We have been blessed to work through John’s first letter since two days after Christmas.  Today’s first reading completes the fifth chapter and thus the entire letter (1 Jn 5:14-21).  The passage’s first verse contains the words above.  John then speaks about the worthiness of praying for the sinner, although he doesn’t require that one should pray for those who have fallen into deadly sin.  One begotten by God does not sin yet the world is under the power of evil.  Yet Jesus has given us the power to discern truth so we should not make idols of anything or anyone.

The Father very much wants to give us every good thing.  But He respects our free will, which is also His gift.  God is truly free and He grants this to us as well.  But true freedom only comes when sin is avoided.  God cannot sin, yet He is free.  Are there things that God cannot do?  Yes — anything that goes against His nature.  Sin is against His nature — completely incompatible with infinite goodness.  Unfortunately, the world tells us that true freedom is the ability to do whatever we want.  This is license, not freedom.  Just because we have the physical ability to perform a certain act does not mean we should.  Overflowing jails are the only evidence needed here.  God made man “very good” as we are in His “image and likeness” (Gen 1:27-31).  When we sin, we mar that image and likeness.  Only by returning to God with contrite spirit and firm purpose of amendment can we be healed, that is, made whole.  God’s love (we call it grace) is always waiting for us in abundance.  We just need to open ourselves to it by eliminating sin and vice.  The Virgin Mary was full of grace because no sin of any kind ever was part of her.  Should we not strive to empty the container of our souls of all dirt and make it sparkling clean for this gratuitous gift?  We can be sure, getting back to the headline, that it is God’s will to give us the gift of Himself.  Constantly ask for help to overcome sin and vice, thus being open to His will for us.  He knows what is best for us.  He just needs us to come to recognize it as well.  A mutual love is never forced, so God will not impose it.  But wanting what is best for us, He wants us to come to that realization out of love.  Should we make petitions in prayer.  Of course!  But a good practice is to always add this suffix: “…if it is your will, O Lord.”  If we pray to win the lottery, we probably can figure out why God might not grant this desire.  It is more difficult, however, to understand when our pleading for a sick loved one does not yield the result for which we desperately hoped.  Does it mean God is not listening?  Of course not.  Do we necessarily understand God’s thinking or plans?  We don’t (just read the Book of Job).  That in which we must have confidence is summed up well by St. Paul: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).  The operative word is trust.  Our difficulty in finding that trait here on earth does not mean that we shouldn’t expect it from heaven: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk 11:13)

We continue to read from 1 John (1:5-2:2) during the Christmas season.  John encourages his readers to walk in the light of Christ lest we stumble in the darkness of sin.  All are sinners, and must admit it is so, else be shown as liars.  We also know that the blood Jesus shed during His passion and death cleanses us from sin if we accept it.  John closes this passage by hoping that we will not sin, but comforting us with the fact that if we do fall, Jesus is our Advocate with the Father.  Jesus has the power to forgive.

Several years ago a book came out entitled “Nobody Calls it Sin Anymore.”  How true!  When truth is relative and objectively sinful behavior is considered a lifestyle choice, is it any wonder the world is in the state it is in?  It seems that many consider themselves without sin, which is not only “deceiving ourselves,” as the headline states, but it also makes a liar of God as we read two verses later (v. 10).  Now who do we know of as the deceiver and the first and greatest inpugner of God’s truthfulness?  A look at Gen 3:1-15 calls out the Satan for just these traits.  Jesus does so as well, with one example being:

[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (Jn 8:44)

The “ruler of this world” (Jn 12:31) saw a particular resurgence during the last century with its many wars and atrocities.  He continues unabated to this day seemingly even gaining power in the world.  Let us fight him every step of the way — for starters by being honest with ourselves.  If lying is our character than we imitate Satan.  But we are called to imitate Christ and to strive for perfection.  This begins by acknowledging that we are sinners and that only the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ can save us.  May we constantly seek to reform our lives and bring others into the light of God.  Beelzebub has no chance against a unified body of Christ.  May we ever seek this unity so as to fulfill “thy kingdom come” and put the devil back into hell where he belongs.

On today’s Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, the first reading is taken from the beginning of John’s first epistle (1 Jn 1:1-4).  John here is truly being an evangelist, testifying to the Word becoming visible (very reminiscent of the opening of his gospel).  This passage closes with the line at top.

John is proclaiming Christ so as to bring his readers into fellowship with him and other Christians and thus with the Father and the Son.  What great joy to be in friendship with God.  What greater joy can there be on this earth than bringing others into the fold?  I’m reminded of this passage about joy: “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Lk 15:7).  Would it not be awesome to know when we meet Jesus at the end of our lives that we were His instruments to bring this happiness to the saints?  When we are imbued with the love of God we desire to share it.  When a person is madly, head over heels in love, he wants the whole world to know.  We all should pray for this zeal to consume us so that we radiate Jesus’ love to every person we meet.  Let us follow John’s lead to evangelize at all times so as to bring many others home to the only place they will find true happiness.  How can our joy be complete unless we work constantly to build up the Kingdom?  Remember, “it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost” (Mt 18:14).

