Category: Sermon
St. John the Evangelist – Proclaiming Through Experience ~ Br. Mark Dickson-Patrick – Novice
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John the Evangelist, the “Beloved Disciple,” who is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of John. John was a historical figure, one of the “pillars” of the church in Jerusalem following Jesus’ death and resurrection. Around 95 AD, he is believed to have been exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation and taught various believers who came to visit him in exile. He is the only one of the original 12 apostles to not have been killed for his faith and died in old age around the year 100 AD. Depicted in art as a young man, John is also represented by an eagle, which is one of the figures envisioned by the prophet Ezekiel and in John’s Revelation.
Have you ever gone on a long trip or ever moved away from your dear family and friends, and desired so much to be with them, to spend time with them, to talk to them and enjoy their company? Oftentimes, we pick up the phone and we can hear the voices of our loved ones. We in our modern world use video chat services like FaceTime and Skype to see and interact with them on a deeper level. That, however, is very rarely enough to satisfy our desire to be with one another, to learn from our elders and relatives and to laugh and be silly with our friends. Being with them gives an added sense of love and friendship and guidance and comfort that indirect means of communication cannot do.
In our first reading for this great feast, we read John’s own words discussing what he had the immense blessing in his life to experience with regard to the message of the Gospel. John, as one of the original 12 apostles, got to walk with Jesus, hear the message of the Good News of salvation from His mouth, see the miracles He worked, and even see the salvation of the world as his Teacher, his Master, hung dying on the cross with the weight of the world’s sins past, present, and future, on his shoulders. John says that what he does in preaching the Gospel is because of “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life” (1John 1:1). John was in a very special place to witness these miracles, as Scripture calls him “the beloved disciple,” “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and he is the one to whom Jesus gave his mother to be taken care of. In preaching the Good News of salvation, and in his writings to the Christians who came to hear him, he is preaching what he himself has personally witnessed and is passing on to the readers of his letter, even down to us today. How truly blessed was he who touched the feet which bore the wounds which brought us salvation! How truly blessed to experience the miracles, the healings, and the walking on the water. How truly blessed to preach from his own experience that Jesus is Lord.
Sometimes in our Christian journey, it feels like we have to connect to the Lord through indirect means, like we would be connected with one another through FaceTime or Skype, or even the phone. Because we can’t physically touch Jesus, physically hear His voice as He speaks words of grace, of healing, of miracle, we may feel disconnected from Him and the work that He does in the world. We sometimes can feel like our prayer isn’t getting through and that we aren’t having the relationship with Jesus that we so desperately feel called to have. While it may feel that we can only connect to Him through indirect means we too, like John, can have those direct experiences with the mercy and grace and goodness of God. While in our life’s journey we become distracted, we should take a breath and look around and see the blessings, the graces, and the miracles that our Lord is working around us each and every day. Look at the beauty of the created world and the blessing of faith, and like John, share it. Like John, let us proclaim Jesus Christ, for “this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us” (1John 1:2). We don’t need technology to feel connected to the Lord. We need only look around us, listen for His voice, and share His goodness and love, and the Good News of salvation.
St. John the Evangelist, the Beloved Disciple, pray for us.
The Feast of St. Stephen the Martyr ~ The Rev. Lady Sherwood, OPI
St. Stephen the Martyr=The link with Jesus’s birth
Reading 1:Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59
Psalm:PS 31: 3CD-4, 6 & 8AB, 16BC & 17
Gospel: MT 10:17-22
Yesterday, we celebrated Christmas, the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We contemplated the newly born baby Jesus lying in a stable manager, we sang carols, feasted, and heard the tidings of peace and joy for the whole world. Although we are still very much in a festive mood, with the carols still ringing in our ears and the feasting still bloating us, today’s Feast of St Stephen the first Martyr, is a stark contrast to that of yesterday, but there is indeed a true deep link between the birth of Our Lord Jesus and Today’s Feast of martyrdom.
