Daily Retreat 01/04/09

2009 Jan 4 SUN: EPIPHANY OF THE LORD S Is 60: 1-6/ Ps 71(72): 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13/ Eph 3: 2-3a. 5-6/ Mt 2: 1-12 N.B. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th in many countries. From today's readings:  "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you....  Lord, every nation on earth will adore You....  The mystery was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed....  Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star at its rising and have come to do Him homage." Are you a lax Christian, or max Christian? God has graciously made Himself known to humanity throughout the ages.  Every single instance of such divine revelation has been purposeful, specifically, to elicit a response of faith from all the beneficiaries of the revelation. The magi who came from the east to honor the newborn King of the Jews were blessed with a revelation from God, but it was a minimal revelation.  These wise men, who studied the stars, noted a peculiar star which stood out in some way and inspired their holy quest.  They themselves were gentiles - pagans, fending for themselves without even the light of divine revelation from Old Testament times. The Star of Bethlehem did not spell anything out for them - all it offered was an intriguing invitation for a closer look.  But the magi reacted to this minimum of revelation with a maximum response of faith!  Not satisfied to just cautiously observe the star from afar, they set out on the journey that was to lead them to the Epiphany of God Incarnate! Unlike the magi, who were only led by the dim light of a single star, you and I start with the brilliant fullness of divine revelation!  First,  we have the complete revelation of God entrusted to His chosen people in the Old Testament scriptures.  Most importantly, we enjoy the epitome of revelation in the Word made Flesh  - Jesus our Lord!  And He founded His Church to proclaim His Gospel to all the world, to go and teach all the nations, and continue His mission of sanctification through His sacramental presence.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Church published the New Testament scriptures, and over the centuries, holy shepherds of souls and other saints have enriched the Christian faith with their inspiring lives - clearly, we are blessed with the maximum, not the minimum of revelation! But unlike the magi, who committed themselves to the maximum response of faith, you and I too often content ourselves with a bare minimum response of faith to this maximum revelation with which God has blessed us.  Looking over the past year, who of us can claim that the quest for sanctity defined our lives to the degree that their holy search marked the mission of the magi? Just consider, for instance, the Epiphany celebration.  January 6th, the 12th Day of Christmas, has for centuries upon centuries been the traditional date to commemorate the Epiphany to the Wise Men. Yet in the United States and in many other countries, this solemnity has been transferred to the first Sunday after January 1, simply because lazy Christians weren't making it to Church when this feastday fell on a weekday.  In response, many national conferences of  bishops, concerned that people were thus completely missing an annual commemoration and reflection on the solemnity of the Epiphany, thus settled on a minimal compromise: the Epiphany would be celebrated on the first Sunday of January, and because of the Sunday obligation to attend Church, fewer people would miss the feastday. But God's love and revelation deserves a maximum response of faith, never a minimum!  Too often, Christian commitment is merely along the lines of "What's the minimum I need to do to stay out of Hell?"  Inspired by the example of the magi, who gave a maximum response of faith to the minimum of divine revelation, you and I, blessed and confirmed with the fullness and maximum of divine revelation, can resolve never to content ourselves with the minimum: that this new year, and for the rest of our lives, instead of crawling along as lax Christians, we will race ahead, following the true Light of revelation as max Christians!

Daily Retreat 01/03/09

2009 Jan 3 Sat: Christmas Weekday/ Holy Name of Jesus 1 Jn 2: 29 - 3: 6/ Ps 97(98): 1. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Jn 1: 29-34 From today's readings:  "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.....  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God....  Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Children of God At the Incarnation, when God became man, human nature was elevated - no longer were we to be considered mere creations of God, now Jesus our Brother gives us the right to be called children of God.  This is the highest dignity of our race - even if an alien race were discovered which surpassed human intelligence, they would still rank below us in the order of grace, for we are the only "blood relatives" of God! That's why the birth of Christ has universal, direct significance for every human being of the past, present, and future.  And that's why our Christian moral obligations to others of our race goes beyond just the minimal, "Do no harm."  As children of God, united as members of His holy family, we have the divine command to "Love one another."  Divine adoption enriched our nature not just with great dignity, but great responsibility. And that's not all - St. John reminds us, "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."  So God is not finished with us yet - in the end, those adopted children of God who persevere in His grace will be glorified in body and soul and have the fullness of sharing the Resurrection of Christ!

