As we come to the end of 2021 and enter into the New Year, my prayer for each of you  is the Word of God from the first reading of the Feast of the Mother of God. "May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!" This is God's gift to each of you. But to receive it in the fullest of measure, the word goes on to say: When they invoke my name, I will bless them. When you praise and thank God, when you invoke his sacred name, then the floodgates of his blessings will be poured out upon you. That is his promise to you as you begin the New Year of grace. Blessed New Year!

We have been reflecting on the lessons that the nativity scene teaches  us. Pondering like Mary, we have reflected on the lessons of love and joy. Today, we see the lesson of humility. What humility it took for the Son of God to become man, like us in all things but sin. He chooses to be born not in luxury, deserving of his person, but in a stable with the smell of barn animals. Mary and Joseph also teach us about humility. Both had their plans, but when asked, they humbly submitted to the plan of God. Mary said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word."  To whom was the news of the birth of the promised Savior made known to but to poor, humble shepherds. 

This child and Mary and Joseph will endure humiliations. Simeon prophesied that the child would be a sign of contradiction and that Mary's heart would be pierced with a sword. These humiliations begin with the threat to the child's life and their flight into Egypt. As an adult, he is rejected and ridiculed, accused of being a devil, scourged, crowned with thorns and condemned to death by crucifixion as a common criminal. Mary experienced humiliations at foot of the cross, hearing the slanderous mockeries against her son and seeing his side pierced with a sword. Humility and humiliations were part of Jesus' life. As his disciples they are also part of our lives. Only with humility can one embrace humiliations.

Homily Feast of the Epiphany Year C

Reading 1: To a people who are in a state of spiritual darkness, Isaiah gives hope of a future glory. He speaks about a light. What is that light? The glory of God. Jerusalem, once destroyed, will be restored by the Lord. The people once driven out in exile will return in glory led by the Lord. That prophetic word was fulfilled.

But there is another meaning concerning the light. The true light of the world that destroys and overcomes the darkness of sin is Jesus. His coming brings a new glory to God’s people and a new revelation. The symbols of gold and frankincense anticipates the gifts of the wise men in the Gospel. The proclamation of the promised of the Lord reflects the words of the shepherds, the wise men and Simon and Anna. These were the initial ones who recognize the prophecy being fulfilled in the person of Jesus. But what is the new revelation, implied in the words of Isaiah?

Reading 2: Paul reveals to us that new revelation. He says that it was not known in previous generations but made known to the Apostles and Paul. What is it? Jesus came as Savior, not only of the chosen people, the Jews, but of the Gentiles as well.

Because of Jesus’ coming and his death and resurrection, we are co-heirs, members of the same chosen people and co-partners in the salvation brought about by Jesus. To us, this is not new maybe. But to the people of Paul’s day it was a new revelation.

Even the early Jewish converts believed that the Gentiles had first to embrace the covenant of Moses through circumcision and strictly observe the dietary laws in order to be saved. Paul says, that salvation comes through baptism, not circumcision. Gentiles share equally with Jewish converts as members of the faith community.

If you were a recent convert as a Gentile, you would no longer feel like a second class citizen in the community of faith.

Gospel: The revelation of the birth of the Messiah was proclaimed to the Shepherds by angels. They came and worshiped. That same revelation of the birth of a new born king comes to wise men through the sign of a star, a natural sign. But the true and fuller understanding of how to find and identify this child comes through the Word of God. It is the information that the priests and scribes share that gives light to the inquiry of the wise men. Grace builds on nature.

But hearing the message proclaimed by the angels and being told that the new king would be born in Bethlehem, requires more than hearing and receiving the truth. The shepherds acted on the word of the angels. They went with haste to see for themselves. On seeing, they worshipped and told others of God’s revelation.

The wise men followed the lead given them by prophesy of Micah. They went to Bethlehem and found the one they were searching for. They saw a baby with their human eyes, but saw the revelation of God with the eyes of faith.

We have come to the annual celebration of the birth of the Savior. We have heard the words of revelation anew. What has happened in our lives? Business as usual, like the scribes and priests who read the prophetic word but did nothing about it personally? Or like the Shepherds and wise men, our lives could not be the same afterwards. The shepherds could not stop telling others what they had heard and seen with their own eyes. The wise men couldn’t go back to Herod or the same way that they had come. Now, because they had heard and seen for themselves the new born king, there was a new path for them to follow.  Has our celebration of the birth of Jesus open for us a new way of life and a new path to follow? 

