Reflection: John 20:1a, 2-8

Feast of St John the Apostle - John 20:1a, 2-8

The Gospel today is a bit jarring after the readings we have heard in the past couple of days. This Gospel presents the scene that takes place right after Jesus’ crucifixion. It is the scene where Mary Magdalene comes running to Peter and John and tells them that someone has taken Jesus’ body from the tomb. Mary panics because Jesus’ body has disappeared!

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when Jesus seems to have disappeared? A time when you felt the absence of Jesus in your life? These times can be very dark and frightening. We may feel lost and alone. This experience may be brief or it may go on for days or weeks. How do we respond to this “felt loss” of Jesus’ presence? Do we panic and search for Him? Or do we trust that we once again will experience His presence? Are we able to stay grounded in Jesus’ love for us? Or do we give up and walk away?

In my life, when I experience the absence of Jesus, I usually come to understand that I am the one who has wandered away---not Jesus! And even if this is not the case for you, are we willing to stand firm and wait for Jesus to come? Can we wait peacefully, trusting that Jesus is with us? Or can we imitate Peter’s response to Jesus’ seeming absence? Are we able to see and believe---and trust that Jesus is with us?

May we pray for the grace to know that Jesus will not abandon us!

Reflection: Matthew 10:17-22

Feast of St Stephen - Matthew 10:17-22

The Gospel for this feast of St. Stephen radically differs from the Gospel we heard yesterday. This Gospel opens with Jesus telling his disciples: “Beware.” What a contrast to the readings we heard on Christmas Day. Today Jesus is warning His disciples that if they continue to follow Him, they will be handed over to governors and kings. They also will be hated. However, if they remain faithful to Jesus to the end, they will be saved!

Imagine Jesus saying this to you.  How do you think you would react? I suspect that I might quietly slip away from Jesus. The price for being His disciple is much higher than I expected it to be. It all can seem so glorious when we first decide to follow Jesus. He is so charismatic and inspiring. When Jesus speaks, His message comes straight from His heart!

Today however, Jesus is warning us that there will be a price to pay if we follow Him. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves: What price am I willing to pay? Do I believe in Jesus and His message so completely that I will risk losing everything I have worked for? Or perhaps even risk losing my life?

The path of following Jesus is both gift and cross. There are abundant gifts and blessings we receive when we walk with Jesus. However, there also will be challenges or difficulties that we will encounter---simply because we do follow Jesus. What am I willing to risk? What are you willing to endure for Jesus’ sake?

Jesus will give us the grace and strength we need! The question is: will we follow Him? May we pray for each other that we will have the love, courage and strength we need to follow Jesus, especially when life is challenging!

Reflection: Matthew 1:1-25

The Nativity of the Lord - Matthew 1:1-25

Today’s Gospel begins with the solemn words: “A family record of the Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.”  Then the entire genealogy of Jesus is given beginning with Abraham. 

It is only after naming all the male ancestors that Matthew narrates how the birth of Jesus came about.  I suspect that we all know this story so well it is likely that on Christmas Day we may not even listen to the Gospel reading.  Today rather than writing a commentary,  I invite you to open your Bible and slowly read this passage.  It might be helpful to read the Gospel twice and then take some time to reflect on this passage.  When you do this, attend to what you notice, what part of the passage draws you.  Then take a few moments to reflect on those words. When you do this trust that Jesus is calling you!  Perhaps there is a message for you in those words.  

If you do this you may receive a wonderful Christmas gift from Jesus!  Take care to open to His gift and then share it with your loved ones and our world!  Have a blessed and joyous Christmas!

Reflection: Luke 1:67-79

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent - Luke 1:67-79

The Gospel reading for this last morning of Advent is the prophecy of Zechariah. It is the continuation of the story of John’s birth. In today’s reading, Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit. Later, John also prophesies that a Savior will come to his people. The Savior not only will come, but He also will save them and set them free.

When Mary heard that Elizabeth was pregnant, she immediately hurried to be with Elizabeth. Just imagine the conversation these two women had! Both of them became pregnant in highly unusual circumstances. Yet both women were filled with complete faith and trust in God — and faith in the miracle they each were gifted with.

Joseph and Zechariah also had to be men of deep faith and trust in their God. Did they wonder what else their lives would hold? Yet they trusted the God they knew and loved! What faith these women and men had in their God!

These kinds of happenings are unusual in our day. Often if I hear of a miracle, I question it. I wonder if a true miracle really did happen since miracles seem to be in short supply today. Yet we have miracles around us all day long — if we have the faith and the eyes to see them and recognize God’s action.

On this Christmas Eve may we open our minds, eyes and hearts and look deeply for God’s action in our lives and in the lives of the people we love! God is with us! God is acting! The question is: will we see and believe?

