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Daily Meditations

on Advent and

Christmas Scriptures - Cycle A -

Msgr. John Zenz

Holy Name Parish

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My friends,

The arrival of Advent marks the beginning of

a new Church year and heralds the arrival of

Christmas in just a few weeks. Despite

increasing darkness and falling temperatures,

there is excitement in the air, the days are

busy with shopping and parties. Hopefully

they can also be dedicated to spiritual things

as well!

These daily meditations take us through the

Advent Scriptures of Cycle A to the Feast of

the Baptism of the Lord. Advent and

Christmas form one unit of the liturgical

year: promise and fulfillment.

Hopefully these daily meditations and

questions will spark some deeper reflection

and prayer and move us all to generous

deeds of compassion, all the more ready to

welcome the Lord - not just at Christmas but

everyday!

Your brother in the Lord,

Pastor, Holy Name Birmingham, MI

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Space and time are two great “markers” of our lives. We define ourselves by where and when we were born. Major events of our lives are remembered according to the season of the year and where we happened to be. Time and space are precious commodities: we “buy” time with medical treatments as we face the possibility of dying and we gladly pay a premium for space where we can vacation. Certain places are considered holy shrines and particular days and seasons become spiritually significant.

Space and time give us definition and comfort but they can also be confining. We experience sadness at being separated from loved ones for a long period of time or because of the many miles between us. Christmas celebrates our belief that the God who is eternal and beyond all limits chose to enter our time and space for 33 years in the obscure 100 mile radius of Galilee and Jerusalem. By allowing Himself to experience the limitations of space and time, Christ Jesus showed us that all time and all space have potential for holiness.

As we begin the season of Advent, we are invited to move to a new dimension of time and space. Jesus challenges us to remember the process of how He lived, died and was raised, the same prospect that awaits us. The ending of life as we know it should not cause us dismay for we are destined for a life beyond the limitations of time and space. We begin a new Church year by remembering the ending of all time and our hope for another life.

Is my hope centered primarily on things of this life?

Beyond Space and Time

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Many Christians think of Advent as a countdown

to Christmas. But we are engaged in something

more meaningful than commemorating a past

event; each Advent we renew our conviction that

Christ is coming again – and this time in glory

and majesty. So, we are not waiting for

something (a date on the calendar) but for

someone, the Lord of all life. And in all truth, we

can encounter Christ Jesus at every moment of

every day. His “second coming” will be the

culmination of the countless times and ways we

have been welcoming Him into our lives.

Often, when we wait for anything or anyone we

get restless and impatient, sometimes even

competitive, trying to get ahead of others in the

long lines at the store. But Advent is about

waiting together – like a family eagerly watching

for signs of a new baby’s arrival. Our waiting for

the Lord’s return is an opportunity to draw

closer to each other. We wait for the Lord as we

wait for each other with loving attentiveness.

“What are we waiting for?” can also mean: “why

are we stalling? Let’s get moving!” In the same

way, Advent waiting is not a passive twiddling of

our thumbs, but rather, active, energetic service.

Are you waiting for anything (or anyone) with eager expectation?

What Are We Waiting For?

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One of the great themes of Advent is waiting for

the dawning of the Light of all lights, Christ, the

Son of God. One of the ways 16th century

German Christians celebrated and prayed for the

gift of ever expanding light was through the

Advent wreath. This custom began as four

candles for the four weeks of Advent, with one of

the candles being rose (the third Sunday of

Advent - Gaudete Sunday).

Originally used at family dinner tables, the

custom spread to churches as well. Hopefully

the reverse might happen now in our time: why

not have an Advent wreath at your home and say

a prayer each evening as you light the candle(s)

of the four weeks of Advent?

Typically the wreath is made of evergreens (sign

of life and hope) and is circular, with no

beginning or ending (sign of eternity).

Some people add a white candle for Mary and

have it at the center of the wreath. Like Mary

and with Mary we wait for the Divine Child to be

brought to the light of day.

The Advent Wreath

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[Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44]

Advent: Our Wake-up Call

The Church year starts

not with a Champagne

toast but with an

alarm buzzing away, a

reminder that time as

we know it is running

short. Sooner or later

the present world will

end. This life will not

last forever. Thoughts

of the future life can

sometimes be consoling

(such as Isaiah’s vision

of all people worshipping in harmony). But then

again the end-times can be ominous: one will be

taken, one will be left (the Gospel for today).

Ultimately the season of Advent is a call to

conversion and renewal in the present moment.

Paul’s challenge to the Romans, today’s second

reading, urges us to wake from “spiritual” sleep

and truly change our priorities. These verses of

Romans 13 startled the young seeker Augustine

1600 years ago and brought him to the Lord.

How might this Advent change your life?

Pray for the grace of conversion - for yourself and all you know.

First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 1, 2019

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[Isaiah 4:2-6 and Matthew 8:5-11]

Expanding Our Vision

One of the many themes of Advent is the

invitation to expand our vision and our hearts.

During these darkest hours of the year, we long

for light. We spend time dreaming of what could

be. Yet even our dreams are often short-sighted;

our hopes tend to be rather self-centered.

The witness of the Roman centurion pleading for

Jesus to heal his Jewish servant was a precious

teaching moment for Jesus: “Nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.” The centurion

dared to dream. Jesus, too, dreamed of the day

when all people would recognize His Father and

accept each other as brothers and sisters.

Do I have the courage and hopeful vision of the

centurion?

Pray for someone who seems to be - for whatever reason - on the “outside” of the

family of faith.

First week of Advent Monday, December 2, 2019

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[Isaiah 11:1-10 and Luke 10:21-24]

Feast of St. Francis Xavier

Today’s commemoration of St. Francis Xavier

accords well with our Advent readings. He

dreamed of bringing the Gospel to China.

