Nov 29 - First Sunday of Advent 2021

+ We begin again! This is actually “New Year’s Day” in the Church: the beginning of a brand new liturgical year of grace with twelve months ahead of us to once again behold the great mystery of our faith: the coming as Savior of the very Son of God himself – who became for us Jesus, Christ, the Lord.

 

The Advent season is the time to look back into our Jewish history and see the great preparation that God himself made before the actual birth of the Messiah on what we refer to as Christmas Day. This history tells of a people, formed by God to be his family, who found themselves in situations more and more intense and even dangerous – mostly by their constant disobedience to him. God had to rescue this people over and over again; but at the same time they were always longing and yearning for a true and lasting liberator, Messiah, who would free them from all their slaveries and be their leader triumphant against all their enemies.

 

God had this same desire for them, but with a twist; this Messiah and King would not be of a political bent, as they thought he might be, he would instead inaugurate a spiritual kingdom that would last forever; and the slavery that he would free them from was the most deadly of all: sin – which, unless he had come to forgive it, would have kept them, and everyone else, out of that kingdom forever!

 

And so, when the time was right – and the hopelessness of this people was immense and their longing was at the bursting point – “this fullness of time” produced the familiar story that we will hear about in the coming weeks: the arrival of the magnificent Lord of the universe, in the tiny body of a little baby boy! Our God is so powerful that he could do this: out of love for us!

 

Our readings today are magnificent: this yearning, groveling people know that they are but “bits of clay, and that God is the potter;” and as works of his hands they ask for freedom, mercy and love! And he gives it! The gospel passage encourages us to be watchful and waiting both for the second coming of Jesus, but also in a new way this new year: the first. Let our hearts burst with yearning and hoping and crying out to God for his peace and his love: and he will give them – just as though we were there at the stable in Bethlehem. There is reason to have hope – regardless of what is happening in our families, our countries, our world - God is faithful to his promises – he is devoted to those who are searching for his face: he will show it to them!

 

Dear Lord, show us your love; and grant us your salvation!

Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day 2020

+ Our responsorial refrain cries out today: Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. On this Thanksgiving Day, 2020, we are called to reflect on the life of blessing that is available to us all, and that we do enjoy – being the recipient of God’s manifold gifts and graces.

Absolutely everything we are and have come from Him, are sustained by Him, and are directed to Him, for His glory, and the best good for everyone and everything!

This is the priority that we must keep in our minds and in our hearts: we are all called to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb in the new heaven, and the new earth, that is surely coming down the pike. Everything we think, say and do each day, must someway, somehow be directed to that end.

Our forefathers were grounded in faith, and it was the steering factor, the great anchor for all they accomplished and planned for themselves and for future generations. Without God, without the aid of his Blessed Mother Mary, who is the Patroness of these United States – we are doomed to failure and devastation; but with them we set a course for true prosperity and greatness: here and hereafter.

We are challenged more this Thanksgiving Day probably than any other in the history of our memories: COVID has claimed the lives of more than a quarter of a million of our dearest and most precious loved ones: all of whom were doubly victimized because they had to die alone, and without the comfort and assistance of loved ones at their bedside! There is the last end vestiges as well of a cataclysmic presidency with one who clearly belongs in a mental institution and not the People’s House in Washington, DC. There is an economic crisis that will take decades to repair. There remains racial injustice and police brutality as much today as when the horrific scenes played out on our TV screens this past summer and in our city streets! There will be no return to the normal that we once knew: but again with the advent of a new and stable presidency come Jan 20, perhaps there is cause for a springtime of new hope, new empathy, new compassion, new ideas, new actions, and new LOVE that will begin to transform the country, and indeed the world into something better than we even can imagine now.

In any and every event we must not forget the GOD OF PROMISES: who promises peace, and prosperity and abundance and security, and health and wholeness for all of us! Truly!

And so, we are most grateful today for our FAITH, for the HOPE engendered by it, and by selfless acts of human helpfulness that we can do, especially by staying socially distanced, masked and at home, and LOVE – especially to the most wayward and forgotten, poor, the sick and lonely – which demonstrate it.

“When the days of tribulation arrive and the signs begin to happen – let us stand erect with joyful, grateful hearts, raise our eyes to the Cross of Christ manifest in the skies and welcome the New Day which is full of promise, peace and prosperity beyond our wildest imaginings.”

Our redemption is close at hand, and we are glad!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Nov 15 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ As we are coming down to the last two Sundays of the Church year, we focus this week on a primary Christian concept: what exactly do I do with what I have been given? A truly Christian person knows that everything comes from God – including their very selves, their very lives, their very ability or talent to do anything. This means at the same time, that we of ourselves are nothing, nothing at all. One of Jesus’ chief reasons for coming to live among us was to make that fact very clear in our minds and to encourage us always to “celebrate our nothingness so that God’s abundance could come to us,” so that he could live and move and have his being in us, so that he could make and fashion for himself a people, a family, a kingdom as it would best be formed.

The gospel passage parable today then tells the story of the man who had been given five talents (a certain sum of money) who when his master returns later returns to him the five with five more gained by intelligent investment. The master is very pleased and rewards the industrious servant with a higher rank in his organization. We each have been given personal gifts and talents and abilities to use for the service of others first (for ourselves always last) – and when we use them thusly, we, in a sense can see the good works multiplied before our eyes – it is as though our gift and its effect grows and grows with use – this confirms the lesson of the parable!

The first reading today gives concrete example of one who uses her many gifts not for herself but for the service of her family and even strangers: a worthy wife whose value is far beyond pearls; who embracing her nothingness in imitation of the Blessed Mother Mary, gains the praise of all at the city gates.

When each of us simply does his duty – both as male and female – in the societal plan of mutual help and support, then all is well – but more especially if we do these things, as they only really can be done: empowered by the Holy Spirit of God who makes all things work together for those who love God.

The second reading today reminds us that Jesus’ return could be at any time. It encourages us to be ready in two ways: by prayer (by being vigilant and sober), and by doing ever more works of charity and human helpfulness out of love for God: this makes these acts fruitful and effortless and perfect; and stores up for us treasure in heaven.

Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.

Whoever remains in me bears much fruit!