Now from Liguori Publications! The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) November 2, 2014 We Share Hope By Daniel J. Finucane, PhD Y esterday was All Saints’ Day, when we celebrate the saints. Today is All Souls’ Day, the day we hope and pray that everyone who has gone before us is or will be with God. Catholics do a thing that others, including other Christians, find very strange: We talk to “the faithful departed.” There is a logic behind our practice. When humans are particularly nervous, we ask for help. Sometimes we go directly to the person who can SUNDAY READINGS Wisdom 3:1–9 The author proclaims hope in the face of death and persecution. Though we may suffer in this world, the Lord’s mercy and salvation are ever near and present to the just. Romans 5:5–11 Paul reminds us that Jesus died even for sinners. His reconciling and justifying acts prove his love, which remains in us through the Holy Spirit. John 6:37–40 Jesus declares that he came to do only the Father’s will, which is to save all and raise those who believe to eternal life. help us, and sometimes we ask others to intercede for us. Most people who believe in God pray, so we might ask, “Mom, I have a test tomorrow, will you pray for me?” (You can bet she is also praying as you drive out of town for spring break.) Do we know how prayer works? No. Do we know it matters? Yes. Instead of asking our friends to pray for us, could we go directly to God? Of course. No doubt we do that anyway. So why do we look to other people? Because we are all in this together. We care about each other. Of course, Christ has the central place in our prayer life. He is our intercessor. He is also the one who taught us to pray with and for each other. When we pray, we have a lot of company. Other types of Christians pray for each other. Folks from a lot of ancient faiths prayed for each other. So what makes Catholics different? We talk to people who are dead. And here is why. We don’t think they’re dead. They were joined with Christ and with us when they were here. Are they any less concerned for us now? Of course not. So we ask them, saints and nonsaints alike, to intercede on our behalf with God. Christ triumphed over death—his and ours. He is our hope. In the body of Christ, we share hope. Liguori Publications l Liguori.org • Do I live in the hope of God’s mercy, salvation, and eternal life? • Do you talk to the departed? • Do I ask the saints to intercede with God on my behalf? God of wisdom and truth, we remember our loved ones who have gone before us and who are now with you in heaven. Though we mourn their passing, we are comforted by the memories of their time with us here on earth. Give us the grace to treasure our lives, and may we learn to live every moment of every day until we are finally one with you. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. From Let’s Begin With a Prayer, by Sally Macke Everyday Saints: Vessels of Grace By Kathleen M. Basi S hortly after the birth of my second child, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome in the delivery room, my husband and I received a letter. It was from a man in our parish whom we didn’t know very well. In it, he shared his experience as the parent of a grown daughter with Down syndrome. My husband and I wept as we read his heartfelt words and the contents of the spiritual bouquet he promised to offer on our behalf. It was healing for us, a touch of grace. From then until he died, he met us at the door of the church every Sunday with words of encouragement and snuggles for our daughter. In this way, his memory remains alive. That’s the beauty of the communion of saints. The dead can pray for us, and we can pray for them, but it’s more than that. We remember those who went before us by imitating their example of holy living. The giants, canonized or uncanonized, are not the only ones whose lives illuminate the path of holiness. The everyday saints who cross our paths often provide the most real examples to follow in daily living because their lives are just like ours. They, too, have mortgages and overflowing calendars, irritating coworkers, and children who push their buttons and break their hearts. Yet somehow they seem to possess a peace nothing can take away. Remember that woman who never let a harsh or judgmental word cross her lips…the grandparents who recited the WEEKDAY READINGS November 3–8 November 2, 2014 rosary every day without fail and used it to pass the time on road trips…the uncle who was never too busy to help repair a faucet or mow the lawn? The world is full of these “little s” saints. In quiet, unobtrusive ways, they inspire us by taking the circumstances that feel overwhelming to us and use them as stairways to heaven. To honor them, we can imitate their example. Plain Talk: The Saints in My Life By Fr. Rick Potts, CSsR W hen we heard that Redemptorist priest Bernard Häring was coming to visit our college seminary, Fr. Terry McCloskey told us it was a rare and precious opportunity. We were going to meet a man who played a historic role