We all too easily forget among all the joyous festivities of Christmas, that our Lord Jesus was born amongst us, into a hard, cold, and violent world. Our dear Lord Jesus, the Son of God, was born not in a fancy palace or building. No, of all places,he was born in a manger within a simple stable. Not long after his birth, King Herod was looking to have him killed. This was only the very beginning of the violence and persecution which our Lord Jesus was going to face in his life upon the earth, and this would ultimately lead to to his execution upon the cross, paying the ultimate price for our sins and to gain for us eternal life and salvation.
So, when we truly reflect upon both the joy of Christmas and Today’s martyrdom of St Stephen, we can see the deep connection between the divine love and tenderness and human violence and persecution. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to heal our human hate and violence with his divine tenderness and love for us. This was expressed in mercy and by Forgiveness, this was also witnessed to us by the martyrdom of St Stephen. Just as Stephen believed and showed to us, let us also believe the truth, that ugliness and the evil of human hate and violence can only truly be changed with the divine tenderness of love and Forgiveness.
It is only through God’s mercy, love and Forgiveness and of our showing it as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as St Stephen did, that hardened hearts will be turned into loving hearts.
What’s On Your Plate? ~ The Rev. Dcn. Scott Brown, OPI
Having a full plate. Too much on your plate. Just what does this idiom mean? Imagine a plate of food so full that some food might fall off. We don’t have to imagine it; we’ve all seen guy at the all you can eat buffets. The idioms dealing with a “full plate” refer to the same kind of thing, except instead of food, our imaginary plates are filled with anxiety, work, things to do, problems that need to be solved. We have much on our plates and Joseph had much on his. Let’s read the Gospel for today:
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
MT 1:18-24
Let’s look at what was placed on Joseph’s plate.
Joseph must have had huge doubts about Mary when she was found to be pregnant. Joseph and Mary had not lived together (consummated the marriage), so Joseph had every right to believe Mary had been unfaithful to him, until an Angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel spoke to Joseph, assuring him that Mary had not been unfaithful, rather she was carrying the Son of God. What a trusting man Joseph must have been! How would you react? Wouldn’t that seem a little too far-fetched to be believable? Wouldn’t you just think that a dream is a dream and nothing more? Joseph didn’t: he had faith that what he had been told by the Angel was fact. I would like to think that if placed in the same situation, I would be able to react with faith as Joseph did. But most likely I would still be skeptical of the validity of the whole situation.
What do we know about Joseph? Not much actually, other than he was betrothed to Mary, which means that his marriage to Mary had been arranged by his and her parents; it is believed my many theologians that he was young, probably 16 or 17. We know that he was a devout man, a carpenter by trade, and he was from Bethlehem, but lived in Nazareth. Not a lot of detail about the man who would raise Jesus to adulthood.
We know that he was “pledged to be married” to Mary. What newer versions of the Bible call “pledged to be married,” the older versions call “betrothed.” This refers to an ancient Jewish marriage custom. In those days, most marriages were arranged by the parents–with or without the children’s approval. The two sets of parents would meet and draw up a formal marriage contract. When the contract was signed, the man and woman were legally “pledged” to each other other. This period of betrothal would last up to a year, at the end of which period they were formally married in a public wedding ceremony. Now that sounds like our practice of engagement, but there were some major differences. In the first place, the “pledge” was considered as sacred as marriage itself. During that year, the couple were called husband and wife but they did not live together. If the man died during that year, the woman would be considered a widow even though the wedding ceremony had never taken place. The only way to break the betrothal was through a legal divorce. In essence, to be “pledged” to each other was the same thing as being married, except that you could not live together until the wedding ceremony took place. The whole idea was that the one-year waiting period was meant to be a time for testing commitment and faithfulness.
Now Mary turns up pregnant. Joseph only knows one thing for sure. He’s not the father. What words describe a man at a time like this? Anger … Confusion … Frustration … Embarrassment … Shame … Rage … Disappointment. What did he say to her? What did she say to him? Did she tell him about the angel Gabriel? If she did, can you blame him for not believing her? Did he say to her, “Mary, how could you? You were pledged to me. We were going to get married. I think Joseph cried harder that day than he had ever cried in his life.
I shudder to think that if this situation happened today it might end in an abortion. Thankfully, Joseph and Mary didn’t have that option. Abortion was very rare in ancient Israel and Planned Parenthood hadn’t opened up a clinic in Nazareth yet. Joseph’s dilemma was of a different variety. He was an observant Jew and under the Law he had the right to divorce Mary for unfaithfulness. In fact, the Law forbade him to marry her under those circumstances. Here is the greatness of Joseph. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man (that means he wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God) and did not want to expose her to public disgrace (that means that he although he thought she had been unfaithful, he still didn’t want to humiliate her) , he had in mind to divorce her quietly. In those days, a man could get a divorce in two ways: First, he could get a public divorce by going before a judge at the gate of the city. That would mean that the whole town would know about Mary’s shame. Second, he could get a private divorce by giving her the papers in the presence of two witnesses. It is entirely to Joseph’s credit that he chose to do it privately and thus spare Mary the humiliation of a public divorce. Having made his decision … he didn’t do it. He had every legal and moral right to divorce Mary but he just couldn’t do it. He hesitated, waited, thought long and hard. Day after day he pondered the matter. Time was running out. With each passing day, it became more obvious that Mary was pregnant.
He had a dream and in the dream God spoke to him. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” To us, this seems strange. But not to Joseph. God often spoke to people through dreams in the Bible. It was one way he used in those ancient days of communicating to his people. He couldn’t marry Mary until he was sure it was all right. He had to know the truth. God met him at the point of his need at exactly the right moment. He told Joseph the one thing he most wanted to hear: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” The angel explains just enough and nothing more. The baby is “from the Holy Spirit” and thus not of man. Nothing more is said. We are not told precisely how the virginal conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary took place. It remains one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. After 2000 years of debate, we know nothing more about it than Joseph did.The angel added a detail about who this baby will be. His name is Jesus, which means “Savior.” His mission is to save his people from their sins.
We give more attention to Mary and rightly so. But Joseph deserves his credit, too. He is a model of the man of faith, struggling with his doubts, persuaded to believe what God has said and ultimately acting upon his persuasion.
In these days of confusion, Joseph is a wonderful model of what a godly man looks like:
He was tough when he could have been weak.
He was tender when he could have been harsh.
He was thoughtful when he could have been hasty.
He was trusting when he could have doubted.
He was temperate when he could have indulged himself.
Joseph had much on his plate. And he accepted it and met it with faith. What about you? What’s on your plate? How do you handle what life throws at you?
Let us pray:
Loving God, Help us to be more like Joseph, trusting, tender, thoughtful and temperate. Give us the strength to accept the situations before us and make the appropriate decisions for each situation. Amen.
Taking Up our Cross ~ The Memorial of St John of the Cross ~ The Rev. Lady Sherwood, OPI
We as Christians love the cross and we appreciate the role it played when Our Lord Jesus won our salvation by dying for our sins upon it and by His resurrection. However, to love the cross and its meaning in completeness, we must truly embrace it by following the command of Jesus when he says, “If you would be my disciples, take up your cross and follow me”.
Truly embracing the cross means we also must embrace our sufferings and hardships, just as our Lord Jesus did for each and every one of us. This has to go hand in hand with appreciating the salvation that Jesus won for us by his death upon the cross for our sakes, it is no good if we do not embrace all our sufferings also.
Today, we the Church, commemorate a man who did indeed truly love the cross, even to the extent that it became part of his name, that of St John of the Cross.
Although John’s father was from a wealthy noble family, he was disowned for marrying a poor peasant woman, and therefore John was born and raised in the sufferings of poverty. After first working as an orderly to the poor sick at a hospital because he couldn’t get an apprenticeship for a trade, John joined the Carmelite order as a simple brother Friar, but his superiors noticed his intelligence and sent him for advanced study before later ordaining him to the priesthood.
John who had much zeal for Apostolic counsel, became discouraged because many of his community failed to share his zeal, and he was about to leave to join the strict hermit order of the Carthusians when he met St Teresa of Avila, who was reforming the Carmelite nuns for the same issue as John had been experiencing.
Teresa convinced John to stay and reform the Carmelite friars and John threw himself into these reforms. Although John had the support of his General superior, many of the friars resisted John’s reform efforts and persecuted him.
