John 1:1-18 Light of the World

In John's Gospel we hear a new creation story through the revelation that has given to us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him and without him nothing came to be.  What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

Christ is our light.  John the Baptist pointed to him as our light and testified to the Light so that others like us might recognize the Savior.  We are born into that light.  We received the Light of Christ at our baptisms, at our confirmations, at every sacrament the Light of Christ is present.  As Catholics we walk our journey through life with the Light that God has given us, knowing that God is there with us.  He is our light and life that animates us with us in his strength, fortitude, compassion and mercy. We are the Lord’s children by his will for John tells us, “To those who accepted him (meaning Christ Jesus) he gave the power to become children of God.”  Through Christ we have come to know Truth and the fullness of grace. 

Christ is the Light of the World.  We are his disciples.  St. Augustine wrote, “We have not only been made Christians, we have been made Christ.”  What does this mean?  There was once a man riding his bicycle along my road.  I watched him from the upstairs window. As he passed in front of my home, he hunched over forward on his bicycle and collapsed with the bike.  I grabbed my telephone and raced outside to him.  As he opened his eyes he saw me looking down at him, and asked, “Are you my angel?”    I couldn’t help but laugh for I have so many flaws.  But for that moment, I was Bryan’s angel.   

None of us is perfect.  We are all flawed human beings.  However, we are instilled with the Light entrusted to us by God.  Remember that children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”?  It means that people will come into our lives, and need that light to show them the way in the dark, and it is through our love, compassion and mercy for others that the light spreads and brings life to others.  There are so many Bryans in the world, and sometimes I may be in need, and maybe you.  God will provide the opportunities, but we must be willing to share the light and life which has been given to us through Christ.  In giving of ourselves like this, we are like John the Baptist testifying to the Light so that others may believe and have the light of life.  Remember what John tells us in regard to Christ, "What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race." 

We are the face of God to each other.  We are His hands and feet.  Let us strive to act as children of the Light showing mercy and compassion to others through our actions and words.  We ask this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

(From my reflections)

Luke 2:36-40 The Prophetess Anna

In this presentation story following the reception of the Christ Child by Simeon, we meet Anna who also receives the Child and proclaims him to the world.  It is argued by some the Simeon and Anna are prophets of the Old Testament representing all of the Jewish people of the Old Covenant waiting for the redeemer.  With the reception of the Christ Child, they are accepting and recognizing the Savior and proclaiming him to the world. 

Women often enjoy holding babies and seeing the hope and possibility that could come from the child, recognizing the child as a gift from God.  Here Anna does not do this.  She recognizes not the gift from God, but God himself.  How much more the potential this Child in her arms!  The One who has been long awaited.  How could she not be excited?  As one who as received Christ she, like Simeon, cannot but share Him with the world.  Isn't it similar to what we are called to do when we receive Christ within the Eucharist?  Anna is a Hebrew word that means 'grace'.  How fitting then that she is given the grace of God to be his messenger to proclaim Him, to recognize Him, to receive Him, and to love Him? 

And the Holy Family?  They fulfill the prescriptions of the Law and return home where the child grows in wisdom and strength with "the Lord's favor upon him."  It is Jesus' time for quiet growth before the Lord calls him to his vocation.  We are each called to a vocation.  We see one of Anna's vocations within today's reading.  We hear that Joseph and Mary were called to obedience in the Law.  What are you being called forth to do today that will grow God's kingdom within and around you?

John 2: 22-35 Fifth day of the Octive of Christmas

Simeon is derived from a Hebrew word meaning "to listen" or "to hear".  Simeon, a righteous and devout man, has heard what the Lord God has told him through the Holy Spirit. He understands what it is the Lord is saying in this Child that Mary and Joseph are bringing to the temple.  We also have a wonderful example of Mary and Joseph following the Laws of God.  It is a reminder that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.  Simeon gives us the knowledge that here is the one who will bring salvation to the people:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

We also receive the foreshadowing of the suffering to come in order for God's mercy to be fulfilled through Christ.  May we be eternally grateful that the Lord our God so loves us:
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Matthew 2:13-18 Feast of the Holy Innocents

In today's Gospel Matthew very directly tells us that he gives these stories of Jesus' life to fulfill the prophetic literature.  Nonetheless Matthew gives us a beautiful story of God speaking to Joseph through a dream telling him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt until Herod, the king of the Jews who is very possessive of his throne, is dead.  Joseph becomes for us a model of faith and trust in the Lord. He is willing to allow God the Father lead him in raising Jesus even if it means putting complete trust in Divine Providence.  We know that as a father Joseph will do everything that he can for his family like most fathers.  But this also lets us know, especially fathers today, that you're not alone in caring and protecting your family, God the Father is there and will take care of you and help you be a good dad by guiding you if you let him. 

