Oh that the Lord would rest within me as the child rests in this basket.
Greetings on this the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Readings: 1 John 2:18-21; Psalm 96:1-2, 11-12, 13; John 1:1-18
Summary
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14).
The whole person of God made his dwelling with us. He pitched his tent to live with us, fully and completely, in the family and in the temple.
Reflection
To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God (Jn 1:12a). This is not partial adoption, but a sharing in divine life.
Personal Reflection
For me, seeing a newborn baby is amazing. The sight touches me to the depth of my humanity. And at the center of all our humanity is the Lord, humble child, dwelling within us. May he pitch his tent and always dwell within us. Now and Forever.
Greetings on this the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas Readings: 1 John 2:12-17; Psalm 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10; Luke 2:36-40
Summary
I am writing to you children, fathers, and young men. You have forgiveness and strength because you know Him – The Word of Life – and through Him conquer Evil.
Children your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake. you know the Father.
Fathers you know him who is from the beginning. x 2.
Young Men you have conquered the Evil One. x 2. you are strong and the word of God remains in you.
Reflection
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him (Lk 2:40).
John writes us this lovely exhortation nestled in this letter of warning about false ideas. The center of the exhortation is the fathers.
you know him who is from the beginning.
Children and young men get their model and inspiration from the fathers of the community. How they are, so will the children be.
Healing and Strength
Fathers who act forgiven.
Fathers who know the Father.
Father who are strong in faith and fight evil.
Fathers with the strength of the Word of Life.
These fathers make sons and young men who know too. And the word remains … until they become fathers and do likewise.
Personal Reflection
Men, know your importance in the formation of children and young men.
Greetings on this the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Readings: 1 John 2:3-11; Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6; Luke 2:22-35
Summary
[Simeon] took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Lk 2:28-32).
In our responsorial we have the three elements of Simeon’s consolation:
Praise His Glory
Proclaim Salvation
Enter Peace (to go forward, or to be dismissed in peace)
From Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
The LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty go before him; praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
Reflection
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall (1 Jn 2:10). Simeon is like anyone else – he suffered one thing or another over the course of his life. He knew well the pathway of life has difficulty and said: Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:34-35).
What sets Simeon apart is not the absence of suffering, but his focus on the solution rather than the problem. The solution is not revenge, anger or perpetual victimhood. The solution is Consolation.
Personal Reflection
Be consoled.
Gently he presents himself.
Gently receive him. Take Jesus into your arms, praise, proclaim your salvation and enter the sanctuary of his love.
Greetings on this the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5.; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Summary
When truth collides with power we see the extremes love must endure.
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” (later on) “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” (Mt 2:13, 20).
Reflection
Our sacred text today steps around the Massacre of the Infants, a most vile act of power against reason. The Church instead would like us to think about the harmony of the family. Joseph twice guides his family through the pathways of a hostile world safely to Egypt and again safely to Galilee.
How did Joseph know to “Rise“, where and when to go? Our sacred text gives us two layers to the answer.
The First Way
The Angelic inspiration is written twice: “the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream” (Mt 2:13, 19) to assert the divine intervention to guide Joseph in his holy task as father and protector.
The Second Way
The second way is hidden in the wisdom of Sirach: Responsibilities to Parents, in particular to the father (any father). The wisdom tradition of Sirach reminds us that honoring fathers and mothers forms a web of responsibility, memory, and aid. Joseph’s obedience unfolded within relationship: with Mary, with family, with a people who knew displacement and exile.
Those who honor their father atone for sins, Those who honor their father will have joy, Those who respect their father will live a long life (Sir 3:3,5,6).
Joseph, silent of retained dialog, was actually very rich in dialog. Mary, his wife, was his constant aid and counsellor. Friends and family aided them on their trip. Libya was a home away from home among the diaspora. Joseph was not alone, abandoned, but given help every step of the way. My son, be steadfast in honoring your father; do not grieve him as long as he lives. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored (Sir 3:12, Col 3:12, PS 128:1-2).
Personal Reflection
We often miss this Second Way. I did for a long time. The Second Way does not replace the First—it cooperates with it. We did not consider Joseph having family and friends that would help him. We often encounter the story only within a narrow frame: Joseph alone, abandoned by all. It’s ok. We were trained to ignore the imposition of a social ideology. We were trained to accept Herod’s slaughter as normative expression of power and our victimhood in the face of oppression.
Michel Foucault observed “power operates most effectively when it becomes invisible.” (French philosopher, historian, and social theorist). Modern day Herods operate with impunity and violently with nary a nod to justification in rational terms. If not for the divine love and his friendship by way of people of good will, death.
Noelle-Neumann (German political scientist) coined the phrase “spiral of silence”. Not the silence of Joseph, the silence TO (the modern) Joseph, the silence ABOUT (the modern) Joseph. This silence hurts in the immediate in the effects of bringing fragility to the society. Peace becomes performative (Dr Esha Lovrić, “Social Ideology: How does it affect our thoughts?”). We get lost without a shared horizon rich in diverse thought and negotiated future.