For this Feast of St. Stephen, the Church provides us a gospel passage (Mt 10:17-22) in which Jesus delivers a very disturbing message to His disciples: eventually torture and death will be their lot for being loyal to Him.  It is only at the end of His remarks, the completion of the sentence at top, that He gives real comfort: “but whoever endures to the end will be saved” (v. 22).

This is the second time in three days that “hate” appears in the gospel for the day.  Stephen, an early deacon and the first Christian martyr, met his end because of the hate that filled the hearts of his hearers.  Yet he returned this loathing with love (the final verse is omitted in which he says with his dying breath, echoing Jesus on the cross: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” — Acts 7:60).  Jesus, who is Love (1 Jn 4:16), born into this world on Christmas Day, overcomes hate.  On this day following our commemoration of Christ’s nativity, Stephen, who shows love for God and neighbor, “endures to the end,” thus being able to immediately celebrate his birth into the next world.

The message of the Christmas Season is love, not hate.  Love trumps hate.  Love has the power to convert hate.  Starting now, let Love, the Light of the World (Jn 8:12), through us “shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).

The Mass at Dawn for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord is taken from Isaiah 62 (vv. 11-12).  “Daughter Zion,” that is, Jerusalem is promised a savior by Isaiah.

In the New Testament, Zion comes to symbolize the entire Church (see esp. Heb 12:22 and Rev 14:1).  The anticipated savior was born this day over two thousand years ago.  Holiness itself became incarnate in Jesus.  Only through Him can we become holy.  But is this trait one that we find prevalent among Christians?  Is our example one that makes an impression and transforms lives?  The Christ came to make us holy but He does not force it on us.  We are called to reform our own lives and change the world.  As we open ourselves to the graces God makes available we find that we can move mountains (see Mt 17:20).  Far too often, all that people see is sin and division when they consider Christians.  What they see is far from a “holy people,” ones who should be emulated.  This is not the way the Lord wanted it — He wants us to make disciples (see Jn 17:20-21) not turn them away by our actions.  How can we make disciples of all nations when we are not whole or holy?

On this Christmas Day, may we strive all the more to become holy by remembering the One who became man in order to bring holiness in person.  May it never be said of any person that he rejects this Christmas gift.

The gospel for Christmas Eve is Zechariah’s Benedictus — his first words after his tongue was loosed at his son John the Baptist’s circumcision (Lk 1:67-79).  He praises God for sending the Savior “He promised of old” (see above).  He also tells how his son is a prophet sent to prepare the way for the Christ.

Yes, Jesus delivered from hate those who believed in Him in His day just as He does in this day.  How can this be true when so many around the world are increasingly being harassed, tortured, and even killed for being Christian?  It is because hate no longer can control us.  Hate is returned with love.  The one who hates has no power over the one who loves in spite of the hate.  Elsewhere Jesus says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Mt 10:28).  So remain spotless despite the growing abuse.  Pray?  Always.  Speak out (in charity)?  Of course.  Help tangibly our oppressed brothers and sisters around the world?  It is our obligation.  But never lose heart, because Emmanuel (see Mt 1:23).

For this the Holy Spirit came to a young teenager nine months ago to bring forth the fruit of her womb this very night.  Be not afraid, whatever the future holds.  The Savior has come.

Whenever I hear the long genealogy that begins the gospels (Mt 1:1-17), I’m always reminded of an important aspect of this list that was first highlighted for me by Scott Hahn.  It has to do with vv. 12-15 that begin with the headline.  Mitch and Sri (The Gospel of Matthew [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010, 40) explain it well:

The last section of the genealogy sounds a note of hope, demonstrating that God continued to protect the royal line of David even though it was lying dormant in exile.  Jechoniah and Shealtiel were two Davidic heirs who lived during the Babylonian captivity, and Zerubbabel helped lead the first wave of Jews who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile.

But the most exciting part of this genealogy is the remaining eleven generations that were not known in the Old Testament.  These names demonstrate the continuance of the Davidic line through centuries of Jewish suffering and oppression amid hope for a new son of David who would restore the kingdom.

What great joy for the early Jewish readers of Matthew — as it should be for us today — that the line of David continued through the great suffering of the Chosen People until the promised Messiah had come.  This is just one aspect, among many in this list, that should forever remove from our thoughts that this is simply a boring reading with many hard to pronounce names.  Rather, every person mentioned has a story to tell in his or her own right as well as in light of the promised Emmanuel.

A beautiful start to the “home stretch” of Advent.

