New Year’s Eve 

   As the year comes to a close and we look toward the year to come with whatever it may bring I offer the following from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians.  If we strive to live by these qualities our New Year can truly be blessed. 

“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another, 
if one has a grievance against another; 
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love, 
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, 
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, 
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, 
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him.”   (Col 3: 12 – 17)

 

Have a blessed and happy New Year in the love of God.

 

 The Joy of Serving the Lord 

   There have been times in my life when I have known joy and happiness.  But what I have discovered is that joy and happiness is not, and can never be, complete unless I am serving my Lord.  Only then can I come to know the happiness that He desires for me.

   I can love someone dearly, but I can love them even more dearly by offering all of my love to God first and foremost.  When I give Him all my love He blesses me with so much more love that it’s amazing.  I can love others better and more completely because I’ve loved Him first.

   Even in marriage, I am confident that spouses would find that their love will grow deeper and more secure if God is their first love.  Then He would ensure they have the kind of love that He wishes them to have for each other, a love that really can’t be found anywhere but in our Lord.

   I’ve often tried to think of how I can possibly repay God for all the blessings He has brought to my life, those from many years ago, those from even a few weeks ago, or even those He has given me this day.  All I have is essentially on loan from God; they are also His gifts to me.  So I have nothing to give but my heart.

   The only recompense for love is love in return; love without conditions or demands but the pure love that was intended from the beginning.

 

 On The Mountain Top 

   One of my favorite places to be is in the adoration chapel on my knees before my Lord, truly present in the Eucharist.  No matter how hectic things may have been, no matter how frazzled I may feel, there is always peace and calm when I am with Christ.

   There are days when time almost ceases to exist.  Days when I am so close and so connected to Him that time is no longer relevant.  I could be there twenty minutes or two hours; it wouldn’t matter because I am really not there at all.  I am with my Lord in a place that only my soul can go.

   Elijah went to the mountain top and found the Lord.  There was strong wind, an earthquake, and fire, but the Lord was not in any of these.  Then there was a tiny whisper, and the Lord was in the tiny whisper.  At times I feel as if I’m on that same mountain top hearing that same tiny whisper though I’m still in the adoration chapel.

   I find myself and I find my God when I am before Him.  I speak to Him and He speaks to me in my heart and in my soul.  No words are needed, words are inadequate.  To speak with God is to open my heart and let Him in.  He knows what is in my heart and there is no language that can properly express it.

   In today’s world there is more and more need for people to have a personal one-to-one relationship with Jesus, a place, and a time to be alone with Him and block out the rest of the world.  For me, that place is before Him, recognizing His true presence in the Blessed Sacrament.  At that time, in that place, there is a closeness with my Savior that goes beyond anything words could express; I am on the mountain top with God.

 Pleasure and Joy 

   “Pleasure is of the body; joy is of the mind and the heart …. You can quickly become tired of pleasures, but you will never tire of joys.” (“Preface to Religion,” Archbishop Fulton Sheen) 

   Many  people find a lot of pleasure in the world, but few find true joy.  Pleasures are often earthly and even sinful, attempts by Satan to draw us away from God.  But joy is spiritual; it is a gift of God.  Pleasures will fade, while joy in the Lord will always increase.

   Like most people I’ve had many pleasures in this life, but they don’t last.  They become routine if overused and quickly fade, losing what little pleasure they had seemed to bring.  Pleasures can also be the work of Satan, offering material and earthly happiness often steeped is sin.

   What I’ve learned in life is that there is only one source for joy and that is faith in God.  The joy and peace that He gives is eternal and will never fade unless we choose to walk away from it.  Sadly, some become so entrenched in the earthly that they can’t or won’t give them up, even for the pure joy God wishes them to have.

   Though some are sinful right from the start, taking pleasure in some earthly things is not always wrong.  In fact many of those pleasures are from God.  However, they become a problem and sinful when they become more important than the One who has given them.  They then become a trap and we become enslaved to them.

   Joy is all encompassing.  There is no pleasure in pain or suffering, but if seen through the eyes of faith even these can have an unexplainable joy in them.  When we can face whatever comes with the joy and expectation of what is to come when we trust in God we will begin to know true joy, the joy of fellowship with our Lord.

 The Joy of God’s Will 

   “Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you what your heart desires.” (Psalm 37: 4) 

   If we want to find happiness in this world we must give ourselves up to God’s will.  If we want to spend eternity with Him in His kingdom, we must strive to follow His will in all things.  Any other path leads to sorrow and eternal loss.

   God sometimes surprises us by His will.  Something unexpected occurs and we don’t quite understand why.  In those times it’s important to remember that God’s will is always for our good; whatever He brings to us is for our benefit whether we can understand it or not.  In those surprises are some of God’s greatest gifts.

   I’ve come to understand that I will never know all there is to know about God’s will for me.  There have been times when I’ve wondered why this, why me, why now?  My God is full of surprises, He always knows when those unexpected joys are most needed in my life.  And those surprises are often what bring me the greatest joy and draw me closer to Him.

   There is a happiness and a joy that comes from accepting God’s will.  There is peace and comfort in giving oneself over to Him.  And when He chooses to surprise me with a gift of incredible joy and happiness, all I can say is “Thank you Lord!”, for again showing me how much You love me.

