"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!"

 

“God asks little but He gives much.” St. John Chrysostom

In a few words, the mystery of God's love is captured. What has he given us? Creation in all its glory, including our own creation. How did Adam and Eve respond? By rebellion. He gave himself to redeem us from eternal alienation from him. How have we responded? We too rebelled by our sins. He forgives us again and again. He shares his life so that we may have eternal life. He sustains us physically and spiritually. What does he ask of us? To remain in union with him. Is that too much to ask or expect? 

 

 “What has He done for me? He has loved me and given me His whole self. What shall I do for Him? I shall love Him and give myself to Him without reserve.” St. Ignatius of Loyola 

To love him and to give myself without reserve is a life time process. But what an exchange! He gives me his entire being, by becoming man and dying on the cross for my salvation. The perfect gift of love. My gift of self is an imperfect gift, a used gift, a limited gift. When I give it with my whole heart out of love, he accepts it, without question. We think it is so little; he sees it differently. He sees the love with which it is given. Give yourself this way to him and receive the gift of eternal life.

 "There are very few men who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves entirely to his hands, and let themselves be formed by His Grace.” St. Ignatius of Loyola

This was the lesson Adam and Eve failed to act on. As a result many have followed their example. A major lesson Jesus came to teach us is the commitment he lived, to do the Father's will, even to the death of the cross. The Father, in turn, raised him up and glorified him at his right hand. Millions have learned this lesson and they are one with God in heaven as his saints. What can God do for you and I, if we entrusted ourselves in the hands of God? Nothing less than transform us into holy men and women of God.

 "Follow the saint, for those who follow them will become saints." St. Clement of Rome

Our destiny, in the mind of God, is to be saints, "to be holy, blameless in his sight, full of love." The saints, both canonized and known by God, are to be our role models in life. They were like us in all things, struggling sinners, who sought to follow Jesus. They were ordinary people, who chose to enter the narrow gate and to walk the narrow road. At one point in their journey, they had an encounter with Jesus that changed their lives. They began to choose him above all things. Many suffered for this, but they persevered till the end. The prize of eternal life with God was greater than any human treasures. Now, they are interceding for us that one day we may join them in praising God for his goodness. Follow the saints.

 

 “Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?”  St. Gerard Majella

There are wars between nations, divisions within countries, separation in families, and opposing opinions within the Church. This has been going on for centuries. Still there is no lasting peace in the world, in countries, in families and in the Church. Why? We fail to remember and respond to the truth that our true and lasting peace is only found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. If you want this peace, which will be first within you before it can be between you and others, Jesus must be the Lord of our lives in fact. The peace he gives cannot come from the world, which is out of order. It can only come from a personal relationship with Jesus. Seek him first.

 "The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.”  – St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Many people seek happiness and do not find it. They seek it in various pleasures, which become addictions. They seek it in another human being, only to be disappointed. They seek it in material success, but never satisfied. The only person that can bring us true and lasting happiness is the source of all happiness, God himself. Living in the present moment, seeing each present moment as a gift from God for our good and thanking God for his many opportunities he gives us to become more fully ourselves through love, this is where we will that happiness that reaches into the depth our being. It is not a feeling, but a relationship.

 

Homily Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

 

Reading 1: The Kingdom of Judea was being attacked by a foreign nation. The King and all the people were afraid. He is contemplating aligning himself with another king to defend Jerusalem.

 

God sends the prophet Isaiah to the king to tell him not to be afraid but put his trust in God who will defend him and defeat the enemy’s army without the king having to do anything. Ahaz was not convinced, even though exteriorly he says he doesn’t want to put God to the test. So Isaiah told him to ask for a sign. But the king was afraid to. But Isaiah said the Lord will give you a sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, who will be named Emmanuel, meaning God is with you.

 

As promised, God delivered his people from their attackers. The initial fulfillment was that the future king Hezekiah was conceived at this time and his mother was unmarried. The fuller meaning was yet to be fulfilled. As we have heard in the Gospel, it is the prophecy that God made to David concerning a future king from his line and that his throne will be everlasting. Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Emmanuel. God was with the people of the Old Covenant and with the coming of Jesus, our Savior, is with us today. He is a God who is with us in the present moment.