in the Church, who is regarded by many to be Mon. S t. Martin de Porres: Philippians 2:1–4 / Luke 14:12–14 Tue. St. Charles Borromeo: Philippians 2:5–11 / Luke 14:15–24 Wed.Philippians 2:12–18 / Luke 14:25–33 the most significant moral theologian of the twentieth century and, in Fr. Terry’s opinion, who will one day be declared a saint. Fr. Terry pointed out, “How often do you think you’ll meet a living ‘saint?’” I was impressed by Fr. Häring, but although he was moral theologian, teacher, author, esteemed confessor to popes, and major contributor to the Second Vatican Council, it was his humility and simplicity that stayed with me. Others who have personally graced me by the example of their lives weren’t famous, but they were equally inspiring. When Mother Julia Jones was asked to leave a church because she was “shouting amen,” she went, saying she wasn’t embarrassed to praise her Lord. Years later, that church, St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church in St. Louis, is known around the world for its high-spirited African-American worship. Redemptorist Fr. Robert “Jesus Bob” Wirth was a holy man who had a limitless ability to love people in all circumstances and laugh while he did it. Refusing to be caught up in the gossip and pettiness of everyday life, he lived with great zeal and joy. Fr. Terry said it’s rare to meet a living “saint,” but now that I think about it, I could go on and on if space permitted. Most of these “saints” of my life will never have their names proclaimed in St. Peter’s Square, but that doesn’t diminish the power of their example. While the Church may not proclaim them saints, the local church has already acclaimed them “saints.” Sure, they have their flaws, their clay feet, the thorn in their side—but we whose lives they’ve graced know we’ve been blessed. We know we’ve glimpsed God. Thu.Philippians 3:3–8 / Luke 15:1–10 Fri.Philippians 3:17—4:1 / Luke 16:1–8 Sat. Philippians 4:10–19 / Luke 16:9–15 Copyright © 2014, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 800-325-9521. Editor: Julia A. DiSalvo; Designer: Mark Bernard. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488 or visit BringingHometheWord.org. All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001 Now from Liguori Publications! The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome November 9, 2014 The Lateran Basilica By Daniel J. Finucane, PhD L ike other churches, the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome is built on the foundations— physical, historical, emotional and spiritual—of an earlier building. The Emperor Constantine commissioned the original church in the fourth century. Today, this church is the pope’s home parish. We’re used to seeing him address the entire world from St. Peter’s. But the Roman Pontifical Cathedral, the pope’s home base as bishop of Rome, SUNDAY READINGS Ezekiel 47:1–2, 8–9, 12 The prophet describes a vision of a great temple from which water flowed out from many sides. An angel speaks, asserting that “every sort of living creature,” plant and animal, shall live by this river. 1 Corinthians 3:9–11, 16–17 Paul names his fellow disciples temples of God, “God’s building.” Our bodies and persons are holy, laid upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. John 2:13–22 Jesus goes to the Temple and drives out the money-changers, knocking over their tables and calling it a marketplace. He said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” is St. John Lateran. Pope Martin V is entombed in front of the main altar. Martin was elected to end the Great Western Schism. After a stay of about seventy years in Avignon, France, the papacy returned to Rome, to what was then (generously speaking) a backwater town. A lot of ruins. Not everyone in the Church’s power structure was happy with the move back. The late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries saw first two, then three men claim to be pope. The Council of Constance resolved the dilemma and elected Pope Martin. St. John Lateran speaks power. The nave is flanked by statues of the apostles that are more than twice a normal person’s height. The architecture expresses strength in stone, grandeur, and magnificent art. I’ve taken photographs of the building. They don’t capture the size of the place, but I can still feel it in my bones. In the nave I sensed the deep desire to speak of permanence and stability. But I felt keenly, too, the sense that stones can be pulled down and stained glass broken. Powerful buildings can say only so much. And then my wife and I received the Eucharist at the Lateran Basilica. That reality helps me keep the place in perspective. Liguori Publications l Liguori.org • Does my care for my body and Creation reflect their holiness? • Where are my places of worship, prayer, and praise? Where are my places of business and commerce? Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and for those of the whole world. From The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy Our Home, Our Church By Susan Hines-Brigger W hen my husband, Mark, and I got married, we spent a good deal of time choosing and registering for things to fill our new home. Fourteen years and three kids later, many of those things that we just had to have at the time have been discarded, broken, or packed away. The items that remain are ones that reflect our family, our interests, and even our faith. I’m not surprised by the way our home has taken shape. When someone walked into our home when I was growing up, there was no mistaking that my family was Catholic. For example, each of my sisters and I had small holy water fonts fastened to the walls of our bedrooms. On important days, such as for tests, a candle was lit in front of the Blessed Mother statue in our living room. These outward expressions of faith—or sacramentals—were as much a part of my faith formation as my sixteen years of Catholic education. In fact, most of what I carried with me into adulthood are the aspects of faith that my parents taught us as we were growing up. Now my husband and I are following in my parents’ footsteps. Currently in our living room, a palm from last year’s Palm Sunday Mass peeks out from behind a frame on the wall. Each of our children’s bedrooms displays a crucifix and a statue of Saint Francis. A plaque of the “BeeAttitudes” hangs in my oldest daughter’s bedroom, and the Ten Commandments WEEKDAY READINGS November 10–15 November 9, 2014 are prominently displayed in our hall. Placing these sacramentals throughout our home has made them a part of our everyday lives. And if I’ve learned one thing as a parent, it’s that most of what our children learn comes from their surroundings. Now if anyone were to ask me what parish I belong to, I would immediately give the name of our local parish. But the truth is, I also belong to a much smaller, more intimate church whose only other members are Mark and our three children. That church is our home, and it is where a lot of our family’s faith formation takes place. What are your everyday sacramentals, the things your family turns to for comfort, guidance, or inspiration? It is important to remember that things don’t necessarily have to be distinctly religious to hold religious importance for your family. For instance, on the wall going down our staircase hang Mon. St. Leo the Great: Titus 1:1–9 / Luke 17:1–6 Tue. St. Martin of Tours: Titus 2:1–8, 11–14 / Luke 17:7–10 Wed. St. Josaphat: Titus 3:1–7 / Luke 17:11–19 pictures of generations of family members. To some, it may be just a family photo gallery. To us, it is our very own communion of saints. In my family, cooking is a big deal. Recipes are passed down from generation to generation. My husband’s grandmother died recently, and when the family came back to our house after the funeral, I served the cake that she had made for so many family celebrations throughout the years. One of our family’s All Souls’ Day traditions is to cook recipes from friends and family who have passed away. Through food and stories, we nourish ourselves physically and spiritually and recall loved ones who have passed away. As families, we spend the majority of our time in our homes. So it makes sense that this is where a good deal of our learning and formation takes place. Sometimes, in the midst of our busy lives, we fail to recognize the sacred that surrounds us on a daily basis. Sometimes, all we need to do is appreciate what’s already going on around us. Take some time to stop and take in those little everyday encounters of grace. It’s those things that truly make a home Catholic. Thu. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini: Philemon 7–20 / Luke 17:20–25 Fri. 2 John 4–9 / Luke 17:26–37 Sat. St. Albert the Great: 3 John 5–8 / Luke 18:1–8 Copyright © 2014, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 800-325-9521. Editor: Julia A. DiSalvo; Designer: Mark Bernard. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488 or visit BringingHometheWord.org. All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001 Now from Liguori Publications! 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time November 16, 2014 Using God’s Gifts By Janel Esker I t takes courage to entrust something precious to someone else. New parents stall when leaving their newborn in a babysitter’s care for the first time. A mother repeatedly reminds her daughter on prom night that her grandmother’s pearl necklace needs great care. I’ve hesitated when handing my car keys to my husband, even though he’s the safest driver I know. When we entrust another with a precious gift, there’s an unwritten covenant that the SUNDAY READINGS Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31 The author describes “a worthy wife” as holy and just, hard-working and generous. She shall be valued by her husband and praised by many. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 Paul urges the church to “stay alert” and prepared for the coming of the Lord, for we do not know the day, and discipleship should be constant. Matthew 25:14–30 A parable: a master gives three servants different amounts to care for in his absence. Upon his return, he rejoices in the first two’s stewardship, but punishes the third’s laziness. recipient will use the gift wisely and responsibly. Such was the covenant between the master and his servants in today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us the master entrusted his precious possessions to the servants. This wasn’t a random scattering of excess monies. The master gave particular thought to what each servant should receive based on his abilities. The master was thrilled at the first two servants’ use of his gift and gravely disappointed in the third’s refusal to use the gift responsibly. We know the master represents God, the servants us, and the talents God’s many gifts to us. But have we pondered our unwritten covenant with God— God’s courageous choice to entrust to us what is precious to him and an expectation that we’ll use these gifts to the best of our ability? God’s gifts aren’t randomly scattered, but instead confidently entrusted to us for use in serving others. Perhaps we ought to look at our good health, ample food and clothing, creative talents, and compassion as keys to God’s Corvette or the finest pearl necklace in the divine jewelry collection. They’re to be used— and used well—in the service of the Lord. Liguori Publications l Liguori.org • What are my gifts and talents? • Am I justly contributing to my family, workplace, parish, community, country, and church? Lord, I am grateful for all your blessings. Help me to use your gifts of love and compassion to rebuild people’s lives. From Grateful Meditations for Every Day in Ordinary Time, by Rev. Warren J. Savage and Mary Ann McSweeny Arts and Entertainment By Kathleen M. Basi I don’t know about you, but I find my nightly TV-viewing options rather uninspiring. It seems basic cable offers little more than crude sitcoms, so-called reality TV, and gruesome crime dramas. I’m a writer with aspirations to publish fiction, so I understand how we got to this point. As entertainment options increase, artists try to stand out by delivering the unexpected, something that irresistibly draws people to the next page or scene. The trouble is, the more we see, the more it takes to shock us and the more desensitized we become to the real—but ultimately less dramatic— presence of evil in everyday life. Of course, there are bright spots in modern entertainment. And we always have the option not to view morally offensive material. Corporate executive, author, and syndicated radio personality Dr. Dick Lyles has created Origin Entertainment as a way to carve out a place for Christianity in today’s culture. Catholics, he says, are willing to give money to the poor, but they don’t give to the arts as much as they used to. That means Catholics aren’t helping shape our culture through the arts. Artists of the past like Michelangelo, Palestrina, and da Vinci are revered by the faithful as masters, in part because the Church and its wealthiest members made the arts a priority. Nowadays, people criticize the Church’s vast collections of art. Sometimes local WEEKDAY READINGS November 17–22 November 16, 2014 parishes catch flak for commissioning artwork for new worship spaces: Shouldn’t the Church’s wealth be used instead to feed the poorest of the poor? It’s a tough question, and I don’t pretend to have answers. But it’s worth remembering that the stakes are high: The next generation is at risk of becoming even more desensitized to cultural values that stand utterly opposed to the faith we’re responsible for passing on. The Redeemer, Mary, and You By Fr. Matthew Allman, CSsR L ook at the opening scenes of Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann’s films of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and you’ll glean two different perspectives while viewing movies about the same subject. Zeffirelli’s 1968 production begins gently, with Mon. St. Elizabeth of Hungary: Revelation 1:1–4; 2:1–5 / Luke 18:35–43 Tue. The Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne: Revelation 3:1–6, 14–22 / Luke 19:1–10 Wed. Revelation 4:1–11 / Luke 19:11–28 romantic music and a disembodied voice setting the scene while the viewer looks at gorgeous Italian scenery. Meanwhile, Luhrmann’s 1996 work blasts onto the screen with loud, flashing intensity. Shakespeare’s prologue is read by a television news anchor surrounded by static, crashes, and violent noise. Even as we hear the same words in the two films, the movies take us to different places, courtesy of their directors’ divergent visions. Of course, perspectives on bringing Shakespeare to a movie screen are not nearly as important as perspectives on Jesus. Our approach to him is a matter of life and death, so it’s fitting that we periodically check in with ourselves to ask about our view of the Word made flesh. Do we include in our view of Jesus the fullness of both his humanity and divinity? Both natures are necessary for our salvation, but it is easy to fall into habits or patterns that privilege one nature over the other. This is to the detriment of our relationship with the Son. Mary can help us when we want to get our balance right. No one could know the humanity of Jesus better than the Mother who nursed him at the beginning of his life. And no one could know Christ’s divinity better than the woman who conceived him as a virgin. Mary’s close relationship with her Son makes her the best director we could ask for when we want an authentic perspective on Christ, the one person with two natures. So may our Mother of Perpetual Help correct our sight if it has grown faulty, and may she lead us to her Son as we become new creations. Thu. Revelation 5:1–10 / Luke 19:41–44 Fri. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Revelation 10:8–11 / Luke 19:45–48 Sat. St. Cecilia: Revelation 11:4–12 / Luke 20:27–40 Copyright © 2014, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 800-325-9521. Editor: Julia A. DiSalvo; Designer: Mark Bernard. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488 or visit BringingHometheWord.org. All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001 Now from Liguori Publications! Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 23, 2014 Christ the General Manager By Janel Esker M y brothers and I have long teased our mother about her asking-for-the-manager skills when she has an issue with customer service. When she has a valid complaint, she keeps asking for the next supervisor up until she reaches someone who deals fairly with her. She is bold and unafraid! When she received extremely unprofessional service at her automotive dealer, she kept asking for help until the SUNDAY READINGS Ezekiel 34:11–12, 15–17 The Lord is a shepherd who pastures his sheep. He rescues the lost, heals the sick and injured, and cares for all, giving them food, drink, and rest. 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 28 As sin and death came through man, so must salvation and life. Though fully human to fulfill his, and effect our, resurrection, Jesus was also fully divine, with authority and power above everything always. Matthew 25:31–46 The evangelist describes the final judgment as a great assembly in which all people are divided between those who humbly serve the needs of others and those who don’t. general manager was involved. He gave her his cell phone number and came to the service floor to supervise the work on her car. My mother sensed a very different aura among the staff once the general manager was involved. Perhaps today’s first reading should be titled “Christ the General Manager.” Ezekiel’s prophecy reveals that God is personally involved in the care of his children. We hear, “I myself will search for my sheep and examine them...I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest.” There’s no middle manager here—Christ is the one doing the work of seeking and healing, personally involved in our interactions with those in need. In fact, Christ is identified with the most vulnerable and poor. This is no distant God-king, but one who is deeply engaged with humanity. There’s both comfort and challenge here. Comfort in knowing how close Christ is to us and how tenderly he cares for us, challenge in realizing Christ calls to us through the poor outside our doors who need assistance. As we conclude one liturgical year and look toward the next, we can celebrate with joy our “general manager” God who leaves the corporate office—the heavenly throne—to live so intimately among us. Liguori Publications l Liguori.org • Do I humbly submit to authority and obey those charged with caring for me? • What prevents me from seeing the face of God in others? Lord, I am grateful that you are my gentle shepherd. Show me how to care for your people with the same love and compassion you show me. From Grateful Meditations for Every Day in Ordinary Time, by Rev. Warren J. Savage and Mary Ann McSweeny Plain Talk: Let God Out of the Box The Redeemer, Mary, and You G hether they’re creating a Madonna and Child or a Pietá, many painters and sculptors depict Mary and Jesus alone, as though the singular intimacy of the relationship is what fascinates the artists. They invite us to gaze at and enter into the intimate communion between this mother and child. Yet even as the love and tenderness shown in these images can touch, inspire, and warm our hearts, often the love encountered here remains simply that of Jesus and Mary’s—and not our own. Private-moment depictions of Mary and Jesus can easily lead to a private sort of prayer or a private sort of devotion. This is not bad in itself, but if seeing Mary depicted alone with Jesus so often leads us to a “me and Jesus” kind of spirituality, we need the Gospels to remind us that not even Christ’s Mother gets into the kingdom of God by dealing with her Son alone. The kingdom of God is home to the entire communion of saints, and God always invites us to enter it with others. We’re not saved alone, so any communion with Christ must always be united with his body—the Church and its members. Her icon, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, invites us