Living the Vocation to Holiness - 29 January 2023

 This week we hear from the 5^th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the beginning of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount.  This sermon of our Lord, which covers chapters 5-7 of St. Matthew’s gospel, will be our focus from now until the beginning of Lent, the next four weeks.

The beginning of this sermon is known to us as the Beatitudes.  It is striking that just as Moses climbed the mountain at Sinai and delivered to the people of Israel The Law, so our Lord climbs the mountain and delivers to the people of the New Israel the New Law, which tone is set by the Beatitudes.

The word beatitude means “supreme blessedness or happiness; utmost bliss”.  So, we see our Lord brings to us a law which is intended to lead us to the joy we all desire; however, the way to that joy is seemingly counter-intuitive: blessed are the meek, the sorrowing, the merciful.  And yet, our Lord leads off his greatest recorded sermon / teaching with just this.

Not only are the Beatitudes difficult to grasp from the stand-point of what we might expect in seeking happiness, but the Beatitudes, as enumerated, don’t always make a lot of sense.  How do we LIVE them???  I have to admit, I’ve struggled myself to fully grasp their meaning such that I might live them well, that is: live a life of beatitude.  It’s no wonder so many often simply slip back to the Decalogue / Ten Commandments.  “You shall do this” and “you shall not do that” is so much easier to grasp, but we can find ourselves missing the point when focused simply on what it is we must “do”.

And yet, we are called, “invited” really, to a life of beatitude.  Indeed, what is heaven if not supreme blessedness or happiness; utmost bliss?  And so the invitation of our Lord is not merely a matter of understanding some concept, but is rather a matter of eternal life!

Happily, there are a number of resources for wrapping our minds on the Beatitudes and reflecting on them.  For those who have undertaken the Marian Catechist Basic Course I would recommend reviewing again lesson 9 on the Beatitudes.  I review it myself, typically twice a year.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church can also be helpful with a relatively brief discussion in paragraphs 1716 - 1723.  There is also an after dinner talk by Bishop Robert Barron which I have found helpful and will link on my blog.  It’s about 45 minutes and is quite enlightening (and entertaining).

There are also any number of books and articles which have been written over the years.  If there is something you found particularly helpful / insightful, let me know.  Just remember, our Lord is inviting us to intimacy with Him and the Beatitudes sets the tone for making that journey.

Sunday of the Word of God (January 22) - Part 2

As we celebrate this Sunday of the Word of God one might wonder how to go about reading the Bible in a way which will be helpful to one’s faith – growing in the knowledge and love of God.  There is a lot of stuff out there which is not of equal value, and some of which might even draw one away from God and the Church He founded for our salvation.  Indeed, in the not too distant past many a young person was led away from the faith because of classes on scripture taken even in “Catholic” high schools and colleges.

In the last 20 years we have been gifted by incredible scholarship and equally incredible resources for the average Catholic.  What follows is a small sampling.

Bible Timeline by Jeff Cavins – Jeff Cavins is a Catholic who fell away from the Church because of the lack of enthusiasm for scripture he found in comparison to his girlfriend’s (eventually his wife) family who were evangelical.  He became an evangelical pastor but was led back to his Catholic faith (along with his wife and children) as a result of studying scripture as the “Father’s” had and the Church has always taught.  He developed a plan for reading the Bible in 14 (out of 73) books which gives one an historical “skeleton” on which to understand all of the other books of the Bible and thus understand the whole.  I have the materials for this if anyone is interested in putting a group together.

Fr. Mike Schmitz’ “Bible in a Year” podcast – Fr. Mike Schmitz has put together a year long series of podcasts in which he helps participants to navigate the Bible and gain an understanding of what they are reading and why it’s important.  Several people within our Tri-Parishes have participated in this program and it comes very highly recommended.  It can be found on the “Hallow” app.  If you want to know more about this program call the office and talk to Kari.  She can tell you all about it.

Any book by Dr. Scott Hahn:  Dr. Scott Hahn is another evangelical turned Catholic who has done MUCH to popularize the reading and understanding of scripture in the last 20 years.  His books are written for a popular audience and are excellent for bringing understanding of the scriptures to a wide audience.  Be warned: he’s got a “punny” sense of humor. 😊

This just scratches the surface.  If you would like any guidance on reading the Bible I am ALWAYS happy to oblige with groups or individuals.  All you have to do is ask.  I’m here to help. 

Sunday of the Word of God (January 22) - Part 1

This week we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God.  This observance was established by Pope Francis on 30 September 2019 with the motu proprio “Aperuit illis”.  The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship at the time, Cardinal Robert Sarah, wrote in an accompanying note that the purpose of this observance is to “reawaken an awareness of the importance of Sacred Scripture for our lives as believers, beginning with its resonance in the liturgy which places us in living and permanent dialogue with God.”