Daily Retreat 01/02/09

2009 Jan 2 Fri: Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bps, drs M 1 Jn 2: 22-28/ Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4/ Jn 1: 19-28 From today's readings:  "Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well....  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God....  I baptize with water; but there is One among you whom you do not recognize, the One who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." Lies and deceptions The moral implications of Christian faith are pretty clear - we can hardly call ourselves Christians if we don't pursue righteousness of action.  But faith is also a call to embrace the fullness of Truth - in our pluralistic society, we forget that we can stray from our faith not just by implicating ourselves in evil actions, but also by embracing false teachings. St. John is particularly emphatic in warning readers against errors in teaching.  In his day, as in ours, many compromise orthodox belief in Jesus in order to harmonize with other popular opinions.  For instance, there is the false notion that Jesus is just one of many ways to salvation - those who hold this notion, have little zeal in sharing their faith because they think that an atheist or pagan can be saved without Christ.  While Jesus Himself taught that it is possible to attain eternal life without explicit knowledge of Him (cf. Matthew 25), such people are nevertheless still saved through Christ's merit, so leading atheists and pagans to the awareness of Christ is still the most invaluable assistance to salvation. That's just one common error leading people astray - there are many such "antichrists."  How do you and I avoid falling into such errors?  The Splendor of the Truth of our faith calls for constant effort on our part - ongoing prayer, meditation, and study, so that our personal understanding of our faith is continually enriched and kept pure from the dross of all error!

Daily Retreat 01/01/09

2009 Jan 1 Thu: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD S (Octave of Christmas). Holy Day of Obligation. Nm  6:22-27/Ps 66(67)/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 12/31/08

2008 Dec 31 Wed: Christmas Weekday/ Sylvester I, pp 1 Jn 2:18-21/ Ps 95(96):1-2. 11-12. 13/ Jn 1:1-18 From today's readings:  "Children, it is the last hour....  The LORD comes, He comes to rule the earth....  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Last Hour There seems to be a deliberate contrast between St. John's letter with the sober reminder, "Children, it is the last hour!"  and the gospel overture, "In the beginning was the Word...." What are you going to do with this last day and hour of 2008?  This day and hour have been given to you and me by God for the same reason He gives us every other day and hour: so that we choose Him!  So that we can say, "This moment is to be the end of the reign of sin in my life, and my welcome to the new beginning incarnated in the Word made flesh."

Daily Retreat 12/30/08

2008 Dec 30 Tue: Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 95(96):7-8a,8b-9,10; Lk 2:36-40 From today's readings: "I am writing to you....  give to the LORD the glory due His Name....  When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth." Did you get My letter to you? At times, reading or listening to Scripture, we get the sense, "Wow!  This is just the inspiration I needed today - God really spoke directly to me through His holy Word."  The point is, we must strive to establish that sense of personal connection as the norm, and not the exception. St. John makes this point as he explains different reasons for writing to different people:  "I am writing to you, (children, fathers, young men) because...."   It is John's hope (and God's plan!) that each of us tunes in, responding to the personal appeal, and realizing the Word of God is indeed intended for you and me, and not just for someone else.

Daily Retreat 12/29/08

2008 Dec 29 Mon: Christmas Weekday/ 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 12/28/08

2008 Dec 28 SUN: HOLY FAMILY F Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Ps 104(105)/Heb 11:8.11-12.17-19/Lk 2:22-40 From today's readings:  "The Lord took Abram outside and said, 'Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so," He added, "shall your descendants be.'...  The Lord remembers His covenant for ever....  The Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him." Holy Family, Holy Families 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 12/27/08

