As we end 2015 and begin 2016, I think one of the best ways to do this is to hear and be open to the desire of God's heart for each of us. It is taken from the First reading of the Mass for January 1:
This is my wish for you:  "The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!" Each day is a gift from God. Each moment of each day is a gift from the one who loves us the most. Receive, cherish and respond to this gift with gratitude, joy and love. Happy New Year!

"One of the hardest things in life is to let go of old hurts. We often say, or at least think: 'What you did to me and my family, my ancestors, or my friends I cannot forget or forgive. ... One day you will have to pay for it.' Sometimes our memories are decades, even centuries, old and keep asking for revenge. Holding people's faults against them often creates an impenetrable wall. But listen to Paul: 'For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old order is gone and a new being is there to see. It is all God's work' (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Indeed, we cannot let go of old hurts, but God can. Paul says: 'God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not holding anyone's fault against them' (2 Corinthians 5:19). It is God's work, but we are God's ministers, because the God who reconciled the world to God entrusted to us 'the message of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:19). This message calls us to let go of old hurts in the Name of God. It is the message our world most needs to hear." (Henri Nouwen) What a better way to end the old year and begin afresh in the New Year! God's grace is there for us to take this important step. Don't delay.

Before the coming of Christ, "Notice that peace is not promised but sent to us;  it is no longer deferred, it is given; peace is not prophesied but achieved. It is as if God the Father sent upon the earth a purse full of his mercy. This purse was burst open during the Lord's passion to pour forth its hidden contents--the price of our redemption. It was only a small purse, but it was very full. As the Scriptures tell us: 'A little child has been given to us, but in him dwells all the fullness of the divine nature.'" (St. Bernard) How grateful should we be during this season of Christmas to God for his abundant mercy, love and peace, shown to us in the person of his Divine Child, God/Man. Continue to be open to this grace of Christmas, even though the day is past.

Today, as we remember the Holy Innocents who died at the hand of Herod, who was seeking to kill the Christ child, the new born King, we realize that today thousands of innocent babies are slaughtered through abortion. Like their spiritual ancestors who went before them, these innocent children's lives are taken because of the selfishness of others.  These innocent children did not have to die. Their death was not God’s Will, although He permitted it. But as human beings try to destroy innocent lives, God brings them in the fullness of life with him. God does not will their death but he does will them to be with him in glory. What mystery! What mercy! What love!

 "You would have suffered eternal death, had Jesus not been born in time. Never would  you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come." (St. Augustine).  Meditate on these words as you enter into the celebration of the great day of God's Love for us. Remember it is his birth we are celebrating, not just another holiday, but a holyday.

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy may you experience overflowing grace from the Savior of the world. He was incarnate in Mary by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the Love of the Father. May he come to you now!  Merry Christmas!

Our lives are full of suffering, pain, disillusions, losses and grief.  These are the obvious. But there are also many moments of grace, love, friendship and presence. We need to be more attentive to the latter so as to cope with the former. If we focus mainly on the former, we will become easily discouraged and overwhelmed. But if we focus mainly on the latter our lives will be more tranquil and meaningful. For in spite of what curves life throws us, the Lord in his mercy sends us the tools to cope with them. Our celebration of Christmas is one of those tools to remind us of his great love.

Christmas Day Prayer before Meal.

Leader: All the ends of the earth have seen, alleluia!

All: The Salvation of our God, alleluia!

Leader: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

All: The Lord is God and He has shone upon us.

Leader: Lord, have mercy on us.

All: Christ, have mercy on us.

Leader: Let us join together in the Lord’s Prayer:

All: Our Father….

Leader: God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this day. We are grateful for those who are gathered around this table. We ask you to bless us and our food and to bless those we love who are not with us today. In our gratitude and love, we remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for those who are without enough to eat. We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live. We remember your challenging message of caring and giving and we pray for peace in families and nations throughout the world. We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who brings our hearts to life the Christmas Day and forever. Amen.

Leader: Together we pray:

All:  Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

In the 16th Century, the persecution of Catholics was so severe in England that Mass was illegal, priests were arrested and some were martyred for celebrating the Mass.  Prohibited from practicing the faith, our Catholic ancestors went underground.  There rose a desperate need to teach the young, and it had to be done on the sly.  The Jesuits jumped in and penned a children's catechism in song and code.   We all know the "Twelve Days of Christmas", but I wonder if we ever knew what it meant to the children of the 16th Century.
 "The Twelve Days of Christmas" salutes the Nativity celebration of opening on Christmas and closing 12 days later on the Epiphany.