There are many lessons we can learn from meditating on the birth of Jesus. It is an event of great joy: the promised Savior has come as a little child. The angels rejoice as they announced the good news to the shepherds. The shepherds rejoice as they see the new born child and in faith believe the words of the angelic messengers. Mary and Joseph rejoice as they hold in their arms this child who is the Son of the Most High God. There is a natural joy at the birth of a child. But this child is different and the joy that he brings is different. Later, Simeon and Anna will rejoice, as they are led by the Holy Spirit to acknowledge and proclaim the true identity of this child. 

Do we also rejoice with the angels, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph? Do we rejoice because of the fulfillment of God's promise to the world to send a Savior? Do we rejoice that this Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us so much that he gave his life that we may have eternal life with God? If we do, then it is the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit to all those who recognize, accept and commit their lives to live in relationship with him. This joy nothing nor no one can take away from us, for it is not external but internal, based on a relationship of love with the source of Love. "Rejoice in the Lord, always!"

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY: GOSPEL 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." 

· King Herod: Herod reigned from 37 to 4 BC

· It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler's birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that "A star shall advance from Jacob" (Num 24:17 ), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.

· How attentive are we to the signs God gives us?

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 

· Mt refers to Micah 5: 1-3 and 2 Sam 5:2

· Notice that it was the Word of God that gave meaning to the appearance of the star. How often do we go to the Word of God for guidance and direction in our life?

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."  

· Why do you think that those who knew the scriptures about the coming of the new king did not themselves go with the Magi to worship him? Knowing the scriptures is not enough if we don’t act on the Word of God.

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. 

· Bethlehem is six miles south of Jerusalem.

· Why do you think Joseph is not mentioned?

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

· Gold: He is a King; Frankincense: He is God; Myrrh: in anticipation of his future death.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 

· How have you experienced God’s guidance in your life?  In what ways have your journey reflected that of the magi? How obedient have you been when you didn’t understand?

· Can one ever go back to the past if they want to grow in holiness?

· What application in your life do you take from this passage? 

As we take time this week to continue our reflections on the birth of Jesus and its lessons for us, we see the clear message of love. "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son. Whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." This child is the manifestation of God's love for us, a love that was proclaimed to us from the beginning of creation. God created us in his own image and likeness, giving us a human spirit and sharing his own divine life with us. But we didn't know how to respond to love with love. We chose to sin instead. So God's love was proclaimed in his promise to send us a Savior. Centuries later, this promise became realized when the Son of God become flesh, so that we may become sons and daughters of God once more. 

Mary and Joseph manifests to us the true response to this love of God. Though they had their own plans, they submitted to the plan of God in love and obedience. Mary said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be in done to me according to your word." Joseph, instead of putting Mary aside by a decree of divorce, at the angel's message, took her into his home. Can you imagine the love that welled up in their hearts as they beheld the gift of God in the person of this child? It was with love that they held this child, the Son of the Most High God. It was out of love that they fled to Egypt to protect this child from the murderous will of Herod. It was love that motivated their care and formation of this child as he grew to maturity. What should our response be for this gift of Love in the flesh?

The Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus for eight days to show the significance of this gift of God to us. We have a tendency to put Christmas behind us the day afterwards. Is it possible that we are missing the graces that God wants us to receive? Mary shows us the attitude we should have during these days. The scripture tells us that, once Jesus was born and the shepherds shared the message of the angels, Mary pondered these things in her heart. Why? It was so much to comprehend immediately. During these eight days we too need to ponder during our prayer time what the birth of Jesus means to us in this time of our lives and how we are to respond. There is much that God wishes to teach and reveal to us. But it will only come when, like Mary, we ponder and reflect on the birth of Jesus. Do this, if possible, in front of the nativity scene.  

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               

The Gift of God to us is the person of Love. "God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son." He who is love in flesh has given his physical life on the cross so that we may have a share in his divine life. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit within us that reminds us of God's love.

Love is responded to by love. During this season of gifts, let love be the gift we give the most. Let that love be Jesus. Then the circle of love will be complete. What begins with God and given to us is returned to God in and with us. It is this love I wish for you this Christmas and this love I receive from God and you. Merry Christmas!