 A Beautiful Morning 

   “It’s a beautiful morning. I think I’ll go outside for a while and just smile.”  (“A Beautiful Morning” by The Rascals, lyrics by Felix Cavaliere/Edward Brigati) 

   Each morning we have two choices.  We can wake up and thank God for His love and all His many blessings, looking forward to whatever may come this day.  Or we can wake up wishing the day were already over with no joy in our heart.  The choice is ours, but joy always outweighs misery in my mind, so I choose to wake up and give glory and my love to God.

   Many are too concerned with the earthly trials and difficulties we may have to face to enjoy the day.  They forget or refuse to believe that He will never give us a burden that we can’t carry even though it may seem that way.  If it is more than we can bear, He will provide the strength needed to see it through.  Even though it may seem impossible to us, “for God all things are possible.” (Matt 19: 26)

   I’ve come to believe that how we start our day is how our day will go.  When we begin the day regretting what is to come, we will be miserable until it’s over.  When we begin our day giving thanks to the Lord for all He does for us, opening our hearts to His eternal love, offering Him our own love, the day will go much smoother, and we will retain the peace of God within us.

   When we place our confidence and hopes in God, trusting Him in all things, every morning is “A Beautiful Morning.”

 A Child is Born 

   The infant lay sleeping in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, because there was no room for Him at the inn.  Have we made room for Him in our hearts this Christmas season or have we too had no room for Him amidst the chaos an evil society has made of Christmas?

   The shepherds, the lowest of the low in Jewish society, were the ones to whom God chose to announce the Savior’s birth.  An angel telling them of the Christ who was born to be their savior.  Have we listened to the word of God and taken into our hearts the joy and promise of this day?

   The three kings brought gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Gold, the gift for kings indicating that this infant was not only the newborn King of the Jews, but of the whole world.  Frankincense, the aromatic symbol of holiness, speaking to the babe’s eternal priesthood.  Myrrh, an embalming agent, foretelling that He would give His life for our salvation.

   What gift does He want from us?  He has given us so many; how can we find a gift worthy of Him?  The gift that pleases Him most is a heart full of love for Him, a heart that desires to be with Him for all eternity.

   This year when we put away the Christmas nativity set, let’s not put the infant Christ away as well.  Let’s carry Him in our hearts not only on this Christmas day, but every day of our life.  He is with us always, let us always seek to be with Him.

 

   “For this day in the City of David there has been born to you a Savior who is Christ, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 11)

 The Silence of Christmas 

“Silent night, holy night.

All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child,

Holy infant, so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in Heavenly Peace.”

(“Silent Night” – lyrics by Josephus Moore) 

   Sadly, there is little silence during the Christmas season.  It’s all hustle and bustle with no time to consider what we are celebrating.  Everyone is concerned with getting the right gifts for the right people, but few stop to thank God for the greatest Gift of all, our Lord Jesus Christ.

   This Christmas do something different.  Tomorrow evening, the evening when our Savior was born, turn off all the distractions, the televisions, radios, even your cell phone, tablets, and computers.  Find a quiet place and sit down.  Close your eyes and envision that very special night when our Savior became one of us.

   Picture the scene in your mind, become part of it.  Perhaps one of the shepherds who came to see the babe or even one of the angels who announced the birth to those shepherds.  Imagine yourself as one of the three Kings of the Orient who recognized the birth from afar and came to honor the newborn King.

   Imagine the joy and wonder of Mary and Joseph as they held the baby Jesus in their arms.  The Son of God came as a helpless infant, needing their care and protection even to survive.  Consider the love of a God who would allow Himself to become so totally dependent on those whom He had created.

   Silence is a blessing that few people enjoy; it is said that nature abhors a vacuum, but in the vacuum can be found silence and in the silence we can find God.  Take advantage of the gift of silence, sit peacefully, and contemplate the incredible love of our Lord and you will find the true joy of the Christmas season.

Christmas Joy 

   Watch a small child on Christmas.  You will see excitement and joy beyond description.  At four or five years old children haven’t yet learned how to curb their enthusiasm, which is a blessing.  How I wish adults could retain some enthusiasm for the real gift of Christmas, the birth of our saving Lord.

   You can’t help but notice the delight in children’s eyes as they open their gifts.  It is pure joy, a joy so many seem to lose as they grow older.  I find it sad that most people seem to outgrow such enthusiasm in their lives.  We tend to be more adult in our celebrations, more mature; we’ve lost the abandonment to joy that we once knew.

   It occurs to me that the unbridled joy and happiness of children is the perfect example of how to celebrate Christmas.  Our joy for the gift of Christ should be as evident and enthusiastic as that of a child opening Christmas presents or discovering the treasures left under the tree by Santa.  We need to emulate their excitement and have that same enthusiasm as we contemplate the birth of our Lord.

   Christmas is a time for unbridled joy.  I wish all of us could remember the enthusiasm, wonder and happiness of a child at Christmas and keep it throughout life.  I think Jesus would be pleased if we had that child-like joy in our hearts as we celebrate His birth.

