The Holy Family

            It is in this cold, dark and sometimes snowy time of the year that the Church encourages us to meditate on some of the most important parts of our faith. Less than a week ago, we gathered to ponder the awesome mystery of Christ’s birth. We rejoiced in the fact that God so loved the world that he sent his only-begotten Son to become man and live with us. All creation was filled with awe that almighty God would become a tiny, vulnerable baby and accept the many limitations that come with being a human being. This humility of our God, manifested at Christmas and celebrated each year by Christians goes even deeper to the feast we celebrate today, the feast of the Holy Family. The weekend following Christmas is always reserved for this celebration which helps us to grow in appreciation of the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as well as our own families who have raised and formed us.

            There is not a great deal that we know about the Holy Family. This part of Jesus’ life is called his hidden life. But we do know that this time was crucial to his development as a human person, where he learned the many lessons that form a person into a good and holy member of society. This hidden life was the majority of Christ’s life; about thirty of his thirty-three years on this earth. And so, in these days following the celebration of his glorious birth, the Church invites us to meditate on the lessons and mysteries of his hidden life in Nazareth.  

During most of his life, Jesus shared the condition of humanity: a daily life spent without obvious greatness, a life of manual labor and daily instruction. His spiritual life would have been that of an observant Jew, obedient to the law of God, while living out an ordinary life in the community. We learn something about Jesus from this period of time. We are told that Jesus was "obedient" to his parents and that he "increased in wisdom, age, and favor with God and man."

             Jesus’ obedience to his mother Mary and foster-father Joseph, was the perfect example of the fourth commandment. It was also the earthly sign of his obedience to his Father in heaven. The everyday obedience of Jesus prepared the way for his obedience on Holy Thursday when he began his suffering and death with the desire: "Not my will but thy will be done." The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already beginning his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed.

            The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life. Pope Paul the VI gives a beautiful meditation on the Holy Family. He says that:

             

            “The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus--the school of the Gospel. First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us a lesson on family life. Second, we learn about family life. May Nazareth serve as a model of what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character. [It is] beautiful for the problems it poses and the rewards it brings.”

 The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus. Here Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from his divine sonship: "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's work?" Mary and Joseph did not understand these words, but they accepted them in faith. Scripture tells us that Mary "kept all these things in her heart" during the years Jesus remained hidden in the silence of an ordinary life. It was from this lengthy period of silence, the daily routine of family life, and the many lessons that come from work, obedience, and prayer that prepared Christ for his mission as the Savior of the human race.

 God could have chosen a different way for his Son to be born and raised. There are countless other scenarios and possibilities that could have played out. But God sent his Son, born as a child, into a human family, with a mother and father, because it is the best way for a person to be loved, nurtured, and formed. The family is the foundation of society and the basic unit that provides structure to our society. This is why we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family today, to pray for our own families and to look to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph for encouragement in forming good and loving families.

            As we gather here today, in the joy and excitement of the Christmas season, let us ask the Holy family to help us be better members of our human families. Children, you are called to respect and obey your parents, in the same spirit of love and humility that Jesus did for Mary and Joseph. Parents, you are called to deepen, every day, the love and care you have for your children. You are called to help them grow in wisdom and favor in the sight of God. Husbands, you are called to imitate St. Joseph in showing undying respect, unconditional love and humble service to your wives. Love your wife in the same way that Christ loves the Church. You are called to protect her integrity and be a source of kindness, strength, and holiness for her. Wives, love your husbands in the same way that the Church loves Christ. Support them in their work to provide for others, help them to spread the gospel in the world and in your home.  Let your love be defined by loyalty and gentleness; always pondering in your heart, the will of God in your home. Outdo one another in showing mutual love and self-sacrifice.

            Let us find inspiration in the hidden life of Christ to live a virtuous life, developing our personal gifts, and contributing to society with our work. May this feast of the Holy Family always remind us that we are not just members of a human family but also members of God’s family.  My prayer for each of you in this Christmas season is that you experience the peace and joy of the Holy Family in your own households by imitating their example. May your homes be little Nazareths that make the world a better place and bring the light of Christ to a world wading through sin and darkness. 