Homily Feast of the Holy Family

Reading 1: What is the key phrase? Why should parents be obeyed, respected and cared for? “God sets a Father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms.” It is God who is the source of their role and person as father and mother. So the honor and respect we give to our parents is given to God and vice versa the dishonor or disrespect is given to God.

The same is true for children. They come from God who gives them life through the love of their parents. What is done to them by their parents is done to God.

How do we honor our parents? We recognize them with gratitude, knowing that they are no more perfect than we are and are on the same journey as we. Likewise we are to take care of them in their ole age as they cared for us when we were helpless and totally dependent. Underlying this honor and respect and care is love. Whether we experienced their love or not, we are called to love them as God has loved us.

Our actions have consequences. How have we honored our parents? How have we not honored our parents? How have we treated and cared for our children? How have we wronged them?

Reading 2: Life within a family has its own trials and difficulties as well as joys and good memories. Marriage and family are more than natural relationships. They are spiritual ones as well. Our life as members of the family should be govern by certain virtues and way of treating one another.

Paul gives us some of these virtues we need to incorporate in our family relationship. It starts with parents modeling for their children. The first thing Paul tells us is that each, member of the family is chosen by God. We are called by virtue of baptism to be holy and full of love. As a result, our relationship as a family is to be founded on compassion that comes from the heart, kindness to one another, humility, gentleness and patience.

These are there to the extent that forgiveness is there, because we will hurt each other intentionally and unintentionally. So we must have a forgiving attitude. Remember God has forgiven us for far greater sins than others have done against us.

But what gives these virtues purpose is love. So the bottom line is this: Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of Jesus in thanksgiving to the Father.

Gospel: Jesus teaches us the importance of realizing our relationship with God, the Father and our parents. He says that while respecting and honoring our parents we must remember our first priority is obedience to God. There is no contradiction between the two.

Jesus is about twelve years old; he has just went through the Bar Mitzvah ceremony that each Jewish boy had to do to be able to sit with the men and not with the children. He had to show that he knew the basic tenets of the Jewish Law.

As an infant he was circumcised and covenanted with God as his son. In his Bar Mitzvah, he had to show ownership of his faith and that he wants to continue to grow and defend his relationship with God. Though he is a son of Mary and foster son of Joseph, two human beings, he was primarily a son of God.

Whether he was aware yet of his own divinity is not clear, but he is aware of his special relationship with God, calling him Father. Acknowledging this, he continues to be obedient to Mary and Joseph. As a result of this double relationship, he grew in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. 

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

As we continue our preparation for the celebration of Christmas, we reflect today on two more titles of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The first is obvious. As the son of David, he is the fulfillment of the promise of God to David that one of his descendants would establish a kingdom that will last forever. Jesus is Lord and King, our Lord and King. The second title acknowledges another central role of Jesus, as keystone of the Church. A keystone or corner stone is the central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place. If removed the arch crumbles. Jesus is the one who through his death and resurrection has brought Jews and Gentiles together in oneness with him. Though rejected by those of his day, he has become the one chosen by God to be the foundation of the everlasting kingdom. There is no salvation outside of Jesus and there is no eternal kingdom outside of Jesus

 Feast of the Holy Family Gospel C

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 

· In Luke’s Gospel this is Jesus’ second journey to the Temple, the first being when he was presented after birth.

· When a Jewish boy became twelve years old he became a son of the law, taking on its obligations. As part of this celebration Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem to bring the young Jesus to the Temple.

· Do we remember our Confirmation? This was the moment we affirmed our relationship with God and committed ourselves to be witnesses to others. How consciously are we doing that?

After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 

· Mary thought Jesus was with Joseph and vice versa or possibly with the other cousins or friends who traveled with them from Nazareth.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 

· It was not unusual for the learned teachers to meet in the Temple court to discuss important religious topics. Nor would it be unusual for a young male adult twelve years old to listen and to ask questions of these teachers.  Are we as inquisitive about our faith, studying and learning?

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,  “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ 

· Jesus identifies God as his Father without rejecting or denying his relationship with Joseph as his foster father. He is aware of the hierarchy of relationships.

· What is our relationship with the Father? How has it changed over the years?

But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 

· Even when he recognized his ultimate relationship with God as his Father, Jesus still showed respect and obedience to the two human beings who care for him on earth.

