A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday & Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 14, n. 5)
Christmas Octave & Christmas Season: Dec. 27 - Jan. 2, 2016
(The pastoral tool BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY & WEEKDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from various perspectives. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: December 2-26, 2015, please go to ARCHIVES Series 14 and click on “Advent Week 4 – Christmas Octave”.
Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: December 27 – January 2, 2016.)
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December 27, 2015: THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Must Be in His Father’s House”
BIBLICAL READINGS
Year A. B & C: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 // Col 3:12-21 // Lk 2:41-42
Year C: I Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 // I Jn 3:1-2, 21-24 // Lk 2:41-52
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 1:39-45): “His parents found Jesus sitting in the midst of the teachers.”
I came into contact with the pain and anxiety of one who has lost a child. The Italian lady, Sarah, and her adopted girl, Saraji, the six-year old daughter of lepers from a leper colony where she used to work as a volunteer, were guests at our convent in Bangalore, India. One afternoon, they went downtown to shop. An hour later a very distraught Sarah came back to inform us that Saraji wandered away and was lost. We prayed in earnest for her return. Sarah, accompanied by some Sisters, searched for her and after a few distressing hours, found the little girl at the police station calmly eating an ice cream cone. The mother was overjoyed when she found her child.
Today’s Gospel passage (Lk 2:41-52) is about the finding of the child Jesus in the temple. The story of the lost and found child seems banal and commonplace, but in the editorial strategy of Luke the episode illumines the entire Gospel. Indeed, this story that concludes the Infancy Narrative gives us a glimpse of the main content of the Christ event: Jesus’ special filial relationship with God and his paschal mission on behalf of the family of God. In this account of Luke, Jesus and his parents journey to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. The next time the evangelist Luke presents Jesus as journeying to Jerusalem will be for the celebration of the Jewish Passover feast at the end of his public ministry, and this will coincide with his own Passover sacrifice on the Cross.
In the context of the Father’s saving plan, the boy Jesus is not really “lost” in the temple, but is simply obeying a divine compulsion and asserting his personal duty to his Father in heaven. The necessity to be in his Father’s house and to be busy with his Father’s affairs lies in his inherent filial relationship with God who demands from him, the Servant Son, an absolute obedience to the divine saving plan. Indeed, the “three days” that Jesus stayed in the temple is a symbolic reference to the three days of being buried in the tomb, before he would reappear as the victorious Risen Lord, accomplishing the Father’s all inclusive plan to save the human family and the cosmic family of his beloved creation.
The episode of the boy Jesus in the temple depicts him as sitting among the doctors of the Law, not with any braggadocio or pride, but “listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and answers” (Lk 2:46-47). By implication, Jesus is being presented as the true Teacher at the center of the circle of teachers. He is the Divine Master – the ultimate Teacher - who would teach the family of God about the greatest lesson of love and obedience to the Father’s saving will. In the meantime, as the evangelist Luke narrates, he goes down with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth. Obedient to them, he learns the sterling lessons of love, and service in the context of family life.
According to Luke, the parents of Jesus “did not understand what he said to them” (Lk 2:50) and Mary, his mother, is portrayed as keeping all these things in her heart (Lk 2:52). Mary, the first disciple and the first “christofora”, continues her journey of faith as she ponders the meaning and destiny of her Son, who “increased in wisdom, and age and favor before God and man” (Lk 2:52). Indeed, the full understanding of Jesus’ messianic identity and saving mission needs to await the paschal event of his death and resurrection.
With Jesus’ intimate filial relationship with the Father and his paschal destiny as a backdrop, it would be easier to understand the role of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the divine saving plan. It is the cradle of life and faith for Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father. The perfect paschal sacrifice to be offered on the Cross is being prepared silently and diligently in the home of Nazareth, under the loving guidance of Mary and Joseph. This grace-filled domestic setting is where the Son of God is loved, nourished, and formed for his mission to reunite, at the end time, the human family and the cosmic family of God’s beloved creation.
B. Old Testament Reading (I Sm 1:20-22, 24-28): “Samuel, as long as he lives, shall be dedicated to the Lord.”
On February 2,1993 – the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation in the temple – the PDDM Sisters organized in the Diocese of Antipolo (Philippines) the MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH: PRAYER ASSOCIATION FOR PRIESTS, composed of mothers of priests and other persons who care for the welfare of priests. In one of the prayer meetings of this marvelous group, the mother of Fr. Eymard shared her experience about him. When she would rock him to sleep as an infant, she would sing a lullaby with an improvised text that was, in fact, dedicating him to the Lord. She would pray that the gracious God would deign to choose her son, when he grew up, and ordain him to be his priest. Her son grew up to be an artist and, in answer to her devout prayers, entered the seminary and became a priest in the Antipolo diocese.
