Most Holy Name of Jesus Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Name of Jesus. 

Throughout scripture God gives a name to different individuals which reveals to us the importance that they will play in the course of salvation history.

Adam = man of the earth

Eve = mother of all the living

Abraham = father of many nations

Peter = the rock

The name Jesus means "savior." We see this name given through the Angel Gabriel to both Mary and Joseph.

To Mary in the Gospel of Saint Luke: "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."

To Joseph in the Gospel of Saint Matthew: "She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Finally this revelation from the angel is brought to its completion through the naming of this child in Saint Luke's Gospel: "When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."

Philippians instructs us to how we are to respond to such a Holy Name as that of Jesus: "Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

For the Jew the name of God is to always be held in high esteem. We too join in giving God this proper glory each and every time that we come to recite the "Our Father" for it is here that we proclaim "hallowed by thy name."

Within the Roman liturgy instruction has been given to the priest to bow his head each and every single time that the name of "Jesus" is proclaimed within the Mass. The bowing of one's head at the proclamation of such a wondrous name allows us to bow in humility towards the one who would came to humble Himself upon the cross.

Through the name of  "Jesus" we come to acknowledge the savior who has come to dwell among us. This savior is the Incarnate Son of God who came to dwell among us. During the Christmas season we proclaim this great reality as we come to give proper adoration and homage to such a Holy Name as that of "Jesus."

In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite the Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated today. In this celebration we acknowledge the Magi who traveled to proclaim Christ as Prophet, King, and priest to the world. They traveled and where able to give reverence to such a wondrous name as that of "Jesus."

The saints have also come to proclaim Christ in such a way for they have humbled themselves to this most wondrous of names. Through our acknowledgment of the name of "Jesus" we humble ourself before our savior. 

May the name of "Jesus" come to truly penetrate into our heart and soul and thus lead us onwards towards the Heavenly Kingdom for this child who has been born unto the world is God among us.

Epiphany Homily

Merry Christmas!

This season is about the peace of Christ and how we should allow this same peace to enter into our life and transform us. Epiphany is the celebration of the magi and their travel to do homage to the Christ child. In the context of their trip they came to acknowledge the peace of Christ and thus brought this same peace back with them when they returned to their place of origin. From their encounter with Christ they were left transformed as we to ought to be transformed when we come to encounter Christ.

The magi brought with them three gifts. That of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. To these gifts is attributed many different meanings. Most popular of these theories attributes: Gold as a gift that was made in order to acknowledge that this child was truly a King. Frankincense which was offered in order to acknowledge that this child was God for it was incense which was burned in the presence of God within the temple. Finally, the gift of myrrh which was brought in order to symbolize death for this was used in preparing a body following death.

Marco Pollo writes a legend concerning these magi which is found in the diary of his travels. In it he writes that each of these gifts were brought in order to see if this child was a king, God, or a physician. Whichever gift the child took would prove to them which He was, but to their astonishment He took all three gifts as a proclamation to the world that He is God, a King, and a physician. Once He took these three gifts He then handed them a box which they would later open to reveal a stone. This stone was symbolic of the fact that their faith should be found as firm as a rock. Not understanding the meaning of this gift they flung it into a well from which a flame blazed up which proclaimed the light of Christ which must be brought into the world.

Some countries hold onto the tradition of having their home blessed during the Epiphany season. Above the door to their home is written 20+C+M+B+16 with chalk. The CMB is symbolic of the names of the magi (Casper, Melchoir, and Balthazar). Also, Christus Benedicat Mansionem, Christ bless this house. Thus whenever anyone walks through the door of the house they receive the blessing of Christ and are to live the peace of Christ within their own home and to take it with them whenever they head out into the world. This is the same discovery which was made by the magi for from their encounter with Christ they were forever left changed as they came to acknowledge Christ as king, God, and physician of souls.

As we come to this same revelation may we be changed by what we come to encounter through Christ. Our faith must be firm because it has been placed upon the firm foundation that is Christ. This is a foundation which will not falter no matter how tough the path which lies ahead may seem to be. From Christ springs up a great flame which brings light into the darkness that exists within this world. May we not only encounter and trust in this great light, but may we also be willing to take this light with us in order that others may be drawn to Christ and the peace which He brings into this world.

May we be sent forth from here to proclaim this reality in which the magi came to discover when they encountered Christ. It is here where we will come to encounter Christ who comes to dwell with us in the Eucharist; may we be willing to bring what we encounter here into the world in order that the message of Christ may be made manifest.

Announcement of Moveable Feasts

Know, dear brethren, 

that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,

so by leave of God’s mercy we announce to you also the joy of his Resurrection,

who is our Savior.

On the 10th day of February will fall Ash Wednesday,

and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season.

On the 27th day of March you will celebrate with joy Easter Day,

the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the 8th day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the 15th day of May the feast of Pentecost.