"My true love" is God. "Me" is each Catholic.
  On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. - (The bird is Jesus Himself and the tree, is the Cross through which we are saved)
 On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtle doves (These suggest the Old and New Testaments)
 On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens
(The gifts from the three kings)
 On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four colly birds
(The four gospels)
 On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five golden rings
(The Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament)
 On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six geese-a-laying
(The Six days of Creation)
 On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven swans-a-swimming (The Seven Sacraments)
 On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight maids-a-milking (The Eight Beatitudes)
 On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine drummers drumming (The nine angelic choirs of angels)
 On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten ladies dancing
(The Ten Commandments)
 On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping (The Apostles after Judas betrayed Jesus)
 On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve lords-a-leaping (The beliefs of the Church as outlined in The Apostles Creed)

At that time, Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Having heard the word of the Lord, Mary left quickly to provide service to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary was obedient to the Lord. How quickly do we obey the Lord?
From Nazareth to Elizabeth’s was about 80 miles. Imagine what is going through her mind during this time. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, Already the Angel had prophesied that the baby conceived by Elizabeth would be filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in the womb. Remember the words of the Angel to Zachariah.
Already we have seen that Mary is full of the Spirit and that Jesus also is in his humanity as he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, in Luke’s first chapter, Elizabeth is the fourth person to be filled with the Spirit.
Do you think that this was a coincidence or do you think it is the very plan of God that we be filled with the Holy Spirit? To what extent are you filled with the Spirit and are following the lead of the Spirit?

cried out in a loud voice and said, "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? Filled with the Spirit, Elizabeth confirms that the words of the angel to Mary are true: she has conceived a child by the power of the Spirit. What Mary accepted in faith is now confirmed by Elizabeth, who would not know this, except by the inspiration of the Spirit. For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Elizabeth not only confirms the word of God but prophesizes that Mary’s faith has and will be confirmed.
Mary’s faith in the word of God without seeing is credited to her as the foundation of her own joy and blessedness.
To what extent do we act on the word of God in faith and obedience because it is the word of God? Like Jesus and Mary we are called to do the will of God because it is the will of God.
May the Spirit of God once more stir in your heart as you reflect and respond to the word of God in this reading!                   What do you take from this reflection to apply to your life?

"Man sinned and became guilty; God is born a man to free man from his guilt. Man fell, but God descended; man fell miserably, but God descended mercifully; man fell through pride, God descended with his grace." (St. Augustine) As we meditate on the mystery of Christmas, we realize the enormity of God's love for us. How can we ever refer to ourselves as "poor me" after the birth of our Savior? This was true before, but there is nothing poor about me. I have been enriched by the greatest gift possible. His birth gave me rebirth, from the misery of alienation from God to becoming forever a son or daughter of the Most High. Having been given another chance, what I will do with this gift, is my responsibility.

"Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man....You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come. "(St. Augustine) As we continue to prepare for the celebration of Christmas, let us remember that it is his birth and the gift he has given us through his birth that we celebrate. He was first born in a stable, now he wants to be born in your heart. Is it being prepared to receive him?

“In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but on how well we have loved....Where there is no love, put love -- and you will find love....Have a great love for those who contradict and fail to love you, for in this way love is begotten in a heart that has no love.”  (John of the Cross ) What a great way to prepare for Christmas. Jesus' gift to us is himself in love. No other gift will mean more to him than the sincere gift of love, expressed to another because of him. Love is a gold mine--once discovered will never fail to yield and enrich us.

         





          eyes of them both were opened. And when they    
          realized themselves to be naked, they joined together
          fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.


         1) Eve accused the serpent-tempter: Genesis 3:13     
         "And the Lord God said to the woman, 'Why have you
         done this?' And she responded, 'The serpent deceived
         me, and I ate.'"

         Genesis 3:16 "To the woman, he also said: ' I will
         multiply your labors and your conceptions. In pain shall
         you give birth to sons, and you shall be under your
         husband’s power, and he shall have dominion over
         you.'" Genesis 3:19 To Adam God said, "By the sweat   
         of your face shall you eat bread, until you return to the 
         earth from which you were taken. For dust you are, and
         unto dust you shall return.”

