Daily Retreat 01/01/07

2007 Jan 1 Mon: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD S (Octave of Christmas).
Nm 6: 22-27/ Ps 66(67): 2-3. 5. 6. 8 (2a)/ Gal 4: 4-7/ Lk 2: 16-21

From today’s readings:  “The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you....  May God bless us in His mercy....  When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman....  When eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus, the name given Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

Best Place to Start

Today, the beginning of the civil new year, is also the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God - her most exulted title!  A most festive feastday throughout the world, not because of this date’s position at the head of the civil calendar, but because of it’s status as the octave day of Christmas (cf. Luke’s gospel: “When eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus, the name given Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”  Although we would refer to today as the seventh day after Christmas, the ancient tradition of counting days always included the day of reference as the first day, so January 1st is the “8th day” - “octave” of Christmas).

This raises the question of what we recognize as our own central point of reference: the birth of our Lord, or merely the civil tradition.  The Church calls us to celebrate this day in the context of Christmas, recognizing Mary as not just the mother of Jesus’ human nature, but the mother of His entire person (including His divine nature) and therefore, veritable Mother of God.  So the festivities of this day need to focus on these religious reasons.  There’s nothing wrong with  festive New Year’s Eve/Day activities, but if champagne and party hats and football games are all that you think of today, then your most crucial resolution should be to realize what it’s all about:   the mystery of God made man, through the loving cooperation of Mary, Mother of God.

Daily Retreat 12/31/06

2006 Dec 31 SUN:HOLY FAMILY F
1 Sm 1:20-22,24-28; Ps 83(84):2-3,5-6,9-10; 1 Jn 3:1-2,21-24; Lk 2:41-52

From today’s readings: “I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request; now I, in turn, give him to the LORD....   Blessed are they who dwell in Your house, O Lord....  Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God - and so we are!...  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.”

Our Holy Family

If you are married, then the central goal of your life should be to get to Heaven, and to help your spouse and children get there too.  Every other dream, decision, and direction ought to be subservient to that central focus of your life.  You cannot afford to undermine your own life mission by sanctioning family activities and customs which jeopardize your primary purpose.

This is what I mean: most families have a desire to be healthy.  In order for the family to remain in good health, each member must embrace that goal.  If one member forgets to wash his hands, cover his mouth when he sneezes, wear warm clothes in cold weather, or clean the dishes thoroughly with soap and hot water, then the health of the entire family is at risk because of the bad health habits of just one person in the family.

Or again, most families strive to be financially stable.  In order to remain solvent, the entire family must commit themselves to that goal.  If one member buys compulsively, wastes food and electricity, neglects essential maintenance, gambles irresponsibly, or otherwise spends money excessively, then the solvency of the entire family is compromised because of the bad fiscal  habits of just one person in the family.

So, if your family is striving for holiness (and I hope you are!), then all the members of the family must understand this as your central family focus.  If one member uses foul or biting language, or is disrespectful, or lies, or compromises marital fidelity, or neglects prayer and duty to God, then the sanctity of the entire family is belittled because of the bad sinful habits of just one person in the family.

To foster this family sanctity, I strongly encourage families to commit to the following code:
1) To pray together as a family daily
2) To honor the Lord on His day by attending Mass as a family weekly
3) To avail ourselves of God’s mercy by going to confession monthly, and then extending forgiveness received from God to each member of the family.
4) To take part in a retreat or mission as a family annually (this can be combined with vacation, as long as the vacation has a spiritual dimension).

Daily Retreat 12/29/06

2006 Dec 29 Fri:Christmas ; Thomas Becket, bp, mt
1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 95(96):1-2a,2b-3,5b-6; Lk 2:22-35

From today’s readings:  “The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep His commandments....  Sing to the LORD a new song....  My own eyes have seen the salvation which You prepared in the sight of every people.....”

Do You Know Jesus?

Our Christmas celebration ought to be tempered by Christmas meditation, and so the question, “Do you know Jesus?”  In other words, was your Christmas party a mere toast to a famous figure of the past, or was it truly a family festivity in honor of, and in gratitude for, and in the presence of your beloved Brother?

St. John bluntly helps us determine the answer:
“Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus  is to keep His commandments.  Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

Do you know Jesus?  Do you keep His commandments?  Do you see the connection?  St. John is an excellent guide who wrote his first letter to help us answer “YES!” to all these questions.

Daily Retreat 12/28/06

2006 Dec 28 Thu:Holy Innocents, mts F
1 Jn 1:5 – 2:2; Ps 123(124):2-3,4-5,7b-8; Mt 2:13-18

From today’s readings:  “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with Him,’ while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth....  Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare....  A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more..”

The Slaughter of Infants

Today’s feast of the Holy Innocents has taken on a new significance in the last decades since the legalization of abortion.  King Herod saw the Babe of Bethlehem as a threat to his throne; likewise, it is a chilling fact that those who turn to abortion most often do so because they see their baby as something that would upset the security of their own enthroned lifestyle.  

By itself, the Gospel has no words of comfort to address the slaughter of the innocent infants.  However, the Church, malcontent with Matthew’s muteness, presumes to proclaim this poignant passage in the context of the joyful octave of Christmas; moreover, the Church even honors the Holy Innocents as glorious martyrs, since they truly bore witness to Christ with their own life’s blood.

