We are currently one week away from our celebration of Christmas. The great mystery that we will come to celebrate on that day is outlined for us in our readings.
The Prophet Isaiah instructed: "The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel." Our Gospel echoed this prophecy for it stated this reality in reference to Mary and the birth of her Son, Jesus. It was pointed out that Emmanuel means: "God is with us."
This is precisely why our celebration of Christmas is so important. It is important for on this day we celebrate the fact that God is with us. He who come to dwell within the crib is not only a human child, but it is also God who comes to dwell with us out of love. Our faith instructs us concerning Jesus that He is both fully human and fully divine.
Saint Matthew's Gospel points out that Mary "was found with child through the Holy Spirit." It also instructs us concerning Saint Joseph who was moved into action through the assistance of the angel of the Lord. As we come to approach Christmas may we allow the Holy Spirit to be at work within us. May we allow ourself to be moved into action by the Spirit and thus come to more perfectly celebrate "God who is with us."
We are called to follow the path which leads towards salvation. Both Mary and Joseph received a profound call from God and both were willing to follow this path with the confidence of faith. If we are to follow after this path we must silence our heart in order to hear the voice of God. In this manner we will come to follow the path which leads us to encounter "God who is with us."
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
3rd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily
It is hard to be patient when we really want something. Yet, Saint James instructs us: "Be patient, brothers and sisters." In this day and age you can track packages and, yes, it is hard to be patient when that package you are waiting for seems to sit in one place for days especially the city that it is being sent to.
In our life there are many things which test our patience and thus too our trust in the Lord. When health starts to falter it is easy to grow impatient as you await its improvement. When one loses a job it is easy to grow impatient as you await a new one. When one is suffering from loneliness it is easy to grow impatient as you await the connection of another.
Our Gospel brings us to the disciples of Saint John the Baptist. They were sent by John to discover the Messiah. The one who he had sent them to was the one for whose path he had prepared. The disciples of Saint John the Baptist had to be filled with fear for John was placed in prison, but there was no reason for them to be filled with fear for the Messiah was present in their midst.
Despite all that tests our patience and makes us begin to doubt our faith may we to come to realize that the Messiah is here with us. May we come to trust in this reality for ourself. If we can trust in this reality it will matter not what befalls us in this life for we will have Christ as our rock. Life may not be easy, but it will have true meaning through its relationship to Christ.
Therefore, may we have a true longing in our heart to discover this Messiah. The season of Advent is about the discovery of this Messiah. It is about casting off all that keeps us from drawing close to the Messiah and thus coming to place our trust in Him. We cannot allow ourself to arrive at Christmas with no room for the Messiah to enter into the inn of our heart. This would be a great mistake and would be a total waste of the gift of the Advent season.
On this third Sunday of Advent we are instructed to "Rejoice because the Lord is near." Indeed we are to rejoice for the Lord has come to set us free from our pain, fear, and sin. He has come to give life to all those difficult moments where we have grown impatient under the burden of time. Rejoice for the Lord loves us dearly and He unites Himself upon the cross with us in order that we may be set free and thus be given a glimpse into the rewards of Eternal Life.
Yes, we are quickly drawing close to the manger of our Blessed Lord. We are to rejoice here with Him for we will soon dwell with Him in eternal life. He who we discover here ushers peace into the world and thus too brings meaning to our life which is in search of meaning. May wen truly allow ourself to be patient through our relationship with the Lord in order that we may rejoice for the Lord is near.
In our life there are many things which test our patience and thus too our trust in the Lord. When health starts to falter it is easy to grow impatient as you await its improvement. When one loses a job it is easy to grow impatient as you await a new one. When one is suffering from loneliness it is easy to grow impatient as you await the connection of another.
Our Gospel brings us to the disciples of Saint John the Baptist. They were sent by John to discover the Messiah. The one who he had sent them to was the one for whose path he had prepared. The disciples of Saint John the Baptist had to be filled with fear for John was placed in prison, but there was no reason for them to be filled with fear for the Messiah was present in their midst.
Despite all that tests our patience and makes us begin to doubt our faith may we to come to realize that the Messiah is here with us. May we come to trust in this reality for ourself. If we can trust in this reality it will matter not what befalls us in this life for we will have Christ as our rock. Life may not be easy, but it will have true meaning through its relationship to Christ.