to participate in this communion. Mary offers us her Son and so draws us into the circle of his love and hers, a love that embraces all those who seek to do the will of the Father. By Fr. Matthew Allman, CSsR W By Fr. Rick Potts, CSsR od can be no greater than the imagination of the believer.” That line comes from Toni Morrison’s 2008 novel, A Mercy. She goes on to explain that shallow people believe in a shallow God, and timid people believe in a vengeful God. I must admit, I was shouting “Amen!” as I read those lines. It’s a marvelous way to phrase the familiar concept of putting God in a box. Tradition tells us God is beyond our understanding, God is infinite and eternal, God stands outside the bounds of space and time. God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient. Our all-loving God fills us with wonder and mystery. God is, as one of my favorite Gospel songs says, “awesome.” And yet, we often squeeze our infinite God into tiny boxes. I guess it’s inevitable. It’s pretty tough to visualize something that’s beyond our understanding, hard to get a handle on the infinite. And there’s nothing wrong with contemplating God in bite-sized portions—it’s just that we rarely avoid the pitfall of denying everything that doesn’t fit into our little box. On one hand, Toni Morrison’s statement seems preposterous. How can I limit God? If I don’t believe God loves me, it certainly doesn’t stop God from actually loving me. True. But it can greatly limit the effect God’s love has on my life. If I deny its existence, then for WEEKDAY READINGS November 24–29 November 23, 2014 Mon. all intents and purposes it doesn’t exist in my universe. Imagine yourself drowning in the ocean. You’ve gone under twice; it’s dark, and you’re scared. Someone throws you a life preserver, but it lands behind you and you neither see nor hear it. To you, it doesn’t exist. So even though it’s only a few feet away, it cannot save your life, and you drown. Yes, we can fall victim to the limits of our imagination, to our inability to immerse ourselves in the awesomeness of our great God. When we cut others off from the God we don’t believe they understand, we manage to hurt only ourselves. In our misguided attempts to understand God by imagining that God acts and reasons the same way we do, we fail to see the love and mercy that surround us. S t. Andrew D˜ung-L˛ac and Companions: Revelation 14:1–5 / Luke 21:1–4 Tue. St. Catherine of Alexandria: Revelation 14:14–19 / Luke 21:5–11 Wed. Revelation 15:1–4 / Luke 21:12–19 Thu. Thanksgiving Day: Revelation 18:1–2, 21–23; 19:1–3, 9 / Luke 21:20–28 Fri. Revelation 20:1–4, 11—21:2 / Luke 21:29–33 Sat. Revelation 22:1–7 / Luke 21:34–36 Copyright © 2014, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 800-325-9521. Editor: Julia A. DiSalvo; Designer: Mark Bernard. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488 or visit BringingHometheWord.org. All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001 Now from Liguori Publications! First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2014 Start With the Ending By Janel Esker M y favorite songwriter, David Wilcox, wrote a fantastic song titled “Start With the Ending.” In it, he suggests beginning a marriage by exploring what could end it—difficult personality traits, past romantic travails, constant squabbling— and dealing with those issues up front, before they become marriage-enders. It’s a delightful concept for a song and an excellent way to start Advent. SUNDAY READINGS Isaiah 63:16–17, 19; 64:2–7 Israel begs the Lord to come down with mighty deeds of salvation. They confess their sinfulness and admit their dependence on, and need for, God. 1 Corinthians 1:3–9 Paul affirms the faith of the Corinthian church and expresses gratitude for the grace and gifts bestowed upon them. He assures them, “as you wait…[God] will keep you firm to the end…” Mark 13:33–37 As servants and stewards await the homesteader’s return from a prolonged trip with diligent care, so are we called to be “watchful” and “alert” for Christ’s return. How do we end Advent? Often distressed that we didn’t get our child this year’s “in” present or frustrated over burned cookies or dreading Uncle George’s visit. We’re stressed out, tired out, and caroled-out before the day even arrives. So what if we started this Advent with that ending? What if we sought a different Advent conclusion than the usual stress and mess? Our children will survive with fewer but more thoughtful presents. Instead of making ten cookie recipes, leaving our kitchens an unholy mess, we could enjoy a cookie swap. Decorations could be simpler, prayers could be more numerous, and anxiety about difficult relatives replaced with gratitude for having family to celebrate with. Yet we know we’ll need God’s help to change our usual Advent ending. In today’s first reading, the Hebrew people demand God’s assistance: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,that the mountains might quake at your presence (English Standard Version).” As we begin this holy season we, like our