Now the Church does not deny that every martyr’s death is a tragic consequence of unfettered evil - this is certainly true about the senseless slaying of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, and the senseless slaying of the unborn innocents looms as the most gruesome tragedy of our day.  But in focusing on the witness of martyrdom instead of the senselessness of death, the Church affirms that evil does not have the final word!  God only allows evil so that ultimately a greater good may come from it; thus, the eternal glory of martyrdom can arise from even the evil slaying of innocents, and the modern holocaust of legalized abortion will also be inevitably consumed by undying Christian commitment to God’s Gospel of Life!

Daily Retreat 12/27/06

2006 Dec 27 Wed:John, ap, ev F
1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a and 2-8

From today’s readings:  “Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands....  The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice....  On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved....”

The Perfect Christmas Card

Although it’s easy to forget, the New Testament epistles are indeed letters, written by the Apostles to friends and Church communities in order to assist them in their faith.  The First Letter of John (the first chapter in particular!) perhaps could be considered the earliest Christmas correspondence, for St. John writes so joyfully about how the Incarnation of Christ has made such a difference in his own life, and in the life of all who welcome the Son of God.

The ecstatic opening verses are among my favorites in the whole Bible.  St. John marvels at the palpable Real Presence of God with us, a Presence that can actually be seen and felt.   If you and I have even an inkling about the true meaning of Christmas, then these words cannot fail to stir up within us the similar sentiments of enduring joy and thanksgiving for our fellowship with God made man!

Daily Retreat 12/26/06

2006 Dec 26 Tue:Stephen, protomartyr F
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 30(31):3cd-4,6 and 8ab,16bc and 17; Mt 10:17-22

From today’s readings:  “As they were stoning Stephen, he called out ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit....’ Into Your hands I commend my spirit; You will redeem me, O LORD....  you will be led before governors and kings for My sake as a witness before them and the pagans.”

The Crown of Martyrdom

The day after Christmas is, for so many, such a chaotic day: fighting crowds at the mall to return defective merchandise, cleaning up the bedlam created by the Christmas gift exchange, writing thank you notes, etc.  The peace promised to come with the newborn Prince of Peace can seem rather short-lived!

Surprisingly, the Church concurs that this day after Christ’s nativity is indeed a chaotic day (even rightfully so!) that deliberately contrasts with the peace of Christmas.  For on this day, we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Stephan, the first to lay down his life in witness to the Resurrected Christ.  

We might protest: wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to avoid puncturing Christmas serenity with the recollection of Stephan’s martyrdom on this date? Ah!  but the clash is actually intentional - the Church insists that the birth of Christ is celebrated in the context of the mission of Christ - to lay down His life for all, that we may share in His divine life!  If we faithfully welcome Christ at His birth, we must be ready, as was Stephan, to faithfully follow Him unto death, giving witness to Him with our whole lives!

Daily Retreat 12/25/06

2006 Dec 25 Mon:THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

Midnight Mass: Is 9:1-6/Ps 95(96)/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14.
Mass at Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 96(97)/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20.
Mass During the Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 97(98)/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18

From today’s readings: “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.....”

Christmas Memories

One of the best ways to prepare for the coming of Christ is to go to confession, telling God sorry for any and all times we have failed to welcome the Lord completely in our lives.  In confessions at my parish every day throughout this past week, I have been asking those who came, as their penance and as a way of spreading Christmas cheer, to call to mind a favorite memory of Christmas time, and then to share that memory with others, and then to ask others to share a special Christmas memory in turn with them.

Since I always strive to practice what I preach, I decided to do the same thing with you!  However, because so many of the best memories of life are connected to Christmas, I find it a bit challenging to settle on a particular, absolute favorite.

As a young child, Christmas was the day of the year I looked forward to the most!  Without a doubt, there was the unforgettable anticipation of presents coming my way, but in my family, there was also always the awareness that all of the festivities were in honor of the birthday Boy, Baby Jesus, and obviously, there was no ChristMas without Christ or without Mass.

I especially fondly recall the first time I was asked to serve as an altar boy on Christmas day.  The Church was overflowing with people, and everyone was so festive in celebrating Emmanuel - “God is with us!”   I remember thinking, even at that age, “This is the way the Church should always be!”

And as I grew older, I quickly learned that giving presents could be just as joyful as receiving, especially when we find a personal way to give to Jesus by giving to those in need.

Another year, I was asked to play my violin, joining the choir and congregation in singing the jubilant carols of Christmas time.  I felt so much like I was in the shoes of the Little Drummer Boy, playing my best for Him as a present for Baby Jesus - I just happened to play the violin instead of the drum!

When I was studying for the priesthood, I got to go Midnight Mass in Rome with Pope John Paul II!  It was necessary to arrive at St. Peter’s Basilica hours early, but it was worth it - as we listened to the Gospel proclaimed anew of the herald angel’s message of “great joy for all people,” it seemed the whole world was coming together there to celebrate the Birth of Christ!

Particularly as a priest, every year I’ve brought those same tidings of great joy to as many people as possible, including, as I’ve mentioned before, to numerous families with children who had never had it explained to them by their parents that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ!

So, perhaps in summary, I could simply say that my favorite Christmas memory is the very sharing of Christmas memories!  So, now, today is Christmas - do your part! Spread that message of Christmas jubilation by sharing treasured memories of celebrating Christ’s birth with others, and inviting them to share their memories with you, rejoicing together with family, friends, and the whole world filled anew with Christmas joy!

