Daily Gospel Reflections

December 31, 2020 - 7th Day of the Octave of Christmas

John 1:1-18

Past, Present and Future

Today’s Gospel – the opening chapter of the Gospel of John – really takes me back in time, all the way to my freshman year in college in the Seminary. It was a tough academic year; we were taking 3 different languages at once: French, Latin and Greek. And because it used a completely different set of written characters, Greek was the most difficult to not only learn, but retain. I can remember we all crafted homemade flash cards for the vocabulary and we carried them around with us everywhere. We had to constantly refresh ourselves and test ourselves; otherwise we lost it so quickly!

Which brings me to today’s Gospel. I have a special fondness for these verses; they were one of the first translations we ever tackled. Even today I can still rattle off the first couple of verses in Greek from memory. And I have to say, Greek still is a blessing for me today especially when I wrestle with my crossword puzzles or a Jeopardy answer.

This is not your ordinary Nativity story – no manger, no shepherds, no Magi. Rather it is a clear statement of our faith – Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is, was and will be the Word of God. He was there at the Creation, He became Flesh and dwelt among us. He is full of grace and truth and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

If you think about it, the Gospel speaks about time – past, present and future. He is, He was and He will be! Rather appropriate today as we face the last day of 2020! I expect most of us are glad to see it end. We will probably spend some time today reflecting on the past, rooting ourselves in the present and hoping for a brighter tomorrow. It would be easy and not unexpected to quickly close the book on 2020, to put the past behind us. For many of us, that will be difficult to do – too much sadness and hurt, too much loss and pain. But we cannot live in the past nor can we focus merely on the here and now.

We are a people of Hope! Hope for a new day/year, hope for eternal life. We place our trust in the Word! The Son of God has always been there with us, even from the beginning of time. He is there with us today as we close out 2020. And He will be with us tomorrow and the next day. He is the Light of the world. And no amount of darkness can ever overcome Him! Let His light shine on us in this new year!

December 30, 2020 - 6th Day of the Octave of Christmas

Luke 2:36-40

A Devoted Woman

Yesterday we focused on the prophet Simeon; today we turn to the prophetess Anna as we conclude the story of the Presentation. Anna is completely alone in the world. She is a widow and elderly. There is no one looking out for her welfare, no one to help out, no support system at all to see to her needs. She is probably homeless as well since she spends night and day in the Temple area.

You would think she would be miserable and despondent over her circumstances. And yet the opposite is true. She has dedicated herself to the Lord; she spends her time in prayer and fasting. And when she does encounter the Holy Family, she breaks out in praise and thanksgiving for having seen the Savior. And she announces the news to all she meets. It seems like the perfect definition of proclaiming the ‘good news’!

You havc to wonder – where are all the religious leaders, the priests and Levites? You would think they would be around the Temple area performing their duties. And yet all we see is Anna and she isn’t even from the tribe of Levi, those expected to serve in the Temple. Yesterday the Gospel used the term ‘devout’ to describe Simeon. It seems most appropriate to apply it to Anna! She is the definition of ‘devotion.’ She has given her life in service to the Lord, willingly and gladly! She spends her life praying and fasting with no hint of regret or bitterness at what life has thrown at her.

Life has certainly thrown a lot of curveballs at us this year, at times, probably more than we can handle. So how have we responded? Are we bitter and angry? Are we spending our time regretting all we have lost and not appreciating what we have? Has our prayer life diminished or prospered? What is it that we are truly ‘devoted’ to?

Great Spirit, help me to realize that what I see with my eyes closed is what really counts!

December 29, 2020 - 5th Day of the Octave of Christmas

Luke 2:22-35

Now What Do I Do?

I remember when our daughter was born, all that joy and celebration at the birth of this beautiful child. Truth be told, I was feeling a lot more than happiness that day when I held Jaime in my arms for the first time. There was also quite a bit of panic, concern, doubt, even a bit of fear. Now what? This little child is completely dependent on us – for food, clothing, shelter, for life! What if we screw it up? What if we say or do something wrong, something that scars her for the rest of her life? What a daunting task for parents of a new-born! What a mix of emotions as we faced life together!

Consider today what Mary and Joseph must have been going through! New parents of a first-born! The wonder and joy of the birth of this newborn son! Mary pondering the words of Gabriel from the Annunciation and Joseph of his dream! Their reaction to the visit of the shepherds and the Magi! And now encountering Simeon in the Temple and his words that Jesus will be the Saviour of all and a light of revelation to the Gentiles! Can you imagine their reaction? Fear? Doubt? Concern? No pressure, right? No worries, right?

And yet the story ends with – they returned to Nazareth and the Child grew strong and filled with wisdom. That says a lot, not just about their parenting skills but certainly about their faith in God!

And that, I think, is the message we can and should learn from today. no matter what we are going through, no matter what life is throwing at us, no matter our doubts or fears – Trust In The Lord! Trust in His love and in His Spirit! Draw your strength and courage from Him and believe that, whatever trials we face today, they are only a hurdle, not a roadblock!

December 28, 2020 - Feast of the Holy Innocents

Matthew 2:13-18

Come Into The Light

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life! “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. The white black wolf is evil and darkness–he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The white wolf is good and light – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

It feels as if, just in the last 2 days, we have encountered both of the wolves. Yesterday, on the Feast of the Holy Family, it was all bright with hope and promise. A Savior is born! And after presenting Him in the Temple, Mary and Joseph take Jesus home to Nazareth where He grows in strength and wisdom and favor with the Lord.

And today we retreat into the darkness of Herod the Great! He is a ruler obsessed with power and greed. He has his own sons executed to avoid any threat to his throne. He is selfish, jealous, spiteful and arrogant; he thinks only of himself. Like all of us, he has a choice of feeding the white wolf or the black. When he is visited by the Magi, he deliberately chooses to be deceitful and dishonest, insisting that he wants to honor the newborn king. And when he realizes that the Magi have avoided returning to him, he acts in rage and massacres all make infants under the age of two. It is a horrible and bloody story of a cruel and vengeful ruler who had the chance to embrace the light and selfishly thought only of himself.

You can’t help recalling a similar story in the Old Testament – Pharaoh and Moses. A prophecy says that a savior will be born. So Pharaoh orders all male babies to be killed. Only one survives miraculously – Moses – and he leads his people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Sound familiar?

We face a similar choice every day – choose light or retreat further into the darkness. Do we embrace compassion and kindness, forgiveness and selflessness? Or do we focus only on ourselves with lies, self-pity, regret and jealousy? Do we come into the light of the Savior? Or do we hide in the darkness of our fears? Which wolf will we feed today?

December 27, 2020 - Feast of the Holy Family

Luke 2:22-40

Family’s First Christmas

One of the best Christmases we ever celebrated was the first one after our daughter Jaime was born. She was barely 6 monhs old, probably crawling but certainly not walking yet. And we did Christmas like never before. Tons of presents – toys and clothes and books. And we wrapped each and every one of them. I honestly can’t remember if Ginger and I got each other presents; we were too focused on making Jaime’s first Christmas memorable. Of course at 6 months, she would have no memories except for the stories we told her later in life along with all the pcitures we took.

That Christmas morning was filled with wonder and laughter and sheer joy, most of it coming from Ginger and myself. We took turns dramatically opening presents, showing them to Jaime and making our best ooh’s and aah’s! Of course, Jaime was only interested in the wrapping paper and the ribbons and bows. Imagine all the money we could have saved by just giving her a roll of wrapping paper and a big red bow!

That was our first Christmas with our daughter, our first Christmas as a family! It was a time of celebration and play. But it was also a time of hope, of looking forward to all the Christmases to come and all that Jaime might become and accomplish in the future!

Today’s Gospel tells us of another family – the Holy Family going up to Jerusalem with the baby Jesus to present Him to the Lord in the Temple, a religious tradition that takes place 40 days after the birth of the first-born. Parents would present their first-born as an offering to the Lord and then redeem him back with a sacrifice of 2 turtledoves or young pigeons.

And it is there that they meet the Prophet Simeon and the Prophetess Anna who both rejoice that their eyes have beheld the Savior of the world! They hold Him in their arms, they bless Him and bless Mary and Joseph. Simeon and Anna both predicted that He would be the glory for His people Israel and a light of revelation for the Gentiles

The Gospel ends with a curious line. “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him”. And that’s it! Except for one other story of Jesus being lost in the Temple, we know nothing else about His early life, nothing! Nothing until He is about 30 years old. Those ‘hidden years’ are summed up in that one sentence. It seems unsatisfying; we want to know more.

But maybe that really is all we need to know! He grew, become strong, filled with wisdom. Under the guidance of His parents, he grew, became strong and wise! And through it all, the favor of God was upon Him! And that is what we celebrate today – the importance of the Holy Family! Jesus being raised in a loving, faith-filled family with Mary and Joseph who placed God at the center of their lives!

For all us struggling in the darkness of winter, of sickness and separation, of despair and loss, let us all take comfort and hope this day remembering that the Son of God became a member of our human family and sanctified not only His family but our own. May the Lord grace us, just like Jesus, Mary and Joseph, with that same hope and faith to make Him the center of our own family’s life!

December 26, 2020 - St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Matthew 10:17-22

Buckle Up Buttercup, It’s Gonna Be A Bumpy Ride!

Can we all agree that no one like going to the dentist? All it takes are those couple of words – this might hurt a little – to send us into a panic! I mean, seriously? MIGHT? A LITTLE? And yet whether we are a child or an adult, we do end up sitting there and letting them do their digging and probing. And for what? To get that perfect smile? To get rid of that cavity or remove that dead tooth? Through that pain, there was still a reward, if only the end to the pain.

Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. And it seems very odd that we would go from the joy and celebration of Christmas Day right into observing the death of a martyr. But there is a good reason. Thought to be lost, the bones of St. Stephen were miraculously discovered on this day back in 415 AD. Stephen was one of 7 who were appointed by the Apostles to be deacons – called to minister to the widows and orphans of Jerusalem, particularly those whose fathers were martyred for the faith in the first century. He proclaimed his faith by his preaching and his ministry. He suffered for his faith in this life and we believe he was rewarded with glory in the next.

It is what Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel. Following Me will not be easy! It’s going to be a bumpy painful ride. You will be hated and abused, persecuted and mocked for your Faith. But do not worry! The Holy Spirit will be with you and support you! And in the end, you will be saved! Jesus knew, Stephen knew, that all who believe in Him will experience suffering in this life. But that promise of eternal life, bursting forth into this world with the birth of a little child in Bethlehem, remains our hope and our salvation.

December 25, 2020 - Christmas Day

Luke 2:15-20

Wonder and Joy

I put it to you in the simplest of terms.

This is not a day for words!

This is a day for Wonder and Joy and Peace!

So let the Story speak for itself! Let the Story speak to you!

Watch and Listen! One Voice Children’s Choir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ZtBX21Buk

A blessed and peaceful Christmas to you and your loved ones! May we never lose the child-like Wonder of the Season and the Joy of Christ’s love in our life.

December 24, 2020 - Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-14

What A Difference?

Things are so different for Christmas this year. Mass attendance is limited and you have to register ahead of time – there are no walk-ins allowed! (No room at the inn) Decorations are greatly pared down from years past so that our volunteers’ health and safety are not compromised. (The Holy Family was left with a simple stable). Even our personal celebrations and Christmas dinners at home are muted and limited to just the immediate family. (No one there to witness Jesus’ birth except the animals). And many of us are driving far and wide to deliver Christmas dinner and presents to those who usually gather with us at home. (Such a long and tiring journey for Mary and Joseph from Nazareth in Galilee down to Bethlehem south of Jerusalem, around 90 miles)

Yup, things are just so different this year!

I have been blessed to travel to the Holy Land 3 times (so far) and have served at Mass in Bethlehem on two occasions. Both times, Mass was celebrated in a small cave, not a big church or basilica but a small room carved out of rock overlooking the Shepherds Field! It was cramped and crowded. Simple and humble surroundings!

Yup, things are just so different this year!

And maybe they aren’t! Maybe our liturgical experience of Christmas this year is more in tune with that wondrous event some 2000 years ago – simple, modest surroundings, a quiet and solitary event, hardly noticed except by a few people and then only after the fact. Maybe that is exactly what we need this year – to strip away most of the ornaments and lights and blow-up characters, to experience the intimacy and wonder of a virgin birth, to step away from all the hustle and bustle of shopping, to slow down to a simpler, more humble appreciation of the birth of our Saviour!

Yup, things are just so different this year! And yet, maybe they are very much the same, the same as that star-lit night 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ was born!

A blessed and peaceful Christmas to you and your loved ones! May we never lose the child-like Wonder of the Season and the Joy of Christ’s love in our life.

December 23, 2020 - 4th Wednesday of Advent

Luke 1:57-66

A Child of Promise

One of the most amazing events in my life was the day our daughter, Jaime, was born. To be there at that moment and to hold her in my arms for the first time as they cut the cord was beyond words and imagination. But as joy-filled as that experience was, I remember that it was also a moment of hope and promise and wonder! I couldn’t help but think about all the possibilities that lay ahead for her! What would be her future, her calling – teacher, scientist, musician, nurse? How many lives would she touch and change by her presence and example? Needless to say, I have not been disappointed, not in the least. I see her now in her career as an oncology nurse practitioner and all the people she has touched and brightened by her skill and her compassion. I couldn’t be prouder!

We hear the story in today’s Gospel of another birth – that of John the Baptist. Born to elderly parents and the miraculous moment when Zechariah regains his speech and names his son John, it was a moment when all were amazed. But it was also a moment of hope and promise! What will this child turn out to be? Who could even guess what sort of man he would turn out to be and how many people he would inspire by his words and example?

We are now a mere 2 days away from celebrating another birth, the birth of our Savior! Who could have guessed that a child born in a shepherd’s cave would be Lord of All! How has He touched our lives? How have we been changed by His presence, His words? We have all been gifted with the promise of salvation! How do we respond? Is this not wonder-filled? Is this not joyful? Are we not so amazed and hopeful that we want to share that joy with the world?

