Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Feb 2nd

 

“And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter His Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

Today Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Jesus, “the light to the nations and the glory of Israel” arrives in the Temple in the arms of His Mother Mary. According to Jewish law, the first-born male had to be presented to the Lord forty days after his birth.

It was also the rite of purification for mothers who had just given birth. After giving birth, women were considered unclean and could not worship in the temple or touch sacred objects until they were first purified by having a lamb or a pair of turtle doves or pigeons sacrificed. Since Mary and Joseph were poor they offered pigeons or turtle doves.

The circumstances of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and the miraculous birth of Jesus did not render Her impure, it would not have been necessary for Her to follow the purification law, but She obediently followed the law out of humility, waiting 40 days before She could go to the temple.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple was public redemption for any first born son of any other tribe other than the tribe of Levi. The parents would symbolically give their son to God and buy him back by a small monetary offering.

Due to action of the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna are the only people who recognize the Messiah in what appeared to be an ordinary Infant.

Simeon prophesied Jesus would be a sign of contradiction and that now was the time for Simeon to die, since he finally saw his salvation in the form of child who would someday bring about the salvation of all those who were longing for it. He sees Jesus as the light to the nations for the glory of the people Israel.

But with His glorious entry into the Temple, the sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ’s perfect and unique oblation on the Cross, which will impart the salvation God has “prepared in the presence of all peoples”. And so, as the Light came in the world, and departed the world, the tears of His Mother fell upon the ground in sorrow. The result of the sword piercing the Virgin Mary, would be the cause of the thoughts of many hearts to be revealed.

In today’s responsorial psalm the Church recalls, how the Jewish people celebrated the entrance of the Ark of the Covenant, and these words fitting apply to Jesus the New and Everlasting Covenant entering the Temple, “O gates lift up your heads; grow higher ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory.”

Today is also commonly called “Candle Mass Day” in which is customary to bless candles for the church and also for the faithful. Lit candles represent Jesus, the light of the world and light to the nations entering the temple for the first time in His sacred humanity as a child. The candles of wax remind us of Mary, whose spotless virginity gave forth to the world, the everlasting Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The flame from the candles therefore symbolizes Christ, who said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me walks not in darkness.” The lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor, of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil, and to make the whole universe, radiant with the brilliance of His eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ. The Mother of God, the most Pure Virgin, carried the true light in Her arms and brought Him to those who lay in darkness.

As Holy Mother Church blesses the candles today, She prays that the Holy Spirit may enlighten all of us, and so inflamed with His charity, we may truly recognize, faithfully love, and courageously serve God.

Through Mary, the Mother of the Light, may we bring the light of Christ to the world, by all we meet and may the action of the sword that pierced Her soul reveal the thoughts of the hearts of many.

3rd Sunday, The Power of the Word of God

 

This weekend’s readings speak about the power of the Word of God and its importance.

The first reading of today’s Mass is from the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The Jewish people were taken into captivity in the year 721 BC by the King of Assyria. When taken into captivity-- their temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. And now, about 230 years later in 450 BC their captivity is over, and they are returning to Israel. Once the Jewish people reach their Jewish soil, the priest Ezra explains to the people the content of the Law, that they had forgotten during the years they were held captive in the foreign land. He read to them from the Sacred Book (the Holy Scriptures) from early morning until midday. His audience stood and followed the teaching attentively and all the people wept. Their response is sorrow and joy. Sorrow for not having been able to hear the Word of God for so long. That was the reason they were taken into captivity, because even though they heard the Word of God, they failed to follow it--- as it was explained to them by the prophets. Now they are filled with joy, because they once again hear God’s word and now have the opportunity to follow it.

When we come to Mass we stand in an attitude of watchfulness to hear the Good News the Gospel always brings us. We have to listen to the readings with attentiveness in a humble and grateful way---because we know that God is speaking to each one of us in particular. St. Augustine said, “We should hear the Gospel as if Our Lord were present and speaking to us.” And if we realize what St. Augustine says is true, then we come to understand Our Lord longs to speak to our hearts and convince us of His love.

The Word of God can bring us wisdom and direction, healing and freedom. There have been many instances of people at Mass, who had a change of heart due to the scriptures being proclaimed.

St. Anthony of the desert, heard the words at Mass, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,” which inspired him to give away all his vast possessions. He kept a few of his possessions only to see that his sister’s education was completed — and then he began to live in the desert. He then begged an elderly hermit to teach him about the spiritual life. His admirers became so many and so insistent, that he was eventually persuaded to found two monasteries for them-- and to give them a rule of life. These were the first monasteries ever to be founded, and Saint Anthony is considered the father of monasticism. All because he was touched by grace when he heard God’s Word at Mass.

At other times, people had inspirations from the Word of God to follow Him more closely. For example, when Mother Teresa of Calcutta meditated on the words of Jesus on the Cross, “I thirst.” she knew Our Lord wanted her to help the poorest of the poor because Jesus was thirsting for souls. St. Francis of Assisi changed His life from the words of the Gospel, which said, “If you want to be my disciple, give everything you have to the poor and come and follow me.”