Daily Retreat 12/24/06

2006 Dec 24 SUN:FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 79(80):2-3,15-16,18-19 (4); Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

From today’s readings: “ You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel....  Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from Heaven....   a body You prepared for Me....  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled....”

The Biblical Background of the Birth

Because it is quoted in the Gospel passage in answer to the Magi’s inquiry (cf. Matt 2:6), most of us have a passing familiarity with Micah’s prophecy naming Bethlehem as the town of the Savior’s birth.  But we need to reflect on the whole prophecy, not just the specification of place of birth!  Micah points out about the coming Christ that “He shall BE peace.”  Not just “He will bring peace,” but “He shall BE peace.”  In other words, the very Person of Christ is intrinsically united to His mission.  As the saying goes, “Know Christ, know peace.  No Christ, no peace!”

The Letter to the Hebrews (second reading) mentions in regard to Christ, “You (viz., God the Father) have prepared a body for Me (viz., God the Son).”  What a beautifully blunt biblical explanation of the Incarnation!  Christ, who came to do the will of God, consecrated all humanity through the offering of His own body.

In the Gospel of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth, a crucial pro-life insight reminds us that the Word of God was made flesh, having assumed the body prepared for Him, nine months before His birth! In fulfillment of the prophecies, the presence of Jesus is the very presence of joy and peace, as already His presence is recognized and hailed, first by Elizabeth’s unborn son John, then by Elizabeth herself.

Taken together, these readings paint the theological backdrop that brings the sublimity of the Christmas wonder into focus.  The Word of God became flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  In His physical person, He is peace!  The presence of His body, even when in the tiny form of the zygote developing in Mary’s womb, or the tiny form of the consecrated Eucharist, is the very presence of joy and peace!

Daily Retreat 12/23/06

2006 Dec 23 Sat:Advent  
Mal 3:1-4,23-24; Ps 24(25):4-5ab,8-9,10 and 14; Lk 1:57-66


From today’s readings:  “Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts....  Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my savior....   All who heard these things took them to heart....”

O Emmanuel!

Although not the last written chronologically, in Christian bibles, Malachi is placed as the last book in the Old Testament - the prophecies about the Messiah and His precursor (John the Baptist) make it a most appropriate bridge to the New Testament.   In regards to Christ, the first reading today insists that, “...the Lord whom you seek, and the Messenger of the covenant whom you desire - yes, He is coming!”  But then comes the crucial question, “But who will endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears?”

These are the questions you and I need to ask ourselves: Do we want Him to come?  Are we ready for Him?  Have we prepared our hearts and souls to give Him the warmest welcome?  What can we do in the next two days with prayer and acts of charity to guarantee there will be room for Emmanuel in the inn of our hearts?

Daily Retreat 12/22/06

2006 Dec 22 Fri:Advent
1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1,4-5,6-7,8abcd; Lk 1:46-56

From today’s readings:  “I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD....  My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God....  My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior!”

O Rex Gentium - O King of the Nations!

In one of the most poignant passages in all the Bible, Hannah, who had prayed so fervently for a child, having finally received that blessing from the Lord, after a few short years, returns with her husband Elkanah to the temple and there, in the presence of God’s priest Eli, they return their small son Samuel to the Lord.  Humanly speaking, what sadness must have tugged at Hannah’s heart as she handed her son over to God (not just figuratively, but literally!), yet in her prayer (used as today’s responsorial psalm), her heart exults and rejoices, because she realizes why God gave her a child - she understands that all blessings are given so that they can be given again and shared and consecrated in God’s service!  Hannah’s prayer and Mary’s Magnificat are so similar because they both were able to see the bigger picture of their lives and all lives in the context of God’s plan.

What are the most precious gifts you have received from God and others?  Have you nervously or selfishly hoarded these gifts, or, like Hannah and Mary, do you exult and rejoice in the Lord’s goodness as you discover the joy and peace of sacrificially sharing especially the most precious gifts, and freely placing them back in God’s hands?  Remember, that’s what God did for us in the gift of His Son, the King of the Nations!

Daily Retreat 12/21/06

2006 Dec 21 Thu:Advent  
Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 32(33):2-3,11-12,20-21; Lk 1:39-45

From today’s readings:  “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come....  Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior....  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to Him a new song....  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled!”

O Oriens - O Dawn!

The lectionary today presents a choice for the first reading: either 3:14-18 from the prophet Zephaniah or 2:8-14 from the Canticle of Canticles (a.k.a. the Song of Songs, or the Song of Solomon).  Which do I recommend?  Why, both, of course!

Both readings depict a profound joyful change for the better, from the wintery cold and damp to the beauty of the flowers of spring, from a time of fear to a time of fulfillment.  In the Song of Songs, the glad tidings are presented as the intimate whispering of a Lover to His beloved; in the prophet Zephaniah’s words, the good news rings as a trumpet fanfare for all peoples to hear.

And that’s because the Gospel tidings of the birth of Christ are both - both very personal, directed to each man, woman, and child intimately and individually, but also to all people together of all ages and places.  All darkness is to be vanquished by the blessed birth and radiant dawn from on high!

Daily Retreat 12/21/06

2006 Dec 21 Thu:Advent  
Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 32(33):2-3,11-12,20-21; Lk 1:39-45

From today’s readings:  “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come....  Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior....  Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to Him a new song....  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled!”

