Archive for December, 2008

We Are Children of God

theophilus December 31st, 2008

As we close out 2008 and head into 2009, today’s gospel from the beginning of the Gospel According to St. John gives us some encouragement and hope.

“He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.”

How much hope is in these words.  From the moment of conception right through the moment of death, we have the right to live according to God’s will and plan for us because we all ultimately exist due to God’s decision, not man’s.

And if we accept God and truly follow him, we will be called “children of God.”  As a former orphan, I can ensure you that there is no greater gift than to be called someone’s child.  To be called a child of God is almost too much to comprehend.

Live this new year so that you can rightfully and unashamedly be called a child of God.  Live this year so that your year is fitting of one who is the Eternal Creator’s son or daughter.  Make our Father pleased with your divine filiation with him.  Be grateful of his divine love for you.

Happy New Year!

Anna’s Turn

theophilus December 30th, 2008

Today’s gospel carries the rest of the story from Luke 2 of the Presentation of the Lord; and with it, more lessons for us to carry into the new year.

We hear about the octogenarian prophetess Anna.  She worshipped in the temple day and night and spoke about this baby as the Messiah to all who would listen.  She had great faith; a faith that, like Simeon’s, was justified when she held baby Jesus in her arms.

She kept God close to her heart.  She truly believed and hoped.  She, like Simeon, persevered in her long life and was richly and spiritually rewarded.

There are also other lessons from the Presentation.  It’s almost a side note, but this story closes with an observation from St. Luke that “[w]hen they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, . . ..”  The “they” was Mary & Joseph, who showed absolute obedience to what God wanted for them.  In the Presentation, they also showed a humility and earthly detachment that is an example for us all.

They instinctively knew of what St. John writes in today’s first reading from 1 John 2.

“Do not love the world or the things of the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.  Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.  But whoever does the will of God remains forever.”

In the coming year, along with the lessons learned from Simeon (patience, perseverance and faith), I’m also going to work on the lessons learned from Anna and the Holy Family at the Presentation.  Obedience, sharing the faith, prayer and devotion, hope, trust, humility, and worldly detachment are all good things to work on to bring me closer to Christ.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve; the end of a very tumultuous year for most of us.  Tomorrow is a good day to allow the Holy Spirit to help you reflect on the year past and what Christ wants you to do in the year to come.  It’s time to reflect on the lessons learned and the lessons that need to be learned.  It’s time to put our lives in God’s hands and recommit our energies to the work of laboring in the fields.

Simeon’s Lessons

theophilus December 29th, 2008

I am always amazed at how much we have to learn from the lesser-known figures in Scripture.

Today’s gospel is the story of the Presentation of the Lord, where we meet the old and wise Simeon for the first and only time.

From Luke 2, we learn that he was “righteous and devout” and that he was “awaiting the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

More importantly, he had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw Christ.

And he believed this promise and waited a lifetime for it to be fulfilled.

We learn so much from this story.  From Simeon, we learn about perseverance and patience.  We learn about faith.

In the silence of his heart, Simeon heard a message from God and did not doubt what he had been told or who had revealed it to him.  He took the time to listen.  He did not waver in the prolonged time it took for his faith to be justified.

In our world today, we have grown accustomed to instant gratification and “what have you done for me lately.”  We want things now and we lose faith when we feel prematurely let-down by someone or something.  This impatience permeates our homes, religion, work, culture and politics.  We see it in our families, workplaces, Hollywood, sports teams, Capitol Hill, Wall Street, and our churches.

The problem with all of this impatience and our inability to persevere is that it undermines what God expects of us.  He asks us to be patient and to persevere in all things.  He asked the same of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles, and the saints throughout the ages.  Heck, America was built upon the shoulders of those who answered God’s call and spent their lives fulfilling God’s plan for them.

We must do the same.  In this uncertain and turbulent world, he needs for us to be patient and to persevere.  He is in control and he needs our faith in his plan.

I’m looking ahead to what I want to improve upon in 2009.  My lack of patience and perseverance are at the top of the list.  I’m going to start with learning one of Simeon’s key virtues; his ability to listen to the Holy Spirit through the silence of his heart.  I need to sit still and really listen to God.  Then patience and perseverence may be easier to achieve.

“What Then Will This Child Be?”

theophilus December 23rd, 2008

It is the night of December 23rd; and my kids are bouncing off the walls already.

We have deliberately built the tension this Christmas.  Day by day on their Advent calendars; candle by candle on our Advent wreath.  We even kept Jesus out of the family creche; and our kids have noticed.

