What's rare is wonderful.
It is very true that more familiar we are with something, no matter how wonderful or beautiful that thing happens to be, the less we appreciate it! This weeks Gospel is a prime example. The Beatitudes- a central part of the Sermon on the Mount- the best homily ever preached! We hear it so often - at funerals- at weddings- at penitential services. It is so familiar that we almost know it off by heart. Maybe here lies in the problem. Is it too familiar. Is it so much part of our Christian story, our liturgy, or experience it can be almost roll of the tongue or page as if they were any other words. The Beatitudes are most wonderful.
Blessed are you! (Even though the translation that is used in this part of world says 'happy') This Sunday when we hear them proclaimed, imagine this the the first time you have ever heard them or ever preached a sermon on them:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The words of consolation that the Lord gives us are all we could possibly need in this world and the next. In the face of all kinds of difficulty the words of Christ remind us that God's ways are indeed not man's. No matter what life seems to throw at us, we can confidently wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Kingdom we are all part of.
And how does he conclude?:
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Let us rejoice and be glad this day, for we do not journey alone in life. God is with us.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
JESUS CALLS: FOLLOW ME!
Jesus had obviously been watching the fishermen at work. He knew he would need others to help him in spreading the news of God’s Kingdom. He begins selecting his team. He calls two sets of brothers. Peter and Andrew were the first to be called. Then James and John. They all leave their fishing nets immediately and follow Jesus.
Jesus tells them they will be fishers of men. They now follow Jesus as he moves amongst the people proclaiming the Good News; healing the sick and helping all those in need. These four are doing their apprenticeship so that when Jesus is no longer on earth they will carry out his work.
We too, are called to follow Jesus. No matter what our circumstances, or what we do for a living, we must do our part in bringing the Good News to those we live with, work with, and meet each day. As St Theresa said: “Christ has no body now but yours; no hands, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on the world”.
So we each have a hand in spreading the news of God’s Kingdom. No one can replace me! So let us all play our part and not let the side down during 2011.
Lord, help me to respond in faith to your call.
I think this hymn has significant resonance this week:
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Second Sunday of Ordinary time. Year A
Being a witness
John the Baptist is the first Christian witness - the first person to lead others to Jesus, whom he identifies as the Messiah. John’s relationship with Jesus is beautifully put by St Augustine:
I listen: He is the one who speaks
I am enlightened: He is the Light
I am the ear: He is the Word.
Further on in the Gospels, Jesus tells the disciples that when they receive the Spirit of Truth, “you will be My witnesses”. That charge is given to each one of us. Through Baptism, we have received the Spirit; we have been called to witness to Jesus. We are asked to point away from ourselves to Jesus, to show others the way to Him. People may need help to come to Jesus and, indeed, none of us comes to Him alone.
Have we lost the courage to speak to each other about Jesus; about the things that matter most to us? Will anyone care? We must have the courage to speak about Jesus to each other, to share what we believe. We know what we believe because we love - and in the power of that love we chan share our belief with each other.
Last weeks feat and this weeks injunction to be witnesses gives us the courage to be what we are called to be, the courage to strive towards the goal of Heaven despite our weakness, and the faith to believe that "with God on our side who can be against us."
John the Baptist is the first Christian witness - the first person to lead others to Jesus, whom he identifies as the Messiah. John’s relationship with Jesus is beautifully put by St Augustine:
I listen: He is the one who speaks
I am enlightened: He is the Light
I am the ear: He is the Word.
Further on in the Gospels, Jesus tells the disciples that when they receive the Spirit of Truth, “you will be My witnesses”. That charge is given to each one of us. Through Baptism, we have received the Spirit; we have been called to witness to Jesus. We are asked to point away from ourselves to Jesus, to show others the way to Him. People may need help to come to Jesus and, indeed, none of us comes to Him alone.
Have we lost the courage to speak to each other about Jesus; about the things that matter most to us? Will anyone care? We must have the courage to speak about Jesus to each other, to share what we believe. We know what we believe because we love - and in the power of that love we chan share our belief with each other.
Last weeks feat and this weeks injunction to be witnesses gives us the courage to be what we are called to be, the courage to strive towards the goal of Heaven despite our weakness, and the faith to believe that "with God on our side who can be against us."
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Baptism of the Lord
"Is it your will that your child should be baptised in the faith of the Church which we have all professed with you? N. I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
The significance of our baptism can easily become relativised. In a strong Christian culture, it can become a convention or norm to have a baby baptised in the first weeks or months of life. The ceremony itself is often done with a small group of people some random evening, or as part of a large collection of babies. Both circumstances can unfortunately create an atmosphere that does not reflect the majesty and greatness of what is taking place. Baptism involves the whole Church. As the Pope says in the little clip below, baptism is not the private possession if the family, or any group, it is a celebration of the entire family of God, united in Christ.
