Magnificat

"Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home."

Luke 1:46-56

How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. 
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”


Luke 1:39-45


Have you seen that 'Social Network Christmas' that is all over the internet?  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18)  Of the many things about it that I like, one is that is humanizes the events.  The less popular version (at least according to youtube- 300,000 vs over a million page views.) is mainly from Joseph's perspective.  It is very sweet.  I may be a bit biased; Joseph is on of my favorite Saints.  It highlights a very human moment, when Joseph knows that Mary is pregnant, but before he has heard from and Angel.  He knew Mary well, and must have known that she was telling the truth, but who could understand or accept that truth?  


He was a faithful man.  On Sunday, the priest at my Church preached that Joseph was needed the Angel's reassurance, not because he doubted, but because he was humble.  He could not believe that he would be chosen to play such an important role in God's plan.  It is not in scripture, but I prefer to believe it was both.


The video also gives particular prominence to the relationship which Mary and Elizabeth shared.  There is not a lot said about that relationship.  They must have been close, though.  Mary, pregnant, came to visit Elizabeth when Elizabeth who was also pregnant.  Elizabeth was nearing the end of her pregnancy, and Mary was close to the beginning of hers.  I can imagine Mary, young and pregnant, going to help her older cousin.  She would have been helpful, but I imagine she also would have had a lot of questions.  Is this normal?  All mothers ask that question hundreds of times.  Mary's pregnancy was not normal.  I mean, maybe it was in most ways, we don't know.  But the conception was not.  I wonder if she went to Elizabeth, who was also a woman of faith, to ask "Is this normal, or is this a God-pregnancy thing?"


I remember at my first communion, when I took a sip from the chalice, the liquid warmed me.  It seemed to go directly to my heart, and ignite a comfortable glow.  I had been taught well, and I knew that the bread and wine had become the true body of our Lord.  What I did not know was whether that warmth was an accidental of what was once wine, or was is the result of consuming the Lord's flesh.  I wonder how many moments like that Mary had.  


On arriving at her cousin's house, Mary got a beautiful, but not normal, greeting.  Elizabeth called her, "the mother of my Lord."  She is, of course.  But she is also cousin.  Elizabeth's greeting is effusive, but it lack familiarity.  Mary must have struggled enormously.  Some people think she is crazy.  Some think she is a liar.  Some think she is self-righteous.  Even the ones who loved and believed her, looked at her in a new way that was less personal.  I have no doubt that the two women got through the amazement, are were able to go on as family.  Mary did stay for a few months, after all, waiting on Elizabeth.  

John, even before birth, announced Christ.  John leapt in his mother's womb.  If she had any doubt about Mary's miracle, John relieved her of it.  Before he had a voice, he was witness to Jesus.  


The humility of all these people is notable.  Joseph is to humble to accept his role, until God sent an angel to him.  Mary too is humble in her acceptance.  ("Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38)  Elizabeth cannot believe that Mary, though her cousin, would come to her.  Hers is a prayer that we can share.  When Mary comes, she helps.  She listens and prays with us.  She prays for us.  She brings us to her Son.


"How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"


and she answers, returning our eyes to God, "The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him."


"Give thanks to God, bless his name; good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age."  Psalm 100:5

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

If there is such thing as a secular Advent carol, that song is it.

Christmas is just around the corner.   My house smells like Christmas.  In my world, that means gingerbread cookies and pine tree.  We always cut down a tree, because I love the smell.  There are some beautiful artificial trees out there, but none that replicate the smell.  I decorated my front windows and door with pine branches.  It smells wonderful.

I would love to be one of those people who could announce to the world that I am ready, but I'd be lying.  I still have presents to make.  I have not done any wrapping yet.  I do not have a fireplace, so I have to choose where to hang the stockings, and I have to hang them.

I am feeling better about my Christmas preparations, as of today, though.  Today I went to confession.  Thank you, dear Lord, for the grace of the sacraments.  I am made new!  I am refreshed!  I am ready to party!

Tomorrow, I come.

We are in the final days.  There is a very beautiful set of antiphons which are commonly sung in this final week.  The word antiphon comes from Greek, and it means 'opposite voice.'  It refers to music which is sung in a call and response form.  The O antiphons are traditionally sung during the octave (eight days) preceding Christmas.  There are seven antiphons, not eight.  The eighth day is Christmas Eve.