They can almost feel the toys; guessing which treasures “Santa” is going to bring.  But, they also are well aware that this time of year is about Jesus and his birth.  They know that Santa delivers gifts to little boys and girls because of his love for Jesus.  They know that their family and friends give each other gifts because they love Jesus and each other.

We have tried hard to reinforce these tenets throughout this season.  We have been very blessed by God.  My children get to live a life of which I knew nothing of when I was their age.

I worry constantly that my kids are going to get caught up in the trappings of the temporal world.  It’s a paradox for me.  God has set a plan for me and I’ve worked hard to achieve it.  I know I have not reached as far as he has wanted for me, but I have come a long way; and God has greatly blessed me and my family, both spiritually and materially.

But I’ve known want and need.  I remember Christmases of long ago when I just wanted a family.  The bike that my foster family got me was nice; but I just wanted a place to call home; I wanted a mom & dad.

And, I watch my kids and am so glad that they do not face the loneliness; the spiritual and physical hunger; the pain; the want and need.  I am thankful to God every day that he has blessed me in so many ways and has blessed my children.  But, I don’t want them to feel spiritually self-sufficient; I don’t want them to feel entitled.  I also don’t want them to experience deprivation.

I take comfort in knowing God has his plan for them; the same way he has a plan for me.  So, I take special note of scripture such as today’s Gospel taken from the end of Luke 1, when Zechariah and Elizabeth are naming their son, John the Baptist (although, I think he was just called “John” at the time).

The neighbors just assumed that they would name their baby after his father (”Junior” and “Trey” were common nicknames back then).  So, they were surprised when Elizabeth emphatically stated that his name would be “John” as instructed by St. Gabriel when he broke the news to Zechariah nine months before.

The neighbors then looked to Zechariah for affirmation; but quickly remembered that he had been mute ever since he got back from the temple about the time his wife had gotten miraculously pregnant.  In any case, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that his son’s name would be “John” and, on cue, he began to speak.

The neighbors were astonished and news quickly spread; prompting someone to say and St. Luke to comment, “‘[w]hat, then, will this child be?’  For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

And, that’s how I feel about my kids.  What, then, will [these] child[ren] be?  For surely the hand of the Lord [is] with [them].

This Christmas, let us remember that the Lord is with our kids.  He is in their hearts, minds, and souls.  It is evident in their joy, smiles, and squeals.  They know there is something incredible in all of this hoopla.  They can just feel it, sense it, embrace it.  And we must do the same; through them and within ourselves.

God wants us to experience the pure joy of his son’s birth each and every year.  He infects our kids with that joy so that we can be reminded of it and indulge in it.

I went through challenging times those first Christmases without a family.  But God was with me still; I know so because somehow I always had a Christmas.  There was always someone to take me in, and there were always some presents under the family tree for me.

The hand of the Lord was with me; is with me; as surely as it is with my kids.  The hand of the Lord is with you; as surely as it is with your kids.  It is just up to us to make sure that they realize this basic truth; and that we realize it ourselves.

The hand of the Lord is with our kids; the hand of the Lord is with us.  We just need to open ourselves to this divine joy that is God’s Christmas gift to us, each and every year.

House Rules

theophilus December 19th, 2008

Last month, I ran across a thing in a catalog promoting something with a series of Bible references on it.  They were “House Rules” – a series of 12 maxims from the Bible on how a house and family should be run.  I didn’t want to buy it but I liked the “Rules;” so I typed them up, printed them out, and put them on our fridge.

And didn’t give them a second thought.

I found out tonight that my kids have read them.  Tonight, my little girl “promised” her little brother that he could stay up past their bedtime to watch a movie.  When my wife heard this, she marched upstairs to inform both of them that it was time for bed.  It was at this point that my little girl quoted one of the rules from Romans 4 and asserted that we should “keep our promises,” (Maxim #7).  She had promised her brother that he could watch the movie and therefore she had to keep her promise.

My wife then found me and told me it was all mine.

I quickly grabbed my Bible for some context.  Sure enough, the pertinent verse of Romans 4 reads “[n]o distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

I felt like I was on a cross-examination.  I explained to her that she did not have the authority to give this promise and therefore we were not bound to the promise.  I counseled her that she should only make promises that she could keep; that she should ensure that she “was able to do what [s]he had promised.”

They appeared to understand.  The TV is off; my son is in his bed; my daughter is warming to the idea of sleep.