Therefore, may we have a true longing in our heart to discover this Messiah. The season of Advent is about the discovery of this Messiah. It is about casting off all that keeps us from drawing close to the Messiah and thus coming to place our trust in Him. We cannot allow ourself to arrive at Christmas with no room for the Messiah to enter into the inn of our heart. This would be a great mistake and would be a total waste of the gift of the Advent season.
On this third Sunday of Advent we are instructed to "Rejoice because the Lord is near." Indeed we are to rejoice for the Lord has come to set us free from our pain, fear, and sin. He has come to give life to all those difficult moments where we have grown impatient under the burden of time. Rejoice for the Lord loves us dearly and He unites Himself upon the cross with us in order that we may be set free and thus be given a glimpse into the rewards of Eternal Life.
Yes, we are quickly drawing close to the manger of our Blessed Lord. We are to rejoice here with Him for we will soon dwell with Him in eternal life. He who we discover here ushers peace into the world and thus too brings meaning to our life which is in search of meaning. May wen truly allow ourself to be patient through our relationship with the Lord in order that we may rejoice for the Lord is near.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Immaculate Conception Homily
On the 25th of December we will celebrate Christmas and thus the birth of Christ. Mary gives birth to Christ who is God made man. In the words of Saint John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We call to mind how Mary was prepared by the Father to be a dwelling place which was fitting for God to come and dwell among us.
God coming to dwell with us out of love should be a moving reality for us to mediate upon. Thanks to the sin of Adam and Eve which we call Original Sin the doors to Heaven were closed. Yet, God chose to come and dwell with us and thus also die upon the cross in order that we may be redeemed.
Some deny that Mary was without sin, but how could we fathom that God would come to dwell inside a vessel which has been tainted by the reality of sin?
During this season we put so much thought into gifts and thus too how we will wrap them. We want our gift to be found acceptable to the one whom we give it too. We make sure that it is well wrapped in order that it will be found appealing to the senses of another. Through the Blessed Virgin Mary comes forth the great gift of God's love, the gift of God Himself. Do we really find it logical that such a wondrous gift as God Himself would come to dwell in the womb of one who has not been properly prepared for such a gift?
I do not know much about cooking, but who among us would take a dirty pan to cook a cake? This wouldn't make much sense because we would defile the cake that we want to make. In the same manner God is not defiled by a dwelling place that has been touched by sin. Rather, He chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be this pure and spotless vessel in which God's love would be made manifest to all of us.
In the Old Testament God came to dwell in what was known as the Ark of the Covenant. Scripture lays out what this Ark is to look like and thus it takes on an ornate appearance for what it contains is the presence of God Himself. In like manner Mary becomes the new Ark of the Covenant for she was chosen to be the God bearer.
Therefore, in our Gospel we hear from the lips of an angel: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." We must remember that this word "grace" refers to a gift which is given by God and thus is unmerited. This statement is making a reference to today's celebration of the Immaculate Conception. For today we celebrate the fact that Mary is found to be "full of grace" which is to say that she has been perfected by the Father and thus is found without the stain of sin upon her soul and thus she is the fitting dwelling place for God to take on our human flesh.
May we turn our sight to the Blessed Virgin Mary that we may continue to prepare our heart and soul to receive this most wondrous gift of God's love which is the gift of God made Flesh.
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We call to mind how Mary was prepared by the Father to be a dwelling place which was fitting for God to come and dwell among us.
God coming to dwell with us out of love should be a moving reality for us to mediate upon. Thanks to the sin of Adam and Eve which we call Original Sin the doors to Heaven were closed. Yet, God chose to come and dwell with us and thus also die upon the cross in order that we may be redeemed.
Some deny that Mary was without sin, but how could we fathom that God would come to dwell inside a vessel which has been tainted by the reality of sin?
During this season we put so much thought into gifts and thus too how we will wrap them. We want our gift to be found acceptable to the one whom we give it too. We make sure that it is well wrapped in order that it will be found appealing to the senses of another. Through the Blessed Virgin Mary comes forth the great gift of God's love, the gift of God Himself. Do we really find it logical that such a wondrous gift as God Himself would come to dwell in the womb of one who has not been properly prepared for such a gift?
I do not know much about cooking, but who among us would take a dirty pan to cook a cake? This wouldn't make much sense because we would defile the cake that we want to make. In the same manner God is not defiled by a dwelling place that has been touched by sin. Rather, He chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be this pure and spotless vessel in which God's love would be made manifest to all of us.