  

 The Joy and Faith of Christmas 

   “For this day, in the city of David there has been born to you a savior who is Christ, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 11) 

   If you want to know what childlike faith looks like this is the season to find it.  The children gather around the Christmas tree full of anticipation and happiness.  They are confident that the present that they really, really, want is somewhere under there.  And if parents have been listening for the last month or so, they know very well what that present is.  Most parents will do whatever they can to make their children’s dream come true on Christmas morning.

   But what of the adults?  How many of them even come close to knowing the joy of a child at Christmas?  Most have given up on the true purpose for the season and now see it as more of a hassle than a blessing.  How sad, that they have forgotten how to be joyful at the gift of our Lord’s birth.

   Many times Jesus spoke about childlike faith and that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who have that simple, confident faith in God.  Where is that faith today?  It’s not in the bank accounts or in the seat of the new car you bought yourself for Christmas.  It’s not in the diamond ring you bought your wife or the expensive watch she bought for you.

   That joy can’t be found in the malls; it can’t be found in the massive feasts we engage in during the holidays.  In fact, the kind of faith Jesus is talking about can’t be found in any of the earthly pleasures that seem so important to us.

   Read the nativity story in Luke and let it touch your heart and soul.  Contemplate the fact that God loves you so much that He would give His Son to die for you, so that your sins could be forgiven.  That is where you will find the childlike faith God wishes us to have.  A faith that brings great joy that lasts throughout all of life no matter what life may bring.

 

 Servants of the Lord 

   “Then Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.  Let it be done to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1: 38) 

   Mary’s response to God when she was called to be the Mother of His Son is what every Christian should profess and do.  We are to be servants of the Lord, following His will wherever it may lead.

   Sometimes submitting to God’s will isn’t easy, His call many times involves hardships, persecutions and even martyrdom.  All of the apostles, except for St. John, were martyred for their faith.  Many early Christians were horribly tortured and murdered for their refusal to deny Christ.  They recognized that the reward that awaited them far outweighed the agony they would endure by remaining faithful to Christ.

   I often wonder how many of today's Christians would suffer such treatment rather than deny Christ.  I wonder if I would have such courage and pray that I would.  I pray that if I don’t, my Lord would grant me such courage.

   Christmas is a joyous season, a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  It is also a time to remember all those who have followed Him all the way to their Calvary.  The world hates God, they deny Christ, and they are still persecuting those who follow Him.  Even today, some are willing to suffer martyrdom rather than deny their faith.  Jesus came to serve, not to be served and He gave His life for us.  We need to ask ourselves…..if we are a servant of the Lord, are we willing to suffer for Him as He suffered for us?

 God’s Plans 

   “For I know full well the plans I have made for you, plans for your welfare and not for your misfortune, plans that will offer you a future filled with hope.” (Jer 29: 11) 

   Never give up on God; He has a plan, and it is a good plan.  Sometimes we may think God has given up on us and we give up on Him, but God never gives up.   He loves us eternally and always wants to bring us happiness and joy in this life and in the life to come.

   It may seem as though His plans are delayed or even that He has forgotten about us, but God doesn’t work by our schedule, and we are arrogant to think that He should.  Sometimes we go through hard times so that we can better appreciate the good that God has in store for us.  If we never know disappointment and sorrow, how can we know hope and joy?

   Sometimes the plans God has for us late in life are some of the best, a joy we thought we might never again know has suddenly been granted.  Something or someone comes into our life that once again shows us how much God loves us and how much He wants us to know joy and happiness.  Suddenly we again know the childlike joy that we thought was lost to us.

   Especially as we prepare to celebrate the joy of the birth of our Lord it’s good to look back over life and recognize the beauty of God’s plans for us.  It’s good to rest in confidence of the eternal love of God, knowing that He cares for us always.

 The Many Mysteries of God 

   “If you understood him, it would not be God.” (St. Augustine) 

   As much as I want to know my God I also know that full knowledge of the Almighty is not possible in this lifetime.  I foresee spending all of eternity in His kingdom trying to fully understand Him and I’m not sure that it will be possible even then.

   For instance, God is and always has been complete, He has no need of anything for He is everything.  So why did He choose to create the universe and all the sinful people in it?  He sees all things in the moment, time is not relevant to God.  Therefore, He knew that His prized creation would reject Him.  He knew they would later reject His Son and nail Him to the cross.  Why create rejection and hatred toward oneself?

   In a few days we will celebrate the coming of Christ as a baby, born in a stable and placed in a manger for a crib.  Why did He not come as a great ruler?  He was the foretold son of David who was to rule the Davidic kingdom, yet He did not come as a king.  Instead He came as a helpless infant and then spent 30 years as an unknown, the son of a carpenter from all appearances.  Why hide His divinity rather than shouting it from the rooftops?

   So many things I don’t understand….how does a piece of unleavened bread become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ?  Why does He care about me, a sinful man, who has far too often sinned against Him.  It is my sins and the sins of the world that drove those nails through His hands and feet on the cross.

   The greatest mystery is why He loves me; what have I ever done to deserve His love and mercy?  And yet He loves me so much that He gave His life for me on a cross at Calvary.  That love is the love He wants me to have for Him and for all His children and that too is a mystery.  How can I love as perfectly as He loves as an imperfect man.