God’s Word is different than other words, first and foremost because God Himself is the author of Sacred Scripture. He used humans to convey in written form, His Word to us. And He speaks to us when we proclaim the Sacred Scriptures. A parishioner once told me after Mass, “Father, the first reading and the responsorial psalm was meant for me.”

We have an opportunity to hear the Word of God each time we come to Mass. But, before we hear the readings from Scripture proclaimed and explained, we ask our self, “What is the Lord saying to me?” Then we can try to go home after each Mass with some idea from the Scripture readings or their explanation in the homily in our mind.

We also can hear the Word of God by reading the Bible in our own homes. We can try to nourish our mind every day by feeding it with Sacred Scripture for at least a few minutes. As part of family prayer together every evening why not read a short passage from the Gospels and think about it means for us today. Open your Bible and light a candle beside it as a sign of the presence of Jesus in the Scriptures. Keep your Bible in a prominent place in your home so that you will see it every day and be reminded to read it. It’s always best to pray to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to open our mind and to receive God’s message before we read from the bible.

During Eucharistic Adoration or at home, it’s efficacious for us to meditate on Scripture, and we place our self in the story, such that we see and hear the event as it unfolds and experience Jesus in a personal way.

St. Gregory wrote, “The Bible is a love letter sent by God to his people in which we can perceive the heart of God.” We should therefore, read and listen to God’s love letter every day. St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

The Word of God in the Bible brings us healing and helps us cope with life’s problems. We may not find an answer to every problem but it will certainly broaden our vision. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path.”

Finally, we can ask the Virgin Mary to remind us to read from the bible every day and help us to understand what it means for us. Her Son is the Eternal Word. She knew Him better than anyone and She will help us to receive God’s love letters with openness and joy.

2nd Sunday, Wedding Feast (Fires and Miracles)

 

Today’s Gospel of the wedding Feast of Cana gives us inspiration with regard to Mary’s Motherly intercession. As Catholics, we have the Virgin Mary as our Mother. She interceded for the wedding couple at the Wedding feast of Cana. When Mary discovered the wine ran out, She wanted to save the couple from embarrassment, and so She asked Her Son Jesus to perform His first public miracle, when He changed water into wine.

Was the fire in Los Angeles, the worst in American history. No. The fire killed 27 people, but there was a much worse fire.

In 1871 a fire killed 2000 in Wisconsin. 12 years years earlier the Virgin Mary began to appear to a young girl on October 9th of 1859. Adele describes what happened. She said, “I saw a beautiful lady, clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. Her dress fell to her feet in graceful folds. She had a crown of stars around her head, and her long, golden, wavy hair fell loosely around her shoulders.”

Such a heavenly light shone around her that Adele could hardly look back at her sweet face. Overcome by this heavenly light and the beauty of her amiable visitor, Adele fell on her knees. Adele said to the woman, “‘In God’s name, who are you and what do you want of me?’ Mary said, “I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning, and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession, and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them”.

'Adele, who is it?'' said one of the women, who was with Adele at the time of the apparitions. 'O why can't we see her as you do?' said another weeping. “‘Kneel,’ said Adele, ‘the Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven.’

Our Blessed Lady turned, looked kindly at them, and said, ‘Blessed are they that believe without seeing. What are you doing here in idleness…while your companions are working in the vineyard of my Son?’

“‘What more can I do, dear Lady?’ said Adele, weeping. “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation’ “‘But how shall I teach them who know so little myself?’ replied Adele. “Teach them, ‘their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.’ "

Adele’s mission was to pray for the conversion of sinners and to instruct the children. She would begin a religious order of Franciscan Sisters, who would do as Mary asked, to pray for the conversion of sinners and to instruct children. At the site of the apparitions, a chapel was built as well as a school and other buildings.

A miracle occurred on Oct. 8th, 1871, when an enormous fire began throughout the region killing more than 2000 people, which was worse than the great fire of Chicago, which occurred on the same day.

According to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, here is what happened, “When the tornado of fire approached Robinsonville, Sister Adele and her companions were determined not to abandon the Chapel. Encircled by the inferno, the Sisters, the children, area farmers and their families fled to the Shrine for protection. The statue of Mary was raised reverently and was processed around the sanctuary. When wind and fire threatened suffocation, they turned in another direction to hope and saying the rosary. Hours later, (after praying the Rosary) rains came in a downpour, extinguishing the fiery fury outside the Chapel. The Robinsonville area was destroyed and desolate…except for the convent, the school, the Chapel, and the five acres of land consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Though the fire singed the Chapel fence, it had not entered the Chapel grounds. Those assembled at the Chapel, realizing that they had witnessed a miracle, were asked by Sister Adele to retire to the Convent, where they were made as comfortable as possible for the rest of the night.”

Many miracles have since occurred at the shrine, mostly involving children. A mother brought her blind child to the Chapel for a novena. During the praying of that novena’s rosary, the blind child shouted his mother’s name, pointed in several directions, and cried out “Mama, look! Mama, look, look!” The child could see.

Another example: a five-year-old child, niece of Sister Marguerite and Sister Addie at the Chapel, was kicked in the face by a horse. When the mother saw the limp, bleeding body of her little daughter, she promised to make a 12-mile pilgrimage on foot to the Chapel. Immediately afterward, the bleeding stopped. And, after examination, the child suffered no internal injuries or physical aftereffects. That girl became a religious for many years in Wisconsin, and her family has always been grateful for Mary’s special protection.