It is for this reason that the fathers of the Second Vatican Council directed, in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) that the Holy Scriptures be opened more widely in the Holy Mass.  Thus, with the new Mass came an expansion of the readings proclaimed at Mass.  We went from a one-year cycle of readings to a three-year cycle of readings for Sundays and a two-year cycle for weekdays.  Also, the Old Testament was again given a regular place in the readings for Sunday masses. Between these three changes the offering of readings for proclamation at holy Mass expanded greatly.

We are blessed in this moment in history to be living at a time when the study of scripture is both encouraged by the Church and also a time in which a great many Catholic resources are available to all.  But don’t be fooled, the Church Herself has always encouraged the study of scripture.  Unfortunately, the situation of certain times and places were used very effectively by those with an agenda to put forward the view that the Church wanted to keep the scriptures out of the hands of Her sons and daughters.  Also, sadly, the attitudes and behavior of not a few priests and religious contributed to giving credence to this claim.

The official teaching of the Church, however, lays bare this lie.  From the Fathers (2-6^th centuries) to the Council of Trent (16^th Century) to the popes of the late 18^th century to today have all encouraged the reading of scripture; the only caveat being that it must be done in communion with the Church from Whom the scriptures come.

So, pick up your Bibles and READ!  But, also PRAY.  And make use of the resources now available so you may come to a greater knowledge and love of God and his love for you!

Epiphany

Bishop Barron's Homily for Epiphany Bishop Robert Barron preached on the Feast of Epiphany along the same lines as I did this last Sunday, only, better.  It's worth your attention.  Enjoy!

Living the Vocation to Holiness - January 8, 2023

The Christmas season continues today with the celebration of Epiphany giving us the opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and reflect upon all the “epiphanies” of our Lord.  When we think of Epiphany we think of the visit of the three kings (aka: wise men, magi).  However, traditionally the feast of Epiphany, and formerly the octave that followed, is focused on THREE primary epiphanies: the visit of the three kings, the changing of water to wine at the wedding feast at Cana, and the Baptism of the Lord.  Indeed, the octave ended with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  While the octave was suppressed with the new calendar of 1969, there is (most years) still a functional octave since Epiphany is celebrated one Sunday and the Baptism of the Lord the next.  However, this year, with Christmas falling on a Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord will be celebrated on Monday, thus, most of us will miss it liturgically.

Many, sadly, were done celebrating our Lord’s nativity by New Years.  You will recall I mentioned last Sunday (New Years) that a cousin of mine had posted with great satisfaction that he had gotten all his decorations down and put away the day before.  But we Christians recognize that this mystery of the incarnation, the first mystery of our Lord and second in importance only to the Paschal Mystery in the order of salvation, needs to be celebrated fully, indeed – throughout the year (remember Scrooge?).  That is why we celebrate clean through to the Baptism of the Lord AND THEN we observe and reflect on these “epiphanies” at least until the February 2^nd celebration of the Presentation of the Lord in the temple -  40 days after his nativity.  This is why we keep our Nativity Displays up in our three churches until that feast, so that we will be reminded to keep the nativity and following epiphanies of our Lord as the touch stone for our meditation and contemplation.  It is of note that in the pre-1969 liturgical calendar the period from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday was observed as “Sundays/Weeks after Epiphany”, which made this an easier concept to keep in mind.

So, you see, Epiphany is not just a “day”; it becomes a mindset.  In celebrating the visit of the three kings we set ourselves on a path of discovery: recognizing all of the epiphanies of the Lord, first in holy scripture, then in salvation history and the life of the Church (Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy comes immediately to mind), and finally, in our individual lives.

When and how has the Lord made himself known in YOUR life, especially as Son of God / Messiah?  This is where prayer, meditation, faith, memory, and contemplation come in.  These also take time.  Thus, the wisdom of the Church in times past giving us time and gentle, regular reminders by way of the calendar so that we may be prompted and encouraged to take that time as a gift of grace.

Now, just because the calendar is not set up that way currently (at least in a formal way) doesn't mean we can't take these lessons from the past and apply them to our life of prayer and living today.  So, again, "When and how has the Lord made himself known in YOUR life?

Epiphany

 As we celebrate the feast of Epiphany today we are reminded not only of the visit of the three kings and the gifts they brought to our Lord (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh), but the gifts they would like to bring to us as well.  As if the part they play in the life of our Lord and the salvation He offers to ALL people isn’t enough, they continue to bring gifts to us today.  There are two primary ways in which this blessing is imparted to us: the first is through the blessing of our homes; the second is through the use of Epiphany Water.

The traditional Epiphany blessing of the family home is imposed either by the visit of the priest or can be presided over by the Christian head of the family.  Blessed chalk and instructions containing the blessing have again been provided and are available at the entrances of our churches.  If you should wish to do this yourself you are only asked to either put the blessed chalk some place safe for use again next year, or to bring it back to church next weekend.  In any case, this blessing is a very powerful blessing!  There have been many reports of this blessing guarding family homes from demonic assaults, thus making the family home a place of peace and love.

