Tag Archives: mary

Advent Day 22: Eternity starts small

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TODAY’S READINGS

FROM Micah 5:1 (the full passage is Mi 5:1-4a):

You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.

From The Word of the Lord (Year C), page 30

“The language of a ‘ruler’ who ‘comes forth’ from ‘Behlehem-Ephrathah’ is a poetic way of describing an heir to the throne of David, a new king who has the Davidic bloodline. This rules is described in provocative ways that suggest divinity. His origin is miqqedem in Hebrew, which can mean both ‘from the east’ and ‘from antiquity.’ Both are suggestive because the east was associated with the abode of the arrival of God — the temple, for example faced east. Likewise, an ancient origin was a divine attribute — that, God the Father, is called ‘the Ancient of Days’ (Dan 7:22 RSV2CE). This concept of ancient origin is reinforced in the next verse of our Micah passage, translated ‘whose origin is from of old,’ but which literally reads ‘his origin is from days of eternity.’ This language of a Davidic ruler who has ‘eternal’ origins could be just poetic hyperbole, but let us note that, much like Isaiah 9:6. the literal sens of this text of Micah describes a king who is both human and divine.”

FROM Psalms 80:2 (the full passage is Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19):

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.

From The Navarre Bible: The Psalms and the Song of Solomon, page 278

“God, as Shepherd of his people, has his dwelling-place in the temple, above the ark, ‘enthroned upon the cherubim’ (cf. Ex 25:18-22).”

FROM Hebrews 10:10 (the full passage is Heb 10:5-10

[W]e have been consecrated 
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

From Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: Hebrews, page 199

“The Greek word for ‘consecrated’ (hagiazō) would be better translated as ‘sanctified’ or ‘made holy,’ since here it connotes not only being ‘set apart’ for God but coming to share in god’s own holiness. The reason Jesus’ sacrifice has power to sanctify is that he offered no mere substitute but himself, his own human life wholly given over in love. His sacrifice therefore transforms human nature from within; it heals the self-will, pride, rebellion, and unbelief that have deeply wounded human nature ever since the fall. Hebrews emphatically declares that this sanctification is already an accomplished fact, ‘once for all.’ Christ’s passion is the fulcrum of human history, the act that has definitively reconciled humanity to God and given access to God’s own holiness, Yet paradoxically, Hebrews will say in verse 14 that we who believe in Christ ‘are being sanctified’; the accomplished fact must be personally appropriated and lived by every believer (see also 12:10, 14).”

FROM Luke 1:42-43 (the full passage is Lk 1:39-45)

“Blessed are you among women, 
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, 
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

From Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, page 20

“Blessed are you: Elizabeth blesses Mary with words once spoken to Jael and Judith in the OT (Judg 5:24–27; Jud 13:18). ● These women were blessed for their heroic faith and courage in warding off enemy armies hostile to Israel. Victory was assured when both Jael and Judith assassinated the opposing military commanders with a mortal blow to the head. Mary will follow in their footsteps, yet in her case both the enemy destroyed and the victory won will be greater, for she will bear the Savior who crushes the head of sin, death, and the devil underfoot (Gen 3:15; 1 Jn 3:8) (CCC 64, 489).
mother of my Lord: This title reveals the twin mysteries of Jesus’ divinity and Mary’s divine maternity (CCC 449, 495). Note that every occurrence of the word Lord in the immediate (1:45) and surrounding context refers to God (1:28, 32, 38, 46, 58, 68). ● Mary’s divine motherhood was the first Marian dogma expounded by the Church. The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431) defined her unique relationship to Christ and honored her with the title ‘Mother of God’ (Gk. Theotokos). This was reaffirmed in 1964 at Vatican II (Lumen Gentium, 53).”

From Opening the Scriptures: Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, page 29

“In the culture in which Mary lived, a woman’s greatness came from the children she bore (see 11:27). Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, perceives the greatness of the child whom Mary is carrying and Mary’s resulting greatness.”

From The Word of the Lord (Year C), page 35

“Elizabeth is a wise woman, learned in history and culture of Israel and Judah. Through the Holy Spirit, she recognizes our Mother Mary as the Queen Mother, as the ‘First Lady’ of the kingdom of Israel, and she treats her as such, showing her all deference and veneration. So if we are ever challenged by non-Catholics concerning the biblical nature of the honor we show Mary within the Church, we should point to this passage of Luke as indication that the custom of venerating the Blessed Mother began in her lifetime, in the very pages of Scripture.”