· When we don’t understand something, do we like Mary reflect on them in our heart?

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. 

· What application do we make in our life from this passage?

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. 

Jesus is the light of the world, the light that brings life. Before Jesus came, the world was in the darkness of sin. His birth brings the fulfillment of God's promise to send us a Savior. His resurrection brings a new light into the world, his risen life, which we are privileged to share in. As we await his second coming in glory we are to live in hope and joy, knowing that we will see him, the Radiant Dawn, the Sun of justice, the splendor of eternal light. While we watch for this new day, we are called to be instruments of justice and peace. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Let your radiant light shine on us anew.

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

One of the titles of Jesus, our Messiah, is Son of David, indicating that he is of the royal line of David. He has come to established the eternal Kingdom which God promised to David. When people used this term, applying it to Jesus, they were acknowledging that he was the promised Messiah. Another title is Key of David. We read these words of the angel to the community of believers in Philadelphia  in the Book of Revelation. "The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open." (Revelatons 3:7) Jesus is the one who, through his death and resurrection, opens up the doors of the heavenly community. There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. He alone can deliver us from the bondage of sinful darkness and bring us into the freedom of eternal light and life. We cry out, O Key of David, have mercy upon us. You alone are our hope and salvation.

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

 As we enter into the final days of preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord, the Church reflects on different titles of the Messiah. He is the Wisdom of God who comes to teach us the wisdom and knowledge of his true identity and of the plan of God for us. The wisdom of God revealed to us by Jesus is that God would bring salvation to the world by himself becoming Man. By taking on our flesh, Jesus embraced the cross as the means of our salvation. Paul tells us that for the Jews this was a stumbling block and for the Greeks foolishness and weakness. In faith, we believe that this was the plan of God that Jesus has fulfilled. We can only come to know this mystery through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the true path to deeper knowledge, which we pray for this Christmas.

Christmas Novena Prayers December 17-23

Opening Prayer

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.

Your incarnation forever changed the world.

All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

December 17

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

December 20

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

December 22

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Concluding Prayer every Day

Let us pray:

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin, at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem. I implore you, Lord, to hear my prayers and grant my desires.

(Mention request(s) here)

We offer this prayer to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the intercession of Mary and St. Joseph. Amen. 

If we are living in relationship with God, sharing in his divine life, then God lives within us. How conscious are we of the indwelling presence of God? To the extent that we are aware of and acknowledge this mystery of grace, to that extent we will look for God more interiorly than exteriorly. At the same time, to be in awe of his presence within will enable us to see more clearly the manifestations of his presence in the world around us. The Son of God became flesh in time to prepare us for his presence within us now and eternally. Jesus renews and strengthens his indwelling presence in us in Eucharist. He does this so that when I die will be sharing in God's divine life through his indwelling presence. Then his presence will engulf me eternally in his glory. Now, I see him imperfectly, then I will see him face to face. It begins with his indwelling presence. Thank you Jesus for this gift.

Homily Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C 

Reading 1: The prophet Micah centuries before the birth of Messiah prophesied that he would be born in Bethlehem. This was in keeping with the prophetic word before him, which said that the Messiah would be from the house/clan of Judah. Bethlehem was insignificant among the towns in Judah in size. However, it’s fame was the town which David the King had come from. Again the connection to the prophetic word of God, the Messiah will be of the house of David, of the house of Jesse, of the clan of Judah.

Micah further specifies two qualities of the Messiah in relationship to David. Like David he will be a king and like David he will be a shepherd caring for the flock of the Lord. The Messiah will be able to accomplish all because his strength is in the Lord. As a result, he shall bring peace to the earth.

This prophetic word was fulfilled by Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem and who said he was the Good Shepherd, whose kingdom is not of this world. The text from Micah was the text that the priests told Herod , when he inquired where the Messiah was to be born.

Gospel: Mary had experienced the appearance of an angel, who told her that though insignificant in the eyes of the world had been chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah. He told her that she would conceive the Son of the Most High by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Son would save his people from their sins. Mary without understanding his message submitted herself to God’s plan.

Mary was also told of another work of God. Her cousin, Elizabeth, who in her old age as conceived a son. Mary, not thinking about herself hastened to care for Elizabeth. Zachariah and Elizabeth were both insignificant in the eyes of the world. Yet the child to be born would be the greatest of all prophets before Jesus.