Although he died without attaining his goal, he

is regarded as one of the great missionaries of

all time. He gave himself completely to the Holy

Spirit.

Isaiah dreams of the dead stump of the tree of

Jesse coming to life and gifts of the Spirit resting

upon a future leader. In today’s Gospel, full of

the Spirit, Jesus rejoices in the way God reveals

Himself to the “little ones” rather than the

learned and clever.

The Holy Spirit is trying to do something new

within you and within our Church - are you open

to new possibilities?

Notice the gifts of the Spirit at work in an unlikely setting or person. Praise the Lord

and perhaps compliment the person gifted by the Spirit.

First week of Advent Tuesday, December 3, 2019

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[Isaiah 25:6-10 and Matthew 15:29-37]

Eucharist: Meal of Compassion

In today’s Gospel from Matthew, two times

Jesus displays His compassion for the crowds:

He heals their sick and then, aware of their

hunger, feeds the enormous crowd who had been

with Him for three days in a deserted place.

Isaiah proclaims a hopeful dream of all people

sharing a banquet where there would be no more

death or shame. The past would be repaired,

made new and

beautiful.

Our Eucharistic

meal is the daily

continuation of

Jesus’ nourishment

and healing, the

bread of compas-

sion. As we experi-

ence healing we are

also empowered to

be all the more

compassionate.

How would I like to grow in compassion?

Think and pray about someone you know who stands in need of compassion.

Try to reach out to that person.

First week of Advent Wednesday, December 4, 2019

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[Isaiah 26:1-6 and Matthew 7:21, 24-27]

Building on God’s Word

Today’s readings - and indeed all Advent - invite

us to go back to the foundation of our faith - the

Lord’s promise to be with us always. We build

on the rock of the Lord’s love, His living Word,

Jesus Christ.

We speak of certain things as “rock-solid,” not

able to be moved by any normal earthly force.

Our faith is built on a person, Jesus, the eternal

Son of God who always was, is and will be. His

Word and His presence are strong and solid yet they are also flexible. His love is steady and

secure but evolves and moves with us.

In Jesus Christ, God humbly bends to meet us in

our time of need. He is a dynamic “rock.” His

Word does not change yet He is a good listener

and speaks in ways that accommodate our

abilities and needs, our gifts and potential.

Spend some time in silence so as to hear the Word, Jesus Christ, speaking gently His love

and invitation to intimacy.

First week of Advent Thursday, December 5, 2019

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Feast of St. Nicholas [Isaiah 29:17-24 and Matthew 9:27-31]

An Early Taste of Christmas

St. Nicholas, a Bishop in Turkey in the 300’s,

is one of the most popular of all saints. Our

name “Santa Claus” is derived from the Dutch

“Sint Klaas” or St. Nicholas. In many parts of

the world, children

leave their shoes out

the night before his

feast, hoping for an

early Christmas gift.

St. Nicholas gave his

gifts in hidden and

surprising ways.

One gift we all need is

good vision; today’s

Gospel reminds us

how Jesus fulfilled

the prophetic dream

of Isaiah when he

restored sight to two

blind men. A point we often overlook is this:

they were healed because they asked. Am I

willing to admit my blindness? Would I like to

experience healing? Don’t forget: a new vision,

a new sense of responsibility!

As Nicholas did hidden good deeds, do the same for someone in need - physically or

psychologically.

First week of Advent Friday, December 6, 2019

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Feast of St. Ambrose [Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matthew 9:35-10:1, 6-8]

Good News Starts at Home

Isaiah offers us an expansive dream of a world

transformed with all people and animals at

peace with each other and without any suffering.

Jesus’ perspective is more focused: as He sends

His 12 disciples He tells them specifically to go

to “the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” We all

have relatives who have given up on the faith or

who struggle to believe. Advent is a wonderful

time to invite them - however directly or

indirectly - to join you for services at Church.

St. Augustine became a Christian in part

because of the witness of today’s saint, Ambrose.

Jesus reminds the 12 “The gift you have received, give as a gift.” Our faith is incomplete until it is

given away. In 12-step programs of healing for

addictions, the healing happens as we share with

others our own story of conversion.

Consider your own struggles of faith and how you have been coming to deeper faith through them. If possible, share your story, perhaps

with one of your own family.

First week of Advent Saturday, December 7, 2019

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Even more than Lent, the Scriptures of Advent

proclaim a clear call for individuals and

community, a call that can be summarized in one

word: Repent! Convert!

The voice of two great prophets dominate the

first half of Lent - Isaiah (writing about 700

years before Christ) and John the Baptist, the

prophet bridging the Old and New Testament

Their message was amazingly the same: the

Lord is near and therefore we must mend our

ways, making peace with God and each other.

Both Isaiah and John the Baptist were

sacramental in their message. The dream of

Isaiah was summarized in hope for an eternal

banquet where all people would be welcomed and

nourished. John the Baptist invited people to

experience a new life together by immersion

together in the waters of Baptism.

Advent: A Season of Renewed Commitment to Justice and Peace

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[Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12]

John’s First Word

As John the Baptist makes his appearance in

Matthew’s Gospel, his first word is “repent.”

Ordinarily, such a greeting might not sound

pleasant or attractive; nonetheless, great crowds

were drawn to him and his message. They under-

stood that something needed to change within

each of their hearts and minds and in the overall

expression of their religion. People were living on

the surface level and going through the motions;

John was inviting them to think in new ways, to

plunge into the Jordan River and make a new

beginning.

Repentance is not neces-

sarily something sad; it

is an opportunity for

growth and change, let-

ting go of anything and

everything that would

prevent us from open-

ness to the healing

presence of God.

Pray for the grace of repentance. Then consider one or two things in your life

that are out of alignment.

What steps could you take to change things?

Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 8, 2019

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Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

[Genesis 3:9-15,20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12;

Luke 1:26-38]

Space for Grace

A young teen-aged girl

named Mary, living in a

humble village called Naza-

reth heard an invitation

from God to accept a call to

motherhood of someone who

would be very special. She

agreed to this invitation even though she proba-

bly did not understand what it all meant; she

would learn with time. How did she have the

courage to say “yes”?

God had prepared Mary for this moment by pre-

serving her from the stubborn resistance and fear

of love which we call “sin.” Mary was disposed or

open to whatever God might ask. She could have

said no but she had been conceived with a radical

and profound openness for God’s love.

We were born with Original Sin and struggle to

trust God and believe that love is stronger than

all other life forces. Baptism has opened our

hearts and begun a process within us to make us

a welcoming “space” for God’s presence to dwell

within us.

Pray for the grace to leave space in your mind and heart for God.

Second week of Advent Monday, December 9, 2019

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[Isaiah 40:1-11 and Matthew 18:12-14]

Searching for the Lost

Jesus often referred to Himself as a shepherd: He

came to search out all the lost sheep and reunite

them with the rest of the flock. No sacrifice was

too great to save even one lost sheep.

At one time or another we have probably all

been that lost sheep, wandering off all on our

own, angry at God and the world, not feeling we

“belonged.” But somehow God won’t let us be

stuck in our rebellion; He keeps sending mes-

sengers to bring us back.

Think about people who have been “good shepherds” for you; thank God for them.

Do you know someone who might be

wandering at this time?

How might you search out that person?

Second week of Advent Tuesday, December 10, 2019

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[Isaiah 40:25-31 and Matthew 11:28-30]

A Second Breath

From time to time, we’ve all had the frightening

experience of being short of breath. Maybe we

were running too fast or

were extremely anxious

or taken aback at some

event. But if we pause,

we usually get a second

breath, recoup our ener-

gy and courage and

move forward with calm

dignity and confidence.

Jesus speaks of Himself

as one who wishes to comfort the weary and those

who feel burdened. In this He fulfills Isaiah 40:31,

“They will run and not grow weary…” The Lord’s

Spirit/breath will sustain us and renew us if we

pause for prayer and remember He is actually car-

rying us along the path of life!

Do you feel weary? Is it perhaps lack of time for prayer and quiet?

Pray for all who feel burdened and

overwhelmed—especially those caught in the “mad dash” to Christmas!

Second week of Advent Wednesday, December 11, 2019

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Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

[Readings for the feast take precedence over the

normal Scriptures:

Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; Luke 1:39-47]

Mary Visits America

The beautiful and powerful image of the Blessed

Virgin on the coarse woven cloak of Juan Diego

is unique for at least two reasons: Mary is

pregnant and her features resemble the native

Aztec people. Like her Son, Jesus, Mary came to

visit her people by becoming one of them.

In today’s Gospel Mary visits her cousin

Elizabeth: two pregnant women help each other

understand the presence of God at work within

them and through them.

As we honor Mary this day, meditate on Mary coming to visit you just

as your are - maybe even right in the middle of

many daily tasks or struggles. Welcome her!

Second week of Advent Thursday, December 12, 2019

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Feast of St. Lucy

[Isaiah 48:17-19 and Matthew 11:16-19]

Rejoicing in the Light

Today is the feast of St. Lucy, a Sicilian woman

martyred for the faith around 304 A.D. Her

name means “light” and her feast anticipates the

feast of light, Christmas. Christ alone is the true

light of the world, we strive to point toward Him.

In today’s Gospel Jesus

laments that many

rejected John the

Baptist and Himself as

well; they preferred

darkness rather than

coming into the light of

truth. Sometimes we

too hide from the light

because it seems

overwhelming; we do

not want to face the

truth about our own

sins and addictions.

Do I rejoice in the light?

How might I be a light for someone currently stuck in darkness?

Second week of Advent Friday, December 13, 2019

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Second week of Advent Saturday, December 14, 2019

Feast of St. John of the Cross

[Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 and Matthew 17:9-13]

Nada!

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) is the Carmelite

mystic who came to intimacy with the Lord by way

of darkness and emptiness. While many schools of

spirituality suggest appreciating the beauty and

wonder of nature, John chose the path of “letting

go.” One of his favorite expressions was “Nada,”

Spanish for “nothing.” In the dark night of the soul

he discovered a new

kind of light, a light

that was totally

from God.

For all his goodness,

John was rejected -

even by his own

fellow Carmelites.

John of the Cross

accepted rejection

knowing that John

the Baptist and

Jesus had also been rejected; they also knew great

darkness. In our own times, we can recall St.

Therese of Kalcotta who was God’s light for

millions even as she herself lived in great spiritual

darkness.

Today, spend some time in darkness. Let the light slowly dawn upon you!

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A principal focus of the Advent Lectionary is

re-kindling our joyful anticipation for the Lord’s

return in glory at the end of time. The short

season of Advent invites us to be spiritually

prepared to welcome the Lord – not just at

Christmas but every day. Our preparation

includes creating “space” for the Lord by setting

aside unnecessary distractions, purifying false

desires and focusing on what matters most.

Purple vestments are worn during two

penitential seasons in the year – Advent and

Lent. Advent purple is a bluish shade, the color

of the sky transitioning from night into dawn.

We are waiting for the light of Christ. Our acts

of Advent penance are joyful sacrifices of love for

others, bringing light and hope to people who

might be otherwise overwhelmed with darkness.

As a sign of increasing joy, Rose colored

vestments are worn on Gaudete Sunday, the

third Sunday of Advent.

In the novel and movie “The Color Purple,” one

of the African American characters who does not

attend Church challenges her friend why she

chooses to participate each week: “Do you really

find God there?” And the answer comes “I don’t

go there to find God but to share God!” Advent is

sharing our dawning awareness of the light of

the Lord dwelling among us.