MY TAKE

The same Gospel two days in a row! Boring? No way! We should be glad this is proclaimed to us again and we could stand to hear it every day. The acknowledgement by Elizabeth of the zygote inside Mary as the Lord of the universe, the one God, is a cause for celebration — the Redeemer promised in Gen 3:15 has finally come. And what a powerful pro-life message, to boot. The developing child is now, a few days after conception, the Messiah. Elizabeth knows that what Micah prophesied, that a ruler whose “origin is from days of eternity,” is finally Emmanuel, that is, God with us (see Is 8:8-10). Her son, John, is to be the precursor to the one who has “come to save us” as the Psalmist tells us today. Just imagine the conversations Mary and Elizabeth had the next three months regarding their two special children. Finally, per Hebrews, Jesus came to consecrate us with that same developing body in the Paschal Mystery and continues to consecrate us until today and on till the end of time in the most Blessed Sacrament.

Is there any question why we call this Good News?

BP BARRON SERMON

FR MIKE SCHMITZ HOMILY

God bless!

Advent Day 21: The ‘ark’ of (salvation) history

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TODAY’S GOSPEL (Lk 1:39-45)

From Luke 1:41:

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit…

From Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: The Gospel of Luke, page 48

“Mary’s greeting provokes a reaction as Gabriel’s greeting did before (1:29). The infant John leaped in his mother’s womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the holy Spirit. the angel’s words to Zechariah are being fulfilled , as the child is ‘filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb’ (1:15). the verb ‘leap’ is used in the Septuagint to describe how Esau and Jacob leaped or ‘jostled each other’ in he womb of Rebekah, another once-barren woman (Gen 25:22). She was told that ‘the older will serve the younger’ (Gen 25:22). She was told that ‘the older will serve the younger’ (Gen 25:23), which is the case here as well, as the older John already signal;s his role as precursor of the younger Jesus.”

From Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, page 21

Mary, Ark of the Covenant

“Luke’s Gospel tells us more about the Mother of Jesus than any other book in the New Testament. Most of this information is packed within his first two chapters, where Luke strings together some of the most beautiful traditions we have about her life and mission. The deeper we delve into Luke’s narrative, the more we appreciate the way in which Luke tells us the story of Mary. One example of this is found in the story of the Visitation. On one level, it tells of a joyous encounter between two expectant mothers; on another, it recalls memorable stories told in the Old Testament about the Ark of the Covenant. By alluding to these ancient traditions, Luke expands the vision of the careful reader considerably. For he leads us to see Mary as the Ark of God’s New Covenant and implies that the sacred Ark of the Old Covenant merely prefigured a more wonderful Ark to come: the Mother of the divine Messiah.
“One tradition that Luke draws upon is from 2 Samuel. He intentionally sets up the subtle but significant parallels between Mary’s Visitation with Elizabeth and David’s effort to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem narrated in 2 Sam 6. When Luke tells us that Mary “arose and went” into the Judean hill country to visit her kinswoman (Lk 1:39), he reminds us of how David ‘arose and went’ into the same region centuries earlier to retrieve the Ark (2 Sam 6:2). Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth is struck by the same sense of awe and unworthiness before Mary (Lk 1:43) that David felt standing before the Ark of the Covenant (2 Sam 6:9). Parallels continue as the joy surrounding this great encounter causes the infant John to leap with excitement (Lk 1:41), much as David danced with excitement before the Ark (2 Sam 6:16). Finally, Luke adds that Mary stayed in the ‘house of Zechariah’ for ‘three months’ (Lk 1:40, 56), recalling how the Ark of Covenant was temporarily stationed in the ‘house of Obed-edom’ for a waiting period of ‘three months’ (2 Sam 6:11). Taken together, these parallels show us that Mary now assumes a role in salvation history that was once played by the Ark of the Covenant. Like this golden chest, she is a sacred vessel where the Lord’s presence dwells intimately with his people.
“Luke also draws upon a second tradition from the Books of Chronicles. This time he brings into his story a highly significant expression once connected with the Ark. The term shows up in Lk 1:42, where Elizabeth bursts out with an exuberant cry at the arrival of Mary and her Child. Although the Greek verb translated as ‘exclaimed’ seems ordinary enough, it is hardly ever used in the Bible. In fact, it is found only here in the entire New Testament. Its presence in the Greek Old Testament is likewise sparse, appearing only five times. Why is this important? Because every time the expression is used in the Old Testament, it forms part of the stories surrounding the Ark of the Covenant. In particular, it refers to the melodic sounds made by Levitical singers and musicians when they glorify the Lord in song. It thus describes the ‘exulting’ voice of instruments that were played before the Ark as David carried it in procession to Jerusalem (1 Chron 15:28; 16:4–5) and as Solomon transferred the Ark to its final resting place in the Temple (2 Chron 5:13). Alluding to these episodes, Luke connects this same expression with the melodic cry of another Levitical descendant, the aged Elizabeth (Lk 1:5). She too lifts up her voice in liturgical praise, not before the golden chest, but before Mary. Luke’s remarkable familiarity with these ancient stories enables him to select even a single word that will whisper to his readers that this young Mother of the Messiah is the new Ark of the Covenant.
“For the reader with eyes to see and ears to hear, Luke has given us a vision of the Virgin Mary that becomes ever more glorious the deeper we dig into the Scriptures. Our ability to see Mary as he did depends in part on our knowledge of the Old Testament and in part on our sensitivity to Luke’s skillful use of it. By choosing his words and phrases carefully, he is able to weave various strands of biblical tradition into his narrative, adding beauty and depth to his already elegant prose. Little wonder the Church’s liturgical and theological traditions have so often described Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant. This vision is not merely the fruit of mystical speculation from a later age. It is already embedded within the Infancy Narrative of Luke’s Gospel.”

My take

I could have just extracted the third paragraph above, but, because my favorite title for Mary is “Ark of the Covenant,” I wanted to provide the entire topical essay from the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. I have little to add, but I would point out how important typology is in the Bible. St. Augustine famously said, per the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 129,

The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.

We can’t fully understand Christ without the entire Bible. An early heresy wanted to discard the Old Testament as inconsistent with its understanding of God and Jesus. With this episode in the Gospel of Luke, not only Mary as Ark, but what is highlighted by the Catholic Commentary regarding Esau and Jacob, we have just one example of many of the unity and importance of the entire Scripture handed down to us faithfully by the Church.

I’ve had the self-published Mary the Ark of the Covenant on my shelf for some time now. I must read it.

God bless!

Advent Day 20: With God all things are possible

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TODAY’S GOSPEL (Lk 1:26-38)

From Luke 1:34:

But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”

From Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: The Gospel of Luke, page 44

“Like Zechariah, Mary asks a question of the angel regarding the fulfillment of the message: ‘How can this be?’ A more literal rendering is ‘How will this be?’ At first glance, it seems similar to Zechariah’s question, ‘How shall I know this?’ (Luke 1:18). Beneath the similarity in form, however, lies a greater dissimilarity in attitude. While Zechariah ‘did not believe’ the words of the angel (1:20), Mary instead will be called ‘blessed’ precisely for believing ‘what was spoken’ by the angel (1:45). The difference is that whereas Zechariah ‘wanted proof,’ Mary ‘wants instructions.’
The reason for Mary’s question is that she has ‘no relations with a man.’ Mary’s response is puzzling, since a betrothed woman would normally expect to begin sexual relations after the celebration of the second stage of marriage, when she moved into the home of her husband. One would think that after this delay the angel’s words would be fulfilled, as they were for Zechariah following the delay of his remaining days of ministry (1:23-24). Some interpreters have therefore explained Mary’s response as due to her interpreting the promise as having an immediate fulfillment, while she was still a virgin, although Gabriel’s words do not say this. Another explanation, offered by Church Fathers such as Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine, is that Mary did not plan to have relations with Joseph, but had already dedicated herself to God as a virgin. This idea is often dismissed as anachronistic, imposing a Christian ideal onto a Jewish context, since mainstream Jewish groups such as the Pharisees emphasized marriage. However, this possibility cannot be excluded, given the diversity of views in Judaism at the time (e.g., some Essenes practiced celibacy).”

From The Navarre Bible: St Luke, page 39

“The Blessed Virgin, who received a very special inspiration of the Holy Spirit to practise virginity, is a first-fruit of the New Testament, which will establish the excellence of virginity over marriage while not taking from the holiness of the married state, which it raises to the level of a sacrament (cf. Gaudium et spes, 48).”

From Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke, page 19

“How can this be: Or, better, ‘How will this be …?’”’ Mary is not questioning God’s ability to give her a son, but she is inquiring as to how such a plan will unfold. I have no husband: The Greek text literally reads ‘I do not know man’, which refers to Mary’s virginal status rather than her marital status. Her concern is not that she is unmarried but that she is a virgin at present and that she intends to remain one in the future. The announcement of a miraculous conception (1:31) thus causes Mary to wonder aloud how God will bless her with a son and yet preserve her virginal purity. Her words are inexplicable otherwise. For nothing about the angel’s announcement should have perplexed Mary—whose betrothal to Joseph was already a legally binding marriage—unless she intended to forego ordinary sexual relations even as a married woman. See note on Mt 1:18. ● According to certain Church Fathers, such as St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Augustine, Mary had previously taken a vow of lifelong virginity.”

My take

We celebrate the Annunciation on March 25, exactly nine months before the birth of Jesus. But it is good to be reminded of that episode just five days before Christmas.

I focused on Mary’s initial response to the angel because it is a source of controversy, particularly between Catholics and Protestants. It is Catholic dogma that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. Protestants, generally, dispute this idea. I find it disappointing they are so invested in the notion that Mary had other children. As detailed in the commentaries presented above, it is simply “inexplicable,” as the Ignatius commentary, specifically, states, that Mary ever intended to remain anything else but a virgin. (For those who have trouble with the “brothers” of Jesus, see here. For those who have trouble with “no relations…until she bore a son,” see here. For those who have trouble with Jesus as “firstborn son,” see here.)

