His Word Today: Some key questions

Good morning everyone,

Today, the first Letter of John challenges us to ask ourselves: what's the most important relationship that I have right now, and how can I make it even better?

Remember that Saint John, the writer of the letter, was a very young man when he was one of Jesus' disciples.  Young men and women can be very impressionable, but I think that Jesus helped John to ask himself some very difficult but important questions and most of all to be honest with himself.  If we are honest with ourselves, then we too will take the time to ask ourselves the questions that truly matter, the questions that have the power to change the person we are.

Based on John's reflections (cf 1 Jn 2:12-17) here are a few questions we may want to ask ourselves:  Do I truly believe that God loves me enough to forgive any sins I may have committed?  Have I ever loved another person so much that I would be willing to forgive anything that person had done simply because I love him or her so much?  Can I remember the first time that I was aware of God's presence in my life?  Do I truly believe that the word of God remains in me and is actively at work, helping me to stay close to him?  If we have experienced God's closeness to us, if we have encountered his Word and seen its power at work in our lives, we will see the world around us differently.

In the coming days, we will begin a new calendar year.  May we do so with the resolve to look for God every day, to recognize Jesus in the people we meet and to give thanks for the Holy Spirit who is God's presence living and working in our world.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the wisdom of Simeon

Good morning everyone,

Today's gospel passage places us with Mary and Joseph in Jerusalem where they were presenting their son Jesus to the Lord.  This was to fulfill the religious observance which required them to fulfill the law of the Lord.  Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and his parents will offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Lk 2:23-24).

What they could not predict was that there was a blessing waiting for them there.  Simeon, a righteous and devout man ... came into the temple and when the parents brought the child Jesus ... he took him into his arms and blessed God (Lk 2:25-28).  This encounter with the elderly Simeon shows us the importance of maintaining relationships with the elderly who Pope Francis refers to as the guardians of memory.

Pray today that the holy man Siimeon may inspire us to spend some time with the elderly among us, or to call them, or perhaps to write a note to them, telling them how much they are loved and appreciated.  They have such wisdom to offer that it would be a shame for us to miss out on encountering this treasure ... it's still not too late.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the Holy Innocents

The Holy Innocents (1898)
Oil on canvas by William Charles Thomas Dobson

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents.  Who, you may ask, were these holy people.  To find the answer, we need to look at today's gospel passage (Mt 2:13-18) and some other references to the appearance of the Magi.  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?' (Lk 2:1-2).  When Herod heard about this, he was afraid because he thought that his position was being threatened.  Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.'  (Lk 2:7-8).  In reality, Herod had no intention of worshipping this new King.  Rather, he felt threatened and wanted to get rid of him.

After the Magi had found the child, visited with him and presented their gifts, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they left for their own country by another road (Lk 2:12).  The angel of the Lord then appeared to Joseph (for the second time) in a dream and instructed him:   'Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you' (Lk 2:13).  Meanwhile, when Herod realized that the Magi were not coming back to report about the newborn king, he became furious.  He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (Lk 2:16).  These unknown children are known as the Holy Innocents.  The Church celebrates their heroic sacrifice as a reminder to all of us that Jesus was born into dangerous times, but I wonder whether times have really changed.

Herod was a very powerful man who would stop at nothing to ensure that his will was accomplished, including the slaughter of countess innocent children.  In our day, how many children find themselves in situations beyond their own control and all because someone else seeks to exercise power and control over them.  This includes those whose lives are taken away through abortion, child slaves, workers, soldiers, even those who find themselves caught between fighting parents or used as pawns in so many different ways.  It also includes the elderly and the frail who are cast aside and forgotten by society.  This Christmas season, let us do what we can to change the way we see these holy innocents of our time.  Let us thank God for the example of their lives and ask him to inspire us to do what we can to help them.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the youngest apostle

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast day of Saint John, the apostle and evangelist.  Saint John was among the youngest of Jesus' apostles: the one referred to as the apostle that Jesus loved (Jn 20:2).  This same disciple is the one credited with the writing of the fourth gospel and the one believed to have written three of the letters which are included at the end of the New Testament.

