Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - Jubilee 2025

 We hear that Simeon was: "... looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him." (Lk 2: 25) The theme for Jubilee 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope." Like Simeon we too look forward to an ever greater realization of God's reign not only in heaven but also on Earth. We affirm this every time we pray the Lord's Prayer. "Pilgrims" speaks of journeying to a sacred destination and "hope" of desire and expectation. Thus, to engage with Jubilee 2025, is to look confidently to the future and to focus on God's promises and how they enable us to journey with joy through life with all its challenges. As pilgrims we journey together in a shared hope. To observe the Jubilee is to recognize that as missionary disciples each of us is called to play a part in sharing the joy and hope that comes from knowing and loving our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that God's promises are true: "... for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory of your people Israel." (Lk 2: 31-32) Furthermore, jubilees are always characterized by mercy. This mercy is poured out to free us from sin and open our hearts to God with new and creative energies being released as a consequence. Let us, therefore, not be burdened by our past failures and deficiencies rather we march together as pilgrims during this liturgical year with hearts full of song and hope: "So we do not lose heart, Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what cannot be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor 4: 16-18)

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 We hear in the First Reading: "... for this day is holy to the Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Neh 8: 10) The people are weeping as they contemplate the ruins of the Temple while listening to the beauty of the Torah. Every Sunday we hear of God's mercy and his marvelous deeds, especially in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. We too need to locate the joy of the Lord surrounded as we are by the ruins of a Catholic culture which has been smashed by a tsunami of secularism and materialism. We cannot go backwards just like the Jews could not re-establish what was there prior to their exile to Babylon. We need to build on the foundations laid by God that will bring about an even greater time of conversion and faith. Let us be filled with the joy of the Gospel and inspired by Pope Francis to live out our missionary discipleship, just as the Jews were given courage and consolation by Ezra the scribe.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

 A maxim of theology states: "Grace builds on nature." Last Sunday we heard how Jesus by his baptism made the waters of the Jordan holy. In other words, the sacrament of God, Jesus, sacramentalized water, and it is by water that his own sacrament, the Church, conforms those who are baptized to his own Incarnation. Thus, the baptized are enabled to participate in his messianic mission to reclaim Creation for the God who brought it into existence in the first place. Today Jesus sacramentalizes human relationships through his presence at the wedding feast at Cana. The water of human existence, which can feel futile and burdensome, as we hear in Ecclesiastes: "So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and chasing of the wind" (Eccles 2: 17) now becomes the wine of the Kingdom. At the prompting of his gracious Mother the Messiah brings forward the plan of salvation and reveals that God is present in the highs and lows of human life. It is not only the feasts and happy days that are given meaning by the Lord but also our sufferings and even death. We are no longer slaves of a futile and vain existence but heirs to an everlasting Kingdom: "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 a child then also an heir, through God." (Gal 4: 4-7)

Baptism of the Lord

 In the Gospel for today John the Baptist prophesies that the imminent Messiah: "...will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Lk 5: 16) This prophecy is fulfilled at Pentecost when: "And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Dividing tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2: 2-4) The baptism of Jesus by John serves to identify him with the Jewish people. Christian baptism serves to identify us with God and inform us with his power. This is evident from the episode where Peter and John visit the Samaritans: "The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8: 15-17) Jesus' baptism is a feast of the Incarnation as it locates him in the context of the Jewish people and their history. The baptism we receive empowers and directs us as the People of God to continue the universal ministry of that same man who vindicates God's desire that all people be saves, both Jews and Gentiles.

Feast of the Epiphany

 The manifestation of the birth of the Messiah to the Gentiles takes the form of the Magi visiting the Holy Family, who we celebrated last Sunday. This is not unusual in Scripture to effectively have the same thing happen but to different people. We heard before Christmas of the Annunciation to Our Lady as well as the Annunciation to Joseph. In the former it was the archangel Gabriel and, in the latter, it was in the form of a dream.  We have Pentecost to the Jews at the feast of Pentecost and then the bestowal of the Holy Spirit on the God-fearers at the house of Cornelius. The question I have in mind is how about me? When was the Messiah manifested/revealed to me? When and how has Jesus been revealed to me? Perhaps I need to pray for that manifestation? After all, Jesus did promise the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him since God is the best of fathers: "If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." (Lk 11: 13) 

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - World Day of Peace

 As the octave of the Nativity of the Lord this feast deepens the insight and implications of the Christmas feast which itself is the fulfilment of Advent. The latter not only anticipated the celebration of the birth of the Messiah but also the return on glory of the Christ when he will be "all in all." (Col 3: 11) Thus, all of these feasts are retrospective and anticipatory of God's action in human history. Reflecting as they do on the Incarnation, we are also drawn into the mystery of the Holy Trinity such that Mary of Nazareth is not only mother of Jesus but also equally Mother of God. We take strength from these mysteries which are: "training us to renounce impiety, and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and holy...". (Tit 2: 12) As World Day of Peace we recognize the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah that the Messiah will be named: "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Is 9: 6) Saint Paul writes: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that, is, the hostility between us." (Eph 2: 14) Jesus not only does this for the Jews and Gentiles but for the whole world as his power to save is universal. let us seek peace, which is the fruit of justice, in all of our relationships too.

Feast of the Holy Family

 The feast of the Holy Family helps us to deepen the implications of Jesus in his Incarnation. No human being exists in a vacuum. Even though we think of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as the Holy Family of Nazareth on this day we are also mindful elsewhere in the liturgical year of the parents of Mary, hence grandparents of Jesus, in Joachim and Anne. Even today we hear: "Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends." (Lk 2: 44) It is within this matrix of relationships that Jesus: "... increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour." (Lk 2: 52) As we move on from Christmas day let us be mindful of our families and our obligation to strive for harmony throughout the rest of the year. As we see from the gospel, all families, including the Holy Family, have moments of drama, panic and miscommunication. In doing so, we not only need to be in the Father's house we also need to be like Jesus who, although the Son of Man, was obedient to his parents.