God blessed our Queen Mother and He blessed us by giving her to us. You might say that Mary really does have many children! When I contemplate the last Glorious Mystery, I imagine Jesus saying to His mom, “I’ve got a special mission for you,” and her replying, as echoed by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower:

Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.

And she does.

The Annunciation (1898) by Henry Ossawa Tanner

God bless!

Lent Day 41: The poor and Jesus

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TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Gospel reading (Jn 12:1-11) continues our journey through John as we near the time of the Last Supper. Famously, Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, slathers Jesus feet with costly perfume. Judas objects and Jesus responds :

Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (vv. 7-8)

“The poor: Jesus is not indifferent toward the poor. Elsewhere he promotes almsgiving in no uncertain terms (Mt 6:2–4; Lk 6:30; 12:33). ● The words of Jesus echo the words of Deut 15:11, which states that the unceasing presence of the poor offers countless opportunities to give generously to less fortunate neighbors. The disciples, too, will have plenty of chances to give alms, but only a brief time remains to be generous toward Jesus while he remains among them (CCC 2449).” (The Gospel of John [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 41)

“Jesus takes priority over every other concern — and little time remains before his mortal life ends.” (The Gospel of John [Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture] ,218)

“A literal translation of Jesus’ words is, ‘in order that she may keep it for the day of preparation for my burial,’ with ‘in order that’ indicating purpose. The interpretation which makes the most sense is that the purpose of the nard was that it was to be kept for the day of preparation for Jesus’ burial, which was that very day…Mary has symbolically prepared the body of Jesus for burial. anointing it as a corpse was anointed before being buried. Jesus does not say that Mary understood this deeper significance of her act; she may have simply anointed him out of love and gratitude. But Jesus knows that the hour for his going to his father is near. His raising of Lazarus to life — the cause of Mary’s gratitude — means that he lives under a sentence of death (11:53). Mary’s anointing has prepared him for the sentence being carried out.” (Bringing the Gospel of John to Life, 347)

What strikes me first and foremost about this passage is that, while true that Jesus will soon be dead, buried, rise, and ascend, He is still with us. Of course, He remains with us in a real and substantial way in the Eucharist. But that’s not the only way. Here’s Mother Teresa tying together the Eucharist and the poor:

“If we recognize [Jesus] under the appearance of bread, we will have no difficulty recognizing him in the disguise of the suffering poor.” (see article here)

Which invokes Jesus’ own words about the downtrodden, that He spoke immediately before the woman anoints His feet in Matthew, and how we should view them:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt 26:35-36)

Yes, Jesus left us in the familiar form the apostles came to know. But He invites us to see Him and serve Him in everyone we meet, particularly the poor. Being faithful in this way we prepare ourselves for the day of our burial.

Jesus Healing Beggar (2011) by Donna Tucker

God bless.

Lent Day 35: Joseph the Just

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TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Gospel reading (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a) gives us the story of Joseph discovering Mary’s pregnancy. Joseph’s initial reaction:

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly. (v. 19)

“just: Or, “righteous”. Joseph is a man of sterling moral character, committed to living by the Mosaic Law (Deut 6:25; Lk 1:6).
“put her to shame: The Greek verb does not necessarily have a negative connotation. It simply means “to expose” or “to exhibit”.
“send her away: Catholic tradition proposes three main interpretations to explain why Joseph resolved to end his betrothal with Mary:
“(1) The Suspicion Theory. Some hold that Joseph suspected Mary of adultery when he discovered her pregnancy. Joseph thus intended to pursue a divorce in accord with Deut 24:1–4 until the angel revealed to him the miraculous cause of the conception (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because he shuns immorality and directs his life by the Law of God. Proponents of this view include St. Justin Martyr,St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine.
“(2) The Perplexity Theory. Others hold that Joseph found the situation of Mary’s pregnancy inexplicable. Divorce seemed to be his only option, and yet he wished to do this quietly, for he could not bring himself to believe that Mary had been unfaithful. Joseph is said to be righteous because he lives by the Law of God and judges Mary’s situation with the utmost charity. The main proponent of this view is St. Jerome, whose exegesis was adopted into the notes of the medieval Bible.
“(3) The Reverence Theory. Still others hold that Joseph knew the miraculous cause of Mary’s pregnancy from the beginning, i.e., he was made aware that the child was conceived “of the Holy Spirit” (1:18). Faced with this, Joseph considered himself unworthy to be involved in the Lord’s work, and his decision to separate quietly from Mary was a discretionary measure to keep secret the mystery within her. On this reading, the angel confirms what Joseph had already known and urges him to set aside pious fears that would lead him away from his vocation to be the legal father of the Messiah (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because of his deep humility and reverence for the miraculous works of God. Proponents of this view include St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas Aquinas.” (The Gospel of Matthew [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 18)

It seems to be commonly held that Joseph was suspicious of Mary, or at least confused, but rarely does one hear about the reverence theory. Thus, I wanted to lay out above a concise but clear explanation of each approach. The more I hear about and consider the last one, the more convinced I am that this is the case. Joseph must have known Mary’s character intimately, so ther seems to be no way he could have even conceived of her sinning. Perplexity makes more sense, especially as it is approached by Jerome, but here I suspect Joseph would have had a deeper insight, especially if, as tradition holds, he never committed a personal sin.

