OUR CHRISTMAS SENSES

C. S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. There are those who say that seeing is believing. I am telling you that believing is seeing.”

What makes John so believable is he was there, he walked with, talked with and was in an intimate relationship Jesus. He was there at the Transfiguration, at the Last Supper, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the only apostle who stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross. The letters of John use sensory words to express the experience of the Incarnation; we have heard, seen, looked upon, and touched. In the Gospel, the apostles hear Mary Magdalen’s message; they see the wrappings on the ground and the cloth rolled up; then they believe. 

Christmas tantalizes our sense. Everywhere we look, our eyes are dazzled with lights, our ears are filled with music; our noses are pulled to the smell of baking. Yet our modern Christmas seems to be all about the buildup, that starts in July and ends on December 26th. For so many Christmas is a day, the tree is on the curb for pick up, many are using what days off they have to restore their homes back to normal, in preparation to reengage the world and the retailers have moved onto Valentines Day.

The mystery of Christmas invites us to use our senses, to enter the mystery of Jesus become flesh/man. In the 13th century, St. Francis gave us the Christmas crèche to engage our senses in contemplating the wonder of Jesus’ coming. St. Francis helps us fully experience the poverty and wonder of Bethlehem. Have you ever been in a stable/barn and taken in the less than pleasant smell of straw mingled with animal … well use your own imaginations, that’s what this is all about right? It’s almost as if we’ve sterilized the manager scene to the point that we can’t engage our senses. Know this, the smell of the sheep does not end, nor does it diminish on December 26th. 

For us, this season invites us to awake our senses to the immanence of our God and marvel at God’s coming among us. The gift of our senses enables us to see and hear, smell and touch—and yes, even taste God’s presence among us. At each Mass, Jesus is present and allows us to become one with him.  

Jesus taught us that when we encounter others, especially the poor, we are encountering him. Let us listen, reach out, and see Jesus present among us. Christmas occurs every day when see Jesus alive in our world.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

The SEABEE Memorial at Arlington, VA has a number of large panels depicting the many missions that SEABEES have undertaken around the world, in war and peace since 1942. At the focal point of the back panels is a large sculpture depicting a bare-chested, muscular SEABEE, rifle slung over one shoulder, offering a helping hand to a small child. The panels and sculptured figures together perfectly symbolize the nature of U. S. Navy SEABEES as Builders Who Fight, and who also extend humanitarian aid wherever and whenever needed. Inscriptions in golden letters proudly proclaim in words the messages which the panels and figures convey visually. On the base which supports the SEABEE and child sculpture is inscribed: “With compassion for others, we build, we fight for peace with freedom.” Above the panels “SEABEES CAN DO”, and below the panels is “With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once. The impossible takes a bit longer!”

Gabriel’s announcement to Mary is “for nothing will be impossible for God.” (Lk 1:37) Ages ago  “The LORD” had said in a similar announcement to Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen 18:14) The angel refers to the comparable case of Elisabeth as proof to Mary that miraculous birth is an event that may now occur. The birth of an immortal being into existence is the greatest of natural events. The birth of an immortal being, without a human father, by divine interposition, is one of the greatest of miracles. The birth of a human being from a true divine paternity, placing a God-man upon earth, is pre-eminently THE miracle of which all other miracles are but the subordinates and attendants.

G. M. Trevelyan, a British historian and academic, is quoted as saying, “Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.”

What are the things or situations in our lives that we feel are impossible to resolve? The challenge for us as humans is we often say the words, “God I’m giving so and so up to your providence,” yet we insist on intervening in ways that become a self-fulfilling prophesy of impossibility.

Norman Vincent Peale an American minister and author known for his work in popularizing the concept of positive thinking said, “A positive mental attitude is a belief that things are going to turn out well, and that you can overcome any kind of trouble or difficulty.” Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). This is far more than the power of positive thinking. It is the power of God that makes what seems impossible possible. “Nothing is impossible with God” (Lk 1:37).

HOW DOES THE WORLD SEE US?

[1]A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. 

"That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and Cleaned our windows." What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. 

Christmas is getting pretty close, next weekend, we’re all making lists and checking them twice and figuring out what do we still have to do. How does the world see us in our final preparations for the coming of the Promised One? In today’s gospel, John the Baptist is heralding the coming of the Christ, yet not all who hear the Good News rejoice. Instead John must defend who he is and justify why he baptizes if he is not one of the three expected authoritative figures of the Christ, Elijah, or Moses, the Prophet (Jn 1:25). Jesus too, will later have to explain his authority to these same religious representatives (Jn 7:32; 11:47) culminating in his self-identifying statement, “I am” (Jn 8:58).[2]

I saw a quote the other day, “Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.” It made me think of my life and of the many people that I’ve encountered in the many jobs and environments of my life. I’ve seen my share of disrespect, bullying, harassment, selfishness, neglect, physical & mental abuse, and abuse of authority at every level within and outside of the church. More importantly, it was cause for me to do a self-check and reflect how others might see my own behaviors through their window panes, not just in my Christmas preparations, but as a Christian. When people look at us, how clean is our laundry? How do they see us as we live our everyday lives, or how we respond to the joy of others or the stressors and sufferings of the world around us? What do they see, no matter what the condition of their own window pane?