In the Old Testament God came to dwell in what was known as the Ark of the Covenant. Scripture lays out what this Ark is to look like and thus it takes on an ornate appearance for what it contains is the presence of God Himself. In like manner Mary becomes the new Ark of the Covenant for she was chosen to be the God bearer.
Therefore, in our Gospel we hear from the lips of an angel: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." We must remember that this word "grace" refers to a gift which is given by God and thus is unmerited. This statement is making a reference to today's celebration of the Immaculate Conception. For today we celebrate the fact that Mary is found to be "full of grace" which is to say that she has been perfected by the Father and thus is found without the stain of sin upon her soul and thus she is the fitting dwelling place for God to take on our human flesh.
May we turn our sight to the Blessed Virgin Mary that we may continue to prepare our heart and soul to receive this most wondrous gift of God's love which is the gift of God made Flesh.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
2nd Sunday of Advent Year A Homily
Saint Paul instructs us in his Letter to the Romans: "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you." Whenever tragedy takes place we can see how this precept is put into motion. Tragedy effects so many people yet chances are that we will not know those who have been effected. There were those effected by the attacks on our nation on September 11th, those effected by earthquakes that have left their homes in shambles, and most recently for us those who have lost their home or job due to the wildfires that took place on Monday.
In all of these scenarios people jump at the opportunity to give assistance. We desire to assist others who we do not know because we see their need and desire to respond to it. Christ therefore welcomes all of us here. None of us are perfect and yet He calls us to encounter His mercy. What we receive here must be extended to all people. Yet again Saint Paul instructed: "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you."
Throughout the history of Sacred Scripture we see the coming of the prophets who are to foretell the need for repentance and conversion. Prophets are rejected and put to death. In our Gospel we encounter John the Baptist who sets out preaching a message of repentance which will ultimately lead to his death. Christ preaches a message of repentance and salvation and yet He too is put to death upon the cross.
As we embark upon this second Sunday of Advent we must ask ourself if we are welcoming of Christ's message of repentance and conversion or if we have grown content in rejection of Christ and His teachings. Christ welcomes us, but do we welcome Christ?
The more that we allow ourself to welcome Christ into our life the more we will become welcoming of our brother and sister in Christ. If we can come to trust in Christ and His mercy we will find that which has been left broken and desolate will be restored to life.
The Book of Isaiah instructs: "From his roots a bud shall blossom." Therefore despite the tragedy that befalls our life or this world. Despite that which has been lost to flame. May we know and trust that through Christ springs forth the hope of new life. That which been lost will be found and thus be restored to life.
During this Advent season may we come to trust in this message of repentance. May we be willing to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight His paths. In doing so we welcome Christ into our life and thus too extend what we receive to others.
In all of these scenarios people jump at the opportunity to give assistance. We desire to assist others who we do not know because we see their need and desire to respond to it. Christ therefore welcomes all of us here. None of us are perfect and yet He calls us to encounter His mercy. What we receive here must be extended to all people. Yet again Saint Paul instructed: "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you."
Throughout the history of Sacred Scripture we see the coming of the prophets who are to foretell the need for repentance and conversion. Prophets are rejected and put to death. In our Gospel we encounter John the Baptist who sets out preaching a message of repentance which will ultimately lead to his death. Christ preaches a message of repentance and salvation and yet He too is put to death upon the cross.
As we embark upon this second Sunday of Advent we must ask ourself if we are welcoming of Christ's message of repentance and conversion or if we have grown content in rejection of Christ and His teachings. Christ welcomes us, but do we welcome Christ?
The more that we allow ourself to welcome Christ into our life the more we will become welcoming of our brother and sister in Christ. If we can come to trust in Christ and His mercy we will find that which has been left broken and desolate will be restored to life.
The Book of Isaiah instructs: "From his roots a bud shall blossom." Therefore despite the tragedy that befalls our life or this world. Despite that which has been lost to flame. May we know and trust that through Christ springs forth the hope of new life. That which been lost will be found and thus be restored to life.
During this Advent season may we come to trust in this message of repentance. May we be willing to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight His paths. In doing so we welcome Christ into our life and thus too extend what we receive to others.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
1st Sunday of Advent Year A Homily
Today is the first Sunday of Advent and we now look towards the coming of the Messiah in the lowliness of a manger. Advent is a period of preparation for this celebration. It is necessary for it aids us in allowing our life to be directed towards the coming of the Messiah.