The o antiphons are ancient.  They are not one of our modern inventions or prayers.  They are mentioned by Christians as early as the fifth century.  They have stood the test of time for many because they are simple, but have rich meaning.  


The antiphons each describe two complementary things.  Each one voices a name for our Lord, and each one alludes to the messianic prophesy declaring to that name.  When you sing them you call God and recall scripture.  It is a device that gives Christian context to the Old Testament verses.  They are mini-meditations on the person of Jesus Christ.  


Interestingly, in Latin, the antiphons are as follows:
Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium
Emmanuel


It would be more interesting if you spoke Latin.  (I don't.)  The first letter of each, in reverse order spells "Ero cras."  That, I am assured, means "Tomorrow, I come."  A simple acrostic to help people remember.  Tomorrow could be any day.  Jesus is coming back.  We cannot know when, so we have to remain ready.  


The O antiphons teach us who Jesus is, and remind us to keep ready- all in just a few words each day.    


Here they are in English:

December 17
O Wisdom of our God Most High, (O Sapientia, Isaiah 11:2)
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18
O Leader of the House of Israel, (O Adonai, Isaiah 33:22)
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19 
O Root of Jesse’s stem, (O Radix Jesse, Isaiah 11:1)
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

December 20 
O Key of David, (Clavis David, Isaiah 22:22)
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21
O Radiant Dawn, (O Oriens, Isaiah 9:2)
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

December 22
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: (O Rex Gentium, Isaiah 2:4)
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: (O Emmanuel, Isaiah 7:14)
come to save us, Lord our God!
http://www.usccb.org/advent/prayers.shtml#antiphons

Dream

I did not write yesterday.  Mea culpa.  I was not home.  I was tempted to write about the Dream Act today, instead of writing about Advent.  I decided that would be tantamount to skipping twice.  So I won't.  


I read the Christmas letter from the Catholic charity, Casa Juan Diego.  They are the Catholic Worker House in Houston, and this is how their letter began.  
"The spirit of Christmas is very important to us. We cannot live without it—the spirit that says that it is better to give than receive—not to receive presents, but be a presence to those in need. We ask your prayers that the spirit of Christmas remain with us not only now, but the year round."
http://www.cjd.org/paper/christma.html


They are in need.  Some years are harder than others, and this year is exceptionally hard for a lot of people.  Years like this really strap the man power and bed space of charities who, like CJD, care for the poor directly. 


When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there was no where for them to stay.  I imagine that some people did have room, but did not think that the plight of these poor migrants was their problem.  I imagine that some people had room, but were unaware of the need.  I could be wrong, of course.  We do not know.  


Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem out of necessity.  No one travels uncomfortably pregnant and without arranged lodging by choice.  It must have been easy for the people who did find rooms, and the people who lived in the town to judge them.  Who does that?  Why didn't they make better arrangements, or arrangements at all?  It must have been easy to brush them off.  Why should I make a sacrifice to care for people who came less prepared?


When Mary had her baby, her first visitors were strangers.  She was not surrounded by family, or even well wishing neighbors who must have noticed that this pregnant woman needed help.  She had her husband, St. Joseph.  She had her faith.  She gave her fears to God, and did what she had to do, without knowing what would happen.  


The shepherds who came to welcome the new baby were poor.  They had nothing to give, but they came.  It is hard for me to imagine what was going through their minds.  I like to imagine what Mary and Joseph must have thought, though.  These strangers- dirty, straight from the fields- came in love and awe.  It must have been very moving, and also comforting, the love that these men brought.  


What did Jesus say about the final judgement?

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'  Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'  He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'"


We are entering the last week of Advent.  In these last few days we are very excited!  Christmas is almost here!  However, if we fail to notice and care for those in need around us, we may as well skip the holiday.  The words of our Lord are not easy, they are harsh.  But they are clear.  Damnation happens.  People who thought they lived well will go to Hell because they did not see our Lord in the faces of the sick, the ill, the imprisoned, the stranger.  Would you notice Mary and Joseph on your doorstep- dirty, exhausted, poor and in need?  Would you help?  They are there.  Will you help?

