The New Testament optional reading for today’s Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph comes from Paul (Col 3:12-17).  Check out this lengthy list of traits included in this short dense passage to which Christians must aspire:

+ heartfelt compassion
+ kindness
+ humility
+ gentleness
+ patience
+ bear with one another
+ forgive one another
+ love (the bond of perfection)
+ let the peace of Christ control your hearts
+ be thankful
+ let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
+ in all wisdom teach and admonish one another
+ sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
+ whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,                    giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A finer set of resolutions (being that time of the year) you will not find.  This will keep us busy for the new year and for the rest of our lives.

Let our encounter with Christ shape us as it did Paul.

Bartolome Esteban Murillo – Conversion of St Paul, 1675

Inexplicably, this line is left off the end of today’s first reading (Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59) on the Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr.  Also, left off, understandably because of its length, is his long sermon (definitely worth reading chapters six and seven of Acts today) immediately preceding and directly leading to Stephen’s murder.

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606 – 1669), The Stoning of St Stephen, oil on panel (90 × 124 cm) — 1625, Musée des beaux-arts, Lyon

But why this feast the day after Christmas?  Well, just as God Incarnate first entered our world over two thousand years ago yesterday, Stephen was the first Christian to enter heaven.  And how beautifully he did so!  Echoing Jesus on the cross (Lk 23:34), he forgives his killers and then “he fell asleep.”  What a wonderful image that evokes.  As brutal as his death is, he simply slips from this life in faith waiting to be awakened by Jesus (see Mt 9:18-19, 23-26 and Mark 5:21-24, 35-43) in the next life who will be welcoming him to His Father’s house (Jn 14:2).  What greater reward can we ask for after faithfully journeying through this “valley of tears” (see Ps 84:7 — “Baca” means “tears”)?  And what greater incentive could there be to remain steadfast in faith, hope and love (1 Cor 13:13)?

May we all emulate Stephen’s full trust in the Lord, like him never backing down from what we believe, whatever the cost.  And, in a special way, let us pray for all permanent deacons who find their exemplar in the first deacon.  Also, let us not forget those who are in formation for this ministry that they may discern well the vocation that God has chosen for them.

The first reading at midnight Mass (Isaiah 9:1:6) foretells a great event: a child to be born that will be a cause for rejoicing for He will set the people free and rule a vast dominion.  He will be a counselor, hero, father, and peacemaker.  Also, He will judge justly.  His reign will be everlasting.

And He will bring light, as the first verse highlighted at the top declares.  In the gospels Jesus tells us,

I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  (John 8:12)

This is truly good news.  We need not stumble around in sin, confusion, sadness, or regret when we have a beacon such as Christ to guide us.  It can be difficult to follow the right path but we can work it out with the Lord’s help.

Bigger problems come when we don’t realize we are in darkness (I’m not a sinner so I have no need of grace and mercy) or when we are so enveloped in darkness that even Jesus does not seem to be able to lead us out (I’m too big a sinner and unworthy of grace and mercy).

For any of us that fall into one camp or the other, we are given the glorious opportunity with the celebration of Jesus’ birthday to embrace the light which is Christ.  For those who see little or no sin in their lives, the light will penetrate us bringing to the fore all the dirt and disarray that sin and vice deposits thus compelling us to begin to clean up.  For those who have sunk into the blackness of habitual sin or deep depression, this light will illuminate a way out thus setting us on the road (back) to the Lord.

May the Light of Christmas bring conversion and renewal to all of us.  God bless us everyone!

“…For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye.” (Mal 3:2)

This excerpt from the first reading (Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24) provides a wake-up call for Christians.  In the last chapter of his book, the prophet speaks of the coming of God’s “messenger” (the message is the Word) and the preparation He will provide (a foretelling of John the Baptist — see Mt 11:13–14; 17:10–13; Mk 9:9–13; Lk 1:17).

The refiner purifies, gets rid of the dross, to produce a pure and beautiful product.  This is what Jesus does to those who embrace Him.  Troubles will come, regardless, but how we handle them makes all the difference.  “Offer it up” is easier said than done, but it is Christ-like since He offered up His life and death to the Father.  And when our own sin causes us distress, consider it a gift, a necessary corrective to get us back on the narrow path.

So, with Christmas just two days away, let us rejoice in the coming of the Savior into the world but, more importantly, let us let Him into our lives, in every aspect, so that He can refine us into His beautiful image.  Painful as it sometimes will be, the final product will be heavenly.

The Old Testament proclamation for this day could be taken either from Song of Songs or Zephaniah.  Song of Songs is very beautiful, of course, but the excerpt from Zephaniah (3:14-18a) is even more lovely, heart-warming, and hopeful still.

Writing a few decades before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., Zephaniah prophesies in stark terms the devastation and death that divine judgment will bring due to the sins of the people.  But he ends on the hope-filled note above.  These must have been heartening words to a people who suffered terribly in the days of the prophets; it should evoke the same sentiments in us today, especially in light of Christ’s Incarnation.  Consider this insight from The Navarre Bible: Minor Prophets:

The Christian, in reading these verses, cannot but be reminded of the scene of the Annunciation: Mary, too, the humble virgin (Lk 1:48), is invited to rejoice (Lk 1:28) and not to fear (Lk 1:20), because the Lord is with her (Lk 1:28).  And indeed, with the Incarnation of the Word, the Lord did come to dwell among his people, and the salvation that was promised came to pass. (270)

When reading the headlined verse, staying in the New Testament, I cannot help but be also reminded of Jesus’ words:

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. (Luke 15:7)

This comes as a blow to those who would attempt to distinguish a supposed Old Testament “God of Wrath” from a New Testament “God of Love.”  No, God is unchanging.  But He does desire a change, a conversion, a renewal, in us.  And how He rejoices when we accept the graces and love He so longs to shower upon us!

