Thursday, December 27, 2018

Pardon My French


Have you heard the one about the space alien that showed up on Earth one day stating that he had a message that is the secret to saving all humanity?  It was in a cartoon post on Facebook today shared by a fellow chemist and Facebook friend of mine.  Please pardon my French, but here is the succinct message:

“Greetings Humans.  I bring the secret to saving humanity.  Stop being such assholes to each other!”

It struck me that, in a somewhat softer yet equally forceful language, this was the message that accompanied Jesus when he landed on Earth over two-thousand years ago.  It was preached over a period of three years during Christ’s public ministry.  We didn’t hear the message then, and we are not hearing the message now.

We observe those on the left and those on the right and what each side says about the other.  Regardless of which group begins the process, hate is flies back and forth.  One side is perceived as being racist, and the other side is not shy about letting us know about this perception by spewing out their own hateful messages.  Hate for hate.  Lies for lies.  Name-calling for name-calling.  Back and forth constantly.  One news outlet is perceived as being on one side and another is perceived as being on the other side.  One political party is perceived as being on one side while the other is on the other side.  Nobody seems to say or hear anything respectful anymore.

But wait!  Today in the Catholic Church is the feast of St. John, the famous apostle and evangelist of Sacred Scripture.  He was a Gospel writer; he wrote several letters that are included in the Bible, and he also is believed to have written the Book of Revelation.  One of his major themes was LOVE.  Imagine that!  We are to LOVE our enemies!  Those on the left are supposed to love those on the right.  Those on the right are supposed to love those on the left.  Yes, we are to stop being a%&$#@%s to each other.  Today it appears in a cartoon.  If that will do the trick, well fine.  If God inspired the writing of Sacred Scripture, which is what Christians believe, then this message is one directly from God!  If you don’t believe in God, well I say try harder.  God was the alien that first uttered this message. 

I suggest you read the Gospel of John, Chapter 17, and also the first letter of John, the entire letter, in the Bible and see if you get the message of love from our Creator.  And I promise, John does not have to say “pardon my French.”

Thursday, December 20, 2018

The Profound Message


Five days before Christmas in the year zero, Joseph and Mary, who was nine-months pregnant and riding on a donkey, were approaching Jerusalem on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Mary had been jostled on the back of the colt for nearly three weeks while Joseph, walking alongside, was nervous about getting to Bethlehem and finding shelter in time.  Five days later, St. Luke takes up their story (Luke 2:4-5).

They arrive in Bethlehem, but there was no room for them in the place they expected.  Mary was in full labor at this point and Joseph was frantic.  Bethlehem was a tiny town and their options were few.  Just outside the town, they found a hollowed-out area that was being used as a stable for donkeys and oxen.  It had a manger there for feeding the animals hay.  There was no other option, and the proximity of the animals would provide the warmth they needed.  Jesus was born and was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid on the hay in the manger.  Thus the king of kings and the savior of the world was laid in this humblest of humble places – a feeding box for donkeys and oxen.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, maybe several miles away, the night sky lit up with the “glory of the Lord” and the whole area where some shepherds were tending their flock came under a spotlight.  The shepherds were startled, and while looking up at the fireworks, an angel appeared in the sky at that moment and shouted out a profound message:  “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.”  (Luke 2:10-12).  And, as might accompany such an overwhelmingly important message, an entire army of “heavenly host” appeared in the sky with trumpets blaring while melodiously chanting out yet another message for the entire population of earth:  “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  (Luke 2:13-14). 

The shepherds were led to the cave outside Bethlehem where they observed Joseph, Mary, and the infant in this most unlikely of places.  After seeing this, the shepherds “made known the message” and “all who heard it were amazed.”  (Luke 2:17-18).  Thus began the life of Jesus Christ, whose profound impact on the human race is undeniable.  The claim today is that he saved us from our sins.  We now know what it takes to live a joyful, faith-filled life and what it takes to merit a heavenly reward at our death.  God has indeed visited his people and saved them from their sins.  Amen!

