Thursday, December 28, 2017

Shepherds, Holy Innocents, Baptism, and Miracles


According to St. Luke, after the shepherds left the scene of the newborn Jesus, “they made known the message that had been told them about this child.  All who heard it were amazed … .”  This message was that of the angel:  “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.”  This tells us that the shepherds let it be known to the people in the neighborhood, at least, that the savior, the Messiah, had been born that night in Bethlehem.  Matthew tells us what Herod did later, after the magi departed:  “He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under … .”  

These incidents tell me that people living in the area knew, or at least strongly suspected, that the promised Messiah was finally in their midst.  It’s my guess that they also knew, or at least speculated, that this Messiah somehow escaped the massacre and at some point in the near future would appear publicly among them and begin the mission of salvation.  So the anticipation and speculation that had been there for so long now greatly intensified. 

Now fast-forward thirty years to the time of John the Baptist.  After Jesus, now thirty years old, was baptized by John, the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove and a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”  (Matt 3:16-17).  I can imagine that the mad anticipation and speculation grew even more.  The people, at least those witnessing this baptism, now realized that Jesus was the one.  I’m betting that the word spread far and wide at this point.  Of course, Jesus fled into the desert for forty days.  This probably meant that there was a cooling-off period.  People probably looked for Jesus but couldn’t find him.  What happened when he returned from the desert?  Matthew says that “Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”  (Matt 4:17).  This might have included his appearance in the temple described by Luke where Jesus spoke to the congregation gathered to hear him.  After reading from Scripture, he said, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:21).  This was an admission by Jesus himself that he was the Messiah.  Following this, Luke tells of several cures and healings that occurred at the hand of Jesus.  (Luke 4:31-41).

These observations tell me that many people now believed that Jesus was the long-anticipated Messiah.  It was apparently a relatively easy matter now for Jesus to get people to follow him.  We see in Luke, Chapter 5, how easy it was for him to call Simon (Peter) and his partners, James and John, to follow him as his first apostles.  They were fishermen by trade and Jesus worked a fishing miracle in front of them.  They “left everything and followed him.”  (Luke 5:1-11).

As you probably know, I love to read between the lines.  Sometimes, things make so much sense.  How was it that Peter, James, and John were so willing?  Well, if I already knew a lot about Jesus, from birth to baptism to preaching, to cures and healings, and his admission that he was the Messiah, and now a fishing miracle .... that would be enough for me.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Good News of Great Joy


There is so much hate in the world today.  Liberal-minded people will remind all of us, for example, of the hate that is widespread among white supremacist groups and their supporters for those of other races and creeds.  And certainly they have a point.  What I have noticed lately, though, is that this hate extends from those who have a particular political affiliation to those who have an opposite affiliation.  Democrats in this country viciously verbally attack Republicans over the issues of the day and vice-versa. 

I’ve noticed, for example, that when a congressman or senator posts some remarks on Facebook about something he/she feels is a positive development regarding a particular issue, he/she is immediately verbally attacked, often for what is perceived to be his/her stance on a completely unrelated issue, eliciting often hundreds of similar responses from others.  The language used is one of hate, sometimes obscene, sometimes not, but usually malicious and cruel.  Hate is an awful quality to be entangling one’s mind and worldview.  I am disgusted that people can’t be more civil when discussing political viewpoints.  And the media contributes to it, letting their political biases take control of their reporting to the extent that an unsuspecting public takes such a story and runs with it as if represents the truth, which it often does not.

It is time for a reprieve.  It is Christmas.  Now I know that Christian belief is one of these contentious issues at times and is often dismissed straightaway by nonbelievers.  However, permit me to use a passage from Sacred Scripture here to make a point.  Here it is from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2.

“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping night watch over their flock.  The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.  The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is the Messiah and Lord.  And this will be a sign for you:  You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:  ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’  When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’  So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.” 

“Do not be afraid … good news of great joy … a savior has been born … peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  These are words of joy, peace, love, understanding, and not hate.  Please take them to heart, regardless of your religious persuasion, and begin to promote qualities of respect, admiration, and reverence.  This is my prayer for you today. 

The photograph accompanying this post is of the almost life-size manger scene in my back yard.  I see it illuminated every night and early every morning as I look out my back window.  Peace and joy to all my readers this Christmas. 

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Our Lady of Guadalupe


During the recent celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, my thoughts drifted to other noteworthy events that occurred at about that time 500 years ago.  They are especially on my mind this week when the Catholic Church once again celebrated the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a Native Mexican by the name of Juan Diego in what has become the Villa de Guadalupe near Mexico City.  Here is a listing of the year and the corresponding event:   

1474 – Juan Diego was born.
1483 – Martin Luther was born.
1492 – Columbus discovered America.
1517 – Luther’s wrote his 95 theses.
1524 – Catholic missionaries from Spain arrived in Mexico and Juan Diego was baptized.
1531 – The Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe) appeared to Juan Diego.