Nine-year-old Michael LaFond fell from a barn leaving him crippled. Four years later, nine women made a novena at the Chapel with Michael. After the third visit, Michael was cured, leaving his crutches behind at the Chapel.

A little girl of three had a (open) sore that received medical care for a long time. After making a novena at the Chapel, the wound closed.

A five-year-old boy could not walk. His mother promised to visit the Chapel, which was 16 miles from her home. She made the pilgrimage on foot. Feeling confident that her prayer would be heard, she took the boy by the hand upon her return and told him to walk. The boy, who had never walked before, could walk from that moment.

A possible miracle happened in our own parish due to a couple who prayed the Rosary for their daughter.

A newborn baby, Molly Leonard, who was just 5 days old, contracted the flu and got an infection. She was in Pediatric ICU at St. Francis hospital in Wichita. The baby wouldn’t wake up and consequently was not eating. The parents, Dave and Emily went to the chapel at the hospital and prayed a Rosary before the Eucharistic Jesus in the tabernacle. By praying the Rosary, they were asking the Virgin Mary to help their daughter get better. After praying the Rosary, they returned to the baby’s ICU room Molly was awake and starting eating again. From the time they prayed the Rosary together, Molly got better. The parents call it a miracle, thanks to the Rosary.

Today, let us rejoice and give thanks to God for Mary, who He has chosen to appear to a humble young girl, who cared about the conversion of sinners, religious education of the children, in what She called, “This wild country.” Just as She interceded for the wedding couple asking Her Son to perform His first public miracle, Mary wants to intercede for us, especially if we pray Her Rosary.

May all Americans keep us close to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, and may we call upon Her as, Our Lady of Good Help! And may we do penance, pray for the conversion of sinners and educate our children in what Our Lady called “this wild country.”

2nd Sunday, Wedding Feast of Cana

 

Today’s Gospel of the wedding Feast of Cana gives us inspiration with regard to Mary’s Motherly intercession, but also has deep meanings behind the event.

It was Jewish custom that wedding celebrations last quite a while. Relatives and friends would greet the newlyweds, even people passing through would join in the celebration. Wine was regarded as an indispensable element in meals and also helped create a festive atmosphere. The women looked after the catering and Our Lady most likely would have helped. The wedding couple was obviously poor because they ran out of wine. Mary realized wine was running out and in order to prevent the couple embarrassment, the Mother of Jesus interceded on their behalf, even without their requesting it of Her. Mary-- knowing Jesus can do something about the crisis of not having any more wine, said to Her Divine Son, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied in a way that seems strange and harsh to us. He said, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?”

Today, if we were to call our mother “woman” she would be offended. Can you imagine if a boy said to his mother, “Hey, woman, what’s for supper?” What does an Irish mother, a German mother and an Italian mother all have in common? If their son would call her “Woman” she most likely would slap him in the face. However, that was not the case in the time of Jesus. The Jewish people during the time of Jesus used the word “Woman” as a title of respect and endearment. It was a formal way of speaking at the time, such as calling her ‘madam” or lady.

Furthermore, when Jesus used the word, “Woman”, it also had theological meanings in reference to the future “woman”, in Genesis, who would crush the head of the serpent. It later be in reference to the book of Revelation, Chapter 12, as the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars”. These references clearly point to the fact, Mary is the new Eve, who would help the Savior in the order of redemption. This is also seen at the foot of the Cross, when Jesus asked Her to take John- as Her son, when said, “Woman, behold thy, Son.”

So, when Jesus said, “How does your concern affect me?”, He was letting Her know, that once He works His first miracle, through Her intercession, their relationship would take on something new. When He works His first miracle of changing water into wine, Our Lord will manifest His divinity and strengthen the faith of the Apostles in Him, and from now on Mary will play an important role in the future and be instrumental in assisting Jesus in the order of redemption, seen most clearly at the foot of the Cross, when we stand in the place of John and so become Her spiritual children. Her role as our spiritual m other will become more evident after the resurrection in helping Jesus bring about the redemption of souls, as She will pray for the Apostles and the early Christians in the early Church and when assumed into heaven She will pray for us, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Our Lord then says something to Mary that is again curious. He said, “My hour has not yet come.” What is “the hour” in which Jesus is speaking? It is the hour of His death. Our Lord wanted Mary to understand that by working His first miracle, it will lead to His suffering and death on the Cross and then His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

The Virgin Mary is confident Her Son will work His first miracle and so She told the waiters, “Do whatever He tells you.” A commentary on this sentence makes it clear when Mary said these words to the waiters, they would have understood Her to say, “Even if you do not understand now, do what He asks of you.” In another words, “You will question what He tells you”, but go ahead and do it anyway. The Virgin Mary pointed out to the stewards the importance of obeying Her Son. By obedience, Jesus uses the men as instruments in which He will work a miracle. Mary always points to Her Son and wants us to do His will at all times, because by doing so, we allow Him to reign over us and help Him to accomplish His will in our lives.

