The Word Is God

John 1: 1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

This is the seventh day of the Octave of Christmas and, as we well know, New Year's Eve.  We  look with nostalgia, perhaps, at the past year, or maybe with relief that it's over, and we look ahead with hope that the New Year will be better, even if there is a tinge of skepticism in our outlook.  For sure, however, the Word did become Flesh and dwelt among us.  God became one of us, the Creator, one of his created, all to show us his love and to give us the means of total union with him.  We don't have to wait till we die, but through our Baptism and living unselfishly and lovingly in service to him and all who come into our lives, we can live in union with him NOW. May this be our "NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION" and may God help us to keep it.  Happy New Year to All...

Bro Rene

Jesus, your coming was heralded by John, who never failed in his vocation to point only to you. You call us to take up John’s work of testifying to you by our thoughts, words, and action. Help us to grow in humility so that we can recognize that anything of our own that is worth pointing to is a gift from you. Show us how to put those gifts into your service and let them bear fruit for the Kingdom. Grant that many may accept our testimony, and grant us perseverance when they reject us. Amen.

 Rev. Drew Clary, C.S.C.

Guardian of the Holy Family

 Matthew 2: 13-15

The Escape to Egypt

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:19-23

The Return to Nazareth

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

 We celebrate the feast of the Holy Family this year in a climate of disruption and turmoil, be it because of weather or of war, or the threat of war, not to mention the deterioration of of traditional family structure and values.  We certainly need to look at the Holy Family as a model to which we must return. Despite being "unsettled" by two dramatic moves: to and from Egypt, Joseph the true and model head of the family obeyed the directives he received from God, giving us the first principle of solid family life:  adherence to the will of God, or even better, OBEDIENCE to the will of God.  Secondly, trust in the providential care of God, no matter what hardships or disruptions we might be called to face:  illness, financial or health problems. Joseph sets the bar, obeys God and holds the family together. This is the day to  pray for and with our families and to renews our commitments to make our families HOLY families like that of Joseph and Mary.

Bro. Rene

Our Evening Song of Gratitude

 

Luke 2: 22-35

Jesus Presented in the Temple

²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”, ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Every evening the official prayer of the Church, Complin, concludes with the Canticle of Simeon, who had served the Lord and  fervently awaited the coming of the Savior... Here was his moment, and here is ours.  What a great thing it would be for each of us to live our days awaiting and serving the Savior and being able to sing at night that we are ready to be dismissed in peace for we have not only seen the light of salvation, but have BEEN the light for someone else! The gift of light is not for ourselves alone, but to help others find the true purpose and meaning of life:  to love and serve the Lord.  This is our calling; as we are reminded of it this morning, let us live it today and join Simeon tonight singing this peaceful hymn if not with our voices, at least with our hearts.

Bro, Rene
 

The Holy Innocents

 

Matthew 2: 13-18

The Escape to Egypt

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

Who can measure the grief that filled the streets of Bethlehem and its environs as a result of this brutal act of fear and megalomania? The first martyrs for sure, and an example of self-importance gone wild. And does this  continue today with children starving by the millions, bombs and drones destroying apartment houses in the Ukraine?  Not to mention the thousands killed by abortion. "Nothing new under the sun." but as well, the call to pray and work for the elimination of such atrocities. A huge task. Jesus "got the ball rolling" and it's up to us to continue its course.'

Bro. Rene 

Lord, we read today about the death of innocent children whom Herod killed in his rage. How many innocent children have been massacred over the ages by those who mock your rule of peace! Give us the courage and insight to do everything we can to bring about a world of peace where the innocent no longer are slaughtered. Amen.

  Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

Birth and Resurrection

 

John 20: 1a, 2-8

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Two days after the elaborate celebration of the Birth of Jesus we now reflection on his resurrection, Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, the first witnesses and believers of the Risen Jesus.  Later on, we will fill in the pages, but certainly, these two events are the bookends of the story of God's love for us and of our salvation.  We are called to place our faith ad our lives and believers o these foundation stones. this call is more relevant today as the storms of winter and of war rage across our planet. We will be born, will rise in new life and survive if we believe as did these three. I do believe, Lord, help my unbelief! (Mark 9: 24)

Bro. Rene 

Upon seeing the empty tomb, John, the Beloved Disciple, believed. Almighty Father, we ask that you may continue to bless us, who have not seen yet still believe. When faith is hard to comprehend, may this be our simple prayer, “Lord, help my unbelief.” Amen.