We must not wait passively for angels while ignoring the voices God has already placed among us—parents, elders, neighbors, and people of good will. We must begin anew honoring our fathers and mothers – whomever they are.
Greetings on this the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Readings: 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20:1a and 2-8
Summary
The Gospel of John and the 1st Letter of John draw us back to the essentials: In the beginning, the beginning of Time and the beginning of the Good News.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn 1:1).
What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life (1 Jn 1:1).
And nestled between the two proclamations is the Empty Tomb.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.(Jn 20:2,8).
But they didn’t take him, He is Risen.
Liturgical note: Since the Feast of the Holy Innocents falls on the Sunday of the Christmas Octave, the Sunday celebration is the Feast of the Holy Family.
Reflection
In rapid order after Christmas morning, we experience the martyrdom of Stephen and the witness of the Empty Tomb.
Our Liturgy of the Hours recalls the boldness with which Peter and John proclaim the Lord. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20).
Personal Reflection
Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John the Evangelist all proclaim what they know and saw: Jesus, in the flesh and Jesus Resurrected – beginning with the Empty Tomb.
So today we are called to see the Empty Tomb, death defeated. In the life of Jesus, in our life too. Proclaim the Incarnate One! Proclaim His Victory! Merry Christmas!
Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr Readings: Acts 6:8–10; 7:54–59; Psalm 31; Matthew 10:17–22
Note: I let Chat GPT format the reflection. Do you prefer his style to mine?
Summary
“Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth.” (Ps 31:6)
We are in the Christmas Octave, the eight-day celebration of the Nativity, which concludes with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God—your Blessed Mother too. Even then, the Christmas Season continues until the Baptism of the Lord.
Christmas Day. The Christmas Octave. The Christmas Season.
I suppose we could say the Church considers the birth of Jesus to be rather important.
At first glance, the celebration of Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, with his love of the Lord unto death, may seem oddly placed within this joyful octave.
But it is not.
Stephen echoes—in paraphrase—the words of Jesus on the Cross:
“Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Reflection
Into your hands, Lord of the universe, I commend my spirit, because you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth.
The best Christmas gift ever.
Personal Reflection
Stephen’s visible and dramatic love for the Lord is something we all admire. Love for love’s sake. Forgiveness at the depths of humanity. Holiness in action.
We admire it—and hope we would match such steadfast faith in circumstances we pray to be spared.
And at its core, what makes Stephen’s martyrdom so profoundly human is his final cry:
“Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth.”
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent Mass in the Morning Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29; Luke 1:67-79
Summary
The canticle (song) of Zachariah is said every morning in the Church in the prayer discipline of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The canticle (song) of Mary is said every evening in the Church in the prayer discipline of the Liturgy of the Hours.
These are songs about children, John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ, and their relationship to each other and their relationship to all of us. These are songs of God’s fidelity and care. The defeat of death and the promise of a life of peace. These songs are given in relation to the birth of the Messiah (John by degree, Jesus directly).
So we can say Christmas is celebrated and prayed every day in the Church.
Of Jesus’ Incarnation we say:
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Reflection
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior.
Personal Reflection
Be free. Be saved. Let us join in worship and praise. Tonight we sing again, Glory to God in the Highest! As like the first Christmas!!
Greetings on this the Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time Readings: Wisdom 13:1-9; Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5ab; Luke 17:26-37
Summary
If you haven’t been keeping track of this object named 3I/ATLAS, it is an amazing story! This is an interstellar comet passing through our solar system. For science it is a chance to examine objects in space with origins from beyond our own solar system. For artists opportunity for imaginary expressions of the ‘final frontier’. For the religious an opportunity to rejoice. We are stardust!.
In our Wisdom literature we have scripture that at once brings the folly of false worship and the truth of the Artisan. I prefer this morning to present you the positive rewrite of the Book of Wisdom. Because I can 🙂
Amazed by nature were all who were at first ignorant of God, who from the good things seen did not at the first succeed in knowing the one who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan. Mesmerized by fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, seemingly the governors of the world, they considered these to be gods (Wis 13:1-5, Gerry Edition).
The Scientist – go deeper!
Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these! For the Lord is the original source of beauty fashioning them. When struck by their might and energy, let us realize from these things how much more powerful is the one who made them! For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen (Wis 13:1-5, Gerry Edition).
The Psalmist – go poetic!
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.
Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5ab
The Day of the Son of Man
All these wonders are wonders to be sure. But when we focus on what we see alone we deny all our other senses and the powers of reason. Be reasonable. We are creatures made of stardust.
The gathering of the elements we study (and some revere) were brought together to make you. But not just elements, breath. In all the amazing things of this universe, and there are spectacular things, you… YOU … are the most amazing… the LORD God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit (Gen 2:7, Jn 20:22).
For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Mt 24:27).
Jesus makes a different example. Those in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot ignored the root cause, the First Mover, of all that is. Failing to continue to wonder at all that is, and going deeper as scientists, artists and religious. When we lose awe we lose our humanity.
