In today's Gospel, Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23, we are told that the magi completed their visit to Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus. The holy family was, at that point, in danger, as Herod was seeking a way to kill Jesus. Why? Because he perceived Jesus, the Messiah King and Savior of the world, as a threat to his power and kingship. Watching over the holy family, God sends an angel to direct Joseph: "'Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you'....Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed for Egypt....When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord [again] appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.'"
Just as God protected the holy family, so, too, does God protect our families! God is as solicitous for us made holy by Jesus' death and resurrection as He was for the biological holy family of Jesus, Mary, His mother, and Joseph, his foster father! God elicits the help of each parent, grandparent, and other relatives to secure the protection of His children. How sad when we let Him down. God, I believe, weeps when we abandon our responsibility to secure the well-being of a child, including a child in its mother's womb. God, I believe, weeps over immigrant children in cages, separated from their parents or when families are turned away from countries in which they are seeking asylum so as to raise their children in in what they believed would be safe places. He weeps over children who are trafficked and/or sold to slave labor camps and abused in so many other ways.
God, help us, as you helped Mary and Joseph protect Jesus. May we, like Joseph, be listening to Your instructions. May we let You be our Guide and Protector and use us as your reliable and responsible partners. I ask this in Jesus' name.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Being a "Herod," or a "Joseph" or a "Mary" in Today's World--Who am I?
Today, in the Catholic Church, we celebrate the feast of Holy Innocents, those children slaughtered by Herod after he heard about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem and whose kingdom would last forever. He perceived his kingdom and his power at risk and would have none of it!
Of whom am I, are you, jealous? By whose power, real or imagined, do I, do you, feel threatened? Is there anyone who you are degrading verbally, putting down by demeaning images and, if so, why? How is that person a threat to you, even if an unconscious threat? Instead of attacking another, what if you and I sent person/s a blessing, prayed for them and turned them, and ourselves, over to a merciful God for the graces he or she needs and that we need as well? What if you and I did not join those who pour out the poisonous venom of hatred, bigotry, misogyny, prejudice and other divisive stances and, instead, spread love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness as Jesus did? Or are we not serious about our faith in the Lord? Are we, in truth, making the world a better place because of who we are and what we stand for? Or do we simply become part of the crowd of cynical, hate-filled mongrels afraid to look oneself honestly in the mirror and examine what attitudes have poisoned our minds?
Obviously, Herod did not face the truth about himself and simply went on a killing spree, totally out of control of the negativity, the jealousy, the selfishness and sinfulness within him. We, too, can be a "Herod" in today's world by our words, our actions, our silence. We can choose to teach others the dynamics of hatred, jealousy, envy, lust for power and control and other sinful attitudes. We can encourage others to seek superiority over others and express that delusional superiority in words and actions that put others down. On the other hand, we can choose to be a "Joseph", a "Mary", listening to God's call to be men and women of integrity who protect children from venomous environments and take them away from places of danger--physical or non-physical. Yes, we can be teachers of Gospel values or the values taught in any other religion--values of integrity, truth, love in both word and action.
Of whom am I, are you, jealous? By whose power, real or imagined, do I, do you, feel threatened? Is there anyone who you are degrading verbally, putting down by demeaning images and, if so, why? How is that person a threat to you, even if an unconscious threat? Instead of attacking another, what if you and I sent person/s a blessing, prayed for them and turned them, and ourselves, over to a merciful God for the graces he or she needs and that we need as well? What if you and I did not join those who pour out the poisonous venom of hatred, bigotry, misogyny, prejudice and other divisive stances and, instead, spread love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness as Jesus did? Or are we not serious about our faith in the Lord? Are we, in truth, making the world a better place because of who we are and what we stand for? Or do we simply become part of the crowd of cynical, hate-filled mongrels afraid to look oneself honestly in the mirror and examine what attitudes have poisoned our minds?
Obviously, Herod did not face the truth about himself and simply went on a killing spree, totally out of control of the negativity, the jealousy, the selfishness and sinfulness within him. We, too, can be a "Herod" in today's world by our words, our actions, our silence. We can choose to teach others the dynamics of hatred, jealousy, envy, lust for power and control and other sinful attitudes. We can encourage others to seek superiority over others and express that delusional superiority in words and actions that put others down. On the other hand, we can choose to be a "Joseph", a "Mary", listening to God's call to be men and women of integrity who protect children from venomous environments and take them away from places of danger--physical or non-physical. Yes, we can be teachers of Gospel values or the values taught in any other religion--values of integrity, truth, love in both word and action.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Loving God and Letting God Love Us
As I was reflecting on the creche, I thought of God, the Creator of the universe, being "confined" to the body of an infant. Such thoughts came out of being confined for several days because of a minor contagious illness. However, I also thought of those confined to a prison cell for years, even for life, for a crime they committed. Regarding God "being confined to a body of an infant", the Lord responded to me in prayer, as follows: I hid myself in an infant's body to communicate God's approach-ability, God's tenderness, God's love. Come to me, Dorothy Ann (insert your name); do not be afraid. I love you. I want you to hold Me, your God. Hold Me as I hold you in love, in compassion, in mercy. Let us cuddle. I know! Cuddling with God seems ludicrous to you but not to me. As Your Good Shepherd, I seek you always when you go astray; I find you and bring you back to the fold, holding you, cuddling you, and triumphantly happy in holding you against my chest. Recall John, who laid his head on my chest. I cherished that touch and I cherish yours, especially when you touch Me by touching others in genuine love!