O Oriens - O Dawn!

The lectionary today presents a choice for the first reading: either 3:14-18 from the prophet Zephaniah or 2:8-14 from the Canticle of Canticles (a.k.a. the Song of Songs, or the Song of Solomon).  Which do I recommend?  Why, both, of course!

Both readings depict a profound joyful change for the better, from the wintery cold and damp to the beauty of the flowers of spring, from a time of fear to a time of fulfillment.  In the Song of Songs, the glad tidings are presented as the intimate whispering of a Lover to His beloved; in the prophet Zephaniah’s words, the good news rings as a trumpet fanfare for all peoples to hear.

And that’s because the Gospel tidings of the birth of Christ are both - both very personal, directed to each man, woman, and child intimately and individually, but also to all people together of all ages and places.  All darkness is to be vanquished by the blessed birth and radiant dawn from on high!

Daily Retreat 12/20/06

2006 Dec 20 Wed:Advent
Is 7:10-14; Ps 23(24):1-2,3-4ab,5-6; Lk 1:26-38

From today’s readings:  “Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky....  Such is the race that seeks for Him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob....  Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.”

O Key of David!

The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and name Him Emmanuel

The most sublime prophecy about the birth of the Messiah is found in Isaiah 7:14  - “The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and name Him Emmanuel.”  St. Matthew’s Gospel insists that this verse is the very denouement of the mysterious events leading to the birth of Christ (cf. Matt 1:22-23) and St. Luke patently alludes to the same verse when he repeatedly emphasizes Mary’s virginity (cf. Luke 1:27, 1:34).

No wonder then that, for most of us Christians, Isaiah’s prophecy is more than vaguely familiar.  If anything, the surprise comes in realizing that the earlier Advent scriptures had not yet included this constitutional passage.  Why then did the Church arrange for this reading so late in the Advent season?  Your careful overview of the Advent lectionary should lead to the insight that attention and meditation on the earlier Advent readings is needed to best appreciate the significance of this prophecy!

Sometimes people wonder why, in the prophecy from the Book of Isaiah, it is clearly stated that the Virgin’s Son will be named “Emmanuel,” (meaning “God with us”)_whereas in the Gospel of Luke (and Matthew), the angelic command is for the Child to bear the name “Jesus” (meaning “Savior” or “God saves”).  Clearly, the Son of Mary is both “Savior” and “God with us,” so we can call upon Him using either name.

Daily Retreat 12/19/06

2006 Dec 19 Tue:Advent
Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a; Ps 70(71):3-4a,5-6ab,16-17; Lk 1:5-25

From today’s readings:  “An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son...  On You I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb You are my strength.....  The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John....”

O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse!

As part of the structured scriptural “mini-series” presented in these last days of Advent, miraculous births of the Old Testament are recounted in the first readings, such as that of Samson, recorded in the book of Judges.  The parallels between Samson and John the Baptist are very clear: the births of both were announced by an angel, both were born of barren mothers, both were given a clear divine mission which was first explained to the parents, both had a mission which preluded an even greater mission of their greater successor (Samson began the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, David completed the task; John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness, Jesus is the Word of God Himself).

The consideration of these miraculous births is also meant to highlight the even more miraculous and marvelous nature of Christ’s birth (the contrast will be shown clearly in the Gospel details - for example, Samson’s and John’s birth of barren mothers clearly shows God’s intervention, but even more so does Christ’s birth of the Virgin Mary).  The symmetrical convergence of Old Testament typology, prophecy, and preparation is clearly coming to fulfillment and climax!

Daily Retreat 12/18/06

2006 Dec 18 Mon:Advent
Jer 23:5-8; Ps 71(72):1-2,12-13,18-19; Mt 1:18-25

From today’s readings: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David....  Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever....  Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home....”

O Adonai!

An Historical and Prayerful Perspective

Jesus was an historical person, but our preparation and celebration of His historical birth is much more than a mere historical commemoration or even re-enactment.  Our celebration of His birth is enshrined in thanksgiving for His present presence, and our celebration is additionally gilded in anticipation of His future presence, which will be even more intense.   This was the Lord’s message through Jeremiah’s prophecy that instead of merely focusing on what God had done in the past (such as the liberation from the slavery of Egypt), the Lord’s chosen people would also come to celebrate His present and even future mercy.

As Christmas draws ever nearer, this is the time to make sure our festivities in honor of our Sacred Lord are three-dimensional, reflecting an awareness of the loving and merciful presence in the past, present, and future of our sacred Lord.

Daily Retreat 12/16/06

2006 Dec 16 Sat:Advent 
Sir 48:1-4,9-11; Ps 80:2ac and 3b,15-16,18-19; Mt 17:9a,10-13

From today's readings:  "You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD....  Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved....   I tell you that Elijah has already come...."

Baptist Basics

NB:  The first reading book of Sirach is also sometimes titled "Ben Sira" or "Ecclesiasticus," and can be found in your Bible right before the book of the prophet Isaiah (but not included in most protestant translations).

In Mark 1:6, John the Baptist is described as "dressed in camel hair and wearing a leather belt around his waist," which, not coincidentally, closely mirrors the prophet Elijah's clothing as described in 2Kings 1:8.  In today's Gospel verses, re-affirming Matthew 11:14, Jesus explicitly states that John the Baptist is indeed the fulfillment of the prophecy of the return of Elijah (today's first reading and Malachi 4:5).