2008 Dec 27 Sat: 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 12/26/08

2008 Dec 26 Fri: 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 12/25/08

2008 Dec 25 Thu: THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD S. Holy Day of Obligation. 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:  "Let us go to Bethlehem (the 'House of Bread') and see this Marvel which the Lord has made known to us!"     Did you ever, dear brothers, dear sisters, did you ever imagine what it must have been like, for those poor shepherds tending their flocks by night, to suddenly have that glorious angel appear to them, on a night that seemed like every other night, with those gladdest of all tidings, that unto us, this day, a Savior is born - 'tis Christ the Lord!  Oh, on that day, the lives of those blessed shepherds were changed forever - but not just their lives, for at that moment, time itself, and the entire cosmos swung on a pivot:  for the temporal created order was no longer B.C., "before Christ," rather it became all, it is all A.D. - "Anno Domini," in the year of our Lord! "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this Marvel which the Lord has made known to us!"     If you were one of those shepherds, my friends, could you stand even the diabolic thought of NOT going to Bethlehem, the dark curse of staying at home while all your neighbors were basking in the presence of the King of Kings?  Could you ever be content to gaze just from a distance at the Royal Light emanating from the city of David?  Would you close your ears and heart, tune out God's messenger and His message, and pack your mind and your life with crumpled newspapers of the weary news, business and sports of the day? "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this Marvel which the Lord has made known to us!"     When the shepherds arrived, they found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Not an infant sitting on a throne, surrounded by a suppliant court.  Not a toddler crying out efficacious commands to the elements.  A Babe, lying in a manger.  There was, in short, no proof for eyes unaided by faith that the Baby Boy was God made Man.  Divinity was wrapped in humanity - what a Marvel to behold!  What a glorious miracle to make even the coldest heart burn with the fire of faith!  Yes, how natural that you and I should envy those shepherds who beheld their salvation, as we bemoan our lot in this century.     And yet, fellow plainsmen, and yet....  Perhaps those blessed shepherds could envy you and me for the every-bit-as-miraculous a way that we behold our God.  It happened once two thousand years ago, and now, what if God sends His messenger to us today to proclaim tidings of great joy?  The Providential selection of this day, this very day, to be the pivot in our life!  Piercing the mundane darkness of a valley of tears with the light of the Glory of the Lord.  God made Man, and God the Man scourged, crucified, and kneaded into Food for the world.  Divinity wrapped in humanity, and Divine humanity in turn wrapped in the appearance of bread and wine.  The glorious miracle of Bethlehem, the "House of Bread," is incarnated anew today!  The Shepherds beheld a Babe, tucked in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.  And you and I, we behold a Host, tucked in the tabernacle, and lying on the Church's altar.  The blessed shepherds hurried to Bethlehem for a closer look, and they saw and understood what had been told them about this Child.  And you, my blessed friends, you too can hurry there every week, even every day, for a closer look, and then you will see and understand all that has been told to you about this Child. Come, dear friends, to Bethlehem - taste and see this Marvel which the Lord has made known to us!

Daily Retreat 12/24/08

2008 Dec 24 Wed: Advent Weekday Morning:  2 Sm 7:1-5.8-11.16/Ps 88(89):2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29/Lk 1:67-79 Vigil of Christmas: Is 62:1-5/Ps 88(89):4-5, 16-17, 27, 29/Acts 13:16-17.22-25/Mt 1:1-15 From today's readings:  "The LORD also reveals to you that He will establish a house for you.....  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord....  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for He has come to His people and set them free." Of the House of David The promised Messiah is hinted at in earlier verses of scripture (such as Genesis 3:15, known as the "proto-evangelium," the first announcement of the good news of Christ's coming), but the divine promise which most inspired the Israelites to look to the coming Messiah was the one delivered by the prophet Nathan to King David.  In answer to the king's plan to build a house (temple) for God, instead, God opts to raise a house (dynasty) for David - to establish his heir (who will be Son to God) as the One who would rule forever.  Each of the Gospels (particularly Matthews!) takes pains to demonstrate Jesus as "born of the house of His servant David" (see today's Gospel, Luke 1:69) and therefore, the longed-for Messiah!