"As we approach Advent, we must be aware that we are approaching the One who sends us on mission. In general, He sends all of us on mission to proclaim the joy that is based in Him. But, on a more personal level, He gives each and every member of His Body a mission to live that joy in a unique way. "


I don't know who wrote that.  It is written by way of introduction for Fr. Robert Barron.  Here it the webpage.
http://www.wordonfire.org/WoF-Blog/WoF-Blog/December-2010/Advent--Discerning-the-Will-of-God.aspx


Joy is underrated.  It is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit!  


"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law."  Galations 5:22-23


The rest are virtues we usually think about trying to achieve.  Joy, well, we tend to think if it as a side effect.  I like the quote, because it directs us to aspire to joy.  


In a recent conversation a friend said, "I know its Advent, and I am not supposed to be joyful but..."  We are supposed to be joyful!  Even in Advent!  'Penitential season' does not mean 'season of unhappiness.'  We must repent of our sin- but with joy in the knowledge of forgiveness.  During penitential seasons we are supposed to increase in prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Which of these saps joy?  None should.  The reason we do these things is to grow closer to God.  Growing closer to God means living in His Spirit.  The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  


"Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.  Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!"  Philippians 4:3-4


In this letter, Paul acknowledges the hardship, but the theme is joy.  This is the our mission: Rejoice!  Aspire to joy.


Prepare for the Lord joyfully!  


and, because I love William Byrd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg00ccXEdyw&feature=related

The Devil in Advent

I am making my Christmas gifts this year.  I don't really like shopping and I do like crafts, so this is not the sacrifice it would be for some.  Mostly, I wanted to see if I could.  I wondered, if I cannot buy anything new, I have to make everything, will I come up with gifts I am proud to give?  The results are mixed.  I can tell you this, I am less stressed out than I usually am.

Some people (I am told) shop early and are finished before I have begun.  Their presents are neatly wrapped and labeled under a Christmas tree.  Mine?  I have finished some.  They are scattered around my first floor in the vicinity of the wrapping paper, which remains on the roll, close to where my tree is likely to be this weekend.  I am an excellent procrastinator.  Even in other years, when I bought presents, I would still be shopping in the last week before Christmas.  It was a little bit crazy, for a person who puts things off as well as I do, to think that making gifts would be a good idea.

Some people, I am told, enjoy shopping.  They like the crowded malls and the thrill of seeking.  I don't hate it.  I admit that I enjoy the thrill when I convince myself I have gotten an excellent deal on something.

People are very different.

A friend recently pointed out that this time of year seems to bring out the best and the worst in people.  When we go out this time of year, strangers smile at each other.  People greet one another.  Everyone has a few coins for charity.  Food banks are stocked.  We get in touch with family, who never otherwise hear from us.  We send cards to friends we have not thought about since last Christmas.  Church attendance goes up.  We spend hours agonizing about what we can give to make certain specific people smile.

On the other hand, malls are crowded so we fight over parking spaces and the last whatever-was-cool-this-year.  We are exhausted and we irritate easily.  We turn very materialistic.  We even fight about appropriate ways greet one another.  Seasons greetings?  Merry Christmas?  Happy Holidays?

The devil works his hardest when the stakes are the highest.  This season of Advent is a season when people turn away from sin, and back to our God.  We are getting ready for our King.  We are preparing to face judgement, and the devil knows.  Even for Christians who are not thinking about Advent, but are already celebrating the birth our Christ, the devil would love to undermine that celebration.

I don't think the devil cares whether we say Merry Christmas or happy holidays, as long as we fight about it.  He uses our generosity against us.  If we absolutely must have the latest and the best for the people we love, we are bound to get in fights with others who want the same.  Since we are all working so hard to prepare, he uses our exhaustion as a vehicle into out minds and hearts, intent on disrupting any good that may come of our preparations.

Vigilance.  The devil would love to turn Advent and Christmas into opportunities for sin.  He delights in turning good things bad.  He cannot create.  God is the Creator.  He can only lie and distort.  His genius lies in his ability to twist things until they are no longer resemble what was were created.  The greater the possible good, the harder he will work to make it bad.

The good news is, he cannot win against God.  Think about what is stressing you out, and give it to God.  Maybe give it up.  People are very different.  Each of us has different stresses and pleasures.  Think about what yours are, and offer them to God.  If God is guiding you, the devil cannot.  Pray and fast.

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. 
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. 
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 
Which of the two did his father’s will?” 
They answered, “The first.” 
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you. 
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did. 
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32


That is today's Gospel reading.  This is one of the readings which I'd rather not read.  Not because it is particularly difficult to understand, or because is seems to contradict other scripture, but because it cuts.  The message is pretty clear, and it indicates my guilt.  Which son am I?  