The Color Purple

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[Isaiah 35:1-6,10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11]

Joy Unfolding

This third Sunday of Advent is known as

“Gaudete” Sunday; the Latin verb issues a com-

mand - “Rejoice!” Of

course, we cannot “force” joy; joy is a gift that surpris-

es us. Typically joy unfolds

gradually. So it is that to-

day’s second reading from

James speaks about the

farmer who patiently waits

for the crop to mature.

The seeds of true joy are

planted deep in our hearts

but they need time to ma-

ture. Joy emerges as we forget our own precon-

ceived expectations and surface desires and strive

to become more and more “in sync” with the

Lord’s deepest wishes for us. Joy often bursts

forth as we serve the needs of others and focus on

helping them discover the seeds of joy within

their own hearts.

Joy comes from within, not from the outside. Pray for all people who seem lost and burdened, afraid or angry that they may discover their own

hidden source of joy.

Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 15, 2019

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[Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 and Matthew 21:23-27]

Blessing, not cursing

It often seems easier to complain than to say pos-

itive and affirming things. Today’s first reading

from Numbers 24 is an odd, humorous - but

nonetheless challenging - story of a man named

Balaam. The King of the Moabites wanted to

“hire” the prophet and visionary Balaam to curse

the Jewish people so he could defeat them in bat-

tle. But in his

prayer, Ba-

laam, who had

no Jewish con-

nections at all,

heard the

Lord tell him

not to curse

the Jews but

to bless them.

And so he did.

We have a daily choice to listen to the Lord or to

follow the often attractive temptations and chat-

ter of the world’s values. According to what I

hear, I will speak: if I get caught up in worldly

vocabulary and proposals, I will curse and com-

plain. But if I listen to the Lord, I will bless God

and others.

Am I a complainer?

Find a reason to bless everyone you meet today: with a kind, affirming word.

Third week of Advent Monday, December 16, 2019

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During the Middle Ages, in the monasteries as the community sang Vespers or evening prayer, just before Mary’s Magnificat, there was a special verse for each of the last seven days before Christmas. These antiphons all began with “O” an invocation and invitation to the coming Lord. They called upon Him by Old Testament titles that described His coming ministry and destiny.

The Seven ‘O Antiphons’

December 17 O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge! December 18 O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power! December 19 O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! December 20 O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! December 21 O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. December 22 O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! December 23 O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

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“O Wisdom,” the “O antiphon” for today

[Genesis 49:2, 8-10 and Matthew 1:1-17]

Roots

From today on, as we

begin the last week

of Advent, the Scrip-

tures will bring to

life the story of the

Lord’s first coming in

Matthew and Luke.

Today’s Gospel is the

opening 17 verses of

Matthew’s Gospel,

the genealogy of

Jesus - from

Abraham through

David and then the tragedy of unfaithful kings

and exile in Babylon to the almost forgotten gen-

erations after the return from exile up to the

arrival of Jesus, Son of Mary and Joseph. Most

of the names in the genealogy mean little to us

and many of them were not necessarily good

people yet they were the means of transmitting

the Messiah.

God often writes straight with crooked lines. God uses us even in our

weakness and sinfulness.

Thank God for your own ancestors and the heritage of faith they shared with you.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

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“O Sacred Lord,” the “O antiphon” for today

[Jeremiah 23:5-8 and Matthew 1:18-25]

Sleepless Nights

We all experience sleep-

less nights from time to

time: we wake up wor-

ried about our health,

our family or tasks to

be accomplished. St.

Joseph was no stranger

to sleepless nights. He

had to decide whether

to stay with Mary and

finalize their marriage even though she was

pregnant with a son not his own. With trust in

God’s direction and voice, he went beyond the

Jewish law and accepted her as his wife, thus

giving legal legitimacy to Jesus.

But his sleepless nights did not end there! There

were many more anxious and uncertain days and

nights ahead for him and his family. But happi-

ly, God is usually closest to us in these vulnera-

ble moments and in the midst of these restless

struggles, the light dawns and we understand

what we should do.

What wakes you in the night?

Pray for patience with the way God is probably inviting you to deeper trust.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

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“O Flower of Jesse’s Stem,” the

“O antiphon” for today.

[Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 and Luke 1:5-25]

Silent Together in a Mystery

For years, Zechariah and Elizabeth had hoped and

prayed for a child. Now, alone in the sanctuary of

the temple in Jerusalem, the Archangel Gabriel

appeared to him with the good news they were

going to have a son whom he is

to name John. For questioning

the angel, though, Zechariah

lost his voice for nine months.

Together with Elizabeth, he

shared this mysterious preg-

nancy in silence. When the

child was born and named,

Zechariah’s voice is restored.

Out of the silence of centuries,

soon enough the prophetic voice of the child would

be boldly proclaiming the long-awaited Messiah.

Shared silence is powerful and can change minds

and hearts. These days are often filled with chat-

tering and frivolous words. What might happen if

we really listened to each other? Or better yet,

spent time together as a couple or as a family in

silent prayerful reflection? Even if you live alone,

dedicated, deliberate silence can be much more

powerful than you might think.

Give silence a try! Remember that in silence we are much closer

than we think to God and all those we love.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

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“O King of David,” the “O Antiphon” for today

[Isaiah 7:10-14 and Luke 1:26-38]

Accepting What We Do Not

Understand

Again today we hear the Gospel of the Annuncia-

tion. Mary, the young girl of Nazareth, could

hardly have understood all that was being of-

fered to her and asked of her. She did not argue

with the angel or ask for more details. She

agreed and accepted what she did not under-

stand. The years ahead

would mean more of the

same, again and again…

At this time of year we can

all get rather short-

tempered and demanding.

It would take a deliberate

effort but we could choose to

accept circumstances we

don’t particularly like. We

have the capacity to accept

people and things we do not

understand. Ultimately,

faith in the Lord is acceptance of things we can-

not understand, much less explain.