Are you starting to appreciate the importance of John the Baptist and his mission?  And have you reflected on his significance not just in the past, but for our advent meditations and preparations in our own day?  (Cf. last Sunday's meditation).

Daily Retreat 12/15/06

2006 Dec 15 Fri:Advent  
Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-2,3,4 and 6; Mt 11:16-19

From today's readings:  "I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go....  Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life....  wisdom is vindicated by her works..."

For Your Own Good

So often, you and I resist God's teachings and His will in our lives because it somehow seems distasteful, demanding, or detrimental to our own sense of happiness.  But our resistance is illogical and often tragic because, intellectually, we know well that God knows best what IS best for us; and, since He is all-good, He ONLY wants the best for us; therefore, simply following His will and teachings will always be best for us!

Temptations, though, make us get mixed up: we stop seeking what God wants (viz., what objectively is best for us), and instead, start desiring what God doesn't want for us  -  that which  He knows is NOT good for us!  So we end up being like the cranky child who wants to stay up late even though his mother, who knows how tired he really is, tells him it's time for bed!

In the book of Isaiah, God reminds us, "I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go." You and I can best use the rest of these days of Advent to put to rest our disordered resistance to His will, simply remembering that God always knows best!

Daily Retreat 12/14/06

2006 Dec 14 Thu:John of the Cross, p, dr M
Is 41:13-20; Ps 144(145):1 and 9,10-11,12-13ab; Mt 11:11-15

From today’s readings: “Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel....  The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness....   From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force....”

Worms and Maggots

Children are taught not to insult others by calling names, and it’s generally a sign of immaturity when adults stoop to that level.  So it comes as a bit of a shock to pious ears when God Himself inspires prophets to say such things as “Fear not, O worm Jacob!”

Since it comes from God, we can rule out such divine designations as mere immature slurs.   And the context confirms this: God is not intending to degrade the people of Jacob and Israel, but He is making a point about their helplessness and His own omnipotence.

It’s hard sometimes to settle on a healthy harmony between our dignity yet utter dependency as children of God.  It’s wrong to think of ourselves as worthless worms - if that were truly the case, that would call into question God’s job of creation and commitment to redeem and sanctify us.  Yet the other extreme is the more common temptation: to overestimate our own merits and abilities at the expense of giving proper credit to God’s grace.  Instead of worrying about whether our self-esteem is too low or too high, the better approach is to seek to grasp how God esteems us!

Daily Retreat 12/13/06

2006 Dec 13 Wed:Lucy, v, mt M
Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8 and 10; Mt 11:28-30

From today’s readings:  “To whom can you liken Me as an equal? says the Holy One....  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits....  Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest....”

What does "God" mean?

Many who claim to believe in God really only believe in a god. What I mean is, God has revealed Himself to be our Father who is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good, all-loving, all-merciful, all-just. But for many people, that’s all-together too much! So instead, they believe in a god who is not all those things - rather, in their imagination, their god is limited to only those attributes which they are personally comfortable with ceding to him/her/it.

So, certain libertines believe in a god who is all-merciful and always ready to overlook their transgressions, but their god would never dare to impose uncompromising standards of morality and justice. On the other hand, there are those who have such an overriding preoccupation with divine justice that they leave little room, either with themselves or with others, for divine tender mercy from the One who said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Then too, some believe in an almighty creator of the universe, who has, however, no personal interest in the individual people on our little planet. But others worship their god as their sympathetic best friend, who just unfortunately can’t always help out as much as needed.

The first reading from Isaiah is one of those succinct, hard-hitting, no-nonsense scripture passages when God does us the favor of blunting reminding us who He is, and what it means that He is GOD, and not just another god. Take comfort in knowing the God in which we believe has more than what it takes to make up for all our limitations, shortfalls, and failings. Alleluia!

Daily Retreat 12/12/06

2006 Dec 12 Tue:Our Lady of Guadalupe F
Readings from Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary

For today’s reflection, instead of words, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is presented here.   Over the centuries, many have noted how the icon calls to mind the vision of Revelation 12:1 “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman  clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars....”  

This page, from the official website of the Guadalupe shrine, offers (in Spanish) some other observations about the catechetical significance of the image: http://www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx/estudios/interpretacion.htm

But I really encourage you to prayerfully contemplate the image on your own, in order to be inspired with a personal interpretation of how Mary leads us to Christ her Son.

Daily Retreat 12/11/06

2006 Dec 11 Mon:Advent ; Damasus I, pp
Is 35:1-10; Ps 84(85):9ab and 10,11-12,13-14; Lk 5:17-26

From today’s readings:  “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom....  Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from Heaven....  Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today....”

Advent Transformation

Yesterday, the Gospel focused on John the Baptist, the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord!”  Today, in the first reading, the prophet Isaiah reflects further on how even a desert wasteland is to be transformed by the coming of the Lord: “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song!”  What a difference the advent of Christ makes!

But Isaiah’s point, of course, is not about God’s ability as a landscape engineer to transform a desert into a field of flowers - rather, that’s just a vivid metaphor to help people understand God’s ability as engineer of salvation to transform even the most parched soul into a fruitful, joyful and radiant child of God!