Hannah’s dedication of Samuel as a perpetual nazirite (I Sm 1:20-22, 24-28) evokes Mary’s own presentation of the child Jesus at the temple of Jerusalem. This Sunday’s Gospel episode of the finding of Jesus in the temple underlines the tremendous implication of Jesus as the totally consecrated One – fully dedicated at the service of the Father’s saving plan. After three days of anxious searching, Joseph and Mary found the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard them were amazed at his intelligent answers. Even in their relief, Mary could not refrain from reproaching him for his conduct: he should have realized that by staying in Jerusalem without informing them would have cause them great pain and anxiety. Jesus’ answer to their reproach was even more perplexing: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
When Jesus declared to her, “I must be in my Father’s house”, his mother Mary knew in that instant that, although he would return with her to Nazareth, he would no longer be hers. Indeed, in the episode of the loss and the finding of the boy Jesus in the temple, the Easter event of the Son of God’s total obedience to his heavenly Father and his radical submission to his paschal destiny of death and rising for the ransom of the family of nations was already in the horizon.
C. Second Reading (I Jn 3:1-2, 21-24): “We are called children of God. And so we are.”
The Second Reading (I Jn 3:1-2, 21-24) delineates the meaning and implication of being members of God’s family. We became God’s own children by the love he bestowed on us through his dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ. The biblical scholar Bruce Vawter remarks: “In the truest and most absolute sense, God’s gift of love has been the gift of his only Son as savior of the world. It is this gift that has made it possible that we be called children of God.” Indeed, the saving grace of the magnanimous God becomes present to us on the condition that we respond in faith to his Son Jesus Christ and if we love one another. By keeping the twofold commandment of faith in Jesus Christ and love of neighbor, we fully experience the presence of God, which is made evident by the gift of the Spirit.
The following Christmas story is heartwarming (cf. Kelly Stewart Harcourt, “Starring Dad” in GUIDEPOSTS, December 2009, p. 42-44). Kelly remembers the tremendous love shown to them by their parents one Christmas morning. She reminisces on the unforgettable role played on that day by their dad, famous actor Jimmy Stewart of the It’s a Wonderful Life fame, where he played the part of George Bailey in that wonderful Christmas film. The spirit of love at work in the domestic setting of the Stewart family gives us a glimpse of the awesome love bestowed by God the Father on his own children.
It was 1958. Judy and I were seven and our family was spending the holidays in Hawaii. You’d think we’d be thrilled, but we were wondering if it would even feel like Christmas so far from home. There’d be no singing carols on the piano bench next to Dad, his long fingers gracefully skimming across the keys. No Christmas dinner in the formal dining room. And what really mattered – how would Santa know where to bring our presents? We asked about it night after night in our prayers, and Mom assured us again and again that Santa would find us, even in Hawaii. But there’d be no chimney to slide down in a hotel room. How would he even get in our room?
Christmas Eve the hours dragged by. Finally, Mom announced, “It’s time for little girls to get to bed. Santa won’t come until you’re sleep.” She was already in her nightgown and Dad had on his blue-and-white-striped pajamas. Even with his long arms the sleeves fell past his wrists. Judy and I got in bed and looked at each other. We didn’t have to say a word to know we were thinking the same thing. This didn’t feel like the night before Christmas at all. There wasn’t even a place to put our stockings! Mom and Dad kissed us goodnight and for the first time in my young life I fell sleep dreading Christmas morning.
The next thing I knew Mom was shaking me, “Dad went out to get a newspaper and then there was a knock on the door,” she said. “Wake up and see who’s here.” I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. There was Santa! “Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas, Kelly and Judy!” our visitor said, laughing merrily, his voice deep and powerful. It was really him. White beard, red suit, black boots and a big belly – though he was taller than I’d imagined. Santa sat down and Judy and I scrambled onto his lap. I felt so comfortable, as if I’d sat there hundred times. Everything about him felt so … familiar.
I looked closely at Santa. I didn’t recognize his face, covered by mounds of white beard. But I’d seen those hands before, those long fingers. And sticking out ever so slightly from one red sleeve was the cuff of his pajamas with those blue and white stripes. Mom and Dad were trying to fool us that Santa had come! “So, Santa, how ya doin’?” I asked, punching him playfully on the shoulder. Judy looked at me in astonishment. With a wink I shared my skepticism. She nodded – now she knew what our parents were up to. “Yeah, Santa ole boy,” Judy joined in. “Long trip, eh? How are those reindeer doing?”
“Ho! Ho!” Santa boomed. “Why they’re having breakfast. They eat hay and mangoes here in Hawaii. They sure do like soaking up some sun before we head back to the North Pole.” On and on Judy and I went. We couldn’t break him. He had an answer for everything, delivered with that jolly booming voice and twinkling eyes. By the time we hugged our visitor goodbye and he reminded us to be good girls, my stomach was churning. What if he was the real deal? What happened to little girls who were rude to Santa?
Mom told us to wash our hands before breakfast and then we’d see what Santa had brought us. She seemed irritated. In the bathroom with Judy, I was nearly in tears. “I think that really was Santa”, I whispered. “He didn’t sound like Dad at all.” “We were so mean to him”, Judy said. “She’ll tell Dad when he gets back from the store. They’ll be so disappointed in us.” But Judy thought of something far worse. “What if Santa takes our presents away? What if he leaves us with coal?”