I am generally the second son.  I hear what I am supposed to do.  I say I will do it.  I intend to do it, but I fail.  This is is a common story in my life.  Sometimes I fail in bigger ways than others, but the failure is common.  I am not going to confess my sins in this forum, but don't most sins fit this pattern?  We know what we are supposed to do, God has shown us.  We know, and we intend to follow God's will.  But we don't.  That's what sin is. 


It is easy for me to think in hypotheticals.  I can comfortably contemplate what God wants me to do.  I can listen to scripture, and listen to good preaching and know beyond any doubt that God has spoken to me directly and still go about my business unchanged.  When the Lord tells me to work in the vineyard, do I go to work?  The future is so much easier to moralize than the present.  'I will do what God tells me to do,' is easy to say.  It is much harder to follow through, and I often do not.  


Jesus goes on after his question about the sons.  “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you."  


Wait, really?  But my sins are more trivial.  I know I should begin every morning with prayer.  I also know that I can sleep a little later if I don't.  I sleep in.  I know I should not lose my temper, but I do.  There is more, but surely I am better off than a prostitute.


Jesus says, then refers to John the Baptist.  Remember John's call?  Repent!  There lies both the problem and the solution.  We are sinners.  As often as we repudiate our sins, we are not perfect.  Jesus offers forgiveness to even the worst of sinners, when we bring our sins to him.  I am not better than the prostitute.  I am a sinner, unworthy of the forgiveness offered.  It is a gift, not a prize.  


Since it is his feast day, a quote from St. John of the Cross:
"God desires the smallest degree of purity of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform. "


May we always bring our sins before God, and not hide in our dubious merit, that we may be forgiven.  May we always listen, that when we are sent to the vineyard we hear.  May we have the will and strength to go when we are sent.  

Parousia

My dictionary tells me that Parousia means, simply, the second coming.  It is not a very good dictionary.  

Parousia does refer to the second coming.  It comes from Greek, and it generally means arrival, or advent.  Advent too means arrival.  In usage, the words have different meanings, but they are actually the same.  We use Parousia to refer to the time when Jesus will come again as judge.  We use Advent to refer to the time of spiritual preparation which precedes Christmas.  

Advent is from the Latin word adventus, which means a coming, approach or arrival.  The coming, or the approaching holiday is Christmas.  The approaching time is Parousia.  We know when our celebration of our Lord's birth will happen, but we do not know when He will come again.  Jesus tells us that we must always be prepared, because we cannot know when he will return.  So what is the point of singling out four weeks to focus on preparing for the Second Coming (the Parousia)?  

The season of Advent aligns Christmas and the second coming.  "The Lord is coming," we announce.  Generally we are referring to the Nativity.  It is the wrong tense, though.  Jesus was born two thousand years ago.  He will not be born again this Christmas; it is an anniversary.  If we use the holiday effectively, it is possible that the Lord will come to some people for the first time this holiday.  That is a possible meaning of the phrase, but it is a stretch.

The season of Advent juxtaposes Christmas and Parousia.  When our Lord came the first time He broke the power of sin and death.  When He returns, he will judge.  Did we cling to our sin, or did we yield it to him?  Each person will be judged.  Did we honor Christ, by taking advantage of the grace he poured out for us?  As our Lord said, "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10)  

Christmas has no meaning at all, apart from this.  He came to give himself to us, and to free us from our enslavement to sin.  When He comes again, He will ask us, "What did you make of my gifts to you?"  How do we take advantage of the grace we have been given?  How do we celebrate Christmas?  How do we honor His first coming, that would make us ready for His glorious return?  

Why Christmas?

Why do we celebrate Christmas?  The early Christians debated about whether or not is was appropriate.  It seems now so ingrained, that we cannot imagine skipping this holiday.  Many would identify Christmas as the most important, or perhaps just the favorite, holiday of the year.  Our traditions are an amalgamation of traditions stolen from all different cultures.  Some of out traditions have pagan roots and symbols which we have bent to out own purpose.  In America, at least, (likely elsewhere, but I don't know) we spend more on Christmas than any other time of year, bar none.  We spend more on food, on decor, on gifts, and on lattes.  Christmas is huge! We fight political battles every year to ensure that our beloved nativity scenes can be displayed on publicly owned property.  If you listen in the card isle of the stores, you will hear angry Christian raving about 'season's greetings' or 'happy holidays' cards which displace the 'merry Christmas' sentiment.  