John suffered being falsely accused of wrong teaching and he was imprisoned for nine months. He was blindfolded and led in the coldness of midwinter by very rough mountainous roads to prison in Toledo. He was imprisoned in forced seclusion in a little cell, scarcely six feet by ten, which was originally intended to be a closet and with the only little light being refracted from a tiny window located high on the wall. John suffered forced incarceration, isolation, forced fasting and discipline without even the simple comforts of a book or any writing materials.
John suffered all these many hardships and he embraced each and every one of them with such a profound love. He saw them as being his cross that he had to take up to truly follow Jesus.
Although St John leaves us the fruit of his spiritual writings, “The Dark Night of the Soul,” “The Ascent of Mount Carmel,” and “The Spiritual Canticle,” by far the most important of all is that he leaves us his wonderful and beautiful witness of one who did indeed truly love and fully embrace the cross. What an example to us all St John of the Cross truly is!!
May the life and the witness of St John of the Cross, together with his intercession, help us to fully embrace and to take up our crosses, loving the cross as St John did and as we all truly ought to do.
Doing What Is Right ~ The Feast of St. Lucy ~ Br. Michael Marshall, Novice
Saint Lucy was born to a rich and noble family around 283 A.D. Her father died when she was young, so she was raised by her mother, Eutychia; and her mother had been considered to focus much of her own life around wealth and status. Lucy, on the other hand, believed that the poor should be cared for instead of focusing on worldly goods. Because of her will to advocate for the poor, she desired to consecrate herself and her virginity to God; yet was unwillingly forced into an arranged relationship with Paschasius by her mother, which Lucy was able to postpone for a few years.
Lucy’s mother developed a hemorrhage which lasted several years, and sought to have it cured by travelling to visit the relics of Saint Agatha who had been executed 52 years prior. Upon visiting the relics, Eutychia was cured; and because of this occasion Lucy saw the opportunity to convince her mother to distribute wealth to help the poor. Because of the healing, Eutychia allowed Lucy to follow her vocation. When Lucy did so, Paschasius was not pleased in losing his future spouse and he had her ordered to be put to death. Some accounts of her last days speak of being accused and condemned of prostitution, as well as set on fire, but God saved her because of her great devotion. While other accounts speak of having her tortured to the point of blindness; she eventually was put to death by the sword. She died in 304 A.D. and has been declared a martyr by the Church. In iconography, the emblem of eyes on a cup or plate apparently reflects popular devotion to her as protector of sight, because of her name, Lucia (from the Latin word “lux” which means “light”). In paintings St. Lucy is frequently shown holding her eyes on a golden plate. Lucy was represented in Gothic art holding a dish with two eyes on it. She also holds the palm branch, symbol of victory over evil.
In today’s first reading from Zephaniah, we see that God is angry with the people for the negative actions, therefore Zephaniah declares he shall make things right with God, that way God will no longer be displeased. He declares that he shall purify the hearts of people, and rid them of the wrongdoings against others. He sees that it is the right thing to do in order for the people to have a relationship with God.
In the Gospel, we read that Jesus is challenging the chief priests and elders about their conduct. He uses the parable of two sons being asked to go out and work in the vineyard by their father; one initially refuses to work but eventually does go out and works, while the other son says he will work but never does. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders which son did his father’s will, and of course they answer him by saying the first son. Jesus affirms that they are correct, yet challenges them by telling them that they have “talked the talk, but not walked the walk.” Their actions speak of following God, but they have consistently done the complete opposite – just like the second son in the parable. Jesus points out that there have been people who have turned from their bad ways, and chosen to follow God and who are, therefore, like the first son, and will enter heaven before the chief priests and elders.
The life of Saint Lucy connects with these readings very well. She possessed the same mentality and conviction as Zephaniah. She knew that there was injustice in society and felt it was her calling to make things right. Lucy’s influence, growing up in wealth, yet desiring to consecrate herself to God and help the poor, ties in with her whole life being like the first son in the parable. She answered the call to help the poor instead of continuing the tradition in which she was raised. She saw that it was her vocation to do what was right, and actually follow through with the cause until the very end. She could very well have been like the second son by acknowledging God but continuing to bask in wealth and do nothing.