The jars used for ceremonial washings were used to wash hands before eating and also wash the feet of travelers from wearing sandals from a journey. The stewards must have been perplexed as to why Jesus would want them to fill the jars with water and bring them to the steward. Each jar held about 9 gallons and so 6 jars would have been more than 50 gallons. They probably would have thought, “Why does this man want us to get all this water?”

When the chief steward told the groom, “Everyone serves good wine first, then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” The groom would have tasted it and responded saying it’s not the wine he had brought for the feast. The stewards would have then told the chief steward Jesus had them fill the jars with water and this revealed to all Jesus changed the water into wine. Perhaps, at wedding feasts, they served the good tasting wine first, because after the night had gone on, those who would drink more than their share-- wouldn’t know the difference.

Most likely, there was a large amount of wine left over. Later when Jesus would multiply the loaves, there would be a large amount of bread left over. Both would foreshadow Jesus changing bread into His body and wine into His blood on the altar.

The wedding banquet of the Mass is a reminder to us-- we share in a nuptial relationship with God, especially when we receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. The Mass is the new and everlasting covenant and just as the people of Israel were to be faithful to the covenant as a bride is faithful to her husband, so we are to be faithful to the New Covenant-- we share in the body and blood of Jesus especially at Sunday Mass. So if we were to miss Mass on Sunday, we are not being faithful to the New Covenant.

By being faithful to attending Mass on the weekend, we give our self to Our Lord with the bread and wine at the offertory, and so Jesus faithfully gives Himself to us in Holy Communion. As a husband gives himself to his bride and the bride gives herself to her husband, there is a mutual exchange of persons, a mutual exchange of love in Holy Communion.

Today’s Gospel is a reminder Jesus wants us to rejoice and celebrate occasions of joy with ordinary means of pleasures. He wants us to beseech His Mother’s intercession for our every need, including material needs, but especially our spiritual needs. As a good Mother, She will present our request to Her Son, who will look with great love upon His Mother and answer our prayers. Let us pray for all married couples, may they receive the sacramental grace to be faithful to their matrimonial covenant elevated to a sacrament by the presence of Jesus at the wedding at Cana.

And finally let us pray for all Catholics, may we be faithful to the New and Everlasting Covenant, by regular Sunday Mass attendance knowing the union between our heart and the Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion is the unfathomable and the greatest of all treasures, wrought by the intercession of Our Lady, our Mother and Advocate, the “Woman” of faith and Mother of all us children, whom She intercedes for us before the throne of Her Son, in heaven.

Baptism of the Lord

 

Today is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In the Gospel today, after all the people had been baptized and Jesus was also baptized by Saint John the baptist, when Jesus was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. A voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my beloved So; with you I am well pleased.”

The people who witnessed the event heard the voice of the Father and saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus in the form of a dove. The baptism of Jesus was a manifestation of God.

But, since, Jesus is sinless. Why did He want John the Baptist to baptize Him? There are at least four reasons. First, when Our Lord was baptized, it was the first public revelation of the Blessed Trinity. The event revealed that He is His Son of the Father and there is a third person, the Holy Spirit, who appeared in the form of a dove.

Another reason, Jesus was baptized, was to sanctify all water. The water poured on the head of Our Lord was made holy and therefore all water is made holy by His baptism.

The third reason why Jesus was baptized was to give approval of John’s baptism. Our Lord was baptized by John as an example for us, so that we too would choose to be baptized.

The fourth reason, Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized was out of humility, such that He allowed Himself to be numbered among sinners, though He was free from original sin and never committed any personal sin in His life.

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance and not a washing away of original sin. However, the Baptism which Jesus instituted, when He told His apostles, to “Go therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”,--was different then John’s Baptism. The baptism Jesus instituted using those words, would have a tremendous impact for all of humanity. Those who were baptized were made disciple of Jesus and when we are baptized we too become a disciple of Jesus.

Historically in the Catholic Church children have always been baptized. When scripture states, “whole households” were baptized, it is understood that children were baptized too. The early saints talk about children receiving baptism.

Through baptism we receive godparents, who have the duty to pray for us, and helps us in our faith. Because an infant child doesn’t have faith, the parents of the child and the godparents faith stands in for the faith of the child. We want our children to be baptized because we want them to be follower of Jesus. We want God to come to dwell in their heart and give the child everything possible to help them to go to heaven. It is a traditional practice to baptize children 2 or 3 days after Baptism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says baptism should not be delayed.

Holy water is placed at the entrance of the church has lots of symbolism to it. We make the sign of the Cross saying, invoking the Blessed Trinity, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Holy water reminds us of our own baptism, when we became a member of God’s family and when our sins were washed away and God came to dwell within us. Holy Water is a sacramental. When we bless our self with Holy Water, we can say, “By this Holy Water and by the precious blood of Jesus, may my sins be washed away, O Lord.” Holy water remits venial sin, but not mortal sin. We are required to confess all mortal sins, but venial sins are forgiven when we bless our self with Holy Water and also when we receive Holy Communion.