John was one of the disciples who went running to the tomb on that first Easter morning.  Having heard from Mary Magdalene that the tomb was empty, Peter and the other disciple ... both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.  He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in (Jn 20:3-5).  What was it like to hear such surprising news?  They ran to the tomb to see for themselves.  And what about us?  Have we known the excitement of hearing such news?  Have we had the experience of hoping against hope that the nightmares of unspeakable events that take place in our lives might truly have happy endings?

We hear the excitement in John's writings as he tells the story in his own words: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life — for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us (1 Jn 1:1-3).  Let us pray today that Saint John may inspire such excitement in our hearts and that through his prayers, we may know the great gift of being excited about sharing the good news of faith that we have heard and seen with those we meet.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Stephen

Good morning everyone,
Merry Christmas!

On the day after Christmas day, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Stephen the first martyr of the Church.  The Acts of the Apostles give us some details about this holy deacon.  He was filled with grace and power, and was working great signs and wonders among the people (Acts 6:8).  These teachings and his vehement insistence on continuing them caused him to be seen as a threat to the Romans.  Many other Jews also tried to refute his teachings but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke (Acts 6:10).

We have just celebrated the great feast of Our Saviour's birth.  Filled with this joy, we want to share the good news.  Perhaps therefore we have some understanding of Stephen's enthusiasm, but Jesus warned his followers that others would not be quick to accept the words and witness of faith.  Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them (Mt 10:17-18).  Then he goes on to say: When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Mt 10:19-20).  Stephen remembered these words.  In fact, he made a very long speech in which he explained all that he had come to know about Jesus and in reply, Stephen was driven out of the city and stoned to death (cf Acts 7:58-59).

Telling others about our faith and our belief in Jesus has never been easy.  There have always been those who refuse to welcome this message, but Saint Stephen and others like him can help us to find the courage to speak up.  Otherwise, the world around us will drown out the voice that needs to be heard and threaten to rob us of the reason for our Christmas celebrations.  Pray today for the gift of bravery so that we can all be joyful witnesses and share the joy of Christmas with others.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Surprises

Good morning everyone,

We're only days away from celebrating Christmas, and the prophet Malachi reminds us today that the Lord whom we seek will suddenly come to his temple (Mal 3:1).  In other words, the time is fast approaching.  It won't be too long now.

In case the excitement is getting to be a bit much, let's not forget that there were other characters in the story too.  Today's gospel tells the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth at the time of John the Baptist's birth.  Elizabeth's neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her (Lk 1:58) but Zechariah and Elizabeth had a secret, one that would only become known at the time of John's circumcision (the day on which he would be named).  It was on that day that Zechariah and Elizabeth both stunned their fellow Jews by proclaiming: His name is John (Lk 1:60, 63).

Zechariah and Elizabeth had discovered this truth thanks to the messages that had been shared with them by the angel.  They held this truth within their hearts and only revealed it when the time was right.  Their story reminds us to pay attention to the truth that resounds in our own hearts, born of the conversation that takes place only in the intimacy of prayer.  God reveals himself to us there, and we would do well to listen for his wisdom.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Exceeding generosity

Good morning everyone,

The readings today tell the story of some very brave women.  In the first reading, Hannah, a woman who had been unable to have children all her life, but who had finally been granted that blessing (in the person of Samson) does something unbelievable.  Hannah brought Samson with her ... and presented him at the temple of the Lord (1 Sam 1:24) and she went even further: she left Samuel there (1 Sam 1:28).  Many other women may not have been as generous as Hannah was, but then again, not all people have experienced the profound generosity of a God who is willing to give everything in order for us to understand how much we are loved.

Even today, many in our world have not encountered the true depth of God's love.  If they had, perhaps more people would find it within their own hearts to be exceedingly generous in sharing what they have with others.  This is the miracle of love at work, it is the miracle of Christmas!  When Mary experienced the generosity of God, she was driven immediately to set out on the road so that she could help Elizabeth during the final months of her own pregnancy.  Mary's soul proclaimed the greatness of the Lord (Lk 1:45) and she put that great joy into action by doing what she could to bring comfort to Elizabeth who would most definitely have needed her help.

May the example of these holy women help us to prepare our hearts so that we can celebrate the great Feast of Christmas with a renewed appreciation for the gift that God has given to us, and with renewed dedication to sharing the good news of our faith with those we encounter: either in words or in actions that show them good news in action.

Have a great day.