Saint Lucy is somebody who we should look to as an example as a way of living. Granted her story is about distributing wealth to the poor, that is only one form of a vocation of helping people in need. Everybody has gifts and talents which can be applied to help others. During my first journey in religious life, I was fortunate enough to know a religious sister who facilitated a ministry center which offered many community outreach programs to help the lives of those in need. The center offered after school meals, a program for immigrants to learn English, as well as classes to learn Life Skills. This sister knew it was her calling to provide the local community with the necessities of life. Yet what are WE going to do in order to be like Lucy; or the first son, if we turned from bad ways? Do we have resources which we are not fully sharing; money or simply time to put toward a ministry? Can we be like this sister I knew? Is there a whisper in your ear from God which you hear, but to which you are responding? Are we wanting to be like the second son, who says yes but then does not act on that yes? We have a week and a half before Christmas, so maybe this might be a time to reflect upon if there is something which we are called to do.
Father, may we be like Saint Lucy, and open our eyes and ears to recognize our true vocation in life. May we follow her example to be of presence and assistance within our own communities, and be like the first son who ultimately says yes. This we ask through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
11 December 2016 – Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete)
Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, one of the penitential seasons of the liturgical calendar. During Advent, we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Savior into the world.
This preparation can take many forms, including devotionals such as the Rosary, novenas, Advent calendars, and Advent candles and wreaths. Sometimes there is fasting among the faithful, and always the liturgical color is purple, symbolic of solemnity and somberness.
Except for today. Today’s candle and vestment color is rose. Today, near the midpoint of the Advent season, we are reminded to be joyful. “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
During Lent and during Advent, we are given sort of a break in our solemn preparations. But while in Lent, the rejoicing of Laetare Sunday implies open rejoicing, showing our joy, during Advent the Gaudete joy is rather internal, between us and God…or rather between us and the baby Jesus.
When I was a child, the Christmas season was always characterized by silence, peace, still nights, often slowly falling snow, and always carols and sacred music. It was a contemplative time. It was a personal time and I was comforted by the images of the manger, the Holy Family, the adoring shepherds and animals. In fact, I was rarely in a somber mood and saw no need for rejoicing on the third Sunday. But I was a child, and I thought as a child, and the anticipation of Christmas was more about the feasting and the celebrating and the gift giving.
But I was putting material things in place of the Holy Spirit, wasn’t I? Don’t we all?
Let’s go back to the Introit, the introductory part of the Mass and read the words again: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” How I missed the whole message!
Jesus told us, “The kingdom of God is among you.” He was saying that he was the One the Pharisees were awaiting, the Messiah, and here he was standing among them. And now that he has come among us, not the just Pharisees, but all of us, we must recognize his presence: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
“Hold on a minute, Brother!” I can hear you say. “How did we get there so fast? It’s not even Christmas yet and you’ve jumped ahead to Jesus’ meeting with the Pharisees! Back up!”
OK, I’ll back up.
Let’s look at the First Reading wherein Isaiah is describing how the land will be when God finally comes among us and rescues us from the desert of sin and death. “Glory,” “splendor,” “vindication,” “joy and gladness.” All of these things will come to pass eventually. But for now, we must wait in anticipation.
And today’s psalm also speaks of the wonders of the Lord and his love for everyone and how he will reign forever.
Then James tells us to be patient. “Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.”
And finally, the exemplar of waiting, of anticipation, of preparation for the coming of the Kingdom, John the Baptist finally can wait no longer and asks Jesus, in the Gospel, if he is “the one who is to come.”
He is coming. He is near. He is here. “The kingdom of God is among you.”
So on three Sundays in Advent, we are solemnly waiting, contemplating the day of his coming, performing our devotionals, and on one day in Advent, Gaudete, we are reminded that the kingdom of God is already here. Jesus is standing among us, as he stood among the Pharisees, and telling us, in the present and continuing tense, Maranatha, The Lord is come.
And being the mortals that we are, we need that reminding over and over. For some of us, myself especially, we need that reminder daily.
Maranatha – The Lord has come, the Lord is coming, the Lord is come. “Come, Lord” we entreat.