   I don’t have the answer to all the mysteries, and I don’t believe I am meant to have that understanding.  If I knew all the answers there would be no need for faith, for faith is “the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction about things that cannot be seen.” (Heb 11: 1)

 

     Gaudete Sunday 

   The third Sunday of advent is Gaudete Sunday.  Gaudete is Latin for rejoice.  It is a time to rejoice and take delight in the birth we are anticipating and the many blessings we have received and still receive from our Lord.  It is a time to be joyful and even childlike in the excitement of the season.

   St. Paul wrote, “Rejoice always; pray unceasingly.”  (1 Thess 5: 16 – 17).  Gaudete Sunday is to be a day of cheer and exultation; a day to keep in mind all that the Lord has done for us.  To give Him thanksgiving for His many gifts.

   Rejoice in the love He has shown, rejoice in the love we share with others.  Give thanks for friends both old and new who add great joy and happiness to our lives.  Offer Him our love and our devotion, asking that He guide us through this time exile and that He bring us to Himself when it is time for this life to be done.

   Next Sunday is Christmas Eve and the waiting will be over.  Let’s take this last week to be thankful and joyful.  Let us once again take the time to look inside ourselves and root out those things that might draw us away from our Lord.  Let us prepare ourselves to properly celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth of our Savior.

 God and Atheists 

   “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 25: 41) 

   As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord, I can’t help but think of those who refuse to accept God, those who deny that there is a God.  I pray for those committed atheists who must live without the peace and joy that comes from knowing our Lord.

   I don’t understand how someone can see the beauty of this world, the majesty of the universe and all of God’s creation and still not acknowledge that there must be a plan, a creator who put all these things in place.  Even their own life is part of His plan, even though they deny His existence.  Jesus said, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 10).  He longs for their repentance so that He can welcome them into His kingdom.

   I’ve read the conversion stories of some who came to reject atheism and turned to God.  They are amazed at the joy and peace having God in their life has brought them.  They are filled with a joy and happiness they had never known before.  They become some of the best of God's witnesses by sharing their stories.

   I think some atheists refuse to admit that God exists because they refuse to accept responsibility for their actions.  If they admit there is a God, they must also acknowledge their own sinfulness and the punishment it will bring.  Rather than give up the false joys and pleasures of this world by accepting God they forfeit eternal life in His kingdom, condemning themselves to the fires of hell.

   Especially at this time of year, we need to take a moment to pray for those who do not know God and for those who refuse to know God.  They need our prayers; they need to find hope in the Savior whose birth we celebrate in a few days. 

 How High Is the Sky? 

   “While he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up to heaven.” (Luke 24: 51) 

    Why do we always look up when we are looking for God?  Where is heaven?  How high do we have to go to get there?  These are all questions that we sometimes consider and wonder about.  But heaven isn’t in the sky.

   The early Christians, who had no knowledge of the universe, assumed that heaven was somewhere above us, perhaps resulting in scripture texts like that above.  The reality was indescribable, but they needed a way of explaining the unexplainable.  Words had to suffice even though no words can truly explain God or heaven.  Only faith can offer comfort in the unknowable.

   But if heaven isn’t above, then where is it?  Jesus said, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.” (John 14: 23)  Heaven is already here, it is in the hearts and souls of those who believe.

   I believe that hell is already here as well.  If God comes to those who love him and keep His word, then surely Satan comes to those who reject God; this is hell on earth.

   How high is the sky?  I don’t know if there is an answer to that question.  New technology shows more and more of the universe and there are many who propose that there is no end to it.  But, heaven is not now, nor has it ever been in the sky; it exists in the hearts of those who believe in God and seek His will.

 How Deep Is the Ocean? 

   I often use the analogy of the ocean for faith and trust in God.  There are many places in the oceans where the bottom has not been explored; the Marianas Trench is seven miles deep and still has parts no one has seen.

   The oceans, the seas, and even some mountain tops still retain many secrets; secrets that will come to light as new depths and heights are explored.  Scripture is much the same, the depths and the heights of knowledge are unending.  No matter how often I explore scripture I find new life, new meaning, new and deeper faith.

   It has been my experience that scripture never stops providing new experiences in coming to know God better.  Things I have read many times before sometimes reveal a new truth or concept of faith that I had missed in my earlier readings.  Sometimes I think it is related to what is going on in my life at the time.  At other times I’m confident it is God speaking to me what He wants me to hear through His word.

   When Jesus was preparing to leave His apostles and ascend into heaven He made them this promise, “However, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14: 25 – 27).

   The Holy Spirit guides the Church and will guide each of us as well if we come to Him in faith and trust, seeking what God wants to say rather than what we want to hear.  Just as God is eternal, there is no end to what He wishes to share with us when we seek Him with a sincere longing for His will in all things.

 A Child Is Coming 

   “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” (Luke 1: 31) 

   I remember very clearly each day that our children came into our life.  It was a day of expectation and wonder.  What will this child grow up to be?  How will I protect them, love them, help them to grow?  So many questions and so few answers.  Especially with the first, but each was different, so their needs were different as well.

   During this season of Advent I spend time contemplating Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus.  I can’t imagine the questions they must have experienced.  My wife and I were welcoming new life, a child into our home; they were welcoming that as well, but also the Savior of the world.  How they must have wondered; trusting always in God but wondering about this incredible blessing and responsibility to which they had been called.