December 22, 2020 - 4th Tuesday of Advent

Luke 1:46-56

Stop and Pray

Talk about finding joy in the midst of a difficult situation. Today’s Gospel picks up right from yesterday – Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Consider this: Mary has traveled roughly 90 miles from Nazareth to the hill country of Judah, just south of Jerusalem. The terrain is hilly and rocky and Mary probably traveled on foot. She is pregnant, tired, dirty and perhaps even unsure of what kind of reception Elizabeth will give her. And yet, in spite of it all, she breaks out in this joyful prayer of praise and thanksgiving – The Magnificat!

As Deacons, we are called to pray Evening Prayer on a daily basis. And the Magnificat is part of that prayer, a fitting end to every day, a prayer of thanksgiving for the many gifts we have been graced with. It is an opportunity to reflect on the events of the day and then to offer to the Lord our thanks and our praise, acknowledging the great things He has done and will continue to do for us.

We can get so caught up in the hustle and madness of the Christmas Season that we can easily forget to incorporate one simple element into our daily life – prayer! We continue to experience the darkness of winter and even the dark days of pandemic and doubt. Let’ not forget to set aside some private time to stop, listen, slow down and pray. Pray for the gift of today and for the strength to face the challenges of tomorrow.

December 21, 2020 - 4th Monday of Advent

Luke 1:39-45

The Visitation

I remember the very first time Ginger and I met. She was in the student government office at Loyola U. and I walked in the door. She literally took my breath away. Truth be told, I also lost the power of coherent speech. Who could possibly know all that would result from that chance meeting? It was life-changing, life-altering. And so they say, the rest is history.

We read today of another historic meeting, although one on a scale far beyond any chance encounter in an office. This is the Visitation – Mary and Elizabeth meeting for the first time after their miraculous pregnancies. Two soon to be mothers – one carrying the Saviour and the other carrying His Prophet! Both of them fully aware of God entering their lives in a special way, giving each of them a unique role in His Plan and both of them fully trusting in Him. And their words to each other fully reflect their faith in God, their love for each other and the goodness of the Lord.

And yet there is another first meeting happening here – Jesus and John, still in the womb, meeting each other for the first time. And John’s reaction? He leaps for joy! Wow! I have always had a wonder for this relationship between John and Jesus. The Gospels only record one other time that they meet – at Jesus’ Baptism. But I always wondered if they perhaps got together as children, maybe played together. And I always wondered what their conversations would have been like! That first meeting – full of joy and hope and love.

So perhaps we could reflect a bit today on our first meeting – our first encounter with the Lord! Was it our First Communion? An experience in nature – something like the Christmas Star (conjunction) that happens tonight? Maybe it was a sad loss of a loved one or the birth of a child? What was your first encounter with the Lord? And as you reflect on that, consider when the next encounter will happen! Will it be on Christmas Day? Will you welcome the Christ Child with hope and joy and love?

December 20, 2020 - 4th Sunday of Advent

Luke 1:26-38

Ready Or Not

So are you ready? Christmas is 5 days away! 5 days! Shopping all done? Tree set up and decorated? House filled with Christmas spirit? Batches of cookies baked and Christmas cards all sent out? Christmas dinner all planned and prepped? All ready? Really?

Are you also prepared for all the last minute glitches? All those things we never expected? The dinner that burned? Buying the wrong gift or one that doesn’t fit? Completely forgetting your best friend? Can we really ever be ready?? Forgetting where you hid that one special present? Really?

Big secret – sshh! Christmas is coming whether you (we) are ready or not! Whether we are in the mood or not! So don’t worry and don’t be afraid! Trust that things will work out and that God will be right beside you! And it will be a day of joy and celebration!

Isn’t that what Mary does in today’s Gospel, in the story of the Annunciation? Do you think she was ready? Do you think she was even the most remotely prepared for the message that Angel Gabriel brings her. She’s barely a teenager, living in this little town of Nazareth! And she hears this message that God has chosen her to be the mother of our Saviour! She’s not even married!

And yet she says YES! Yes Lord, I am your handmaid; let it be down according to Your will. She doesn’t know how things will turn out but she places her trust, her faith, in God and says YES! Consider how deep her faith! And it certainly wasn’t a blind faith – she doubted! She questioned! But in the end, she trusted that God knew best!

We have always looked at the Annunciation as a clear example of Mary’s faith in God. But I wonder whether it is also a measure of how much God believed in her, trusted in her saying YES! And if that is true, then how much does God believe in each and every one of us. He trusts that we will make the right decision. Even if we stumble and fall, even when we make the wrong choice, He trusts that in the long run we will return to Him in faith and love.

God does not abandon us. In our worst moments, in times of crisis and pain and doubt, He is there! And just as Gabriel tells Mary, just as Gabriel told Zechariah, just as the angel told Joseph – do not be afraid!

Mary’s YES was a statement of faith, complete trust in God! By that YES, she welcomed God into her life, into her very self! As unprepared as we are, as doubtful as we tend to be, as human as we are – God calls us, He trusts us, to welcome Him into our hearts! So whether we’re ready or not, Christmas is ready for us! So may our faith welcome Jesus’ birth into our lives and make us eager share the newborn Christ Child with the world!

December 19, 2020 - 3rd Saturday of Advent

Luke 1: 5-25

A Righteous Couple

It feels a bit like déjà vu in today’s Gospel, a revisiting of Mary’s Annunciation as well as Joseph’s dream from yesterday. Zechariah, a Jewish priest, and his wife Elizabeth are both called ‘righteous’ like Joseph but they are an elderly couple and childless. Gabriel appears to him and tells him they will have a son (John the Baptist). Zechariah, like Mary, is troubled. But in this instance, he is also fearful – something neither Mary nor Joseph showed – fearful enough that Gabriel has to calm him with “do not be afraid.” There is even a feeling we are watching Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament as they are told they will have a son in their old age.

For Zechariah, the initial response is one of fear and doubt – how can this be? But as Gabriel explains the ‘good news’, those emotions transform into hope and joy. How often in these past 9 months have we all experienced moments of fear or doubt. We worry about our family and friends, our job and our elderly relatives, our physical and mental health. But God reminds us, through the story of Zechariah – do not be afraid. God really does have a plan and we truly are not alone. So let’s offer up our fears and worries to the Lord in prayer. And let us pray that the Spirit will cover us with a sense of hope and joy as we draw closer to another birth – the birth of our Savior!

December 18, 2020 - 3rd Friday of Advent

Matthew 1:18-25

A Righteous Man

Earlier this week we listened to the story of the Annunciation, Gabrial appearing to Mary and her resounding YES to God! Today it’s Joseph’s turn. But the circumstances and details are radically different.

Joseph’s ‘announcement’ happens at night in a dream. Mary questions the angel about how this could happen to her, a virgin. Joseph? No questions, in fact, not one single word, not here, not anywhere in the Gospels. Mary’s response? I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your Word. And Joseph? His response is one of action. When he wakes, he immediately takes Mary into his house. He is a man of few, if any, words. But his actions speak volumes.