I suspect that a large part of why the holiday is as big as it is, is because it is fun.  There is nothing wrong with that.  God made us a people capable of joy and humor.  Jesus likes a good party!   

For centuries people have been celebrating Christmas in different ways all over the world.  The early naysayers obviously lost the argument.  How would we justify our festivities to them?

Hopefully we can tell them that under the parties, there is meaningful worship and meditation.  This celebration makes us better Christians.  

On this day we remember how our Lord humbled himself among us.  We remember that he was born in poverty.  The first people to meet our Lord were shepherds.  This meditation reminds us to be humble.  We remember that the angels sang at His birth.  All of creation worships this King, and we do not forget to offer him our praises.  We contemplate peace.  We pray for peace.  We make peace with those we can.  We remember Mary.  She is a perfect model of humble obedience in love.  

Getting ready for Christmas, we get ready for Christ.  Ours is not an affected joy.  Our joy comes from the Lord.  We prepare our hearts for God, before we prepare our homes for the party.  So, with all creation, we sing in joyful exaltation when our Lord comes in glory.  As we prepare for our celebration of our Lord's birth we prepare ourselves to receive him.  We get ready for his glorious return.  This is why we celebrate Christmas.  Don't skip the preparation.  

Gaudete! Rejoice!

Tonight we can light the third candle.  It is the eve of Gaudete Sunday.

Gaudete means rejoice!  On the second to last week of this penitential season, we rejoice!  Today we emphasize the sweeter part of this bittersweet season.   Rejoice!

We are getting very close to the Holy day which we anticipate with our prayers and fasting.  Soon the celebrating will begin.  Our focus shifts ever so slightly from penitential preparations, to hopeful anticipation.  We know we must prepare and be ready.  We know we must repent of our sins and renounce them.  We cannot contain our joy that our Lord is coming!

The third Sunday acknowledges and embraces that joy, while still keeping in the spirit of the season.  It is penance with a big dose of hope; anticipating a happy mystery.  As we make our confessions, we know we will be forgiven.  We do our penance knowing that Jesus conquered sin.  We prepare for Christ to come, knowing that He will come and it is He, not us, who will make us clean and ready.  He is with us!  Emmanuel. He is coming.  Prepare.

Christmas is coming fast.  We are very close to our Holy day!  Gaudete!

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.  But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 8-13

We are getting ready for the King to come.  We are, of course, preparing to celebrate the anniversary of Christ's birth in Bethlehem.  That is an important remembrance, but that is not the sole purpose of Advent.  We know that he will come again.  We don't know when, but we know He will come.  When He does, we must be ready. During Advent we get ready for Jesus.  We get ready to celebrate his birth, and we get ready for his second coming.  

Peter, like John the Baptist before him, tells us to get ready by repenting.  Whatever else happens when he comes, being ready means having repented of our sins.  

Set this season of Advent aside as a time to prepare for Jesus.  We are wandering, waiting, hoping.  He will come.  When He comes again, He comes as judge.  Don't let sin stain your white robe before the party!  

Prepare ye, the way of the Lord!

"In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea (and) saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: "A voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"" Matthew 3:1-3


John's voice cried out, but he did not say, "prepare," he said, "Repent!"  John did not leave us to wonder how to prepare for our Lord, he told us.  He did not tell us to clean our houses and buy new clothes.  That would not have been crazy, right?  The King is coming!  How should we prepare?  Repent.


John did not wonder who needed to repent.  He did not qualify his command.  Repent, if you are feeling guilty.  Repent, if you want to.  Repent, if you killed someone.  Repent, if your brother won't speak to you.-- No!  The King is coming!  Repent!


Isaiah sings, "Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!"  John clarifies, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"


John understood that Jesus was not coming with pomp and parade to rule as an Earthly king.  I do not know what normal preparations for royalty would have looked like then.  I am sure, however, that John's call must have sounded strange.  Non sequitur.  Preparations for a king are visible.  Clear the road, get out of the way. Clean things up, make everything festive, clean and pretty.  Sound the music.  John did not say any of that.