Elizabeth, by the power of the Holy Spirit confirms for Mary the message that the angel had revealed to Mary. She also confirmed that the child conceived by Mary was the Lord. Elizabeth’s prophetic word concluded with the confirmation of Mary’s decision to submit herself to fulfill the word of God to her.

In the eyes of the world, each of us is insignificant. Yet, God has done great and mighty things for us. Mary’s response was obedience to the plan of God. Elizabeth’s response was rejoicing in the Spirit for what God has done in her and in Mary. From them we learn what our response should be to all that God does in our lives.  We are called not only to say “Thy will be done” but to do the will of God consciously each day. We are called not only to recognize what God is doing, but to praise God privately and publically, proclaiming his mighty deeds of mercy and love.

Reading 2: Jesus made the hallmark of his mission on earth that of doing the will of the Father, even to become a sacrifice for our sake. “By this will” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. The sin of Adam and Eve was choosing not to do the will of God, not to submit themselves to the plan of God, not to be dependent on God, but to seek to be equal to God. Jesus, in his humanity, came to rectify what was done by the sin of Adam and Eve. He did this by choosing to embrace the will of God even to death by crucifixion.

 There are so many things going on in the world and in our personal lives that we can be distracted from the most important moment and event. This season of Advent is not meant to be a time of busyness, leading to fatigue, but a time of interior preparation for the grace God desires to give us this Christmas. The coming of His Son in the flesh two thousand years ago was God's gift to the world out of love. But the coming of Jesus in our present time is to bring us a new gift of the Father's love. Jesus came without fanfare or public notice. He came in a state of helplessness and dependency. Mary and Joseph welcomed and received him. This Christmas he will come to us without blare of trumpets but in silence and  in stillness. Will we be attentive and receptive to the gift of himself as he comes? Take time to be still and recollected so you can hear the whisper of his love within you.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Gospel C

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? 

 "Joy does not come from positive predictions about the state of the world. It does not depend on the ups and downs of the circumstances of our lives. Joy is based on the spiritual knowledge that, while the world in which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world. Jesus says it loudly and clearly: 'In the world you will have troubles, but rejoice, I have overcome the world.'

“This is the person Christ has loved in loving you, the person he has chosen in choosing you. He enters by the open door; he has promised to come in, and he cannot deceive. Embrace him, the one you have sought; turn to him, and be enlightened; hold him fast, ask him not to go in haste, beg him not to leave you. The Word of God moves swiftly; he is not won by the lukewarm, nor held fast by the negligent. Let your soul be attentive to his word; follow carefully the path God tells you to take, for he is swift in his passing…How do we hold him fast? Not by restraining chains or knotted ropes but by bonds of love, by spiritual reins, by the longing of the soul…Whoever seeks Christ in this way, whoever prays to Christ in this way, is not abandoned by him; on the contrary, Christ comes again and again to visit such a person, for he is with us until the end of the world” (St. Ambrose)

As we continue our Advent journey, we want to prepare our hearts not only to receive Christ in a new way but also to relish his coming with gratitude. The more attentive we are to him, the more his stay will last. In seeking him with longing, we will find him when he comes. Ask the Holy Spirit to stir up a greater desire in your heart for the Lord, so that when he comes, you may rest in him.

Advent is a season of hope. It reminds us that God is always present with us even in the midst of darkness and question, suffering and struggles. He fulfills his promises to us to be with us, to come and save us, to restore and renew us. As the Chosen People heard the word of God over the centuries from prophet after prophet, we hear the same words in our own time. They waited in darkness for the light promised; they waited in hope of the coming of the Messiah; they waited with memories of God's providential care and deliverance.

The consistent message we can embrace is there is always reason to hope, even when our eyes are filled with tears and our hearts are heavy with sorrow. This is what we affirm as Christians. God is the God of life, a life stronger than death and destruction. He is our hope and strength.   I conclude with this passage from the prophet Habakkuk: "For though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit appears on the vine, Though the yield of the olive fails and the terraces produce no nourishment, Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD” (3:17-18).