   I can’t imagine our reaction if a bunch of men smelling of sheep showed up to gaze upon our children in awe and wonder, talking about angels telling of their birth.  Or even more, three kings led by a star, bearing gifts for the newborn child.  Mary and Joseph knew that this child was far different from any other, but could they have expected such unusual visitors to welcome His birth?

   This season is a season of wonder.  Wonder at His birth, wonder at His life, wonder of how He loves us so much.  It is a time of wonder and thanksgiving for a Savior who would redeem us of our sins and open the doors to heaven for all who would believe.

   “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be now end.” (Luke 1: 32 – 33).  Amen Lord! come,  rule over my house, my life, and my soul.

 The Choices We Make 

   “What we get afterward we choose here; and what we reap there we sow here.” (St. Augustine) 

I've heard people deny the existence of God because they say they can’t believe in a God who would send anyone to hell.  That can’t be a loving God and they refuse to accept Him.

   God doesn’t send anyone to hell, we choose where we will spend eternity.  Just like in life, our choices have consequences, our actions speak far more fluently to who we are than our words.  If we live a life of sin, never repenting, never accepting the redemption that Christ purchased for us on the cross, how can we expect to benefit from the love and mercy that has been shown to us.

   Everything we do in life requires choices, from the simplest to the most important.  We choose whether we will have eggs or cereal for breakfast, a simple decision, but nevertheless a choice that we must make.

   We choose whether to marry or to remain single; we make the choice of who we will marry if marriage is our choice.  Decisions that will affect our entire life, sometimes made on a whim.  But once made, we must accept what those choices bring.

   There is no difference in our choice of whether we will serve God, ignore Him, or serve a god of our own making.  Of all the choices we will make in life, this is the most important.  Whether we like to admit it or not, if we don't serve the one true God, we will serve a false god of some kind.  Some choose to serve money, or fame.  Many choose self as their god, caring nothing for anyone else except to use them to their own advantage.

   The incredible thing about our God is He will love us no matter what we choose.  We can, at any time in this life, turn to Him in repentance and He will welcome us into His loving arms.  However, if we do not serve God, we will serve Satan in one form or another; there are no other choices.  To spend eternity in heaven or hell is the consequence of that choice.

 Heal Me Lord 

   “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”  (Luke 7: 22) 

   Sometimes I see the world through the eyes of sinfulness and weakness.  I don’t see You as I should, and I often fail to notice the wondrous miracles You perform.  Lord, heal my spiritual blindness so that I might know you better.

   I often struggle on my walk with Christ.  Give me strength to walk the path that leads to God’s kingdom.  Give the courage to pick up my cross and follow you.  Even if that path leads me to Calvary.

   Though I don’t have leprosy my soul sometimes suffers the disease of sin, separating me and alienating me from You.  Cleanse me Lord, let me be united with you in all I do.  Help me to always remember that I must turn to You in repentance, seeking Your mercy and  forgiveness.

   Your words are sometimes hard to hear over the hatred and evil spewed out by the world with such vengeance.  Let me drown out the noise of the world so that I can better hear Your words, Your encouragement, and Your guidance.

   You raised the dead to life.  I too will die at some point.  Though I have failed you many times by my sins, You know that I love You above all things and regret the sins I have committed.  When this life is over, come, take me to Yourself, to the place You have prepared for those who love you.

   I read the gospel; I hear it proclaimed.  Open my heart so that I may hear more than just the words.  Let me hear what you wish to tell me.  May the gospel, Your good news, enlighten me and bring me always nearer to you.

   Lord, help me to always remember that life is short, but eternity is everlasting.  My body will return to dust, but my soul will live forever.  Heal me in spirit and in love for You; make me holy, make me Your own.

 Christmas In A Secular World 

   If you walk around your neighborhood, you will likely see many so-called Christmas decorations.   You will see Santa, snowmen, reindeer, and lots of lights everywhere you look, but rarely will you see a nativity scene, or any other reminder of  Christ 

   In the malls and stores you see the same thing. Christmas decorations are everywhere and have been there since Halloween in many cases.  However, you will have to search hard and may well be disappointed if you are looking for a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

   The TV is full of Christmas specials and reruns of Christmas movies, but virtually none are about the birth of our Lord.  Even one of the most popular, “It’s a Wonderful Life” doesn’t mention Christ.  There’s a bumbling “angel” named Clarence, but no savior.

   How did we get here?  How did we allow Christmas to become nothing more than “Black Friday”, Cyber Monday” and all the other enticements designed to help us spend money.  It’s simple, we let those who care more for money than for God redefine what  Christmas means.  It’s no longer about Christ, it’s about finding the perfect gift; forgetting that the perfect gift arrived in a stable in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago

   This year, turn the television off.  Skip the reruns of “A Christmas Story” (a terrible movie in my opinion), and “Home Alone”.  Leave “The Night Before Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on the bookshelf.

   Instead open the bible and turn to the gospel of Luke and read “I bring you news of great joy for all the people.  For this day in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10 – 11).  That’s what Christmas is all about. 