So, what have I learned tonight?  #1, my kids are paying attention to me; #2, I better have my Bible at hand when I throw scripture at them because, odds are, they are going to challenge me; #3, Mary and Joseph are laughing their butts off, because if Jesus was even close to being a normal child, he challenged them like every other child; both surprisingly and exasperatingly.

But for now, I take comfort that my little girl was challenging me with the Word of God and not something she read in People or something she heard on TV.  I look forward to more of these conversations; as long as I’m adequately prepared.

Perceptions

theophilus December 14th, 2008

You should have seen me this morning.

We went to Mass last night with my parents at their parish.  But, I wanted my 5-year old to go to his RFY class this morning during 10:00 Mass.

So, as I was tooling around this morning, enjoying an unusual Sunday morning, I remembered that I had to get my son ready to go to church.

And my mind starting cranking.  Well, I better shower.  Do I need to shave?  Do I wear my usual respectful Mass outfit or can I just throw on some jeans?

I decided on the shower, against the shave, and in favor of the jeans.  I got my son dressed and fed, and off we went.

My wife had already called her Mom & Dad who go to the same Mass, and asked if they could pick him up after class.  They agreed (of course).  So, I dropped him off at his class, and sheepishly told his teacher that we had gone to Mass last night and that his grandparents would pick him up after class.  I then hurried back out to my car, drove through the parking lot with my head shrunk below the steering wheel, and snuck out the entrance.

All the while, I was hoping that no one I knew would see me and think I was just dropping my kids off at RFY for babysitting and skipping Mass.

And, who really should care?

I went to Mass; I kept today holy; I cared enough to ensure my son attended RFY and gave his Christmas gifts to his teachers (it’s the last class until after the New Year).  But for all anyone knows, I was a deadbeat Catholic using the Church as babysitting, while I skipped off to a quiet breakfast.

I guess we need to be careful about perceptions.  I was concerned enough about other’s perceptions of me that I went through the motions I went through this morning.  But, ultimately, the only thing that matters is God’s perception of me.  He knows my heart; he knows what I have done; he is my only audience.  Save for the example we must set for each other as the members of the Body of the Church, God is the one we must answer to for our actions.

And maybe, I need to judge other’s less and just focus on what I am giving to Christ.  We can be observant, but we must not be judgmental.

Ah, my little lesson on this blessed Sunday.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

theophilus December 12th, 2008

What’s so hard to understand about the following passage from Luke 1 -

“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For behold when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.’“

The BABE leaped in her womb.  Blessed is the FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB.  The MOTHER of my Lord.  The BABE in my womb.

If you read the Bible, if you believe in the Bible, if you believe in Christ, there is no room for discussion.  The unborn child is a child; the “fetus”, by-product of a woman’s ’reproductive right”, the “blob of tissue” is a human being worthy of the basic human and natural right of life.

I don’t understand these Catholics and Christians who can be pro-abortion or pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights or whatever it is they are calling themselves these days.  The babe in the womb is a child.  The Bible and our faith says so; science has proved it; modern photo-imaging is overwhelmingly conclusive.  The babe in the womb is a child worthy of our protection.

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas and the protector of the unborn.  Through this apparition, Mary gave us a gift so profound that it escapes the vast majority of us in the United States.  And how do we repay her?  We for the most part ignore this gift and continue to acquiesce to the killing of her children.

We should know better.  We are America.  We defend the defenseless.  We stand up for the powerless.  We fight tyranny.  We do not give in to evil.  We believe that everyone is endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights – the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  But somewhere along the line, we allowed the pursuit of happiness to trump and undermine every other right and responsibility.

Those who are vocal advocates for the unborn must continue the fight.  Those who are silent supporters of the unborn must make their voices heard.  Those who allow abortion, advocate for abortion, perform abortions, or have had abortions must be prayed for.  And those children who have been aborted or may be aborted must be tended with special care in our hearts and souls.

We are the Church.  The unborn are God’s children; they are Mary’s children; they are Jesus’ flock.  We must do everything we can to ensure that these children are allowed to live and do not succumb to our culture of death.

Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us! 

Windshield Wipers

theophilus December 10th, 2008

My car is going on five years old.  And I finally broke down and bought a new pair of windshield wipers.  I was still on my first set.

I tend to put things off.  I waited until my windshield was totally obstructed during a rainstorm before I broke down and bought the new wipers.

I had a meeting Downtown today and had to drive home during rush hour.  It’s a dark and rainy night, and I was beginning to let the gloom of the weather and traffic send me over the edge.