Matthew calls him a righteous man, a man devoted to and a faithful follower of the Law. He knows that the Law is very clear. If a woman is found with child before marriage, she should be exposed for her adultery and could be stoned to death. Joseph, even before his dream, has decided to divorce her quietly so as not to expose her to shame. He knows the Law; he follows the Law. But he is also a compassionate man and he realizes that laws should be tempered by love of God and love of others. His only concern is for Mary, not himself.

Joseph acts out of love and faith and even courage. There is one thing throughout this situation that he does lack – fear! In every story in the Gospels, Joseph hears God’s message and he acts! No hesitation! No doubt! He could have been worried about his standing in the community, about what his friends would say. Instead his only concern is for Mary and for her child. Perhaps that is the best description of a righteous man – faithful, compassionate, unselfish, trusting in God!

December 17, 2020 - 3rd Thursday of Advent

Matthew 1:1-17

Who’s Your Daddy!

Ever since I was little, I have always had a good awareness and appreciation of my family history and ancestry. For one side of my family, I can trace my roots back to the 1600’s in London. Of course it helps if you have someone in the family tree who led a singular and noteworthy life. For me, that was my great-great-grandfather Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. (Just google him if you don’t know his story). Ginger has taken her family history interest to a whole different level. She is a professional researcher, genealogist and family historian who provides a variety of research services to authors, historians, film makers and individuals interested in genealogy. (shameless plug)

All that leads us into today’s Gospel – a long list of Jesus’ genealogy from Joseph all the way back to Abraham. (With such a list of unique names, my prayers go out for anyone who will be proclaiming today’s Gospel) Anyway, Matthew is showing his Jewish community that, in simple terms, Jesus is from the House of David, from whom the Messiah would come. He is setting the stage for his good news that Jesus is the Chosen One of God.

Matthew literally is tracing Jesus’ roots back to Abraham, the first Patriarch and the father of Judaism. As he begins his ‘good new’, Matthew is carefully reminding his audience of not only Jesus’ ancestry but their own and he emphasizes the importance of knowing your family history and your ancestral roots.

It is a good reminder for all of us to understand and appreciate our own family history, not just that of our biological family but our spiritual one. It grounds us and gives us roots and a story to share and to model our life on. So I wonder today if we could take some time and reflect on our spiritual family history and our religious roots. When were you baptized, where, by whom? First Communion? Confirmation? How important are those events in your life? How much does your spiritual Father in Heaven inspire and guide you through life? How much does your spiritual roots mold and guide you in your daily life?

December 16, 2020 - 3rd Wednesday of Advent

Luke 7:18-23

The One!

A little background on today’s Gospel. John is in prison and he knows he will soon be put to death. He has heard stories about Jesus and His miracles and preaching. So he sends off a couple of his disciples to directly ask Him – Are You the One? The Messiah? Or should we look for another? Jesus’ answer? Trust your eyes and ears!

You have to wonder – didn’t John already know? Why does he even have to ask if Jesus is the Messiah? I mean, he did meet Him, baptize Him and recognized Him as the One whose foot strap he was not worthy to loosen.

So maybe something else is going on here. Maybe John’s “Are you the One?” wasn’t for his benefit but for that of his disciples. John is now facing his own death at the hands of Herod; he is recognizing that his mission is now coming to an end. Maybe this is his way of moving his disciples from his “voice in the desert” mission to that of Jesus. Maybe Jesus’ words of miracles and preaching were really meant for those disciples to hear and respond to. Maybe John’s intent is for his followers to hear it ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’, so to speak.

And maybe that is the challenge for us today. maybe that is our mission – to really open our eyes and ears to the presence of Christ in our daily lives. To attune our hearts to recognize His healing touch and His words of comfort in the actions of those around us. To ask ourselves – Is He the One? Do we really need to look for another?

December 15, 2020 - 3rd Tuesday of Advent

Matthew 21:28-32

Words Matter…

We all have words that stick in our memory, that cement an historical moment in time. We remember where we were, what we were doing and who we were with. Ask not what your country can do for you…. I have a dream…. One small step for a man……

There are also words, very personal and specific ones, whose meaning transcends and transforms. That moment, after years of disagreement over the morality of the Vietnam War, when my Dad said to me – I was wrong. Those 2 simple words – I do – when Ginger and I were married. Or that “and with your Spirit” I shared with Bishop Kane at the end of my ordination as a permanent deacon.

Words! They matter! They are important, yes! But what matters more is what happens after they are spoken. Whether it’s the world or my life or my purpose, something changes! It has to; otherwise those words are meaningless and empty. My relationship with my Dad changed so much for the better afterwards! My life as a husband began and we moved forward in life together. And that Sign of Peace with the Bishop was the beginning of a ministry, not simply words recited from memory. What matters most is how we act on our words, what we do!

The Gospel today makes it quite clear with the story of the 2 sons. One says ‘yes’ to his father and then does not follow through. The other says ‘no’ and then later changes his mind! We can talk all day, say what we think the other person wants to hear. But, in the end, what matters most is our actions, how we follow through on our words.

Every Mass there is a point where we all profess the Creed, a concise profession of our faith. But is it mere words on a page? Is it simply words that we spew out and then continue on with the Mass? Yes, those words matter. But matters most is how we act on them, how we carry them out in our lives, how we live out our Faith!

December 14, 2020 - St. John of the Cross

Matthew 21:23-27

No Excuses!

Ever get caught with your hands in the cookie jar, I mean literally caught red-handed and your mouth is full of the evidence. And in the face of it all, you still deny it. No, I didn’t; it wasn’t me. I’m not guilty, must have been someone else. We were so concerned with avoiding the truth or so worried about getting caught in the act and punished, we deny, deny, deny! Who did this? And with your mouth full of cookies, you say in your seemingly most innocent voice – uh, I don’t know!

In today’s Gospel, the chief priests and elders are also symbolically caught in a bind. They know the truth that John is from God; they just refuse to accept it and especially acknowledge it in public. On whose authority did he baptize? Uh, I don’t know! They worry about losing their standing with the people; they worry about antagonizing one side or the other. They are afraid of getting caught in a lie. They are afraid to accept the truth of John’s mission and then have to deal with Jesus!

Many times in our lives, the truth can be uncomfortable and unpopular. We focus too much on wanting to be liked or accepted by others to the point that we deny what is plainly true. Jesus reminds us today – there can be no excuses! It is well past time for us to leave obstinancy and blindness behind. In spite of all the sadness and hurt and violence, in spite of all the mistrust and anger in the world, Jesus continues to call us back – Accept Me! Believe in Me! Trust in Me!

Great Spirit, teach me to always walk in prayer, grow in wisdom and truth and to see with eyes of faith.