Pray for the grace to accept - without question or argument - the way things evolve with your

family or friends these days and hours.

Friday, December 20, 2019

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“O Rising Sun,” the “O Antiphon” for today

[Song of Songs 2:8-14 and Luke 1:39-45]

The Visitation

Today’s short Scripture passage of Mary going to

be with Elizabeth is a condensed summary of the

whole Gospel: God comes to visit His people, to

dwell among us. Elizabeth prayerfully and joy-

fully accepts and welcomes the divine presence

Mary carried in her womb. Like the child Jesus

she carried would do in his future ministry,

Mary humbly accepted Elizabeth’s hospitality.

This Divine visitation happens whenever two

parties are open to receive. In their mutual

emptiness of ego or fear, Mary and Elizabeth

reveal the joy that can be ours when we seek to

welcome the Lord in each other.

Who could use a visit from me - a relative in a hospital or nursing home? And on the other

side of things, consider whether you will be a good receiver of everyone who

knocks at your door.

Saturday December 21, 2019

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“O King of all the Nations,”

the “O Antiphon” for today.

[Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-17; Matthew 1:18-24]

The Outsider

In many ways St. Joseph must have felt some-

thing of an “outsider.” Mary had a clear and

prominent role in the emerging story; she en-

joyed the wisdom of the talkative angel. But

Joseph was simply told to take Mary as his wife

and name the child. Nonetheless, Joseph was

essential to the plan of God and so are we - even

when/if we feel a bit the outsider.

Quite often at Christ-

mas parties and fam-

ily visits, others may

seem more charming

with their exciting

stories and jokes.

The little ones also

get special attention.

But many of us will

be quietly on the

sidelines - at Church and at home. But come to

think of it, Jesus was Himself the ultimate out-

sider who didn't “fit” into the human story - even

though He desperately tried to do so!

Pray for all people who will feel forgotten or abandoned, even by their own family.

Remember especially those in prisons and on

the streets.

Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 22, 2019

32

“O Emmanuel,” the “O Antiphon” for today.

[Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 Luke 1:57-66]

What Will This Child Be?

The miraculous and mysterious events surround-

ing the pregnan-

cy, birth and

naming of John

the Baptist

prompt the ques-

tion: What will

this child be?

What plan does

God have in store

for him? Actual-

ly, this question

could be asked of

every person who

enters this world:

surely we are

here for a particu-

lar mission. We

may not ever know it this side of heaven but God

will use us as long as we do not get in His way.

In these holy and sacred hours before Christmas try to find space and time to thank

God - by name - for all the people who are “life-lines” of His grace for you.

Monday, December 23, 2019

33

[Readings of Midnight Mass: Isaiah 9:1-6, Titus

2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14]

Out in the Open

Why was Jesus born on

the edge of Bethlehem

surrounded by animals

and laid in a manger,

perhaps even out under

the stars? Traditionally

many of us thought that

the townsfolk of

Bethlehem were lacking

in hospitality to the

Holy Family. But

perhaps there is a more

profound message and

reason for the odd setting of His birth. Thomas

Merton, the famous cloistered Trappist Monk

and prolific author, suggests that Jesus the Son

of God had to be born outside town, out in the

open countryside because God cannot be confined

and controlled, “hemmed in” by us. God was

subtly teaching us that His love is now totally

exposed for all the world to see; there is no

possibility of “hiding” His profound love for all

people especially the forgotten “little ones” like

the shepherds.

Spend some time alone - perhaps outside - and think of the Lord who was homeless.

Perhaps you may be moved to tears at such a freely chosen love - expecting no

particular response.

Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24, 2019

34

[Readings of the Mass during the day:

Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18]

Born Again

“In the beginning was the word…” On Christmas

morning, the three Scriptures for Mass focus on

the mystery of the Word-made-flesh; they take us

into the mind and heart of God’s Trinitarian con-

versation of love, prior to the creation of the

world. Just as the Eternal Father created the

world for the Son and through the Son, now,

through the Word-made-flesh, God is re-creating

the world in each one of us. Christmas is not only

about Christ’s birth in time but also our call to be

“born again” through a deeper immersion into our

communion in the Body of Christ, the Church.

Christmas is our birthday, for Christ came to

call all people out of isolation and solitude into

communion with Himself and all His brothers

and sisters.

As you pray today, be very conscious of the fact you are part of the Body of

Christ which entered the world in

a visible way this very day.

Christmas Wednesday, December 25, 2019

35

[Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 and Matthew 10:17-22]

Reconciliation at Christmas

At first glance, celebrating the martyrdom of the

Deacon Stephen seems out of place in the hours

right after the joyous experience of Christmas.

Yet, Jesus (Saviour) was born to manifest the

Father’s eternal and all-encompassing mercy.

He was born to be Jesus the reconciler.

Note how Stephen dies: asking that the Lord

forgive the men who were stoning him - words

similar to Jesus on the cross. And apparently

Stephen’s prayer was powerful for Saul/Paul was

watching and approving of the martyrdom. But

later on Paul would repent of this action. Some-

thing must have been percolating within Paul as

he watched Stephen die with nothing but love in

his heart.

Christmas week is a great time for making peace

among relatives and friends. Christ came that

all might be one. He shows us how to take the

initiative, offering an olive branch to others.

With whom do you need to make peace?

If you cannot “go there” at least pray for those who have brought you pain.

Feast of St. Stephen Thursday, December 26, 2019

36

[I John 1:1-4 and John 20:2-8]

Beloved

John, sometimes thought of as the anonymous

“beloved disciple” (since that term is found only

in John’s Gospel), may also have been the broth-

er of James and the Gospel writer, but who

knows? More important is this: John embodies

pure love. Of all the disciples he alone truly

knew how to receive with open mind and heart

the love Jesus was offering; the others seemed

more resistant. Jesus did not deliberately

“choose” John in preference over the others.