Daily Retreat 12/23/08

2008 Dec 23 Tue: Advent Weekday (O Emmanuel)/ John of Kanty, p 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 12/22/08

2008 Dec 22 Mon: Advent Weekday (O Rex Gentium) 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 12/21/08

2008 Dec 21 SUN: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (O Oriens) 2 Sm 7:1-5.8-11.16/Ps 88(89)/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38 From today's readings:  "I will be a father to Him, and He shall be a son to Me....  My kindness is established forever....  to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever....  the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God...." O Oriens - O Dawn! What is the purpose of Advent?  Is this season of the four Sundays before Christmas merely an attempt to sprinkle a consecrated flavoring on the secular shopping spree?  Is our Church's reminder to spend these weeks preparing for the past, present, and future coming of Christ just another inconsiderate encroachment on our limited time in these busy days? Or, is Advent the crucial, timely reminder of not just what Christmas is all about, but what life itself is all about?  For we know that God's Son Jesus came into the world, not by accident, but by the divine decision and plan of God.  In fact, a thousand years before the birth of Christ, God was already promising to King David that "I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make His kingdom firm. I will be a father to Him, and He shall be a son to Me!" So, a thousand years before the birth of Christ, God the Father had already decreed that the Messiah should be born of the house and lineage of David.  In fact though, we can reasonably assume that God had decided that and all the other details about His Son's earthly life, even before He revealed His plan to David and the prophets.  Moreover,  since God is the creator of time itself, His thoughts and actions transcend temporal limitations. So, as we confess in the Creed, Jesus is "eternally begotten of the Father" - there never was a time when the Son did not exist.  Before the Angel Gabriel came to Mary, then, Jesus already existed as the Second Person of the Trinity, although He was not yet incarnated in human flesh until, as St. Paul puts it so succinctly in his letter to the Galatians, "in the fullness of time, God sent His Son, born of a woman," and that "woman," of course, was Mary.   Ah!  As mother of His Son, Mary must have also been part of God's plan from the beginning of time, and King David too, and all of the noble ancestors of the Messiah.  And the voice crying in the wilderness, the one who prepared the way of the Lord, John the Baptist - was he just an afterthought?  No, because of John's relation to His Son, God had his role in mind too, from the beginning. In fact, when Jesus took on flesh, He became our brother, and thus we all are related to Him.  When you think about it then, NO ONE in the past, present, or future of humanity is an accident, some extra little "afterthought" on God's part!   When you and I put together some  grand scheme, it might be necessary for us to start with the skeletal essential aspects of our idea, and then, we fill in all the little details as time and resources allow.   But God doesn't have our limitations - He's the infinite multi-tasker!  So, He simultaneously thinks the big thoughts (like the plan for His Son Jesus) and the little minute details (like how God's going to patiently remind us during Advent 2008 of His love for us). In fact, when you think about it, since we're here today precisely because God thought about us and found a reason for our existence in His eternal plan of creation, well, God is simply too big to think little inconsequential thoughts, so our existence is a deliberate part of God's plan, and that's the meaning of our life, that's what life is all about!  God wanted us and chose us all as His children through our sharing in His Son's humanity, and with the indelible mark of baptism, God wants us all to experience the comfort and security of His love, as St. Paul explains, "according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages, but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith!" So, the divine lesson driven home this final week of Advent is not some sanctified seasoning for the end of the holiday rush, it's not an inconvenient impingement of our sacred time - rather, it leads us to Jesus, the very reason that our time is sacred, because those who came before us, and those who come after us, and you and I, as well, are all part of God's sacred plan!

Daily Retreat 12/20/08

2008 Dec 20 Sat: Advent Weekday (O Clavis David) 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 Clavis David - 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 12/19/08

2008 Dec 19 Fri: Advent Weekday (O Radix Jesse) 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 12/18/08

2008 Dec 18 Thu: Advent Weekday (O Adonai)
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 12/17/08

2008 Dec 17 Wed: Advent Weekday (O Sapientia)
Gn 49:2. 8-10/ Ps 71(72):1-2. 3-4ab. 7-8. 17/ Mt 1:1-17

From today’s readings:  “The scepter shall never depart from Judah....  In Him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim His happiness....  Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary - from her was born Jesus, called the Christ.”

O Sapientia, O Wisdom!

