Feast of Mary, Mother of God

 Of all the feasts in the Church calendar this is the one that brings home the truth of the Incarnation and the mystery of the Holy Trinity. However you put it, "God bearer" or "Mother of God," the fact remains that Jesus of Nazareth, who existed before all time as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, was born of Mary, an historical person, who gave birth to him. Someone recently relate to me that another had commented how St Paul never spoke of Our Lady! Yet, we read in Galatians: "But when the fulness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if  child then also an heir through God." (Gal 4: 4-7) The logic is inescapable. Jesus is both Son of God and son of Mary. We, who have been baptized in Christ, have God as our Father, thus, we can also call Mary, "Mother." She is Mother of Jesus, who is God and Head of the Church, and Mother of the Church, which is the assembly of the baptized united as the Body of Christ. Truly, this is a great mystery when we ponder its implications both for the lowly handmaid of Nazareth and for ourselves as sinful and weak human beings afflicted by suffering. The feast today recognizes the glory of Our Lady s Mother of God and that shall not be taken from her.

Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

 I have used the title for today's post rather than the usual word "Christmas" because I feel the need to emphasize some detachment from the secular idea of Christmas which continues to be distorted and debased by retailers and advertisers. The mystery of the Incarnation is great and to power it draw us into both the mystery of God as well as wonderment at how human beings are able to respond to God's love as they do. In the readings for during the night the prophecy of Isaiah speaks of a royal child who will be named "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Is 9: 9). In the gospel Luke tells us of the birth of a little baby in a manger to a couple of Jewish artisans descended in the line of David but living in obscurity. The story could have ended very soon especially if King Herod had managed to kill the boy. Nevertheless, by the end of the New Testament we hear of that child being described as the Lamb who is both "Lord of lords and King of kings." (Rev. 17: 14) The Gospels relate how this comes about in due course however at Christmas we have an opportunity to contemplate the lowliness of the Christ-child and his parents. The wonder and promise of new life is evident not just in Jesus but in every new life brought into this world.

4th Sunday of Advent

 The readings today contrast the stubbornness of King Ahaz with the obedience of the just man Joseph. Both men are facing difficult circumstances. Ahaz is under threat of a war that he is unlikely to win while Joseph is faced with public humiliation with the infidelity of his fiancée. Ahaz refuses to listen and will not ask for a sign from God. Yet, a sign is given and Jerusalem is saved from destruction. Joseph does listen and he cares for Mary and Jesus. The challenge for us as believers is to be open to God and trusting in him when, on occasions is simply does not make sense. When we trust in God we stay true to his commandments and in doing so we are open to how his grace can work through those who trust in him.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

  Today's feast is a great mystery that says much about the Church. The collect for the day states: "... as you preserved her (Our Lady) from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence." This speaks of the cosmic nature of Christ salvific death on the Cross and the great plan of salvation that existed for all time: "... just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love." (Eph 1: 4) It is Christ expiation of sin that is the cause of the removal of all sin including that of Original Sin in his own mother. This cleansing also has implications for us because it is through not only her child bearing but through her intercession that we too experience the mercy and presence of God. The feast also bears testimony to the Catholic Church as being the authoritative voice on divine mysteries to do with the Incarnation. In 1858, four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by Pope St Pius IX, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous and identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Therefore, we can go to her with confidence of her heavenly intercession and protection.

3rd Sunday of Advent

 Today is Gaudete Sunday in which the Church is exhorted to rejoice in the Lord. The opposite of rejoicing is grumbling. St James warns his congregation: "Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged." (Jm 5: 9) He also tells his flock to be patient. In a time of commercialism and secularization Catholic can sometimes have the tendency to turn on one another. We blame each other for the decline in Mass attendance and the failure to pass of the faith we love so much to the younger generations. The season of Advent asks us to turn our minds and hearts to God. By focusing on him and how he is vindicated in history and his promises kept we can have the faith to hold on and remain true to the Gospel. This, however, means that we cannot place our trust in human ways of doing things. The Incarnation meant that Jesus became one of us in all things but sin. This ultimately leads to the cross. If we want to celebrate Christmas, implicitly, we need to embrace the Cross as the key to our salvation and not worldly political or cultural ideologies. St Paul told the Corinthians: "For Jew demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jew and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (1 Cor 1: 22-25)