Hebrew ancestors, can passionately ask the Lord to keep us firm to the end of Advent, when we celebrate God’s coming among us as Emmanuel. Liguori Publications l Liguori.org • What excuses do I give for not spending more time with God? • How do you find patience and faith in the face of difficult waiting? Lord, I have become distracted by the things of this world. Guide my steps and lead me safely back home to you. Help me to respond to the needs of others. From Joyful Meditations for Every Day of Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas, by Rev. Warren J. Savage and Mary Ann McSweeny It’s Never One and Done By Kathleen M. Basi C onversion in a perfect world would be as easy as grabbing one sublime moment of divine insight and riding it all the way to heaven. But we don’t live in a fairy tale. No matter how long or how hard we try, we’ll be confronted with blindness and weakness. We will always be called to greater openness, to deeper understanding, to more gut-wrenching gifts of self. To grow in faith and love for God requires growth. In other words, conversion. It’s tempting to think of conversion as a story about becoming Catholic, a story with a clear beginning and ending. But it’s not as if once we receive the sacraments, we’re done. Conversion is a process, not a moment. Every day God calls us to change, to jettison dearly held opinions and philosophies that, however pure their origins, have morphed into idols. When we’re comfortably ensconced in our Catholicism, we’re more likely to rest on our laurels and bury ourselves in ruts of our own making. In reality, just when we think we have this Christian-life thing figured out, disaster strikes. We need these soul-stretching times, our daily struggles and conflicts, to come face to face with the truth we learned in the religion classrooms of our youth: There is a supreme power, and we’re not it. We are weak. We can’t stand on our own strength. In times of need, we grow in understanding, patience, and holiness. And isn’t that what conversion really is? WEEKDAY READINGS December 1–6 No matter how deep our faith, we must keep growing and changing. Being able to rattle off rules and teachings is not the same as understanding them. Such faith is immature at best and moribund at worst. After all, what hope do rules and regulations have of meeting the challenges posed by a world firmly in the grip of sin? As we enter our yearly journey of Advent, we can look at this season not only as a celebration of new life but also as an invitation to conversion. Catholic Calendar St. Francis Xavier (December 3) By Mary Lee Barron, PhD, RN rancisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was born in 1506 to an aristocratic family at the castle of Xavier in Navarre, Spain. As a student at the University of Paris, he met Ignatius of Loyola, who was also a student. Youthful F Mon. Isaiah 2:1–5 / Matthew 8:5–11 Tue. Isaiah 11:1–10 / Luke 10:21–24 Wed. St. Francis Xavier: Isaiah 25:6–10 / Matthew 15:29–37 and shallow Xavier would chide Ignatius, not understanding Ignatius’ seriousness about living a life for Christ. However, the two became close friends, and Xavier joined Ignatius in founding the Society of Jesus. Xavier went to Italy to be ordained to the priesthood in 1537. Pope Paul III requested that Ignatius send two Jesuit missionaries to India. It took thirteen months for Xavier to arrive in India, where he preached, visited prisoners and the sick, and eventually baptized over 10,000 people. He moved on to the Spice Islands in 1546 and to Japan in 1549. He and Br. John Fernandez found a prince willing to take them to the Imperial City in 1551. They presented the daimyo of Yamaguchi with expensive gifts and credentials, and the daimyo agreed to give people the freedom to become Christians if they wanted to. He also gave the Jesuits a residence in the city. Within six months, they had gained 500 converts. Xavier believed China was now calling to him. In September 1552, Xavier landed on Sancian Island, which was both a hideout for Chinese smugglers and a base for Portuguese traders. Xavier became ill and died there on December 3, 1552. As the first Jesuit missionary, Xavier developed the missionary methods that became a successful blueprint for Jesuits to follow. His efforts are significant to the missionary history of Southeast Asia, India, and Japan. Francis Xavier was canonized along with Ignatius Loyola in 1622. He was named patron of the Propagation of the Faith in 1910, and in 1927, he was named patron of the missions. Thu. St. John Damascene: Isaiah 26:1–6 / Matthew 7:21, 24–27 Fri. Isaiah 29:17–24 / Matthew 9:27–31 Sat. St. Nicholas: Isaiah 30:19–21, 23–26 / Matthew 9:35—10:1, 5–8 Copyright © 2014, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 800-325-9521. Editor: Julia A. DiSalvo; Designer: Mark Bernard. November 30, 2014 For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488 or visit BringingHometheWord.org. All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001
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