In the old testament, the blood of animals was sprinkled on the people to remit their sins. But today, the blood of Jesus actually washes the sins away either through baptism or Confession. When we make the sign of the Cross, it reminds us of the Cross, on which Jesus died and poured out His blood. We are washed in His blood when we bless our self with Holy Water. When we make the sign of the Cross, we first touch our forehead, as a reminder the Father is the head of the Trinity. We then touch our heart because Jesus is the heart of the Trinity. When we sign our self from shoulder to shoulder, we are reminded of the Holy Spirit is love between the Father and the Son.

Since Holy Water is blessed, we are protected from evil spirits. Holy Water is used to prepare us, who are sinners, to enter into God’s presence, who is the tabernacle, by having our venial sins washed away.

Yesterday, Pete, a friend of mine, told me his brother-in-law, Mark died in December. Pete had been praying the Rosary and also the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for his brother-in-law to become Catholic. Mark often said he wished to become Catholic, but he never did. In December Mark’s health deteriorated and he was admitted to St. Francis hospital in Wichita. When we was admitted, even though he was not baptized and not Catholic, he listed himself as Catholic.

Pete prayed prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Mark and then not much after that, because he was listed as Catholic, a priest came to Mark’s room and baptized him. He died a few hours later. Even though he was unconscious, when he was baptized, all his sins and the punishment due to his sins were washed away. He went straight to heaven because he never sinned after his baptism and never regained consciousness. What a beautiful gift, to be able to go straight to heaven.

We have mentioned Holy Water, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as sacramentals. The blessing of homes is a sacramental. And when homes are blessed we sprinkle them with Holy Water.

Did you know, two days before the fire in Los Angeles, at Hollywood’s Golden Globe awards they purposefully mocked God. Not only taking His name in vain many times, but they made fun of God. And now Hollywood and Los Angeles is burning. Thousands of people are displaced, homes, businesses, and churches have been destroyed.

Jesse Romero, a famous Catholic conference speaker, recently told the story about how a Catholic family in Los Angeles did the Epiphany blessing of their home, on Jan 6th, and the day after they blessed their house, they had to flee. Several days later, when they returned to their home, every house surrounding their home was destroyed but their home, that was recently blessed with the Epiphany blessing was unscathed. The Epiphany blessing is a prayer asking for God’s divine protection on your home. And Holy Water is used to bless it.

We should have our home blessed once year. If you would like to have your home blessed, contact me we can set up a day and time.

With regard to fire protection and sacramentals, in May of 1957, a Carmelite priest in Germany published the story of how the Scapular saved a home from fire. An entire row of homes had caught fire in Westboden, Germany. A Catholic family of a 2-family home, seeing the fire, immediately fastened a Scapular to the main door of the house. Sparks flew over it and around it, but the house remained unharmed. Within 5 hours, 22 homes had been reduced to ashes. The one structure which stood undamaged amidst the destruction was that which had the Scapular attached to its door. The hundreds of people who came to see the place Our Lady had saved are eye-witnesses to the power of the Scapular and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I encourage you to regularly wear the scapular. It is also great form of protection, most especially for our soul. Our Blessed Mother gave the Scapular promise in 1251 to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite friar, saying, “Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” The scapular not only protects our soul from hell, but it can protect us physically.

Mary, Mother of God, Jan 1st

Today, we celebrate Mary, the Mother of God. This title of Mary, Mother of God is the oldest of all the various titles She possesses and considered by many to the greatest of them all. As the Mother of God, the blessed Virgin Mary is exalted above all the angels and saints and She is revered by God’s children on earth. As the Mother of God, Mary watches over all and guides them to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The night of His birth, the shepherds, who watched over their flocks, came upon Mary, His Mother, with Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. They gazed upon the face of God, as a little Child, as Jesus shed His face upon them, and was gracious to them.

Jesus has a human nature and divine nature. He was not two separate persons, but one person and that one person is divine. The person of Christ is divine. Jesus is God and Mary is His Mother. That’s why we call Mary, Mother of God.

Mary is even described as Mother of God when Elizabeth asked, “Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” And the word that Elizabeth uses for ‘Lord’ is a word that is used for ‘God’ in the New Testament so there can be no confusion.

So no wonder Elizabeth said to Mary, “Of all women you are the most blessed and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” These inspired words have now become part of that beautiful prayer which we call the ‘Hail Mary.’ Mary became Mother of God once and continues to be mother for all time and for all Christians.

Mary formally received the title Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Back then they invoked her saying, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

These words were added to the Hail Mary by Saint Peter Canisius in his 1555 Catechism. 11 years later, the Catechism of the Council of Trent added those words to the Rosary.

Pope Saint John Paul II urged every Christian and especially every Catholic family, to pray the Rosary each day for peace. Throughout history in many of Her approved apparitions, the Blessed Virgin Mary, has instructed Her children to pray the Rosary every day because She knows how efficacious it is for individual souls and for the salvation of the entire world.

The Virgin Mary at Medjugorje came as the Queen of Peace. She said, “If you pray the Rosary as a family, I will work miracles in your life.”