Reflection: Luke 1:57-66

Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent - Luke 1:57-66

Elizabeth is the principal character in today’s Gospel reading, which is the account of the birth of John the Baptist. As we know, Elizabeth conceived John at an advanced age. For many years Elizabeth and Zechariah had longed to have a child. However, it was not to be. Then, after giving up hope of having a child, Elizabeth becomes pregnant and she has the child that she and Zechariah had longed for years!

Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that God finally had heard their prayers. Imagine the emotions they must have experienced: joy, wonder, gratitude. What a wondrous and unexpected gift!

Can you indentify with Elizabeth and Zechariah? Have you been praying for a special intention for a long period of time and not received any answer? Elizabeth and Zechariah can give us hope that God does listen to our desires and needs and that God will answer us and bless us. The timing is not ours to know nor is it our part to understand how all this will happen. Our part is to pray and to trust!

God will answer us. Do we trust that? However, it may not be the specific answer we expect, but God will gift us and grace us. We simply need to have an open mind, and a listening heart. Keep your eyes and heart open: God may come to you today in ways that you do not expect!

 

Reflection: Luke 1:46-56

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent - Luke 1:46-56

The Gospel reading for today is the continuation of yesterday’s Gospel. In the opening words of this reading, Mary again proclaims the goodness and greatness of God. Despite the extreme and unusual circumstances of her call to be the mother of Jesus, Mary rejoices and proclaims that God has looked upon her with great favor.

I assume that all of us have had experiences in our lives when we did not understand what God was doing in our lives. How did you react in these instances? Did you continue to trust God? Did you draw closer to God or did you get angry or distance yourself from God?

Mary didn’t hesitate to question what God was doing in her life. She didn’t hesitate to wonder about the highly unusual circumstances of her pregnancy; however, Mary also must have had a very deep and personal relationship with God. Despite her confusion and fear, her trust in God and in God’s action was deep and heartfelt.

Each of us also can have the gift of an intimate, personal and trusting relationship with God. Today may we pray to Mary and ask her to give us a share of her faith and trust in God. Mary will help us. Mary will walk with us. And God will bless us!

 

Reflection: Luke 1:39-45

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent - Luke 1:39-45

This Gospel begins as Mary set off to travel in haste to the hill country to the town of Judah.  When she arrived there, Mary went to the house of Zechariah and greeted her cousin, Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant Elizabeth was carrying “leaped in her womb." In that instant, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Elizabeth said to Mary: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  Was Elizabeth astonished at the words that she uttered?  Where did these words come from?  Clearly, Elizabeth had received this revelation from God.  She knew that the child that Mary was carrying a very special child.  She realized that this child would be her Lord.

Do we take Jesus’ coming into the world for granted?  Or are we amazed, astounded, and filled with joy that our Lord Jesus came to earth as a small, fragile, baby boy?  He was born to peasants, not royalty.  He wanted to become “one of us."  He wanted to walk among us.

Today Jesus will come to us.  Most likely, he will come to when we least expect him.  He may come disguised as a friend or he may come to us in the helping hand of a stranger.  Perhaps Jesus simply will come in quiet and peace.  

Be awake throughout this day.  You may encounter Jesus several times and others may meet Jesus through you.

 

Reflection: Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent – Luke 1:26-38

We all know the story of the angel’s appearance to Mary, the message that was proclaimed to Mary, as well as Mary’s response.  It is clear by her immediate response to the angel that Mary was a woman of deep faith and trust.  Yet, being human, she also had to be puzzled, shocked, and uncertain about what the angel’s announcement would mean for her.  

What a model Mary is for us!  Mary truly was an amazing and holy woman.  Yet she was very human.  Luke writes: “Mary was greatly troubled by the angel’s message.”  What were the thoughts and emotions that raced through Mary’s mind and heart when she heard the angel’s words?  Did she think she was going crazy?  The whole situation was unbelievable.   

However, Mary was deeply rooted in God.  Even though she was confused and most likely unnerved, Mary was open and receptive to God and to God’s call.  Mary must have wondered what this would mean for her and her life, as well as for her betrothal to Joseph.  How would this unfold?  What was she to tell her parents?  Yet Mary simply had complete faith and trust in God.  She freely and willingly assented to God’s plan for her!  

Most likely, we will not have an angel appearing to us asking us to bear God’s child.  However, even if an angel does not come to us, we also are called to be “Christ Bearers.”  How will we respond to God’s call?  Will we trust the God who is calling us?  Will we believe that God will walk this road with us?  When we are fearful, we can turn to Mary.  She will journey with us.  And she will remind us that our God is a God who is completely trustworthy.  Today and every day, may we ask Mary to journey with us!