Today's commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan provides an opportunity for reflection on the centrality and importance of baptism in the life of the Church and for ourselves as followers of Christ. It is the gateway to Eternal Life, the invitation to faith and the first of the sacraments of initiation. It is also the response of faith; personal faith of an adult and the faith of parents and guardians of little ones.
I remember hearing a disturbing interview on radio one day. I was personally shaken after it. A mother was very angry. She wished her child to go to a cetain school in her town and as the school was a Catholic school she was asked if her child was baptised. The child was not, as the mother "had no interest in that sort of superstitious rubbish" quote, unquote. She and the host of the radio interview began to pour scorn on the idea of baptism as requirment for admittance to a school. That is not the point I wish to bring up, however. The conversation ended with the mother being advised to go and get the kid baptised with the advise "you don't have to mean any of it". The mother concluded that is what she would do. Now, I have no idea how the story ended off air. But I remember sitting in the car, asking myself, did I really hear what I thought I heard. Did I just hear a radio producer reduce what I believe to be one of the most important events in the life of a person to that - an excuse to get into a school, a sham to endure? Alas the sacredness and uniqueness of the event seems to have become lost to a greater or lesser extent. Often baptism is a tool for access or a chance for a party.
Our baptism is the first sacramental encounter with God. We become immersed in the love of God and receive the gifts of grace. It brings us into the community of the Church, restores unity with God and gives us the promise of the new and everlasting life with all our sins forgiven. As we celebrate God's theophany may we remeber that in baptism we share the very life of God. In the Sacrament of Baptism we become part of Christ, sharing in his mission of priest, prophet and king. Baptism is not a social occasion with a religious aspect to mark the beginning of a new life. It is a sacred religious occasion in a social context that reminds us of what we are and what we become through water and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is our sharing in the life of God, just as we witness God sharing in our life today. The psalm says "as the deer pants for running waters, so my soul thirst for you, my God" In baptism we receive the life of God which satisfies. We see the Heavens opened and hear the Voice. In the signs and symbols of the sacrament we see the dove and believe in Christ; the Father's beloved. Let us listen.
(From Rome Reports, January 2009)
"As the deer pants the running water, so my soul longs for you God"
The significance of our baptism can easily become relativised. In a strong Christian culture, it can become a convention or norm to have a baby baptised in the first weeks or months of life. The ceremony itself is often done with a small group of people some random evening, or as part of a large collection of babies. Both circumstances can unfortunately create an atmosphere that does not reflect the majesty and greatness of what is taking place. Baptism involves the whole Church. As the Pope says in the little clip below, baptism is not the private possession if the family, or any group, it is a celebration of the entire family of God, united in Christ.
Today's commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan provides an opportunity for reflection on the centrality and importance of baptism in the life of the Church and for ourselves as followers of Christ. It is the gateway to Eternal Life, the invitation to faith and the first of the sacraments of initiation. It is also the response of faith; personal faith of an adult and the faith of parents and guardians of little ones.
I remember hearing a disturbing interview on radio one day. I was personally shaken after it. A mother was very angry. She wished her child to go to a cetain school in her town and as the school was a Catholic school she was asked if her child was baptised. The child was not, as the mother "had no interest in that sort of superstitious rubbish" quote, unquote. She and the host of the radio interview began to pour scorn on the idea of baptism as requirment for admittance to a school. That is not the point I wish to bring up, however. The conversation ended with the mother being advised to go and get the kid baptised with the advise "you don't have to mean any of it". The mother concluded that is what she would do. Now, I have no idea how the story ended off air. But I remember sitting in the car, asking myself, did I really hear what I thought I heard. Did I just hear a radio producer reduce what I believe to be one of the most important events in the life of a person to that - an excuse to get into a school, a sham to endure? Alas the sacredness and uniqueness of the event seems to have become lost to a greater or lesser extent. Often baptism is a tool for access or a chance for a party.