So let’s look today through rose-colored glasses and see the world as it really is, blessed by the coming of our Lord, full of love, life, and hope.
And so we pray, Gaudete!
(Play this hymn sometime today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omtAIwRsy5c)
Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
Puer natus is a 14th Century hymn written for this time of year.
| Puer natus in Bethlehem, Alleluia. Unde gaudet Jerusalem. Alleluia. Hic jacet in præsepio, Alleluia. Cognovit bos et asinus, Alleluia. Reges de Sabâ veniunt, Alleluia. Intrantes domum invicem, Alleluia. De matre natus virgine, Alleluia. Sine serpentis vulnere, Alleluia. In carne nobis similis, Alleluia. Ut redderet nos homines, Alleluia. In hoc natali gaudio, Alleluia. Laudetur sancta Trinitas, Alleluia. |
tr. Hamilton Montgomerie MacGill, 1876A Child is born in Bethlehem; Exult for joy, Jerusalem! Alleluia. Lo, He who reigns above the skies The ox and ass in neighbouring stall And kingly pilgrims, long foretold, And enter with their offerings, He comes, a maiden mother’s Son, And, from the serpent’s poison free, Our feeble flesh and His the same, That we, from deadly thrall set free, Come then, and on this natal day, And to the Holy One in Three |
It’s a Wonderful Life! ~ Br. Matt Pepple, Novice
I recently saw the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, directed by Frank Capra; it debuted in the post-war period of 1947. Now, it’s aired primarily by the NBC network during the holiday season. For a black and white movie, a lot of the movie’s themes are still relative for the world today.
Meet George Bailey, a young man, who is also the son of a banker. George has so many hopes and dreams that he wants to accomplish in his life. Then, after his father dies, he is left with the family business, “The Bailey Building and Loan”, and comes to the realization that many of his most cherished dreams may not come to pass. George gets married and has a family.
Things take a “sour turn” halfway through the film, when Mr. Potter, the film’s villain; makes a dishonest move against George’s uncle.
As a result of this, George is feeling miserable and hopeless. Enter the angel Clarence. George was willed with so much grief and despair that he has contemplated throwing his life away.
Clarence presents George with a remarkable gift; a life he has never lived.
If you were to take a step back and analyze your life to this date. Though it’s probably safe to assume that our life hasn’t been as dramatic as the fictional character of George Bailey, we do have a lot of power to affect positive change. So, how many lives have you affected? How have you helped people? What have you been able to do to affect positive change? What things could you make better? How would your friends and family be different?
Going further, imagine, now, what the world would have been like if Christ had never come into it. Our world, would have remained a very dark place. The birth of Jesus was a changing point. The Son of God was a gift that was given to us by God the Father. And as such, we must be thankful for this gift and look at our lives as gifts as well. God saw how dark the world was becoming, but as much, he was able to see the darkness inside of people’s lives.
In John 3:16, St. John writes, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That’s right, God loves the world and all of us so very much, that he bundled up and placed his “gift” in swaddling clothes and placed him in that manger in that cave. And he gave us an eternal “gift” to spend it with him.
And it is up to us as Christians to continue to be that ‘gift.’ We must remember that often, we are the only Jesus people will see. We are the only Bible some people will read. The holidays and Christmas time can be a somewhat depressing time for many people, and as Christians it is important for us to never lose hope or our faith, but to exhibit that faith on a grander scale.
As much as Clarence gave George some perspective on his life, and his accomplishments already, I urge you to not lose hope or your faith. If self-analysis grants you great conviction or satisfaction, please know that you can still change your life. Our life on this Earth is truly a most wonderful and gracious gift. So make it a great one! Amen.
“A Little Child Shall Lead Them” ~ The Rev. Dcn. Dollie Wilkinson, OPI
I love to garden, but often get frustrated when the small seedlings I have planted in the ground, do not take root. What usually happens is maybe one or two plants will survive my clumsy gardening, while the rest wither and die. I usually leave the dying stumps in the ground, figuring they will help fertilize the new plants trying to grow. In the beginning of Isaiah 11, we are offered a picture of the future that reminds us of how new growth springs from a solid root.