And then it dawned on me as I peered through my car window.  I could see!

The car in front of me was clear as day.  No blurs, no streaks, no guessing.  I could see!

I didn’t realize how bad my wipers had gotten until I saw the world through new ones.

There is a lesson here for Advent.  With all of the hoopla surrounding gift buying, company parties, kids events, and classic TV shows, Advent is a time for us to clear away the blurs and streaks in our lives and start seeing the light of Christ.

Light is a major symbol during this time.  it’s the light of the Advent Wreath, the Christmas Tree, the lights in the neighborhood, the glow of the moon off of the newly fallen snow.  It’s the light given off by our children’s eyes, laughter and smiles.  It’s the light of the special cheer shown by even the most ill-tempered of folk.

Advent is like a new pair of wiper blades on a dark, stormy night.  Advent allows us to see clearly.  To see our Eternal Father, Christ, Mary, St. Joseph, and the angels so clearly that we can reach out and touch them.  To see the peace and joy in others.  To feel the peace and joy in ourselves.

And if we are not seeing clearly, then maybe it’s time for a new pair of wiper blades.   Say a prayer, ask for perspective, allow yourself to enjoy this most blessed of seasons.  Decide that you are going to allow yourself to see clearly.  Accept the grace of this gift that God gives us each December.  The gift of the birth of his son, our savior; the gift of the renewal of the hope that is our birthright as His children. 

Our Patroness

theophilus December 8th, 2008

In these uncertain times, it is comforting to have a day like today – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Mary, as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is the Patroness of the United States.  It still comes as a surprise to many, but today is a Holy Day of Obligation.  It should be a day of great celebration and devotion, especially considering the choppy waters through which we are sailing.

I carry around this prayer card from the Franciscan Friars of Marytown.  On the front is a painting of Mary, twelve stars surrounding her head, looking over the Statue of Liberty and the American flag.  It is a poignant reminder that she is the protector of our land and wants only the best for us.  

Marytown is the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had a great devotion to Mary.  He founded the Militia of the Immaculata to “encourage total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society” (from the Marytown website). 

Whether it’s formally or just in our hearts, we need to consecrate ourselves and our nation to Mary.  We need to place our trust in her hands, ask her to pray for us, intercede for us, protect us, help us.  We need to emulate her complete faith in our Father and her unwavering devotion to her son.  Like her, we need to do God’s will without hesitation.  Like her, we need to lead lives apart from sin, with humble and selfless service to others.

The Marytown Friars have a prayer on their prayer card.  It’s a good prayer for today.

Immaculate Conception, Patroness of our Nation.

God our Father, you guide everything in wisdom and love.  Accept the prayers we offer for our nation; by the wisdom of our leaders and the integrity of our citizens, may harmony and justice be secured and may there be lasting prosperity and peace.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

Mary Immaculate, Patroness of America, guide the destiny of our nation.  Amen.

“Who Are You?”

theophilus December 7th, 2008

I was at a dinner party the other night, and an older gentleman who has been married for a very long time revealed to the table a conversation he had with his wife a few years back.  (His wife was not present at the dinner when he told this story.)

During this conversation from the past, she evidently leaned across the table, looked him in the eye, and inquired of him – “who are you?”.  It was meant as a real question as to who this man had become; this man with whom she shared her life.

The table laughed, some more knowingly than others.  At the table were some who had seen their marriage come and go.  In their eyes, I saw a memory recalled of conversations long ago in which they asked or had asked of them much of the same question.

And I wonder, how many of us should ask this question or have this question asked of us by our spouses?

“Who are we?”

Do we really know the person with whom we share our lives?  Do they know us?  Do we realize that they grow and change, go through trials and tribulations of which we may be unaware, question us, pray for us, marvel at us, love us?

And sometimes, they ask the question of us, “who are you?”

And that is when we need to start worrying.  When we’ve become such an enigma to our spouses that they do not know who we are.

Advent is a time to awaken to Christ.  It is also a time to awaken to who we are, and to who others are, especially those with whom we love and share our lives.  And for our own good, it is time for others to awaken to who we are; good or bad.

And if this awakening is bad, then it is time for us to change.  I assume the older gentleman telling the story the other night changed.  He didn’t like the question from his wife (and probably didn’t like the answer either), and he loved his wife enough to make sure the question was never asked again.

So, what’s the answer if you would ask the question of your spouse tonight?  What is the answer if your spouse would ask the question of you?

“Who are you?”

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