Christmas

This past Sunday, there was an excellent article in the Wall Street Journal by Robert Sapolsky on a spontaneous Christmas truce that occurred during the First World War. This terrible war, sparked by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the archduke of Austria, would begin in 1914 and conclude 4 years later after some 16 million people had died. On Christmas Eve, 1914, German soldiers began decorating the areas around their trenches, including the trees, with candles. They also sang Christmas carols throughout the fortifications. The British troops, on the other side of the battlefield, responded with songs of their own. Before long, soldiers were shouting Christmas greetings to each other. After a while, a few cautious soldiers from each side laid down their equipment, painted a sign with the words, “A Merry Christmas” and met in the dreaded killing field known as “No Man’s Land.” Soon after this initial encounter, troops up and down the Western Front of battle laid down their weapons, shook hands with the enemy, and began trading food, souvenirs, and other goods. Time was taken to rest, hold joint memorial services for the dead, and even hold a soccer match. This truce lasted through Christmas day in most areas and even to the New Year in some places. Sadly, the killing began anew after senior officers threatened soldiers with punishment if they did not resume fighting. In fact, many of the soldiers who initiated the truce up and down the line were court-martialed for their friendly exchanges with the enemy.

In spite of these threats and punishments, certain little unofficial truces continued during the war and became the seeds for a permanent ceasefire in 1918. For example, one side started ending their artillery fire precisely at 6pm and gave the enemy one hour to have a quiet supper before beginning again in earnest at 7pm. The other side realized this and also quieted their guns at the same time as a token of good will. This informal ceasefire spread to food trucks and latrines, which were unofficially off limits, even though they were easy targets. There are even accounts of snipers who would fire on an abandoned house near an enemy position. The sharpshooter would hit the exact same spot, day after day, making his point, “I could get you, but I am choosing not to.” The other side would respond in the same way with their snipers and an informal, wordless agreement was reached: We will shoot over your head if you shoot over ours.”

So, what do these incredible stories teach us? What is illustrated by these moments of tender humanity in the midst of unimaginable suffering and loss of life? We know people are capable of causing each other terrible pain and suffering through sinful thoughts, words, and actions. But each of us has an even greater ability to forgive, to love, and to heal others through acts of charity and loving worship to God. It is this God-given gift of kindness and solidarity that is celebrated at Christmas as the world takes a breath from its incessant struggle, remembering we share a common light in the God who shared our humanity. 

We humans have not been made for the darkness of sin, suffering, and death. We are not made for war, we are not meant to carry the burden of hatred. We are not doomed to stumble along as victims of circumstance, blinded by grudges, past mistakes, or self-hatred. Even during the worst times in the history of humanity, something beautiful and loving always finds its way into the world. Sometimes it takes a gesture of peace and kindness like the Christmas truce of 1914 to remind us that we are all made by God and for God.

Each year, Christmas serves to jar us out of the darkness of a fallen world. The birth of God as a tiny, helpless baby reminds us that we are loved beyond measure by the One who created all things. The Savior of heaven and earth lets us know that God will never give up on his children, no matter how many times we mess up, or hurt one other, or run away from him. Christmas serves as a heavenly wake-up call that we are inherently good, along with the whole created world; it invites us to let loose that goodness into a universe that is often wrapped up in its self-created darkness and gloom.

Tonight God crosses No-man’s land as a vulnerable newborn, inviting us to a truce. He says, “Lay down your hurts, your anger, your unforgiveness, your feelings of unworthiness, worthlessness, and sadness. Surrender whatever puts you at war with yourself, your family, friends, and yes, even with the Almighty.” Lay aside these things and enjoy peace, rest, and joy; the things you were made for and the very things your heart longs for. 

May God bless you and your loved ones with the very same peace and happiness that put a war on hold and caused enemies to celebrate together as brothers. A Merry Christmas to you and all the best in the year to come!

4th Sunday of Advent (Cycle B)

In 1962, during the height of the Cold War, an institution was founded to provide strategic insights to decision-makers in government, international institutions, and civil society. This group was called The Center for Strategic and International studies and they compiled reports on a variety of issues.  One report dealt with Global Organized Crime and it detailed a raid by FBI agents on a psychiatric hospital in San Diego that was being investigated for insurance fraud.  After hours of reviewing medical records, the dozens of agents were quite hungry.  The agent in charge of the investigation called a pizza parlor to order dinner for his colleagues.  The following telephone conversation took place and was recorded by the FBI because they were taping all phone calls to and from the hospital: 

     Agent: Hello. I would like to order 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of soda. 

