The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

My attention is taken by the Second Reading for today where St Paul sees fit to refer to two aspects of the Incarnation when speaking of God's plan for salvation. He could have simply written "When the fullness of time had come God sent his Son in order to redeem those who were under the law" however he interpolates: "born of a woman, born under the law." That Jesus was born of a woman is the truest testimony of his humanity. Paul does not say he was born to a human father rather the reference point is to Mary and since Jesus is God then Mary as his mother must be Mother of God. Yet, she is truly a woman and not a God/dess. Often people refer to the Greek expression of Theotokos - "the God bearer" however the sheer physicality of pregnancy and birth as well as all the attendant responsibility of care for a baby should not be downplayed. Thus, in this brief reference, the full impact of God's plan for humanity with Mary as the second Eve comes to bear. Both Mary's humility and glory are simultaneously manifested. In referring to "the law" Jesus Jewishness, as well as that of Mary, is affirmed and places Jesus firmly within the promise of salvation, given by the Old Testament, so that in the resurrection Christ might fulfill the purpose of the Law and lead the whole of humanity to its heavenly destination.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

In today's Gospel Mary and Joseph, realizing that Jesus is not with them, "... started to look for him among their relatives and friends." (Lk 2: 44) It is clear that the Holy Family exists within a matrix of relationships both familial and friendship. Nevertheless, those with primary and immediate care for Jesus are his mother and father. Once upon a time this would have been considered as stating the obvious, however, we seem to live in New Zealand in a society where parents, more and more, abdicate their parental duties to the state, schools, government departments, grandparents, in fact, anybody who will let them carry on with their own pursuits. The model of society that this represents is something like that of the kibbutz system in Israel where both parents would work and the children would be looked after communally. This ensured that the children could all be ideologically correct as the school would impart to them all of their values. The Marxist philosophy which underpinned this idea has failed with the family and everywhere else. The present concept of gender fluidity will likewise fail, sadly, not after having left a trail of destruction and wounded adults who crave a stable and loving family connection. It is a blessing that we, like Our Lady, can when it comes to our faith and family treasure all these things in our heart (cf. Lk 2: 51).  

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Gospel reading for Christmas during the Day, which is seldom used at Masses in my experience, begins: "In the beginning was he Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1) Taken together with the genealogy of Christ, such as that used for the equally seldom used Gospel for the Vigil of Christmas from the Gospel of Matthew, we are challenged to reaffirm our belief in the awesome event that is the Incarnation. Too frequently, I suspect, Christians lapse into various Christological and Trinitarian heresies such as Arianism, Docetism, and Modalism. This is not helped by the naive and childish interpretations that are given by the wider culture and media. The mystery of the Incarnation is equal to that of Creation and the Resurrection. In both cases God acts in a way that cannot be attributed to any other agency. Furthermore, the God that acts is revealed as one who does so out of a loving plan for human beings and who invites them to acts of worship, love and gratitude in response to that love. Taken together we see, as in the Book of Revelation, that God and his plan will not be defeated by the forces of sin and evil that conspire to frustrate his love such as the serpent in the Garden of Eden, King Herod or the Roman Empire. The babe in the manger, tiny and dependent on his mother, is the ray of light shining on a world darkened by sin and condemned to death and futility. The prophecy given in the First Reading for Christmas during the Night is fulfilled: "For a child has been born for us, a son given us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. " (Is 9: 6)

4th Sunday of Advent

The sense of joy experienced by the two women in today's Gospel is palpable. Mary has the report, given her by the angel of Elizabeth's pregnancy, verified and the older woman acknowledges and reassures Mary that her child is from God. We know that the news of an unexpected pregnancy does not always yield such a happy response. Nevertheless, all pregnancies offer the potential for new life. Every new human being is unprecedented and unrepeatable. Induced abortion is therefore simply not a choice for anyone who values life. It is incumbent on Catholics to defend the right to life for unborn children and to strive in every way to support women, in whatever circumstances, so that they can give birth knowing they have a community to assist either with adoption or bringing up the child themselves. Likewise, Catholics must have compassion and empathy for women and men damaged by the trauma of inflicted by abortion as well as the grief occasioned by miscarriages and still-births. It is not enough to speak words we need to act if children in the womb and their mothers-to-be are to be given a chance to live with dignity and flourish in the future. It is also good to remember that just because something is legal it does not mean that it is moral. This goes for abortion as much as  it does for other things like prostitution that damage the dignity of our fellow human beings.