 “How unreasonable it is to pray that God’s will be done, and then not promptly obey it when he calls us from this world! Instead we struggle and resist like self-willed slaves and are brought into the Lord’s presence with sorrow and lamentation, not freely consenting to our departure, but constrained by necessity. And yet we expect to be rewarded with heavenly honors by him to whom we come against our will!” (St. Cyprian)

To be afraid of the unknown surrounding death is normal. To fight the process of death is not for one who hopes to see God face to face. Maybe this is the key to the fear. We are aware of our lack of intimate love of God and afraid of how he will receive us. The way to deal with this is to use the time before death (which is unknown how much we have) to grow in love with God, if we truly wish to be with him eternally. We can't wait till the last moment of earthly life. Knowing his love for us and knowing the eternal consequences of our choices, now is the time to respond, as if there is no more time for us. Truly loving God now will enable us to see the object of our love without fear.

Homily Third Sunday of Advent Year C

Reading 1: What is the cause or reason for rejoicing? The prophet Zephaniah gives two reasons why they should rejoice. One, God has removed his judgment against the people of Israel, namely their sinfulness and consequent punishment of exile. Their time of mourning and shame is to come to an end. Secondly, the Lord is in their midst. In spite of the fact that the people had abandoned the way of the Lord, God had not abandoned them.  As a result, they were no longer to fear or become discouraged by their situation in exile. The prophet also gives them a promise. The Lord will renew them in his love.

To shout with joy, to rejoice in the midst of struggles and difficulties, tragedies and major disappointments is not easy. In fact, it goes against real feelings and perceptions. But it can be our attitude, if we recognize what God has and is doing and desires to do in and for us. Joy can be in us, if we realize that God is with us, even when we don’t see or feel him.

Is it possible that we have forgotten the good news, namely, the promise that Jesus has made? He said that he would be with us always. There may be at times a lack of inner joy in our lives because we focus on externals and not internals. If we are living in relationship with God, sharing in his life, is he not present within us? Is that a reason for joy? That he has forgiven our many sins and taken away our shame and guilt, is this not a reason for rejoicing? Like the Israelites, we have to be reminded again and again of the deeds and promises of God for us. We are called not to deny our past life of sin, but to embrace the present grace of God.

Reading 2: Paul is also a prophet of the Lord. He reminds us that we are not just to rejoice but to rejoice in the Lord, not occasionally, but always. Our joy, he says, should be obvious to others, for we are aware that the Lord is near as far as his second coming. But more importantly he is in us and with us in his present coming.

If we are conscious of the Lord’s presence and love is there room for anxiety? Instead of being anxious over things we have no control over, Paul urges us to pray to the Lord in thanksgiving. In another words, offer our anxieties to the Lord. If we follow this pattern, then the peace that surpasses all understanding will be present in our hearts. In either case, rejoicing in the Lord or becoming overwhelmed by anxieties is a choice that I make.

Gospel: The people who came to John at the Jordan and were asking to be baptized, were instructed by John to show their repentance by their way of life. They were expecting the Messiah. They wanted to prepare for his coming. But they wanted to know what more should they do to prepare for him. John basically said to act in a truly loving way to others, sharing with them, treating them justly and rightly with respect.

John reminded them that the One who is to come will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire. This is what Jesus said to the Apostles on the Day of the Ascension: “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit….You will receive power to witness to others.” This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost. The Spirit came upon them and tongues of fire hovered over them. Jesus was the Lord of their lives. They rejoiced in him and followed the lead of the Spirit in preaching God’s love and plan to others.

We can become so off focus during this season that we miss the point of it. We can become overwhelmed and caught up with the details of the pre-Christmas season that we missed the person, Jesus. Is there a joy or excitement in our hearts? Is the reason for that excitement and joy Jesus? The celebration of his birth? Like the people in today’s Gospel, we should be asking what more can we do to prepare for his coming? Will we cleanse our hearts of sin? Will we desire him to come more fully into our lives and be the Lord of them? Will we recognize him in one another? Will love or obligation be the reason we do for others?

Let the Lord be the reason of our joy as we invite him more fully into our lives.  Come, Lord Jesus, come! 