Joseph is a great saint. Let us honor him in a special way today for his faithfulness to Mary and her Child. Let us ask his intercession, so that we may we approach that same faithfulness to the Lord and His mother.

MY FAVORITE ST. JOSEPH BOOK

Combines fascinating insights into the man with a beautiful 33-day consecration to him. Check out the website for more info. Pick it up soon so you can start the consecration!

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

Who better to pray to for a happy death than Joseph who died with Jesus and Mary assisting him on his final earthly journey? I pray to him often for this cause. Find several prayers here.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – DECEMBER 28: Holy Family, stained glass window in the Parish Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Zagreb, Croatia on December 28, 2015.

God bless.

Christmas Day 8: Pondering is not ponderous

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TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading from Lk 2:16-21 focuses on Blessed Mary and the infant Jesus — appropriate for the Christmas Season and this day when we consider the baby Messiah as what He was: the Second Person of the Trinity incarnate, making His bearer the Mother of God.

Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. (v. 19)

“In very few words this verse tells us a great deal about our Lady. We see the serenity with which she contemplates the wonderful things that are coming true with the birth of her divine Son. She studies them, ponders them and stores them in the silence of her heart. She is a true teacher of prayer. If we imitate her, if we guard and ponder in our hearts what Jesus says to us and what he does in us, we are well on the way to Christian holiness and we shall never lack his doctrine and his grace. Also, by meditating in this way on the teaching Jesus has given us, we shall obtain a deeper understanding of the mystery of Christ, which is how ‘the Tradition that comes from the Apostles makes progress in the Church, with the help of the Holy Spirit. There is a growth in insight into the realities and words that are being passed on. This comes about in various ways. It comes through the contemplation and study of believers who ponder these things in their hearts. It comes from the intimate sense of spiritual realities which they experience. And it comes from the preaching of those who have received, along with their right of succession in the episcopate, the sure charism of truth’ (Vatican II, Dei verbum, 8).” (The Navarre Bible: St Luke, 56)

“Mary ‘kept all these things’: the Greek word ‘kept’ has connotations of preserving something, being concerned about it, treasuring it. Mary treasured the events that had unfolded, ‘reflecting on them in her heart.’ The Greek word for ‘reflecting on’ means putting things together, pondering them. In the biblical view, the ‘heart’ is the seat of thinking and feeling and willing. Mary takes to heart to amazing things that are happening and tries to fathom their meaning. ’Mary’ is a model of treasuring all that God says and does, meditating on his word, pondering his plans for our lives.” (Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 64)

We encounter a lot of action words in the two commentaries above: contemplating, pondering, reflecting, meditating, studying, experiencing, storing, guarding, preserving, treasuring, preaching, understanding. A full program for our lives, not only in prayer, but also in action. As a new year begins, it is worth working through each of these aspects of our consideration of Jesus as we imitate His mother. Consider looking up each of these twelve words in a regular dictionary and cycle through them throughout the year. How best do we implement in our own minds and hearts, contemplating Jesus, studying about Jesus, really experiencing Jesus, understanding Jesus’ message to the world and to us, personally, etc. Ask Blessed Mary for her intercession, invoke the same Spirit through whom she conceived a child for guidance, and ask Gabriel and your angel for their prayers; our sincerity in these petitions will certainly be profitable.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS I READ IN 2023

YEAR SCARY

I was disappointed to knock off on twenty-five books last year. Summer got really messed up, so that prime time yielded nearly no results. Of those I read, only a handful stood out, including some great classics. I list them below. You can check out Goodreads where I’ve done short reviews for almost all of these. In no particular order:

YEAR: SCARY

I can’t shake the feeling that, considering the escalating difficulties the world over, we are in for a year that may make 2020 seem like a walk in the park. Challenges: hear and abroad, in the Church or directed at the Church.

Let us pray for all veterans and clergy..

Happy New Year. As today began with much joy amidst the noise, let us hope it at least maintains the whole year through.

God bless.