Christmas Message 2018

As we gather to celebrate Christmas in 2018 it is always with a sense of gratitude that we can reflect on the blessings we have received since last Christmas. This is even the case when we have suffered loss, hardship or illness in our own lives because “Jesus” (Heb. “the one who saves”) is also “Emmanuel” (Heb. “God with us”) who, in his Incarnation, shares our joys and hopes, our joys and sorrows. By the very act of entering our reality he gave us the promise of the love and solidarity of a God whom, led by the Spirit of God, we dare to call “Abba! Father!” (Rm 8: 15) Even more than that we are invited to share in the divine life and in doing so mediate God to the world: “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have love them even as you have love me.” (Jn 17: 21-23) 

The annual celebration also builds on memories of past Christmases so that we are mindful of relationships that have formed us and the desires that motivate us to be our best selves at this time of year. We welcome the messenger of peace and ask that his gift of peace, offered to us after the resurrection, be in our hearts, our families and our world: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’.” (Isaiah 52: 7)  If we cannot exult in our own deeds we can still rejoice in the Lord because our future is guaranteed in Christ Jesus: “For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.” (Isaiah 9: 4)

The challenge for all Catholics, in the coming year, is to go forth in our community as “missionary disciples.” That is, to encounter Christ and to make him known. We do not seek, as Christians, to impose our beliefs on others rather we have had our own lives transformed through faith and we wish others to share the joy: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” (2 Cor 5: 14-15) It is the joy and love we experience in Christ that makes us want to initiate dialogue with others so as to share this gift, this Good News, which holds out the promise of the wonderful liberation of God’s saving love to all. Our society struggles with loneliness, addiction and mental illness – surely, it remains in great need of such love!

The Christ child did not stay as an infant in the crib. Likewise, we should not remain as infants in faith content to be fed with milk and not solid food (cf. 1 Cor 3: 1-3). Christ is also for us Jesus of Nazareth who went about healing and doing good. None of us will experience the “perfect Christmas” but we can encounter the mercy and love of God that makes us whole: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5: 31-32) If we are yet to encounter and experience Christ in our own lives let us open our hearts to him this Christmas so that we can say along with the disciples at Emmaus: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32)

I wish you all a happy and holy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Fr Marcus Francis

3rd Sunday of Advent

There is a refrain throughout today's Gospel composed of various sections of the crowd asking of John the Baptist: "What should we do?" (Luke 3: 10, 12 and 14) What is interesting is that he does not ask anything extreme of them even though he lives an austere and rigorous lifestyle himself. We can compare this to St Paul who wrote to the Corinthians: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Cor 11: 1) The distinctive aspect of Christianity is that it is not primarily a moral code but a participation in the mission and risen power of our Lord Jesus Christ. This means that our imitation of Christ is not motivated by typically religious concerns or rules but by obedience to and love of the Father. Jesus points out to his critics that the austerity of John the Baptist had them saying that the Baptist had a demon while they said of him: "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (Luke 7: 34)  He goes on to say: "Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7: 35) Let us vindicate wisdom, therefore, in all we do and say this Christmas.

Second Sunday of Advent

This rather grand announcement of the ministry of John the Baptist, given in the Gospel for today, I imagine, is like a movie camera, directed by St Luke, zooming in from a wide angle, through the clouds. It starts with the whole of the Roman Empire and continues moving to focus on the Middle East, then Israel until finally on the person of John the Baptist preaching by the Jordan River. This is the drama of salvation. The fullness of time has come and the Messiah is about to be revealed to the people. This does not happen in the glittering grandeur of Rome or the Temple but in the wilderness. it is in the desert that a road is to be prepared for the Messiah to "make his paths straight." (Luke 3: 4) Where and how can I find God in my life this Advent and Christmas? Is it in the hustle and bustle of festive preparation? Is it in the cheery greetings of friends? Is it in the giving of gifts? Rather, I suspect, it is in the desert - those quiet moments of reflection and sometimes grief and sadness. The Holy Spirit prompts us to prepare the way of the Lord through reflection, repentance and reconciliation. Let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that we may allow God's love to strengthen and heal us in ways beyond our power.