Friday, December 31, 2010
Grandparents
It was Holy Family Sunday. I was prepared for more of a Jesus, Mary, and Joseph theme, but that changed as I heard the lector read the first reading from Sirach. The part which struck me was the wisdom behind the exhortation to honor and care for your parents, even when they are old. "My Son, take care of your father when he is old, grieve him not as long as he lives." We buried my dad's dad two week prior so I shared the experience of being so privileged as to watch my father care for his father during his last last weeks and days. "Whoever honors his father atones for sins." The Sirach reading dominated my comments. I did eventually touch on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, but by the time I got there, the baby who was going to be baptized at the Mass had begun to steal the spotlight. So I ended the Homily quick.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Joseph
Joseph's response to the will of God and made known to him was important to God's plan, it was prompt, and it was complete. We can learn from him.
God prepared him for a great role in the salvation of his the world. He responded with a 'clutch' performance by corresponding to God's plan in precisely the manner God was hoping. His correspondence was immediate. He didn't dilly-dally as we might. He went right to work. He responded by giving his entire life to the fulfillment of this plan. God expects the same of us. Even though Joseph's role far exceeds the excellence of our role in the plan of salvation, nevertheless there are still many who are relying on us to correspond faithfully to God's plan.
God prepared him for a great role in the salvation of his the world. He responded with a 'clutch' performance by corresponding to God's plan in precisely the manner God was hoping. His correspondence was immediate. He didn't dilly-dally as we might. He went right to work. He responded by giving his entire life to the fulfillment of this plan. God expects the same of us. Even though Joseph's role far exceeds the excellence of our role in the plan of salvation, nevertheless there are still many who are relying on us to correspond faithfully to God's plan.
The 'Rejoice' imperative
Gaudete Sunday:
The Rejoice imperative is an encouragement from the church to focus on the end, to speed us on our way, and to give delight to God.
The encouragement to rejoice helps us to focus on the end. It really makes us think 'Why is everybody so happy?" The Church tells us to rejoice because what we're preparing for is a wonderful eternity. It speeds us along the right path by making the work we do easier to bear. We suddenly see why we're striving. As we work with the good cheer that belongs to the sons and daughters of God, this makes God so happy. He sees us anticipating the joys he has prepared for us.
The Rejoice imperative is an encouragement from the church to focus on the end, to speed us on our way, and to give delight to God.
The encouragement to rejoice helps us to focus on the end. It really makes us think 'Why is everybody so happy?" The Church tells us to rejoice because what we're preparing for is a wonderful eternity. It speeds us along the right path by making the work we do easier to bear. We suddenly see why we're striving. As we work with the good cheer that belongs to the sons and daughters of God, this makes God so happy. He sees us anticipating the joys he has prepared for us.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Big Feast this coming Wednesday
The feast of Our Lady's Immaculate conception helps our Advent preparation.
What do we celebrate? Why do we celebrate it? How do we celebrate?
What? From the very first moment of her existence in the womb of her mother, God preserved Mary from original sin.
Why do we celebrate it? Because she's our mother and we want to honor our mother. And our country is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary specifically under her title of the Immaculate Conception (i.e. The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast DC). So we pray for our country that day.
How do we celebrate? First, we make sure we're present at Holy Mass. Second, make a day of it! How do we celebrate anything? Bake a cake. Stay up late. Eat, drink, be merry. Hang out with friends. Take the day-off. We've got to go to mass, though.
That's it.
What do we celebrate? Why do we celebrate it? How do we celebrate?
What? From the very first moment of her existence in the womb of her mother, God preserved Mary from original sin.
Why do we celebrate it? Because she's our mother and we want to honor our mother. And our country is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary specifically under her title of the Immaculate Conception (i.e. The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast DC). So we pray for our country that day.
How do we celebrate? First, we make sure we're present at Holy Mass. Second, make a day of it! How do we celebrate anything? Bake a cake. Stay up late. Eat, drink, be merry. Hang out with friends. Take the day-off. We've got to go to mass, though.
That's it.
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