There was no doubt what was in store for us. And we’d brought it upon ourselves by not trusting Mom and Dad. We walked out to the breakfast table quaking. There sat Dad. “Merry Christmas!” he cried, sounding just like George Bailey. “I hear Santa dropped by. Boy, I wish I’d been here.” We went to his chair and he lifted us up onto his lap, his long arms hugging us close. Soon we were telling him all about Santa and everything we’d said and done. He didn’t scold us. In fact, he laughed so hard there were tears rolling down his cheeks. Like he was hearing it all for the first time.
I’ve long forgotten what Santa brought us that year. But I will never forget the greatest gift of that Christmas – the knowledge that Mom and Dad loved us so much that they would do everything in their power to help make our prayers come true.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we try to see Nazareth as a kind of school where we may begin to discover what Christ’s life was like and understand his Gospel? Do we make of our own human family a cradle of life and sanctification? Do we try to minister to the needs of the greater families: the family of God - the Church, the family of humankind, and the family of creation?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father, the origin of all families,
in Jesus Christ your Son,
we become a part of the greater family of God, the Church.
Like Jesus, your faithful Son-Servant,
help us to be always in “your House”
and be completely dedicated to your saving work.
May we look with joy to the Holy Family of Nazareth
and learn the enduring lesson of a holy family life
that is centered on Christ
and marked by love, prayer, and service.
Nourished as beloved members of the Christian family,
help us to reach out in love and service
to the greater family of humankind and cosmic creation.
Let your beloved Son Jesus
be all and in all.
He lives and reigns, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Today, pause for a moment of quiet prayer and thank the Lord for belonging to the following: your biological family, nourishing family, family of God – the Church, family of humankind, family of creation. Invite a needy family to your home for a dinner, which may be preceded or concluded with a family blessing (cf. Book of Blessings).
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December 28, 2015: MONDAY – THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS
“JESUS SAVIOR: The Holy Innocents Shared
in His Paschal Destiny”
BIBLE READINGS
I Jn 1:5-2:2 // Mt 2:13-18
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mt 2:13-18): “He ordered the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem.”
Three days after Christmas, we celebrate the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, the infant boys ordered killed by King Herod who reigned in Palestine and Judah from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C. In the final years of his reign, he was extremely ruthless and brutal in defending his throne. The bishop, Saint Quodvultdesus, in a sermon remarked: “A tiny child is born, who is a great king. Wise men are led to him from afar. They come to adore one who lies in a manger and yet reigns in heaven and on earth. When they tell of one who is born a king, Herod is disturbed. To save his kingdom he resolves to kill him, though if he would have faith in the child, he himself would reign in peace in this life and forever in the life to come. Why are you afraid, Herod, when you hear of the birth of a king? He does not come to drive you out, but to conquer the devil. But because you do not understand this you are disturbed and in a rage, and to destroy one child you seek, you show your cruelty in the death of so many children.”
The Holy Innocents were witnesses for Christ though they were not aware of it. Their martyrdom evoked the passion and death of the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Indeed, our world, marred by sin and death, desperately needs the saving Christ. The feast of the Holy Innocents reminds us that human life is sacred. Every human being has a right to life. Let us pray for the protection of all human life, including the unborn.
The following story, circulated through the Internet, challenges us to assert the right to life of millions of children who are annually killed under the cover of laws permitting abortion, an abominable crime.
A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: “Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old and I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together.”
So the doctor said: “OK and what do you want me to do?” She said: “I want you to end my pregnancy, and I’m counting on your help with this.” The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: “I think I have a better solution for your problem. It’s less dangerous for you, too.” She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: “You see, in order for you not to take care of two babies at the same time, let’s kill the one in your arms. This way, you could get some rest before the other one is born. If we are going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you choose the one in your arms.”
The lady was horrified and said: “No, Doctor! How terrible! It’s a crime to kill a child!” “I agree”, the doctor replied. “But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution”. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that’s already been born and one that’s still in the womb. The crime is the same!
B. First Reading (I Jn 1:5-2:2): “The Blood of his Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”
We continue to remember with grief the massacre of the innocents in Newton, Connecticut in 2012. The pain of the tragedy is raw. The sorrow of the bereaved evokes the grief of those whose children were slain by the jealous Herod the Great. Today’s Entrance Antiphon of the Mass tries to make sense of the killing: “These innocent children were slain for Christ. They follow the spotless Lamb, and proclaim for ever: Glory to you, Lord”. The massacre of the innocent children in Bethlehem anticipates the martyrdom of the wholly “Innocent One” Jesus Christ, who was offered for our sins and for those of the whole world.
The reading (I Jn 1:5-2:2) declares that the blood of the divine Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. The pouring out of his innocent blood is a means of expiation and redemption. To have fellowship with God and one another, we must allow ourselves to be cleansed by the blood of the truly Innocent One. Indeed, though the blood of Christ is meant to cleanse us from sin, this is contingent on our response to the divine initiative of salvation. The loving and merciful Father calls us today to acknowledge our sin and ask forgiveness from the “Holy Innocent” par excellence, Jesus Christ.
The following story entitled “The Visitor”, circulated on the Internet, gives us an idea of the expiatory character of Christ’s sacrifice.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, “I always park there. You took my place!”