 Br. James Walters, C.S.C.

From Birth to Death

 

 Matthew 10: 17-22

Endure to the End

¹⁷ Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles. ¹⁹ When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹ Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The day after we celebrate the birth of Jesus in classic festive and gift-giving liturgical and family rituals, we face the grim reality that following Jesus means pain, suffering, and even death.  We have lived this reality to some extent and our daily headlines remind us that despite the birth of the Prince of Peace, violence, hatred, and war continue to flourish.  We can't say that we weren't warned, but we can strive to live our faith and work toward peace in our own families and circles of friends.  May St. Stephen help us to be instruments of healing and peace.

Bro. Rene

Almighty God, the gift of your Son brings us assurance and confidence. Today, as we remember the first martyr Stephen, give us strength in every conflict and struggle. We pray for the end of all persecution and strife. May your Son’s peace rest in our hearts. We pray this in his name. Amen.

  Rev. Robert Loughery, C.S.C.

The Word Is God

 

 John 1: 1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

As we enter this day with its family gatherings and gleeful children excited by their presents, let's remember the real Gift and the True reason for our celebration, the Birth of Jesus, the Word made Flesh, God With us to SAVE US.  As we look at our world today, we easily see that the world needs saving.  Our Savior has already come, 2000 years ago, and we need him more than ever.  Let us give him priority in our lives and families., hopefully attend Mass and stress the most important gift of all:  the Child in the manger we (I hope) have set up beneath or near our Christmas Tree. For us a child is born, to us a son is given.

Merry Christmas to all...

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, you are truly the Son of God who desires an intimate relationship with us. In the form of a helpless child, you came into this world amid the poor and vulnerable. May we welcome you with joy into the quiet stillness of our hearts. Help us to recognize the greatness of your glory and the abundance of life which you offer us each day. For today you offer us abundant life and call us to proclaim this Good News to the whole world. In your Holy Name, Amen.

Rev. Mr. John Sebastian Gutierrez, C.S.C

"Blessed Be The Lord"

Luke 1: 67-79

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸ “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
⁷⁰ (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
⁷¹ salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷² to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴ to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
⁷⁵     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The Canticle of Zechariah is prayed every morning at the conclusion of the Church's Morning Prayer, "LAUDS". Yes, we want to praise, to laud God for unfolding his plan which included his own baby boy, John as the herald, the preparer of the way for his cousin, Jesus, the Messiah. It is fitting that we focus on the beautiful canticle on Christmas Eve morning, to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus's birth at midnight tonight, all day tomorrow and the week ahead, for that matter, in what is called "The Octave of Christmas."  This is the long awaited fulfillment of the promise that a Redeemer would come to reverse the sin of Adam and Eve and rectify our relationship with God. Now we can be "children of God" and heirs of heaven. Let  us use this final day of Advent to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of  the Savior and welcome him into our lives.

Lord, as we prepare to celebrate your birth, we echo the song of Zechariah: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.” You come as our Savior to set us free, Lord. May we use this freedom to make your name known to all we encounter in our lives. Amen.

 Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

God Knows Best

 Luke 1: 57-66

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

⁶¹ They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

⁶² Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

This Gospel passage brings to mind an earlier section when Zechariah doubted Gabriel's announcement that a child would be born us of barren wife. He now believed, insisted the child be named John, and began to speak again. 

So many times we find the Zechariah in us causing us to hesitate, doubt, even refuse to believe.  The huge blizzard sweeping the nation, with its untold hardship,especially on the Pine Ridge Reservation where people are burning their clothes to keep warm, not only makes it hard to enter "the Christmas Spirit" but also wonder WHY things are SO BAD. The howling winds, the frigid temperatures remind us of our powerlessness,  cause us to beg for help, to rely on others to rescue us, and, yes, hopefully to turn to God for deliverance.  May we realize and accept that we need God's help, and may this storm, in God's wisdom and plans that are beyond us, bring us to the humble recognition that he knows best!  Come, Lord Jesus!