The second part of today's reading is about the magi deceiving Herod and his retaliation against the innocents by their murder.  (also in fulfillment of the teachings of Jeremiah)  It is a teachable moment.  A human king doesn't mean anything to the heavenly realm.  The magi, the wise men, have seen Wisdom,  and it far surpasses anything that humans have.  The death of the innocents, though tragic, foreshadow the death of the Innocent One who was born to save us all, and those martyrs who gave their lives willingly for others to honor God, whether they were babes mentioned in St. Matthews Gospel, or our many saints including Saints/Blesseds Agatha, Felicity, Perpetua, Maximillian Kolbe, Agustín Caloca Cortés, Miguel Pro, Maria Chi Yu, etc.  They looked to God and everything beyond this world and made it their purpose in as much as they could in their lives.  Where do we keep our focus? 

Matthew 1:1-17 The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew gives us a genealogy of Jesus, conveniently telling us that there were fourteen generations between the beginning of man and King David, fourteen between David and the Babylonian captivity, and fourteen between the captivity and Christ Jesus.   Listed are many kings both good and bad, a contrast to help us see clearly God’s presence in the history of Israel.  Some of those kings struggled led the nation astray or to be conquered, allowing us to see God’s mercy in helping Israel through those listed kings who were good, who sought to restore the people of God and helped them conform to God’s ways.  Mentioned too are women and men who God directly heard, protected, and preserved.  Allowing us to know that God remembers each of us specifically as we form his people.  We remember through this genealogy how merciful and loving the Lord is. 

  We know that if we were to compare this genealogy to 1 Chronicles that Matthew has edited some names from the actual genealogy.  Why does this occur?  Matthew is writing to the Jewish people.   For them fourteen is a special number.  It is the number of steps in the Passover supper commemorating when God saved his people leading them out of slavery.  It is the Date in the Jewish month of Adar when Purim is celebrated, which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman in Babylonia when he tried to have them all killed.  The number fourteen in also represented the day of Pesach Sheni, the day before the Passover when they celebrated bringing forth the Paschal lamb.  These ideas are invoked by the number fourteen. 

Matthew has already instilled in our minds the idea of God's mercy and love.  Now he is drawing us to consider the Purim, and especially Pasch through which God saved his people.  Matthew specifically draws us to Christ and his birth into the human family, using the word twice at the end of today's passage.    We are called to stay awake, sit-up, pay attention!  Christ is coming in glory.  May we continue to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord in his mercy. 

Luke 7:18b-23

In today's Gospel we hear that disciples of John the Baptist have been sent to inquire of Jesus if he "is the one that is to come."  It is a curious thing.  People have been mistaking John as the Messiah, but he knew that he was not.  John freely admitted that to his own disciples that he was not the Messiah and sent them to seek the one greater than he.  John, like many others, was awaiting the Messiah.  Jesus never answered the question, but told them to report what they saw: healing of body, mind, and spirit; cleansing of lepers; and giving new life to the dead. "The poor have had the Good News proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." 

In Jesus' words there is almost a reply to (Isiah 45:21b-25) when the Lord spoke, " Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other..to me every knee shall bend; every tongue shall swear saying, "Only in the Lord are just deeds and power.  Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger toward him..."

How amazing to behold these things! to be able to go back to John and tell him what they have seen and that Jesus completes the words of Isiah.  It is incredible.  It is interesting to think too that Jesus doesn't have to reply.  He simply is.  It reminds us of the Old Testament accounts of Moses interacting with God, and being told simply "I am who am."