     Pizza Man: And where would you like them delivered? 

     Agent: We're over at the psychiatric hospital. 

     Pizza Man: The psychiatric hospital? 

     Agent: That's right. I'm an FBI agent. 

     Pizza Man: You're an FBI agent? 

     Agent: That's correct. Just about everybody here is. 

     Pizza Man: And you're at the psychiatric hospital? 

Agent: That's correct.  And make sure you don't go through the front doors.  We have them locked. You will have to go around to the back to the service entrance to deliver the pizzas. 

     Pizza Man: And you say you're all FBI agents? 

     Agent: That's right.  How soon can you have them here? 

     Pizza Man: And everyone at the psychiatric hospital is an FBI agent? 

     Agent: That's right. We've been here all day and we're starving. 

     Pizza Man: How are you going to pay for all of this? 

     Agent: I have my checkbook right here. 

     Pizza Man: And you're all FBI agents? 

     Agent: That's right.  Everyone here is an FBI agent.  Can you remember to bring the pizzas and sodas to the service entrance in the rear?  We have the front doors locked. 

     Pizza Man:  I don't think so.  Click. 

I think the feeling the Pizza Man had as he participated in that conversation must have similar to what Mary felt when she first encountered the angel Gabriel in the Annunciation. In this brief conversation, the salvation of the world hung in the balance. How incredible and confusing this must have been for Mary. Imagine the shock of having an angel appear and greet you as one "full of grace"! Gabriel goes on to tell her that she is going to become the mother of God. Taken aback, Mary interjects a practical concern: "how can this be since I have no relations with a man?" Gabriel responds that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and points out that nothing is impossible with God.

Although we don’t hear it today, a similar announcement was made by Gabriel to a member of Mary’s close family, just a few verses earlier in Luke’s gospel. Zechariah, the husband of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, has just heard that he and his wife are about to have a child, even though they are far beyond child-bearing years. Gabriel makes these two Annunciations, one right after the other. Each is about a child to be born, but neither one is possible according to human wisdom. Elizabeth is barren, so she cannot have a child. Mary has no husband and she had never has had conjugal relations. So why was Zechariah struck deaf and mute, while Mary went peacefully on her way? They both confronted with hard-to-believe-news, but listen to how each one reacts:

• Zechariah says, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

• Mary: "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

While these two responses of Mary and Zechariah seem very similar, they are actually quite different in what they are asking. The faith or the lack thereof behind their question is the reason why Mary will be held up as a model of trust for all generations while Zechariah will be punished with almost a year of silence. 

Zechariah’s reply, while realistic, is insulting. His heart is skeptical. He is saying to the angel, "give me some reason to believe what you are saying," since your word is not enough. This kind of question should never have occurred to him. God's voice had already spoken love deeply into his heart throughout his whole life. He had been blessed by God as a temple priest. He was privileged to literally be in the presence of God as part of his priestly duties, something almost no one in Israel could do. His trust in God’s promise should have been part of who he was. In this sense, Zechariah was already deaf and mute when he heard the Angel! He could not receive the words of the Angel, and therefore could not give birth to the truth in his response to Gabriel.

Mary on the other hand seemed to know already that "nothing is impossible for God." Her heart was docile and willing to do anything God wanted. Her question was not a challenge to God to prove how he would do these things, nor was it a protest in any way. She simply asked for clarification. Just tell me how this is going to happen and I will gladly do it. Mary had already said “yes” to God in her heart on a daily basis. All she wanted to know was how to carry out his will. A remarkable gift and something we too often fail to live. 

A comparison of the responses of Mary and  Zechariah helps us to understand Mary’s love for God, her unwavering trust in him, and how she listened with her heart. It also challenges us to give God our “yes” in the same way: unconditionally, no strings attached. How much do you and I listen to the voice of God's promise? It is written in our hearts and reinforced in the love we experience in our families, friends, and right here in this church. Do we give God that fundamental “yes” and use our prayer to discover how God wants us to carry out his plan? Or are we more like Zechariah, skeptical, questioning God’s will, and demanding that he prove to us how it will all work?  