May you and I grow in our love of God, in knowing God's approach-ability and His desire to show us His love, to feel His love, to cherish His love and return it to Him personally and through our love for ourselves and others.
May you and I grow in our love of God, in knowing God's approach-ability and His desire to show us His love, to feel His love, to cherish His love and return it to Him personally and through our love for ourselves and others.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
A Light Shines in the Darkness of our World
"What came to be through him [Jesus] was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1: 3). For more than 2000 years the light of Christ has not been dimmed but continues to shine brightly in the hearts of all who believe and are saved from the Evil One, the author of all sin that darkens the heart and the mind of sinners deceived by Satan, are unrepentant and do not acknowledge their sinfulness, however great or small ones sins may be!
Lord, come and enter into the dark areas of my mind, and soul and heart. May I turn to you, my Savior and my God. I ask, Lord, God, that You turn the mind, the hearts and the souls of all men and women to Your Light. In particular, may the Light of Christ penetrate the darkness of those who cling to deception, who vehemently and violently deny truth, and spread darkness by the corruption of their lives and the lives of those who defend them. I ask this in Jesus' name!
Lord, come and enter into the dark areas of my mind, and soul and heart. May I turn to you, my Savior and my God. I ask, Lord, God, that You turn the mind, the hearts and the souls of all men and women to Your Light. In particular, may the Light of Christ penetrate the darkness of those who cling to deception, who vehemently and violently deny truth, and spread darkness by the corruption of their lives and the lives of those who defend them. I ask this in Jesus' name!
Monday, December 23, 2019
Elizabeth's Persistence in What God Asked of Her
In today's Gospel, Luke 1: 57-66, we are presented with the birth of John the Baptist and the eighth day when he was brought to the temple for circumcision. When asked what name they were to give him, Elizabeth says" John is his name." The people object, wanting to name him after his father Zachariah. Scorning Elizabeth, they turn to her mute husband, who writes: "John is his name."
Elizabeth persists in spite of the fact that the people reject her statement: "John is his name." She is firm in her faith, knowing that that was the name the angel told Zachariah would be his. She stands up for what she believes in a culture where women were discounted, shoved into the background, disbelieved, as in many instances today. We still face opposition and put-downs because we are women. Elizabeth would have none of it and persisted in what she believed and got her point across! She would not be shoved aside and overruled! "John is his name."
What is God asking me or you to hold onto? What is it that you, that I, know is true and needs to be made known, even though we may be shunned, discounted, shoved aside, or another's position counted over yours/mine? Do you and I remain true to what we are being asked to make known? Or do we hide ourselves and say nothing, do nothing?
Lord, help us remain faithful to what we know you are asking of us! Help us speak up when you are asking us to make known our thoughts, because we know what we are thinking is right and needs to be expressed! Help us do what you are calling us to do, even if no one else is doing it!
Elizabeth persists in spite of the fact that the people reject her statement: "John is his name." She is firm in her faith, knowing that that was the name the angel told Zachariah would be his. She stands up for what she believes in a culture where women were discounted, shoved into the background, disbelieved, as in many instances today. We still face opposition and put-downs because we are women. Elizabeth would have none of it and persisted in what she believed and got her point across! She would not be shoved aside and overruled! "John is his name."
What is God asking me or you to hold onto? What is it that you, that I, know is true and needs to be made known, even though we may be shunned, discounted, shoved aside, or another's position counted over yours/mine? Do you and I remain true to what we are being asked to make known? Or do we hide ourselves and say nothing, do nothing?
Lord, help us remain faithful to what we know you are asking of us! Help us speak up when you are asking us to make known our thoughts, because we know what we are thinking is right and needs to be expressed! Help us do what you are calling us to do, even if no one else is doing it!
God Alone Saves
In yesterday's first reading, Isaiah 7: 10-14, God asked Ahaz to ask for a sign. He refuses to do so, thought his kingdom is in great jeopardy. A foreign nation is about to attack Israel and destroy its treasured possessions. Ahaz himself had given into to worshipping pagan idols, even sacrificing one of his children to a foreign god. Israel deflected, as had Ahaz. Part of Israel's history is deflecting to foreign gods, not trusting God on their way to the Promised Land. As with Adam and Eve, the Israelites abandoned their covenant with God, but God did not abandon His covenant with them, or with us. When things looked bad,. Israel lost faith.
