SEEING, HEARING, & FOLLOWING

Do you believe in love at first sight?  Realists claim it’s unreasonable, saying that love must be nurtured to grow.  Romantics insist instant attraction often allows one to recognize a soulmate at once.  Whatever any of us believes about love at first sight, we must admit the first of Jesus’ disciples certainly experienced an instant attraction to him.  On John’s word, they turned from their lives to go after this unknown teacher.  Andrew is so immediately smitten he convinces his brother Simon to join them.

More remarkably, they follow Jesus to an unknown destiny, not knowing where he lives, let alone what discipleship might require of them.  Are we this willing and enthusiastic about our discipleship?  I feel like I'm preaching to the choir, daily Mass participants.  Was it love at first sight for us?  We attended Mass once and said I'm leaving everything, or at least re-prioritizing my life to include this beloved time, or are we more of the realist, who is inclined to hesitate, to let the relationship develop over time and maybe put conditions on our willingness to follow?  Have we made the way of Christ truly our path of life, even when it appears dark and fearful?

The question hanging in the air is, “What are you looking for?” (Jn 1:38) People must be prepared for instant attraction.  The disciples had most likely been raised with the hope of witnessing a Messiah who would save their people.  They spent their lives to that point in readiness; when the Messiah appeared, their hearts were prepared to recognize him.  We see the same readiness in today’s saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton.

From an early age, she studied the Scriptures and opened her heart to whatever was in store for her.  This openness allowed her to embrace God’s call to a life she had probably never envisioned for herself.

Our challenge today is to follow the example of these disciples.  When we participate in Mass and approach the altar to receive the real presence of Christ, “What are we looking for?”  As disciples, are we spending our lives in the hope & readiness of experiencing the same instant attraction?  Are we able to recognize the reality of what is occurring as we hear God’s voice in the Word proclaimed and participate in the Eucharistic meal?  Are we willing to leave (have we left) our old ways to give complete commitment to Christ?

HOLY INNOCENTS

Reflecting on today’s readings and feast day I thought I would check how many abortions occurred in the United States in 2018.  I checked at 9:27 last night and the death toll was 1,079,726 and continues to rise.  It is believed that approximately every 29 seconds there yet another innocent life lost. 

This past October Judy and I participated in the 40 days of life prayer vigil outside a local abortion clinic.  When we arrived, there was a group there, we weren’t sure it was our group, but we greeted each other with Christian kindness.  Then one member of the group took up the microphone and began to chastise the women coming into the clinic.  For a moment I thought about leaving thinking, how are we going to change hearts is we publicly condemn the women coming to the clinic?  We finally figured out it was not our parish group, but I did take note of the expression on the women’s faces as they came into the clinic.  Their faces were set like flint.  Their minds made up and nothing we could say was going to change their minds.  I realized then, we need to get to them sooner.  I also witnessed their expressions as they drove away from the clinic.  There was a sense of loss and sorrow, they know what they did and I would venture they felt some guilt for the loss of an innocent life.

Others innocents come into our lives through the television set and the computer screen: refugee children fleeing genocide, others dying of starvation, people risking their lives on flimsy rafts to cross the Mediterranean Sea, men, women, and children escaping corruption and violence as they struggle to cross our border into the land of the free. Their only mistake, being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. These are the Holy Innocents of our day, pursued by the Herods of our world.  Modern media will not allow us to wall them out of our consciousness.

Long ago, the Child of Bethlehem was one of them.  He came to save the world, but he had to get out of town to escape a power system that could not accept him.  “Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside and, in their hearts, turned back to Egypt.” (Act 7:39 NABRE) He was a threat to the movers and shakers. Eventually he would not hide from those who sought to annihilate him and what he stood for.  Like an innocent lamb, he died as a criminal on a cross.

Innocents still face annihilation. Even before birth, they are hounded.  And if they manage to get born, they are not welcomed.  The sins against the Holy Innocents cry out to heaven. We must find ways to reverse the heartless cruelty—not by condemnation—but rather through our prayers, through formation of conscience by what and how we communicate our values for the dignity of all people from conception to natural death and through our merciful and compassionate actions.  We must learn how to set today’s Innocents free from the snare, to bring the Christ Child back from exile in Egypt.

FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

On the surface, the poetry in the book of Song of Songs expresses love between a man and woman; at a deeper level, it expresses the awesome love between God and humanity.Yet, for us, it is through our human interactions is the only way we can experience God’s love for now through what researchers call the Five Love Languages.

The first way to express love is to use of “WORDS OF AFFIRMATION” that build up. Solomon, author of ancient Hebrew Wisdom Literature, wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prv 18:21). Unfortunately, many in our world have never learned or forgotten the tremendous power of verbally affirming each other.

Those we love require “QUALITY TIME”.  By “quality time” I mean giving someone your undivided attention.  Sitting on the couch watching television together, doesn’t count as quality time.   Giving each other our undivided attention means talking with each other, going out to eat, and actually looking at each other while we talk.  Time is a precious commodity often stolen away by the many demands on our lives.  In our Gospel today, we hear that Mary went “in haste” (Lk 1:39) to be present to Elizabeth.

Almost everything ever written on the subject of love indicates that at the heart of love is the spirit of giving.  All five love languages challenge us to give, but for some, “RECEIVING GIFTS”, visible symbols of love, speaks the loudest.  You must be thinking of someone to give them a gift.

Jesus’ primary love language was “ACTS OF SERVICE”. His acts of service included healings & feedings, his presence, encouragement to repent, and his sharing message of hope, sharing the good news.  His entire being was about serving the other, especially the lost, the outcast, and the forsaken.

We have long known that “PHYSICAL TOUCH” is a way of communicating love.  Research projects in the area of child development have concluded babies who are held, stroked and kissed develop a healthier emotional life than those who are left for long periods of time without physical contact.  Physical touch is a powerful way to communicate love, a hand shake, a hug, a simple kiss on the forehead or check, or a sign of peace in our liturgy all express a love of neighbor.[1]

From the Annunciation, to the Nativity, right up to the invitation to enter into Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection in this Eucharistic celebration; Luke wants his readers and us to recognize the Holy Spirit as the driving force in the lives of God’s faithful love for his people. He wants us to understand the Eucharist is God’s love language.

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[1] Adapted from Focus on the Family, “Understanding the Five Love Languages” by Cary Chapman © 2015.