Today, on Gaudete Sunday, we are called to “rejoice!” Yet, with all the pain and suffering in our families, community, nation and world. For God’s sake how are we to rejoice!? Are we supposed to just tell ourselves, “Suck it up buttercup,” “to look on the bright side of the pain & suffering, so and so has it much worse,” or “are you told to just offer it up and keep on swimming?” I don’t think this is the message St. Paul is revealing when he calls us to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:16-18). Joy is a much deeper virtue, that finds its foundation in the knowledge that we are loved by God. For Christians, the knowledge that Jesus has been raised from the dead is a constant cause for joy, even in tough times. This does not mean that suffering does not bring sadness. Of course, it does, but suffering does not get the last word—in Jesus’ life nor in ours. It’s this knowledge that can lead us to an even deeper joy.[3]

An important key to St. Paul’s suggestion is that all three parts of this triad of Christian practices are bound together. Joy springs forth from gratitude. When we recall things, events or people for which and for whom we are grateful, our joy increases. Prayer also supports the other two virtues. A contemplative awareness of the world and an attitude of prayerful attentiveness, make it easier to see life’s blessings. Finally, joy moves us to gratitude. Thus, each virtue supports the other in a complex spiritual interplay. Prayer awakens gratitude, gratitude leads to joy, and joy moves us to prayer.[4]

How does the world see us? To paraphrase Blessed Louis Brinsson, O.S.F.S, founder of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: We are a reprint of the Gospel, day by day, with our flesh and blood. What are we? We are living Gospels who heal and offer liberty to people held captive in any way, by announcing God’s favor so all people can sing with Mary: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk 1:46)

When we live St. Paul’s admonitions to pray without ceasing, always give thanks, retain what is good, and refrain from evil, we make straight the way of the Lord and show others how to do so. What are we? Children of God, Christ-bearers who have every reason to “Rejoice always!” (1 Thess 5:16)

[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition © 1986.  Scriptures:  Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

[2] Living the Word, Year of Mark, by Laurie Brink, O.P. & Paul Colloton, O.S.F.S © 2017.  World Library Publications, Franklin Park, IL.

[3] Sundays with Jesus, Reflections for the Year of Mark, by James DiGiacomo, S.J. © 2008.  Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ.

[4] Sick, and You Cared For Me © 2014. Clear Faith Publishing, LLC, Princeton, NJ. “Rejoice always” by Fr. James Martin, S.J.

A HUMAN YOKE

In Scripture today, Jesus is talking about yokes. Now, we know about animal yokes, and I have heard preachers use this analogy where we are joined by Jesus in this yoke designed for two beasts of burden. For instance, Paul talks about not being unequally yoked with this in mind. But in this passage Jesus is talking about human yokes – one’s that go across your shoulders to carry heavy things. This type of yoke is something described in Jeremiah, where it says, “make yourselves straps and yoke-bars and put them on your neck.” (Jer 27:2)

Metaphorically, a yoke is often used to speak of being in subjection to someone – in Jeremiah it refers to being subjected to the Babylonian empire and in the New Testament it is used to refer to slavery (1 Tim 6:1).

Jesus uses this image to talk about the traditions of the elders, which the Pharisees added to the Law or God’s will. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew where he says, “they tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on people’s shoulders” (Mt 23:4). These are rules imposed on the Jewish people about how far they could walk on a Sabbath, rules about healing on the Sabbath, prescriptions on ritual washing, and on and on and on. You name the activity in life and there were rules for it; lots of them. Rules that went beyond the Law of Moses, but you had to follow them to be accepted. Burdens placed on the people, yet not necessarily lived and followed by the elders and Pharisees. Jesus rejected these man-made traditions. He did not come to laden us with a host of human rules, but to free us and guide us to the basics of God’s will for our lives.

Maybe you’re carrying a yoke today of human rules and expectations that are not God’s will for you. Maybe Christmas expectations that have become a heavy burden with the collision of secular and sacred traditions that we and others have laid on our shoulders. Burdens that often have nothing to do with what God has called us to be and the season for which we prepare and celebrate the coming of the true light and Word of God.

There are other yokes and burdens, like the yoke of slavery to Sin (Jn 8:34; Rom 6:16-20). This is where we live our lives apart from God’s will, doing our own will. Where sin, once chosen, becomes our master. It comes to control us, take over and ruin our lives, sending us down a path not of our choosing and away from the Light. 

Are you tired of carrying the burden of disappointing and hurting others, of hurting God – but you can’t break free? Whatever burdens we are carrying on our yoke today – Jesus is inviting us to lay these burdens down before Him and to take up his yoke. To receive him and the peace only he can give as we continue to prepare for his coming.