On the 29th day of May, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

On the 27th day of November the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to whom is honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

On this day we celebrate many different realities. We celebrate the beginning of a new calendar year. We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. We celebrate the fact that this celebration brings to a close the eight day Christmas octave. In the Extraordinary Form we celebrate our Lord's circumcision for it was on the eighth day following His birth when He was brought into the temple to be circumcised and thus was given the name of Jesus.

What we celebrate today is the same reality that was celebrated only eight days ago. For it was here that we acknowledged the reality that God's love was so great that He came to dwell among us. By calling Mary the Mother of God we are professing that Jesus is God in the second Person of the Holy Trinity. This is to say that there was never a time in which Christ failed to be God. It would be an error to say that Mary gave birth to Jesus as a human person alone for this would profess that there was a time in which Jesus failed to be God, but we hear in John's Gospel: "In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God." Thus when Christ would offer Himself upon the cross it was God who offered Himself for us in order to redeem us from our sin. Through the Lord's circumcision foreshadows our redemption for here drops of blood where brought forth which lead us towards the complete shedding of blood in which He would come to offer upon the cross.

Mary has always been held in high esteem within the Church for she has always remained close to her Son who is the Redeemer. She remained close to Him at the moment when He offered Himself upon the cross. From the very beginning of time she was prepared to be the God Bearer as we can see from the Immaculate Conception. Through the Annunciation we can say that the answer is "yes" Mary did know all that would unfold for her concerning who her Son is. It is her desire that we not be led to her, but that through her motherly care we will be joined entirely in thought and deed to her Son. Mary is a perfect reflection of God's love for us because through her we see a heart which pours out with love for her Son. As we embark upon this new calendar year may we entrust ourself to her loving care. 

With the arrival of each new year it is the norm to make resolutions which try to better us within the upcoming year. All matters are trivial if we are not attempting to grow in holiness and love for God. In this new year may it become our desire to allow God to be made more manifest within our life. Wherever vice is found may we surrender ourself to our merciful Lord who desires that we be reconciled with Him. The world is in need of peace and so as we embark upon this new year may we remember that it is Christ who brings peace into this world.

May the Blessed Mother intercede for us and thus through her motherly protection may we become missionaries who are sent out to bring the peace of Christ into this world.

Holy Family ABC Homily

Merry Christmas!

We have just celebrated Christmas Day and thus we continue to celebrate with joy throughout this Christmas season, the joy that Christ our Lord who has been born into this world. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph which allows us to further mediate upon how God through the event of the Incarnation came to dwell with us in the very fabric of society which is the family.

So often we think of the Sacrament of Marriage as simply being the joining together of a man and woman in a lifelong bond of love. This facet of marriage is true and is something that is important for us to defend, but we must also realize how marriage brings together a man and woman and thus they become one flesh through the conjugal act and new life is brought forth. Therefore marriage creates through the joining together of two and the begetting of children, the family which is the fabric of our society. This is precisely why the sanctity of marriage must always be defended. If this sacrament is not defended we in return see the death of our culture's understanding of the family's role within society.

The family is important because through family life one enters into a community which at its core should desire to support one another and to ultimately lead one another towards God. The focal point of Christmas is Christ and thus the focal point of the family must be a love for Christ. Parents have been bestowed the sacred duty to lead their children to encounter Jesus Christ and His love. This means that they have been extended the sacred duty to do all which is possible to pass on the Catholic faith which has been established by Christ to them.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is the family to which we should raise our gaze. In both Mary and Joseph we see a love for Christ which is found to be perfect. Concerning the years of Christ's childhood we don't know much, but we can say that He was raised within the context of a family by the loving care of Mary and Joseph. Here He was taught the importance of prayer through the loving example of His parents and here He was taught an understanding for Sacred Scripture.

Our first reading from the Book of Sirach instructs children to not only have love and concern for their family, but to also learn to pray. This love for prayer must be fostered within the home. This means coming to Mass as a family and frequenting the sacraments together (this includes confession). This means that despite the busyness that exists within the modern world that families learn to sacrifice time in order that they may join together to pray (maybe before a shared meal, a family rosary, time before the Blessed Sacrament, or some other practice). There are many things which families make a priority within this world, but is God one of them? Colossians further explains the love that must exist within the family. This is a love which respects all persons and thus helps to direct them towards Heaven no matter the difficulty which might lay in wait. Mary and Joseph search out their Son in our Gospel as we must continue to do each day of our life no matter the difficulty. They had great concern to find Him once they had realized that they had been separated. This love shown by Mary and Joseph should encourage us to always trudge onward in searching for Christ with the desires to be placed at the center of our life and our family.

May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph guide all families towards a perfect love for God. May we as a community of faith emulate the love that is exists within the Holy Family because this love is found to be perfect for God and His commands. From this love may we come to know Christ and thus desire to share this same love with all whom we encounter.