Jesus want our hearts.  We have to make way for him, just as the prophet insisted.  We clear a path for Christ to enter our lives by repenting.  We open up, push out the garbage, and invite Him in.  This is accomplished through sincere repentance.


How do we prepare now?  Deck the halls, and light the candles.  Play the music.  What king are we getting ready for?  These things are nice, but they will not make us ready.  The King is coming!  Repent!

The Immaculate conception

Today is a solemnity.  It is the feast of the Immaculate conception.  Since it always occurs in the middle of Advent, there is some confusion about what we are celebrating.  Here is a clue: there are nine months between conception and birth, and there are seventeen days until Christmas.  We are not celebrating the conception of our Lord.  Today we remember Mary's conception.  

Mary was conceived without sin.  The Church teaches that not only did Mary avoid sinning during her life, Mary was conceived free from original sin.  

The first reading today is from the third chapter of Genesis.

"After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”
The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with meC
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”
The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living."  Genesis 3:9-15, 20

Mary is the new Eve.  Eve was the 'mother of all the living.'  Mary is Mother to all her Son's followers.  We are the Body of Christ, and she is our Mother.  Eve listened to the serpent, and fell.  Mary gave birth to Jesus, who conquered sin.  Today is a celebration of second chances.  

Comfort

When I received my first communion, I was a lector.  I was in second grade.  The catechists in charge had decided that in order to make the liturgy more meaningful to the children, they would let us participate in a more active way than is usual.  So everyone got a job.  I read the first three verses from Isaiah 40.  These were the first verses I memorized.  I was very proud, and decided that those verses were my favorite in all of scripture.  


About twenty years later, they still are.  Isaiah's verses still move me.  


"Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated"  Isaiah 40:1-2


How beautifully and sweetly Isaiah delivers God's word to his people.  At the time, they were enslaved.  their suffering was real.  


I don't go to confession as often as I probably should.  The bare minimum required of a Catholic, I am pretty sure, is once a year.  I try to go twice: during Advent and during Lent.  When I go, I am often moved tears.  I do not deserve this grace.  Who is this God, this awesome, powerful, majesty, who cares so much for me?  Who am I to merit such a personal and deep love?  


I know, the verse came to my head because it is the verse which I know best.  Still, the verse comforted me enormously.  I know that God is speaking to me.  My sins are forgiven.  The first time I cried after confession, God gave me this verse, and it felt like a hug.  The verse took on a different and very personal meaning.  I understand that the verse says, "God will get you out of slavery, Israel."  What I heard was, "Beth, I love you.  Accept my gift of forgiveness."  

St. Nicholas

Today is the feast of St. Nicholas.  St. Nicholas was a Catholic bishop in the fourth century.  There are so many stories about him, it is difficult to know what is and is not true. According to the stories he defended the innocent, even against the will of the emperor.  He cared for the poor in many ways.  He successfully convinced the emperor to reduce oppressively high taxes.  He destroyed the temple to Artemis.  He was a faithful, just, and compassionate defender of the faith.

Probably the best known story about St. Nicholas is one about his care for the poor.  There was a man who had three daughters, and no money.  Without money for a dowry, they could not marry.  This was a much bigger problem than it sounds to our modern ears.  The girls were likely to become prostitutes.  St. Nicholas heard of this family.  Late one night he slipped out and threw a bag of gold down through an open window.  The gold was used as dowry.  He did this twice more, years later, as each girl came old enough to marry.  His gifts were intended to be anonymous, but the father caught him the third time.

This story is the basis for stories all over the world about dear St. Nicholas.  Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra (somewhere in Turkey) became Sinterklaas (Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands, who became Santa Clause.  An early saint, he is revered by many all over the world.  He is considered a saint by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and even by some protestants.

His feast day is anticipated by children.  They put out their shoes (or stockings) on the eve of his feast day, and hope that in the morning the shoes will be filled with goodies.

St. Nicholas cared for the poor in very practical ways.  During seasons of penitence in the Church we are called to increase our prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  How can we follow in his footsteps?