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat! You took my place!”
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday school, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place!”
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing. Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?” The visitor replied, “I took your place.”
“Christ himself carried our sins in His body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by His wounds that you have been healed.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Like Herod, are we guilty of violence and brutality against the weak and vulnerable? Are we guilty of irresponsible actions that seek to kill Life itself? How do we overcome our sinfulness and rectify our evil acts?
2. What do we do to make reparation and expiation for the sacrifice of the innocents? Do we allow ourselves to be washed clean by the redemptive blood of Christ?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(Cf. Opening Prayer for December 28, Feast of the Holy Innocents)
Father,
the Holy Innocents offered you praise
by the death they suffered for Christ.
May our lives bear witness
to the faith we profess with our lips.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Lord Jesus,
you are the Son of God and the source of life.
The Holy Innocents shared in your paschal destiny
and unknowingly gave witness that you are the Christ.
Their martyrdom was a prophetic sign
of your death on the cross for the world’s saving.
Forgive us for our acts of negligence and brutality
against the weak and vulnerable.
Help us to reach out to the victims of today’s Herod.
Give us the strength to promote the dignity of the human person.
Help us to protect the right to life of every human being.
Together with the Holy Innocents who are in the glory of heaven,
we acclaim:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will!
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“She would not be consoled, since they were no more.” (Mt 2:18) // “The blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (I Jn 1:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the weak and vulnerable, and for all the children of the world, especially the victims of violence and exploitation. By your acts of charity, alleviate the suffering of today’s “Holy Innocents” and enable them to experience the joy of Christmas.
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December 29, 2015: TUESDAY – FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Walk in the Light of Love”
BIBLE READINGS
I Jn 2:3-11 // Lk 2:22-35
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 2:22-35): “This is the light of revelation to the Gentiles.”
As Christmas liturgy unfolds, we continue to delve into the meaning of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. We have seen that Christmas is marked with a sacrificial character (cf. feast of St. Stephen) and Easter glory (cf. feast of St. John) and that the incarnation of the Word is God’s compassionate response to our dire need of salvation from evil and sin (cf. feast of the Holy Innocents).
On the fifth day within the octave of Christmas, we contemplate the presentation of Jesus in the temple and his encounter with Simeon, a good and God-fearing man waiting for the consolation of Israel. Deeply receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Simeon took the child in his arms and recognized in him the Lord’s promised Messiah. With praise and thanksgiving, Simeon avowed that the Lord God has kept his promise. Simeon felt ready to die and, with the Savior of all peoples in his arms, he exclaimed: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled.” Indeed, Simeon’s encounter with the child Jesus was a joyful celebration of God’s benevolence and faithfulness.
Mr. Ledesma, the father of Sr. Mary Noelle, pddm, and Piesy, who worked closely with me in the World Youth Day ’95 in Manila, was one of the kindest and most generous persons I have ever met in my life. Sr. Mary Noelle’s account of her dad’s passing to eternity makes me think of Simeon’s beautiful encounter with Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Thank you, Sr. Margaret. I must have missed communicating to you RE our dad’s passing last October 26. Well, thanks be to God! Daddy had a happy and holy death. We were with him during his suffering and last hours and last breath.
Death is such a mystery and a beautiful passage to eternity. I’ve experienced how dad encountered the presence of the Lord and we were all around him. We prayed for him and we also listened and talked to him. How I wish I could tell all dad’s beautiful words and exchange of conversations with Jesus. Some of his last words after he asked and kissed the Crucifix were: “Do I have a place there?” [PAUSE] “Let us now all rest.” Then he looked at mommy and his gaze transcended beyond mom’s face towards the light. He smiled and then expired. Mom closed his lips and eyes.
B. First Reading (I Jn 2:3-11): “Those who love their brother remain in the light.”
Christmas is the festival of light. One beautiful Christmas episode is the old man Simeon’s encounter with Jesus, as the infant was being presented to the Lord by Joseph and Mary at the temple. Simeon took the child in his arms and identified him as the “light of revelation to the Gentiles”. Jesus continues to reveal to us in the here and now the light of divine love. He also calls us to walk in the light of love, which entails abiding by the demands of fraternal charity. Those who love their brother remain in the light, while those who claim to in the light while hate their brother are in darkness. Christian discipleship is not simply an intellectual knowledge for it demands a life consonant with God’s love and his moral imperative. Christ’s command to love is not new because it has been a part of baptismal instruction; but in a sense it is always “new” for Jesus has given us the abiding newness of his example, which we renew in ourselves.
The following story by Poverello House Founder Mike Garvin speaks of an “encounter” as well as provides us with some modern examples of walking in the light of love (cf. Poverello News, November 2009, p.1-20).
It’s a strange thing to know someone for ten years, but never actually meet him. That describes my friendship with a young man, up until last summer. One Christmas season ten years ago, I received a letter from a six-year old child whose name was Campbell. It was charming. The boy wrote as if he knew me, and told me all about the things in his life that interested him. Accompanying the letter was some money he had earned to help the homeless. I sent a letter to thank him. The next year, he sent another little missive with yet another donation. Again, the tone was familiar and conversational, as if we had been pals for decades. I shared these letters with the Poverello staff, who were as delighted as I was.