Epiphany water is that which has been exorcised and blessed on the eve of Epiphany (usually during Vespers / Evening Prayer).  The Holy Water reservoirs in all three of our churches have been filled with this water.  You may feel free to take home as much as you will use.  But, HOW does one use it?  It is traditional to keep a holy water font at the door of one’s home so that family members and others may bless themselves as they go out and as they return.  It is also a

useful practice to sprinkle one’s bedroom or other parts of the home as needed when the presence of evil is sensed or experienced (bad dreams, conflict between family members, other instances of conflict / evil).  The use of Holy Water not only reminds us of God’s presence within the home, but also spiritually “cleanses” our home and ourselves so that God and his peace may reside, indeed, reign in us and our home.

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Trial, or distress, or persecutions, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?  Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us.”  (Romans 8:35, 37)

Living the Life of Holiness - January 1, 2023

It is interesting to note that one of the best attended Masses of the year is Ash Wednesday, which is not a Holy Day of Obligation; and yet, it has a deep hold on the average Catholic.  That is a good thing since Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent - which is a preparation for the greatest feast of them all - Easter: the Lord's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

The least celebrated Mass, aside from daily Masses, IS a Holy Day of Obligation: the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God: the octave day of Christmas formerly known as the Feast of the Circumcision.  Why is this feast so "off the radar" for so many?  I think there are a couple of reasons.

One issue is that it falls on civil observance of New Year’s Day.  On New Year’s Eve many are focused on the evening’s parties leading up to mid-night and the new year.  In the morning many are tired from the previous night’s festivities; and when they do stir from their beds are focused on the day’s celebrating and football games.

Another issue is that, when Christmas and New Years don’t fall on a Sunday, it can be a liturgically intensive time – that means lots of Masses.  This too can be difficult for those who haven’t yet acquired a real love for the Mass itself (as opposed to recognizing the duty or obligation to attend), nor is there developed a desire to explore and contemplate the many facets of the mystery of the Incarnation, which is what the celebration of the Christmas season is all about.

That leads us to a further problem in developing this desire: a clear understanding of what we celebrate at Christmas.  For many, including many Catholics, the Christmas season has been taken over by the civil observance of Christmas which has flipped the meaning of Christmas and replaced the object of the celebration with its effects.

I asked some of our young people the other day what Christmas is about.  I got answers like "family", "presents", "love".  These things are all very nice, but they are, in fact, the effects of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh (in carne).  This birth is the object and is thus what we need to be focused on first and foremost: the eternal Word has come among us and made himself present to us in our own flesh.  And why has He done this?  To bring peace? Yes!  To bring love? Yes!  But, why? To take away our sins and bring us into full communion with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit.  As I asked a few of the kids this week: Have you ever made a connection between Christmas and Confession?  The answer was "No".  I asked again: Will you from now on? The answer was "Yes".

As I noted previously, this octave day of Christmas celebrates a number of facets which fill out the tapestry that is our celebration of the Lord’s incarnation.  The first is the circumcision of our Lord according to the Law of Moses.  This is a significant day in the life of an infant as it is the day on which he becomes a member of the covenant community of Israel.  Along with that, it is the day on which the child receives the name by which he will be known within that covenant community.

We have an idea of what this is all about.  At Baptism a person is initiated into the covenant community we call the Church.  And what is the first question asked of the parents in that liturgy?  What name do you give your child?  So, we understand that in this initiation into the covenant community the name by which we will be known within the covenant community plays an important role.

This naming of the Lord Jesus is so important that the Church traditionally gives us the whole month of January to meditate on his "Holy Name".  The Holy Name of Jesus is such an important object of meditation that St. Ignatius of Loyola made our Lord's monogram the symbol of the Jesuit Order.

Another aspect of this day is a further revelation of just who this child is.  This comes about in the recognition of his mother; an odd sort of way to go about it, but this comes about because of the heresy which led to the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431; the heresy known as the Nestorian heresy which held that Mary could rightly be called the “Mother of Christ”, but not the “Mother of God”.  At the root of this argument is the issue of the dual nature of Christ and how that works.  So, as I’ve pointed out before, “taking away from the due honors of Mary takes away from our understanding of her Son”.  And so, it is quite right for her to be called "Theotokos" (Greek for "God-bearer") or, Mother of God.

Happily, today, as Sunday, is a day on which we can come to a greater appreciation for this important feast.  Hopefully all, having grown in their appreciation of this facet of the Christmas mystery, will from now on desire to be present for the celebration of this holy day even when it doesn’t fall on a Sunday - like next year, when it will fall on Monday!