Just a few shorts days ago, we celebrated Thanksgiving. It is a time to reflect on every thing we have to be thankful for: family, good friends, yummy foods, and all the other things that we take for granted throughout the year, We may also turn our thoughts to those less fortunate, and resolve to donate to a worthy cause, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or drop some coins in those Salvation Army red kettles. Now we are in the season of Advent. It is a time for quiet reflection. A time to clear out the mental clutter, so that we may have a deeper relationship with God, the Father.

     As I was reading over the scripture for today, the letter from Paul, to the Philippians, really hit home. Now remember, Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison in Rome in approximately A.D. 61 or 62, about ten years after Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke first arrived in Philippi with the gospel message. At the end of Acts, we read about Paul being in prison in Rome awaiting trial. Philippians seems to have been written after the close of Acts but before Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment. As Paul writes, he is hopeful of being released soon. Certain statements in Philippians hint that Paul’s trial may have already concluded and that he was only awaiting the verdict of life or death at the time he wrote this scripture. Although the verdict could call for him to be executed, Paul was hopeful, expecting to be released from prison soon.

In Philippians 1:3-11, Paul describes his love for the people of Phillipi, and especially his congregation.

        “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”

      During his imprisonment, Paul frequently remembered the church and always offered up prayers with joy. Here is a man, in prison, but his thoughts are not about himself, nor whether he will live another day. Besides his love of the heavenly Father, his thoughts, love, and prayers are always for his people. The prayer life that Paul exemplifies puts most of us to shame. You may wish you could pray like he does. Surprisingly, it may not be as hard as you might think. Paul cultivates the discipline of “remembering” (1:3). He consciously and continually trains his mind to reflect on God’s people. This is a discipline, just like working out or eating healthy. But it works wonders in prayer. Here are a couple examples. When you see a little boy on a bike, instead of just thinking, “What a cute kid,” let this boy remind you to pray for the children in your church, or school. When you see a young couple in the mall or in a restaurant, don’t just think: “I wish my marriage was like theirs”, or “I wish I was married”. Or a popular one I hear some days, “I wish I wasn’t married.” Instead, pray for this family, or pray for your own family members.

      When you see someone with gray hair, instead of thinking, “I hope I don’t turn gray or get old.” Instead pray for the seniors citizens in your neighborhood who may live alone. Pray for widows and widowers, who are lonely and in need, to experience God’s provisions. When you hear a different dialect, instead of thinking to yourself, “Hmm, that’s odd sounding”. Or especially with the current events in the world, mumble under your breath, “Oh, its one of those people, the ones who are causing the immigrant crisis”. Instead pray for them and the persecuted church in other countries. Pray that God would strengthen these brothers and sisters as they courageously live for Christ and His gospel. When we practice the discipline of remembering, we can be effective in our prayers.

     How we pray for one another will sometimes determine how we treat one another. If we only pray when the person we are praying for is having problems, how will we view that person when we see them? We will think they always have problems, and they become a burden and not a blessing to us. However, if we are frequently praying prayers of thanksgiving and faith, then we will have a positive view of other people. As Christians, especially for those of us who work in ministry, its may be easy to become cynical or burned out because we deal with so many problems. People come to us when their marriage is in crisis, their child has run away, or they have an illness like cancer. They secretly hope that we can solve their problems. Instead of being pessimistic and irritated, we should thank the Lord for the person’s character, spiritual gifts, their uniqueness. If we can do this, we will then be able to view others the way the apostle Paul does. His joyful prayer to the Philippians, his outpouring of love and concern, should serve as an example, and reminder, that everyone you meet is your congregation, your Church. How will you minister to them? How will you pray for them? We hope with a thankful and joy-filled heart!

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent, a new Church year and a period of preparation for the event of Christ Jesus’s birth.

I wonder how many of us will be caught up with the usual Christmas preparation, getting decorations and buying presents and buying food that lasts for weeks afterwards, and baking cakes and mince pies and other things, to share with family and friends.

But I think we have lost the real meaning of Christmas because Jesus was born in the humble place, a stable with no door – just a cloak to keep the warmth in, a plain and simple place, among all the animals,  He was wrapped in cloth, and laid in a manger, the most humble of beginnings.

There were no fancy lights – just the lights of the stars, no decorations or Christmas trees, and no feast that would feed all of Bethlehem.