The letters came every year about the same time, with one exception. One Christmas rolled by a few years ago with no letter from Campbell. I was disappointed, and, to tell the truth, a little depressed. I figured he had grown tired of Poverello House, and had moved on to new things. However, much to my relief, the letter came in January. He apologized, and said his life had been so busy that he was a little late. And busy he was. Each year, he would describe the joys and anxieties of entering a new grade in school. I learned about his martial arts lessons, his school wrestling, and the academic subjects that excited or bored him the most. Each letter was a glimpse into the life of a thoughtful, engaging, and very involved youngster. Every letter also contained a school picture of him, so I could see him grow from a cute little boy into a handsome teenager.
In the decade that passed, Campbell talked about visiting Poverello, but never seemed to get the time. Then, one day in August, I got a surprising call: he and his grandfather were going to come down and see the Pov. After all this time, I thought I knew what to expect. I was a little shocked to meet the face in the pictures attached to a body that was as tall as me. At sixteen years old, Campbell was well over six feet tall. He towered over his grandpa. I gave them both a tour, which they seemed to enjoy. When we paused at the POW/MIA table in our dayroom, the grandfather got a little emotional. It turns out that he had spent many years in the military and had fought in World War II.
Sometimes, working at Poverello and living down here is a little like being in a bubble. Most of what I see is negative, and I don’t get away enough to see much else. I meet many young people on the streets, most of whom are going nowhere in life, and who are pretty well ruined before they turn twenty. It’s easy to lose hope.
Now and then, however, a vibrant, compassionate young person like Campbell crosses my path, and I start to think more positively. If there’s someone like Campbell, who, since the age of six, has thought about the poor and done what he could to help, then maybe, just maybe, there are a lot more like him. What a blessing it was to finally meet him face to face and to see the good work that God started in him. Maybe there’s hope for humanity, after all, if somehow we can help to produce a few more Campbells.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit and so recognize the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ in our life? Do we deeply yearn for the salvation that Jesus brings?
2. What is your response to the call to walk in the light of love? Are you receptive to welcome Jesus who continues to reveal the light of love in our daily lives?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you were presented by Joseph and Mary in the temple.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit,
Simeon took you in his arms
and recognized that you are the promised Messiah.
Grant that in our final encounter with you at the hour of death,
we may be able to resound Simeon’s words:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.”
With the holy servants of God, we acclaim:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will!
***
(Cf. Opening Prayer for December 29, Fifth Day in the Christmas Octave)
All-powerful and unseen God,
the coming of your light into our world
has made the darkness vanish.
Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.” (cf. Lk 2:29) //“Whoever loves his brother remains in the light.” (I Jn 1:10)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
In your ministry to the elderly and the dying, let your acts of charity and sharing of the word of God bring them peace and consolation. // Make an effort to spread the Christmas joy to the people around you and continue to walk in the light of love, especially by your compassionate acts for the poor and the needy.
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December 30, 2015: WEDNESDAY – SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Redemption of Israel”
BIBLE READINGS
I Jn 2:12-17 // Lk 2:36-40
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
In today’s First Reading (I Jn 2:12-17), the author, John, speaks to three age groups representing three different stages of Christian life. The “children” represent those who have been initiated into faith through baptism. Through personal experience of the Father, they are freed from sin for the sake of Christ. The “young men” are the spiritually proficient. Their strength is derived from the word of God and they are able to conquer the evil one. The “fathers” are the spiritually mature and their knowledge of the Father is secure and unmovable. They do not love the world and the things of the world. Since they do the will of God, they live forever. The qualities and destiny of the “spiritually mature” are exemplified by the Gospel personages, Simeon and Anna.
Today’s Gospel episode (Lk 2:36-40) is within the context of the presentation of the Lord Jesus in the temple and his saving “encounter” with the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna. The two prophets speak in glowing terms of Jesus as the salvation of every people and as the redemption of Jerusalem, which represents all the elect. Today’s focus is on the prophetess Anna, a holy widow advanced in years. She spent most of her life in the temple worshipping night and day with fasting and prayer. At the presentation of Jesus, she recognizes the infant as the gift of God. Anna gives thanks to God and testifies about the child to all who wait for the redemption of Jerusalem.
On a gloomy day in early December, safe in the car’s passenger seat, I pressed the satellite radio’s Search button. Christmas music seemed to be on every one of the four hundred channels – not celebrating the birth of Jesus, but mixing merchandise and carols together into electronic jungles. The meaning of the season seemed to slip away, drowned out by the relentless message that Christmas is about gifts and food. Loneliness seemed to be speaking out of all the good cheer.
I pushed another button, and suddenly the car was filled with glorious sounds of the last part of Ludwig van Beethoven’s magnificent Ninth Symphony, known as the “Ode to Joy”, which is also the music for Henry Van Dyke’s great hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”:
Ever singing march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Beethoven was only thirty-two and at the height of his career when he realized he was going deaf. He faced depression and loneliness. Yet some of his greatest music, including this passionate expression of joy and praise, was composed after he could no longer hear it performed.