Note the name

“beloved” is pas-sive. Because

John was such

an excellent re-

ceiver, naturally

Jesus could

keep going deep-

er in his sharing

with John.

As mentioned above, we do not know the actual

identity of the “beloved”; we speculate it may

have been John. Perhaps his identity is not re-

vealed because each of us could/should put our-

selves in his place!

Am I willing to be the Lord’s “beloved”? It will mean a lot of letting go!

Feast of St. John Friday, December 27, 2019

37

[I John 1:5-2:2 and Matthew 2:13-18]

Blessed are the Innocent

In Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus, there

is a deliberate attempt to show how even from

His infancy Jesus was summarizing and ful-

filling the experiences and expectations of His

Jewish ancestors. As they came “out of Egypt” to

freedom, Jesus too needed to go down to Egypt

and then return to the Promised Land. King

Herod’s killing of innocent children was typical

of his erratic and cruel use of power; he feared

even children, for one of them might be an even-

tual rival!

In all about 20 male chil-

dren may have been put to

death in or around Bethle-

hem—a great tragedy. Yet

they were but the first of

generations and genera-

tions of silent witnesses

and martyrs who even now

give their lives for the sake

of the Gospel.

We admire their innocence and wish we had it.

Even more, we feel the pain and unending grief

of parents who lose children for a variety of rea-

sons every single day (suicide, random violence,

deliberate actions against people because of reli-

gion or ethnic origin).

Pray for and with parents who mourn a lost child.

Feast of the Holy Innocents Saturday, December 28, 2019

38

[Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:12-21;

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23]

Migrant Families

This year the Gospel

for the feast of the

Holy Family comes

from Matthew, the

story of their escape

to Egypt and their

return to their home-

land, settling in Naza-

reth. In all of this

movement Matthew

sees the providential hand of God and the fulfill-

ment of prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures.

We marvel at the quick and unquestioning,

obedient response of Joseph to the voice of the

angel in a dream, a reminder that more often

parents end up obeying their children more than

children their parents!

This Gospel is being lived out today all over the

world as millions of refugees wander looking for

economic and political safety and well-being.

Somehow God guards and guides them but we

too have a role to play - perhaps through prayer,

financial support of CRS or getting involved in

efforts to keep migrant families united.

Take some time to check out the U.S. Bishops website on this matter.

Pray for all families - especially those without a permanent home and families

who are separated.

Feast of the Holy Family Sunday, December 29, 2019

39

Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity

Monday, December 30, 2019

[I John 2:12-17 and Luke 2:36-40]

Wisdom Figures

Today’s Gospel from St. Luke offers the conclu-

sion to the story of the Presentation of the child

Jesus in the Temple. We hear about the elderly

female prophetess and widow, Anna, who had

devoted herself entirely to prayer and fasting in

the Jerusalem Temple. In the mind of St. Luke

she represents a foreshadowing and beginning of

what would become the early Christian commu-

nity of Jerusalem.

How many Annas and Simeons are the steady

“pillars of the Church” and models for us in every

age and place?

As the year is rapidly concluding, take some time to thank God for the “wisdom figures”

whose faithful (often silent) witness and prayer sustain us all.

40

[I John 2:18-21 and John 1:1-18]

Every Ending, A New Beginning

In the cycle of life we know that every ending

gives way to new possibilities and challenges.

The transition from the “old” to the “new” is

never easy, even when there may be attractive

reasons and possibilities for a change in our

life-style, family circumstances or work.

The transition most of us could use goes by the

name “conversion” - a change of mind or heart, a

letting go of things or relationships, opinions or

fears that might be holding us back from spiritu-

al growth. Hence, the wisdom of New Year’s

resolutions!

What spiritual changes might be appropriate for you at this time in your life?

How is the Lord calling you to some new growth - through more faithful prayer,

more generous service of the poor and a readiness to forgive?

Seventh Day Within the Octave of the Nativity

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

41

[Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7;

Luke 2:16-21]

Resolving to Be Totally Human

In the civil society, New Year’s Day launches us into a time of new beginnings; with a clean slate, we make resolutions. But on this day, the Church celebrates the completion of our week-long contemplation of the meaning of Christmas. In other words, while the wider society is future oriented today, we review graces received. In particular, the Church invites us to take the contemplative posture of Mary who “treasured all these things in her heart.”

Mary has been a critical “anchor” for our under-standing of the reality of Christ’s human birth; He came among us according to the normal pro-cesses of pregnancy, delivery and child care. Mary was a genuine mother of Jesus come in the flesh. She helps guarantee the full humanity of the Eternal Son born in time, as St. Paul put it in today’s second reading: “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law…” (Galatians 4:4-5)

Christ came to save us by sharing in every as-pect of our human experience. He did not choose to redeem us from the “outside” but from “within” our human limitations and challenges. The Lord wants us to be fully human. He does not expect or desire us to be angels or inhabit a spiritual cocoon.

What kind of resolution might I make to help me become more fully human?

Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

42

[I John 2:22-28 and John 1:19-28]

The Faith of the Faithful

Basil and Gregory were great friends, both

monks who eventually became priests and bish-

ops in 4th century Turkey. They were strong

voices teaching and defending the full divinity

and humanity of Jesus

Christ. They helped the

Church’s teaching become

clearer and more under-

standable.

The first reading for to-

day from the First Epistle

of John speaks about the

anointing with the Spirit

we have all received

through our Baptism.

Based on this Scripture

the Church proclaims a special teaching - the

“faith of the faithful” - that is, the body of the

faithful as a whole cannot err in matters of

belief. The teachings of the Popes and Councils

resonate with our conscience. Pope Francis

frequently cites this timely insight and therefore

encourages a process of dialogue and discern-

ment at all levels of the Church.

Pray for the Holy Father and the Bishops that they may always be attentive to the

movement and voice of the Holy Spirit at all levels of the Church.

Feast of Sts. Basil and Gregory Nazianzen

Thursday, January 2, 2020

43

[I John 2:29-3:6, John 1:29-34]

Blessed Be the Name of Jesus

“These things have been written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through this belief you may have life in His name.”

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bend… and every tongue confers that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (Phil 2:10-11)

Both Matthew and Luke

emphasize that the angel of the

Lord directed Mary and Joseph

to name the child “Jesus”

because He would save His people from their sins.

(“Jesus” means “God saves”).

Names were very important in the ancient world;

names said something about the person’s life work

or identity. To know someone’s name and to call

them by name meant that you enjoyed a certain

intimacy and that you had power or influence over

that person. Jesus’ name parallels the name Josh-

ua, Moses’ chief aid and successor who led the cho-

sen people into the Promised Land. Like His

namesake, Jesus would stand in the same Jordan

River to mark His role as God’s instrument and to

lead all people from slavery, fear, sin and death to

communion with God.

Speak the name of Jesus over and over again in prayer: “Jesus, Son of the Living God, have

mercy on me a sinner.”

Holy Name of Jesus

Friday, January 3, 2020

44

[I John 3:7-10, John 1:35-42]

No Cookie Cutters in Heaven

Elizabeth Seton had a very challenging life and

accomplished a great

deal in her 47 years.

Married with five chil-

dren, she became a young

widow and converted to

the Roman Catholic

Faith. She went on to

found the Sisters of

Charity and established

many schools in our

nation. She is a great

reminder that we can all become holy through the

way we accept with love and trust the challenges of

our particular life circumstances.

There is no one particular blue print or “cookie

cutter” for holiness: if we are open, the Holy

Spirit will partner with us. And yet, ultimately

it is one same holiness at work within all of us -

the presence of the Death-Resurrection of Christ

within us. As the Council Fathers proclaimed at

Vatican II, “In the various types and duties of life, one and the same holiness is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God and who obey the voice of the Father, worshipping God the Father in spirit and in truth.” (Dogmatic

Constitution on the Church, art. 41)

Thank God for the unique circumstances of your state in life and your particular challenges

at this moment in your life.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Saturday, January 4, 2020

45

[Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6;

Matthew 2:1-12]

The Journey of the Magi

The poet T.S. Eliot wrote a famous poem by the above title and makes the point that many years after their journey and encounter with the child Jesus they were still savoring the experience and trying to understand the mystery that had changed their life: they had gone to see a birth but in actual-ity, they experienced a death - their own death! They had a life-changing experience and nothing was the same thereafter.

Would that we could say the same! We all wish for some unique personalized intense encounter with the Lord, reassuring us of our value to Him and giving us advice and encouragement. The Magi of old probably got no particular words from the infant or His parents but were formed anew by the whole experience of the journey and their brief encounter with a family of pure love. For us, too, the journey itself is the Epiphany, the encounter with the Lord; the daily journey with its combina-tion of confusion and routine is the setting wherein we meet the Lord. We just need to be open.

Thank God for the gift of spiritual journey, movement, change and the “seeker” spirit

within you. Promise the Lord you will strive to enjoy every step :)

The Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 5, 2020

46

A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.’ And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we regretted The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, And the silken girls bringing sherbet. Then the camel men cursing and grumbling and running away, and wanting their liquor and women, And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters, And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly And the villages dirty and charging high prices: A hard time we had of it. At the end we preferred to travel all night, Sleeping in snatches, With the voices singing in our ears, saying That this was all folly. Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley, Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation; With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness, And three trees on the low sky, And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow. Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel, Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver, And feet kicking the empty wine-skins. But there was no information, and so we continued And arriving at evening, not a moment too soon Finding the place; it was (you might say) satisfactory. All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we led all that way for Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods. I should be glad of another death.

The Journey Of The Magi by T.S. Eliot

47

St. Andre Bessette Monday, January 6, 2020

[I John 3:22-4:6, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25]

A Humble Healer

Brother Andre, a member of the Congregation of

the Holy Cross, lived and died in Montreal. A

holy and simple man of God, he had a vision/

dream of a great shrine to St. Joseph on the

mountaintop of

Mount Royal. He was

the porter at the door

of the monastery for

four decades and like

our own Fr. Solanus,

in that capacity he

was God’s instrument

of healing for people

in need - physically,

psychologically and

spiritually. After his

death in 1937, the small chapel became a world-

famous shrine, St. Joseph's Oratory.

A Prayer:

Heavenly Father, praise and thanks to You for choosing the humble to be your instruments

of hope and healing.

Use me as you wish, O Lord, and help me respect the power of your presence in all

people, especially those I might easily ignore or overlook.

48

[I John 4:7-10, Mark 6:34-44]

The God Who Wishes to Free Us

Born in Barcelona in 1175, St. Raymond lived an

entire century! He was the Third Superior Gen-

eral of the Dominican Order and left a lasting

impact on the Church through his ministry of

freeing slaves and his commentaries on Church

law and the Sacrament of Penance.

As St. Raymond preached and embodied freedom

and mercy, today’s Scriptures proclaim the same

truth, a message we can never enough appreci-

ate: God showed His love for us when He sent

His Son to be the

sacrifice that

takes away our

sins (see I John

4:10). In today’s

Gospel Jesus

nourishes 5,000

in the wilderness

just as He wish-

es to satisfy our

hunger for nour-

ishment, mercy

and healing in

the Eucharist.

Try to connect with someone who is in the

hospital or a nursing home or a shut-in.

St. Raymond of Penafort Tuesday, January 7, 2020

49

[I John 4:11-18 and Mark 6:45-52]

Love Conquers Fear

In today’s first reading from First John, we read

“fear is driven out by perfect love: because to fear is to expect punishment and anyone who is afraid is still imperfect in love,” (I John 4:17-18)

Yet in the Gospel, the disciples, who had been

enjoying much intimacy with the Lord Jesus and

saw His power at work, were full of fear when

they saw the Lord walking on the turbulent

waters of the Sea of Galilee. He was coming to

console them but instead His presence brought

them a new reason for fear: they thought they

were seeing a ghost!

How does fear hold me back from truly loving God? (i.e. not just believing that He exists but

actually loving Him.)

Christmas Weekday

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

50

[I John 4:19-5:4 and Luke4:14-22]

Fulfilled in Our Hearing

As the Christmas season winds down, we hear a

preview of Jesus’ ministry: His first “homily” in

His hometown of Nazareth. Reading from Isaiah

61, Jesus declares that this vision is being ful-

filled at that very moment: the act of proclaiming

the Good News, of itself, has a power to change

people. Isaiah’s words from 700 years earlier

were now coming to life.

That is why we read the Scripture aloud during

the Mass, a practice also good to do when you

pray at home: saying the words aloud and hear-

ing yourself speak them is extremely compelling!

Try it! We bring the Gospel to life when we do

what Jesus did - caring for the sick and suffer-

ing, being generous with the poor, listening to

those who have been pushed to the side.

Read [aloud if possible] today’s Gospel and also read Isaiah 61. Feel the power of the

promises coming alive, the Gospel unleashed.

Christmas Weekday Thursday, January 9, 2020

… “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”… “Today this scripture pas-sage is fulfilled in your hearing.”... And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph”?

Luke 4:14-22

51

[I John 5:5-13 and Luke 5:12-16]

The Spirit, the Water and the Blood

Since December 27th we have been reading con-

tinuously from the first Epistle of John, a text

which was written around the end of the 1st cen-

tury to balance with the Gospel of John. Some in

John’s community were claiming that Jesus

came only spiritually and not in actual flesh and

blood. So today’s

passage is critical:

there are three

witnesses: the

Spirit, the water

and the blood…

these three are of

one accord.

The message of

First John is that

the Incarnation

was real! Jesus

had human flesh and blood flowed from Him on

the Cross. The Spirit and water refer to the com-

munity and their commitment of faith at Bap-

tism; the community itself is the continuing

presence of the “flesh” of Jesus - even with all

our imperfections and struggle.

Pray for the unity of the Church.

Thank God for the gift of our parish. Could I be more directly involved?

Christmas Weekday Friday, January 10, 2020

52

[I John 5:14-21 and John 3:22-30]

“He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

John the Baptist’s testimony (cited above) is a

great summary of his whole life and all his

preaching: he was but the friend of the bride-

groom, the voice announcing that the groom/

spouse of souls has arrived. John knew he must

pass away and that Jesus needed to take center-

stage. His own joy was complete in knowing he

had paved the way for others to meet Jesus.

In a certain sense, our vocation is like that of

John: we point the way to Jesus. Our name may

be forgotten but it matters only that the name of

Jesus resound to the end of the earth and

throughout the ages!

Consider whether your ego ever gets in the way of all the good you do.

Christmas Weekday Saturday, January 11, 2020

53

[Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38;

Matthew 3:13-17]

Baptism: Beginning of a Partnership

This year we hear Matthew’s version of the

Baptism of Jesus. Matthew highlights John the

Baptist’s reluctance to baptize Jesus. John gives

in to Jesus’ request as Jesus challenges him: we

must do this to fulfill all righteousness.

“Righteousness” is not a personal achievement

but a shared reality, a partnership with the Lord

and each other. Part of the mystery of Baptism

is how we are freed from isolation and immersed

into the Body of Christ.

Baptism celebrates a

death-to-self and a new

birth, a birth to a life con-

secrated to the Lord and

the Church. We are

saved together: just as

John and Jesus needed

each other, God places

people around us to be

givers and receivers of

love. We come to know our identity and dignity

in Christ in and through our relationships with

our brothers and sisters who have gone through

the waters of baptism with us.

Thank God for your baptism and listen to His voice:

“You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased.”

Pray also for those preparing for Baptism.

Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 12, 2020

54

There are two periods of Ordinary Time in the

cycle of the Church year: the first period com-

prises the weeks from the Baptism of the Lord

(which ends the Advent-Christmas season) until

the beginning of Lent. The second stretch of Or-

dinary Time begins after Pentecost and runs un-

til the beginning of Advent.

In many ways “Ordinary Time” does not do jus-

tice to these weeks of green vestments and read-

ing continuously from St. Mark’s Gospel on the

weekdays and St. Matthew’s Gospel on Sundays.

Ordinary time is - like all time - full of potential

for great discoveries and encounters of faith,

conversion and renewal.

This first section of Ordinary Time corresponds

to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and

focuses especially on His preaching and healing,

particularly His ministry in Galilee and the call

to discipleship. Each winter, rather than settle

into a dormant mode, we need to be challenged

anew to grow and change. One of the goals of

this period is actually remote preparation for

Lent and Easter and the renewal of our Baptism

and discipleship.

During these days and weeks of minimal light

and the often isolating effects of cold tempera-

tures, heavy snowfall and icy roads, we can be

tempted to hibernate. More than ever, we need

to look for ways to connect with others and share

our faith. These weeks are a great time to visit

those who are home-bound all year.

The Return to Ordinary Time Monday, January 13—Tuesday, February 25 2020

55

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity The conversion of St. Paul

Saturday, January 18 - Saturday, January 25, 2020

Catholic Schools Week Week of January 26, 2020

Presentation of the Lord in the Temple (also called “Candlemas Day”)

World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life Sunday, February 2, 2020

Feast of St. Blaise and Blessing of Throats Monday, February 3, 2020

Mardi Gras Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Noteworthy Dates/Events during

this first section of Ordinary time