 The True Meaning of Christmas 

   “For this day in the City of David there has been born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 11) 

   Parents try hard to teach their children the true meaning of the Christmas season, it's just that most children aren’t mature enough either psychologically or spiritually to understand.  They see the Christmas tree, an evergreen tree symbolizing eternal life, with the star atop it which represents the star of Bethlehem, as a really cool place to put all those beautifully wrapped presents below it, hoping that the one they really, really, really want is among them.

   We tell our children the story of an “…infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 12).  We hope to teach them the true meaning of Christmas.  But the story they want to hear is a much different one; one that begins with, "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”  Later they will begin to see the real purpose for the celebration but for now it's all about the gifts.

   In one sense, however, children truly do understand what the true meaning of Christmas is (from the mouths of babes).  Christmas is about the gift of a God who loves us so much that He would give up His glory for a while and become one like us in all things but sin.  It’s about the gift of His passion, and death, paying the price for our sins which we cannot pay.  It’s about the gift of His resurrection, promising our own resurrection.  Finally, it is about the gift of His ascension into heaven, going to prepare a place for all those who would believe.

   As our children grow and mature they will begin to understand which gifts are the important ones, but for now, appreciation and thanksgiving for the gifts under the Christmas tree is perhaps a good beginning to that understanding.

 

 The Immaculate Conception 

   Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the immaculate conception – the truth that Mary, through a special grace, was preserved free from original sin from the moment of her conception, hence the greeting of the archangel Gabriel, “Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1: 28).

   This was not a new idea or something that the Pope had just come up with.  It had been a belief among the early Church Fathers and a widely accepted truth for over 1800 years.  Pope Pius simply formalized the teaching as dogma, which all Catholics are to believe and accept as truth.

   We hear the argument that this isn’t possible.  All humans are subject to original sin, Mary must have been as well.  But the grace of God knows no time limits, all is as now.  Therefore, by a special grace the Blessed Mother was, through the grace of the Son she was to bear, saved from original sin.  How else could she become the mother of God?  Could Jesus, God Himself, have come to us by the womb of a sinful mother?  No.  So Mary was prepared to provide the pure womb which would bear her own Savior.

   People also argue that there has never been anyone who did not have original sin, so it’s not logical to expect Mary to be the first and only.  But that isn’t quite the whole story.  Adam and Eve were created without sin.  Until the fall, they were both sinless, as man was created to be.  Original sin came with the fall from grace in the Garden.  Just as Eve was created without sin, so was the second Eve, Mary, the Mother of God.

   For those who would ask, no this does not mean that Catholics worship Mary or consider her divine.  Such belief would be heretical and wrong.  It means that we recognize Mary’s special place in God’s salvation plan and that she deserves praise and honor as the woman who bore the Savior of the world, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 The Gifts of God 

   “What is man, that you make so much of him or pay him any mind? (Job 7: 17) 

   We are nearing the annual celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Of all the gifts of God, the coming His only Son, the Messiah, is the greatest.  Only through this gift can we find peace and reconciliation with the Creator.  Jesus told us very clearly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6)

   The gift He has given is His life that we may have redemption for our sins; that we might spend eternity in the paradise God has prepared for those who believe.  But what gift can we give the Savior of the world?  He needs nothing and nothing of the world can make Him any more or less that He already is.  He is the eternal One and all exists because of Him.

   What He asks of us in return doesn’t cost money, we don’t have to go to the malls and shops to find it.  The gift He desires is our heart and soul, not a portion but all of each.  In return for that gift we will receive more than we could ever hope for or deserve. 

   We must accept the gifts that God wishes to give to us, He will not force them upon us.  We must willingly give Him our love in return, He will not demand it though that is what he seeks.  When we do He will make us the person we were created to be, He will make us holy, He will bring us to Himself.

 

 Do You Know Him? 

   “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” (John 10: 14: 15) 

   Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.  The question is how well do we know Him?  Is He in the forefront of our life or just someone we think of on Sundays and special days like Christmas and Easter?  Does He influence our thinking and the way we live our lives, or do we just pay Him lip-service?  “But to the wicked God says:  ‘Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your mouth?  You hate discipline; you cast my words behind you.’” (Psalm 50: 16 – 17).

   Advent is a time of joy, preparing for the coming of our Savior, but it is also a time of penance for the evil we have done, the sins we’ve committed.  It is a time for a serious examination of conscience; to take a good hard look at our life and our relationship with the Lord.  There is a reason that reconciliation is offered more frequently during the Advent season; it is to give us plenty of opportunity to repent of our sins and seek His mercy and loving forgiveness.

   This Advent let's be less involved in the commercialized aspects of Christmas and take the time to come to know our Lord better.  Spend time in prayer, before Him in the Blessed Sacrament.  He’s waiting for us, reaching out to us in love.  He wants us to come to Him and know Him as the best Friend we will ever know as well as the One who will lead us to God’s heavenly kingdom.  Take His hand and walk with Him.

 

 Becoming One With God 

   “And now it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.  The life I live now in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself up for me.” (Gal 2: 20) 

   Jesus loved me so much that He was willing to give up His majesty for a while and became a man, like me in all things but sin.  What He asks in return is that I love Him.  Though I cannot love with a perfect love like His, I can love Him to the best of my ability, to give myself to Him and His will in all respects.