Matthew 21:28-32

As a parent many of us have children who when we ask them to do something will hem and haw before finally going off to fulfill the task required.   We ourselves are probably guilty of it at one time or another.  It is because we want to accomplish our own will, but when a parent, someone with authority asks us to do something, we have to set aside our own will and be humble enough to do their will before our own.  Jesus is telling us that when we who are regularly prone to sin humble ourselves to do God's will before our own, then we have the possibility of entering into the Heavenly Kingdom.

Woe to those who lie to the Father though and say they will do his will, then do their own. 

Matthew 21:23-27

A Star Shall Advance from Jacob (from my reflection journal)

Together we are all preparing for the coming of Christ.  Yesterday's message focused on what John the Baptist’s teaching on preparing for Christ.  John calls us to share what we have with others.  At a catechism class I taught some kids talked about how their families have too much stuff and how they could give some things to thrift shops.  An aide came through our room at one point and we used him as an example how we can share out time with others.  That got the kids excited because as we talked they realized they could share themselves with the baby Jesus. The children also understood that John calls us to be honest.  I am proud of them for that. Because Jesus is the Truth being dishonest makes us not ready to be in Christ’s presence.  These children are very good teachers!  When we discussed taking more that we ought, the kids recognized that immediately. For them this is the most difficult thing.  They call ‘hogging.’  Someone reminded everyone that the way to not be a hog is to share.  If these are some lessons on the path to Christ, then by whose authority do they come? 

In today’s Gospel the priests and the elders demand to know by what authority Jesus is teaching, and who gave him authority.  It is ironic to us because we recognize Jesus as the Christ who is teaching about God the Father, while these priests and elders whose focus is supposed to be on heavenly things are asking him about earthly matters.  They couldn’t see the deeper, hidden picture. 

As the children reheard yesterday’s Gospel story they had a picture in front of them.  Within that picture were hidden pictures that they had to find.  The activity helped them understand that what we see could have a deeper meaning.  Have you ever been to care facility and seen a young person with a patient?  Have you ever seen a woman with a newborn? Have you ever seen a man play with ball with kids?  What about someone praying to God quietly in church?  These are all things that are seen.  There is an invisible connection between the people in each, forming relationships, emotions: a deeper picture.  The priests and the elders only saw Jesus teaching. They missed the deeper pictures and the invisible connections. So Jesus asks them, where was John the Baptist from, “Was it of heavenly or human origin?”  Jesus was trying to refocus them and broaden their thoughts.  They feared saying John was from one or the other.  John had already told the crowds that he merely baptized in water, but one would come after him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  Could you imagine if they had the courage to acknowledge that one could come and be both of earthly and heavenly origin? 

Remember the Prophet Balaam’s words, prophesying about the God the Son that he would be king of kings, and “his royalty shall be exalted…a star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall arise from Israel.” We await joyfully this Advent for the newborn king, the Good Shepherd who uses his staff to guide us.  Let us prepare with the steps John gives us.  Let us be mindful of sharing our love with others.  Let us follow the star to Christ, where we, like the little children, can share all of ourselves with Him.  We ask this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

Luke 3:10-18 Gaudete Sunday

Rejoice in the Lord always!  (Gaudete in Domino semper)

In today's readings the crowds are asking John the Baptist what they should do.  They thought because of his wisdom and because he baptized people, that possibly here was the long awaited Christ.  John tells them how they are to live, as justly, with concern for each other, and to be satisfied.  He assures them, no he is not the Christ.  That he merely baptizes with water, but the one coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire; that Christ will gather the wheat and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

John is preparing the way for the Lord.  He is teaching the people how they must live to prepare for Christ.  He is telling them of God's loving mercy that those who follow in the way of the Lord will by caught up by Him and kept.  They will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The prophet Zephaniah reminds us that in this baptism of Christ, God rejoices over us and renews us in his love.  How can we not be filled with excitement and joy at this?  The path to that baptism is the journey of love through Christ our Lord. 

Luke 1-26:38 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today's Gospel reading is the same as those from Tuesday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  A beloved deacon I knew used to tell me that whenever I saw a reading twice in the same week, pay attention! 

In the story of the Annunciation we are given only two phrases that Mary speaks herself, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" and, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to  your word."  What should impress us most is that these words contain no fear.  In one she asks a question relating to a fact that she knows to be true.  In the second she fully commits herself with courage and faith to God's plan.  It indicates that she knew that she had a choice.  She could have said 'no'.  She could have been apathetic, which is also a choice.  Instead she chooses to live out God's will through her. 