We must also think of those people in our own countries who are living in poverty, people who have no warm bed to sleep in, and families that can’t buy presents for their children, let alone have a fancy meal. And yet I look to those people at this time of year, because they are like Christ, they may be poor, material wise, but they are rich in the Holy Spirit, they have nothing to give, and yet they give everything they have.

Also we need to prepare our hearts and souls to welcome Christ into our lives; the image of the Light of the Word comes to mind, Jesus knocking at the door – all we have to do is open it.

Don’t be afraid to open wide the door to Christ, and give him complete control of your life.   I know from my own life that it is easy to say, “Come, Lord Jesus take control of my life… but I don’t want to do this or that.”  When you open the door to Christ, give him complete control because he knows what to do with us, what we can deal with, he knows everything. I know how difficult it can be to let someone have control of your life, not knowing what is round the corner and how to cope with the challenges of life. But what we sometimes forget is that Jesus went through everything that we go through, temptation, heartache, sorrows and joyful times too. And he got through it because God was leading him and helped him also.

Advent is a time of preparation, so spend some time in prayer, in church, or at home.  At this time of year, I like to sit in silence in front of the Nativity scene and see the infant Jesus laying there in the manger.  Perhaps you might, too.  Don’t say anything, sit in silence and let your heart do the praying and say “Yes” to Christ and let him into yours lives and let him guide you in your true vocation as Christians.  Amen.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, come and show us how to live and be like you in humility, and service to our fellow brothers and sisters in our world. Help us to prepare for your coming in our hearts and souls. Let us think of all those in need and those Christians living in the Holy Lands and let there be an end to war and let peace reign in our world and our hearts. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Today in the Alleluia of the Mass, Paul tells us: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

…In all circumstances…

This echoes Job: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Years ago, I was talking to a man whose house had been invaded and his wife and daughter killed before his eyes. He survived a terrible beating. It was a long discussion, because I could not understand him, his serenity, his forgiveness. “How could you not want revenge?” I asked.

Without any pretense or air of saintliness, he said, “Because if I think like that, my whole life is a waste. I am thankful for the memories and for what I have.”

I must confess, I left that guy with strong feelings of confusion and anger. How could he possibly forgive those who so violated his soul and his life?

“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

It was many years before I could understand what that man was saying, the way he was urging me to think. But finally, on an intellectual level, I got it. And then through prayer I even began to understand emotionally and spiritually.

Until I didn’t. “Lord I believe. Help thou mine unbelief.”

Isn’t it easy to be thankful for the good things we have? One of the symbols of the American Thanksgiving is the cornucopia. The Horn of Plenty. Our friends, our children, our spouses, our family, our homes, our food, our comfort. All these we are grateful for and we give thanks for.

Yet after we get up from the groaning board, put away the dishes and leftovers, then we may go into our television room and watch the news of refugees struggling just to stay alive, of starving children in many places around the world – including our own country – of bombs and earthquakes and floods and…and…

And we give even more fervent thanks for what we have and for our own good fortune.

And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.

Today’s first reading from Sirach is so comforting to us. Yet the Book of Sirach contains passages that has little compassion for women or slaves, and advocates distrust and possessiveness over women, and the harsh treatment of slaves.

Even in such a comforting reading, the echoes of evil are present.

And in the second reading from Corinthians,

He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here we are reminded that many saints were martyred because of their beliefs. They remained “firm to the end,” and end which was often horrible and shameful.

And then in the Gospel, Jesus is telling the thankful leper that his faith has saved him. He does not mention the curing of leprosy, he says, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Not, “now you are healed” but “your faith has saved you.”

The man whose family was murdered, the man I could not fathom, had faith…”if I think like that, my whole life is a waste.”

Faith. Thanksgiving. Peace.

Bad things happen to good people, as Rabbi Kushner said almost 30 years ago. Bad things. Even on Thanksgiving Day. Even on Christmas.

Faith. Thanksgiving. Peace.

Well, as that man told me, why make our lives a waste? Should we focus on the bad? Should we blame our lives on the bad? Should we despair?

God has given us free will. Life is up to us. How we live it is up to us. So we can accept life as it is given us, the good and the bad, and we can make a decision. We can throw our hands up and despair, but what does that get us?

Or, we can accept what life throws at us and have faith. We can trust in God, not to protect us always from the bad, but to give us the comfort to know that no matter what happens, our goal is our salvation, our life in the company of the saints.

Life does indeed give us lemons. Let’s make lemonade this Thanksgiving.

