They saw the Child

The Epiphany of the Lord

“They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.” (Matthew 2:10,11)

Reflection

One of my hobbies is astronomy.  It started in the winter of 1976, when I was a senior in education at Miami.  Early mornings, I had to stand outside in the cold Oxford morning waiting for my ride to Cincinnati.  And looking up, I was amazed by Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades.  I wanted to know them and their stories.  I was overjoyed at seeing stars.  Since then I have studied and watched the heavens, but not only scientifically.   

Also during my senior year in college, my faith started to grow and my knowledge and love for Jesus Christ deepened.  I was amazed at seeing His light in myself and others, thanks to my Newman friends.  Since then I have studied and watched toward Heaven, with a desire to follow the Star, enter His house, and see the Child.  I have had many epiphanies in my 66 years, and I hope for more as I journey toward the Light.

Next door to my community here in Chicago is the Church of the Holy Family.  Its stained glass windows tell the story of the Society of Jesus in color and light.  One of the most attractive of the windows is that of the Epiphany, when the wise men followed the star and offered gifts to the Child.  I used this picture as my Christmas card this season with the prayer below as my wish for 2021:

“Almighty ever-living God, splendor of faithful souls, graciously be pleased to fill the world
              with your glory, and show yourself to all peoples by the radiance of your light.” 

May the radiant light of this new Child be shown to you in some way this coming year, and may you share it with others in whatever hobby and talent you so desire.    Happy New Year!

 

Reflecting on them

Christmas Day

“All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:17)

Reflection

If I had seen that original Nativity scene, I imagine I would keep thinking about it too.  I would “bend back” in time to keep whatever grace I had found there.  That’s how Mary would pray, calling to mind again and again the many ways her life was blessed or broken.  We too might find it helpful to look at life “again” and see (like in a mirror) how our image does or doesn’t reflect God, in whose image we were created.

These first moments of the Christmas story cause us to reflect back on those times of happiness and security we enjoyed as kids.  This is a valuable type of prayer.  The word “reflect” comes from two Latin words: re (again) + flectere (to bend).  The words flexible and genuflect are related to this bending.  In our modeling of Mary’s humility, let us bend the knee each day and be flexible of heart enough to find God in mental prayer.

The Jesuits practice this type of prayer each day; it is called the Examen.  Take a moment to reflect on how you might make this commitment for 2021.

Two web sites below can help:

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/

https://youtu.be/ljZXRg9FZWo

 

 

 

From God to a town

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

 "The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary." (Luke 1:26)

 Reflection

Sometimes we think angelic appearances only happen in mystical Scripture passages like this one of the Annunication.  The angel flies in and out -- kind of like the good witch in the Wiard of Oz.  A fantasy with no reality in our own lives.

Not so.  Upon reflection, we know St. Luke inserted all these geographical and nominal details into this angelic passage as if to say:  God really does intervene with divine messengers and messages in real life.  We are all people who have names, related to other real people, living in real geographical and political situations.  Mary is not just mentioned, she is defined by real people in real surroundings.  

The message for us: God still sends His messages (and messengers) to you personally in real place and time.  Be awake and see with your real eyes.  God is with us, incarnate today in the small and large blessings of human life.

I'll never forget how Sr. Mary Oscar OSF taught our 6th grade class at St. Pete's ... "Be thankful that you have eyesight and that you are even able to see in color."  Simple yet profound.  Messengers still come to me and to you.  From God to your town. 
Notice the light.

I Am the Voice

Third Sunday of Advent

“What do you have to say for yourself?” John said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”   (John 1:22,23)

Reflection

John the Baptist is generally understood as the cousin of Jesus.  In art they are pictured together as little kids.  They might have been like twins, hard to tell the difference.  In today’s Gospel, the evangelist tells us that John appeared in Bethany (which means house of welcome).  “He came for testimony, to testify to the light.”  He was related to Jesus, but now was very distinct. 

God called John to set himself in service to Jesus, as one who points to the goodness of the light.   And this was no easy service project for the Baptist.  He spent a long time testing all sorts of roles.  You can almost hear him in prayer trying to find clarity in his vocation: “Hmmm.”  I am not the Christ.  I am not Elijah.  I am not a prophet.  The priests asked him, “What do you have to say for yourself?” No longer does he struggle with what he is NOT, no longer does he answer “I am not.”  The fire inside moves the Baptist to announce with a clear voice, “I am.”

I am the voice of one crying out “prepare a way for the Lord.”

His mission was clear and he remembered lessons learned long ago from his mother Elizabeth, his Aunt Mary, his uncle Joe, and his cousin Jesus.  The Baptist found his role in the family, and it was to raise his voice as a help to guide others in the right direction.  To lead others to justice and mercy.  You too have such a voice. 

They say these are the dark covid days of December.  Yes, the sunlight is fading fast, but this week on this Third Week of Advent, when our pink candle shines a bit more brightly, rejoice as you announce your role in the human family, “I am some one who helps others see things a bit more brightly.”  

 

 

The Beginning

Second Sunday of Advent

 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1)

Reflection

What can we make of these two important words?  Beginning and Gospel?

As Mark’s is the oldest of the four, this is the beginning of the Gospel stories.  This is also the beginning of John’s ministry and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  This is a new beginning of a ministry to Jews AND Gentiles.  So, this opening line hearkens back to Genesis (in the beginning) where life and power first emerged.  These words suggest that this new beginning has been prepared for over time; unfolding is a larger plan.   

Maybe this is also a beginning of new life for the listener (you).  Starting here and now are a new beginning proclaimed by the message of the Baptist:  a time for repentance, to confess one’s sins and begin again to follow the Lord along his pathway.

This is all Good News (Gospel) for those of us on the journey.  God always gives us second chances, and third, etc.  Maybe this passage today might inspire you to repent of your unfamiliarity with the four Gospel books.  How about making an early resolution for 2021 and start reading the whole of the four Gospels from start to finish.  Starting with the oldest and shortest: Mark, then on to Matthew (written for a Jewish listener), then Luke (written for a non-Jewish listener), and then ending with John (the most transcendent of the four). 

May this be a time of new beginnings in the way you need it most.

In charge

 

First Sunday of Advent

“It is like a man traveling abroad.  He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work” (Mark 13:34)

Reflection

Not this year!  Not many folks will be traveling abroad during this time of pandemic.  But that doesn’t mean our passion nor our mission are any less diminished.  We can still travel and enjoy the world … without leaving our homes. 

Why?  Jesus and His everlasting Spirit have left us in charge.  In charge means “on fire” or even “lit up.”  Like candles or Christmas lights, we servants are lit bright with great ideas about how best to accomplish do our Advent work – His work.  Prepare the way of the coming of the Lord by small acts of reverence and preparation. 
Here are some ideas (take each of these figuratively):

     - clean out the garage so no one trips when the owner gets back
     - gather and donate unused clothes, you have outgrown them anyway
     - charge up the batteries of your phone, and then make a few calls
     - wash the windows so more light gets in
     - in quiet moments, believe that you are in charge because the man actually never left, he remains at home

 

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with him. He walks everywhere incognito.”  (C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm)