"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"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
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.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Hodie Christus natus est!
Wishing all who have visited this blog over that last few months God's blessings this Christmas. I will remember you all at Mass in the coming days.
This is a frantic time of the year for all. For those of us in ministry there are many extra pressures. From school plays to, confessions, to sick calls; it is important to cover all bases. It is also a time of the year when we try to put the best foot forward when it comes to the preaching. At Christmas many people who rarely hear the preached Word come to Church. It is a time to preach Christ to a fresh audience almost. The Christmas story is so vivid, so powerful, so holy that it captures the imagination of young and old. If it were to remain in the realm of the fairly tale, however, it could lose some of its awesome power. I think the most important message to convey at Christmas is the fact that what we talk about is real. Matthew begins his account of the Nativity "This is how Jesus Christ came to be born". He is recounting something that happened; an event in time. In the Holy Mass we come face to face with the exact same Jesus that was born in Bethlehem. We adore the exact same Jesus who was to die and the Cross. We worship and love He who sits at the right hand of the Father in Glory - God with us - here and now.
The power of the Christian message is that we preach what we have seen with our own eyes and have experienced ourselves. This Christmas there is an opportunity to proclaim the greatness of God all over again. Our witness is the same as Christian witness has been since the beginning: Hodie Christus natus est pro nobis! Today Christ is born for us! We have seen His glory.
This is a frantic time of the year for all. For those of us in ministry there are many extra pressures. From school plays to, confessions, to sick calls; it is important to cover all bases. It is also a time of the year when we try to put the best foot forward when it comes to the preaching. At Christmas many people who rarely hear the preached Word come to Church. It is a time to preach Christ to a fresh audience almost. The Christmas story is so vivid, so powerful, so holy that it captures the imagination of young and old. If it were to remain in the realm of the fairly tale, however, it could lose some of its awesome power. I think the most important message to convey at Christmas is the fact that what we talk about is real. Matthew begins his account of the Nativity "This is how Jesus Christ came to be born". He is recounting something that happened; an event in time. In the Holy Mass we come face to face with the exact same Jesus that was born in Bethlehem. We adore the exact same Jesus who was to die and the Cross. We worship and love He who sits at the right hand of the Father in Glory - God with us - here and now.
The power of the Christian message is that we preach what we have seen with our own eyes and have experienced ourselves. This Christmas there is an opportunity to proclaim the greatness of God all over again. Our witness is the same as Christian witness has been since the beginning: Hodie Christus natus est pro nobis! Today Christ is born for us! We have seen His glory.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
4th Sunday of Advent
Mt 1:18-24
"Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary home as you wife."
St Joseph is a remarkable character. Not one word of his is uttered in the scriptures. After the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke we hear nothing more about him. Still he has managed to be a source of great devotion over the centuries. He is inextricably linked to the story of the Nativity. He is Mary's wife and the protector of the Holy Family. His life is thrown upside down at the Annunciation as much as Mary's is. Just like Mary he had to trust in the will of God; and after being reassured took Mary home as his wife.
St Joseph, I think, is a model for us at this moment in history. Here in Ireland, we have had a momentous year; and not always for positive reasons. There is a great sense of foreboding as we face the future. The world has not ended, and most people get on with their lives, but there is a general feeling of unease and disappointment in the ether. Of course this is not helped by the a constant bombardment of grave and serious news in the general media; 'it has never been as bad', 'it is going to get worse'.
What has this to do with St Joseph and the forth Sunday of Advent? Well, allot, it could be argued. Without any deep exegesis on the meaning of words, I would like to share with you my take on what is happening in the Gospel. St Joseph is terrified. All the social conventions and mores are clicking into place, because the woman he is hoping to spend the rest of his life with is pregnant; and all he knows is - he has nothing to do with it. Even if he is a man of honour he wants to run. The Angel in the dream reassures him and he stays.
If we as preachers believe in God-with-us, we have to reassure those to whom we speak that this is so. As we approach Christmas, every preacher at every Altar or in every pulpit must scream GOD IS WITH US! And no matter what should happen to us as individuals or as a community this does not change. The new and ever lasting covenant written in the blood of the Lamb is the guarantee of this. As we approach Christmas, this is what we celebrate. It is not a case of the Baby being born again, as if He is not here already. The Word as made flesh, and in that flesh we have become part of God's eternity. St Joseph had to believe that the plan of God unfolding in his life was blessed. He had to trust that what was happening to him was part of the plan God had for him too.
St Joseph was afraid. He was ready to skip town, but the voice of assurance that God was with him gave him strength and courage. May we who believe listen for the voice of the angel and reassure all with whom we share our journey know that the Virgin is with child - God is with us.
"Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary home as you wife."
St Joseph is a remarkable character. Not one word of his is uttered in the scriptures. After the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke we hear nothing more about him. Still he has managed to be a source of great devotion over the centuries. He is inextricably linked to the story of the Nativity. He is Mary's wife and the protector of the Holy Family. His life is thrown upside down at the Annunciation as much as Mary's is. Just like Mary he had to trust in the will of God; and after being reassured took Mary home as his wife.
St Joseph, I think, is a model for us at this moment in history. Here in Ireland, we have had a momentous year; and not always for positive reasons. There is a great sense of foreboding as we face the future. The world has not ended, and most people get on with their lives, but there is a general feeling of unease and disappointment in the ether. Of course this is not helped by the a constant bombardment of grave and serious news in the general media; 'it has never been as bad', 'it is going to get worse'.
What has this to do with St Joseph and the forth Sunday of Advent? Well, allot, it could be argued. Without any deep exegesis on the meaning of words, I would like to share with you my take on what is happening in the Gospel. St Joseph is terrified. All the social conventions and mores are clicking into place, because the woman he is hoping to spend the rest of his life with is pregnant; and all he knows is - he has nothing to do with it. Even if he is a man of honour he wants to run. The Angel in the dream reassures him and he stays.
If we as preachers believe in God-with-us, we have to reassure those to whom we speak that this is so. As we approach Christmas, every preacher at every Altar or in every pulpit must scream GOD IS WITH US! And no matter what should happen to us as individuals or as a community this does not change. The new and ever lasting covenant written in the blood of the Lamb is the guarantee of this. As we approach Christmas, this is what we celebrate. It is not a case of the Baby being born again, as if He is not here already. The Word as made flesh, and in that flesh we have become part of God's eternity. St Joseph had to believe that the plan of God unfolding in his life was blessed. He had to trust that what was happening to him was part of the plan God had for him too.
St Joseph was afraid. He was ready to skip town, but the voice of assurance that God was with him gave him strength and courage. May we who believe listen for the voice of the angel and reassure all with whom we share our journey know that the Virgin is with child - God is with us.
Friday, December 10, 2010
3rd Sunday of Advent
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!
This is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, meaning 'rejoice ye', comes from the first word of the opening antiphnon of the Mass. St Paul tells us to 'rejoice in the Lord always' and if that was not enough he says 'again I say rejoice!' There is almost a break in the waiting of Advent, so we can jump up an dance around at the thoughts of what we are about to celebrate; the longing is about to be fulfilled - Christ is near. It is fair to say that Christmas looms large on the horizon; not in the cheep commercial sense of 'buy, buy, buy', but the real sense of God is with us!
So what is there to rejoice about? We could ask that question of St John the Baptist in prison. The great Prophet, languishing in his cell, asks of Jesus 'are you the one, or have we to wait for another?' Instead of a straight yes or no, the Lord asks in return 'what have you seen?' and lists out the signs associated with believers. He points out that the blind see, the deaf hear, the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.
The Kingdom is not just announced by rhetoric, the kingdom is proclaimed by the Word which is active. Christ's Kingdom proclaimed makes itself effective. When God created the world He said 'Let there be light!' and there was light. When the Kingdom is proclaimed it is made manifest in the action of believers. The Word also becomes flesh in the way we live.
As we rejoice in the fact that Christ is the one who has come, may our joy be infectious! May we proclaim what we believe in our hearts in the practice of our lives.
This is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, meaning 'rejoice ye', comes from the first word of the opening antiphnon of the Mass. St Paul tells us to 'rejoice in the Lord always' and if that was not enough he says 'again I say rejoice!' There is almost a break in the waiting of Advent, so we can jump up an dance around at the thoughts of what we are about to celebrate; the longing is about to be fulfilled - Christ is near. It is fair to say that Christmas looms large on the horizon; not in the cheep commercial sense of 'buy, buy, buy', but the real sense of God is with us!