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  We honor Our Lady and remember the story as she appeared to St. Juan Diego calling him to serve God, similar to the way that the Angel Gabriel appeared to her calling her to serve God. Through her, Juan Diego was led closer to her son, Jesus Christ. Through following God's will, so many more would come to follow the Son and know the Way, the Truth and the Life that leads to the eternal kingdom.  Because of her eternal love, watchfulness and protection that leads to Christ, we honor our Lady who bore the Christ Child.  Indeed as she appeared to Juan Diego, Christ radiated from within her. 

Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from St. Juan Diego's tilma

 

Matthew 11:16-19

The university is rife with arrogant intellectuals who often think they are God's answer for the world.  This is a generalization of course, but one that for many is true.  Those feelings seem to seep into the students too who are often very opinionated and don't like to listen to others.  It makes discussion difficult as they are not willing to look at other perspectives.  They value themselves on their own self importance.  They look down on others and judge them by their intellectual understanding of math, science, refinement, and general intellectual excellence.  It is rare to find students on campus with a good moral compas.  Those who do fall into the category of having morals are often shunned, at least in the USA, because they are the 'downers' the ones who ruin the 'fun' of others by asking the difficult questions of whether their friends think what they are doing is truly right, truly just.

We see this same sort of thing in today's reading as Jesus reflects upon the generation.  The generation is so sophisticated and caught up in their own superiority, they are missing the picture.  Jesus tells us, "Wisdom is vindicated by her works."  He is encouraging us to stay our course and continue to follow our moral compass for we are showing wisdom in doing so, and in God's mercy will be vindicated. 

Matthew 11:11-15

In today's Gospel Matthew gives us a classic turning upside down of the norm.  Paraphrasing, Jesus says that none born is greater than John the Baptist, in the paradigm shift, he says the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John.  What is Jesus driving at?

What he says is truly humbling all the way around.  Why should we let our pride get the best of us?  John the Baptist was a prophet who wandered the desert eating wild honey and locust before he was jailed and beheaded.  The least in the kingdom would be born in a cave without a home, would serve others with mercy and love for all, would be arrested in hate, scourged, tormented while forced to carry the beam and finally crucified among jeers.  The least was greater than John the Baptist.  He was greatest in obedience and patience through his love and mercy.  We are called to let go our pride as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.  When we do things for others are we truly doing it out of love and mercy, or is it merely our pride dressed up as mercy?  St. Francis de Sales warned against the kind of pride that makes the poor "hate you for the very bread that you give them."  Let us examine our hearts as we prepare for the coming of Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30

In today's Gospel Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light,"

How merciful the Lord is to invite us through obedience and patience to become docile peaceful people.  Jesus is the perpetual teacher.  He recognizes our difficulties and the hardships that we endure.  He wants to show us the better way.  To be meek is to be obedient.  There is a strength within obedience, but it is not stubborn.  It allows us to carry out the things that we are asked to do willingly.  To follow Jesus in his humbleness of heart allows us to be patient with others as we put them first before ourselves. 

In essence Jesus is teaching us that should we follow him, we will be rewarded and life will not seem as difficult because he wishes to teach us his way of love:  In obedience to the Father we serve him first, then we serve others, before ourselves.

Luke 1:26-38 Feast of the Immaculate Conception

St. Luke knew Mary, Jesus' mother. Today's Gospel reading is an intimate look backward at her life.  Through God's Divine Mercy the Angel Gabriel came to Mary.  "Don't be afraid," he says,  "Hail, full of grace!"  Her soul was spotless and not stained by original sin at her immaculate conception, because the Grace of God was with her, purifying her, allowing her to become the future Theotokos. She is the new Eve, foretold in Genesis 3:15.  Unlike Eve, Mary is greater, for she is holy through her participation in God's plan of salvation for mankind. 

The Angel Gabriel explains that she will have a son "called holy."  We are all adopted sons and daughters of God like Adam and Eve.  Just as Mary is the new Eve, Jesus is the new Adam. Mary's child, is different and set apart because he is holy. He is the "Son of God."  The Angel offers her a sign that he is telling the truth.  He tells her that Elizabeth, her cousin, is expecting a baby, so she can check the veracity of his statements as a sign from God.  (Infant mortality was high and so people didn't celebrate the birth of a child, instead they threw an enormous party when the child turned one-year-old.  Mary wouldn't know that Elizabeth was expecting and specifically in her sixth month.)  Mary is obedient and gives praise to God.  We are called to do the same this Advent season as we prepare the coming of the Lord, Our Savior, in this Year of Divine Mercy.

Luke 5:17-26

In a Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class years ago we were told about an unfortunate incident where a woman was raped on the street in front of her house.  Most of her neighbors were home and they did not help or call the police.  Afterwards they sent her cards of apology for their inaction stating that they didn’t believe that they could help in any way and they felt helpless.  The point of our instructor telling us the story was to have us understand that we truly needed to believe that we could help, otherwise we needed to walk away and call for help from someone else: To help someone we needed to have faith because in administering CPR once it is begun you aren’t supposed to stop unless someone, like an emergency medical technician, is there to take over for you.

In direct contrast in today’s Gospel reading we hear about the friends who came to the aid of their paralytic friend and even when they couldn’t get their friend into the house where Jesus was preaching and healing, they found another way and they gently lowered him.  They had faith.  They believed that Jesus could heal.  They believed that they could help make this a reality for their friend.  We know that Jesus healed him because he was able to pick-up his stretcher and leave, but Jesus also forgave him his sins.

Jesus never had to say that he was God.  He showed it through his actions and words.  The scribes and Pharisees are the ones who tell us, “Who but God alone can forgive sins?”  Jesus responds to them and asks, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘Rise and walk’?”  There is a phrase ‘Putting a band-aide on a problem.’  For this man to have only been physically healed would have been this sort of superficial solution.  God heals hearts when he forgives.  At healing masses there is sometimes a concern that those receiving the Sacrament of Anointing may faint because of the Spirit that moves through the profound belief of the recipients.  May we all give glory and praise to God in his mercy to “forgive us our sins…and deliver us from all evil.”  Amen.

Luke 3:1-6

In today's Gospel we hear about all the big name political players at Jesus' time: The Emperor, the kings, the high priests of the temple, and other rulers.  One expects that the coming Savior would be born and proclaimed from among them.  Instead the reading, as the convention in the Gospels, is to turn everything upside down.  From the lonely desert a prophet to the people from the Lord God comes quoting Isiah, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all the flesh shall see the salvation of God."

John is preparing us for the coming of the Savior.  Those who are elevated will be humbled, difficulties will cease when one realizes the straight path, the Way to the Kingdom.  All will come before the Lord in judgement and be witness to the salvation of the world.  Do we hear the prophet's words?  Are we preparing for the coming of the Lord?  How do we help others in our families and communities prepare as well? 

Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

Jesus' heart is filled with great pity we are told as he moved around the city teaching, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing.  He said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." 

This is the same prayer that we saw at the conclusion of the Celebration of the Word without a priest begging God for an increase of vocations to the priesthood.  We are a people in need of teachers of the Way.  We suffer in our world amidst the confusion and fear that acts of terror and potential war bring.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He hears us.  "He summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness."  They were directed to tend to the flock, attend to the lost sheep meaning those who feel lost and abandoned or strayed from the Way.  What is not said, but understood is the rest will stay banded together and help each other on the right path under the guidance of those who serve as teachers of the Way.  If Jesus is our good shepherd, then the heads of our church, our bishops and pastors are respectively those good teachers who guide us in his place under the care of the Holy Spirit.

Our priests are dear to us, but every one of us has our role to play within the Church.  Ask yourself, "Do I put forth the effort I should in helping other stay within the fold of God's loving care or do I say or do mean things to those I don't like?  Do I stray from the path of righteousness and need someone to talk to me and help me figure out my relationship with God?  Do I respects our priests as anointed pastors who guide us on the Way and lead us with their God-given supernatural power through Christ in the Sacraments to overcome unclean spirits, to forgive sins, to draw God down to us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist?  Our priests are the laborers descendent from the Twelve.  We are their flock, and without them we are lost, but reciprocally, without their flock, so are they.  Each of us has a role to play within the Church.  We are reminded, "For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ..." (1 Cor 12:14-26 ) We are the Church. Our priests, all the clergy, are the church. Christ is the Church.  Together we are the Church. Together we give glory to God and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom with our very lives.  Let us pray that our efforts in communion with each other may bring healing.