December 13, 2020 - 3rd Sunday of Advent

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Who Are You (doo doo, doo doo)

When I’m not watching all my Food Network and cooking shows, I still find the time to immerse myself in a bunch of crime/drama shows. Like NCIS or FBI, or Law and Order or Elementary. That’s been going on for years and I think it all started with one show CSI – even to this day the theme song remains stuck in my head – don’t worry, I’m not gonna sing it. But the lyrics are simple – who are you, doo doo, doo doo!

As we continue through the Season of Advent and prepare for Christmas, many of the Gospels of the day focus on John the Baptist and today is no exception. Jewish priests and Levites come out to the Jordan River to confront John and ask him one direct question – WHO ARE YOU!! Not what are you doing or why are you here but WHO ARE YOU? John’s response is simple, clear and to the point!

I’m not Elijah! I’m not the Prophet! And I am not the Messiah, the Christ! What I am is a voice crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord. I baptize with mere water. He will baptize with the Spirit.

John answers the question – who are you – and it’s not as simple as him slapping a tag on his chest saying – hi, I’m John! His answer defines and identifies himself – and not just himself, but his purpose, his mission, his whole meaning of life! I am here to prepare the way!

And maybe that’s the challenge for us today! How do we answer that question? Who are you?

How do we define ourselves? Identify ourselves? By our ancestry or family – son of, father of, husband of? By nationality or gender or relationship? By job – I’m a teacher! Or do we define ourselves by our faith? Do we call ourselves Christian? And if that’s true, if that’s important, how does that motivate us, energize us, give us purpose?

Like John, should not our identity, our meaning, our very soul direct us to be a voice crying out in the wilderness? Shouldn’t we all be making straight the way of the Lord

Shouldn’t that be our focus as we approach Christmas Day and the end of the year – not just on what we do but deep down inside, the very core of our being, who we are!

We celebrate today the 3rd Sunday of Advent,. We are half-way along our journey to Christmas! This should be a moment of utter Joy, a moment to pause and let that joy burst out!! That is why today is called Gaudete Sunday – rejoice! That is why we light a rose-colored candle, unlike the purple. The coming of the Savior is so close that we can’t contain our joy! It is a joy that permeates our entire being!

So who are you? Who are we? We are all Christian! And on this 3rd Sunday of Advent – we are people of hope, we are people of anticipation, we are people of joy as we prepare for the coming of the Savior.

December 12, 2020 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Luke 1:26-38

The Visitation

Today’s Gospel retells the story of Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. It echoes Mary’s YES , John’s leap for joy and Elizabeth’s declaration that Mary is “Mother of my Lord.” It speaks to us of a message of faith and hope.

And as we celebrate today the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded of another kind of visitation – that of Mary to Juan Diego in 1531. Again it is a reminder to us all of Mary’s love and protection, especially in this time of pandemic and doubt. Like Juan Diego, we have all been given a message of hope and faith. God, give us the grace and humility to hear that message and grow in faith and love.

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Protection from Coronavirus

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.

We fly to you today as your beloved children.

We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,

and gain for our nation and world,

and for all our families and loved ones,

the protection of your holy angels,

that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,

we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.

Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,

wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,

teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.

Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,

knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,

health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,

keep us in the embrace of your arms,

help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen. (Diocese of St. Petersburg)

Oración a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe para la protección contra el coronavirus.

Virgen Santísima de Guadalupe,

Reina de los Ángeles y Madre de las Américas.

Acudimos a ti hoy como tus amados hijos.

Te pedimos que intercedas por nosotros con tu Hijo,

como lo hiciste en las bodas de Caná.

Ruega por nosotros, Madre amorosa,

y obtén para nuestra nación, nuestro mundo,

y para todas nuestras familias y seres queridos,

la protección de tus santos ángeles,

para que podamos salvarnos de lo peor de esta enfermedad.

Para aquellos que ya están afectados,

te pedimos que les concedas la gracia de la sanación y

la liberación.

Escucha los gritos de aquellos que son vulnerables y temerosos,

seca sus lágrimas y ayúdalos a confiar.

En este tiempo de dificultad y prueba,

enséñanos a todos en la Iglesia a amarnos los unos a los otros

y a ser pacientes y amables.

Ayúdanos a llevar la paz de Jesús a nuestra tierra y a nuestros

corazones.

Acudimos a ti con confianza, sabiendo que realmente eres

nuestra madre compasiva,

la salud de los enfermos y la causa de nuestra alegría.

Refúgianos bajo el manto de tu protección, mantennos

en el abrazo de tus brazos,

ayúdanos a conocer siempre el amor de tu Hijo, Jesús.

Amén

December 11, 2020 - 2nd Friday of Advent

Matthew 11:16-19

Please Sir, I Want Some More

I am sure we have all experienced a disastrous Christmas morning or two in our life. All that time and energy Santa spent searching for everything on their Wish List! And then when the kids open their presents, life takes a sharp turn! Either they changed their minds at the last minute and no longer want the toy or it clearly is not what they expected! I changed my mind! I want something else.

After all the times in the Gospels when Jesus speaks of children as wise and perceptive, a role model for us all, it is rather refreshing that He recognizes the other side of the coin. Children are not always wise or logical. They act at times petty and unreasonable when they don’t get what they want or people don’t do what they want. Children can be childish!

Unfortunately adults can be the same – changing their minds on a moment’s notice, upset when things don’t go their way, illogical and petulant, blaming others for any and everything, never satisfied!

These are the “children” Jesus is frustrated with in today’s Gospel. Their rules and expectations change on a whim, as if the world revolves around themselves. It is a reminder to us all that we all need to re-center ourselves, re-focus our energy, and let go of our need to control the world around us. And by re-centering ourselves around the Savior, we may just gain a bit more of the joy of the season!

December 10, 2020 - 2nd Thursday of Advent

Matthew 11:11-15

Hiding In Plain Sight

When I was little, I played more than my share of Hide and Seek and I think I was pretty good at the ‘hiding’ part. But what really upset me sometimes was when I found what I thought was the perfect hiding spot. They’ll never find me here. Unfortunately that is exactly what happened! They didn’t exactly NOT find me; they gave up looking! And eventually I had to come out of hiding after waiting and waiting! So sad!

The last line in today’s Gospel stands out for me – whoever has ears should hear! I would add ‘look’ to the equation! In these difficult times, we often hear people complaining “where is God?” My response is – are we even looking? Or have we given up trying? Looking and listening are not simply passive; maybe it’s better to say ‘search’ and ‘pay attention.’

God is telling us in today’s Gospel – I am right here, right in front of you! Are we paying attention? Are we actively looking for Him or have we given up trying? Perhaps that should be our challenge today (and every day). God is not hiding away from us; He is not sitting in some hidden away place. He is right in front of our noses. Do we see Him? Do we seek Him? Are we even looking for Him?

December 9, 2020 - 2nd Wednesday of Advent

Matthew 11: 28-30

Weary Souls!