Pope Benedict XVI exclaimed that "forgetting about God is the most imminent danger of our age.” In other words people fail to direct their sight towards God, but rather they direct it inwardly upon themselves.
As the Book of Acts instructs: "In him we live and move and have our being." It is for this reason that we must stream towards this mountain which was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah. This mountain is the Lord who comes to set us free from the burden of sin. We must allow ourself to be directed here and thus allow Him to be the one who animates our life.
Our Gospel recounts those who did not allow themselves to be directed unto the Lord. They were not found to be prepared for the Lord's coming. They are not the ones who according to Saint Paul have "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." We cannot allow ourself to be unwilling to set our sight upon Christ's coming and thus fall into the danger of forgetting about God.
People now decorate their homes for Christmas, Christmas music begins to play, presents will be bought and wrapped. All of this is fine, but we must ask how we will use this season which has been set aside by the Church to prepare ourself for the coming of the Lord. We cannot just wonder throughout this season and forget about the transformation that we must undergo if we are to "go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
Make use of the Sacrament of Confession. Allow it to reorient your sight upon God. Make use of our Blessed Sacrament chapel. Allow it to reorient your sight upon Christ who comes to dwell among us in the Eucharist. Make use of an Advent wreath at home to direct your sight upon the Lord's coming. There is the tradition of the Joshua Tree which would be the perfect devotion for a family that can be used to teach children each day about figures from Sacred Scripture who play a role in the Lord's coming among us.
We have so much which fights for our attention. It is easy for us to forget about God's presence in our midst. Advent is the time to get away from this path and thus reorient our sight towards Him. Saint Paul instructs in his Letter to the Corinthians: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." Yes, we must do everything for the glory of God and yes this task is possible if we are willing to direct our sight towards Him.
There is no greater place for us to direct our sight towards Him and to give glory to Him, but here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here our prayers are gathered together and they are offered unto God. Therefore, you notice the crucifix of our Lord placed upon the altar. It has been placed there in order to remind us that everything that we do here is directed towards Christ. It reminds us that our worship here is directed towards God and is not directed towards man.
Let us therefore lift up our hearts in worship of the Lord. May we be willing to set our sight upon Him and thus put on Christ for ourself during this Advent season.
Pope Benedict XVI exclaimed that "forgetting about God is the most imminent danger of our age.” In other words people fail to direct their sight towards God, but rather they direct it inwardly upon themselves.
As the Book of Acts instructs: "In him we live and move and have our being." It is for this reason that we must stream towards this mountain which was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah. This mountain is the Lord who comes to set us free from the burden of sin. We must allow ourself to be directed here and thus allow Him to be the one who animates our life.
Our Gospel recounts those who did not allow themselves to be directed unto the Lord. They were not found to be prepared for the Lord's coming. They are not the ones who according to Saint Paul have "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." We cannot allow ourself to be unwilling to set our sight upon Christ's coming and thus fall into the danger of forgetting about God.
People now decorate their homes for Christmas, Christmas music begins to play, presents will be bought and wrapped. All of this is fine, but we must ask how we will use this season which has been set aside by the Church to prepare ourself for the coming of the Lord. We cannot just wonder throughout this season and forget about the transformation that we must undergo if we are to "go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
Make use of the Sacrament of Confession. Allow it to reorient your sight upon God. Make use of our Blessed Sacrament chapel. Allow it to reorient your sight upon Christ who comes to dwell among us in the Eucharist. Make use of an Advent wreath at home to direct your sight upon the Lord's coming. There is the tradition of the Joshua Tree which would be the perfect devotion for a family that can be used to teach children each day about figures from Sacred Scripture who play a role in the Lord's coming among us.
We have so much which fights for our attention. It is easy for us to forget about God's presence in our midst. Advent is the time to get away from this path and thus reorient our sight towards Him. Saint Paul instructs in his Letter to the Corinthians: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." Yes, we must do everything for the glory of God and yes this task is possible if we are willing to direct our sight towards Him.
There is no greater place for us to direct our sight towards Him and to give glory to Him, but here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here our prayers are gathered together and they are offered unto God. Therefore, you notice the crucifix of our Lord placed upon the altar. It has been placed there in order to remind us that everything that we do here is directed towards Christ. It reminds us that our worship here is directed towards God and is not directed towards man.
Let us therefore lift up our hearts in worship of the Lord. May we be willing to set our sight upon Him and thus put on Christ for ourself during this Advent season.
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