Christmas Day 1: Shepherding a Mirrored Heart

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TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Lk 2:15-20. I have chosen readings from the Mass at Dawn since it is the Mass I attended. A focus on the shepherds, yes, but one very important line about the Blessed Virgin:

And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. (v. 19)

“Mary contemplates Jesus’ birth and childhood, not from a distance, but as a participant in the mystery (1;35, 43; 2:51). Luke’s insight suggests that Mary is either the direct or indirect source of his information, since she alone could relate these hidden details of the story.” (The Gospel of Luke [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 24)

“Mary has had nine months to ponder what God is doing through her; the shepherds’ report is one more thing to ponder. Mary is apparently included in the ‘all’ who were ‘amazed’ by the shepherds’ words (verse 18), but her response is more than astonishment. ’Mary kept all these things’: the Greek word ‘kept’ has connotations of preserving something, being concerned about it, treasuring it. Mary treasured the events that had unfolded, ‘reflecting on them in her heart.’ The Greek word for ‘reflecting’ on means putting things together, pondering them. In the biblical view, the heart is the seat of thinking and feeling and willing. Mary takes to heart the amazing things that are happening and tries to fathom their meaning. Mary is a model of treasuring al that God says and does, meditating on his word, pondering his plans for our lives.” (Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 64)

Mary “is a true teacher of prayer. If we imitate her, if we guard and ponder in our hearts what Jesus says to us and what he does in us, we are well on the way to Christian holiness and we shall never lack his doctrine and his grace. Also, by meditating in this way on the teaching Jesus has given us, we shall obtain a deeper understanding of the mystery of Christ, which is how ‘the Tradition that comes from the Apostles makes progress in the the Church, with the help of the Holy Spirit.’ (Vatican II, Dei Verbum, 8)” (The Navarre Bible: The Gospel of Luke, 56)

Not only can we take a lesson from Blessed Mary (did anyone in the human history have more to contemplate than she?), but also from the shepherds. Filled with awe as these events unfolded, do you not think they spent many lonely hours on the job contemplating these things in the depths of their being. We must be more like the shepherds: being awestruck by God and taking the time to ponder all that He has done in history and all He has done for us, specifically.

THREE SONGS

A beautiful Catholic song for the season sung beautifully.

My favorite versions of my two favorite secular songs:

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Prayer, Blessed Virgin Mary by Juan Sanchez Cotan (1560-1627)

Advent Day 22: Son of David, Son of Mary, Son of God

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TODAY’S READINGS

The first reading is from 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16. The establishment of the Davidic covenant, the last covenant of the Old Testament. We are given this today in a particular way to show how it is fulfilled in the New Testament. Let us explore this prophecy.

I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever. (vv. 12b, 14a, 16)

“The pledges made to David are provisionally realized in Solomon during the golden age of the united monarchy and, to a lesser extent, in the centuries that the Davidic dynasty ruled in Jerusalem. But definitive fulfillment awaits the coming of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah grafted into David’s dynastic line (Mt 1:1-16) and the one chosen by God to sit on David’s throne ‘for ever’ (Lk 1:32-33). Like David, Jesus is anointed by the Spirit (1 Sam 16;13; Acts 10:38), and, like Solomon, he offers the wisdom of God to the world (1 Kings 10:1-10; Mt 12:42). The temple he builds is not a stone-and-cedar sanctuary in Jerusalem, but his body, the Church of living believers indwelt by the Spirit (Mt 16;18; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:4-5). In the Resurrection, Jesus’ humanity attains the royal adoption promised to David’s offspring (Acts 13;33-34; Rom 1:3-4), and, at his Ascension, he commences his everlasting reign (Lk 1;33) as David’s messianic Lord (Mk 12:335-37). Even now, he holds the key to the kingdom of David (Rev 3:7) and bears the distinction of being ‘King of Israel’ (Jn 1:49) as well as ‘he who rises to rule the Gentiles’ (Rom 15:12). According to the very first Christian sermon, all of this is the fulfillment of Yahweh’s oath to David (Acts 2:29-35).” (The First and Second Books of Samuel [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 80)

This should make us appreciate in a special way those times when Jesus is called “Son of David” in the Gospels, considering all that’s implied in that title. For an interesting Bible study, read the passages and context around those times the Lord is addressed in this way (here — note that Jesus is addressed this way only six different times with Matthew giving us all six [Mark and Luke repeat one of the stories, the blind beggar, in Matthew). Exquisite fruit for contemplation.

The Responsorial Psalm is Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29. We should be reminded of Mary’s Magnificat. Mary knew her Scriptures — I suspect, being a uniquely bright and holy child, that she was literate, although this is not necessary for her to have this depth of knowledge and interiority of the Bible.

Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations. (v. 4)

Jesus is Son of David and Son of Mary and Son of God. Wow.

The second reading is from Rom 16:25-27. Let us key in on the phrase “obedience of faith.”