Thursday, December 13, 2018

"Alleluia" and "Hosanna""



“Alleluia” and “Hosanna” are two words that are not in most peoples’ everyday vocabulary but are prominent in our Christian worship services and hymns.  A fair question might be:  What do they mean exactly?  One might interpret them to mean “joy”.  But is it that simple?  I picked up my Webster’s dictionary to check it out.  Both words have their origins in the Greek and Hebrew languages.

For “alleluia,” Webster’s says “hallelujah.”  Okay, so what does it say for “hallelujah?”  It says “used to express praise, thanks, or joy, especially to God as in hymn or prayer.”  So praise (to God), thanks (to God), or joy appear to be the appropriate translations.  So the next time I hear the word, I’ll apply these translations and see what makes sense.  For example, before the Gospel message is proclaimed at Mass, we often say or sing “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”   In that case, I will be thinking “Praise God” or “Praise the Lord.”  Such phrases are in my everyday vocabulary!

But, what about “Hosanna?”  The one time at Mass where the word is used is in this prayer just before the consecration of the bread and wine:  “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.  Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.”  This seems to come straight from Scripture.  During Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion, according to Matthew’s gospel, the crowds cry out:  “Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”  Again, it appears to be an exclamation of joy.    Webster’s says “an exclamation used to give praise to God.”  So it essentially means the same as “alleluia.”

It is the time of the year when we want to sing out from the rooftops:  “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna.  Praise God, praise God, praise God.  Humanity’s Savior is about to be born.  Praise the Lord.”  Amen!

Thursday, December 6, 2018

A Precious Gift From God Himself




I love my Catholic faith!  If you read MTT regularly, you’ve probably come to know that!  But I don’t know if I’ve ever told you why.  So, let’s do this!

Take the six-week period beginning November 27, for example.  November 27 is the Feast of the Miraculous Medal in the Church.  The Miraculous Medal is a medal struck back in the mid-nineteenth century per the instructions of the Blessed Mother.  Mary appeared to a young, uneducated nun in France back in 1830.  The nun’s name was Catherine Laboure’.  Mary gave Sister Catherine specific instructions for the design of the medal … a full image of herself (Mary) with the words “O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” encircling the image.  I say this prayer every morning as I put this medal, attached to a chain, around my neck.  Mary promised “great graces” to those who would do this.  Today, Catherine is Saint Catherine Laboure’ and her incorrupt body can be viewed in the church in which the apparition took place in Paris.  I viewed her body there on a trip to Europe in the year 2000.

Next comes the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.  Once again, the Blessed Mother is honored by a special day, a “holyday” in the Church.  Catholics believe that Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb without the stain of original sin, unlike the rest of us.  She confirmed this when she appeared to Saint Catherine and also when she appeared to another young, uneducated girl in Lourdes, France, in 1858, when Mary uttered the words “I am the Immaculate Conception.”  The history of the idea actually goes back much further.  I found myself getting rather emotional as I approached the very spot of this apparition last month during another trip to Europe.  The girl’s name was Bernadette Subirous.  She is now Saint Bernadette and her incorrupt body can be viewed at the convent of her religious order in Nevers, France.  The whole story was made into a movie, “The Song of Bernadette,” in 1943 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Bernadette_(film)).  The movie won four academy awards, one of which was for Best Actress (Jennifer Jones).

Next is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12.  Mary appeared to an uneducated peasant by the name of Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531.  To convince Church authorities that he wasn’t just making it up, Mary left a “photograph” of herself on the inside of Juan’s cloak.  This cloak is on display in the Church built in Mary’s honor on the very spot of the apparition (at her request).  Juan is now Saint Juan Diego.

If this isn’t enough to produce a full dose of joy and praise in you like it does in me, we still have the Christmas story and also the Feast of the Solemnity of the Blessed Mother on January 1.  For me, this six-week period is just simply overwhelming.

But some don’t believe.  Protestants say that we Catholics worship Mary.  No, the words “honor” and venerate” are the appropriate words.  Atheists scoff at all of this as being superstition and figments of the imagination.  No, the evidence (miracles of healing at Lourdes and the incorrupt bodies, etc.) is just too strong.  To me, it is proof that we are under the watchful eye of the supernatural, and this gives me extraordinary joy and peace, knowing that this is my faith, a precious gift from God himself.  Amen!