2nd Sunday of Advent

 In the gospel for today Jesus tells the Pharisees: "... for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham." (Mtt 3: 9) He is warning them against presumption and entitlement. Given that in the gospels a Pharisee often indicates a misguided disciple, with the original Pharisees having passed into history with the destruction of the Temple before Matthew wrote his gospel, we can apply this to ourselves. St Paul also tells us, in the second reading: "What ever was written in former days was written for our instruction..." (Rm 15: 4) Therefore, it is good for us to ask: Do we take pride in belonging to the Catholic Church or being Christian and think that makes us righteous by definition? Do we excuse ourselves for our sins while pointing out the shortcomings of others? Do we presume forgiveness and take God's love and forbearance for granted? As a penitential season Advent should be an antidote for such erroneous thinking and attitudes. By pondering the readings and mysteries of this season we can strive for harmony and peace both interiorly and within our families. Rather than being stressed by expectations and commercial ideas of Christmas we will be able to see God's grace for what it truly is and why the Incarnation o our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest gift the world can receive. 

1st Sunday of Advent

 In the Second Reading St Paul exhorts the Romans: "... now is the moment for you to wake from sleep." (Rm 13: 11) The season of Advent begins with a period of anticipation for the end times. It does not start with presents and tinsel. We are accustomed to thinking of Lent as the penitential season when we look at our spiritual state. Perhaps we all need to wake up to the fruit of Advent that wakes us up to the damage done to our souls by a worldly way of life and the toxins of commercialism, overwork, materialism and self-indulgence. In New Zealand the academic year is coming to an end and the summer is breaking in. Let us not be distracted by the rush towards Christmas rather let us use this as an opportunity to ponder where we are in our relationship with God and the Church and how we can have our eyes open to the grace that is at work in our lives.  

Feast of Christ the King

 This feast is replete with ironies. On one hand, Jesus was born in a stable to peasant parents. He lived a life of poverty and died the death of the worst type of criminal. Yet, it was those who crucified him who first acclaimed him as king. Pilate asks Jesus: "Are you the King of the Jews?" (Mtt 27: 11) The soldiers clothed him in a purple cloak, put a crown of thorns on him, gave him a reed as a sceptre in his right hand and cried out: "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mtt 27: 27-31) Over his head the charge is written: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." (Mtt 27: 37) On the other hand, we have the vision of Christ in glory as the Son of Man who will come again to rule the nations. It is tempting to dwell on the gory and not the Cross. However, we live in a time of trial for anyone who wishes to be a practicing Christian. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read: "Let us then go to him (Jesus) outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." (Heb 13: 13-14)

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 One has only to look on YouTube to see that alarmist headlines are common place as content producers seek to get as many views of their channels as possible.  There are two basic responses to  such behaviour: anxiety or skepticism. The first  leads to people taking fright at every perceived or even imagined threat while the second leads to others dismissing all threats as fabrications which leads to lethargy. Jesus predicts the end times and is realistic to say that trials will come but "... the end will not follow immediately." (Lk 21: 9) When it does come we are to see it as an opportunity to testify to our faith and to let the Holy Spirit guide us. He guarantees us his protection as long as we stand firm: "But not a hair on your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls." (Lk 21: 18-19) As a result, the Christian attitude to crisis is not one of fear or resignation. We are to continue to work steadily and confidently as we trust in God's providence. In our parishes and homes we are discouraged from giving way to passivity and laziness: "For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their own work quietly and to earn their own living." (2 Thess 3: 12)