In these last days of Advent, let us ask humbly for the grace of Mary to listen and to hear. Whatever God’s plan for us, may we echo her words “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Sky Full of Stars, (3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle B)

One of the more popular songs this year has come from the British band Coldplay. In this song, titled “A Sky Full of Stars”, the singer croons about how someone very special shines like a sky full of stars and lights up his path. He also mentions how this person gets brighter, the darker things get and how they are so wonderful that even in a sky full of stars, he can see his beloved. It is rather catchy tune and from the description he gives, the person he is singing about must be pretty spectacular. 

When I read the gospel for the weekend, I immediately thought of this song in reference to John the Baptist. Since the sin of Adam and Eve, the world had been dwelling in spiritual darkness, waiting, hoping for the messiah who would free them from sin and re-open heaven. By the time of John, the darkness had become overwhelming. The Chosen People were oppressed in every way by their Roman occupiers and things were so bad that even some of their fellow Jews were working against their own countrymen in order to make a living. The world desperately needed the messiah but it wasn’t quite ready to recognize and embrace him. To introduce the savior without warning would be blinding, like coming out of dark room into the bright sunlight. A gentle light would need to come first; starlight before sunlight. 

This light was John, the last of prophets. He was the sky full of stars that would illuminate the path of all those who wanted to return to God. The darker the sins of his fellow man, the brighter John shone, pointing not to himself but to Emmanuel, who was to come very soon. John was the gentle light that enabled to people to begin opening their eyes before the full light of the Son God would shine in the person of Jesus Christ. As bright as he was, John would not be confused with the splendor of the savior, just as we would never mistake a clear night, illumined by moon and stars, as the daytime.

But this homily is not just a reflection on John the Baptist, as worthy as that would be. Reflecting on John and his relation to Christ leads us back to the same message he gave his life for, 2000 years ago. John was trying to stir people out of their comfort zones. He knew, better than most, that people have to keep growing, preparing their hearts for Jesus. His entire self was spent emphasizing the seriousness of giving our hearts, our lives to God. We can get drowsy and just drift along. We can start thinking, “well I always have tomorrow”. A person can even think, “maybe there's even another life where I can have a second chance”.

John knew that the task of turning towards God was a priority…and not something to be delayed. As one anointed by God, John calls his generation - and us - to repentance. This call to repentance is urgent because this life is the one chance we get. Jesus tells us that after death comes judgment - and that the judgment involves two possibilities: heaven or hell. I wish I could tell you not to worry, everything's going to be OK, you still have plenty of time, there will always be another chance. But if I tell you that, I would not be true to Our Lord or John the Baptist. When you hear John speak, you do not get a sense of leisure, but a sense of urgency. Consider the very first words in his public ministry, "The time has come. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel." Jesus picks up the message of John. Repent. This life is serious. It's your one chance. Take it. Prepare your heart for the Son of God. John not only preaches repentance but he illustrates how we prepare our hearts. That preparation has two steps. 

The first involves giving of self. John had great talents: preaching, study, prayer, simplicity of life and fasting, and he used those talents for his people. John's investment made him the greatest man of his generation. He is the last and greatest of the prophets. Jesus says, "no man born of woman is greater than John." The Jewish historian, Josephus, has a paragraph on John the Baptist, describing him as a crucial figure. And in the Acts of the Apostles we see that he had followers as far away as Ephesus in modern Turkey. This fame indicates John’s gift of self. You and I will probably not achieve fame, but hopefully we will follow John's example of investing all of ourselves in our faith. 

John exemplifies something else, a second step we must take after making the effort to give all. That step is humility. When you think about it, humility is the best gift we can give. 

If I give, then start bragging or if I give with strings attached, I will cut myself off from others - and from God. John represents beautiful humility. He was the greatest man of his generation, yet when he Jesus came he said "I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap." In other words, before God, I am lower than the lowest slave. But humility is tricky business. It does not mean hiding one’s gift or excusing ourselves from sharing them. It means giving generously of ourselves then acknowledging the truth - anything you and I could give or do pales when we stand in front of Jesus, just like the night light of the stars is nothing compared to brilliance of the noonday sun. 

