FamA19.   Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14.   To have a family that is based in God, i.e., his way of thinking and of ordering, each person’s position in the family must be respected.  God rewards the children who honor their parents’ authority: atonement for sins; having God give special attention to one’s prayers; a long life.  Happiness on earth requires of us to live according to God’s Will, God’s order or sense of organization.

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.   An important task of an angel was to speak God’s message to the ones he had chosen to hear it.  The prophets also did the same thing.  We also are chosen by God at times to deliver his message, as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, priests, religious or by anyone else as God chooses make known to others what God wants them to hear.  God not only listens to our prayer requests but also daily speaks to us, often through others around us.  The Holy Spirit aids us daily in our spiritual growth to be able to sense or discern the Voice of God.  To live a life of faith in God means to be always in the loving presence of our God, who is not passive but active in our lives.  The science of zoology, which is a part of biology, lists human beings as an animal of this earth.  The Holy Spirit builds the supernatural on the natural.  By our baptism God is our Father and we are his children with the right to have our inheritance in heaven.  That means we must live as his children now on earth.  The Holy Spirit enables us to live the spiritual life while we are here on earth.  On our own without the Holy Spirit we, as animals of this earth, cannot live spiritually.  In our gospel God seems to be quite comfortable communicating with Joseph through the angel.  He, as God, is quite comfortable communicating with us also but only in a way that a person of faith can discern, since God does not speak out loud or audibly.  A loving God is not a silent God.  Life in this world is a life that has many difficulties and challenges, as it did for Joseph, Mary and Jesus in the womb.  As Emmanuel, God is with us in our ups and downs.  As a loving parent, God cannot be but with us to help us by being endlessly engaged in our lives to bring us as his beloved children to our home with him in heaven.  God is our daily bread, not only in Holy Communion, but by nourishing our spiritual life every moment of our lives.  God is family now by living with us, loving us every moment of our lives.

Colossians 3:12-21.    Paul begins with the words, “Put on,” as though we are clothing our earthly bodies with heavenly clothes. “And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts.”  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”  Not only are we to be clothed in Christ on the outside but also filled with Christ on the inside. “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Paul calls upon us to thoroughly be a heavenly people while still here on earth.  With God as our Father here and now we should grow as his children spiritually in holiness.  Not only should heaven be the household of God but also this world.  Family is a relationship in which we not only grow physically but also mature spiritually, caring for one another, nurturing one another through the presence of Jesus within us individually and in our midst as a community.

Adv4C19.   Isaiah 7:10-14.  Through Isaiah God tells Ahaz to ask for a miraculous sign from the heavens but Ahaz refuses to obey God’s Will.  This upsets Isaiah who nonetheless promises a future sign from God.  “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

Matthew 1:18-24.  God chooses to become a creature of this earth without losing his divinity to one day redeem us from our sins.  The Creator creates the Redeemer to give us sinners a path to heaven.  In the Incarnation and Nativity God begins his act of salvation of humanity despite the great cost to him but because of his great love for us.  This is the plan of God the Father to whom Jesus is obedient.

Romans 1:1-7.   At the beginning of his letter to the Romans, Paul identifies himself by his relationship to Jesus.  Once again obedience to God’s love for us is central to the person Paul has chosen to be.  He passes on that same call to the gentiles who likewise “are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”  Salvation belongs to all who belong to and are obedient to the Will of God.

 

4advA   12/12/16

Isaiah 7:10-14.   God is so much in love with us that he came to be with us (Emmanuel) in the flesh.

Matthew 1:18-24.  This text relates to us how the Son of God became man without losing his divinity.  The Holy Spirit conceived the child Jesus (Savior) in Mary.  God is with us.  Joseph was obedient to God, as was Mary and as was Paul to his calling in the second reading

 

 

 

 

Romans 1:1-7.   “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” to the Gentiles.  In turn, the Gentiles “are called to belong to Jesus Christ;” “to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.”  The proper response to a calling is to be obedient.

Paul brings the good news of Jesus, the Messiah, to the Gentiles.  Jesus descended from David according to the flesh yet at the same time “established in power according to the Spirit of holiness” (divinity).  As the Spirit brought divinity into flesh, so also the Spirit daily brings humanity into holiness/divinity.

Adv3A19.  Isaiah 7:10-14.  The book of Isaiah describes the prediction of the Lord that, despite the present destruction and disaster that was enveloping Israel, God would make things well once again.  God will save all those who have sinned against him.  All will be joyful and give glory to God who will make all whole and holy in him.