Make this your New Year resolution to pray the Rosary every day with your family this coming year

Today let us turn to our Mother, the Queen of Peace, and Mother of God and ask Her to help us to resolve to keep close to the Heart of our Mother, who loves us, prays for us, and will ask Her Son for all that we need on our behalf. And so, we pray, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Holy Family - Year C

 

Christmas is a family time. Families are re-united once again. During this time when families have the grace and privilege to spend much time together, to enjoy each other’s company, to relax together, to have special family meals together, let us thank God for all the graces and blessings our families enjoy and let us also ask God to bless our families and help our families continue to grow to become what they are called to be.

It is fitting that during this family time every year-- we reflect on The Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family had many trials, and there were many as know from reading the Gospels, such as the terrible conditions of Our Lord’s birth, or the flight into Egypt because Herod wanted to kill the baby Jesus, or when Mary suffered the loss of Her spouse Joseph and Jesus suffered the loss of His father, or when Mary met Jesus on the way of the Cross or when She watched Her Son die on the Cross. What terrible pain and suffering the Holy Family endured.

If the Holy Family suffered from misunderstandings, from trials, sorrows, and difficulties, how much more do our families suffer from these sorts of things.

Every family has times when it’s difficult to forgive someone, or when there is great anxiety and worry. Sometimes family members can very much hurt each other. There can be jealousy and unhealthy competition between siblings. There can be children caught in the midst of parental fighting. Sin can easily abound in family life. Someone spends money irrationally causing a drain on the family. Maybe one parent favors one child over another. Perhaps a parent spends too much time at work and not enough time with the family. Whenever there is immoderate activity by one person, it affects the whole family. One parent’s un-forgiveness toward someone-- affects the spouse and the children because the attitude is like a disease that hurts the entire family.

The Holy Family was a family with special grace-- but yet a family with trials. Every family has particular graces and blessings and every family also has difficulties and crosses. The Holy family is a model for families because despite their all these difficulties and trials, the family remained faithful, loving and united. The best way for a family to remain faithful, loving and united is for the family to pray together at home and at church and together to seek forgiveness in monthly confession.

When God is first in the family-- everything else falls into place, because God will take care of everything for us. Fr. Peyton, the famous television priest, used to say, “The family that prays together, stays together.” To spend just a few minutes every night praying together would cause remarkable things to happen in the family home. When the family prays together, it’s easier to forgive and easier to love each other—because we pray with each other and for each other.

All you have to do is ask each person what they want to pray for, and then close with an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory or maybe pray the Rosary together, then go to bed. How well will the family endure trials and sufferings and all sorts of difficulties, because through prayer-- the family will stay together in love.

Families who bring their children to Mass, to confession regularly, to CCD classes or Catholic school help them to experience the love and mercy of Jesus. When parents teach their children to pray at home, and make good moral choices, they good stewards of their children. They help their children to know God’s will in their life and ultimately help them to gain eternal life. God desires for the family and the children, is always what is best for the children and the family. Today, may parents imitate the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, keeping in mind, parents are stewards of their children and have an important role in helping their children to return to God, their Father in heaven.

Today, may we imitate the Holy Family, and turn to them as our model. May we ask Jesus, Mary and Joseph, to help our families persevere through their trials-- just as they persevered through every difficulty. Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for our families.

Christmas - The Birth of Jesus

What was the very first Christmas like? And what does Christmas mean for us today?

Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the required census. Most likely a donkey carried the Virgin Mary, who was 9 months pregnant. Perhaps they stopped and rested now and then allowing the donkey to eat and drink water by a stream.

As they rested, Mary felt the unborn Jesus move inside Her womb. Joseph was tense because he knew traveling would be difficult for Mary. If the babe was to be born, he wanted to provide a warm comfortable place, worthy of the King of heaven. But, it was not in God’s plan.

They finally arrived in Bethlehem, on that cold winter night, going from door to door, looking for a place to stay. Knowing full well, it was time for the infant Jesus to be born, they trusted God would provide a place where the Child would come into the world. Where would it be? Would it be in an Inn, would it be in a stranger’s home, would anyone have pity on a young woman, about to give birth?

Mary and Joseph were disheartened by so many who refused to allow them stay the night. Bethlehem was filled with travelers who came home for the census. All Mary and Joseph wanted was a dry warm place for the arrival of the baby Jesus, but where?

As the sun disappeared, and stars began to shine, darkness covered the little town of Bethlehem. Finally, a maid servant pointed the couple to a cave with animals. At least it was dry and out of the cold wind.

There in the cave--- were animals, an ox, a cow and a few sheep. It smelled of hay and animal manure.

Joseph removed the animal waste and cleaned the floor of the cave. He put clean straw in the manger used as a crib. He found wood for a fire and warmth was felt by Mary as She prayed near the flames. She knew it was time.

Just as Joseph went to get fresh water and was but a stone’s throw from the cave, suddenly, Mary laid down on her blanket and within a few moments, the Virgin Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a miraculous manner without labor pains. Suddenly light filled the cave as the dawn from on high broke, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Despite the fact, Mary had wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. The coldness of the night caused the newborn baby Jesus to shiver and His breath could be seen.

Why does the whole world celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in a cave with animals over 2000 years ago? And what does it mean to us?

The words of the angel help us to know why the birth of Jesus was so important. He said, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring to you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Recall that when Joseph was visited by an angel telling him to take Mary into his home because it was by the Holy Spirit She conceived, the angel said he was to name the child, Jesus, which means “savior”.