A marked shift occurs today, December 17th, in the tone of the liturgical texts - as we begin the countdown week to Christmas, the scripture readings finally turn from texts recalling remote preparation to passages detailing the more immediate preparations for the birth of the Messiah.  

This is most apparent in the Gospel readings: you may have noticed that all of the Advent Gospel readings until today (including yesterday’s!) have presented Jesus in His adult years. This may have seemed out-of-place, since Advent is the season of preparation for celebration of His birth.  But there’s a simple explanation:  there just are very few Gospel verses that treat of the time before the birth of Christ!  So for the next week, the lectionary will systematically draw from the first chapter in Matthew, then in Luke, leading up to the verses that treat of the birth of Christ (which naturally, are saved for Christmas!).

While the Gospel passages will thus be sequential, the first readings will seem to jump around wildly, since they will be intentionally chosen to highlight an Old Testament prophecy that is fulfilled (or at least alluded to) in the Gospel.  So, as the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel traces the genealogy of Jesus, the first reading recalls Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis that the tribe of Judah would be preeminent, for from his lineage would come the Messiah, the incarnation of Wisdom!

You might be tempted to skim quickly through the Lord’s genealogy presented at the beginning of the New Testament, but consider this:  St. Matthew’s gospel begins with the phrase “The book of Genesis.” It’s translated different ways – some versions read “the book of genealogy of Jesus Christ,” some say “the family history,” because that’s the literal meaning of  the Greek word Matthew chooses,  “Genesis.”  So the concept of family history is something that is fundamental in the Bible (at the beginning of both the Old and New Testament!), and that’s how we have to read everything that happens in the Bible –  as family history! As something that applies to us and to all our ancestors, and will be just as important to those that come after us.

Daily Retreat 12/16/08

2008 Dec 16 Tue: Advent Weekday
Zep 3: 1-2. 9-13/ Ps 34: 2-3. 6-7. 17-18. 19 and 23/ Mt 21: 28-32

From today’s readings: “Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city!...   The Lord hears the cry of the poor.... Which of the two sons did his father’s will?”

What Really Matters

“Everyone makes mistakes,” as the secular saying goes, or to express the same insight in the language of faith, “We’re all sinners in need of a Savior.”  So our past sins are not what define our lives (because everyone is scarred with sin), but what you and I do about those sins determines our destiny.

We can choose self-righteously to ignore or dismiss our sins, to be like Zephaniah’s tyrannical city - “She hears no voice, accepts no correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, she has not drawn near to her God.”  This is also choosing to be like the chief priests and elders admonished by Jesus because they excused their own sins with the false comfort that others were worse sinners than they were themselves.

OR, we can choose to be like the first son in the Gospel parable, who had clearly in the past said “No!” to his father, but repented, and said “Yes!” with his actions.  To get to that point though, we need to personally tune in to scripture’s insistent call to repentance, and snap out of the hypnotic illusion that the “big sins” of others eclipse our own “little sins.”  We’re preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior - is He your Savior too (because you recognize your sins and need for a Savior), or do you imagine that He came just for tax collectors and prostitutes and all those who need a Savior more than you do?

Daily Retreat 12/15/08

2008 Dec 15 Mon: Advent Weekday
Nm 24: 2-7. 15-17a/ Ps 24(25): 4-5ab. 6 and 7bc. 8-9/ Mt 21: 23-27

From today’s readings: “ A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel....  Teach me your ways, O Lord....  By what authority are you doing these things?”

Balaam’s Blessing

What do you do with blessings received from the hand of God?  Every talent and ability you have was given to you by God so that you may fulfill the mission for which He created you.  In other words, every blessing is meant to be shared in the service of God.

Balaam is a complex biblical character who is given a great blessing of prophecy from God.  Sometimes he uses his gift faithfully in obedience to God (such as the blessing and prophecy in today’s reading), but at other times, he capitalized on his talents for his own greedy and selfish purposes (cf. Num 31:16, Deut 23:5, Neh 13:2, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 11, Rev. 2:14).  The comical incident of “Balaam’s Ass” (Num. 22:21-35) exposes his limitations: when working outside of divine direction, he proves himself more obtuse than his own donkey!

