Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings: 12-29-04, Optional, St. Thomas Becket

December 29, 2004
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Reading I
1 Jn 2:3-11

Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Responsorial Psalm
1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6

R (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel
Lk 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

From: 1 John 2:3-11

Keeping the Commandments

[3] And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his
commandments. [4] He who says "I know him" but disobeys his
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; [5] but whoever
keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we
may be sure that we are in him: [6] he who says he abides in him ought
to walk in the same way in which he walked.

[7] Beloved, I am writing to you no new commandment, but an old
commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the
world which you have heard. [8] Yet I am writing you a new commandment,
which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away
and the true light is already shining. [9] He who says he is in the
light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. [10] He who loves
his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for
stumbling. [11] But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and
walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded his eyes.

Commentary:

3-6. "By this we may be sure": a phrase that occurs often in this
letter (cf., e.g., 2:5, 18; 3:19, 24), usually to preface clear
criteria for distinguishing doctrinal and moral truth from error. In
this instance, it has to do with keeping the commandments being a sign
of true knowledge of God.

For St John, knowing God is not a merely intellectual exercise nor does
he mean that the immensity of God can be grasped by man's limited
understanding. It refers to something much simpler and more important:
knowing God means being united to him by faith and love--by grace. If
this letter puts so much emphasis on knowing God (cf., e.g., 2:14; 3:1;
4:6-8; 5:20) or knowing Jesus Christ (cf. 2:13-14; 3:6), it may be
because the heretics (particularly the Gnostics) were boasting of
having attained special knowledge of God, superior to that of ordinary
faithful. And so the Apostle describes what true knowledge of God
consists in, using expressions which complement one another--knowing
him (v. 4); in him who knows God "truly love for God is perfected"
(v. 5); abiding in him (v. 6).

"Keeping his commandments" (vv. 3 and 4), "Keeping his word" (v. 5),
"walking in the same way in which he walked" (v. 6): keeping the
commandments is absolutely necessary, because there is no room for
faith without works (cf. 1 Jn 3:17-18; Jas 2:14ff; Gal 5:6). Similarly,
one must keep the word of God, that is, accept all revelation docilely
(an idea found very often in John: cf., e.g., Jn 5:38; 8:31, 51; 1 Jn
2:14). But, above all, Christians must identify their life with
Christ's; St Prosper comments: "Walk as he walked: does that not mean
giving up the comforts he gave up, not being afraid of the kind of
trials he bore, teaching what he taught [...], persevering in helping
even those who show no appreciation, praying for one's enemies, being
kind to evildoers, serenely tolerating the proud?" ("De Vita
Contemplativa", 2, 21).

7-8. In a play of words, St John draw his readers' attention to the
commandment of brotherly love, which he does on to describe in vv. 9-11.
It is, he says, an old commandment (v. 7) and at the same time a new one
(v. 8). Old, because Christianity and charity are inseparable and that
is something the faithful have known "from the beginning", that is,
since they first received instruction; in some way, it can be said that
it is even pre-Christian, because it is impressed on the heart of man.
Yet it is new, because it is not out of date and has become a reality in
Christ and in Christians. The novelty lies not in the precept (which is
to be found in the Old Testament: cf. Lev 19:18) but in the standard
which Jesus sets ("even as I have loved you": Jn 13:34) and in the fact
that it covers everyone: we must love everyone, friends and enemies,
without distinction of race, or ideology, or social status (cf. note on
Jn 13:34-35).

Moreover, Christian love is not limited to seeking the earthly happiness
of others, but tries to lead all to faith and holiness: "What is
perfection in love?" St Augustine asks. "Loving our enemies and loving
them so that they may be converted into brothers. Our love should not be
a material one. Wishing someone temporal well-being is good; but, even
if he does not have that, his soul should be secured [...]. It is
uncertain whether this life is useful or useless to someone; whereas life
in God is always useful. Therefore, love your enemies in such a way that
they become your brother; love them in such a way that you attract them
to fellowship with yourself in the Church" ("In Epist. Ioann. ad
Parthos", 1, 9).

9-11. In the special style of this letter, an application is made of the
new commandment, possibly to counter false teachers, who despised the
ordinary faithful and were sowing discord among the Christians. The
rhythm of the language--hate, love, hate--in which the positive idea is
placed between two opposed ideas, highlights the importance of brotherly
love.