We talk about Christmas as a 'season of giving,' by which we generally mean 'a season when we give our loved ones things.' We spend so much time and money giving to people who do not need, and drop our extra pennies in the red buckets by the door.  I don't want to trivialize family time and sharing; it is wonderful!  It is not almsgiving.  Can we reserve a night in our over-busy holiday schedules to work in a soup kitchen?  Can we ask our friends and family to give us gifts that support charities?  Here is my recommendation!  They sell all kinds of beautiful handmade gifts!  (http://www.serrv.org/default.aspx?source=F103  Can we ask them to donate to a charity, rather than give us gifts?  What if instead of a gift exchange, we pool the money we would have spent and give it to a local charity?  Eat in, when you were going to eat out, and give the money to someone in need.  I hear that many food pantries are low this year, and the need is greater.  What would St.  Nicholas do?

Two candles.

Two candles today! 

The reading today was from Isaiah again.  

"On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,

and from his roots a bud shall blossom."  (Isaiah 11:1)

Do you celebrate Advent with a Jesse tree?  I am told that the history of the Jesse tree involves a rejection of the Christmas tree for reasons relating to its pagan origin.  I don't know if it is true, but I like both traditions and refuse to pick.

The Jesse tree is a visual depiction of our Lord's family tree.  In many homes, it is a tree hung with ornaments.  Each ornament symbolically depicts someone from His lineage.  David, for instance, could be represented by a ornament shaped like a sling-shot, or a harp.  

I remember one year when I was a kid, we made Jesse tree cookies.  We made stained glass cookies, that looked like little Church windows.  We made sugar cookie dough and rolled it out.  We cut out circles.  In the middle of each circle we cut out the symbols.  We put the shapes on the greased cookie sheet.  Then we crushed up various bright colored hard candies and filled in the holes.  When the cookies bake, the candy melts into a window!  Since there are not mass produced 'Jesse tree' cookie cutters, we had to cut many of the symbols by hand.  That in turn meant that we had to be pretty creative in choosing symbols.  Anyone can make a star (David) , or a shepherd's staff (Jesse), but can you make the scales of justice (Solomon) out of cookie?  

Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel!

You are singing now, right?  Maybe not.  I cannot read a line from a song without singing, which often means I cannot read scripture without singing.

This familiar carol captures the essence of Advent.  It is expresses pain, longing, division and hopeful joy.  Try not to sing it, and just read the words.  "Oh come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the son of God appears.  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to you, oh Israel!"

The singer addresses God first, in every verse, with supplication.  Then, confident that he is heard and will be answered, he addresses the captives.  Our savior is coming.  This is the plight of Christians.  We live in a broken world, and we are slaves to sin.  Yet we know God is with us, and we know He will come again.

Emmanuel means 'God with us.'  That line captures our condition rather beautifully.  Oh come, God with us.  We ask our ever-present and all-knowing Father to come save us.  We ask for help, when we need it, though we know that He knows already.  We invite Him into our lives, knowing He is already there.  This changes our relationship with him.  We are not his toys, created and watched.  We are his children.  He will love us and help us, but He will not force us to love him.  

The song makes many painful petitions.  Free the captives!  Deliver your people from their foes!  Disperse the gloomy clouds of night!  Make our divisions cease!  Each plea is followed with faithful confidence.  He will come, rejoice!  The faithful know that their pleas are heard by a loving and present God.

Come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that morns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
form ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! 

Little Lent

Advent is sometimes called little Lent.  Surprised?  I was.

Lent is long and hard.   Advent usually flies by before I have time to address Christmas cards.  Lent is for fasting!  Everyone knows about the Lenten fast, whether or not we practice effectively.  During Lent we self inflict some trivial form of suffering (What?  No Chocolate?)  which helps us focus on the season.  Lent is hard!  Advent is a countdown.

Except it isn't.  Advent is a time set aside for preparing for Christ to come.  Like Lent, it is a time when we should taking a hard look at our lives, and fixing things.  Like Lent, it is a time when we are preparing for a Holy day.  That means we are decorating and house cleaning, but we should also be preparing our hearts.  If you had to pick between having your home ready or your heart ready for Christ to come, which do you suppose He would want you to pick?

Last Sunday my pastor talked a bit about fasting.  He explained that fasting is an exercise of will.  Think of your will as a muscle.  A strong will is necessary as we are faced daily with a sinful world.  When we fast we exercise, and strengthen our will.  (Spiritual crunches?)

I had always considered fasting as a help in focusing my mind.  Daily life happens, even during Lent.  Gearing up for the greatest holiday in the year, I am easily distracted.  Each time I encounter whatever I have given up, I am reminded that I am fasting.  How many prayers would you say every day if every time it you wanted to eat chocolate you said a prayer instead?