But when submitting to God’s will, he proves himself equal even to his own proud boast: in prophecy about the Israelites, he foresees the “rising star of Jacob,” which has been recognized as one of the earliest prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.  

Which side of Balaam do you imitate in the use of your own God-given talents and blessings - working outside of divine direction, or submitting to God’s will?

Daily Retreat 12/14/08

2008 Dec 14 SUN: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Is 61:1-2.10-11/Lk 1:46-54/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8.19-28

From today’s readings:  “I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul....  my spirit rejoices in God my Savior....  Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing....  He was not the light, but came to testify to the light...”

Halfway Home!

This year, Christmas falls on Thursday, but even when Christmas falls on a Sunday, by the third Sunday of Advent, always by then, the halfway point of Advent has been crossed, and we’ve entered the homestretch of our Christmas race.

Yes, “race” - isn’t it true that the hustle and bustle of this season and the busyness of Christmas-connected business leaves us all feeling like we’re running a losing race against time, as you and I rush to get done everything the world says we must get done before the December 25th deadline?

But listen to these cheers for us from holy scripture at this midway point in our holiday dash! From the prophet Isaiah: “I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul!”   From St. Paul: “Rejoice always!  Pray without ceasing!”  And these words of the person who, out of all people of all time, had the most important, most demanding role in Christmas preparation: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

Isaiah, Paul, and Mary all recognized the Advent of Christ, not as some frantic race that would drag on for almost two more weary weeks, and not just as the secular “season to be jolly,” but rather, as the reason to rejoice fully.  To rejoice fully in our day-by-day unwrapping of the simple but profound gift of life!  To rejoice fully in the splendor of the Light of Christ which dispels the darkness of sin and shatters the shadow of error!  To rejoice fully in the serenity that, no matter how many Christmas presents are yet unready on our list, the Christmas presence of Jesus is already in our midst!

But John the Baptist bemoaned, “...there is One in your midst whom you do not recognize!”   Was his warning just for the Pharisees in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing?  Or, perhaps his words were as much aimed at our hearts, so that you and I could come to recognize just what Advent is all about, as we drop out of that commercialized weary race going nowhere in order to return to the very Reason for rejoicing!

Daily Retreat 12/13/08

2008 Dec 13 Sat: Lucy, v, mt M
Sir 48:1-4. 9-11/ Ps 79(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 12/12/08

2008 Dec 12 Fri: Our Lady of Guadalupe F
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 12/11/08

2008 Dec 11 Thu: Advent Weekday/ Damasus I, pp
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 12/10/08

2008 Dec 10 Wed: Advent Weekday
Is 40:25-31; Ps 102(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 12/09/08

2008 Dec 9 Tue: Advent Weekday/ Juan Diego, h
Is 40:1-11/ Ps 95(96):1-2. 3 and 10ac. 11-12. 13/ Mt 18:12-14

From today’s readings:  “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God....  Tell His glory among the nations; among all peoples, His wondrous deeds....  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost....”

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Chapter 40 begins a new section in the long book of Isaiah with some of the warmest and most tender words in the entire Bible: "Comfort, give comfort to My people," says your God. "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem...." This is followed by the familiar prophecy of John the Baptist, the one who cried out "Prepare the way of the Lord!"

The Advent themes all come to a mighty crescendo in this symphonic first reading. Clearly, the insistence is on "Gospel" which literally means "good news" and "glad tidings." What is the good news? Not just the saving actions of God, but His very presence: "Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!"

ALL of our Advent activities and Christmas preparations need to be imbued with this gospel of the proximity and presence of our God. Why waste your time buying into commercial themes and activities at this time of year, when what you, and your family, and your friends, and the whole world really want and need are tidings of comfort and joy, which you can give by joining Isaiah as herald of glad tidings, crying out at the top of your voice as herald of good news!

