GOD’S INTENTION

[1]“The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” I remember a family member casually using this maxim one day. A teenager at the time, I was repelled by the thought. It made me think the world was a trap, designed by an evil genius, a life with rules vulnerable to manipulation. That after doing my best to play by the rules, I might still be thrown under the bus by an ill-tempered God. I imagined myself, completely spent after a life of trying to do the right thing and perplexedly staring at the gates of hell.[2]

King David after gaining control of Jerusalem, built himself a house of cedar. He’s proud of his accomplishments, however, his conscience troubles him. He’s enjoying the luxury of a fine, permanent residence, but the ark of the covenant is still housed in a tent. David speaks with the prophet Nathan about this inconsistency. Initially, Nathen states the obvious, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for the LORD is with you.” (2 Sm 7:3)

That same night, God speaks to Nathan—in effect, telling him to go ask David who he thinks he is, “is it you who will build me a house” (2 Sm 7:5) when, in fact, Yahweh is the master builder. God’s concern isn’t a dwelling place for himself, but rather an everlasting kingdom.

In light of the Advent/Christmas seasons, this reading can be interpreted as: 1) God’s opposition to a temple because the ark is in a movable tent and, therefore, a stronger sign that God will be with the people no matter where they are; 2) God is building a household for David, not vice versa; 3) God is assuring David’s seed will rule Israel forever; and 4) this promise is the inspiration for the Jewish expectation of a Messiah.

The importance that Jews placed on the promise of a Davidic dynasty; “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me”, (2 Sm 7:16) is evident in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke affirming Joseph, husband of Mary, was from the house of David as listed in their genealogies for Jesus.[3]

The ark will go missing; David’s dynasty seemingly ends with the Babylonian exile; but the promise remains in the people’s hearts and minds. They trust in the Lord’s promise.

While today’s first reading doesn’t include v14b, there is an important proviso in Nathan’s prophecy. God makes clear that sins will be punished, but God will not withdraw his favor from David’s seed. Therefore, we can trust in the Lord’s promise. For God’s intention is that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13:5)

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19.

[2] Blessedishe.net, “Good Intentions vs. God’s Intentions” by Savanna J. Buckner, June 11, 2018

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis and Homily Suggestion by Norman Langenbrunner

THE GIFT OF PRESENCE

You’ve heard it said, “It’s the thought that counts” when it comes to giving gifts, right?!  Well with Christmas just a week away, and shipping deadlines passing fast, there are only a few more opportunities to find the perfect gift for your loved ones.

Have you ever received a gift from your beloved that made you want to say, “Seriously, what were you thinking?” With this in mind, it occurred to me, this might be a good time to share the 10 worst gifts a man can get his beloved:

#10  Nothing. It doesn’t matter if she told you she wanted nothing, this is code talk for, “Seriously, we’ve been together long enough, you should be able to figure out what I’d like for Christmas.”

   #9  Cash Card. If you’re like me you’ve asked your beloved for a list of desired gifts about October, but you notice on the credit receipts the same items that are on her list. So, it only makes sense (to a man) to give a cash card so she can buy what she wants.

   #8  Home Depot Gift Card. While there are some women who would love a HD Gift Card, however, the norm would suggest it would draw a question like; “Who are you getting the gift for anyway?”

   #7  Framed Picture of Yourself.  May smack as a bit too narcissistic for her.

The next 5 items may beg the question, “What are you trying to say?” gifting…

     #6   cooking supplies,

     #5   a gym membership,               

     #4   a subscription to a Women’s Health magazine,

     #3   a Weight Watchers scale, or

     #2   beauty products (i.e. wrinkle remover)

And the #1 worst gift a man can get his beloved for Christmas is a vacuum cleaner. It doesn’t matter if it was on her list! Go deeper.

Now, there’s no doubt this may have just made someone’s last minute Christmas shopping just a bit more stressful.  As we enter the “peace” of the fourth week of Advent, it seems only natural that we might be focused on the Christmas “presents” to be given and received.  Yet the Church, in her infinite wisdom, gives us a gospel to ponder and pray over that tends to grab our attention away from the Christmas “presents” to remind us of the Christmas “presence” as much more important.

Mary’s presence was a grace to Elizabeth. Mary had the awareness of her cousin’s needs, needs that can only be fulfilled by her presence. A presence first acknowledged by a joyous leap of John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb and then by a greeting acknowledging Mary’s faith and the presence of God in Mary’s womb.

In just a week we will celebrate the fruit of Mary’s womb, the birth of the child: Jesus, the Son of Mary, the Son of God, born fully human and fully divine. This is the world’s Christmas present, the perfect presence of the Christ Child, the long awaited one the prophets for told of.

For those that may be rethinking their gift plans, it’s easy to go online or drop by the mall to purchase a gift—but the gift of your presence, the gift of ourselves, the making of time to be with others knowing their needs, is a presence many people long for, but may not receive. As I write this, I thought of those in nursing homes, hospitals, or jails with restricted access, those who have lost a loved one and are spending their first Christmas alone without their physical presence, and the homeless who are experiencing Christmas as just another day of being rousted to move on and disappear. There is no greater present that we can give to another than our presence.  How do we find the courage and the strength to do this?

The answer lies in the reason we are gathered around the table of the Word of God and the mystery of this Eucharistic table, with all our hopes, our faith, joys and sorrows to be nourished by the greatest gift of presence ever given. God gave us—his physical presence, in the person of Jesus.[1] and we are called to share this gift of presence in our daily lives.

This gift of presence is powerful. It’s a power that draws people, who may not participate regularly in Mass, but are making their bi-annual pilgrimage, to join family and friends, in this community’s joyful reception of God’s great gift of presence, His Word incarnate. These pilgrims will pack local churches and while it may create a parking nightmare, and the possibility we may not get to sit in our regular pew. (Please do not ask them to get out of your seat!) Their presence is a graced gift of hope. Introduce yourself and welcome them, because these pilgrims are there to satisfy a need and desire, to be with and receive the greatest gift they could ever receive, the presence of the God, who dwells in each one of us, the God who loves every one of his children, the God who is love, the God who is Emmanuel.

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Scriptures: Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

[1] Hungry, and You Fed Me, Editied by Deacon Jim Knipper © 2012. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.” by Dcn Jim Knipper.

THE GENESIS OF US

[1]One of the most rewarding aspects of genealogy is uncovering stories about your ancestors that you may never have known — no matter how crazy — and preserving them for future generations. You never know what thrilling tales await you in the memories of past generations. For example, a MyHeritage user Tweeted about a crazy story they learned about their great-grandfather: an article was discovered entitled, “Motorist Loses Life in Eating Banana.”[2] Seems her great-grandfather was attempting to eat a banana and drive an automobile at the same time. This 38-year-old carpenter, lost control and ran off the road.

Contemporary ancestry programs trace lines back in order to discover from where and from whom one has come. The genealogy in today’s reading traces forward in order to discover the line from Abraham through David to Jesus, thus rooting Jesus in the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Israel’s kings. This is “the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.” Better yet, a literal translation from the Greek, this is “the book of the genesis of Jesus Christ,” which reads like Gn 2:4 “This is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.” So, this is something new, a beginning, an advent!

Matthew tells this advent story of a new Messiah. A story where the patriarchs all had great flaws (lying, manipulating, consorting with prostitutes, etc.), showing us that God is NOT controlled by human merit. Our God always shows his impossible graciousness. Although the kings who follow David are corrupt and uninspiring, they are part of the genesis of Jesus Christ.

We find folks in the genealogy who are “unknown and unexpected.” There were certainly sinners among them, but God’s grace allows his will to be done through people otherwise considered unimportant and forgettable. The four women mentioned, is unusual in a patriarchal genealogy, yet through them, God’s Spirit continued the sacred line of the Messiah. Sinners, foreigners, and prostitutes are all part of Jesus’ story. They all experienced a Messiah who graciously dealt with them. Then comes Mary, the humble and obedient instrument of God’s Spirit; her womb cradled this humble Messiah.[3]

God wrote the story of his Christ with crooked lines. Who are the characters in the story of the “genesis of us?” Reflect on the sequence to our story, acknowledge some of the crooked lines that make up our lives and our witness. What will our great-grandchildren find in their genealogical search to discover where they came from? Will their search point them to the “wisdom of God the Most High!”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19.

[2] MyHeritage Blog, “Shocking Family History Discoveries” by Esther, August 15, 2019.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis by Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, PhD and Homily Suggestion by Leota Roesch.

CLEAR WATERS

[1]Something about Scripture today stirred my memory of how my brothers used to chase crayfish in the creek in New York. In the chase and as we moved the rocks, in the shallow water, it would get so clouded with sediments, that we couldn’t see the crayfish scurry away in the muddied waters. That was until we learned to work together, to be patient, and learned to stay still long enough, and plan our steps & movements, to let the natural movement of the water, clear the settlements away allowing us to see clearly what we sought.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, decreed by Pope Francis on October 7, 2019.

Tradition holds that a small house in Loreto, Italy originated in Nazareth and is the actual home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The house is very small, one-room measuring 30 x 13 feet. It is composed simply of stones and mortar typical of Palestine and hand-chiseled in a style consistent of the time of Jesus. This was thought to be the home of Mary’s parents, Saints Anne and Joachim. The Immaculate Conception occurred in this house. It is here the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and with her “Fiat” the Incarnation happened in this house. This was the house believed to be where the Holy Family lived after returning from their time in Egypt. Jesus lived in this house until he was 30 and began his public ministry. Here also is where St. Joseph died.

This feast of Our Lady of Loreto is a bridge of the Advent season to Christmas. Pope Francis in his decree points out:

“That sanctuary recalls the mystery of the Incarnation and prompts all those who visit it to consider the fullness of time, when God sent his Son, born of a woman, and to meditate on both the words of the angel in the Gospel and the words of Virgin who answered the divine call. Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, the humble servant of the Lord has become the house of divinity, the purest image of the holy Church.”[2]

Worldly temptations often muddy the waters of this life. If we choose to continue to thrash around the muddied waters chasing our desires or justify ourselves (even with the best of intentions) the Truth can be lost in a muddied vision of faith, which may lead to many forms of sin. Holding still, resting in the silence, and allowing God’s grace to wash over us offer fleeting moments of clarity as we continue to walk the bridge between Advent and Christmas. When we allow the waters of our Baptism to flow naturally it clears our hearts and mind to clearly see the mystery and will of our heavenly Father, for his Church, for each one of us, and for all his beloved children.

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19.

[2] CatholicCulture.org “The New Advent Feast, Our Lady of Loreto” by Jennifer Gregory Miller, December 11, 2019

PREPARED!

[1]Less we forget, December 7, 1941; “a date which will live in infamy.” At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. At 8:10, an 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside, asleep. The prize for winning the Big Band competition the night before. Asleep, unaware of what was about to occur. There were other events that led to the success of Japan’s surprise attack. The signs were all there but either were missed or misinterpreted.[2]

The nation of Israel was in exile when Isaiah offers words of comfort and assurance: “Here is your God!” (Is 40:9). He is with you in exile. Exile was not simply a historical tragedy. The people had strayed from the covenant by idolatry, social injustice to the poor, and other transgressions. Exile was God’s chastisement, but the covenant was not lost forever. Jerusalem was destroyed, but the people embody its memory and deepest meaning. “Jerusalem” then and now embodies more than a place.

St. Ambrose, whom we honor today, wrote a reflection on Psalm 118 (our Ps 119) with a focus on the final verse: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments” (Ps 119:176). This longest hymn in the psalter continuously repeats eight terms praising the law of Moses as God’s gift. The term torah is essentially a way of life that God teaches through ordinary human experience.

Today’s Advent readings speak to this theme in the image of sheep. Palestinians and shepherds, in many cultures, create a relationship with their flock: knowing the shepherd’s voice, often meant protection from predators, nourishment with food, and being sought out when lost. The statue of a shepherd boy with a lamb over his shoulder dates to biblical times. The inclusion of sheep in manger scenes is a tradition that speaks to all, young and old alike. The Christ Child came into the world to call and to teach.

Ambrose concludes in his reflection on the psalm: “Lift me up, born not of Sarah but of Mary, as she is a virgin incorrupt, indeed a virgin by grace free from all stain of sin.” He understood, as a Church father our salvation is not law, but God’s great mercy manifested in Christ.[3]

“Prepare the way of the Lord” (Is 40:3) Jesus is our Good Shepherd who nurtures and leads us. Let’s all remember; Jesus proposed and never imposed. He meets people where they are and calls them to reconciliation and community. We are commissioned to continue his work by proposing what is good to others and modeling it in our daily lives.

Let us not be caught sleeping but prepared in mind, body, and spirit for His coming.

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14.

[2] History.com, “Pearl Harbor” by History.com Editiors. Original post: Oct 29, 2009; Updated: Dec 2, 2021.

[3] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis and Homily Suggestion by Edward Owens, OSST

LENS OF FAITH

[1]“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mt 16:26a) These words were repeated to a young teacher of philosophy who had a highly promising career in academics, with success and a life of prestige and honor before him.

Francis Xavier, was living and teaching in Paris, seeing life through the lens of his success. It was his good friend, Ignatius of Loyola, whose tireless persuasion finally won Francis to Christ. After making the spiritual exercises, Francis joined the Society of Jesus and vowed poverty, chastity, obedience, and apostolic service to the pope.[2]

We all see life through a certain lens. A lens is an object that allows us to see clearly and to correct defects in our vision. Spiritually, we need a lens of faith to help us have vision. Without faith, our vision blurs, and we will find ourselves just trying to make it in life.[3]

Despite having an amazingly complex brain, taking in so much information, how much do we miss of our day as we go about on autopilot? For example, we don’t notice how often we check our phones and watches. We are programed to our daily routine and tasks, we become so laser focused, we often miss things and other happenings, even miracles, occurring around us.

Isaiah is describing redemption as the reversal of what is and the establishment of a new and glorious future. The symbols for the coming redemption are best seen through the lens of faith and hope. He telling us, “When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, they shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob and be in awe of the God of Israel.” (Is 29:23) And Jesus responding to the blind men’s request says, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” (Mt 9:29)

Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis Xavier gain a wider world-view and be free to bear the Good News to the world. Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times to be present for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. Our greatest gift is our time. 

To be present, patient, and observant, to look through the lens of faith and hope, we can be more fully present in the world around us. When we can be still, patient, and silent, we can better see the wonders of God’s creation; to see Christ in our family members, our neighbors, even in our enemies. When we fully embrace this season Advent, we can release many of our preoccupations and bask in the hope of the Kingdom to come.

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31.

[2] franciscan media, Saint of the Day, Saint Francis Xavier.

[3] Bay Area Christian Church (BACC), “How to See Life Through a Lens of Faith” by Martin Oji

CHOOSING LIFE

[1]Each Sunday as I go to Annunciation to serve, I stop at the grotto to briefly pray. This past Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, when I looked at Mary my prayer was different. I sensed a strong desire to obtain the same intimate relationship she has with Jesus. This prayer has stayed with me as I continue to contemplate what a pregnant Mary experienced. How much more intimate can you get than to carry the Son of God within you! Mary chose this path, chose to believe, chose to trust, and chose to say “yes” to God’s plan.

In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist points Andrew and another disciple to Jesus. After a brief dialogue, Andrew is convinced Jesus is the Messiah, and he, in turn, finds his brother Simon (Peter) and brings him to Jesus (Jn 1:35-43). In Matthew, Simon (Peter) and Andrew have no preparation for being called. Jesus simply invites them to become his disciples. The comment, “I will make you fishers of men” implies that they will be actively engaged in Jesus’ mission and they will learn to be as effective in drawing people to the gospel as they were in landing fish. They too, developed an intimate relationship with Jesus that started with their “yes” to believe, to trust, and to follow Him.[2]

There’s been a consistent cry by some in the Church to lift the dispensation for Sunday Mass attendance. It’s as if some in the Church believe that by rule of law, fear of mortal sin, or just good ole fashion Catholic guilt can force people back into church for their own good.

I don’t think it works that way. I don’t think it ever worked that way. For years, even before COVID, people were choosing to leave the Church. The chief reason, the church had become irrelevant to their lives. It’s no different than the loss of an intimate spousal relationship. All too often the two, who once had a seemingly intimate relationship, just drift apart, the love that fueled the relationship is lost for a host of reasons.

The way to draw people to encourage the desire for an intimate relationship with Jesus, the Christ, and the only way others can make this choice, is if they see the Christ in us. Advent is a season of preparation, preparing ourselves, to welcome the Christ within, which manifests in our behaviors of hope, love, joy, and peace.

The way I see it. The desire I felt before Mary, the desire to have an intimate relationship with her Son can’t be forced, it must be chosen. We must choose to make a personal commitment to be united in a community of faith, choose to hear, receive, and put into practice the Word of God, and choose to take into our bodies, the very body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord. Let us not stop there! Acknowledge, we are now to be the “fishers of men” we must be the ones actively engaged in Jesus’ mission. When others see our joy, rooted in this intimate relationship, as living tabernacles, when they can see the Christ in us, lived in our daily lives, it becomes contagious, this is what draws people to the desire to choose a life in Christ.  

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22.

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps, Exegesis by Dr. Barbara Leonhard, OSF.

LEFT OF BANG

[1]You walk into a restaurant and get an immediate sense that you should leave. You are about to step onto an elevator with a stranger, and something stops you. You interview a potential new employee who has the résumé to do the job, but something tells you not to offer the position. These scenarios all represent “left of bang”, the moments before something bad happens. But how many times do we talk ourselves out of leaving the restaurant, getting off the elevator, or getting over our silly “gut” feeling about someone?[2]

“Left of Bang” is a book written by Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley who suggest “Left of bang” is where we want to be. To be “left of bang” means to situate ourselves and our awareness prior to the bang. “Bang” being the situation (i.e., for a military person it may an exploding bomb or the first shot of a fire fight, it may be an SUV crashing a parade route, contracting Covid, or the coming of the Lord of glory).

As we look to a new liturgical year. Our readings this week describe visions and prophecies about destroyed kingdoms and unsuccessful flight from persecution. They also speak of the need for fidelity, vigilance, prayer, and trust in the Spirit. These are the messages for the person who wants to situate themselves to the “left of bang.”

King Nebuchadnezzar’s promise to Daniel, in yesterday’s reading, is fulfilled after Daniel not only tells the king what his dream was but also what it meant. His kingdom and those that follow, each one swallowing up the one before, will be supplanted by a kingdom set up by God himself, one that will last forever. In the Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples about the end of Israel, the end of the temple in Jerusalem, and a coming time of suffering. These are “left of bang” warnings. This is not our world, and in its end, the bang will be our great beginning!

The signs to be recognized will not come all at once; perhaps each day, each event of the world and cosmos prepares us for our new beginning. Aptly, in light of yesterday’s call to fidelity, today’s Gospel acclamation calls us to “Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life!” (Rv 2:10c)

For us who wish would remain “left of bang” we must be ever vigilant. We must listen intently and respond to God’s messages in scripture that cries out, “prepare the way of the Lord.” (Is 40:3; Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4) We must live out our Baptismal promises to love and serve the Lord, to evangelize in word and deed the Good News. We must take advantage of the opportunity to regularly avail ourselves to the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation to keep our soul in a state of grace so we may exercise full and active participation in this perpetual Eucharistic feast heightens our awareness of God’s merciful love and situates us to the “left of bang.”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Wisdom 13:1-19; Luke 19:26-37.

[2] Audible.com, Publisher’s Summary for “Left of Bang” by Patrick Van Horne, Jason A. Riley

BELIEVE, TRUST, COOPERATE

[1]Today's Gospel tells us everything we need to know about Mary as the Mother of Divine Providence. The Church has given her this title because she, better than anyone else, is the perfect teacher of what “Providence” means in our daily lives. She teaches us to believe in the Providence of God, to trust in His Providence, and to cooperate with Divine Providence.

Mary teaches us to believe there is a Providence, by her example in seeing providential opportunities in whatever occurs in our lives. When Mary recognized they ran out of wine at the marriage feast, she might have said to herself, “Well, what do they expect? The people drank so much, now what will the family do?” But notice how Mary acted. She instinctively saw in the situation a providential act of God. She recognized what we are often slow to see, God's divinely ordained purpose in every person, every event, every joy, and in every pain.

What this means is, like Mary, we need to understand everything has a divinely intended purpose, and this purpose is to draw us closer to God. Viewed in this way we can see everyone and every situation that touches our lives is meant to be a grace from God. This includes our mistakes and the mistakes of others. God even uses the wrong we do to mysteriously lead us to Him, giving us the opportunity for humble repentance and patient acceptance when wronged by others.

Mary teaches us to always trust in God's goodness and wisdom, no matter how painful or hopeless a situation may seem. Humanly speaking, once the wine ran out there was nothing else to do except resign oneself to the obvious. But for Mary, she knows who her Son is, even before asking Him, she told the stewards, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Talk about trust! Mary had no doubt her Son would work the miracle. The pre-condition for the miracle was Mary's confidence in her Son answering her request. There are many things God asks us to do here and now and wants us to trust we won’t be deceived in what we hope for.

Finally, Mary teaches us beyond believing in Divine Providence and trusting in God’s loving care, we are to cooperate with the graces He frequently puts into our lives. These graces are the persons who touch our life, they’re events we experience, and they’re all too often the people and events we regularly take for granted.

Like Mary, we are to condition ourselves to see, that part of God's Providence is the effort we make to respond to every providential opportunity God puts into our lives.[2]

Let us close with a prayer: “Mother of Divine Providence, teach us to see God's loving will in everything. Teach us to trust, as you did, that the promises made to us will be fulfilled. Above all, Dear Mother, teach us never to resist any grace your Son sends us, no matter how costly our cooperation with His love may be.”

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Isaiah 66:10-14; John 2:1-11.

[2] The Real Presence Association, Mother of Divine Providence by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. Copyright © 1998 Inter Mirifica.