The Power of Stories (Christmas 2016)

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Imitate St. Joseph (4th Sunday of Advent, Year A)

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Today’s first reading from Isaiah reminds us that we are in the time of final preparation for Christmas. This passage is offered to highlight that it was not just the coming of a Messiah foretold in the Old Testament but even some of the circumstances of his birth, especially the fact that he was to be born of a virgin mother. The Gospel then provides us with the account of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus and explicitly quotes the prophecy which we already heard in the first reading. The key character in the gospel is Joseph who is filled in on the Divine Plan through a dream. Matthew's Gospel contains more about St Joseph than any of the other Gospel writers. St Luke mentions him seven times but none of these tell us very much about Joseph himself. He only gets one brief mention in the Gospel of Mark and two passing references in the Gospel of John. 

Matthew is much more detailed and we are told about four dreams of Joseph, the first of which is presented to us in today's reading. In a further dream, he is instructed to take his family into Egypt to escape King Herod's wrath and then once the danger is over another dream informs him that it is now safe to return home to Israel. The final dream warns him to go to Galilee instead of Judea. About the only actual description of Joseph in the Bible is also given by Matthew in today's reading where it simply states that he was a righteous man. This says a very great deal about Joseph and anyone would be quite proud to have those words said about them at their funeral. 

Joseph had his life mapped out when God threw a curve ball. Mary, his betrothed, "was found with child." St. Matthew gives only a few details but we can imagine the anguish and turmoil. The true paternity of Mary's child is revealed to him in the dream and he does what he is asked by the Angel and marries Mary and protects her and the child Jesus, returning only to his own village once things were safe for them. These are indeed righteous actions for which he deserves to be praised. We admire Joseph because he does not question the Angel; he simply does what he is asked to do recognizing that these instructions come ultimately from God. 

We would do well to imitate Joseph in our own lives especially when we are faced with circumstances which are far from ideal. We should take him for our model and try to do the right things at the correct times. It would have been very easy for Joseph to feel sorry for himself and be upset at all the surprises God allowed him to experience. 

We can learn a lot from the quiet steady way Joseph dealt with this crisis. What matters most is his openness to God's voice and God's will. The crisis makes him realize he belongs to something much bigger than himself. We'll see more next weekend when we celebrate Christ's birth. For sure, life can be messy but that does not mean God cannot be found right in the middle of the mess. 

Perhaps St. Joseph teaches us not to run from life's messiness but rather to accept whatever people and circumstances God sends into our life. In doing so we want to follow St. Joseph's example of righteousness. As Matthew Kelly writes, "Be gentle with people who cross your path. If someone is grumpy or rude, if someone makes a mistake or does something wrong, give her the benefit of the doubt. You never know what she is carrying around inside." "Life is messy, but nobody can take your hope from you. The point is not to get hung up on our weaknesses, but to recognize God uses trials to reach people. So look for the mess in your own life - and help others in their struggles - that's where God works most intensely to overcome our resistance to him.

May these final days of Advent become opportunities to trust more fully in God’s plan and love for us, no matter how crazy or messy life gets. Let us ask St. Joseph to help us grow in righteousness as we await the birth of the Savior. Then we, like him, can be protectors of others and help God’s will to be done on earth.

Spiritual Stockholm Syndrome (3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A)

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         On August 23rd, 1973 two criminals carrying machine-guns entered a bank in Stockholm, Sweden. Firing their weapons, one of the perpetrators announced to the terrified bank employees “The party has just begun!” The two bank robbers held four hostages, three women and one man, for the next five days. The hostages were strapped with dynamite and held in a bank vault until finally being rescued on August 28th.

         After their rescue, the hostages exhibited a shocking attitude, considering they were threatened, abused, and fearful for their lives during the five-day ordeal. In their media interviews, it was clear they supported their captors and actually feared the law enforcement personnel who came to their rescue. The hostages had begun to feel the captors were protecting them from the police. One woman later became engaged to one of the criminals and another developed a legal defense fund to aid in their defense fees. Clearly, the hostages had “bonded” emotionally with their captors.

        

         While the psychological condition in hostage situations became known as “Stockholm Syndrome” due to the publicity, the emotional “bonding” with captors was already a familiar story in psychology. It had been recognized many years before and was found in studies of other hostage, prisoner, or abusive situations.

         Crazy as it may seem, this principle holds true even in the spiritual realm and maybe is even more dangerous because its hold is so subtle and easy to overlook. Advent is a chance to be set free from the things that imprison and hold us hostage. In these weeks before Christmas, we hear beautiful readings and prophecies about the freedom, joy and prosperity the Messiah will bring with him. Its no wonder the Jewish people were so excited for the arrival of the Savior. The problem was, after hundreds of years of waiting, they had forgotten what enslaved them in the first place. It wasn't the Romans, Babylonians, Egyptians, or any other army. It was sin, manifested in pride, envy, lust, hypocrisy, and greed. Sin was a captor so cunning and charming that many loved it and longed to be in its grip.

         Fast forward 2000 years to today, to us. Unfortunately, we haven't learned that much! How common it is for us, even the followers of Christ, to bond with some sort of sin ourselves! The very thing that threatens our soul and our chance at eternal happiness, is something we get attached to and hesitate to let go of. Spiritual Stockholm syndrome can sneak into any soul.

         This third Sunday of Advent is called "Gaudete Sunday". Gaudete is the Latin word for "rejoice". We are rejoicing because our salvation, indicated by the birth of Christ, is not far away. Or at least we should be. But, truth be told, we can be like those four hostages in Sweden, afraid to be rescued, attached to the very things that threaten us. This Sunday of rejoicing challenges us to examine "what" or "who" it is that causes us to rejoice. Is it God? Are we celebrating his Grace and mercy? Do we find happiness in knowing that we are loved and saved in his Son's death on the cross?

