Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we celebrate the second Sunday in ordinary time.  It is a transitional moment as Christmas is now over when we were focused on Jesus’ coming.  Now we continue the journey into ordinary time.  Now we are telling the extended story of Jesus.  We will journey through Jesus’ life.  In our readings today, Isaiah, Paul, and John the Baptist were called to make God’s presence known.  John recognized Jesus and made Him known.  Our responsorial psalm reminds us that our journey of faith is to do God’s will.  God is present in my life.

One of my favorite songs is Here I Am Lord.  There are several different versions of it.  For me, Michael Ward’s arrangement is the one I love best.  As you listen to this song may we live out the call to always do God’s will.

 

The Epiphany

 

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord commemorates the visit of the magi to worship the infant Jesus as told in the Gospel of Matthew: “Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage. '” (Matthew 2:1-12) The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, a verb that means "to shine upon," "to manifest," or “to make known.”

It is a celebration of light which calls us to see the light of Jesus on the earth.  The magi searched for eternal light.  We are called to give our gifts and allow our light to burn brightly before others.  We have come to consider the gifts they bring as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ role in salvation. We believe the meaning of the gifts to be Christological. Gold is presented as representative of Jesus’ kingship. Frankincense is a symbol of his divinity because priests burned the substance in the Temple. Myrrh, which was used to prepare the dead for burial, is offered in anticipation of Jesus’ death.

Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M and B and the numbers of the year, for example 2023, (20+C+M+B+23) at the top of their doors. The letters stand for the names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also represent the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.”  On this Solemnity of the Epiphany may we continue to live in the light and share Jesus’ message of hope.

Solemnity of Mary

 

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.  On this day we hear the familiar story of the shepherds who had come in haste and found Jesus lying in the manger. They had been filled with fear but are now filled with joy. Imagine Mary and Joseph smiling at the words of the shepherds. The lowly shepherds had been the first to know and made the message known to others.

As we celebrate today the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God, we remember that Mary’s will was entirely united to God’s will.  Mary was a woman who was totally connected to God and did not let her fears change her focus.  Her faith and trust guided her along the way.  She treasured all things in her heart.

Today we also welcome in 2023 – a new year!  May we take time this year to model Mary’s commitment and trust.  As we pray this day let us pray for a peaceful new year.

God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.

May we walk gently.

May we speak only after we have listened well.

Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose.

May we regard the world with tenderness.

May we honor rather than destroy.

Lower of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come.

May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.

— Vinita Hampton Wright

Christmas Day

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

As Advent moves along, and our celebration of Christmas nears, we are happy to share with you some ponderings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Special thanks to Thomas Trunkle, the director of the Ursuline Centre in Great Falls, MT, for his sharing!

My Advent reflection focuses more on perspective in one’s own life.  Realizing that no matter how dark, unfair or negative we view our own lives, in most cases more often than not, someone else inevitably has it worse. Allowing ourselves the opportunity to take time out and to reflect on how good we have it (even the simplest of blessings), the more apt we are to reach out to those who are suffering and in a more challenging position than ourselves. I believe that  focusing outward towards others centers and matures us in ways unrealized.

                                                                                          —Thomas Trunkle 

                                                                                             

Third Sunday of Advent

Our Third Sunday of Advent was written by Sr. Pascal Conforti, osu.  Sr. Pascal is a member of the Eastern Province and we are grateful for her reflection.

Second Sunday of Advent

 

1^st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72

2^nd Reading: Romans 15:4-9 

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

For me, the phrase "waiting in joyful hope" is the perfect description of Advent.  The concepts of “waiting in joyful hope” is the perfect description of Advent. The concepts of "waiting” and “hope” are rich in imagery and meaning when rooted in faith. The waiting is not simply a waste of time, or a source of frustration. The hope is not limited to something that will satisfy for only a time. No, the waiting of Advent is a fruitful and exciting time, and the hope is for something far greater than our limited imaginations could ever conjure!

The waiting of Advent is an active waiting. One part of waiting is watching, being on the lookout for something important. Isaiah gives a beautiful image: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse” (11:1). I think of time-lapse photography where the wonders of nature are caught on a video! That new life can grow from just the stump, the remains of a tree, is truly a miracle. It reminds me that God-given life is irrepressible; it keeps coming back no matter what has been suffered. Isaiah then describes the “bud” that will blossom from the roots of the tree. This person will be endowed with many gifts for leading the people, especially “fear of the Lord,” which shows awe and reverence for God. All the other gifts are rooted in this one, so that everything this person does is founded in God’s divine plan. This will help set the world right, establishing justice everywhere. How blessed are we to be waiting for such a person!

Another part of waiting is preparing. John the Baptist reminds his listeners rather forcefully of what should be done to prepare for the coming of this wonderful leader. Everyone has a responsibility to take stock of his/her way of living and make changes to align with God’s way of living. In Matthew’s gospel, this conversion is symbolized by the people being baptized by John in the Jordan River, renouncing their sins and being born to a new life. Like Isaiah, John also uses the imagery of things that grow in nature when he tells the people they must “produce good fruit as evidence of [their] repentance” (3:8). This extends to us today as well. Advent is a time for personal conversion that leads naturally to social transformation. We begin by committing to “make straight” the “crooked” parts of our own individual lives, but our work doesn’t end there. We must work to eliminate injustice in our communities, one piece at a time. This is not easy or quick work, but when we rely on our faith strengthened by prayer, we can be confident that God is with us in all our experiences.

Advent is also filled with extraordinary hope. Isaiah describes this hope most beautifully with another image from nature, this time of the animals of the world living in harmony. What a glorious world it will be when even predator and prey can live together with no fear or conflict! Like the perfection that God created at the beginning, this world of harmony and peace is a thing of beauty. Ruling this perfect world will be the perfect king, described earlier as the one who will establish justice everywhere. This king is also described in Psalm 72 as one who will care for the poor and vulnerable, bringing peace and happiness. Such a reality may seem impossible, but it is the great hope of Advent. As we know from the story of the Annunciation, nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Come Lord Jesus! We are waiting in joyful hope!!
—Yvonne Racine
Holliston, MA