The headline is the last line of the day’s gospel reading (Mt 11:16-19).  In this short passage Jesus indicts the generation of His day for neither appreciating the preparation that John the Baptist preached nor believing in Jesus Himself (“the Son of Man” foretold in their Scriptures).  They did not have wisdom and it showed.

Jesus could have been speaking of any generation here.  What are the guidelines from the Bible for wisdom?  What are “her works.”  For starters, let’s take two choice passages from Scripture to help us out.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.  And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” — Jas 3:13-18

“To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb.  She made among men an eternal foundation, and among their descendants she will be trusted.  To fear the Lord is wisdom’s full measure; she satisfies men with her fruits; she fills their whole house with desirable goods,
and their storehouses with her produce.  The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.  He saw her and apportioned her; he rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension, and he exalted the glory of those who held her fast.  To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom, and her branches are long life. — Sir 1:12-18

In a world that not only does not fear the Lord (and by this we mean, per Fr. John Hardon, “a vivid sense of God’s greatness, a lively sorrow for the least faults committed, and a vigilant care in avoiding occasions of sin”) but does not believe in God or, if it does, ignores Him or actively works to offend Him, is it no wonder that we see the widespread and growing impurity, strife, unreasonableness, lack of compassion, evil outcomes, uncertainty and insincerity warned against by James?  If “God is not Great,” as a recent book title exclaimed, and if sin no longer exists, as is the apparently widespread belief, is it no wonder that the world seems upside down?  The enemy reverses the poles and plunges the world into darkness.  “If the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” (Mt 6:23)

Jesus calls us to be light to the world (Mt 5:14-15).  Have you thrown off your basket?  Pray to the Holy Spirit, the giver of all good gifts, for wisdom (Is11:1-2).

The very short gospel passage (Mt 11:28-30) we are presented this day has Jesus telling those of His hearers who have heavy burdens to find rest in Him who will lighten their loads.

What a wonderful thought.  We know we can offer up our trials and tribulations, anxieties and cares, pain and suffering to a God who understands intimately what we are experiencing.  But the fact of the matter is that sometimes it is difficult for us to appreciate this when events in life bring us low.  The Lord can and does at times intervene in a miraculous way to heal or resolve situations.  But often He calls on us to be Christ and see Christ in others.  With that in mind, we should be constantly on the lookout for ways to lift at least a bit of the weight of troubles off of others.  The effort and outreach itself often does more in its show for care and concern than does any physical act.  But often both are necessary.  Some ideas to consider often, but now particularly as we draw near to Christmas (please suggest others!):

• Relieve the burden of loneliness of an elderly neighbor by surprising her with a visit; take real interest in her and then see if she needs anything else (explicitly or just by observing)
• Give extra time, treasure, talent or all of the above to your parish, a local charity, a hospital or nursing home, etc.; specifically ask your pastor if there is anything you can do for him to help him out personally or in the parish
• Recall a family who has recently lost a loved one and share a fond memory of the departed, then offer to assist them in whatever way you can
• Call (or email or FB and then ask for his number) an old friend, acquaintance, or colleague out of the blue and tell him that you miss him and were thinking of him by recalling some good quality of his; if possible, arrange to meet for lunch to catch up; even if you do not know of a specific matter that is troubling him, you can bet there is something there, but even if not or it is not shared, the bit of break you provide from the daily grind will bring a smile and appreciation

I hope this has provided some food for thought.  With all of these outreaches, do not forget to pray for the person or cause as well.  And let them know you are doing so.  Deep and abiding healing only comes when the soul is made right with God.  A little proverb widely attributed to the Chinese says: “When you have only two dollars left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a rose with the other.”  We are soul and body and both need to be fed.  Do not neglect either in yourself or others.

In this morning’s homily on EWTN, Fr. Trigilio joked that it would not be possible to transmit all of Scripture in one tweet.  It got me thinking, though, about this passage from the Gospels:

“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’  He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’” (Mt 22:34-40 from the USCCB’s New American Bible)

The Sri and Mitch commentary (The Gospel of Matthew [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture], Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2010) says this about this passage:

“Literally, the text says that the Torah and the prophets ‘hang’ on the double love commandment, as though these two precepts support the full weight of biblical religion in all its various aspects.  No other commandment of the Bible is properly observed if either one of these is transgressed or compromised, for the aim of all divine Scripture is to bring us out of ourselves to love and serve God and our fellow human beings.” (p. 289, emphases mine)

So, while Jesus was directly referring to what we today would call the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures, He certainly meant this for all of divine revelation.  So now let’s take just the main substance of what Jesus said:

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Without quotes, guess how many characters this is.  One hundred forty-one.  Amazingly (providentially?) close, don’t you think?  And I don’t imagine any of your Twitter followers will mind you dropping the last period.  So if you are a tweeter, why not convey “the full weight of biblical religion” right now and see what responses you get.  Evangelizing in 140 characters?  Why not!?