Matthew 9:27-31

In today's Gospel two blind men are following Jesus begging for his mercy and pity.  Jesus asks them, "Do you believe that I can do this?"

This Advent season we are preparing ourselves to receive Christ as the hope of the world.  Do we believe that he can do this?  Faith is a gift of God the Father through the Holy Spirit.  Christ Jesus stands knocking at the door of our hearts ready to lead us through the gates of eternal life should we seek him.  For those who follow Jesus as the blind men did, seeking to see the eternal Kingdom, the Lord will reveal it "according to your faith."  For these men, their eyes were opened. 

Jesus warns them, "See that no one knows about this."  We are told that "they went our and spread the word of him through all the land."   Did they miss the point?  When we receive a gift, do we focus solely on the gift, or the giver?  Perhaps that is Jesus is really warning of overlooking the One, The Father in Heaven, who has given them the ability to see and to attain the Kingdom and its eternal life, by instead focusing on the fact that Jesus has restored their sight.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Let us focus on that as we prepare to meet the coming of Christ this Christmas.

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Today's Gospel surprises us a little because it is a warning that if we do not heed Christ Jesus' words, we will not be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  There are those who will cry out to him but do not follow him, and those who listen but do not obey. 

It seems really harsh in our current era of political correctness we want everyone to be equal and have a "fair share."  That isn't what Jesus is telling us though.  Jesus is reminding us to be vigilant and build within ourselves that firm foundation in Him, in the Father through the Holy Spirit.  Faith is always accompanied by good works.  Upon what does our faith rest?  It rests upon the word of God.  It is his will that we put before our own in faith.  To love God is to desire sincerely to love him.  Because we love him, we wish to be instruments of his love and peace for others in doing his will and spreading the Good News.  In this end, our faith will save us. 

Matthew 15:29-37

In today's reading Jesus goes up the mountain where those who are poor in spirit, those who are outcasts such as the blind, the lame, mute, etc. have come for healing.  Jesus is touched and says, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away hungry."  Jesus then takes seven loaves and five fish, blesses them and the feed the crowds with seven baskets left over. 

Jesus first goes to the mountain.  Mountains have been used as a meeting place with God throughout history.  Jesus is man yes, but also the Christ, the door keeper who ushers us through the door to God, so we find it appropriate that he is gathered with those who are humbled, meek, and the poor in spirit.  He consoles them, he forgives them their sins, and heals them.  Are they just healed in body?  No, Christ heals the soul, the spirit, too.  As we read today's Gospel we are called to that mountain too, to be healed and made whole, to be purified and ready to meet God. 

Ask yourself, What do I need healing in my life?  Is there something physically wrong with me, or does it mask a deeper pain?  Is there something that I can find healing through in an Anointing of the Sick or through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?  In both there is great healing if we are open to it.  Perhaps this can be part of our Advent journey?

Luke 10:21-24

In today's Gospel reading Jesus teaches us how to praise God Our Father in the Holy Spirit.  Praise is nearly a forgotten form of prayer, but one that is so important.  Throughout scripture God is very insistant about praise.  Even in the Lord's Prayer we find praise in the words, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done..."  Within these words and all other prayers of praise we acknowledge God's greatness, and conversely our lowliness.  Praise allows us in our humility to find room for God's love and for His will to be done in and through us.  Praise is also a thanksgiving.  Shouldn't we be grateful?  Our Father sent his Son to die for our sins so that we may be given eternal life.  Doesn't that deserve our eternal praise and thanksgiving? 

Think about a child.  Most young children are filled with such awe and reverence toward those they love and admire.  They seek to please them by doing what they know is right.  And they are grateful for the love shown to them and the gift they receive.  We are called to be childlike, to have complete abandon in Him, so that His love and Kingdom will be present to us and not hidden.  Praise can lead us to be worthy to receive and see.  May we in our humility lovingly turn toward Our Father in praise and thanksgiving with the heart of a child holding nothing back.