The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
Happy New Year to all of you! May you experience the blessings of the Lord in a fuller way during 2017. I will offer Mass up for each of you on New Year's Day! Peace!
The birth of Jesus ushered into the world a true Day of joy. The announcement of his coming, his presence in Mary's womb and his actual birth brought joy into the life of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Zachariah and to the shepherds. The message of the angel states it clearly: "I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." The joy of his birth and life is to permeate ours as he said: "These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled." In response to his gift of joy, we can choose to have a positive, hope-filled, joyful outlook and so bring this joy to others. Reflect on Pope Francis' words: "A Christian is a man, or a woman, of joy: a man and a woman with joy in their heart. There is no Christian without joy!...The Christian identity card is joy, the Gospel’s joy, the joy of having been chosen by Jesus, saved by Jesus, regenerated by Jesus; the joy of that hope that Jesus is waiting for us, the joy that - even with the crosses and sufferings we bear in this life - is expressed in another way, which is peace in the certainty that Jesus accompanies us, is with us."
The birth of Jesus brought into the world a new Day of peace. As the scriptures tell us, Jesus is "the Prince of Peace; his dominion is vast and forever peaceful." This too was the conclusion of the Angel's message to the shepherds: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Or as St. Paul states in Ephesians: "For he is our peace. He made the two into one, by dissolving the intermediate wall of separation, of opposition, by his flesh." At the Last Supper Jesus himself said: "Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you. Not in the way that the world gives, do I give to you." In response to his gift of peace, we can choose to forgive from our hearts, seek reconciliation with others and live in harmony with all, recalling the beatitude that says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." The gift you have been given, give as a gift.
The coming of our Savior was the dawning of a day of light. Isaiah prophesied that "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone." In the first chapter of John's Gospel we read: "Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it....The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world." Jesus himself would later say that he was the light of the world. What should our response be to Jesus, the Light? We are called to be children of the light, "rejecting godless ways and worldly desires and living temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age. Or as St. Paul says: "Do not conform to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, by choosing the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect." Walk in the light. Be the light. Share the light.
With Jesus' birth is the dawning of a new day. What does that day mean for us today? The era of permanent alienation from God came to an end with the birth of our Savior. the prophetic promises of a Savior, first uttered by God to Adam and Eve and gradually expanded upon to the chosen people of Israel, became a reality with the birth of Jesus. As Savior, he ushered in the fulfillment of the Day of mercy. This mercy, manifested in the flesh of a new born child, became a lasting reality on the cross when he died for our sins. May the words of St. Augustine illuminate further this mercy: "You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened to your aid. you would have perished, had he not come."
"Love, indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and brings him to his journeys end. Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together." (St. Fulgentius) God showed us the power of love, when he became one like us in Jesus. Jesus showed us the power of love through his death on the cross, when we were still sinners. We are called to show love for one another because we are sons and daughters of the Father and true disciples of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Love is the only way of life that makes our present life meaningful. It is the key that God has given us which unlocks the doors of bondage and a life of emptiness. Live in love. Walk in love. Speak love.