         Or do we seek happiness in riches, wealth, and comfort? In snatching up the last Hatchimal, hoverboard, or other hot gift that everybody wants to find? Are we convinced that the bigger house, the sweeter ride, the nicer threads, or the more exotic vacation will be the thing that will take us to the next level and make us happy?

         It can be easy to say "no, that's not me" with our words. But what do our actions say? What to our priorities point to? What do we rejoice in?

         The devil is smart, sneaky, and relentless. Without constant prayer, reflection, and frequent reception of the sacraments, especially confession and Holy Communion, it is possible for him to take our hearts hostage. If we rely on our own wit and wisdom, we will experience that spiritual Stockholm syndrome; hanging onto and seeking the very things that hurt us.

         Two weeks of Advent remain; pause to consider what it is right now that makes you rejoice. Is it God and his salvation? Or is it something else? Whatever your answer, seek freedom and joy in the one relationship that will free every part of your life. A friendship with Christ will put everything in perspective. Confront whatever holds you hostage and cry out in the words of our psalm, "Lord, come and save us!"

         

In a Perfect World... (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A)

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There is a desire in every person for a perfect world. Especially when things get really tough. We all take refuge in the simple thought that the world can be a better place than what we are experiencing here and now. And I suspect that all of us, at some time or another, have made a little list of what a perfect world looks like. I came across a list of some of the things that would be in this perfect world, and I thought I would share a few:

In a Perfect World a person should feel as good at 60 as he did at 16, and he would actually be as smart at 60 as he thought he was at 16. 

In a Perfect World you could give away a baby bed without getting pregnant. 

In a Perfect World pro baseball players would complain about teachers being paid contracts worth millions of dollars. 

In a Perfect World the mail would always be early, the check would always be in the mail, and it would be written for more than you expected. 

In a Perfect World cookies might have calories, but if you ate them with ice cream, the calories would be neutralized. 

In a Perfect World, every once in a while, a kid who always closed the door softly would be told, "Go back and slam the door."

In a perfect world, the priest would never talk about money, their homilies would incredibly amusing and inspiring, while lasting only four minutes and you would always find a parking place near the door.

These are just a few of the items that would be found in a perfect world. I am sure that you could tell me many more that you would add to the list. But this concept of a perfect world is more than just the product of our wishful thinking or vivid imagination. In our first reading today, we hear the prophet Isaiah, as he announces the world that will accompany the coming of the messiah. In beautiful and incredible terms, he predicts the wonderful ways that the world will be transformed. Listen again to Isaiah’s description of the world:

He will care for the poor and afflicted, he will slay the ruthless and the wicked. 

He will be clothed in justice and faithfulness.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my 

holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD.

What a beautiful description of the perfect world! How comforting to imagine living in a place of such perfect peace, harmony, and justice! Yes, this prophecy from Isaiah indeed describes a perfect world, a world which only God can establish and maintain.

With this image in mind, we might wonder how it fits with our gospel today. In the passage from Matthew, we hear about John the Baptist, who captures our attention with his wild appearance, exotic diet of locusts and wild honey, and his strong language of repentance. How seemingly different is John’s approach to the perfect world where he calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers and warns us that everyone not bearing good fruit will be laid low and tossed into everlasting fire. John’s message is an uncomfortable one. His mission was to prepare the way of the Lord by helping people realize their sinfulness and rekindle their hope for the promise of salvation. Gone are the comforting images of peace and harmony. In place of these we receive a jarring challenge that ends with judgment and fire. We might struggle to see how his message is directly related to the idyllic prophesy of Isaiah in the first reading.

But, in fact, Isaiah’s promise of the perfect world and the message of John the Baptist are inseparable. The only way to reach that perfect world of justice, harmony, and peace is to first embrace the spirit of repentance John promoted. The painful truth is we live in an imperfect world and we are very imperfect people. Just like the people who encountered John the Baptist in person, we too need to be reminded of our need for repentance and the salvation which only Christ can give. This is the point of Advent, to awaken our souls to our need for the Divine Messiah and to call us to a greater repentance for our sins and weaknesses that keep us from approaching the holy mountain of the Lord. By embracing this spirit of repentance, we become more and more capable of welcoming the messiah when he comes at Christmas.

But embracing a spirit of repentance is not always easy. How often we imitate the Pharisees and Sadducees, by appearing outwardly righteous in our actions but refusing to conform our hearts to the coming of Christ in our daily lives? How easy it can be to ignore those modern-day John the Baptist’s whether that be the Catholic Church, a priest, or the persistent voice of our own conscience? 

We all desire to reach that perfect world described in our first reading. Our hearts ache for an existence filled with lasting peace, justice, and harmony. The good news is that this place is more than a dream, God assures us that it is a reality for all who follow him and live for his glory. But we only reach this perfect world through the message of John the Baptist. We can only enjoy the promise of eternal happiness if we first embrace a spirit of repentance and allow this life to be a time of purification. John came to prepare the way for Jesus - the Prince of Peace. He came and offered a gift of God - a gift that enables us to meet God more fully. The gift of repentance.  

As we celebrate this second Sunday of Advent, what is it in your life that needs repentance? What can you do to better prepare the way of the Lord to come into your heart this Christmas? Are you willing to be purified by the sacrament of confession and set free from the bondage of sin?  To confess, to repent, is often very difficult. Admitting our need for help, and believing that help is available, even for us, can be a hard thing to do - but it's the key to unlocking that perfect world of Isaiah: a future of inner and outer peace, the peace promised long ago, the peace that Jesus brings even now to those who accept God's gift and which he will bring fully to the whole world on the day of his return. So let us embrace a spirit of repentance this advent season so that we may enter into that perfect world which is the longing of every human heart.