"This important Marian feast (Immaculate Conception) occurs during Advent, a season of watchful and prayerful preparation for Christmas. She who knew better than anyone how to wait attentively for the Lord guides us and shows us how to make more vital and active our journey to the Holy Night of Bethlehem. With her, we spend these weeks in prayer and, guided by her bright star, hasten to make the spiritual journey that will lead us to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation with greater intensity.” (Pope St. John Paul II)

By God's grace, Mary experienced the grace of redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus at the moment of her conception in Anna's womb. She was so gifted in this unique way in lieu of her being chosen to be the Mother of the Savior. By God's grace, each of us experienced the grace of redemption at the moment of our baptism. We were so gifted and restored so that we can one day share God's life forever in glory. Mary remained sinless by grace throughout her life. Most of us, unfortunately, have fallen short by sinning again after baptism. During this season of preparation and expectation, Mary desires to guide us on our journey to the coming of Jesus anew in our lives. Her path is obedience to the will of God. Her attitude is the humble servant of the Lord. Her intention is to do all things in love. Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.

Third Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflections C

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? 

Advent is a time of looking back so that we can properly look forward, while being in the present moment. A strange phenomena.  We look back on the prophetic word of God, which prepared the world for the coming of the Messiah. We rehear and reflect on this past word as a means of understanding and preparing better for the coming of the Lord in our present moment, as well as for his future second coming. At the same time, we do not live in the past nor in the future. But we live in the reality of our relationship with God as he comes to us in this present moment. The past helps us understand the ways of the Lord and what he expects of us as we prepare for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

"When we live with hope we do not get tangled up with concerns for how our wishes will be fulfilled. So, too, our prayers are not directed toward the gift but toward the One who gives it. Ultimately, it is not a question of having a wish come true but of expressing an unlimited faith in the giver of all good things. . . . Hope is based on the premise that the other gives only what is good. Hope includes an openness by which you wait for the promise to come through, even though you never know when, where, or how this might happen" (Henri Nouwen).

Hope is putting our trust in a person, who wants the best for us. What is the greatest good for each of us? To see God face to face and to share in his eternal life forever! Everything else is, in light of this, insignificant. St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans: "For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance" (Romans 8:24-25) What is it that we do not see? We do not see God. We do not see life after physical death. We do not see our salvation in its finality. Thus, we hope with longing and confidence. Advent is not just a season. It is a life journey of hope, waiting for the final coming of Jesus in glory.  

Jesus has come. He has given his life for our life, saving us from eternal alienation from God. When he returned to the Father, he said he will come again for his followers. Are we waiting with expectant longing, remaining one with him? Or when he comes will he find us unprepared? No excuse will suffice. So while there is time in the present moment, let us be attentive to his coming with true expectancy and a life worthy of our call. 

Homily Second Sunday of Advent Year C

Reading 1: Baruch is in exile with the people of Israel. He sees the misery and hers the cries of mourning by the people in a foreign environment. The word of God comes to him to speak to the people. It is a word of hope and expectant joy. “Take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God.” They must begin to do the work of the Lord by keeping once more his commandments.

For God is about to do something glorious for them. They and all the displaced exiles will be returned to Jerusalem. Even though they were led away in shame and guilt, they will be led back by God in glory and rejoicing. As God led their ancestors from their bondage in Egypt centuries earlier, so God will go before them once more. It is out of his mercy for their misery that God choices to do this.

Baruch’s words are a call to hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise before it happens. They were to watch for this great work of God.

While the people of that time looked for their restoration back to Jerusalem, the Church in Advent looks to the greater event, the coming of the Messiah which has already occurred and to his second coming that is in the future. Like the Chosen People in exile, our attitude is to be one of hope and joy.

Gospel:  The prophet Baruch spoke a word of joy and expectant hope to the people of his day. John the Baptizer gives us the reason for our hope and joy in this season of Advent. He gives us the reason from growing in love and being pleasing to God.  We are called to prepare in a new way, in this present moment for the present coming of Jesus into our lives.  We are called to repent so that we may see the salvation of God.

He was speaking to the people of his day, for the Messiah had come. He was preparing the people to receive and accept him through repentance and openness, symbolized by being baptized in the waters of the Jordan.

John’s words are applicable to us today. We have been regenerated in the waters of baptism, yet we need to prepare ourselves for the present coming of Jesus, as well as his future coming. The people of John’s day struggled to recognize and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We too can miss his presence in the present moment and get caught up with the busyness of daily life that we fail to see, welcome and accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.

Christmas is not just celebrating a past event, but making that moment a present reality here and now in our life. We are called to be attuned to the present coming of Jesus with the eyes and heart of faith and love. For if we recognize, accept and embrace him in the present moment by living a life in relationship to him consciously and intentionally, then we will be able to embrace him in his second coming.