As the music surrounded me, the irritations of the ceaseless electronic carols seemed very small. Beethoven believed in himself and in his God, and shared his gifts with countless millions of us who need to be reminded of the joy of faith.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we imitate Simeon and Anna in our yearning for the Lord and in preparing ourselves for our encounter with the gift of salvation? Are we able to perceive the presence of the Lord in our lives, and are we thankful for the Christmas gift from heaven?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the heavenly gift awaited by Anna and Simeon,
and by all those longing for the redemption of Jerusalem and the nations.
Grant us the grace to perceive your presence
and to be ever thankful for you,
who are God’s Christmas present to us.
Help us to give witness to you as our saving Lord.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all those who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Lk 2:38)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Be perceptive and thankful for the various presences of the Lord in your daily life. Like Anna and Simeon give witness to the good news about the Lord Jesus, especially to those who have difficulty experiencing his saving presence.
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December 31, 2015: THURSDAY – SEVENTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Word Made Flesh”
BIBLE READINGS
I Jn 2:18-21 // Jn 1:1-18
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
On the seventh day in the Octave of Christmas and on New Year’s Eve, we hear the deeply evocative Prologue of Saint John (Jn 1:1-18), which perceives the incarnation of the Word as God’s utmost revelation of love and glory. Christmas is a celebration of God speaking to us his most beautiful word – Jesus Christ! The Word made flesh is God’s “I love you” to us. The Word that the saving God spoke in the birth of Jesus manifests his deep compassion for us.
Saint Bernard asserts: “God’s Son came in the flesh so that mortal men could see and recognize God’s kindness … The incarnation teaches us how much God cares for us and what he thinks and feels about us. We should stop thinking of our own sufferings and remember what he has suffered. Let us think of all the Lord has done for us, and then we shall realize his goodness appeared through his humanity. The lesser he became through his human nature the greater was his goodness; the more he lowered himself for me, the dearer he is to me.”
The compassionate God continues to speak to us in the here and now through Scripture as the following testimony would show (cf. Brian Keilty, “It’s Not All About You” in The WORD Among Us (April 24 - May 31, 2011, p. 67-68).
We had just visited my wife’s oncologist, and the dreaded news he delivered initially left us quiet, reflective, and heart-broken. The doctor felt that Marybeth’s long and painful fight with cancer was, for all intents and purposes, over. The disease had progressed to the point where aggressive treatment was no longer advisable; the only remaining option was palliative care delivered through hospice. We had been married for nineteen years.
The bad news was not unique to us. Countless times that day, many thousands of other people throughout the world heard a similar message. But this diagnosis was ours. What made the trip home so extraordinary was that we talked not about the prognosis, not about our fears and anxieties, not about a future denied our young children, but about God and his speaking to us through Scripture.
Marybeth began the conversation (I remember the exact spot on the highway) by telling me of the joy, peace, and comfort she had received from God while reading Psalm 62 that very morning. She knew God was addressing her through its opening verses: “My soul rests in God alone from whom comes my salvation. God alone is my rock and salvation, my secure height; I shall never fall.”
Those words of comfort gave Marybeth peace and direction. It was God, not good health, who was to be the center of her life. His salvation was more important to her than her healing. During her final two months, those words also empowered her every day to guide and care for her children, as well as love and support her husband.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Are we awed by the tremendous saving event of the incarnation of the Word? How do we respond to this awesome saving mystery?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus, you are the most beautiful Word spoken by God the Father. In your birth, we hear the voice of the compassionate God speaking to our heart, “I love you … I will save you!” In you is the fullness of grace and truth. In this forthcoming New Year 2014, help us to become courageous heralds of your saving Gospel and to share with all your healing word of love and forgiveness. With all peoples and creation and all the choirs of angels we acclaim: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will!
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Jn 1:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that people may truly perceive the meaning and implication of the Word made flesh. Resolve to spend more time to read the Scripture and break the bread of the Word. By your words and deeds, enable the people around you to experience that the divine Word is truly incarnate.
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January 1, 2016: FRIDAY – THE OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS: SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Born of the Virgin Mary”
BIBLE READINGS
Nm 6:22-27 // Gal 4:4-6 // Lk 2:16-21
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
On the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the oldest Marian feast in the Church, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In this Marian feast we celebrate her intimate role in the Christmas mystery as the willing virgin who gave birth to the Son of God. Cardinal Leon Joseph Suenens remarks: “We find Mary at the very heart of the mystery of the incarnation. She is the mother of the one who will be for all future ages the way, the truth, and the life. The threshold of the one who, above all, can introduce us to Jesus … To our contemporary world Mary offers the living and vibrant reality, the incarnate Savior of the world.”
The solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, falls on New Year’s Day (January 1), the first day of the civil year – an occasion when people look back on the past and wish each other God’s abundant blessings. It is most opportune that the Old Testament reading for the New Year’s Mass is the Priestly Blessing from the book of Numbers (6:22-27). Prayed in the context of the Christmas-Marian feast, it evokes the truth that Mary, Mother of God, is the utmost recipient of God’s blessing. In the motherhood of Mary, the icon of the blessed of God, the fullness of blessing is given to the world through her divine Child, the Savior of the world - the Priest of the New Covenant.