We celebrate his birth because the world’s savior was born. Jesus came to save us from our sins, to reconcile the world to the Father, to give us an intimate relationship with God. Before Jesus came no one could go to heaven. But now since the Savior has come, sins can be forgiven, the gates of heaven are opened. His birth would eventually lead to His death on the Cross. And by His Cross we are set free from the yoke of sin.

Jesus is Lord, which means He rules over us. He is Christ which means He is the long awaited messiah, the anointed one, who came to restore mankind back to God after the fall of Adam and Eve.

Moses had always wanted to see God’s face, but could not. The prophets of the Old Testament predicted that someday His face would shine upon us. Now, Mary and Joseph were the first to see the face of God. Imagine what it would be like for Mary, for the very first time, to hold the baby Jesus in Her arms and gaze on His face.

For months, every now and then, Mary would feel baby kick within Her womb. But, now She can see Him, hold Him, hug Him, kiss Him and talk to Him face to face.

In your meditation on the birth of Jesus, picture yourself in the cave and watching everything happen.

In the corner of the cave, you are seated on a bale of hay, and because its cold, you are wearing a coat trying to stay warm. Then the Virgin Mary stands up carrying the infant Jesus in a blanket and walks over to you. To your astonishment, with outstretched arms, She hands you the Child. You hold the baby Jesus to your chest, and as you gaze upon His face, He smiles at you, but He shivers due to the cold. What do you say to Him?

“O, Jesus, You cause the sun, the moon and the stars to move across the sky. You make the sun rise and set and the moon to wane and wax. In the spring, you make flowers and fields bloom and grow. You are all-powerful. Almighty. All holy. All knowing. All Glorious. Pure love. You are infinite in every way. And yet, you take the form of an innocent child, who can’t walk, talk or eat without help. You hide your divinity, under the appearance of a baby, just as you hide under the appearance of bread in the Eucharist. You don’t look like God, but you are. You are fully God and fully man.

When Mary and Joseph carry you from place to place, You submit to their human daily activities, and yet, You created the ground they walked on. You placed water beneath the surface of the earth, so wells could be dug and animals can be nourished and humans can drink and have their clothes washed. In Your humility, you walked about looking only like a man. You allowed humans, whom You created, to persecute You, to cause You pain and suffering and even Your death. You humbled Yourself to carry a Cross. Because You are God, you could have avoided being spat upon, slapped, blind-folded, scourged and crowned with thorns. Knowing all that would happen, You could prevented everything and destroyed those who were going hurt You. But, You chose to show us the meaning of love, forgiveness and peace by your willingness to do endure Your Passion and death.

You obeyed Your Father, who sent you to be spread the good news, and die for it. The tree from which You hung on Good Friday, You created. Millions of years before the stone carved from the side of a hill was used to make your grave, you foresaw it would be used as your tomb.

You came into the world in poverty and humility. You showed us it’s not necessary to have material things, but that we should use them to help others and for us to obtain to heaven.

O Jesus, you were born in the city of Bethlehem, which means, House of Bread. You are the true Bread from Heaven, who came down to give life to the world. As a babe, You were placed in a manger, used to feed animals. Today, you hide yourself in what appears to be bread, and during Mass, it becomes the true and real Bread of Life in the Eucharist to spiritually feed us.

By your humility and hiddeness, You teach us, all worldly things pass away and we should rejoice and be glad, that You came to save us and bring us to our true eternal home in heaven.

I love you baby Jesus. I worship You. I adore You, whom the angels adore in heaven. I beg You, open up your little hand and stretch it forth-- to bless the world bestowing on it peace, end all violence, stop all wars, console the sorrowing. Help families and friends and enemies to forgive and love each other. When anyone sees Your little face, melt their hearts to accept You, as their personal friend and Savior. May those same hearts grow in empathy and compassion for the poor, the downtrodden, the sick, and the lonely.

May those caught in the snares of sin, be delivered, by the tenderness of Your mercy, O loving Savior.

May Your holy Name, the name of Jesus, the name which is above every name, be always on my lips and in my Heart. May I call upon you in times of turmoil, sadness and in every need.

O Jesus, lover of mankind, may the whole world kneel before the manger. May you, O Jesus, your Mother Mary, and your step-father Joseph, make all families a place of peace, joy, and love and may the whole world rejoice in Your birth and sing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth. Amen.”

4th Sunday, Year C, Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

“Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to Her home.”

Before these words, there is the powerful Gospel scene when Mary greets Elizabeth and the unborn John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mother, Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth cried out, “Who am I that the Mother of the Lord should come to me?” Mary was just 5 days pregnant with Jesus, for that is how long it took for Her to travel from Nazareth to Ein Karem the village where Elizabeth lived, so it would have been impossible for Elizabeth to know Mary was pregnant with the Lord. At the moment of Mary’s greeting when the unborn Jesus blessed the unborn John the Baptist in the womb of his mother, the Holy Spirit revealed to Elizabeth Mary’s pregnancy with the Lord. The Virgin Mary then gave Her moving words, in what we now call Her Magnificat, as She gave praise to God telling Elizabeth and us, that Her soul magnifies the Lord due to God Her Savior, within Her womb.