Since we all have barren areas of our lives, wastelands of unrealized hopes and dreams, deserts of despair and burning sands of disappointments and pulverized love, Isaiah’s prophecy is for all of us who turn to the Lord for ransom,  redemption, and transformation - what a difference the advent of Christ makes!

Daily Retreat 12/10/06

2006 Dec 10 SUN:SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Bar 5:1-9; Ps 125(126):1-2,2-3,4-5,6 (3); Phil 1:4-6,8-11; Lk 3:1-6

From today’s readings: “God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company....  The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy....  I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you....  John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins....”

Ignoring the Irrelevant?

The Gospel readings for the second and third Sundays of Advent focus on the witness of John the Baptist.  This week, the scriptures merely introduce us to this disquieting desert dweller, and next week, the scriptures present a summary of his own words and message, not just for the peoples of his day, but for ourselves as well!

As a prophet, John is oddly off the beaten path.  For starters, instead of cleverly connecting with the people by beginning where they’re at, or strategically staking out his venue at a popular meeting place, John trudges out into the lonely desert, where there’s no folk, no food, and no fun!  Nothing but the water of the Jordan river set against the scorching sun, to which John will add his own searing words calling for repentance and the drowning of sins in those waters of baptism.

>From a marketing point of view, John’s approach appears to be the perfect formula for failure: get away from everybody and everything, camp out in the most inhospitable environment available, shout at people about their need for repentance, bark about the necessity of the humiliating bath of  baptism, harangue the congregation about biblical morality without compromise, and then be vague but foreboding about what’s supposed to happen next.

So, could anyone blame us if you and I just conveniently ignored the irrelevance of that bizarre Baptist, and went merrily about our lives as normal?

 “But wait - we can’t ignore John!  He was a prophet - the word of God came to him!”  Well, maybe so, in another time and place, but his brand of prophecy has nothing to say to us today.

“Nothing?  We moderns have no need for repentance?”  Of course not!  We’re all basically good people, right?

“Is baptism and confession of sins thus meaningless for us?”  Evidently so -  I and all the other nearly perfect people of my parish have little interest or need of such things, do we?

“So we’re now exempt from biblical morality?”  Well, that might be going too far as a blanket statement, but at least we can dismiss some of those antiquated notions of sin, as long as we’re tolerant and can claim to be following our societal conscience.  God couldn’t demand more than that, could He?

“Are we so certain of our future that we’re uninterested in what God has to say about it?”  Well, I suppose what God says about Heaven and Hell, death, and judgment, and all that stuff - I suppose that does apply to everyone, even those of us living in the 21st century.  

In fact, logically, the whole deposit of divine revelation must be for everyone - us as well, including even that word of God which came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert!  Repentance, ritual cleansing from sin, biblical clarity about morality -  in spite of his marketing mistakes, John wasn’t sent by God to give the world the formula for failure, but rather, to proclaim the eternal unchanging gospel of God’s will:  to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths; every valley of ignorance be filled, and every mountain and hill of pride and selfishness  be made low; the winding roads of crooked thinking  be made straight, and the rough ways of coarse morals made smooth; and then, all flesh shall see the salvation of God!

Daily Retreat 12/09/06

2006 Dec 9 Sat:Advent ; Juan Diego, h
Is 30:19-21,23-26; Ps 146(147):1-2,3-4,5-6; Mt 9:35 – 10:1,5a,6-8

From today’s readings: “ The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst....  Blessed are all who wait for the Lord....  At the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd....”

True Needs

One of the most basic lessons of life to learn is the difference between “needs” and “wants.”  The commercial hype of these weeks focuses on the “wants,” but God addresses the “needs.”  While food, clothing, and shelter are the most primitive  human needs, they’re not the only human needs.

Isaiah’s  prophecy about the Messianic age includes, not only ample bread and water for the body, but copious provisions for the soul as well. While our affluent society can produce more than enough to meet everyone’s bodily needs, we are not as efficient and proficient when it comes to providing spiritual necessities, such as firm philosophical footing, emotional comfort and moral direction.

Isaiah presents the Messiah as the Teacher who provides the voice of conscience, directing “This is the way; walk in it!” when we are tempted to stray to the right or to the left.  If He is still our Teacher, than we still need to acknowledge ourselves as students - in other words, we don’t know it all!  There is a deadly temptation to think we know the right way well enough on our own, but that’s when you and I degenerate into sheep without a shepherd - not because He’s left us, but because we’ve chosen to ignore His guidance and the help of His harvest laborers.

Some of our preparations this Advent should be spent feeding our souls by learning from the Teacher - consider ways you’ve strayed even marginally from that voice of conscience that says, “This is the way; walk in it!”  Use a concordance or dictionary of the Bible to point you to applicable scriptural passages, and read the Catechism of the Catholic Church or other Magisterial documents that help the mind grasp why and how the Teacher’s voice of conscience leads us on the path of all righteousness.

Daily Retreat 12/08/06

2006 Dec 8 Fri:IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY S,Holy Day of Obligation,
Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 97(98):1,2-3ab,3cd-4; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Lk 1:26-38

From today’s readings:  “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers....  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God....  In love He destined us for adoption to Himself through Jesus Christ....  Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you!”

American Religious and Patriotic Duty

Everyone knows St. Patrick is the patron of Ireland, and what a big deal his feast day on March 17th is for all those with even a drop of Irish blood.  And, if there are any Hispanics in your parish, you’re probably aware that December 12th, the anniversary of the apparition to St. Juan Diego in 1531, is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico.