Combined with the Gospel episode (Lk 2:16-21) of today’s Marian feast, the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers serves to interpret the Christmas mystery. From the manger, in his Son Jesus, the Lord God blesses us abundantly and protects us. In the Christ Child, the icon of the divine love, the Lord God lets his face shine upon us and enables us to experience his favor and graciousness. In Mary’s Son, the Prince of Peace, the Lord looks kindly upon us and grants us peace and total salvation. Indeed, in Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate, is the fullness of the Father’s benediction to humankind. Moreover, in his Son Jesus, born of Mary, the fullness of blessing and praise – the Eucharist – is rendered to God, our Almighty Father.
In his past Message for the World Day of Peace (January 1, 2014), Pope Francis asserts that fraternity is the foundation and pathway to peace. In Jesus is true fraternity. The Pope remarks: “All who accept the life of Christ and live in him acknowledge God as Father and give themselves completely to him, loving him above all things. The reconciled person sees in God the Father of all, and, as a consequence, is spurred on to live a life of fraternity open to all … All are loved by God. All have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, who died on the Cross and rose for all. This is the reason why no one can remain indifferent before the lot of our brothers and sisters.” Pope Francis concludes his Message with the following intercession: “May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, help us to understand and live every day the fraternity that springs up from the heart of her Son, so as to bring peace to each person on this beloved earth.”
The following story gives us a glimpse into how fraternity in Christ can extinguish war (cf. Brad Steiger & Sherry Hansen Steiger, Christmas Miracles, Avon: Adams Media Corporation, 2001, p. 44-46).
Five months after the start of World War I, just after midnight on Christmas morning, the vast majority of German soldiers declared a Christmas truce in the hostilities between themselves and those of the Allied troops – the Russian, French, and British. Regimental bands began to play Christmas carols and the men raised their voices in joyous celebration of the Holy Night when the Prince of Peace was born.
The Allied soldiers were understandably suspicious about the shouts of “Merry Christmas” that they heard directed at them from the German trenches. Perhaps they had snipers lined up just waiting for a curious Tommy, Ivan, or Frenchy to peek his head above the trenches. But at the end of each hymn or cheerful carol they heard the German boys from Kaiser Bill’s army calling out something about a Christmas truce. The men in the Allied trenches checked with their officers, but none of them knew anything about a truce having been declared for the holidays.
At dawn’s first light on Christmas morn, the German troops rose up out of their trenches, set down their weapons, and began to walk across “no-man’s land”, singing carols and shouting out, “Merry Christmas” in French, Russian, and English, as well as their native German. From all appearances, from everything the Allied officers could see through their field glasses and from what the soldiers were able to witness from their frontline observation posts, all the Germans appeared to be without rifles or any kind of weaponry whatsoever.
Soon the Allied soldiers crawled out of their trenches and walked toward the Germans who were so openly and trustingly celebrating Christmas. The men shook hands, wished each other a blessed Christmas, and exchanged gifts of cigarettes and food. Later, they sang hymns and carols, and those of the same faith worshipped together. Some accounts of the Christmas truce even state that opposing sides played a good-natured, but rousing, game of soccer. The remarkable unofficial “time-out” that was declared by the combat soldiers without any thought of obtaining permission from their superiors lasted for two or three days.
Sadly, the Christmas truce of 1914 was probably one of the very last examples of old-fashioned chivalry in modern warfare. Within another few weeks, the first technological war would begin slaughtering human beings on a scale previously undreamt of in any military officer’s most fevered nightmare of destruction. The employment of poison gas against the men in the trenches, the serial bombing of cities and civilians beyond the frontlines, the onslaught of armored tanks crushing men and smashing walls, machine guns mowing down ranks of soldiers, aircraft swooping down from the skies and strafing troops on the ground – all of these horrors and more would make the notion of another Christmas truce during the war an impossible dream. But the 1914 Christmas miracle created by the common foot soldiers’ declaration of peace and goodwill toward their fellow comrades-in-arms will live forever in memory as a triumph of the indomitable human spirit over the fatal disease of war.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we allow the Lord God to bless us and keep us … to let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us … to look kindly upon us and give us peace? Do we look upon Mary as model of receptivity to grace and God’s abundant blessings? Do we look forward to the gracious blessings God has reserved for us in this New Year 2015? How can we promote fraternity as a foundation and pathway to peace? Do we call upon Mary, the Mother of the Prince of Peace, to help us in our peace-making?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
in you is the fraternity
that is the foundation and pathway to peace.
In this grace-filled New Year,
help us to become courageous heralds of your saving Gospel
and to be channels of your peace.
May your Mother Mary help us to promote the fraternity
that springs up from your heart
so as to bring peace to each person on this beloved earth.
With all peoples and creation and all the choirs of angels
we acclaim: Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will!
We give you thanks and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
The Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace!” (Nm 6:24-26)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
At the family reunion on New Year’s Day, use the Priestly Blessing as part of the prayer before or after meals, or at any other appropriate occasion during the day. With the help of Mary, Mother of God, perform acts of charity and service throughout the year that will bring God’s healing and benediction to the poor, the marginalized and the victims of natural and man-made calamities.