At that time, the crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" Some of them had already repented and were baptized. Now they where asking for the more. This should be our question as well, as we prepare for the continuing and final coming of Jesus. This was the question of the rich young man to Jesus. Unfortunately, asking isn’t enough. We have to act on the answer. He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." John called them (and us) to examine our true needs and to share with those who have less. It is not enough to do the minimum, namely repentance and forgiveness, but we must be willing to follow the call to love through providing for the needs of others whenever possible. Will not this be the issue at the Last Judgment when God will say: "What you did or did not do to the least you did or did not for me?" Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." How fairly and justly do we treat others? Ask this question within the context of being judged by God one day.
Again, it is not enough to ask, if we are not determined to act accordingly. Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. John quickly distinguishes himself from the true Messiah who is to come.
The baptism that the Messiah will proclaim will be greater than the one John preached. The latter was a preparation of the former.
John considers himself, in comparison, as less than a servant. For a servant would be the one who unties the straps of the master’s sandals.
The Messiah will come as judge separating the good and the bad.
How do we apply this text in our lives today?
Have we been baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire? Are we living out of that context in our daily lives? Are we zealot for the kingdom of God under the lead of the Holy Spirit?
                   How attentive are we to our own baptismal life and the grace of Confirmation?
                   To what extent do we witness these graces in our lives to others?

“God freely chose Mary from all eternity to be the Mother of his Son. In order to carry out her mission she herself was conceived immaculate. This means that, thanks to the grace of God and in anticipation of the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary was preserved from original sin from the first instant of her conception.” – Compendium of the CCC Mary received a two-fold grace. First, she was given the grace of life like all of us. None of us deserves life. It is truly a gift from God. Second, she was given the grace of mercy. Like all of us she would have come into existence alienated from God because of the sin of Adam. But God, in his great mercy and in anticipation of the grace of becoming the Mother of God in the future, Mary was given at conception the unique grace of being conceived free from sin. All are saved by grace, the grace from the death and resurrection of Jesus. Mary received that grace at conception. We received that grace at Baptism.

“Wherefore, brethren, let us plant ourselves upon the rock of faith and the Tradition of the Church, removing not the landmarks set by our holy fathers, nor giving room to those who are anxious to introduce novelties and to undermine the structure of God’s holy ecumenical and apostolic Church. For if everyone were allowed a free hand, little by little the entire Body of the Church would be destroyed.” (St. John of Damascus) He reminds us how important it is for us to continue to uphold the orthodox teachings of the Church, while being open to the move of the Holy Spirit in coming to a deeper understanding of the richness of our faith. Like a rose bud, the truth is contained in the bud but the fuller understanding and appreciation of the truth becomes more evident as the rose unfolds.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke sets the ministry of John the Baptist (and of Jesus) in its historical context, in particular, during the Roman Empire.
This would be around 28-29AD.
Following the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was divided into four parts. Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee. We know little about Philip (except that Herodias, whom Herod married, was first married to Philip) and Lysanias. Along with the connection to Tiberius and Pilate, Luke further situates John’s ministry in the political context of his day.
According to Jewish tradition there could be one high priest at a time and he remained for life. The Romans insisted that there would be some tenure. So even though in fact Caiaphas was the high priest, Annas was still recognized as such by the people. This is the religious context.
God has chosen John to be the forerunner of the Christ.
That the word of God came to John in the wilderness reminds the people of the covenant which was ratified in the desert or wilderness. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: "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 flesh shall see the salvation of God." The purpose of the repentance and the baptism as a sign of their desire for forgiveness was to prepare their hearts to receive the word of the Messiah.
Luke situates John’s ministry in the prophetic context. He quotes Isaiah 40:3-5.
It was the custom of the day for the king to send messengers ahead of him to prepare the people for his pending visit. God sends John to be his spokesperson.
During this Advent season what are we doing to prepare our hearts for a deeper coming of Jesus, so that we too can see his salvation?
Will that preparation include the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Will it include the forgiveness of others as well as asking their forgiveness?
Pray: Come, Lord, Jesus, Come. Come into my heart in a fuller way. Draw me into your presence.

"It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards one's progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken." (Saint Francis Xavier)  I would add the spirit of faith and love. Both reflect our relationship with Jesus. Paul reminds us that whatever we do whether in word or deed, do it in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to the Father. What would happen if this was our motivation in everything? Our live would not be easier but fuller. 

"The universal Church would not celebrate this Advent time with such solemnity of devotion did it not contain within it some great mystery." (St. Bernard)What is that mystery? Could one aspect be the coming of Jesus in the present moment? The people of his day did not recognize the God/Man when he first came. They saw only a man and thus rejected him or ignored him. As he comes among us today, will we be able to see him in one another and act accordingly? Or will we too see a stranger in the other and reject him or ignore him? "What you did to the least, you did to me."