So Juan Diego was a contemporary of Martin Luther, though living thousands of miles apart on different continents.  Some of my readers may not be familiar with the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego.  So, I briefly summarize here. 

Juan had been a Catholic for about seven years.  He was very devoted to his new-found faith, walking daily several miles to attend Mass.  On the way, he would pass Tepeyac Hill.  On one occasion, December 9, 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to him on this hill.  She gave him a message to be delivered to his bishop in Mexico City.  The message was that he was to have a church built on the site to serve the indigenous people living in the area and in all of North America.  He delivered the message, but the bishop didn’t believe him.  In subsequent apparitions, the Blessed Mother was insistent.  The bishop, however, was not believing.  He asked Juan to bring him some sort of sign or proof that the apparition was authentic. 

At the third apparition, on December 12, 1531, Our Lady asked Juan to climb the hill and collect a large bouquet of roses to be given to the bishop.  Roses in December?  He had been hurrying on his way to visit his gravely ill uncle and was reluctant at first, but Our Lady convinced him to collect the roses.  When Juan climbed the hill he found roses, just as Our Lady said he would.  He collected them in his tilma (cloak) and proceeded once again to the bishop to show them to him.  When he arrived, and in the presence of the bishop, he opened his cloak and the large bouquet spilled onto the floor.  Simultaneously, the bishop noticed that a clear image of Our Lady of Guadalupe had formed on the inside of the tilma … a true miracle.  At the same time, Juan’s uncle, who was gravely ill, miraculously recovered from his illness.

A magnificent church was subsequently built at the foot of Teyeyac Hill and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Today, Juan’s tilma is framed and on full display for all to see in this Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe and has been for nearly 500 years.  It shows no sign of deterioration despite the passage of so many years.  The basilica has become a popular pilgrimage site.  My wife spent time in Mexico before we met and has viewed the miracle first-hand. 

So December 12, this past Tuesday this year, has become the date that the Catholic Church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe each year.  Here in Rochester, my wife and I attended Mass in the Chapel of St. Mary’s Hospital, part of the Mayo Clinic.  The sanctuary was decorated with a copy of the image (see accompanying photograph) and other colorful items.  Father Jose, a chaplain at the Mayo Clinic, was the celebrant.  A mariachi band supplied the music. 

Juan Diego is now a declared saint in the Catholic Church.  His feast day is celebrated on December 11 each year.  My prayer for today:  Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray of us.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

What Advent is All About

In today’s secularized society, I wonder how many Christians are fully aware of the significance of Sunday, December 3, and of this month of December up to Christmas Day, December 25.  I’m thinking of the Season of Advent and what it is all about.  Last Sunday, December 3, was the First Sunday of Advent.  It was the first day of the Church’s liturgical year … the Church’s New Year’s Day, if you will.  It began a four-week period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you are thinking about the secular world and what preparations are taking place there right now.  Yes, we are preparing for “the holidays,” buying gifts, setting up a Christmas tree, decorating inside and out, thinking about the menu for the Christmas meal, sending out Christmas cards, thinking about what relatives are coming to our house and when or about what relatives’ houses we will visit and when.  What else is there?  I think you probably see what I am getting at … the real meaning of Christmas and the preparations for that.

So, back to Advent.  I’m sure you understand this “real meaning.”  We celebrate birthdays nonstop throughout the year.  Facebook reminds us daily what friends have birthdays that day and gives us a convenient way to wish them a happy birthday.  But in this living, breathing, holy season in the Church, the birthday of the God-man takes center stage, so much so that we have a four-week period of preparation.  So what does the Catholic Church say that we should be doing during these four weeks?  We should be ramp up our psyche, our spiritual lives, our religious devotions, so that we see clearly what is really occurring on December 25.  We will celebrate the birth of this divine person that has saved mankind for all eternity from all the sinfulness since the beginning of the human race … a most momentous, major event in human history.

Some suggestions:  1) the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  As a Catholic, when was the last time you went to Confession?  If it has been years, or even just months, now would be an excellent time.  2) Attend Holy Mass.  If you’ve been missing Sunday Mass, please renew your faith and come to Mass.  If you’ve been attending Sunday Mass, you can ramp up your spiritual life by attending weekday Masses.  Attend Mass tomorrow, December 8.  It is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holyday.  The Church says you commit a mortal sin if you don’t attend Mass on this day.  Besides, the Eucharist awaits.  3) Increase your prayer life.  Pray the rosary a few times, daily would be good.  4) Pay attention to the poor in your community.  Increase your contributions to charitable causes.  Better yet, help them by physically going to the local food bank or to your local church to help with what is going on there in terms of the poor.  5) Place a nativity scene in your yard, or, at the very least, in your home, as a constant reminder of what is coming.  6) Read and meditate on Scripture passages relating to the holy birth.  I’m sure you can think of many other things.  You will feel much better about yourself on Christmas morning!

The best of luck with your preparations and have a blessed Advent Season!