2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The readings today are helpful to each one of us as we look to discern God's call. Both Samuel and St Peter live in a context of faith. For the former it is the temple at Shiloh and the latter it is the community gathered around John the Baptist. Both of them have others to advise or prompt them, in one case it is Eli and the other it is the two disciples who tell St Andrew of Jesus who, in turn, informs his brother. Both men are responsive to the call and curious to know God's will for each of them. The result is that both are brought into relationship with God so that they receive a mission: for Samuel it is to be a prophet of the Lord and for St Peter to be Cephas - the Rock - Peter who would lead the Apostles and be the first of them to acknowledge Jesus: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Mtt 16: 16) The questions we can ask ourselves : who has influenced us in faith?; how we have responded to that prompting?; what mission do we have in bringing Christ to others?

Baptism of the Lord

For the Church Fathers the feasts of Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord and the wedding feast of Cana are all linked. Those of us who pray the Office of Readings would have noticed that in the last few days. Why is it that such a connection should be made? I think that all of these feast involve a revelation of who Jesus is and the nature of his mission. At the Epiphany he is revealed to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, while at the wedding feast of Cana we see the first of the "signs" which reveals Jesus divinity and his mission from the Father. At the Baptism we hear: "This is my son the beloved, with whom I am well pleased." (Mtt 3: 17) Jesus' Messiahship and relationship to God are thereby revealed to all who were present at the Baptism. Jesus, anointed with the oil of gladness, is shown forth as the presence of God and the one who will bring liberation to a new people, born of water and the Spirit. For us the need to discern our own relationship with God and part in the mission of Christ is essential if we are to accomplish the task that each of us is given in our own baptism. 

Feast of the Epiphany

Sometimes I like to think of the account of the shepherds in Luke to be that of the revelation of the Christ to the Jews and the feast of today to be the Christmas of the Gentiles. In the former members of the People of Israel, albeit lowly and marginalized, receive the message of an angel. They immediately go to verify the truth of the message by going to see the Holy Family. The wise men see no angel but use science and natural reason to come to the Jews and arrive at the necessary information about the coming of Christ through the Torah. This takes them much longer - about two years. Nevertheless, the two groups have something in common - the encounter has a profound effect on them. In the case of the shepherds they return to their homes "glorifying ad praising God" (Lk 2: 20) and the wise men are "overwhelmed with joy." (Mtt 2: 10) I can ask myself the question:  "How have I come to know Christ"? Also, regardless of how what effect has this encounter with Christ had on me? 

Feast of the Holy Family

It is politically incorrect to speak of anything regarding human relationships as being ordained by God. Nevertheless, I would hold that just as male and female are ordered towards one another: "... male and female he create them" (Gen 1: 27), so the family is also ordered by God. Parents are ordered towards children and children towards their parents. This is reflected in our Second Reading for today: "Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart." (Col 3: 18-21) Thus, just as we can see that marriage speak of Christ and the Church: "This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the Church" (Eph 5: 32) so we can see that the family speaks of Church and in doing it refers back to God: "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God" (Eph 2: 19). The Second Vatican Council states: "The family is, so to speak, the domestic Church. In it parents should, by their word and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their children." (LG 11). Just as the Church fosters and forwards the mission of the Lord so too we find the Lord and therefore have an encounter with God in a family that is given harmony and order by God through faith.

 

Christmas Message 2019

As we celebrate Christmas 2019 it is with gratitude that we can reflect blessings received since last Christmas. This is 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”). He shares our joys and hopes, our anguish and sorrows. By becoming one of us Jesus gave us the possibility of knowing a God who, led by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call “Abba! Father!” (Rm 8: 15) We are, also,  invited to share in the divine life and its mission of salvation: “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) 

This annual celebration builds on memories of previous years. We are mindful of the relationships that have formed us and this motivates us to be our best selves with others. 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’.” (Is. 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.” (Is 9: 4)

The challenge for all Christians today is to go forth as “missionary disciples.” That is, to encounter Christ and to make him known. We do not seek to impose our beliefs on others. Rather, having had our lives transformed we wish others to share in the joy of knowing Jesus Christ: “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) The joy and love we experience in Christ opens us to dialogue with others so as to share this Good News. This gift 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 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, in this way, let us open our hearts to him this Christmas so that we can say: “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

4th Sunday of Advent

In our readings for today we are given a contrast. On one hand, there is the refusal of Ahaz to ask for a sign. On the other hand, Joseph is open to God's plan. Despite his misgivings, as a "righteous man" (Mtt 1: 19), Joseph is prepared to listen to God's plan and to act on it. How often are we torn between to messages of society and the dictates of our conscience or the message of the Gospel? It is of utmost importance that we bring before God in prayer this Christmas those things that worry us. Relationships, situations, addictions, worries all cause us pain which is amplified at this time of year due to the contrast between the example of the Holy Family and our own relationships. Like Joseph we need to be people not just of faith but also of action. Joseph is the patron on many religious orders as well as individuals because of his humility, righteousness and pragmatism. The example of Our Lady in holiness is supreme but let us not forget about Joseph, humble tradesman of Nazareth and foster father to our Lord.

3rd Sunday of Advent

The readings for today, Gaudete (Latin 2nd person plural imperative: "Rejoice!" ) Sunday, do not all speak of joy. John the Baptist, stuck in what was most likely a dark and dingy prison, is also in the dark when it comes to whether Jesus is the Messiah or not. Jesus, rather than answering the question directly, instructs the disciples of the Baptist to look at what he is doing. The healing of the sick and the proclamation of the Good News to the poor, just like the programmatic sermon in Luke's gospel, indicate that the Messianic age has been inaugurated in the person and activities of Jesus. How do we feel at present this Advent? Are we in the dark like the Baptizer? Are we in a prison of doubt, paranoia and negativity? Perhaps, we need to open our eyes to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our own lives and to give thanks for the prayers that have been answered throughout the year?