But what of the United States of America?  When is our national patronal feast day?  Although many Catholics in America are ignorant of the fact, the American Bishops long ago designated December 8th, the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, as the Patronal feast day of our country.

The fact that this day passes every year unnoticed by the vast majority of Americans attests to a dismal failure on the part of American Catholics to evangelize our culture.  Far too many Catholics even neglect to go to Mass themselves on this Holyday of Obligation, another troubling sign.

It is therefore crucial for us Catholics in America to address this deficiency!  In every home, parish, and diocese, there needs to be a renewed focus on this feast, an inculturation of faith and patriotism, rooted in committed prayer for our country, particularly on this day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the unsung Patroness of the United States of America!

A simple but essential start: make sure to go to Mass yourself today, and invite a friend to join with you in praying for our country!

Daily Retreat 12/07/06

2006 Dec 7 Thu:Ambrose, bp, dr M
Is 26:1-6; Ps 117(118):1,8-9,19-21,25-27a; Mt 7:21,24-27

From today’s readings: “Trust in the LORD forever!...  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord....  Everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock....”

The Lord is a Rock!

More than once, the Bible poetically refers to God as a rock, thereby illustrating His constancy, strength, and reliability.  Borrowing from and extending this metaphor, Jesus also pointed out that he who hear His words and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the solid foundation of a rock.

The difficulties we encounter in our lives relentlessly expose whether our lives are well-grounded in firm faith and total trust in God, or whether we’ve opted for a shifty, sandy foundation of earthy stuffs and our own make-shift construction.  Advent is an ideal time to investigate the general groundwork on which we have based our own lives.  Do we see God as big enough to be the true and personal rock-solid foundation of our entire lives, or do treat Him as merely a partial footing added to a shaky substructure relying mainly on the things of this world and our own abilities?

Daily Retreat 12/06/06

2006 Dec 6 Wed:Advent ; Nicholas, bp
Is 25:6-10a; Ps 22(23):1-3a,3b-4,5,6; Mt 15:29-37

From today’s readings: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines....   I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life....   I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way....”

Hunger Pangs

Feeling pangs of hunger is part of the human condition.  But, fortunately for many of us in the modern world, the means of food production are more than sufficient to meet the needs of all peoples, so those of us with surpluses need to have a commitment to share with the hungry throughout the world.

We have a good example to follow, for all of the readings today mention the Lord’s readiness to share His heavenly food with all peoples.  For impoverished people with simple diets, the Lord’s words must have been appetizing indeed, that promise of “a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.”

But for those of us well accustomed to regular meals and even occasional feasts, for those of us who routinely walk through the aisles of supermarkets shelved with so much food, for those of us who often find more food on the plate than should be eaten, the words of scripture might unfortunately sound a bit bland.....

Despite the fact that every day brings us too many words and too much food for our own good, our hunger for God’s word and God’s food is something altogether different, and cannot be satisfied by worldly means.  Many, it’s true, still go hungry, but that need not be,  thanks to the God who does not want to send His people away hungry, but would rather we partake of His feast - and be more than satisfied!

Daily Retreat 12/05/06

2006 Dec 5 Tue:Advent  
Is 11:1-10; Ps 71(72):1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Lk 10:21-24

From today’s readings: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom....  Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever....  Blessed are the eyes that see what you see....”

The Jesse Tree

Jesse was the father of King David, that most famous royal ancestor of Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus, the promised messiah, as “a shoot ... from the stump of Jesse,” (Isaiah 11:1). That verse, and the closing verse of today’s reading (Isaiah 11:10 - also quoted by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans 15:12) inspired the concept of the “Jesse Tree,” an artistic representation of the genealogy of Jesus.

Both Matthew and Luke give very detailed information about the family tree of the Son of God (cf. Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-37).  Some of Christ’s forefathers were obscure, while others figure prominently in the pages of the Old Testament.  The evangelists thus illustrated how Jesus is a real member of the whole human family.

One of the best scripturally-inspired Advent customs is thus to reflect on the “Jesse Tree” ancestry of Jesus.  Here are a few links:

For general information:  http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/activities/view.cfm?id=545
or http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//meditations/jessetree.html

A unique Jesse Tree painting by Jan Mostaert (1485):  http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_assets/SK-A-3901?id=SK-A-3901&page=0&lang=en&context_space=&context_id=

And a historical consideration of one of the earliest Jesse Trees (1086!):
http://www.fsu.edu/~arh/events/athanor/athxviii/AthanorXVIII_williams.pdf

Daily Retreat 12/04/06

2006 Dec 4 Mon:Advent ; John of Damascus, p, r, dr
Is 2:1-5; Ps 121(122):1-2,3-4b,4cd-5,6-7,8-9; Mt 8:5-11

From today’s readings: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths....  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord....  Many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven....”

Coming in Both Ways

“Advent” means coming, since, throughout this season, we prepare for the comings of Christ: His coming long ago at Bethlehem, His coming today into our hearts and our lives as we make Him welcome, and His coming in glory at the end of time.  But today’s readings lead us to realize that Advent is not just about the past, present, and future comings of Christ - it’s also about our own past, present, and future comings to Christ!