Daily Retreat 12/08/08

2008 Dec 8 Mon: 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 12/07/08

2008 Dec 7 SUN: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Is 40:1-5.9-11/Ps 84(85)/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8

From today’s readings:  “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley....  Justice shall walk before Him, and prepare the way of His steps....Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before Him, at peace....  John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

John the Baptist

The scripture readings of this second Sunday of Advent introduce us to John the Baptist.  Of course, this “introduction” can seem redundant because, from previous years’ readings, we’re already familiar with him as the cousin of Christ, as the one who baptized our Lord and then was imprisoned and martyred by King Herod.  But, perhaps a re-introduction is in order: although John, by his own admission is “second fiddle” to Jesus, since Jesus Himself had great things to say about the son of Zechariah (cf. Matthew 11:11), we can benefit from a closer look at this man and his mission.

First of all, the Baptist’s vocation was essential in the divine plan and not in any way superfluous.  While almighty God did not strictly need some lackey to formally introduce His Son on the world stage, in His wisdom, God did ordain that John’s life would be intrinsically linked with the life of Jesus.  This was even foretold - as the evangelists point out, John the Baptist came as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths!’ ” Note that in the first reading, Isaiah insists that every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low - in others words, all obstacles must be removed - the Messiah must have a straight, unhindered path.

Now for my point: your vocation and my vocation are also essential in the divine plan and not in any way superfluous!  It’s tempting to convince ourselves that almighty God can get along fine without the ardent evangelical witness of our little lives, but in His wisdom, God has ordained that your life and my life could also be incorporated into the life of Christ.  In our daily lives, God looks to you and to me to echo the Baptist’s cry in this time and place, and to pick up and continue his unfinished mission of filling in the valleys of doubt and eroding the mountains of pride - of removing all obstacles (in ourselves and others!) to the good news of the coming of the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit!

Daily Retreat 12/06/08

2008 Dec 6 Sat: Advent Weekday/ Nicholas, bp
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 12/05/08

2008 Dec 5 Fri: Advent Weekday
Is 29:17-24/ Ps 26(27):1. 4. 13-14/ Mt 9:27-31

From today’s readings:  “And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see...  The Lord is my light and my salvation....  Then He touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened....”

The Lord is my light and my salvation

As the nights grow longer and the light grows scarcer, the reminder comes clearly to us:  The Lord is my light and my salvation!  The “Lord as Light” is one of the most vivid metaphors utilized in Advent and Christmas scripture and liturgy to describe the coming of the Lord and the difference that is meant to be in our lives - the end of the darkness of sin and error.

Perhaps a power outage has recently reminded you of your dependence on your household lights.  That image sparks a comparison: how dark would life be without the light of Christ?  
His light illumines our life with
    His presence when we’re lonely,
    His joy when we’re gloomy,
    His hope when we’re despairing,
    His forgiveness when we’re erring,
    His comfort when we’re ailing,
    and His love when we’re failing!

Daily Retreat 12/04/08

2008 Dec 4 Thu: Advent Weekday/ John of Damascus, p, r, dr
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 12/03/08

2008 Dec 3 Wed: Francis Xavier, p, ms M
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 12/02/08

2008 Dec 2 Tue: Advent Weekday
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....  Justice shall flower in His days, and profound peace....  Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Unfinished Business

Jesus Himself emphasized that His coming is the fulfillment of the Old Testament messianic prophecies.   Yet, when reading Isaiah’s idyllic verses which tell of the messianic day when ferocious animals like lions and bears will one day be as tame as sheep and cattle, we can wonder how Jesus fulfilled that prophecy, how He lives up to the psalms claim that “justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever.”

But we must remember that the advent, the coming of Christ has a past, present, and future dimension.  For in the past, in His earthly lifetime, Jesus worked many miracles that gave people the foretaste of the fulfillment of scripture and the blessings of His kingdom, but He still never made such miracles the new general norm of life on earth.  In the present, the track record of our own life and times proves that following Christ does lead to justice and peace, but then conversely, rejecting Christ still leads to the breakdown of justice and peace.  So, based on what can be learned from the past and present, it’s obvious that the scriptural fulfillment is a work in progress - we didn’t miss the fulfillment in the past; rather, through the grace of God, we’re part of the fulfillment plan, so  we must still pray and work for the Messiah’s future coming in glory, for which we cry, “ Thy Kingdom Come!”