Bro. Rene

Lord, we hear in today’s Gospel about the birth of John the Baptist. He was to go before you, clearing the way and lighting up the path you were to follow. Now it is our turn to prepare the way for others to find you by the way we lead our lives. Give us the courage and zeal of John to do so. Amen.

 Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

Our Magnificat

 

Luke 1: 46-56

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

These ten verses sum up the person of Mary:  her humility, her openness to the plan of God, her willingness to serve, and her gratitude for the privilege to be the mother of God. She turns attention from herself to God, the Almighty and the magnificent deeds he has worked and will work.  This is the woman we Marists refer to tenderly as "Our Good Mother", and how blessed are we to be considered her brothers, sisters, children. When life's demands, be they illness or :"black holes" from which there seems no deliverance, let us remember that our Mother will not let us perish and that with her, we will be able to sing our own Magnificat.

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, may our hearts rejoice for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us. May we grow each day in our faith and humility by always trusting your Divine Providence. Help us to leave behind past humiliations and to look forward to the future glory which you offer to us each and every day. Amen.

  Rev. Mr. John Sebastian Gutierrez, C.S.C

Mary's Compassion

 

 Luke 1: 39-45

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

More concerned about her cousin than herself, Mary sets out to be with Elizabeth for the last months of her pregnancy and beyond.  She bring the Babe in her womb whose presence gives joy and strength to Elizabeth, a preview of what Mary does even to this day:  brings Jesus to us and us to Jesus. Sometimes we are faced with extraordinary  demands and think that they are so far beyond us that we can never meet and resolve them.  That's when we need a visit from Mary.  May she always be there for us and may we greet her with joy as Elizabeth did.

Bro. Rene

God of compassion and strength, visit us and give us the hope of your Spirit dwelling within and around us. Help us to trust in the relationships of our lives that help us to know your abiding love and lasting peace. Enliven us to always trust in your presence, especially when we embrace our brothers and sisters in joy, as did Mary and Elizabeth. Grant this through Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.  

Rev. Brad Metz, C.S.C.

The Power of "Yes"

 

 

Luke 1: 26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Although we are just a few days from Christmas, the Church fittingly asks us to contemplate this passage from Luke where the ball got rolling for this great moment in our history.  It brings to the fore the power of Mary's YES, and reminds us that we can experience that power in our own YES.  Sometimes God asks more of us than we think we can deliver, and we might be tempted to say, "No, enough", yet had Mary said that, our world would sadly be still in the dark. As we approach Christmas, may we take inspiration from Mary's YES and trustingly say YES  too.

Bro.Rene

Eternal God, Author of Life, through the “Yes” of our Blessed Mother, the yoke of sin and death was broken and the gates of salvation were opened to the human race. We pray in thanksgiving for Mary’s trust in, and obedience to, your holy will. As we approach the blessed season of Christmas, may we echo her words “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” We ask this in the name of Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

 Br. James Walters, C.S.C.

Welcoming The Unexpected

 

 Luke 1: 5-25

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Zechariah was not expecting the angel Gabriel to visit him, and certainly not with the news that he would father a child at this late date with his so far barren wife.  Yet, nothing is impossible with God.  Elizabeth's shame was taken away,  John the Baptist was born, and Zechariah's speech was restored.  When we are faced with the impossible, let us remember this story and be ready for the unexpected.  God knows what we are going through and will deliver us in way as spectacular as this.

Bro Rene 

Lord, the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy when you drew near in the womb of your mother Mary. “Blessed are you,” Elizabeth said to Mary, “and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Help us to experience the same kind of joy, Lord, as we welcome you each day into our lives. Amen.

Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

Strong and Obedient Joseph

 

 Matthew 1: 18-24

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we look at Joseph's dilemma and his obedience to what must have seemed the most far-fetched plan God could ever conjure up.  Yes, he trusted, was obedient, took Mary as his wife,  and accepted his role as the foster father of the Messiah. Would I have had such courage, such compliance?  Do I have it even now when I am faced with what seems like the impossible?  Although the strong, silent Joseph is often in the background, his example of fidelity to God's plan shouts loudly to us 2000 years later when we, with all our sophistication and technological advances, become more and more estranged from our Maker. May we reflect more and more on this Quiet Man and strive to imitate him,  during this last full week of Advent as we prepare for Christmas next Sunday.

Bro. Rene

Almighty God, in your Son we are given new hope, that through him all divisions can be healed, all sins forgiven, and trust restored. Watch over us and those we love, that we may always be a sign of your reconciling love in a world full of hurt and betrayal. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Robert Loughery, C.S.C.

The Ancestors of Jesus

 

 Matthew 1: 1-17

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

² Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹² After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

Abihud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

¹⁵ Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Matthew gives us a list of his significant relatives, as is customary in tribal cultures, to show just who he is and where he fits in.  Most of these names mean little to us, unless we are biblical scholars.  We do know  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Obed, Jesse, David, Solomon, and certainly Joseph from our old Bible History days and simply accept the others as key  persons somewhere along the line.  The important thing to remember is that Jesus is fully human (as well as divine) and has a family history as we do.  He is truly "one of us." The story of the birth of the Son of God stresses this human dimension and makes it all the more memorable and touching.  May we give proper place and attention to this in the midst of our Christmas shopping , caroling, baking and gift wrapping.  These last days of Advent set the scene of this miraculous event.  Let us listen carefully and watch prayerfully in the days ahead.

Bro. Rene

Lord our God you bless us with a holy history. Today the Gospel recalls for us the names of our ancient ancestors who have passed on to us the story of your divine love. Unbroken is the line of that descendance, beginning with the life of our father, Abraham of Ur of the Chaldeans, and ending with our brother, Jesus of Nazareth. Teach us to be worthy of such a divine call until our hope is finally realized in the eternal kingdom of your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

  Rev. LeRoy E. Clementich, C.S.C.

Burning Lamps

 John 5: 33-36

Our Mission

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus; he was a bright light shining in the darkness of the time.  Jesus, even more so, was the Light of Light and forever sheds light to those of us who walk in darkness. And we too, as best we can are called to be lights today in this world of war, darkness, violence and immorality.  We are called to negate, as best we can, all this negativity and reflect the goodness and light that Jesus provides. May we pray for the courage and zeal of John the Baptist and the many other saints who followed him as lights shining in the darkness.

Bro. Rene

Merciful God, as these days of Advent draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love, prepare our hearts to receive the gift of your Son, who is our light and our salvation. Grant us your peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Robert Loughery, C.S.C.

 

Sent As Witnesses

 

 Luke 7: 24-30

 More Than A Prophet

²⁴ When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ²⁹ (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, ³⁰ but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

John's mission was clear:  he was to prepare the way of the Messiah, who turned out to be his cousin, Jesus, who made it clear as well that we too, even the least of us, is also called to the mission of being witnesses who  by their lives will make known the kingdom of God.  It is a kingdom of love, acceptance, peace and joy.  A glance at today's world reveals that certainly, this kingdom is not yet fully established.  What can I do today to make that kingdom, at least in my small corner of the world, a reality as I send Christmas cards, shop for girts or attend Christmas parties?

Bro. Rene

Lord, John the Baptist was no reed swayed by the wind. He prepared the way before you by his preaching, and died a martyr’s death. Now it is up to us to continue your work of salvation by the lives we lead and the witness we give. Help us do so with faith and courage. Amen.

Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

Blessed Are The Believers

 .. 

 Luke 7: 18b-23

Jesus and John the Baptist

¹⁸ John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, ¹⁹ he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

²⁰ When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

²¹ At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ²³ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Life takes us down twisted paths where doubts often arise.  We want the truth, we want to do our best so we ask questions and seek answers, not unlike the disciples of John the Baptist. Like them also, we might look at our past and even at recent events in our lives and see that God has been and is there all the time, but we have let our doubts and questions blind us.  Again and again, the call is to focus on Jesus and hear him say, "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Or, simply, "Blessed are the believers."

