that it may life up our heart to Heaven.

If we look inwardly upon what takes place within these walls we see people being dedicated unto God. They come here in order to pray, that their children may be baptized, that their marriage may be witnessed, that the soul of their loved one may be prayed for at their funeral, that their sins may be absolved, that they may be anointed at the danger death brought about due to sickness or old age, and that they may come to know and love Christ who dwells with us in the Eucharist.

As we are told by Saint Augustine, “just as this building has been made for us to gather in physically, so that building which we ourselves are is being constructed for God to live in spiritually. “For the temple of God,” says the apostle, “which is what you are, is holy.”

Therefore, as we continue our Advent preparations we prepare for the time when He will come again. Day by day we must be built up in order that we may live as a temple of God. We must be found prepared to meet Him at that moment when He comes again. Let this celebration assist us in coming to serve the Lord our God by our life.

1st Sunday of Advent Year C Homily

As each academic year would come to its end at Conception Seminary we were always reminded about the Blessed Last Things. These were placed before our sight in order that we would not grow slack in the final days, but finish well. After all, with the Christmas or summer vacation so close it would be easy to not treat those last days as if they were important.

Today is the 1st Sunday of Advent and very soon we will arrive at our celebration of Christmas. With all the preparations that we must make for this season of Christmas it would be so easy to overlook Advent. After all, there is a lot of shopping that must be done, decorations which must go up, and a never ending list of parties to attend. Let us remember that Christmas is not yet here.

In our Gospel we are warned that we cannot allow our heart to “become drowsy.” Therefore, we are called upon to remain “vigilant at all times” for the coming of Christ is nigh. This coming is made known at Christmas, but too in the Eucharist and at the end of time when He will come again. No matter when we encounter Him we must be found prepared.

Just as it is so easy to celebrate as if Christmas is already here, so would it be so easy to live our life as if we will never be called home to Him. This facade is one that cannot be sustained for there will come a point in time when we will stand face to face before Him. Will we be found prepared for such an encounter or squander the time that has been set before us?

Advent is a beautiful season of the Church that aids us in such preparations. We would notice that during this season the priest wears violet which serves as a reminder of our need to undergo penance. During this season we should focus on prayer and fasting in order that we may purify ourself of all that keeps us from being found prepared for the coming of Christ.

At the time of the Nativity it was said that there was no room in the inn. We too make no room within the inn of heart for the Lord to enter in and dwell with us. Use this time for prayer especially as a family. Use this time to study Sacred Scripture for in the words of Saint Jerome, “ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Use this time do acts of charity which send us outside of the doors of this Church in order to bring Christ into the world.

Also, if it has been a long time since your last confession I invite you to return to this sacrament. If we want nothing to do with this sacrament we have closed ourself from being found receptive of the gift of God’s grace. We must remember that the Lord is merciful with us, but we must first desire His mercy.

May we allow this season of Advent to assist us in remaining “vigilant at all times.” There is a lot that goes on around us especially at this time of the year. Let us take to heart the Blessed Last Things which are necessary (for we are not yet there) if we are to be found ready for the coming of Christ and the celebration of Christmas.