In yesterday's Gospel, Joseph is confronted with a situation that looks as though everything in his life had gone terribly wrong: Mary is pregnant. Joseph plans to divorce her quietly, hoping, no doubt, that she will not be put to death, a practice in his culture in the case of a woman who conceives a child out of wedlock. At night in a dream an angel appears to Joseph and, in effect, says to him: "You got it all wrong, Joseph. Mary was not playing around with another man nor was she raped. The child in her womb was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. That child is the Son of God assuming human form and He will save His people from their sins. Do not be afraid to take Mary into your home as your wife."
You and I live in a world where everything seems to have gone terribly wrong. Pagan gods are worshipped everywhere, it seems and in every country of the world and every nation! People seek salvation from their misery and emptiness in consumerism, materialism, power, prestige, popularity, wealth, relativism (anything seems to go--corruption, deception, violations of law). GOD ENTERS, as in Joseph's life and says to us: "You got everything wrong. Turn to me and away from your idolatrous ways and thoughts. As with Ahaz, our "cities," our "treasures" will eventually be destroyed. They have no power to save us. We have no power to save ourselves. Only God can save! And God comes to us, not in fire, not in an earthquake, but as an infant baby who wins the hearts of all, as does any infant. God comes to us hidden in the consecrated host at every Catholic Mass. He comes to save us from ourselves, from our deception, corruption, selfishness, sinfulness. GOD ENTERS QUIETLY, HUMBLY, COMPASSIONATELY AND, DECEIVINGLY, WITH GOD-POWER TO MAKE US HOLY IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE!
In yesterday's Gospel, Joseph is confronted with a situation that looks as though everything in his life had gone terribly wrong: Mary is pregnant. Joseph plans to divorce her quietly, hoping, no doubt, that she will not be put to death, a practice in his culture in the case of a woman who conceives a child out of wedlock. At night in a dream an angel appears to Joseph and, in effect, says to him: "You got it all wrong, Joseph. Mary was not playing around with another man nor was she raped. The child in her womb was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. That child is the Son of God assuming human form and He will save His people from their sins. Do not be afraid to take Mary into your home as your wife."
You and I live in a world where everything seems to have gone terribly wrong. Pagan gods are worshipped everywhere, it seems and in every country of the world and every nation! People seek salvation from their misery and emptiness in consumerism, materialism, power, prestige, popularity, wealth, relativism (anything seems to go--corruption, deception, violations of law). GOD ENTERS, as in Joseph's life and says to us: "You got everything wrong. Turn to me and away from your idolatrous ways and thoughts. As with Ahaz, our "cities," our "treasures" will eventually be destroyed. They have no power to save us. We have no power to save ourselves. Only God can save! And God comes to us, not in fire, not in an earthquake, but as an infant baby who wins the hearts of all, as does any infant. God comes to us hidden in the consecrated host at every Catholic Mass. He comes to save us from ourselves, from our deception, corruption, selfishness, sinfulness. GOD ENTERS QUIETLY, HUMBLY, COMPASSIONATELY AND, DECEIVINGLY, WITH GOD-POWER TO MAKE US HOLY IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE!
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Nothing is Impossible with God
In today's first reading, Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25, an angel appears to the wife of Manoah, who was barren. The angel says to her: "'Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son....It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines....[T]he boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death'....The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the Spirit of the Lord stirred him."
Nothing is impossible with God then or now! Like with the son of the woman in today's Scriptures, you and I are God's handmaidens/sons. We have been sent to this world with a mission that no one else will carry out. If you and I do not carry out the mission for which we were sent, that mission remains unfulfilled. We may not have been consecrated to God from the womb, but we were consecrated to God in our baptisms. That anointing remains firm until our deaths. We, like the son of this woman, are blessed. The Spirit of the Lord stirs us. Do we listen? Do we do what the Spirit of the Lord is nudging us to do?
Lord, have mercy on us when we fail to heed the Spirit's stirrings!
Nothing is impossible with God then or now! Like with the son of the woman in today's Scriptures, you and I are God's handmaidens/sons. We have been sent to this world with a mission that no one else will carry out. If you and I do not carry out the mission for which we were sent, that mission remains unfulfilled. We may not have been consecrated to God from the womb, but we were consecrated to God in our baptisms. That anointing remains firm until our deaths. We, like the son of this woman, are blessed. The Spirit of the Lord stirs us. Do we listen? Do we do what the Spirit of the Lord is nudging us to do?
Lord, have mercy on us when we fail to heed the Spirit's stirrings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)