 

Gospel: As Ahaz was disturbed by the attack upon his nation, so Joseph was disturbed by the realization that Mary, his betrothed was with child, but not his. As a righteous man, he could not condone or cover up what he thought was infidelity. At the same time, because he loved Mary and wanted to protect her from the scorn and shame of what people would say, he chose to divorce her by a letter. This was allowed by the Law without stating the reason.

 

But God had another plan to protect Mary, who was still a virgin and had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit the Savior of the world.

 

In a dream an angel appears to Joseph and reveals the true identity and mission of the child. Matthew then connects this revelation to Joseph with the prophecy of Isaiah to Ahaz. “A Virgin shall conceive and the child shall be known as Emmanuel.”

 

Joseph believed in the message of the angel in his dream. In contrast to Ahaz, Joseph was not afraid to do what the Lord told him. He loved God and he loved Mary. He wanted to do what was right and just in the sight of God.  Joseph submitted to God’s plan for him: to protect Mary and the child, to provide for her and the child, to trust in God, laying down his plans and embracing God’s plans. Joseph’s life would not be easy. He would have to make many sacrifices.

 

Reading 2: Ahaz was called to stand firm in faith, trusting his life and that of the people to God. Paul emphasized the mystery of the person of Jesus, Son of God in power and descendant of David in the flesh. One person but two natures: Divine and human. He also points to the prophets of old by proclaiming the Good News of God’s love in the person, life and deeds of Jesus.

 

Paul was called to be an apostle, one who belonged to Jesus and is sent out to proclaim the same Good News to others. We too the beloved of God by birth and by rebirth in baptism. We too belong to Christ because he redeemed from eternal alienation from God through his death and resurrection and he immersed me in the waters of baptism. We too are sent out to witness to others. We witness our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We witness by showing sincere love to others, truly wishing them a blessed Christmas.

 

 “Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.” St. Francis de Sales

What is our true identity?  We exist because of God. We are a son or daughter of God. We are beloved by God. We are redeemed and forgiven by God. We are sanctified by God. We are chosen by God. Each is a gift from God, not earned by us in any way. Living fully our identity as best we can is what God asks us in return. He knows that we are not perfect because of the fall of Adam and Eve. But he has redeemed us, so that we can seek to grow in perfection. God created us for himself, so that we can share in his glory eternally. That is why we desire to grow in perfection, to fulfill our destiny.

 "Do not care much who is with you and who is against you; but make it your greatest care that God is with you in everything you do." Thomas a Kempis

Too many times we are worried more about others than are we about our relationship with God. We fret over who likes us and who does not, who speaks well of us and who does not. But when we die what does it matter? If we, instead, are concerned about our relationship with God more than our relationship with others, then it will matter when we die. For our relationship with God is going to be the measuring stick by which we will be judge. Put first things first. 

 " I can’t do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.”  “St. Dominic Savio

It is not what we do that counts as much as how we do it and why we do it. A child brings a wild flower that is bent to give to her mother. Her mother sees this as the greatest gift she could be given, because it was given in love. So too the things we do. We don't have to impress God, who sees our heart. Whatever we do, if we seek to do it in love of God, it is a gift pleasing to the Father. Jesus used the illustration of the widow's mite. She gave her tiny contribution out of a generous heart. For this she was praised. Here is a rule of thumb. Do what you are to do, the way you are to do it, when you are to do it, to the best of your ability for the love of God.

 “If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness.” St. Charles Borromeo

One of the ways the Evil One tries to distract us from growing in relationship with God is by discouragement. We don't always see our progress day by day. In fact, many times we can't see our progress, even though God is doing something great in our lives. Our role is not to see but to be renewed in our commitment each day to grow in love of God and to act on that decision throughout the day. God is the initiator and the finalizer of the progress. Our role is to remain faithful in the service of the Lord in spite of the challenges.