…according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages…
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith… (vv. 25a, 26)

“the obedience of faith: Probably means ‘the obedience that is faith’ or ‘the obedience that springs from faith’. The expression stands like two bookends at the beginning and end of Romans (16:26). It holds the epistle together around the central theme of faith, which is the act of trusting in God and entrusting oneself to God. Faith inspires love (Gal 5:6) and is the indispensable basis for a living relationship with Christ (Rom 1:17; Heb 11:6) (CCC 143, 1814). (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 257.

The gift of faith comes to us with the other theological virtues (hope and love/charity) in Baptism and remains with us as long as we avoid mortal sin (thank the Lord for Confession!). It is a free gift, but it isn’t cheap. A simple statement of belief not followed by a life striving for holiness is certainly the devil’s deceit.

The Gospel gives us the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38). So much can be said about the seemingly infinite number of aspects of this encounter, but let’s focus on the first words of the angel:

Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. (v. 28)

Hail: Or ‘Rejoice!’ It crowns the theme of joy and gladness that punctuates Luke’s Infancy Narrative (1:14, 44, 47, 58; 2:10, 20). ● The call to rejoice echoes OT passages that address Daughter Zion. In the prophets this refers to Mother Jerusalem, whose faithful children will rejoice in the messianic age because God has chosen to dwell in their midst (Joel 2:23–24; Zeph 3:14–17; Zech 9:9). Mary, chosen to be the virgin mother of the Messiah, is greeted with the same summons because she is the embodiment of faithful Israel and the most privileged recipient of Yahweh’s messianic blessings. full of grace: This is the only biblical instance where an angel addresses someone by a title instead of a personal name. Two considerations help to clarify its meaning. (1) The expression full of grace is rooted in Catholic tradition and traced to St. Jerome’s translation of this verse in the Latin Vulgate. Although fundamentally accurate, it lacks some of the depth of the Greek original. Luke could have described her with the words full of grace (Gk. plērēs charitos) as he did of Stephen in Acts 6:8, yet here he uses a different expression (Gk. kecharitōmenē) that is even more revealing than the traditional rendering. It indicates that God has already ‘graced’ Mary previous to this point, making her a vessel who ‘has been’ and ‘is now’ filled with divine life. (2) Alternative translations like ‘favored one’ or ‘highly favored’ are possible but inadequate. Because of the unparalleled role that Mary accepts at this turning point in salvation history, the best translation is the most exalted one. For God endowed Mary with an abundance of grace to prepare her for the vocation of divine motherhood and to make her a sterling example of Christian holiness (CCC 490–93, 722). ● Gabriel’s declaration points in the direction of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. According to Pope Pius IX’s 1854 definition Ineffabilis Deus, Luke’s Annunciation narrative is an important indicator of Mary’s lifelong holiness. God is her ‘Savior’ (1:47) in the most perfect way possible: he sanctified Mary in the first instance of her conception and preserved her entirely from sin and even from the inclination toward sin that we experience. (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament [San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010], 105.)

Faithful Catholics have said the Hail Mary many, many times. How often do we contemplate these first words of the prayer (by the way, the Hail Mary is a biblical prayer!)? Put yourself in Mary’s sandals. This awesome creature surprises you with such a greeting. “Rejoice”! He calls me “full of grace”! What is about to happen? Might I have the inkling, the hope, that the long awaited Messiah is about to come? How will it happen? Will I be involved?

BP BARRON’S SUNDAY SERMON

Focusing on Nathan and David.

SANTA CLAUS

A nice article about Santa Claus and keeping children’s dreams alive: Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Myths, Fairy Tales and ‘Lies.’

ADVENT ENDS

Today we end the shortest Advent possible. Yes, we must go to Mass again this evening or tomorrow. This shouldn’t be a burden but a joy and a blessing. Honoring the Lord’s first coming and then having him come to us in Holy Communion — who could possibly want to miss it!

God bless.

David and Nathan (1672) by Matthias Scheits

Advent Day 19: Make haste!

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TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Lk 1:39-45, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth after the joyous news of both their pregnancies. It is the first meeting of cousins John and Jesus. My focus is on the speed in which the Virgin went to visit her relative, as relayed in the very first verse.

Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah (v. 39)

“The village of Ain Karim in the hill country near Jerusalem is the traditional site of the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth. It is located about five miles from the temple, a convenient distance for Zechariah’s trips for priestly duty. For Mary, however, the journey from Nazareth would be about ninety miles, depending on the route, taking several days. There is no mention of Joseph accompanying her, unlike the later journey together to Bethlehem (2:4-5). She goes in haste, indicating her earnestness in following God’s plan.” (The Gospel of Luke (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, 48)

Luke “notes that she travels ‘in haste’ but does not explain why she is in a hurry…we might speculate that Mary was eager to see this sign for herself. We might also speculate that she was eager to be with Elizabeth because of what they had in common: they were unexpectedly becoming mothers through the favor of God; their sons would play major roles in God’s unfolding plans.” (Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 27-28)

“On learning from the angel that her cousin St Elizabeth is soon to give birth and is need of support, our Lady in her charity hastens to her aid. She has no regard for the difficulties this involves…

“From Mary’s visit to Elizabeth Christians should learn to be caring people. ’If we have filial contact with Mary, we won’t be able to think just about ourselves and our problems. Selfish personal problems will find no place in our mind’ (Bl. J. Escriva, Christ is passing by, 145).” (The Navarre Bible: The Gospel of Luke, 41-42)

“After the Annunciation, Mary could have focused on herself and her own worries and fears about her new condition. Instead, she entrusted herself completely to God. Her thoughts turned to Elizabeth. She got up and went forth, into the world of life and movement. Even though the astonishing message of the angel had caused a seismic shift in her plans, the young Mary did not remain paralyzed, for within her was Jesus, the power of resurrection and new life. Within herself, Mary already bore the Lamb that was slain and yet lives. She arises and sets out, for she is certain that God’s plan is the best plan for her life. Mary becomes a temple of God, an image of the pilgrim Church, a Church that goes forth for service, a Church that brings the good news to all!” (MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE XXXVII WORLD YOUTH DAY 2022-2023; the whole document is worth reading)

“I’ve always been fascinated by Mary’s ‘haste’ in this story of the Visitation. Upon hearing the message of Gabriel concerning her own pregnancy and that of her cousin, Mary ‘proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judah’ to see Elizabeth.

“Why did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her mission, her role in the theo-drama. We are dominated today by the ego-drama in all of its ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I’m writing, I’m producing, I’m directing, and I’m starring in. We see this absolutely everywhere in our culture. Freedom of choice reigns supreme: I become the person that I choose to be.

“The theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play being directed by God. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her role—indeed, a climactic role—in the theo-drama, and she wants to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same drama. Like Mary, we have to find our place in God’s story.” (Bp Robert Barron’s Advent Gospel Reflections [2017]; he also gives this same reflection in his Rosary)

Let us be ever mindful to make haste when doing the work of God, and pump the brakes when it is all about us. And pray that we will recognize and be mindful of the difference

Advent Day 16: A Righteous Man

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TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Mt 1:18-25. Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy follows. To find out how it turns out, just click on the link above.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly. (v. 19)

Mitch and Hahn succinctly give us the three prominent theories that could explain Joseph’s reaction to finding Mary, his betrothed and beloved, pregnant. Let’s read what they say about this verse.

“just: Or, “righteous”. Joseph is a man of sterling moral character, committed to living by the Mosaic Law (Deut 6:25; Lk 1:6). put her to shame: The Greek verb does not necessarily have a negative connotation. It simply means “to expose” or “to exhibit”. send her away: Catholic tradition proposes three main interpretations to explain why Joseph resolved to end his betrothal with Mary.

(1) The Suspicion Theory. Some hold that Joseph suspected Mary of adultery when he discovered her pregnancy. Joseph thus intended to pursue a divorce in accord with Deut 24:1–4 until the angel revealed to him the miraculous cause of the conception (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because he shuns immorality and directs his life by the Law of God. Proponents of this view include St. Justin Martyr, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine.

(2) The Perplexity Theory. Others hold that Joseph found the situation of Mary’s pregnancy inexplicable. Divorce seemed to be his only option, and yet he wished to do this quietly, for he could not bring himself to believe that Mary had been unfaithful. Joseph is said to be righteous because he lives by the Law of God and judges Mary’s situation with the utmost charity. The main proponent of this view is St. Jerome, whose exegesis was adopted into the notes of the medieval Bible.

(3) The Reverence Theory. Still others hold that Joseph knew the miraculous cause of Mary’s pregnancy from the beginning, i.e., he was made aware that the child was conceived “of the Holy Spirit” (1:18). Faced with this, Joseph considered himself unworthy to be involved in the Lord’s work, and his decision to separate quietly from Mary was a discretionary measure to keep secret the mystery within her. On this reading, the angel confirms what Joseph had already known and urges him to set aside pious fears that would lead him away from his vocation to be the legal father of the Messiah (1:20). Joseph is said to be righteous because of his deep humility and reverence for the miraculous works of God. Proponents of this view include St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Curtis Mitch, “Introduction to the Gospels,” in The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 8.

As we see, there are great saints supporting each of these theories. All are certainly plausible. But I would like to think that it was out of reverence that Joseph had initially decided to take his leave of Mary. I’m not sure he could have ever forgiven himself, or looked Mary in the eye, if he had suspected the worst.

May we be as reverent as Joseph when we assess situations we find unfathomable.

God bless.

The Dream of St. Joseph by Anton Raphael Mengs (1773-74)