How ya feeling? It’s the first words on our lips when we greet each other these days (weeks, months). And if we are honest with ourselves, the answer is pretty much the same. Not so good! At times, we are simply bone-tired, weary, no energy or drive. We feel sad or empty or despondent. One day blends into another and we struggle to recall what day it is. There’s a certain aloneness, feeling cut off from others and even normal life. Frustrated and lost, life seems gray and without color. Covid is hitting us all, sapping us of life or filling us with anger or sadness. This is not an easy time for any of us as we struggle to stay vertical and we try to look out for our loved ones and family.

The hardest thing to do these days, I think, is to reach out to someone and admit you are having a difficult time, that you aren’t managing as well as you would like. Or maybe it’s the realization that someone you care deeply about is struggling and you want them to know they aren’t alone.

Today’s Gospel is one of those times when it feels like Jesus is speaking directly to us! Come to me, all you who labor and are weary and I will give you rest! It hits us right in our very soul and reminds us that we are not alone, ever! Jesus offers us the opportunity to share the load. We don’t have to go through this alone. He asks us to lay our weary heads on His shoulders and let Him carry some of that weight. We don’t have to bear all this by ourselves; we are not alone.

Advent is a season of anticipation, of hope. Hope in God! Hope in His continued presence in our lives! Hope for the strength to face a new day and to be a source of hope for those we know are struggling to keep it all together! Recognize that He has given us all the power to bring some light into the darkness for someone else!

December 8, 2020 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Luke 1:26-38

YES!

We celebrate today the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For many, it is perhaps the most misunderstood Solemnity in the liturgical year. We are commemorating the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, not the conception of Jesus, the Son of God. Instead we celebrate Jesus’ conception on March 25 with the Annunciation, Mary’s YES to the Angel Gabriel. And then nine months later, we celebrate Jesus birth on December 25.

No, today we remember the moment when Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin in the womb of her mother Anne. Nine months later on September 8, we celebrate Mary’s birth. The tradition of Mary being conceived without original sin has been around since the 9th century but it was only in 1854 that Pope Pius IX proclaimed as Church dogma that “from the first moment of her conception the Blessed Virgin Mary was, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of mankind, kept free from all stain of original sin.”

Mary was chosen for this singular honor in order to provide a suitable vessel for the Son of God. And, in perfect faith and obedience, her “yes” in today’s Gospel is a sign of her agreement to God’s plan of salvation. She is the new Eve, chosen by God even before the world began.

God has chosen each one of us as His adopted child; He desires us to be with Him forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. Will we say yes? Will our words and actions today be a yes? A yes of faith and obedience to His Will?

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

December 7, 2020 - 2nd Monday of Advent

Luke 5:17-26

Through the Roof!

It takes a village! I’ve heard that so many times but today it really seems to ring true. One person may be singled out for praise or recognition but think of the quiet crowd that raised him, supported him, encouraged and had faith in him.

Today’s Gospel is a familiar one, rich in imagery. A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus. The crowd is so large and crushing that they climb the roof and lower him down. Jesus forgives his sins and cures his illness.

But what strikes me are these words: “when Jesus saw THEIR faith.” Jesus wasn’t speaking just to the paralytic; He was speaking to the men who brought him. And then He forgave THEIR sins! Consider what faith those men must have had! They braved the crowd to bring their friend to Jesus for healing. When they saw no way to get to Jesus, they climbed the roof, made a hole in it and then, using ropes, they lowered the man down to Jesus. That is faith! That is a testament to their love of their friend and his trust in them and, of course, their belief in Jesus’ healing powers. They are the ‘village’ in this story. They are literally the unsung heroes. The paralytic never would have made it to Jesus without them.

We tend to focus on the healer and the healed in a story like this. But perhaps today we can focus on the ‘village’ behind the paralytic. In spite of his illness and the general belief that illness was a punishment, these men stood by him, carried him, and cherished him.

Perhaps today we could focus on the ‘village’ in our life – all those people with such a strong faith in God and His healing powers that they stood by us, supported us, believed in us even when we felt we couldn’t even take a step on our own!

And while we’re at it, let’s pray for all those unsung heroes fighting this pandemic – doctors, nurse-practitioners, EMT’s, lab techs, orderlies, researchers and scientists, chaplains, receptionists, and so many more! Pray for them, support them, ask the Lord to call down His grace and protection upon them.

December 6, 2020 - 2nd Sunday of Advent

Mark 1:1-8

Impatient Hope!

Years ago when our 2 grandsons were little, Ginger and I spent a lot of time babysitting and shuttling the boys back and forth. Lots of driving! On one occasion, as I was driving them home, and as they had a lot of experience watching me drive, I saw an opportunity to teach them a bit about driving and traffic lights. So I asked them what the different colors on the traffic signal meant. Nate immediately piped in and said – red is stop, green is go and yellow is go faster!

That story speaks to the perceptiveness of children, how much they actually see and hear. But it also speaks to the impatience of adults, especially me! We are all in a hurry. We get upset with anyone/anything that slows us down. We drum our fingers at stop lights. We get upset with someone walking the wrong way down the grocery store aisle or if they don’t keep 6 feet distance when we are in the checkout line. And God forbid if they aren’t wearing their mask correctly.

And that doesn’t even include the rigors of Christmas shopping, at least in years past – waiting with the crowds for the store to open on Black Friday. And the impatience of children for Christmas to come, for Christmas morning to dawn and running downstairs to open presents under the tree. We count the days, we can’t sleep Christmas Eve and we stay up as long as we could, hoping to hear Santa on the roof!

And of course we are all well past patience with this pandemic, all its restrictions and forced isolations from friends and family. We want it to be over NOW! We want our normal life back NOW

Matthew – opens with quote from Isaiah – the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah lived in 8th century BC. By the time of Jesus and John the Baptist, the people have been waiting for a very long time for the Messiah – they are of course more than overdue for salvation and certainly more than a little impatient for the coming of the Messiah. So they come to John!

John, a wild man, clothed in camel hair, leather belt and eating honey and locusts, living in the desert, a desolate and forbidding area. And yet they come to him! Looking for the Messiah, looking for forgiveness, looking for faith and hope!

They thought he was THE ONE! But he tells them, it’s not me! He is coming, He will baptize with the Spirit. All that waiting, all that anticipation, all that impatience and he is not the ONE.

Impatience is not always such a bad thing. Where there is impatience, there is also a sense of hope! The people had hope! And hope is a good thing! Hoping for the Messiah is a good thing! Hoping for Christmas to come is a good thing! But we can’t just sit around and wait for it to happen. We all have to prepare! We all have to act!

And that is exactly what the people did in the Gospel! They didn’t wait around for the Messiah to appear. They went looking for Him. They traveled out into the desert to see and hear this wild man preach. They repented of their sins! They asked to be baptized!

Hope should lead us to act! Like John the Baptist, we are all called to prepare the way of the Lord; we all have to prepare for His coming! Not just doing the physical things – buying presents, decorating, baking Christmas cookies – we also have to prepare our hearts!