Matthew 11:2-11.  John 4:12 states: “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.”  John 4:17 goes on to say: “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ’Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Once John is no longer able to practice his ministry, Jesus takes it up but in much deeper way, since Jesus is the Messiah. John from prison questions Jesus if he is the Messiah or not.  Jesus responds that he doing the miraculous works of the Messiah.  Jesus concludes, “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me,” which I think means that blessed is the one who finds no short coming in me.  The footnote in the New American Bible for John 11:3 states, “The question probably expresses a doubt of the Baptist that Jesus is the one who is to come(cf. Mal 3,1) because his mission has not been one of fiery judgment as John had expected (3,2).”  Jesus goes on to say that John is more important than a prophet because he has the unique task in all of Bible history to prepare for the way of the Messiah.  Nevertheless, John, while he is on this earth and still himself a sinner, subject to the limitations that being a resident of this world puts on us, is not greater than any saint who is already in heaven.

Romans 1:1-7.  This is the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Romans.  He identifies himself as “a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” to bring the Gospel and “the obedience of faith” to “all the Gentiles.”  He tells the Romans to whom he is writing this letter that they “are called to belong to Jesus Christ,” which is to say “called to be holy.” Jesus enters this world to bring all who accept him to live with him in heaven.

Adv2A19.   Isaiah 11:1-10.  The chapter before this in Isaiah describes the destruction and conquest wrought by the Assyrian army over a substantial part of Israel.  God used Assyria to punish his sinful people.  Chapter 11 looks forward to a future time when God will restore his just rule by raising up a ruler from the line of Jesse, David’s father.  The new ruler shall have the spirit of Lord so to make of Israel a new creation, the sinful Israel having been annihilated by the invaders and even the new ruler himself.  Faithful to the Lord, he will be just and gracious as the Lord is just and gracious.  “There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for all the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water cover the sea.” “For his dwelling shall be (so) glorious” that “the Gentiles shall seek (it) out.”

Matthew 3:1-12.   In fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy, “A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths,” “John the Baptist appeared to make the people ready for Jesus.  John said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire; whereas “I am baptizing you with water” only.  John’ water cleanses whereas Jesus’ fire purifies and refines like gold in a furnace.  As “wheat is gathered into the barn”, he will gather those who are truly repentant of their sins in heaven.  Also as the chaff is burned, in his “coming wrath” so too “he will burn with an unquenchable fire” those who do not repent.  In effect he is telling us also, “Bear good fruit (or we) will be cut down and thrown into the fire” that gets rid of all who are worthless because of sin.

Romans 15:4-9.  Paul commends to his readers the strength and resolution of spirit to face the difficulties of bringing Christ to a world that is so self-centered, materialistic and in denial of eternal truth so to live just for the day and the moment. The Scriptures help us to build that endurance and courage that give us hope that the final victory belongs to those who belong to Christ. To give glory to Jesus and his salvific work requires his followers to think in harmony and be of one accord so to speak with one, unified voice.  What was promised to the patriarchs belongs to all, even the Gentiles.  Jews and Gentiles unite in the Messiah himself.

Adv2A  11/30/16

Isaiah 11:1-10   “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and from his roots a bud shall blossom, it says in our first reading this Sunday.  The last line reads, “On that day, the root of Jesse set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” Jesse is David’s father and so represents the Davidic dynasty, which was decimated with the Babylonian Captivity.  However there still remained a stump from which came to be Jesus, the promise of an eternal peace and joy.

Matthew 3:1-12   “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, get ready to meet Maker and Judge.  You will be judged according to the “good fruit” of God working within you.  John makes it clear that they will not be judged righteous just because they were born Jewish (or us, Catholic).  “Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and throw into the fire.”

“The one who is coming is mightier than I.”  “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance.”  He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire,” the fire of an intensity of life in the Lord.

He “will gather wheat into his barn(heaven), but the chaff (those who do not repent) he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(hell)

Romans 15:4-9.   The Scriptures Paul speaks about here are the Old Testament readings which we can interpret to have references to the future Messiah, Jesus.  That is the way, I believe, the first reading is to be understood.  “Think in harmony with one another”   A church that operates harmoniously will be a wonderful symbol of Jesus presence on earth.  Paul writes “Christ became a minister of the circumcised (the Jews) to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises of the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.”  Jesus is Messiah/Savior of all peoples to the glory of God.

Adv1A19.   Isaiah 2:1-5.   At the beginning of book of Isaiah, Isaiah condemns his people for not having walked in God’s ways. In our passage Isaiah pictures for God’s people, who have wandered astray, the glorious joy it is to truly live obeying God’s will.  It is as if heaven were here on earth, when we walk in the light of God’s path on earth.

Matthew 24:37-44. In the verse before our reading starts (Matthew 24:36), Jesus says: “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”  Jesus is speaking out of his humanity and not out of his divinity, since as the Son of God he must know.  The emphasis that Jesus wishes to bring out is that we do not know when Jesus will come to call us out of this world, whether it is his Second Coming at the end of the universe or our own individual death.  Be prepared to be called at any moment and do not be mesmerized by daily routine left unable to see much beyond one’s surrounding everyday world.