This Sunday we see the seriousness of this life - the one opportunity we have to prepare our hearts for Jesus. And we prepare our hearts by St. John's example of self-giving and humility. Next week we will see an even greater example of humility in the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Humility enables us to rejoice always, in every circumstance. Hopefully each of us can embrace this virtue and shine like a sky full of stars to help light the path for others who want to see the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ. May we imitate John the Baptist and become the voice of one crying out in the desert, making straight the way of the Lord.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Sometimes, when I see a "for sale" sign, I think of the cozy house I grew up in. It was a little 1800 sq. ft. ranch in Hazelwood, built like a fort in the post-war era. I used to think that our house was a wreck, but considering the fact that it housed 12 kids, 2 parents, a rabbit and a large dog, it was remarkably clean and intact. This was largely due to my mom’s system of chores and daily tasks that kept things in order.

But as tidy as my mom managed to keep this house, there was a whole new level of stress that took place when my parents decided to put it on the market. Any of you who have sold a house or lived in a home that is for sale, know exactly what I mean. As kids, we were amazed at the amount of work that had to go into preparing our house to be sold. To us it seemed just fine. But the entire house had to be repainted inside and out, knicks and scratches needed to be repaired, plumbing and light fixtures replaced, and new carpet had to be installed. Even after these large tasks were completed, a million little jobs had to be accomplished, like dusting, wiping down cabinets, staging furniture, sprucing up the yard, and so on.

But even this wasn’t the end of what had to be done. Perhaps the most difficult part of living in a house that is for sale is the fact you must be prepared for a visit by the realtor and potential buyer at any time. This is the whole point for all of these preparations; when someone comes to look at your house, they will find a place that is displayed in the best possible light and up to its full potential. This was by far the most difficult part. It was pretty easy to do the big stuff: the major repairs and improvements in the weeks before the house was listed. But how much harder it was to keep the house clean, to avoid moving the chair or table that never used to be there, or to never make the mistake of denting a wall or scuffing some paint on a door!

Now, even though all of these steps were stressful and difficult, they were all worth it because of the final goal of selling the house. Because our family wanted to impress a potential buyer, we were willing to endure some significant hardships and inconvenience. Can you imagine how much more preparation or work we would have done around the house if we had been expecting a visit from a king? How much more we would have been willing to endure? That very concept, the visit of a king, is what I want to talk to you about today. A king is coming, not just any king, but the King of Kings!

Long before Jesus was born, about seven centuries in fact, the prophet Isaiah foretold that there would be a prophet to prepare the way of the Lord. This person’s name was John the Baptist and his role in preparing the world for the Savior was crucial. Scripture tells us that John was indeed a prophetic voice, crying in the wilderness, telling people that Jesus was coming and that they needed to prepare for his arrival.

When John told people that they needed to prepare for the coming of Jesus,

he clearly wasn't talking about a clean house. He was talking about something much more important, a clean heart. He told the people that they needed to confess their sins, repent, and be baptized so that they would be ready to meet the coming King.

Every year, the Church gives us this Advent season to remind us to prepare for the arrival of Christ. Every Advent, the Church holds up the person of John the Baptist for us to consider as we go about the business of preparing ourselves for the coming king. Like the preparations needed to get a house ready for listing, we must first attend to the big-ticket items, the glaring weaknesses in our spiritual lives. For example: Has it been months or years since my last good confession? Am I in the state of grace or am I stuck in a cycle of serious sin? Are there people who need my forgiveness? Unhealthy relationships that I need to let go of?

But just as important is the need for attention to the finer details. Even after I have addressed the larger items that need cleaning and fixing in my soul, we must then focus on the smaller details that make our soul a hospitable place for Christ the king. Do I take time each day for quiet prayer? Am I focusing on the blessings God has given me or do I simply dwell on what I don’t have? Do I treat other people kindly, without selfishness, especially those I might take for granted like family, friends, and co-workers? Am I only trying to avoid sin, or am I also looking for opportunities to serve God and others? 

As we journey towards Bethlehem this Advent season, we do so with determination and joy because we are preparing to celebrate the birth of the King of heaven and earth. He will bring comfort to God’s people and offer the possibility of salvation for all who believe in him. But in order to receive the benefits his birth offers us, we must be prepared to greet him with open arms and clean hearts. So where are you now? What part of John the Baptist’s message needs to be incorporated into your soul? Are you ready to meet the King? Will he find a heart that is hospitable and developed to its full potential? What still needs to be done so that at Christmas, our King will feel welcome and at home in our lives? 

As we pray this second sunday of Advent, may we listen to those words of the prophet: “prepare the way of the LORD!”