Many families have an Advent calendar tradition. The kids open a little window on the calendar every day leading up to Christmas and they usually find a piece of candy or chocolate! A little gift. What if we created our own version of an Advent calendar except instead of getting a gift, we give one! Every day, we do something to prepare for the coming of the Savior! Maybe it’s cleaning our room without being asked! Maybe checking in on a friend we haven’t talked to in a while. Maybe it’s checking to see if our elderly neighbor needs anything from the grocery store. Maybe it’s cleaning out the closet or pantry and donating items to a local mission. Maybe it’s praying together as a family at the end/beginning of the day. Maybe it’s just a few minutes of quiet time – no games, no electronics, just simple peace and quiet!

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!

December 5, 2020 - 1st Saturday of Advent

Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5A, 6-8

Have A Heart!

We have a Christmas Drive going on today at St. Robert Bellarmine (9am to 1pm). We’re collecting non-perishable food and new/gently used winter clothing to support the efforts of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. It’s just a one day collection; so it’s hard to tell how successful we will be. My hope is that people will take the time and effort to go out and buy some food items and/or sort through their closets for unused winter items. Whatever we collect will be a blessing!

But it’s not just about the physical effort involved or the time spent to complete the task. More importantly, it’s about our motivation. It’s about recognizing the needs of those less fortunate and responding to them, particularly at a time when more people are homeless, more are hungry and more are without a job. It’s about compassion!

And that is what we hear in today’s Gospel. Yes, Jesus does send out the disciples on a mission – to preach, to teach and to heal. Yes He does share with us that line about “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” But all of that happens AFTER He sees the crowd and is moved with pity. All of that happens AFTER He sees that they are troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. And He responds with compassion!

And that is the mission that Jesus is calling all of us to follow! To preach, to teach! But most importantly TO CARE! To tend to the lost sheep by responding to their needs with compassion and love! Let’s all keep that in mind and in practice during this season of joy and giving!

December 4, 2020 - 1st Friday of Advent

Matthew 9:27-31

‘Tis the Season

Besides all the decorating and baking cookies and sending out Christmas cards, this is also the time for Christmas movies. And I am sure we all have favorites! But here’s a slightly random thought – have you ever noticed how the main character in many of them is BLIND!! Not literally, of course. But think about it! In Christmas Carol, Scrooge is so blinded by greed that he can’t see the suffering or the joy of those around him. The dad in Elf is so focused on his business and money that he can’t appreciate the simple joys of the season. Kevin in Home Alone is so focused on himself that he can’t see the value of family and truly celebrating Christmas. And George in It’s A Wonderful Life is so weighed down and crushed by his seeming failure that he wishes he was never born.

Blindness! It’s the focus of today’s Gospel. And it’s only faith that eventually helps the two men to be cured! It’s faith that brings about the miracle! So don’t let the cares and worries of life get you so down that you become blind to the simple joys of the season. String popcorn and decorate that tree! Retell the story of that special ornament! Pray daily before your manger scene. Read that story of the visit of St. Nick to the little ones, maybe even to yourself! Open your eyes and see the beauty and wonder of the season. And Believe that the Savior is Coming!

December 3, 2020 - 1st Thursday of Advent

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

The Church’s One Foundation

Fair warning – I have never built a house and have no plans to ever attempt it. I have, however, made more than my share of layer cakes, each one an accidental version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, some more “leaning” than others. One of these days I will figure it out and achieve a cake that remains standing after a few slices! I’m sure it has something to do with the base!

We commemorate today St. Francis Xavier. He was born in Spain to a wealthy and powerful family; he lived in a castle and was educated at the prestigious University of Paris. He was looking forward to a promising career until he crossed paths with St. Ignatius of Loyola. His initial relationship with Ignatius was one of sarcasm and teasing as Ignatius tried to convert students to the Faith. But he was eventually won over and became a priest and missionary (particularly to India and Japan). He was canonized on the same day as Ignatius.

Today’s Gospel speaks of building your life, your faith, on a firm foundation. Kinda reminds me of the hymn – The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord…… Francis certainly tested out a number of things to build his life upon – wealth, power, prestige, education and teaching, athletics. Ultimately none of them seemed to be permanently satisfying or fulfilling, at least until he met Ignatius and became a Jesuit.

The whole image of building our house, our life, on rock, should resonate with all of us these days. For 8 months now, life and the entire world has been unsettled and shaky. Everything we took for granted as firm and steady has been tested. Like today’s Gospel, we have been beset with storms and winds and floods. There are times when our house seems about to collapse. And yet here we are; here we stand.

True, we are a bit wobbly on our feet and there have been times when our faith has been severely tested. But Our Father reminds us daily that He is with us, that He is our rock and our salvation. So stand on solid ground, don’t let the winds of change topple you over and, most importantly, Keep The Faith!

December 2, 2020 - 1st Wednesday of Advent

Matthew 15:29-37

Miracles All Around Us

I admit it – Ginger and I are FOODIES!! We watch more than our share of food and cooking shows, Master Chef, Chopped, you name it! And from to time, we have been lucky enough to dine at some pretty incredible TOP CHEF restaurants, places where you want to take out your phone and take pics of the food before you even eat it. Those were amazing, memorable meals. And sometimes it’s just a simple breakfast in a picnic basket shared on the beach as we watch the sun rise.

But sometimes you don’t have to go out for a great meal and great food. Sometimes it happens at home when we work together to prepare a meal, where, in the midst of chopping veggies and trimming the meat, we also share memories and laughter.

All of them wonderful memories and, truth be told, it wasn’t just about the food or sharing a meal; it was the conversation, the laughter, the remembering and the sharing of our hearts. It was the combination of the words and the food, not just one or the other.

But, let’s face it, some meals are memorable for all the wrong reasons. Going out for a speaker and a meal – the words were forgettable and the meal was one of the rubber chicken experiences. Or using a new recipe at home and the result was completely ‘disposable’

We hear about another meal in today’s Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The crowd has been following and listening to Jesus all day, in the heat and the dust. And it’s only in the evening that the disciples tell Jesus – we are far away from any town and the crowd is hungry –5000 people, not even including women and children, what should we do? All we have is 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. And then the miracle happens.

Most homilies I’ve heard focus on the food and use it as a symbol of Jesus feeding us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. In fact, this is the Gospel that is proclaimed on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood! Some focus on the miracle itself – the physical multiplication of the loaves and fishes to feed the crowd.

But I want to focus on something else!

What if – what if there is more than the one miracle taking place here?

What if there are more miracles going on than just the one we can see and touch and taste?

What if the real miracles happened not so much in front of our eyes but deep inside our hearts?

What if that crowd just wanted to give Jesus a quick listen, to hear this new preacher, and then go on with their day?

What if His words touched them deep in their hearts, so much so that they ended up staying the entire day, listening to His words of love and compassion? That would be a miracle!

What if they were carrying some food along with them but had no intention of sharing, especially with strangers?

What if Jesus’ words touched them so deeply that the real miracle was a change of heart?

What if, touched by His words, they changed, on the inside, in their hearts and in their souls! Changed so much that selfishness and greed and fear transformed into love of neighbor and caring for those less fortunate?

Think about it – the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the filling of their bellies, the satisfying of their physical hunger – that lasted just one day. But the other miracle – the filling of their hearts with the Word of God, the promise of eternal life – that’s a miracle that changes not only their physical selves but their soul and that will last for a lifetime!