"Let us open our hearts to receive the grace of this Christmas day, which is Christ himself. Jesus is the radiant 'day' which has dawned on the horizon of humanity. A day of mercy, in which God our Father has revealed his great tenderness to the entire world. A day of light, which dispels the darkness of fear and anxiety. A day of joy: a 'great joy for the poor, the lowly and for all the people'"(Pope Francis) How open are we to receive this gift of grace from the Father? Jesus is the mercy that has brought us salvation. Jesus is the light that leads us out of the darkness of sin. Jesus brings us inner peace in a world of conflict. Jesus shares his joy with us, which enables us to rise above the sorrows of life. There is more. Jesus is the Father's gift of love that helps us to become sons and daughters of God. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior. For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." Like Mary, we need to recognize how blessed we are by God; from human life to a share in God's own divine life; from the many blessings we remember to those we are not aware of. Like Mary, a constant hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God should rise from within us. Like Mary, we should desire to please God in all things, to embrace his will in our life. Though Christ was within her, she longed with expectant joy for his birth. Though Christ is within us, we too should long with anticipated joy for his coming in the present moment. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
As we approach Christmas, is there a spirit of joy within us? The imminent coming of the Messiah brought great joy into the world, into people's lives and into relationships. Joy was the message to the shepherds by the Angels. Joy erupted in the life of Mary as she proclaimed the greatness of God to her. Mary and Elizabeth shared their joy with each other and the presence of the newly conceived infant within Mary brought joy to the infant John within Elizabeth. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. But as a fruit it comes from a relationship with God. It springs forth when we realize what great things God has done for us and is doing for us. The present coming of Jesus, our Messiah, is the gift of the Father to us. We rejoice as we cry out: Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"Songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying yes to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a hope based on God's initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God's work and not mine." (Henri Nouwen) We are invited to keep the real focus of Christmas clearly before us. The birth of Jesus signified the beginning of our salvation. Since our salvation is an ongoing process until at last we die in the Lord, we are a people of hope. Each Christmas reminds us to be thankful for his great love-gift that brings and sustains in us this hope. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
As we enter into these last days before Christmas, let us reflect on these words from Pope Francis: "The external signs of Christmas--the tree, the lights, the carols, the gifts--invite us to welcome the Lord who always comes and knocks on our door....We are invited to rejoice in the imminent coming of our Redeemer; and we are called to share this joy with others." There are two movements in the celebration of Christmas: the conscious welcoming of Christ with joy and sharing his love with others joyfully. The second must always follow the first. Jesus comes not just to make a difference in our life through his love, but also to stir in us that desire to share his love with others. The shepherds heard the Good News of Jesus' birth, hastened to see for themselves, and then joyfully shared this message with others. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"In the anguish of my heart, I groaned aloud. All my desire is before you, Lord." Such is the prayer of the psalmist. What is the real desire of our heart at this time of the year, at this time of our life? What should that desire be? The two may be the same or different. If we are sick, we desire healing. If we are weighed down with difficulties, we desire freedom from the problems. If we are overwhelmed with so much on our plate, we desire relief. No matter the circumstances, what we desire will only give us temporary relief, until the next problem arises. Maybe we should broaden our desire beyond the tangible. Maybe if our desire is more of God in our life, then we may be better able to handle all other concerns. Advent is a grace time for us to refocus our desire for God. For when all is said and done, St. Augustine said it well: "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, my God." Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Christmas Novena: December 17-23
O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.
Your incarnation forever changed the world.
All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
December 17
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
December 18
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
December 19
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
December 20
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
December 21
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.
December 22
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
Concluding Prayer every Day
Let us pray:
HAIL, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem In the piercing cold
At that hour, I implore you, to hear my prayers and grant my desires
(mention request[s] here).
We offer this prayer to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the intercession of Mary and St. Joseph. Amen.
“During Advent, we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness. In order to do this we need to learn to not depend on our own securities, our own established plans, because the Lord comes in the hour which we don’t imagine.” (Pope Francis) How attentive are we to the coming of Jesus in the present moments and events of our daily life? That unexpected phone call or chanced encounter; the name that randomly pops up in our mind or that deeper longing within. The Pope calls us to enlarge the horizons of our hearts. Isaiah in today's Mass Readings says: "Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes." There is more that the Lord desires to do for and in us. But we can put limitations by not being attentive and receptive, by having a small opening to receive the more, by being so preoccupied and self-centered. The Lord comes when we are not expecting, in ways we do not expect and in the disguise of others. Not only wait for him, but be attentive when and how he comes. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Information:
The December Mass for Men was moved from the First Saturday
to this coming Saturday:
December 17, 2016
7:30am
Bishop's House:
107 Albany Dr.
Houma, La
Come, and bring a friend.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
The custom in those days was that a marriage was arranged. The couple was betrothed to each other (engaged). For a year they would spend apart, getting to know each other. Then the wedding ceremony would follow after that. They were not to have marital relations with one another during this year of engagement. But if they did, nothing would be said.
Sometime after the Annunciation Mary shared with Joseph that she was with child.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Joseph knew that he had not had relations with Mary. He presumed that she had such with another man. How could he comprehend that this child was conceived by the power of God?
Being a man dedicated to God and one who truly loved Mary, he didn’t wish her harm. Divorcing her was allowed by law if there was a just reason. If he exposed that she had been unfaithful to him, she would have been stoned to death. By signing a decree of divorce and not accuse her would spare her life. Not "exposing her to shame" meant that people would think that he was the father, but somehow she displeased him.