 

“Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” St. Catherine of Siena

Sometimes we allow ourselves to be stymied by the enormity of our weakness in certain areas of our lives. As long as we focus on our weakness, we will become more discouraged. Jesus told us to come to him and allow him to show us how to overcome our areas of sin by yoking ourselves to him. What I can't do alone, I can do through and in Jesus. He has already won the victory over sin and death. Leaning on and into him will give me the strength to rise above my sins. In him I can do everything.

 

Homily Third Sunday of Advent Year A

 

Reading 1: To understand Isaiah’s words, we have to put ourselves back in his time. The people of Israel had been conquered by their enemies because they did not live up to their covenant with God. They are in exile. In the midst of this desolate reality, Isaiah gives a message of hope.

 

 Isaiah finds joy even when things look bleak. Isaiah is prophesying what will happen when the promised Messiah comes. Nature itself will rejoice with celebration, the desert will bloom.  Isaiah sees beyond the weak hands, trembling knees, and lost hearts. He reminds the people that they will see the glory of God.  He reassures the Chosen People: “Be strong. Fear not. Be prepared. The Messiah comes to save us.” This is the reason for Isaiah’s joy: the promise of God to save them. How will they know? What the prophet hold on to is the conviction that everything will be transformed: Signs and wonders will occur: the blind will see; the deaf hear, the crippled will walk, and the mute will speak.

 

When the people returned from exile they experienced the initial fulfillment of God’s prophetic word. Jerusalem was desolate, but in time with the encouragement of God they rebuilt the city and the Temple and the glory of God returned to the Temple. But we know that the real fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy was fulfill by Jesus, who saved us from our sins and restored us to a sharing in God’s own life.

 

Gospel: John is in prison. He wants to make sure he made the right decision in pointing out Jesus as the Messiah. The doubt that John is expressing is not a questioning of his belief but a question of clarity. John had his own expectations about what the Messiah would do once he came. He thought he would be a fiery prophet like himself, condemning the sinners. John’s expectation was that Jesus would take up his prophetic mantel and continue to confront directly those who were not living righteously. The way Jesus was ministering was different than the way John ministered and expected Jesus to minister.

 

Instead, Jesus reassures his cousin that just as he fulfilled the plan of God, preparing for his coming, so Jesus himself is fulfilling the plan of God but in a different way. Fiery preaching was John’s method, Signs and wonders are Jesus’

Credentials. He preaches and confirms his words with signs and wonders or he performs signs and wonders with a teaching following.

 

Jesus say, “You John came in the spirit of Elijah, calling the people to repentance and confronting the powers to be head on. As Elijah’s life was threatened by Jezebel the queen, your life is threatened by the wife of Herod.” John fulfilled his role and suffered beheading in witness to his words. Jesus will suffer crucifixion in fulfillment of the words of the prophets.

 

We rejoice that John fulfilled his role in life, even though he was martyred for his conviction. We rejoice that Jesus fulfilled his role as Savior, even though he was crucified. Like Paul, we glory in Christ crucified, because through his death we have been saved and given a share in the life of God.

 

 

Reading 2: Isaiah was preparing the people for the first coming of the Messiah. Jesus is preparing us for his present and final coming.  Paul tells us that while we wait in patience and with firm hearts for his second coming, we need to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus in the present moment. How? We are called not to complain about one another, not judge others, but endure suffering from others as Christ did for our sake. We are called to keep our eyes on the coming of the Lord and not be distracted by the slights and criticism from others. It takes a bigger person to bless and not curse, to turn the other cheek and not strike back.

 

 

"Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.” St. Camillus de Lellis

How do we grow in virtue and how do we fall into sin? By our thoughts, words and actions. These either lead us to a deeper relationship with God or become the paths to distance from God. Jesus implied that what comes from the heart of a person is that which determines his life. So, if we guard our thoughts, speak in love, and act in a way that reflects the will of God, then we are on the way to heaven. Easy? No. The only way? Yes

 Third Sunday of Advent Gospel A

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. (Isaiah 26:19; 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1).

· 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?