Our baptism is the first sacramental encounter with God. We become immersed in the love of God and receive the gifts of grace. It brings us into the community of the Church, restores unity with God and gives us the promise of the new and everlasting life with all our sins forgiven. As we celebrate God's theophany may we remeber that in baptism we share the very life of God. In the Sacrament of Baptism we become part of Christ, sharing in his mission of priest, prophet and king. Baptism is not a social occasion with a religious aspect to mark the beginning of a new life. It is a sacred religious occasion in a social context that reminds us of what we are and what we become through water and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is our sharing in the life of God, just as we witness God sharing in our life today. The psalm says "as the deer pants for running waters, so my soul thirst for you, my God" In baptism we receive the life of God which satisfies. We see the Heavens opened and hear the Voice. In the signs and symbols of the sacrament we see the dove and believe in Christ; the Father's beloved. Let us listen.
(From Rome Reports, January 2009)
"As the deer pants the running water, so my soul longs for you God"
Friday, January 7, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Second Sunday after Christmas. Year A
John 1: 1-18
"When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run half of her swift course, the all-powerful word leaped down from Heaven, from the royal throne."
The run up to Christmas is always marked with frantic activity. It is no wonder that when the 25th of December is past many people take down decorations, throw out trees and consign wrapping paper to the bin. For many Christmas can be a time of stress and panic, rather than peace and joy. Did you ever notice that once St Stephen's Day comes the sounds of Christmas disappear from the radio and television? We begin hearing the sleigh bells in September and as soon as Santa has put the reindeers back in their stable; the sounds of Christmas are gone!
Liturgically of course, this is not the case and today we celebrate the second Sunday of Christmas. In the coming week we observe Epiphany and right up until the Baptism of the Lord we are in the Christmas swing. There is a wonderful tradition in Italy not to take down the crib until the feast of the Presentation on February 2nd, and it can come as a surprise to see manger scenes decorating squares and churches until that date.
I think its important that we don't rush to close our celebration of Christmas. The date, in itself, is not important, the mystery is what we are about. The Gospel today - the opening verses of St John's Gospel- sum up the meaning of the Incarnation and what we celebrate and reflect on at this time. One priest I know described it as 'impenetrable'. But I wonder is that the case. True, it is packed with deep theology and insight. Much could never be unpacked in the context of the homily, but it is so rich that even a few words of it could give us mediation for a good long time. I am always drawn to the verse "and the Word was made flesh and lives among us, and we have seen his glory." We pray those words every time we say the Creed and twice a day in the Angelus. The only Son of God, full of grace and truth, has lived and lives among us, and we have seen His glory. The world might have have become bored of its Christmas whirl. As a season it might be declared officially over, but the Word is still flesh and still dwells among us - and he is going nowhere!
In these weeks after Christmas, wouldn't it be just lovely to sit with Mary and Joseph, in adoration and wonder at the greatness of God made man. The Shepherds are gone, the wise men have to come - but we are here; we can see His glory and share in His life.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us, Alleluia.
"When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run half of her swift course, the all-powerful word leaped down from Heaven, from the royal throne."
The run up to Christmas is always marked with frantic activity. It is no wonder that when the 25th of December is past many people take down decorations, throw out trees and consign wrapping paper to the bin. For many Christmas can be a time of stress and panic, rather than peace and joy. Did you ever notice that once St Stephen's Day comes the sounds of Christmas disappear from the radio and television? We begin hearing the sleigh bells in September and as soon as Santa has put the reindeers back in their stable; the sounds of Christmas are gone!
Liturgically of course, this is not the case and today we celebrate the second Sunday of Christmas. In the coming week we observe Epiphany and right up until the Baptism of the Lord we are in the Christmas swing. There is a wonderful tradition in Italy not to take down the crib until the feast of the Presentation on February 2nd, and it can come as a surprise to see manger scenes decorating squares and churches until that date.
I think its important that we don't rush to close our celebration of Christmas. The date, in itself, is not important, the mystery is what we are about. The Gospel today - the opening verses of St John's Gospel- sum up the meaning of the Incarnation and what we celebrate and reflect on at this time. One priest I know described it as 'impenetrable'. But I wonder is that the case. True, it is packed with deep theology and insight. Much could never be unpacked in the context of the homily, but it is so rich that even a few words of it could give us mediation for a good long time. I am always drawn to the verse "and the Word was made flesh and lives among us, and we have seen his glory." We pray those words every time we say the Creed and twice a day in the Angelus. The only Son of God, full of grace and truth, has lived and lives among us, and we have seen His glory. The world might have have become bored of its Christmas whirl. As a season it might be declared officially over, but the Word is still flesh and still dwells among us - and he is going nowhere!
In these weeks after Christmas, wouldn't it be just lovely to sit with Mary and Joseph, in adoration and wonder at the greatness of God made man. The Shepherds are gone, the wise men have to come - but we are here; we can see His glory and share in His life.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us, Alleluia.
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