The first reading which is taken from the book of Daniel 12 vs 1-3:

In those days, I Daniel,
heard this word of the Lord:
“At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

“But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever.”
The first reading of today is a reminder of the last day, the events of the last day, the things that will take place on the last day when Michael, the guardian of the people of God, shall arise.  The Michael here being referred to is the Archangel Michael. The phrase, “those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,”  invariably means some who are sleeping in the Lord shall awake in glory because they lived their life so well. “Upon those found guilty shall face everlasting horror and disgrace but the wise and righteous shall shine like the early morning star,”
is a reminder that we should have it at the back of our mind that there is a judgement day, this day awaits anybody that fails to keep the laws of the most high God.

The psalmist also reminds us that God is our inheritance, we should should set the Lord first in all that we do.  Once we put God first in all we do, He will never abandon us, He will always be on our side so that we will not face horror.

The second reading:  Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.

In the second reading of today, we are told about the sacrifice of Christ, a selfless sacrifice, sacrifice that takes the sins of humankind away. Here, we can see that every priest offers sacrifice daily but Christ offered the greatest sacrifice by shedding His blood for the remission of sins. The sacrifice that makes us whole. The sacrifice of Christ has no comparison, Christ offered the sacrifice and was perfect forever in the glory of God the Father.

The Gospel:  Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.

“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

In today’s gospel periscope, it is reminding us about the end time, the signs which will show that the son of man is at the door post, the Bible makes it clear that so many things will happen as a clear sign that the coming of the son of God is almost at hand. Looking at what is happening on earth, war everywhere,  nation fighting against nation, father against children and children against father.

Brothers and sisters let us know that the length of our lives on earth does not count, but rather what counts is how we lived our life.  Did we live our life to please God or to please our fellow human beings? Let us get ready to account for the precious life that given to us, by living it well. Heaven is real, heaven is our permanent home.
Therefore my beloved one, let us strive for our salvation, let us prepare ourselves to meet the master of the universe, the creator.

GLORY TO JESUS.

Though today’s Gospel is from Mark, let me refer us to Matthew’s beautiful passage of Jesus speaking about God’s care for us:

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

And as God foretold through Elijah, the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry in the widow’s house.

So in the Gospel, Jesus admonishes those who are ostentatious in their wealth and commends the widow who gives all she had.

Is Jesus talking about money? Wealth? Poverty? Station in life? In an off-hand way, yes. All throughout the Gospels there are comparisons between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, the haves and the have-nots.

Luke, in the first two of the four Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Plain, quotes Jesus as saying:

Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.

And the first two woes that follow:

Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.

And also from Luke: You cannot serve both God and Money.

This teaching, then, seems to me to be what is behind today’s readings. And the question is, what are we to pay attention to?

Years ago, when I was working as a management consultant, we used to advise our clients that they could not improve their business if they were not paying attention to the things that were important. Pretty basic, huh? But you would be surprised how many companies paid very little attention to the things that would improve their bottom line. They measured hours worked, the number of products made, precisely how much each employee should receive as a wage…almost everything but how their customers thought they were doing, how satisfied they were, and whether they would buy from the company again.

How many of us are like the scribes in long robes seeking places of honor at banquets? And even if we are not manipulating the law to expropriate the houses of widows, are we not daily concerned with our livelihood, our income, our shelter?

But at this point we hear those persistent voices in our head saying we must plan for the future, take heed of our finances, and care for our families. And then this verse comes to mind: “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

So what is a person to do?

What do we pay attention to? Well, his yoke may be easy and his burden light…but taking them up is pretty tough, wouldn’t you say? No really, what do we pay attention to? Maybe in the case of money, security, shelter we should actually be thinking of Jesus’ words as exercises, just as we exercise to keep our strength. Maybe the answer is to work every day at paying attention to the things of heaven, and not of this earth.

No matter how good we are at multi-tasking, we can only pay attention to a few things at a time. So let’s resolve to exercise our love of God by paying attention to him throughout the day. We have St. Paul urging us on: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Let’s resolve to pay attention the things that really matter, those things that we know, deep in our souls, that bring us peace and comfort.

Sure, the stresses of the day will intrude. But we can only experience the easy yoke and the light burden if we take them up. It’s that taking up that we must give some effort to.

One last quote, from Jeremiah:

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understand and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

Lord, help us to take up our cross and focus ahead on knowing and loving you. Let our thoughts and actions be in your direction and let us have faith that your yoke will be easy and your burden light. Amen.