 

“No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.” St. Benedict

During this Advent season when we are preparing for the coming of the Lord, we are called to imitate him. He, who is God, chose to become a man like us in all things except sin. He did this because of his great love for us. This love was eventually manifested when he laid down his life for our sake. Like him we are called to think of others so that one day we may be welcomed by him into eternity. Let that be your gift to Jesus this Christmas.

 “This important Marian feast occurs during Advent, a season of watchful and prayerful preparation for Christmas. She who knew better than anyone how to wait attentively for the Lord guides us and shows us how to make more vital and active our journey to the Holy Night of Bethlehem. With her, we spend these weeks in prayer and, guided by her bright star, hasten to make the spiritual journey that will lead us to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation with greater intensity.” - Saint John Paul II

As we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we are reminded of the real purpose of this season of Advent. It is a spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Without this spiritual preparation, we may miss the gift that Jesus desires to give us with his birth. It is the gift of himself in a deeper way. Our prayer can be as simple as, "Come, Lord Jesus, come." But said intentionally and longingly, we may see Jesus with new eyes of faith, hope and love.

 

“He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.”

“What does it cost us to say, ‘My God help me! Have mercy on me!’ Is there anything easier than this? And this little will suffice to save us if we be diligent in doing it.” St. Alphonsus Liguori

How often people have the attitude of the title of a song, "I did it my way", instead of trusting in the Lord, doing it his way. It flows from a sense of pride and false independence. It is the attitude of those who choose the wide road that leads to destruction, rather than the narrow road that leads to salvation. When we choose to trust God and to entrust our life to God, life takes on new meaning. Praying the prayer, "Jesus, I trust in you" from our heart regularly will remind us of the importance of God in our lives.

"We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success but on Jesus alone." St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 

Are you an apostle of evangelization? If you are regularly praying for the salvation of loved ones, then you are such an apostle. Most people feel inadequate to actually evangelize another person face to face. But you can lay the foundation for that encounter to happen by intentionally interceding for those people. St. Monica prayed thirty years for the conversion of her son Augustine. God involves different people in the journey of a person, many of whom are never known. Trust in the power of prayer. 

 

Homily Second Sunday of Advent Year A

 

Reading 1: Last Sunday, the prophet Isaiah invited us to come to the Lord to receive instructions so that we may able to walk in the light of the Lord. Today, the Church continues to listen to the prophet Isaiah. He tells us good news of hope. Even though things may look lifeless and hopeless, like an old stump of a tree, life will bud forth, a shoot shall break forth.

 

This was an allusion of the future Messiah. The Spirit of God will anoint him in his humanity for his own personal growth in his relationship with God: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge and fear of the Lord. These are the same gifts we received in Baptism, so that we can delight in the Lord.

 

Last Sunday, Isaiah talked about peace: one nation will not rise against another. This Sunday he speaks of the harmony between human beings and the animal world. When the Messiah comes he will restore relationship between us and God and between us and all creation. The same as it was before the Fall. And the focus is to free us to come to be filled with the knowledge of God. Not only is this peace for Israel but for the Gentiles as well. Advent is a time for us to fulfill what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection, namely, peace and harmony between God and us and us with others.

 

Gospel: As Isaiah was a prophet of hope, so John the Baptist is a prophet of hope. His role was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He does this by calling people into true and sincere repentance for their sins and to express this inner repentance through an external sign, baptism. But for this external sign to bear good fruit, they must turn away from sin, so that when the Messiah comes they can receive him. It will be then that they will be able to act on his word.

 

They are to prepare with expectation, because what the Messiah will do is baptize them in the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s baptism was a preparatory step to the greater gift that Jesus will offer, namely the Holy Spirit. Jesus will begin, like John, calling for repentance for sins which prepares the person for the grace of reconciliation and forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Like John’s call for some fruit in a person’s life, Jesus too calls for the fruit of witnessing to what God has done for us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

How many people were baptized by John and how many of these became open to the ministry and word of Jesus? How many persevered in their walk of faith? We have been baptized, we have been forgiven, we have been fed, we have been anointed. Where is the fruit, the evidence in our lives? Advent is a new beginning, a new response, a new longing for a fresh coming of Jesus and the Spirit into our lives. But it is a times of fruit on our part.