This powerful scene is followed by what appears to be an insignificant passage. Mary just finished proclaiming “the greatness of the Lord” and exalting His mercy in one of the most brilliant Scriptural acclamation of all time. Scores of books, hymns, and prayers have been produced throughout the centuries based on the “Magnificat.” And yet, the story comes to an abrupt end, summing up the next three months in a single sentence. No popular hymns have been written, no prayer, no books, no made-for-TV movies about Luke 1:56, “Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to Her home.”

From everything we can surmise about Mary, She was a woman of few words. We know She was a humble “handmaid of the Lord,” She was obedient to all that God asked of Her, and She pondered the things of God in Her Heart. That all would have taken an enormous amount of listening, and very little speaking.

It is likely very few words were exchanged between Mary and Elizabeth in the three months that followed their greeting. Scripture highlights for us the only words we need to know about what Mary has to say to Elizabeth, and so our lens into their time together ends there. No more details are given, no more recorded knowledge of their visit. What conversation might have transpired between the two, we can only imagine.

What does this tell us? It tells us that what is significant for us to know is simply that Mary stayed for three months, and not the details of what took place during that time. But there is a lot to unpack in that “little” fact, which, as we will see, is not so insignificant after all.

First, Mary stayed. She didn’t complete her biblical mission of proclaiming the Magnificat and then take off. It is true, when God asked Her to do something, She would do it “in haste”; but that does not mean She acted hastily. It simply means She was prompt. But Mary also would have given Her time and attention to the Elizabeth, so much so that Her immense love would have made her feel as if she was the only one who mattered in that moment. May we ourselves strive to love others with that same kind of time and attention.

Secondly, Mary stayed three months—not two, not four. Sometimes, when women have difficult pregnancies, such as preparing for twins, or perhaps due to pregnancy complications, the doctor may put them on bed-rest to stay in the hospital until the child is safe for delivery. Although oftentimes, the mothers of the pregnant women come to help and stay with them, there isn’t much they can do leading up to their arrival, except for emotional support and praying with them. Then if the child is born early, some mothers will stay with their daughter and her newborn until the new mother feels comfortable staying by herself

It is believed Joseph accompanied Mary on her visit to Elizabeth, but immediately departed. If Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months to offer help, why not have Her stay longer, to help after the baby was born, when help would most be needed? Most likely, this is because while Mary would certainly have helped Elizabeth after the birth, She knew it was not God’s plan, for Her to stay after the birth.

Scripture tells us, Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary arrived, and that She stayed three months. That tells us that Mary left once John was born. She was to stay with Elizabeth to witness John’s birth, and, it is quite possible, She delivered the baby herself! And if that is the case, then the very first hands that would have touched the head of the precursor would have been the hands of the one carrying the Child whom John was destined to herald.

Maybe God wanted to show Mary, the pain and difficulty of giving birth. Later when Mary gave birth to Jesus without labor pains, as Jesus would be born in a miraculous pain-free manner, due to Her not suffering from original sin, She would deeply appreciate what God will do for Her.

Jesus, through Mary, could have imposed a blessing—immediately and upon John’s forehead, the very moment he entered this world because Mary held the baby John as he was born, since children are born head first.

Once Mary’s mission was completed, She “returned home.” There is a tendency we have when enjoying a spiritual consolation to linger with it. The birth of John must have been a moment of incredible joy for both women. The birth of a child usually causes the mother and child to bond.

The Jews had been waiting for centuries, and now, we can only imagine the eager excitement and anticipation these two women must have felt. Not to mention how hard it must have been for them to say goodbye. Ordinarily, when it was time for a mother to leave after her daughter who gave birth, they must feel heartbroken at the departure.

Perhaps Elizabeth thought of begging Mary to stay. And surely Mary would have been sad to leave Her elderly cousin, with her newborn boy.

However, Mary’s visit could not go beyond the “prescribed” time. And so, by Mary leaving, it caused Elizabeth to cling ever more to her husband, Zechariah. And so, Mary’s departure helped the father of the child to bond with his new born baby boy and his wife Elizabeth. It also forced Elizabeth to trust God, that He would take care of her, the baby, and her husband.

Once Mary departed, now was the time for Joseph and Mary to pray and make ready for the biggest event in salvation history the world would ever know, the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem.

Joseph had to deal with the experience of discovering Mary was pregnant, and not understanding how it could be, since he was not the father. By Mary and Joseph going through the turmoil caused by of the Child Jesus coming into the world, by the Holy Spirit, it gave both a deeper appreciation of each other each realizing it was by God’s plan and He would help them overcome the difficulty.

Only after the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream did he understand it was by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived. This event caused the bond between Mary and Joseph to become ever more secure and their love between them grow beyond measure. The marital bond, with God at the center of their relationship, caused the couple to have a relationship beyond description.

Today, if couples want to grow in their relationship, they should pray the Rosary together every day meditating on the life of Jesus and Mary, especially the joyful, sorrowful and glories mysteries, which will strengthen their relationship, help them overcome misunderstandings, and bring about a bond of unity like that of the Holy Family.

Mostly taken from M.C. Holbrook, Catholic Exchange