That crowd gathered for a talk! In the process, they shared a meal! In the process, they experienced a change of heart, an awakening of faith, a conversion.

Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we gather first to hear the Word of God – proclaimed and preached! And then we share a meal – not simple bread but the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ! Are we changed? Is our faith awakened and refreshed? Do we experience a change deep inside our soul, a conversion of spirit and of direction in life?

Every day God calls to us, reaches out to us, offers us words of comfort and hope, offer us food for the soul, food for our spiritual journey.

December 1, 2020 - 1st Tuesday of Advent

Luke 10:21-24

Out of the Mouths of Children

Back when our daughter was very little and just learning to string sentences together, we had invited some friends over to our home for dinner. So when the doorbell rang a good half hour early, none of us were ready and I blurted out a few select 4-letter words to express my frazzled state of mind. And when we welcomed our guests in the door, there was our daughter standing there, greeting them with the same string of 4-letter words over and over again.

Out of the mouths of children! They see and hear so much more than we realize! They know and understand so much and so quickly.

Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that no matter our age or our seeming ‘wisdom’, there is part of us that we need to keep childlike – to keep that sense of wonder and joy over little things, to laugh at the trials of life and not allow them to rule our mood or our relationships. To keep that humbling and trusting and teachable faith in God, to recognize how much we depend on Him for our life and to express our gratitude and love for Him in our daily life!

One other thought today – this brief Gospel speaks about “knowing” God, “knowing” Jesus! How is that even possible for us to accomplish? But then I remember that many languages, Latin and French for instance, have 2 different words for “know”. One means ‘to understand’ and the other means ‘to be acquainted with’. Consider the simple act of flipping on a light switch. I know the light will go on; I have enough experience to believe that will happen. But that doesn’t mean I understand how electricity works.

I can’t begin to imagine I can fully understand God. But I can come to experience Him, to become acquainted with Him, to develop a relationship with Him. Advent would be a good time to work on that relationship, to work on “knowing God.”

November 30, 2020 - 1st Monday of Advent, Feast of St. Andrew

Matthew 4:18-22

Answering the Call

If you’re like me, your cellphone is permanently attached at the hip and you never go anywhere without it. It’s our calendar, our camera, our documents and apps; it’s our email lifeline to the world. But in all its complexity, it is still plain and simple a phone. And every day it presents us with choices – do we answer the phone, do we recognize the number!

It’s a process we are all familiar with. The phone rings; is the number familiar? If it isn’t, I regularly ignore and decline the call. If I recognize the number, then it’s more complicated. I can choose to answer it or I can deliberately decide I don’t want to talk to this person. A simple call but so many options!

We commemorate today the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, brother of Peter, patron saint of fishermen and singers, of Scotland and Russia. He was martyred on an X-shaped cross known today at St. Andrew’s cross.

The Gospel today relates Jesus’ calling of Peter and Andrew on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. They were both fishermen living in Capernaum; they were living a settled life with a family and occupation. And yet, at Jesus’ words, they dropped everything – EVERYTHING – and followed Him. They answered the call, certainly not having a clue where it would all lead!

So that is my question today. Your phone is ringing; God is calling! Would you answer the phone? Would you ignore it? Or would you doubt who was calling? What would you do? Granted, God finds plenty of ways every day to call out to us. But the question is still the same – would you answer the call or decline it? Would you be too busy with life or too fearful of the possibilities or demands of the call? That call may be a friend needing some advice, or the parish asking for volunteers or maybe just someone on the street asking for a couple of dollars. Maybe it’ your own family asking for help with a crisis. Do you answer the call??

November 29, 2020 - 1st Sunday of Advent

Mark 13:33-37

Be Prepared!

A couple weeks ago Ginger and I took the opportunity to go visit my Mom. It had been a year since we had seen her and, with winter approaching, this would be the last chance to see her until perhaps Spring.

But given the world we are living in and all the restrictions and precautions we are all dealing with because of Covid, it was not as simple as making reservations, hopping on a plane, and driving a rental car home from the airport. Nothing is that simple anymore!

So beginning in October we began to formulate a plan – something that would be safe for us and for my 95 year old Mom. We decided the safest way to travel would be by car. So we would drive straight from Chicago to Maryland, roughly 750 miles, stopping only for gas and pit stops for a snack. We would quarantine ourselves for 2 weeks before that to ensure we were not bringing any other “passengers” with us. We would wear masks the entire time we were home, except for meals and we would not make any physical contact with Mom and my sister – no hugs, no kisses. We would spend the entire visit at home – no visits to stores or restaurants. We even shopped at Costco here in Chicago so that we could bring home all the household supplies we usually get to stock up my mom for the winter.

We made sure our car would be ready for the journey and we got our cat-sitter to watch over our 2 senior citizen cats while we were gone. And we planned to make our return trip home to Chicago in the same manner – only necessary stops and driving straight through! We even scheduled a test for Covid so that we would not be bringing any ‘germs’ back to Chicago with us and so we wouldn’t have to do another 2 weeks worth of quarantine! And when we did return home, we anxiously waited at home until we got the negative test results.

And then we pitched the whole plan to my mom – to make sure she was comfortable and felt safe with all the precautions we were taking! And she said YES!

Whew! Yes, that was a lot of work, a lot of preparation but in the end it was all worth it!

We hear a similar tone in today’s Gospel – the master going on a journey and the servants tasked with being watchful, staying alert! Be ready because you don’t know when the master will return. But remember – it isn’t just about staying awake; it’s not just about sitting idly by twiddling your thumbs and doing nothing. It isn’t just about waiting and doing nothing! It’s about preparation! It’s about hopeful, joyful, active waiting!

We celebrate today a new liturgical season, a new liturgical year! We celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin words ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival’. The adventus was a ceremony in ancient Rome, in which an emperor was formally welcomed back into the city of Rome, especially after a successful military campaign.

The people of Rome certainly did not just sit around and wait for the Emperor’s return. Preparations needed to be made, and not at the last minute! Statues would be sculpted; special coins would be minted to commemorate the occasion! Preparations were joyful, hopeful and celebratory!

You already know all the preparations you went through to celebrate our Day of Giving Thanks! You know all the changes you had to make to accommodate the different circumstances this year. You know all the work and cleaning and cooking and all the planning you had to do to make it a day worth celebrating.

And you know all the preparations that lie ahead in order to celebrate Christmas day! Trees and lights and ornaments, presents to be bought online more so than in person, all the mailing of Christmas cards and gifts, that Christmas dinner to plan, no matter how many will gather around the table.

Christmas is only weeks away. For most of us, our holiday preparations have already begun. The Master is coming! The birth of the Messiah is approaching! Are we preparing ourselves with prayer and anticipation? Will we be ready when the Master comes? Or will He find us asleep and un-prepared? Are we ready to once again welcome Christ into our world, into our life?

What are we waiting for? Light your Advent candles! Leave the light on for the Master! Be Prepared!