As we go deeper into Advent, we are called to open our hearts and welcome Jesus, our Saviour, into our lives more fully. It also is an invitation to know Him better. So, how well do we know Jesus? How well do we know the Father and the Holy Spirit? Do we know — or accept — that Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are one divine being? Michael Vorris from RealCatholicTV explains.
We cannot know everything about Him, but we can some things, even many things, about Him.
In the post before last, I mentioned in quick succession a few aspects of the season, but aspects that nonetheless are intergral to each other and are central to our being as Catholics, not just during the Advent and Christmas seasons. As we celebrate a New Year and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God (ChurchYear.net), a Holy Day of Obligation, at a vigil tonight or at Mass tomorrow, it is an appropriate time to flesh them out a bit.
First is the hope that the glow of the season stays with us all year long. We celebrate during Christmas God’s divine touch on us in the form of the Mystery of the Incarnation. Just because we celebrate Jesus’ birth now doesn’t mean he goes away the rest of the year. God becomes man through the incarnation. Inconceivable! It is worth celebrating all year.
We do that by constantly reflecting Jesus by our actions to others. Inspire them to the Lord by how we act and explain the Divine Mysteries. We especially need to instill the love of the Lord in those who at least show a perfunctory acknowledgment of God. Many people attend Mass twice a year. Let’s try to bring them home to the Church while there is an immediate Christmas warmth in their hearts. While this mission to bring to the salvation of the Church to others includes Christians, non-Christians and non-believers alike, we have a special obligation to show wayward Catholics the way home (see Catholics Come Home).
Bringing all this together is the central thought that the Wood of the Manger is the Wood of the Cross. While it is warm and fun to celebrate a birthday and exchange presents, God humbled himself to become man for one reason: To die for our sins. That is why we must “celebrate” Christmas all year. Not the gift-giving, but the life giving that Christ gave us by His birth — the everlasting life He gives us. For, if not for His birth, He has no human life. Without His Incarnation, we do not have His sacrifice on the Cross for our redemption and forgiveness of our sins. So the wood of the Manger is the Wood of the Cross. After all, even at Christmas, where we celebrate His birth, the central part of the Mass, what we truly celebrate, is the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s Body and Blood made available to us only by His death and Resurrection.
The liturgical calendar of the Maronite Rite, one of the Eastern Catholic Rites loyal to Rome, today celebrated the Revelation of Saint Joseph which prompted his determination to do God’s will on Earth. It is one of several such Sunday’s in Advent that the Maronites use to illustrate the preparation we must undertake to welcome the Lord.
Joseph’s role, of course, was the ultimate preparation for the Lord. Engaged to Mary, yet suddenly aware of her pregnancy, this humble man wanted to do what he could to save her blushes and quietly let her be. Yet the Lord explained to him why she was with child and who the child was. As we would say today, Joseph answered the call. He answered it with the ultimate selflessness, giving up a life he expected, to accept the responsibility of an entirely unexpected and unknown life, one surely he must have had some human trembling over. (I once was entrusted to coach a young phenom soccer player. Was I up to it? Imagine the doubts Joseph must have had in knowing he would raise our Saviour.)
But he did it because God asked. What don’t we do that God asks? What life plans do we change to accomodate God’s will? Do we give up a game or event we want to attend and instead attend Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation? Do we set aside some extra money for the needy or Church instead of the latest electronic gadget? Do we encourage those away from the Church to come back or excuse their attitude as, “it’s their life, it’s their choice.”
What are we willing to give up for God, in preparation for His Son? What are we are we willing to do for His will on Earth?
Saint Joseph deferred his life for God. Are we willing even to defer one activity, one television show, one possession?
The national holiday season, Thanksgiving, is over. Now we enter into the holy day season, Christmas. Or, more precisely, we’re in Advent, preparing for the joyous day of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Here is a beautiful video, from Totus Tuus Productions/YouTube, that explains Advent and our liturgical and worship traditions.
The reason for the season is Christ and the season is Advent.
Here is a message from Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests For Life, from last week. It’s succinct, but powerful. We cannot let the soon to be hectic time of year distract us from the importance of the health care legislation pending in Congress, for it most assuredly will undermine the sanctity of the unborn.
Advent is upon us when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, the miracle of the Word made flesh. How can we celebrate that birth but forget the destruction of millions of unborn children each year, each a miracle itself, miracles denied by abortion? Please pray vigilantly for the end of abortion.
Dear Friends,
Sunday (was) the Feast of Christ the King and the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The following week, Advent begins and the Church focuses on the coming of Christ, both at Christmas and at the end of time.
Christ is truly king over heaven and earth. How important it is for us to remember that in this battle for health care reform to protect the unborn. This battle is ultimately about who rules over us; it is about who our King is. Our worship of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords impels us to communicate with our elected representatives and urge them to do what is right.
God bless you.
- Fr. Frank Pavone