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies about Zion, the Lord’s holy mountain, which will become a beacon of evangelization, guiding and inspiring the whole world with the word of the Lord and His instruction.  Now, if there were a radio or television station or internet site which broadcast God speaking to us, everyone in the world would tune in!  But in His plan of salvation, God wasn’t willing to wait for those 20th century technologies, so long before such inventions, He entrusted His divine word to human expression in the words of His prophets and other proclaimers and writers of Sacred Scripture.  Thus, we come to Christ by attentively tuning in and hearing, reading, and studying the Word of the Lord spoken in the past and faithfully recorded in the Bible.

But the living Word of God was never confined to the musty pages of an ancient book, buried in the past, and inaccessible to the illiterate and unlearned.  No, for God’s word has always and ever been heralded anew in the sacred assembly of His people.  Thus, we come to Christ not just as separate individuals drawn by His past words, but also as God’s own family invited and united in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s day in the Lord’s way, as the responsorial psalm calls us together today in thanksgiving and prayer:   “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!”

And remember, our coming to the Lord is not just for a single day, nor even just for every day of our limited lives - in fact, our coming to God will only be complete at the eschatological fulfillment of Christ’s own words, when “many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.”  

Come, Lord Jesus, and help us come to You!

Daily Retreat 12/03/06

2006 Dec 3 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Jer 33:14-16; Ps 24(25):4-5,8-9,10,14; 1 Thes 3:12 – 4:2;  Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

From today’s readings:  “The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah....  To You, O Lord, I lift my soul....  May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all....  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Don’t Open Until Christmas?

I wonder how many tantalizingly wrapped packages there are in the mail, or perhaps already somewhere in your house, protected from greedy hands with nothing but those four hexing words: “Don’t open 'til Christmas!”

Some might even suggest that those words express the whole theme of Advent, this Church season of the four Sundays before Christmas, this sacred time of preparation for the comings of Christ, when God’s people are invited to read anew the Scriptures which once prepared the way for the Lord’s historical coming in the fullness of time, and still prepare God’s vigilant people awaiting the second coming of Christ at the end of time.

Yes, those presents do need to be left alone until Christmas, and, in the spirit of Advent season, singing Christmas carols is indeed more properly saved for Christmas season, as is the full glorious array of holiday home decorations, and best festive dress, and the whole arc of yuletide celebrations.

But that’s not to suggest that everything around and about us is now stamped “Don’t open till Christmas.”  In fact, there are a few major items that, by all means, should be opened today at the beginning and throughout the whole of this Advent season.

First of all, our eyes need to be opened!  This doesn’t mean that we need to open our eyes to snoop around for presents coming our way, not is it a matter of keeping a sharp lookout for last minute bargains.  Our eyes need to be opened so that they can be used for the very reason God gave us sight: so that we can look for Him!

And our hearts too need to be opened, so that they can be used for the very reason God knit together our inmost being: as a humble home, yet sacred temple, in which to welcome Him!

And our arms also need to be open, so that they can be used for the very reason God invests us with the raiment of all our strength and abilities: so that we can embrace Him!

We look for Him in our past, as we read anew the words of Jeremiah and the other prophets of the Old Testament, and recall how God promised to raise up a just shoot for the House of David.  Open your eyes to that, and to the other prophecies which once prepared His chosen people to recognize His Son, and see how God likewise prepares us to recognize Him in Scripture, in sacraments, in His Church, in prayer, and in the least of His brothers!

And when our open eyes recognize His presence in all these ways, then can we receive Him all the more into our hearts.  But not if there’s no room in the inn of our hearts!  For didn’t Christ Himself warn us: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life!” So first, our hearts must be opened (if necessary, perhaps even pried open!) in order to be emptied of unworthy and troublesome tenants: evict all evildoing, oust anger and bitterness, dislodge despair, serve notice to selfishness, then cast them all out in the confessional!  Only when we live every day as God teaches, will our hearts then open as a welcoming and stable home, a loving place for Him to lay His head.  As St. Paul writes, “.... strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord.....”

And when our open hearts receive Him wholly into our lives, then at last the future appears of the fullest divine embrace.   For too often in our past, we’ve held the Christ Child close to us but a moment, then set Him aside to free our arms to hold lesser things.  But now, this Advent, we open our arms to meet those arms of Christ nailed open for all ages, and we pray to be taken up fully in His loving embrace when at last the Son of Man comes in a cloud with power and great glory.

So indeed there are some things we must not wait to open till Christmas!  Instead, today, and more and more during this Advent season and throughout all coming seasons of our lives, may our eyes be open to see God clearly in the many ways He comes to us, may our hearts be open to receive God completely in the many ways He comes to us, and may our arms be open to embrace God fully in all the many ways He comes to us!

Daily Retreat 12/02/06

2006 Dec 2 Sat: Ordinary Weekday/ BVM
Rv 22: 1-7/ Ps 94(95): 1-2. 3-5. 6-7ab/ Lk 21: 34-36

From today’s readings:  “Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book....  Come, Lord Jesus!...  Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Last Word

Tomorrow, the first Sunday of Advent, is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year, so the readings today can be considered the last word, scripturally speaking, of the current Church year.  It’s no coincidence, thus, that the first reading is from the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, and the Gospel, recalling the Lord’s last public instructions before the Last Supper, urges all to “Be vigilant at all times and pray.”  It would be wise to call to mind such last words and put them into practice every day for the rest of our lives - providentially, the Gospel tomorrow will remind us of this!