Romans 13:11-14.  “Brother and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.”  The theme of gospel is repeated.  “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”  Darkness is to live daily as if there is no other reality other than what see and can put our hands on.  The light is to live in a faith that sees the fullness of the truth that is even more genuine than the one we live in now because it is forever and this earthly one is not.  “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” Paul makes this overstatement to bring out the necessity to be primarily a spiritual people because that will protect us from hell and enable us to reach heaven.

Adv 1A          11/23/16

Isaiah 2:1-5.                  God will to establish his dominion over this earth.  All peoples will come to him to be instructed in his ways and walk in his paths.  No longer shall nations war against one another.  He shall rule over all the nations and all will be subject to him.

Matthew 24:37-44.               In Noah’s time people went about their daily routine, not knowing that some would suddenly be saved and some lost.  Likewise, one day unknown to anyone Jesus will come, taking his own to himself and leaving the rest behind.  Since we  know neither the hour nor the day when Jesus will come the second time, we must always be prepared for him.

Romans 13:11-14.                            The routine of this earthly world can put us to sleep to the things of the heavenly world.  “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.  For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” “Let us then throw off the works of darkness,” the improper “desires of the flesh” and “put on the armor of light” that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

34CKing19.    2 Samuel 5:1-3.   Of David the Lord said, “You shall shepherd my people and shall be commander of Israel.”  Following God’s will the elders of Israel anointed David king of Israel.  In his Chosen People God establishes a precedent that God will name a King over his People.

Luke 23:35-43.   As a ridicule, Jesus’ enemies call him king and messiah who cannot save himself, much less others.  As a people who have cut themselves off from God’s salvific work in Jesus, Jesus’ enemies have no idea that, by the very act of offering himself up on the cross, that infinitely loving act redeems us from our sins. Those who revile Jesus are unable to understand that in the very act of Jesus’ suffering and death, he acts as the King who conquers sin and death.  By accepting his sacrificial pain and suffering and death for our redemption, Jesus saves us.  The criminal, hanging on the cross next to Jesus, does understand the sublimity of Jesus’ action, saying “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Given every reason not to believe in Jesus as king, yet he believes and accepts Jesus as king. He is the one we traditionally call the Good Thief, the only one in the Scriptures whom Jesus names a saint who will be with him in Paradise.

Colossians 1:12-20.  He is not an earthly king.   In what way then is he king?  As David was shepherd and king, Jesus shepherds us out of the power of darkness, leading us by the infinite power of his light to his kingdom of holiness.  In Jesus’ humanness he makes visible the holiness that is not of this world.  All things were created through him and for him and in him.  God the Father created all things but God the Son brought all things to share in the divine holiness by “making peace by the blood of the cross.  Through his resurrection from the dead he is preeminent in leading all to eternal life.  He holds all things together with him at the center like gravitational force drawing all to live and be by binding us to the divinity of God. He is the head with the church as his body with him having total authority over the church. “All the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,” since he himself shares in the fullness of the Godhead.

34CKing16

2 Samuel 5:-3.  David the shepherd is anointed as King David, king of Israel.  He serves as an earthly image in time and space of the divine king of the universe Jesus Christ, who is beyond time and space.

Luke 23:35-43.  “The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself.”  If Jesus were to speak then, he would say, “I am here on the cross because I am saving you.  I do this by my own free will out of love for you.  I am the only One who can offer a truly appropriate sacrifice to my Father to redeem you from your sins because I am divine.  I am the only One equal to the task because I am God.”

During his life time Jesus had exercised miraculous powers.  There were no limits to what he could do.  However, he chose not to exercise those powers to his own benefit as he hung on the cross.  Jesus understood what he must do but those around him did not.  “Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us.’”  The other criminal rebukes him, recognizing that they are justly condemned. In compassion for Jesus, he said then, “’but this man has done nothing criminal’.  Then he said, “’Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’.  He replied to him, ‘Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”   That second criminal, although he himself was in great pain, since he too was in the process of being executed; and, despite the fact everyone else was jeering Jesus, he goes against the crowd to recognize that Jesus is king.  He puts his future in the hands of the crucified, dying king.  He is in essence saying that earthly death has no power over this king.  This king Jesus will triumph.  What a glorious act of faith!  He is rewarded for it with a future place in the kingdom of King Jesus, in Paradise.

Colossians 1:12-20.  God the Father” delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, forgiveness of sins.”  Jesus, as King, daily shepherds us through the narrow gate.  The Scripture scholars think that the last part of our second reading was probably a liturgical hymn.  This hymn announces the preeminence of Jesus, in part, by using the expressions: in him, through him and for him.  This hymn is also a prayer of adoration, recognizing Jesus royal supremacy.

In the Godhead there is one God, yet three persons.  God does everything as one God yet different tasks in relation to humanity are attributed to each person:  God the Father is the Creator; God the Son is the Redeemer; God the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. In the hymn of the second reading, the role of the Son is explained more fully to his glory and to the glory of the One God.