So what is there to rejoice about? We could ask that question of St John the Baptist in prison. The great Prophet, languishing in his cell, asks of Jesus 'are you the one, or have we to wait for another?' Instead of a straight yes or no, the Lord asks in return 'what have you seen?' and lists out the signs associated with believers. He points out that the blind see, the deaf hear, the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.
The Kingdom is not just announced by rhetoric, the kingdom is proclaimed by the Word which is active. Christ's Kingdom proclaimed makes itself effective. When God created the world He said 'Let there be light!' and there was light. When the Kingdom is proclaimed it is made manifest in the action of believers. The Word also becomes flesh in the way we live.
As we rejoice in the fact that Christ is the one who has come, may our joy be infectious! May we proclaim what we believe in our hearts in the practice of our lives.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
2nd Sunday of Advent
In his recent post-synodal Apostolic Extortion Verbum Domini, the Holy Father advises and encourages preachers not to give abstract and generic sermons that give more questions than answers. It is an easy trap to fall into; one I find myself tottering into myself. How do we make our sermons concrete? By rooting them in the scriptures, in the context of the lives of the people. In Ireland, for example, there is huge confusion about the future. Politics is in turmoil. Economies seem to be imploding. Society is sick and tired of disappointment. And still, Sunday after Sunday, preachers ascend the mighty steps of the Word of God. May the Holy Spirit always give us the strength, faith, conviction and integrity to make God's mighty deeds know - in so doing grow in discipleship and encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith.
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Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
One of the choirs in the parish sing a very appropriate Advent hymn with a very catchy refrain "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King". Its one of those tunes that gets into the brain, like a mantra, and helps me remember what Advent is all about. In this part of Advent we remember that as Jesus came among us as a man in humility, one day, maybe soon, he will return to judge the living and the dead - and 'all eyes will behold his glory'. There should be nothing abstract about that. The mystery of faith "Christ will come again!"
A brief thought on the 1st reading: Such beautiful thoughts from the Prophet. The child putting its hand in the hole of the snake. The cow and the bear being neighbours. The lion eating straw like the ox. We cannot imagine Heaven, but we can almost imagine these things. Take the Lion, for example, eating straw. A remarkable image, of peace. Not only does the Lion not eat the Ox, he shares in the Ox's meal of straw. Peace, gentleness, kindness are all Heavenly. And the thing is they are all around us if we have the faith to see and the courage to live them.
On the Gospel: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make His paths straight. In order for us to let Christ our light enter into our hearts: what bends do we have to take out of the roads? In my part of the country the local council spends a lot of time and effort taking corners of roads to make them safe and to help the free flow of traffic. Some bends can be so big that large vehicles cannot get through. Imagine if the Lord's train could not get round the bends of our hearts; would he have to turn back? He is knocking. Do we let him in?
******************
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
One of the choirs in the parish sing a very appropriate Advent hymn with a very catchy refrain "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King". Its one of those tunes that gets into the brain, like a mantra, and helps me remember what Advent is all about. In this part of Advent we remember that as Jesus came among us as a man in humility, one day, maybe soon, he will return to judge the living and the dead - and 'all eyes will behold his glory'. There should be nothing abstract about that. The mystery of faith "Christ will come again!"
A brief thought on the 1st reading: Such beautiful thoughts from the Prophet. The child putting its hand in the hole of the snake. The cow and the bear being neighbours. The lion eating straw like the ox. We cannot imagine Heaven, but we can almost imagine these things. Take the Lion, for example, eating straw. A remarkable image, of peace. Not only does the Lion not eat the Ox, he shares in the Ox's meal of straw. Peace, gentleness, kindness are all Heavenly. And the thing is they are all around us if we have the faith to see and the courage to live them.
On the Gospel: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make His paths straight. In order for us to let Christ our light enter into our hearts: what bends do we have to take out of the roads? In my part of the country the local council spends a lot of time and effort taking corners of roads to make them safe and to help the free flow of traffic. Some bends can be so big that large vehicles cannot get through. Imagine if the Lord's train could not get round the bends of our hearts; would he have to turn back? He is knocking. Do we let him in?
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