“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
This vision of the future offers us hope, with the upcoming birth of baby Jesus. And further goes on to describe just exactly how the Messiah will lead His people. Why does the Holy Spirit, who gave Isaiah these visions of the future, want you and me to see this? Because we need to understand what kind of king we find in the manger of Bethlehem.
“The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.’”
We recently had a presidential election in the United States. And though we know that only one person can win, that didn’t prevent some people from being upset when their favorite candidate didn’t win. Everyone can describe in detail why their candidate is the best person to lead this country. But I imagine, if they were honest with themselves, they could also tell you the faults of this or that person. This is because no one person is perfect. But the prophet Isaiah described the most perfect leader, not just of a country, but of all time. Not only does this offer us hope for the coming Messiah, but also serves as inspiration for those who have lost heart in their daily struggles. What once seemed dying, lost, gone ….. now offers hope. All is not lost! This new vision of the future, as detailed in Isaiah 11:6-10, offers us a glimpse of God’s promises for the future.
“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.”
Paints a pretty picture, doesn’t it? I can here you mumbling though: “But, how will all this be possible?” We already know that God can work miracles. After all, who created all you see, touch, smell, hear? It certainly didn’t materialize out of thin air. So is it so hard to imagine a future where there will be no strife, no discord among animals and man? Oh, I know looking at the world today, that might be hard to understand and even harder to imagine. But Matthew 19:26 clearly states, “Jesus looked at them and said “With men this impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” So next time you find yourself losing heart, ready to give up, remember the One who created you, who decided you were worth something. All of us are special, worth saving, and it will take a little baby, a small child, to show us the way.
A Life of Hope: St. Francis Xavier ~ Br. Matt Pepple, Postulant
St. Francis Xavier was born in the family castle of Xavier, in Pamplona in the Basque area of Spanish Navarre in 1506. He was sent to the University of Paris in 1525 and obtained his licentiate in 1528. He met with St. Ignatius Loyola and was one of the seven, who in 1534 founded the Society of Jesus. He intended to join Ignatius in Venice and then they would go as missionaries to Palestine, a trip which did not occur. He was ordained in 1537 and went to Rome in 1538 and 1540 when the Pope formally recognized the Society of Jesus. At that time, he, alongside Father Simon Rodriguez, was ordered to the Far East as the first Jesuit missionaries.
King John the 3rd retained Fr. Simon in Lisbon but Francis, spent six months preaching in Mozambique along with giving some assistance to the sick. He eventually arrived in Goa, India in 1542 with Fr. Paul of Camerino and Francis Mansihas. He began evangelizing the natives and attempted to reform the Europeans by adopting their customs on his many travels. He converted tens of thousands to Christianity in the subsequent decade.
He visited Paravas in India, Malacca, near New Guinea, Morotai near the Philippines and Japan. In 1551, the East and India was dedicated as a separate province and Ignatius designated Francis as its first provincial. In 1552 he went to China and landed on Sancian; where he died before he could reach the mainland. Working against excessive complications, language problems, he had no proficiency in foreign speaking, insufficient monies, and lack of assistance, often actual confrontation, even from European representatives; he left the mark of his missionary enthusiasm and vigor on areas which adhered to Christianity for centuries. He was beatified in 1622 and declared patron of all foreign missions by Pope Pius X. on Dec. 3.
Our scripture for the week, Romans 15:4-13; St. Paul is speaking to us on what was written in the old days being relevant even today for our instruction. “So that by determination and encouragement of the scriptures that we may have hope.” We need to live more in an attitude of hope and inspiration from the direction of the scriptures. Paul also tells us that our God wants us to live in harmony and peace with our neighbors, as Christ did. And that all of us in this harmony and unison may glorify the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to be welcoming of our neighbors as Christ has welcomed us. Jesus became a servant to the circumcised on the behalf of the truth of God in order that he might authorize the promises known to the fathers, so that the Gentiles may exalt God for his kindness and compassion. For it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name.” Again, he said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, and let all of the peoples praise Him.” Paul refers to the prophet Isaiah, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may prosper in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It was this hope that served as an inspiration for St. Francis Xavier. To have been a Missionary at his time, or really at the present time, was a very dangerous time. Things may have appeared very daunting to him, in the tasks that he was set forth. At any time, he and companions could have just given up. Hope, on the other hand, can be a very inspirational tool. God wants us to live and act in a spirit of hope, to be hopeful of the future and instill the hope of Christ in the present. We all have a certain desire for things to happen, for a certain situation to improve and get better, for a loved one who is sick to become healthier again, or for a better job. For as long as we live in hope, we can greet our neighbors, friends and relatives in an attitude of hope. As long as we have hope centered in Christ, there is always a chance for things to change. Jesus wants to be the light in your darkness and to be your hope for better things.