Scripture call us to "pray constantly." (Thessalonians 5:17)  This does not mean that all day and all night we are repeating words.  It means that in everything we do, we offer ourselves to God.  I'll be the first to own up, I am not very good at this.  Fasting helps.  If nothing else, it reminds me that I am supposed to be praying.

Consider an Advent fast.  It doesn't have to be anything difficult or visible, just something which will remind you of the season.  Think yummy Starbucks drinks.  You will be out shopping, there is a Starbucks on every corner and they have these delicious, limited-time, holiday drinks.  Give them up and I can almost guarantee that you will think about your mini-fast pretty often.  Best of all, no one else has to know.  Even if you go out to coffee with your buddies, you can just order a plain coffee or a plain tea.  It is just a thought.  

Some context on that Thessalonians verse, by the way.  "Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  (Thessalonians 5:16-18)

This constant prayer goes right along with constant rejoicing.  Happy Advent!

Happy Holidays from Christmasland!

I went shopping today.

I ventured out into Christmasland to find some things I needed.  It was fun!  People were friendly, and the stores are all decorated.  Most people went with the politically correct, "Happy Holidays,"  but I'll take it.  I like greetings.  Christmasland (everywhere, not a real place) is bedecked with miles and miles of lights.  Stores have laid out their best greens and reds.  There are angels and glitter and stars and nativities.  This is Christmasland- and it is not in its full decorated glory yet!

I was looking at Christmas cards and contemplating actually sending out Christmas cards this year.  I found a beautiful red card with an embossed gold angel playing a trumpet.  It was lovely, and tempting.  I opened it and found that the inside read, "Happy holidays!"  Really?  The angel was celebrating some unspecified holiday on a red card in December.

This is one of those inane directives from the consumer.  Not wanting to offend anyone, but trying to capitalize on Christmas, businesses market 'Happy Holidays' merchandise.  I'll be honest, it does not bother me.  As I said, when it comes to well wishes, I'll take what is given.  Still, it seems odd and even disingenuous.  The angel card was clearly a Christmas card.  There are symbols everywhere.  Stores have decorated Christmas trees.  Every inch of adornable space is adorned in green and red.  The card with intricately dressed men pointing to a star in the sky?  Well, I suppose they could be anyone, but odds are most people see a chapter of our beloved nativity tale.  The holly?  The Poinsettias?  The doves carrying peace banners?  Yet calligraphied across each and every symbol it the well meaning, meaningless wish, "Happy holidays!"  No one is fooled.  It is Christmasland.

Sometimes symbols carry more weight than words.

Bearing that in mind, what are you doing for Advent?  (You knew I'd com back to Advent.)  Celebrating Christmas before it happens deemphasizes it in the same way that mislabeling all the merchandise does.  It cannot actually undermine the holiday, but it cheapens our experience.  It dulls poignancy with irrelevancies.  Christmas is not about the parties or well wishes or magic.  It is a celebration of God's revelation of love, and his invitation to us to share in it.  Enjoy the parties, wish everyone well, and hope for magic.  But don't miss the Holy day for a holiday.

"Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!"  Psalm 27:14

He is coming!

The wreath

The wreath is the most common devotion during the season of Advent.  Dinner tables are centered with a ring of evergreen and lit with four candles, three purple and one pink.  

Evergreen is traditionally used to celebrate Christmas because it is associated with eternal life.  The circle, similarly, is associated with eternity, because it has not beginning or ending.  It kind of seems like a strange symbol, actually, to associate with the birth of our our Lord.  That is a beginning, isn't it?  God has no beginning and no ending.  Jesus was born and he died.  He rose from the dead, conquering the death.   Using wreath to commemorate his birth reiterates the truth that He is God.  Even as we celebrate His humanity, we cannot forget His divinity.

The colored candles are a visual progression.  Each week we light another candle.  Lighting each candle we contemplate the time passing and the time passed; a beautiful juxtaposition with the wreath.  Time progresses even as we contemplate eternity.  Jesus was born and lived among us in our temporal world, though He is our eternal God.

The purple candles recall the penitential nature of the season.  It is a time for penance and preparation.  The preparations are for one of our most blessed holidays.  It is therefore also a season of joy.  The third candle is pink, to remind us to be joyful!