Have we ever had situations that we felt caught: our heart says one thing but our mind says another? This is Joseph’s dilemma.
Do you imagine that Joseph prayed for guidance?
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Was Joseph looking for a way to remain just before God and be Mary’s husband? We don’t know. But the dream confirmed in his mind that what Mary may have told him was true. Without understanding how, Joseph accepted that the conception was through the power and plan of God.
By identifying Joseph as a descendant of David fulfills the prophesy that stated that the Messiah would be of the house of David. By accepting the child as his own, Joseph is adopting him and thus brings Jesus into the Davidic line.
It was the role of the man to name the child. This solidified his role as foster father of Jesus.
The plan of God is revealed also for this child: he will save God’s people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."
Matthew is fond of showing how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophetic message of the Old Testament. Here is quoting Isaiah 7:14.
"God is with us" Before leaving the Apostles Jesus said he would be with them until the end of time. He truly is Emmanuel.
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
Joseph showed how righteous he was by his obedience to the word of God.
What would we have done in the same situation? Without God, Joseph would have followed his human instincts. Do we turn to God or follow our head?
"What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love." (St. John of the Cross) This is a beautiful description of contemplation. Prayer is a form of communication between us and God. As St. John said, it is the unspoken words of silent love. It is hard for many of us just to sit in silence before God, not speaking with words, not being distracted with preoccupations, but to gaze on the face of the One who loves us and just enjoy being with Him. This love prayer is spoken not with words but with silence. The prophet tells us: "Be still and know that I am God." As we prepare for Christmas, let us enter into and embrace this silence in the heart. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"Do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead, be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may choose the will of God: what is good, pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2) The central focus of Paul's exhortation is the will of God. Do we submit to God's will for us or do we oppose it with our will? The first Adam chose the latter; the second Adam, Jesus, chose the former. Many times we reflect the way of the first Adam in our choices. How often do we not only say "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" but in reality choose what is contrary to God's will for us. Like the parable in the Gospel, we say the word "yes" but do not act accordingly. Words and good intentions do not always translate into action. If we want to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord in the present moment, we must choose the will of God in the present moment. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"Know for sure...that I am the perfect and ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the God of truth through Whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near us, the Lord of heaven and earth. I want very much to have a little house built here for me, in which I will show Him, I will exalt Him and make Him manifest. I will give Him to the people in all my personal love, in my compassion, in my help, in my protection: because I am truly your merciful Mother." These are the words that Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke to St. Juan Diego. Mary's role is to love, to exalt, to point to and to lead people to Jesus. Mary grew in love with God and shared God's love for her with others. She shows us that we have a similar task. Advent is a special time of grace, following Mary's lead, to come to a deeper encounter with her Son and to invite others to do the same. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
Why is John questioning whether Jesus is the Messiah or not? John’s understanding of what the Messiah would do was different than what Jesus was doing. He was expecting a fire and brimstone Messiah.
John knows that his time is coming to an end and he wanted to be reassured that his life was not for naught. Ever questioned whether your life had meaning, given the circumstances?
Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."
Jesus reassures John that his ministry is actually fulfilling the prophecies concerning the Messiah, especially those of Isaiah. (; ; ; ).
Jesus is asking John to trust in the Father’s plan for him rather than in John’s own expectations.
Jesus wasn’t rebuking John for his questions but urging him to stand firm in his own conviction that he did the right thing.
How hard is that for us to trust in the Father’s plan when it is different than what we want?
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Jesus now affirms John’s ministry and identifies that he was truly a prophet of God. To do this Jesus cites the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the messenger who would prepare the way of the Messiah.
What is Jesus saying about John and himself? John was the prophesied forerunner pointing the Messiah out and Jesus was the Messiah whom John pointed to.
What do we apply from this passage in our own lives?