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January 2, 2016: SATURDAY – SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN, Bishops, Doctors of the Church
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Leads Us by the Holy Spirit”
BIBLE READINGS
I Jn 2:22-28 // Jn 1:19-28
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Jn 1:19-28): “There is one who is coming after me.”
In this Christmas season we continue to penetrate the meaning of Jesus Savior, the Father’s gift of love to us. In today’s Gospel (Jn 1:19-28), the precursor John the Baptist, proclaims the coming of the Messiah, whose sandals he feels unworthy to untie. Jesus is the light and John is the lamp that reflects it; the Son of God is the saving word and the prophet in the wilderness is the voice that proclaims it. Indeed, Christ must increase and the one who prepares his way must decrease. Jesus is “the Greater One”. Like John the Baptist, we must recognize the preeminent status of Jesus Christ and assume our subordinate position in relation to him. Jesus Christ is the holy and immortal one to whom our love, reverence and unconditional trust are due. The spirit of Christmas invites us to render our homage, adoration and service to the Son of God.
When I was assigned in India, I looked forward to the visit of a little old lady from a fishing tribe in Bombay. The Sisters fondly called her “Granny”. Like the other women of her tribe, Granny wore her “sari” in a peculiar way – one end tucked between her legs. She would be served breakfast by the kind Sisters, usually the regular fare of cooked beans and a small loaf of bread. I was fascinated by the way Granny responded to the gift of bread. She would receive and hold it with reverence. Then she would make a sign of the cross over it and lift up her gaze to pray a silent blessing. If that is how Granny responded to the gift of material bread, one could just imagine her awesome reverence before the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Her devout expression and gestures manifested that she was truly before the sacramental presence of Jesus Christ, whose sandal strap we are not worthy to untie.
B. First Reading (I Jn 2:22-28): “Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.”
The great Christmas mystery of God the Father sending his Son to be our Savior is not always accepted. In Saint John’s community, there are those who reject Jesus as the Messiah. These “antichrists” reject both the Father and the Son, for whoever rejects the Son rejects also the Father. In today’s First Reading (I Jn 2:22-28), Saint John therefore exhorts us to be faithful to the message transmitted by the apostles from the beginning. This will lead us to live in union with the Father and the Son and, consequently, to experience eternal life. Faithfulness to truth is made possible by the Holy Spirit that Christ pours out upon us.
John the Baptist, filled and guided by the Holy Spirit, proclaims the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The Church, in time and space, struggles with “antichrists” and continues to uphold the truth that Jesus is the Savior. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth prevails.
The fight against Arianism, a heresy that denies that Jesus is the Son of God, illustrates the Church’s endeavor to defend the truth and to live in the truth (cf. Giovanni Falbo, St. Monica: The Power of a Mother’s Love, Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2007, p. 65).
These were days of great uncertainty, but also of an intense Christian experience; the faithful of Milan discovered what it meant to be a community and what their bishop meant to them. As a widow in Africa, Monica had already formed the habit of going to church each day, and she felt that she was part of the Christian community, considering it a family. With a figure such as Ambrose, she felt more intensely the joy of shared prayer and fellowship, and she even provided food for those who remained in the basilica for days at a time. To find herself in the company of Ambrose, to have the opportunity to speak with him, to profit from his profound teachings, and, together with other Christians, to fight against the excesses of imperial power, was for her a magnificent experience of the living Church.
The imperial forces made a number of efforts to dislodge the resisters, but Ambrose always responded with courage, ready to die rather than give in to intimidation. After a while, the soldiers themselves began to enter the basilica to join those who were praying and singing there. In the end, the [Arian] empress was forced to back down, and on Holy Thursday, April 2, 386, she ordered the troops to withdraw. Ambrose and the Church of Milan had won and Monica had also played her part. Their exultation was tremendous.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do I truly recognize the absolute grandeur and absolute excellence of Jesus Christ, whose sandals we are not worthy to untie? How do I respond to his presence?
2. Are we willing to keep in our heart the saving message about Christ, the Son of God? Do we treasure the Christmas mystery and abide by the truth?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
we thank you for John the Baptist
who witnessed that the Messiah is “the Greater One”,
whose sandal strap he was not worthy to untie.
Jesus is the refulgence of the Father’s glory
and to him we offer reverently
the homage of our love and service.
Help us imitate John the Baptist
in his serving stance to Christ our Savior,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
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(Cf. Opening Prayer of the Mass, Friday, from January 2 to Epiphany)
Lord,
fill our hearts with your light.
May we always acknowledge Christ as our Savior
and be more faithful to his Gospel,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“There is one among you … whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” (Jn 1:27) //“Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.” (I Jn 1:24)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that we may always take a reverential attitude of service in relation to Christ. By your spirit of humility and service to the people around you, enable them to experience that Christ is “Greater One” who deserves the gift of our entire being. // Secure a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and/or Youth Catechism, and continue to delve into the beauty and riches of the Catholic faith.
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Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US