Reading 2 Paul reminded the people in Philippi that “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus”. He was referring to Jesus’ second coming in glory. Last Sunday the prayer of Paul was for people to abound in love for one another and continue to please God. Today, he returns to the theme of love.  He said: “that may your love increase ever more and more in knowledge so as to discern what is of value, and to grow in holiness.” This is the way to give glory to God and lead others to God.

One of the ways we can express our love for God and for others this Advent is to ask God for the name of a person that you could invite to come with you to Mass on Christmas.  Then pray for that person to be receptive to your invitation of love. Invite that person. If there is some openness, call them before Christmas to reaffirm your invite. Pick them up and share with them Eucharist on Christmas.

What a strange request! But what is behind that request? Sometimes even though we confess our sins and receive absolution, we still wonder if God has really forgiven us. We don’t have that faith assurance that when Jesus forgives us he really does. This Christmas the gift that would truly please Jesus would be this gift. How can he be the Lord of our life if we don’t trust his word. Your sins are forgiven means exactly that. We will always remember our sins, but the conviction of his words of forgiveness should be stronger than our memory of sins. Our focus needs to be on his love and mercy in gratitude not on our faults and failures. 

"Take God for your bridegroom and friend, and walk with him continually; and you will not sin and will learn to love, and all you must do will work out prosperously for you.” (Jacques Philippe)

The closer we remain with God as a friend and lover, we will choose not to sin in a way that will separate us from him. Why? Our love for God will be stronger than our need to satisfy ourselves first. We will find our fulfillment in God. Then, no matter what happens in our life--good or bad--,we will bear the fruit of our relationship with God in all circumstances. What will that fruit be? A true inner peace amidst the turmoil around us. That is why Jesus reminds us: "Remain in me and I in you in love, and the Father and I will make our dwelling in you." Make God your hiding place and  your refuge.

During the first week one candle is left burning during the evening meal and at prayers.

“My Jesus, it is truly easy to become holy; it just takes a little good will! And if He finds this minimum of good will in a soul, He quickly gives Himself to her. And nothing can stop Him, neither our faults nor our falls, absolutely nothing. Jesus hurries to help that soul; and if the soul is faithful to this grace from God, she can in a short time reach the highest level of holiness that a created being can attain here below. God is very generous and does not refuse His grace to anyone. He gives even more than we ask for. The shortest road is faithfulness to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.” St Faustina

The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us to sanctify us, to bring us into a fuller intimacy of relationship with God. He gives us nuggets of inspirations, moments of grace, which will help us in our journey to holiness. These inspirations are the still voice of God guiding us to ways that will deepen our oneness with God. It may be the grace to express love in service for someone. It may be the grace of deeper repentance for our sins. It may be the grace to come aside and be still so that the Lord can speak a word to us in the Scriptures. While these inspirations are given for our spiritual benefit, there are many other inspirations and distractions that are not of God. These seek to jam our antennas so that we do not pay attention the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The more we can distinguish between the two and choose to be faithful to those of the Holy Spirit, the more fruitful our life will be in relationship to God. 

Thanksgiving Day Blessing Service
Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Leader: Let us glorify the Lord who fills us with his bounty. Blessed be God for ever.

All: Blessed be God for ever.

Leader: We gather today to give thanks to God for his gifts to this land and its people, for God has been generous to us. As we ask God’s blessing upon the food we will share with our families, may we be mindful of those in need.

Reader: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus [Christ]. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The Word of the Lord.
Leader: We thank you, Lord.

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, For you have heard the words of my mouth;
In the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord: "Great is the glory of the Lord."

All: We thank you, Lord.

Leader: Let us take a few minutes to voice our personal gratitude to God for specific blessings.  (Pause)

Leader: In gratitude let us pray to our loving Father as Jesus taught us:

All: Our Father…

Leader: God most provident, we join all creation in raising to you a hymn of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ, your Son. For generation upon generation peoples of this land have sung of your bounty we too offer you praise for the rich harvest we have received at your hands. Bless us and this food which we share with grateful hearts. Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love for you be seen in our pursuit of peace and justice and in our generous response to those in need. Praise and glory to you, Lord God, now and forever!

All: Amen