For any person who thinks he is useless, of no account, despised, or irredeemable, this is the best news.  We can make the Lord, and all of heaven, rejoice!  He who does not need us wants us and would do (and has done — Christmas is four days away, remember) everything for us. God truly has a plan for each of us.  No matter how badly we’ve strayed from it, there is always time to reorient ourselves, even in our last moments.  But let’s not wait until then.  This is the time of conversion!  Let’s tarry no longer.

Since today’s first reading is a repeat of Sunday’s (see my last post), I thought I would dip into yesterday’s proclamation from Judges (13:2-7,24,25a) for today’s reflection.

This excerpt tells the story of Samson’s conception and birth to a barren woman.  The time of the judges was a challenging period in the history of the Chosen People, not only because of oppressors like the Philistines, but also because so many judges themselves were less than stellar representatives of God or the people.  Samson will have his own faults as well but ends up, in a famous scene, giving his life for a greater cause.

The act of consecrating a child to God in the womb is something every parent should do the moment a pregnancy is confirmed.  Simply ask the Lord to watch over and protect the little one all the days of his or her life (a suggested prayer).  Additionally, pray that the Lord’s will be done in the life of this miracle and that he or she may follow that will perfectly.  Moral crises and the shortage of religious vocations would end if this plan were followed to the letter.

We continue to hear from Isaiah (7:10-14), the foremost prophet who foretells the coming of the Messiah.  Some folks get caught up in the fact that the Christ’s actual given name was Jesus, per the angel Gabriel (Lk 1:31).  But this is not the point.  Today’s gospel gives us the explanation.  Joseph, the “master dreamer” (cf. Gen 37:19), is told by an angel that he is to be the caretaker of the child who is “God is with us,” telling us who He is.  The name “Jesus” only adds to this by telling us the why He comes: “God saves.”

We know that God is always with His people in spirit.  Any good Jew of Isaiah’s time or living in 4 B.C. would have told you so, pointing to the many episodes in history when the Lord made Himself manifest to the Chosen People.  But Yahweh in the flesh?  How much more intimate could the Lord get to us but by becoming one of us?  This exercise in love and humility should render us dumbstruck.  Yet we too easily take it for granted.  Advent is the ideal time to gain an appreciation for the condescension of the Almighty for the sake of poor humanity, especially the reader.

And the legacy the God-Man left us?  The Eucharist!  God with us, saving us.  Here He becomes closer to us than we are to ourselves.  Never miss the opportunity to take advantage of this great gift.  And let us always be prepared to receive Him worthily through our lives and the great sacrament of Reconciliation.  Prepare your heart to receive Him this Advent season and then say “Stay with us” Lord (Lk 24:29).

The reading from Isaiah (56:1-3a, 6-8) opens up with the powerful statement above.  Salvation comes to us in the person of Jesus.  As we prepare to celebrate His birthday in just over a week, we do well to remember that this innocent babe, born in humiliation to a poor couple, came for us.  He comes to save and to bring justice.  He is demanding.  This same Jesus is the one who goes on to say that we are to be perfect (cf. Mt 5:48), gives us new commandments (cf. Jn 13:34), and shows us the way by word and the example of His life (and death).

As we prepare to mark another Christmas, may it leave a permanent mark on us, one in which we appreciate more than ever what the Lord did for us and what He demands of us.  Let personal transformation in Christ, authentic conversion, be the preeminent resolution for each one of us this Christmas season.

Thus begins today’s reading from Isaiah (45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25).  He then goes on to tell of the power and the glory of God.  God created light and dark, the heavens and the earth.  God provides safety and justice.  Those who turn against Him in anger will return in shame.

The little babe for whom we are preparing is this same Deity!

Do we appreciate enough the King of the Universe and the Lord of our lives?  And, if we confess Him as Lord, is he truly Lord over every aspect of our lives?  It is important that we move beyond the sentimentality of the season to go deeper into the stark reality of the mission of the God-Man.  He came as Savior and Redeemer, to give us the opportunity to be with Him forever in heaven.  It is a big deal.  In fact, it is the whole deal.  Jesus says,

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  What could one give in exchange for his life?  Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38)

In the end, if we do not attain heaven we are the most wretched of beings.  So let this be the start of an even closer imitation of Christ in our daily living.  There is no better way to strive toward perfection than to come to know Christ.  Mass whenever possible during the week.  Scripture reading and meditation daily.  Let our memorial of Christ’s first coming usher in a new coming into our own lives in a special way each day from now on.

There is no one else like Him!  Just ask St. Augustine who, after a long time searching in all the wrong places, says at the beginning of his Confessions:

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.

Zephaniah, a seventh century B.C. prophet provides encouraging words (3:1-2, 9-13) to anyone who feels as if they are a part of rapidly shrinking “remnant” of those who put full faith in God in these troubling times.  His prescription, as is the advice of so many biblical authors and figures, not the least of whom is Jesus Himself, is to be humble.  That is, to acknowledge the truth of the Lord’s greatness and the problem of our own faults all the while taking refuge in God’s mercy through confession and penance, prayer and fasting.

It should not be difficult to be humble as we consider the incarnation and birth of Jesus during this time of preparation.  The Holy Spirit descends upon a lowly peasant girl and the Son of God becomes man.  Then He is born in a stable.  He goes on to live a life of profound humility dying ignominiously.

Is it so hard to be humble when God Himself condescends to the level of a lowly creature?  This is worth remembering and reinforcing at this time which marks the beginning of the liturgical year so this attitude remains with us the whole year through.

In humility Christ saved the world.  We must follow that example profoundly if we wish to do the same.