Bro. Rene

Almighty and ever living God, just like our ancestors in faith, we too can find ourselves doubting you and your designs. We pray for the grace to see the world around us through the eyes of faith and to recognize your presence which is the source of all that is good. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Br. James Walters, C.S.C.

Keeping Our Promises

 

 Matthew 21: 28-31

The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸ “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

²⁹ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰ “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

³¹ “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

Second thoughts followed by action tell us where our heart is.  We might be reluctant to accept a request at first, or glibly promise to do something,  but often enough, thinking about it can cause us to change our minds and actually DO IT.  Let us beware of acting on our impulses, but give time for requests, promises or insights to sink into our hearts, and then act on them.

Like the second son in today’s Gospel, Lord, we make promises that we do not keep. We get lazy or turn away from the work in the vineyard which you ask us to do. Please give us another chance when we stumble, and usher us one day into your kingdom. Amen.

 Rev. Thomas McNally, C.S.C.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

 

Luke 1: 39=47 

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Today in Mexico, millions of people will gather at the huge Basilica outside of Mexico City to honor the apparition of Mary to Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe.  For twenty years missionaries had labored to convert the native population to Catholicism with little success  10 years after this apparition, most of the native population (9 million) had been baptized willingly and the devotion to Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe is now stronger and more needed than ever.   Bishop Robert Barron states this directly and succinctly: "The challenge for us who honor her today is to join the same fight. We must announce to our culture today the truth of the God of Israel, the God of Jesus Christ, the God of nonviolence and forgiving love. And we ought, like La Morena, to be bearers of Jesus to a world that needs him more than ever."

Bro. Rene

.O God, Father of mercies, who placed your people under the singular protection of your Son's most holy Mother, grant that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, may seek with ever more lively faith the progress of peoples in the ways of justice and peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord Is Near

 

Matthew 11: 2-11

² When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

In two weeks we will be celebrating Christmas. We can't wait.  In anticipation of this we rejoice and the priest dons pink, a half-way color between the purple of Advent and the white of Christmas. Our entrance antiphon bids us to rejoice, not once but twice.  Our Gospel passage gives us the testimony of John the Baptist who defines Jesus by his actions: "the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed."  Jesus, in turn praises John, the prophet and messenger sent to prepare his way.  We are reminded over and over again, that truly God is with us, even in the most demanding and unlikely circumstances, such as our world today: a war in Ukraine,a violence in our cities, shrinking church membership, higher prices for everything, etc...This is the world Jesus came to be part of and to save.May we do what we can to prepare his way. and let us rejoice, for he is near.

Bro. Rene

God of our hope, on this third Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle of joy, for the dawn of our salvation is near at hand! Anoint our hearts with your glad tidings of the coming of our Savior, that we might—with Notre Dame Our Mother—proclaim the greatness of the Lord. For our Lord comes to dwell with us, to set us free from all that would dare to quench the Spirit, and to announce again a year of favor from the Lord. In joyous hope, we make our prayer in Christ our Savior. Amen

 Rev. Lou DelFra, C.S.C.

Honoring God's Son

 

Matthew 9a, 17:10-13

Elijah Has Already Come

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

So close to Christmas with its joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus and we read about the suffering and death of Jesus, words coming from his own mouth.  Yet, so true, so necessary to hear and reflect on, especially these days when Christmas gift giving and ficticious characters such a Rudolph, Frosty, and  the Grinch, to name a few,  dominate so much of our "holiday" festivities...Yes, even the name Christmas has been replaced. As Christians, we need to return to the essence of Christmas, the birth of the Son of God, Jesus, who came to set us free from our sins and and set us on track to live a life of boundless love of and service  to him and one another. Certainly we should be praying, "Come, Lord Jesus" and wishing each other "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays."

Bro Rene

Dear Lord, there is much to do this day. Give us wisdom when we are filled with questions. Grant us a grateful heart when we feel discouraged. Open our eyes to the opportunities that await us. Steady our pace so that we can see you in the people and challenges that will come our way today. Let us be pure of spirit so your glory may guide our thinking and acting. Amen.

 Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.