“I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf.” (Saint Juan Diego) St. Paul reminds us that God chooses the weak to confound the strong; the foolish to confound the wise. During this Advent season, we should ask the Lord to show us how to have a similar humble heart. For it is to the lowly and the humble that more easily receives the Lord. He chose Mary, an unknown young girl from Nazareth to be his Mother. He chose the poverty of a stable to be born in. The first to hear of his birth were humble shepherds. Do we have such a heart? If so, then we are able to receive him this Christmas. If not, there is still time to prepare that humble abode for Jesus within us. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
“Mary, a virgin not only undefiled but a virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” St. Ambrose) The gift of being conceived free from sin was God's sign of love for his Son, for Mary and for us. Adam and Eve were created free from sin but later turned away from God. Theirs was the Original Sin. Mary, by virtue of Jesus's future death and resurrection, was preserved from Original Sin and its effects, so that she may be the perfect, pure, virginal vessel in which the Holy Spirit would conceive the Messiah in her womb. This is a revealed mystery of our faith. That is one of the reasons the Angel called Mary, "Hail, full of grace"! We come into the world with Original sin and its effects. By virtue of Baptism, we are freed and reconciled to God, though, as Paul says, the Law of Sin remains within us. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the first of many privileges God has blessed her with. "All generations will call her blessed."
“No one heals himself by wounding another.” (St. Ambrose) It is so easy for us to say things that hurt another person without realizing the consequences. Guarding the tongue is a difficult task. Yet, will this not be a good way to prepare for the coming of our Lord? If the gift of Jesus is Love Himself to us, the gift of not saying a hurtful word during this season will be a gift of love to that person and to Jesus. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, can we be a bearer of peace and not conflict? This will be a productive way to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus in a fresh new way as well as help the other not to be blocked by what we say. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"Prepare the way f the Lord!" This was the cry of Isaiah to the people of Israel. This was the cry of John the Baptist to the contemporaries of Jesus. This is the cry of the Church to us each Advent. How do we prepare? John called for repentance. Jesus called for repentance. Peter on the Day of Pentecost urged repentance. Why? Sin is an obstacle to the gift Jesus comes to give us, the gift of himself. Sin reflects "there was no room in the inn." True repentance prepares a manger in our heart to receive him. Sin does not allow us to even recognize him. John 1:11 "He came to his own did not accept him." Repentance leads to love. John 1:12 "Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God." Our response to the call of Isaiah is a repentant and contrite heart and an invitation: Come, Lord Jesus, come!
"A highway will be there, called the holy way;....It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk." (Isaiah 35:8-9) Advent is a journey, both externally and internally. Externally, we are on the road to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Internally, we are seeking to uproot in our heart those things which would block us from welcoming and celebrating with the Lord, when he comes afresh. At the same time, we are preparing to share with him the gifts of our love. Without the internal preparation, the external journey will make no sense. Christmas will be one day, at the end of which we are glad it is over and can't wait to take down the decorations. There was much external hype, but no lasting depth. This in not why we make the journey each year. Instead, like the Shepherds and the Wise Men, we not only experience the Lord, but our life is to be changed. This is why he came and why he comes again. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Correction:
Because I will be out of town this weekend, giving a retreat in Pittsburgh, the December Mass for Men has been rescheduled.
New Date:
December 17, 2016
7:30am
107 Albany Dr.
Houma, La.
Come and bring a friend with you.
Thanks
Bishop
“The journey is never finished....There is always a need to restart, to rise again, to recover a sense of the goal of one’s own existence.” (Pope Francis) Advent is that new journey that we are called to begin each year. But that journey has a purpose and a goal. We are called to recognize that the Messiah and Savior has come and will come again during our journey. Our purpose is to meet him anew and in a fresh new way, so that we can arrive at the destiny he has willed for us: eternal life with him. In this journey we cannot live in the past but learn from the past. At the same time, we cannot live in the future but prepare for that future. Our journey with the Lord is in the present moment. It is here that we meet him in his revealed word, in his mysterious presence in the Eucharist as well as in each other. How we respond to him in these encounters will determine how we will receive him in our hearts now and eternally. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
The two words we can reflect on are taken from today's Mass readings: trust in the Lord and do the will of God. Because of who God is and because of my relationship with God, I can trust that his will for me is for my ultimate good. Theoretically, that may be true. But in practice do I fully trust in his will for me? If I did, would I choose my will over his, which is what sin is? Advent is a time to confront this inner conflict between doing my will over God's. It is a time to cleanse my heart from any lack of trust in God, from vestiges of any "no" to God's will. Then, when we pray the Our Father, we will not just say the words, but fully intend "Thy will be done" in my life. For his will is to born anew in our heart once more, to be the Lord of our heart. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