The Feast of St. Andrew ~Br. Mark G. Dickson-Patrick – Novice
Today the Church celebrates the great feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the brother of St. Peter. Andrew was a fisherman by trade, working alongside his brother before being called by Jesus to follow after Him. He became one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, and after His death and resurrection went out into various regions to preach the Good News of salvation. He was eventually martyred on an X-shaped cross, tied to the cross until death. As he was led to the cross, an ancient tradition attributes this quote to the Saint:
“Hail, O Cross, inaugurated by the Body of Christ and adorned with his limbs as though they were precious pearls. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear. Now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as a gift…
O blessed Cross, clothed in the majesty and beauty of the Lord’s limbs!… Take me, carry me far from men, and restore me to my Teacher, so that, through you, the one who redeemed me by you, may receive me. Hail, O Cross; yes, hail indeed!”
Saint Andrew holds a special place for me, as he was the patron of the Roman Catholic College Seminary I attended for 4 years. Countless hours were spent praying before the image of this great saint, who was cradling an image of our seminary in his arms. This saint, who we deemed a brother, we would beg to intercede for the brothers of our house, for ourselves, and for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life. Now, every year, I take it upon myself to pray a Novena to my brother, St. Andrew, for the state of the Church and the world.
Our Gospel reading this morning presents us with the moment that Andrew and his brother Peter are called by Jesus for the great work of preaching the Gospel. Fishermen by trade, they were mending their nets by the edge of the sea, when this teacher walks by and says “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We are told that they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus, not knowing at all what was to come. In a retreat on this topic to seminarians, Bishop Robert Morlino the Roman Catholic Bishop of Madison, WI, once said “When the Lord and Savior of the world comes up to you, looks you in the eye, and says ‘Follow me,’ why in the world would you ever stand still?” Andrew and Peter felt the call of conviction that the Lord laid on their hearts and as we know became two of the great apostles, preaching the Good News of salvation to the death.
There are times, I’d venture, that we often feel the call and conviction that Peter and Andrew felt, the call to preach the Gospel to all who will listen. We picture setting out on a grand crusade, bringing thousands to Christ and to salvation, bringing them home into the arms of God and away from the pain of heresy and death. But then we realize that with our busy lives in an increasingly secular world, we don’t have the time to go on these grand crusades that we have formulated in our mind. Notice what the Lord does with Peter & Andrew, and what He does with us as well. Jesus didn’t say, “Leave your nets, and you’re going to go on huge crusades.” No, he said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus took what they knew how to do, and enhanced it, for the work of ministry. So, too, does he do that with us. He takes our abilities, to teach, to pray, to work in the ordinariness of our lives, and enhances them for His uses, to preach the Gospel. That is how we can lead these lives of religious devotion in a secular and busy world.
My friends, there is work to be done. The harvest is plentiful, and the labors are few. Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life, that the Lord may take people in their ordinariness and enhance their gifts to serve His glory, that we may build up the Kingdom of God together. Like Peter & Andrew, heed the conviction that He is placing on your heart.
Amen.
Novena Prayer to St. Andrew
Saint Andrew, strong and powerful, intercede and pray for us.
Andrew, apostle of Christ, help me to rejoice in Jesus and so bring others to Him. May my words and deeds lead others to deeper faith in him. Bold missionary and evangelist, guide me where the Lord would have me preach his gospel. Companion of the Lord Jesus, send us people called to be priests, deacons, & religious. Saint Andrew, in your kindness hear and answer our prayer.
Amen.
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