   But even more, I am to strive for complete communion with Him, to become one with Him and like St. Paul, “live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.”  This I also try to do, but in my weakness I sometimes fail.  Even then He still loves me and forgives my sinfulness.

   Life intrudes in my efforts to die to self and live for God.  It seems there’s always something that needs to be done and a lot of it appears to have nothing to do with becoming one with Jesus.  Yet, even in this messed up broken world in which I live, it is still possible to give more and more of myself to Him.

   By offering all I do to Him I can make even the mundane tasks of daily life a prayer of thanksgiving.  While preparing a meal I can give thanks for the food available to nourish me.  When cleaning the house I can praise God for giving me a safe and comfortable place to live.  Even in times of pain and sorrow I can offer thanks to Him for the comfort and strength He gives.  All things can become prayer when offered to the Lord.

   There are prayers that I recite each morning to help me prepare for the coming day and whatever it may bring.  One of these prayers goes like this:  “Dear Lord, when shall I be completely one with You and entirely forgetful of myself?  You in me and I in You; grant that we may be always so and remain as one forever.”  Amen Lord, make it be so!

 Saint Joseph 

   “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary into your home.  For this child has been conceived in her womb through the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 1: 20) 

   St. Joseph deserves honor and recognition as the earthly father of our Lord.  Though he was not the biological father of Jesus, he was chosen to be the father who would raise the Him, loving Him, and caring for Him, protecting Him from those who would have killed Him.  To me all that makes Joseph a hero, a person deserving of our respect and honor.

   Joseph chose to answer the will of God and take his Savior to raise as his own son.  This meant ignoring the whispers and sneers of those who would consider him a fool for accepting Mary, pregnant with a child that was not his.  It meant that his life would be directed not by the plans he may have made but by the will of God.

   Not a word of his is recorded in scripture.  The only word we know that he spoke would have come when he named the baby “Jesus”, a father’s right and responsibility under Jewish law.  But his actions speak volumes of his love and trust in God and his devotion to God’s will

   In this time of anticipation and expectation of the birth of Jesus let’s not allow Joseph to fade into the background.  Imagine his wonder and even confusion as shepherds began arriving talking of angels telling of the birth of Jesus.  What was going through His mind when three Kings showed up with their gifts for the newborn king of Israel.

   When I became an oblate of the Benedictine Order I chose Joseph as my monastic name and patron saint because to me he represents what I should strive to be; a humble servant of the Lord, never seeking my own recognition, always seeking the will of God, and never wavering in my trust in the mysterious ways of God.

 

 Advent 

   Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a season of joyful expectation of the first coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, when He came as an infant in a manger.  A manger is a feeding trough for animals, but it was His first crib.  I believe this was a foretelling of His giving us His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Eucharist.  He first appeared in a simple manger and now comes to us under the appearance of a simple piece of unleavened bread and wine.

   Advent is also a time for self-reflection on our lives and how we are living them.  Are we living for Christ or for self?  Is He the most important part of our lives or are there other false gods that we also worship.  Are we sorrowful for our sins and will we make an effort to do better going forward?  All these things are part of Advent as well.

   Our Lord came to us as a babe in arms.  At every Mass He comes to us in the Eucharist in the guise of unleavened bread and wine.  Yet, there is still an advent to come, His coming in glory.

   “On His robe and on his thigh he had a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’” (Rev 19: 16).  When He comes in His glory all things will change, the earth and all that is in it will pass away.  The earth and seas will give up their dead and the world as we know it will come to an end.  “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev 21: 5).

   Let us prepare to celebrate the memorial of the first coming of Christ, let us recognize that He comes in the Blessed Sacrament at every Mass, and let us prepare ourselves for His final coming in glory at the end of the universe, for we do not know when it will come.  “Therefore, remember the teaching you have received and heard.  Hold on to it and repent, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come to you.” (Rev 3: 3)

 

 Give God What is His Due 

   “Give to Caesar what is due to Caesar, and to God what is due to God.” (Matt 22: 21) 

   When I read about the early Christian church I find no indication that they ever attempted or even supported the overthrow of the government.  Caesar was Caesar and God was God.  Even though they were severely persecuted by both the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders, their focus was on serving God and one another.

   In today’s world Caesar would be the President of the United States, the King of England, or any other worldly political leader.  The principle remains the same; we are to be concerned with God and His will, not with every aspect of the government in power.  We are to pay our taxes, obey the laws, and participate as any good citizen should in voting for those who best represent the Christian ideal, but all that is secondary to the love of God and serving Him.

   Not only is that the lesson Jesus taught it is what brings the most inner peace to those who practice it.  If we become overly involved with worldly affairs we risk becoming less concerned with the spiritual, becoming depressed and even losing hope. 

   All governments are temporary, they will change or pass away with the rest of creation.  They do not affect our eternal soul unless we allow them to do so.  In times of persecution Christians have stood apart from society and maintained their faith, even when that meant torture and martyrdom.

   Today, just as in the time of Christ, governments sometimes support and sometimes persecute those of faith.  As people of God we cannot allow ourselves to obsess over the evils of society and the governments they elect.  Ours is to concern ourselves with serving God and reaching His heavenly Kingdom.

 The Greatest Teacher 

   I suppose we all have our favorite, and least favorite, teacher.  The one whose class we always looked forward to and the one whose class we would much rather have skipped.  The good ones taught us not what to think but how to think and we grew and matured because of that.

   But the one who is the greatest Teacher of all never stepped into a classroom.  His teaching was in the streets, on the mountains and in the valleys.  He taught by the life He lived.  His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

   He taught us that there are only two paths in this world; the one that leads to God’s kingdom and one that leads to perdition and eternal punishment.  He taught us that we had the choice of which path we took, but that there is no going back once this life is done.

   Jesus taught us that sin is not just an action, it is a sincere desire and willingness to sin, to offend the God who created and loves us.  We are guilty of adultery if we look upon a woman or man with lust in our hearts, desiring them even if the act is never consummated.  Not only those who kill another will be held accountable, but even those who harbor hatred for another.

   From His teachings we can understand that sin originates in our hearts when we reject the love of God and choose our own path.  But He also assured us that even the most heinous of our thoughts and actions can be forgiven when we turn to God in repentance, desiring to amend our lives.

   Most of all He taught love, love of God and love of neighbor.  All that He did was done for love of us.  The rejection, the pain, and the suffering He endured as well as His death on the cross was borne because of His great love.  He defined love in all He did and in all He taught.

   We have all benefited from our teachers who were dedicated to helping their students grow and mature.  But the greatest teacher taught us to live our life as God intended, to place His will above our own and to love Him and neighbor with a love that cares more for the good of the other than for self.

 

 The End 

   “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away in a mighty roar, and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.” (2 Peter 3: 10) 

   Every story has an end, and the story of this world is no exception.  Just so, every life has an end.  In both cases the time of the end is unknown except to God.

   When His disciples asked Jesus when the end would come He replied, “As for the exact day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt 24: 36).  Again, as with the end of the world, the day and hour of our death is unknown to us.

   Over and over in scripture Jesus warned that we must be prepared for the end.  In parables He spoke often of the master going away for a lengthy period and returning at a time unknown; therefore, his servants must be prepared at all times for Jesus’ return.  If we are found unprepared, woe be to us.

   Since the time of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven people have been trying to determine when the end will come.  The early apostles thought it would be very soon, but it has now been nearly two thousand years.  Various groups, both religious and others have tried to “do the math” or read the signs to determine the time of the end.  Many predictions have been made; obviously all were wrong.

   It isn’t up to us to concern ourselves with the day and time of the end, either of the world or our own life.  It is up to us to be prepared for both as though today is that day and this hour is that hour.

 The Greatest Mystery 

   I’ve always been a huge fan of mystery novels.  I’ve probably read every Hardy Boys mystery ever written along with several Nancy Drew mysteries.  I’ve read Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, and even most of the Edgar Allen Poe mysteries.  But the greatest mystery I’ve ever read is the bible.

   Mystery novels mostly tend to be a “who done it”.  The object is to figure out who did what and to whom.  The clues are there, but often difficult to see.  The author presents them in such a way as to make it even harder to find the villain.  Often it seems that the most logical answer points to the wrong person.  I guess that’s why they are called mysteries.

   In the bible there is no doubt about who the heroes are and who the villains are.  God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the heroes, Satan and his followers are the bad guys.  The mystery is not who did what, but why?

   Why did God create?  He is complete and needs nothing so why make a universe and fill it with people who would reject Him?  Why would Christ choose to come into the world as a helpless infant rather than a king?  Why would He choose to die on the cross for those who had rejected Him and for all those that continue to reject Him today?

   I suppose the Bible isn’t really a mystery after all; it is a love story.  God did what He did and does all that He continues to do because God is love.   He reaches out to us in love in the desire that we will return that love.  There is a heavenly kingdom that awaits those who love Him and hell for those who reject Him. 

   The real mystery is why so many refuse to love a God who loves them so devotedly.

 

 Reflections 

   From time to time it’s good for me to just sit and reflect on my life.  To remember the good times and the bad as well.  Both have had a great impact on me so both have been important parts of my life.  Sometimes it’s difficult to see which has benefited me most.

   The good times would seem to be the easy answer, but I’m not sure.  The periods of my life where everything was going well sometimes brought satisfaction and complacency.  Things were good so I just kind of drifted along.  Maybe I thought they would stay that way, but they never do.

    During difficult times I was forced to take action to overcome them.  It’s good to have a challenge that requires effort to resolve; it causes me to reach out with more urgency to my Lord.  I am ashamed that I seem to seek Him more in the hard times, often failing to give Him thanks for the good times, the many blessings He has given me and continues to give me.

   As I reflect on my life I see that the times that I thought were the worst were the ones that brought me closer to God.  Does that mean that the hard times were good?  Makes no sense but it is, in some strange way, true.  I honestly believe that I would not have grown closer to Christ if there had not been suffering and pain at times in my life.

   All in all, it comes down to a very basic truth.  God has a plan for me, and that plan is for my eternal salvation.  The trials as well as the joys are a part of that plan and must be seen in that light.  Therefore, I must give thanks not just for the good times but also for those that were difficult; both are God's will for me, and both have enabled me to grow closer to Him.