 

Reading 2: Paul is also a prophet of hope. He reminds us that the scriptures are written for our instruction, so that as we hear and act on God’s word, we might have the hope, giving us endurance in the midst of life’s difficulties. The source of our endurance and encouragement is God.

 

As Jesus died for all, we are called to be at one with all, to be at peace.

Through this harmony and peace we praise and glorify God. Unity and peace was the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper. The exchange of peace at Mass is not just an external ritual but needs to be a reflection of our way of life.

 

As Paul said: “Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you,” Advent reminds us that if there is no room for others in our heart then there is no room for Jesus there.

 "Begin nothing on earth unless it has its end in heaven; do not walk on a path that does not lead to heaven." St. Charbel

The purpose of our life and our willed destiny by God is to be with him in eternity, sharing in his divine life. If we shoot for less, the alternative is not pleasant. What if we make a decision to choose to do and embrace only what leads to heaven? Would our life be easier? Not really. But it would have a better chance of fulfilling our destiny with God. The choices we make, the path we walk on, the life we live will determine with God's grace the end of our existence. Don't settle for fool's' gold when you can have the priceless treasure.

 Second Sunday of Advent Gospel A

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 

· This call is consistent with the prophetic message of the Old Testament. John adds the urgency for the need to repent: the coming of the Messiah. Later, Jesus begins his own preaching in the same vein but adds the important message: Reform your lives and believe in the Good News.

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 

· Matthew wants to connect the ministry of John to that of Isaiah. Matthew also wants to show that what John is doing is fulfilling the prophetic message of Old Testament.

· How does God want us to prepare the way for the Lord in our heart during this Advent season?

· What do we need to repent of and change in so as to better respond to the Word of God?

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair  and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 

· These are the trappings of a prophet, who totally commits himself to do the work he was sent to do and to totally depend on the Lord even for his sustenance.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. 

· What was the difference between John’s baptism and the baptism inaugurated by Jesus? In one there is merely acknowledgement of sin so as to be better prepared to receive the Messiah. In the Sacrament of Baptism, there is the actual removal of sin and its effects in our life and the entering into the shared life of God. In the first, it is the effort of the individual that is central. In the other, it is the work of God that brings this about.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 

· John is questioning the motives of these groups. He was aware of their self-righteousness based on their relationship with Abraham. They considered themselves the pure stock, almost above sin.

· It is interesting that Jesus is going to pick up on their relationship with Abraham in his encounters with them. Jesus confronted this conviction and said: “If Abraham was your father you would have accepted me. For Abraham rejoiced in seeing me.”

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 

· What fruit are you bearing in your life?

· Jesus uses the same idea when he talks about a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit.  Or when he cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. 

· John acknowledges that he is less than the Messiah. This is not just a statement of humility but a fact in who he is and who the Messiah is; what he does and what the Messiah will do.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

· What are the qualities of fire that John is emphasizing here?

· Does not Jesus use the same language in the parable of the wheat and the weeds?

· What does God want of you in response to your reflection on this passage?

"Oh my God, forgive what I have been, correct what I am, and direct what I will be." St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 

My past is full of sin, for which I am in need of God's forgiveness. Praise God he has through the death and resurrection of Jesus! But even in the present moment, I fall short of the glory of God. I am in constant need of the grace of correction. As I hear his word and act on them, I find the needed correction of my ways. Because of my sinful nature, I am in need of the Lord's constant direction in my life, so that I can remain in union with him. I dare not walk this journey on my own without the presence of the Lord at my side. From my past history I know the consequences of separating myself from God. "I am who I am only by the grace of God.

 "There is not a single soul in whom Christ is not interested. Each soul has cost him the price of his blood." St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Paul tells us that when we were enemies, alienated from God because of sin, Jesus out of tremendous love laid down him life for each of us, as though we were the only person on earth. That is a love beyond comprehension. And it is a statement of the personal worth of each of us, worth not depended upon any good we have done, but on the infinite mercy and love of God.  If God sees us so worthy, how should we respond? Let not the shedding of his blood be in vain. Live a life that reflects gratitude by living in union with him.