"The principal apostolate we Christians must carry out in the world,"
Monsignor Escriva writes, "and the best witness we can give of our faith,
is to help bring about a climate of genuine charity within the Church.
For who indeed could feel attracted to the Gospel if those who say they
preach the Good News do not really love one another, but spend their
time attacking one another, spreading slander and quarrelling?

"It is all too easy, and very fashionable, to say that you love everyone,
Christians and non-Christians alike. But if those who maintain this
ill-treat their brothers in the faith, I don't see how their behavior can
be anything but 'pious hypocrisy'. By contrast, when in the Heart of
Christ we love those 'who are children of the same Father, and with us
share the same faith and heirs to the same hope' (Minucius Felix,
"Octavius", 31), then our hearts expand and become fired with a longing
to bring everyone closer to our Lord" ("Friends of God", 226).

Light/darkness: the action which began at 1:5 ("God is light") ends with
the repetition of this contrasting imagery.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Luke 2:22-35

The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

[22] And when the time came for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they (Joseph and Mary) brought Him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to
present Him to the Lord [23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord,
"every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") [24]
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the
Lord, "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons."

Simeon's Prophecy

[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this
man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him
by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the
Lord's Christ. [27] And inspired by the Spirit he came into the
temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him
according to the custom of the law, [28] he took Him up in his arms and
blessed God and said, [29] "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart
in peace, according to Thy word; [30] for mine eyes have seen Thy
salvation [31] which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
[32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to Thy
people Israel."

[33] And His father and His mother marvelled at what was said about
Him; [34] and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother, "Behold
this child is set for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and for
a sign that is spoken against [35] (and a sword will pierce through your
own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

Commentary:

22-24. The Holy Family goes up to Jerusalem to fulfill the
prescriptions of the Law of Moses--the purification of the mother and
the presentation and then redemption or buying back of the first-born.
According to Leviticus 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean.
The period of legal impurity ended, in the case of a mother of a male
child, after forty days, with a rite of purification. Mary most holy,
ever-virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because she
conceived without intercourse, nor did Christ's birth undo the virginal
integrity of His Mother. However, she chose to submit herself to the
Law, although she was under no obligation to do so.

"Through this example, foolish child, won't you learn to fulfill the
holy Law of God, regardless of personal sacrifice?

"Purification! You and I certainly do need purification. Atonement
and, more than atonement, Love. Love as a searing iron to cauterize
our soul's uncleanness, and as a fire to kindle with divine flames the
wretchedness of our hearts" ([St] J. Escriva, "Holy Rosary", Fourth Joyful
Mystery).

Also, in Exodus 13:2, 12-13 it is indicated that every first-born male
belongs to God and must be set apart for the Lord, that is, dedicated
to the service of God. However, once divine worship was reserved to
the tribe of Levi, first-born who did not belong to that tribe were not
dedicated to God's service, and to show that they continued to be God's
special property, a rite of redemption was performed.

The Law also laid down that the Israelites should offer in sacrifice
some lesser victim--for example, a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair
of doves or two pigeons. Our Lord, who "though He was rich, yet for
your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich"
(2 Corinthians 8:9), chose to have a poor man's offering made on His
behalf.

25-32. Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man, obedient
to God's will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal
servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the
coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has "now" come, the moment
that explains his whole life. When he takes the Child in his arms, he
learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace
from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of
Israel, the Light of the nations.

Simeon's canticle (verses 29-32) is also a prophecy. It consists of
two stanzas: the first (verses 29-30) is an act of thanksgiving to God,
filled with profound joy for having seen the Messiah. The second
(verses 31-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine
blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men. The
canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men
without exception--something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies
(cf. Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:6; 42:6; 60:3; Psalm 28:2).

It is easy to realize how extremely happy Simeon was--given that many
patriarchs, prophets and kings of Israel had yearned to see the
Messiah, yet did not see Him, whereas he now held Him in his arms (cf.
Luke 10:24; 1 Peter 1:10).

33. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marvelled not because they did
not know who Christ was; they were in awe at the way God was revealing
Him. Once again they teach us to contemplate the mysteries involved in
the birth of Christ.

34-35. After Simeon blesses them, the Holy Spirit moves him to further
prophecy about the Child's future and His Mother's. His words become
clearer in the light of our Lord's life and death.

Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet He will be a sign of
contradiction because some people will obstinately reject Him--and for
this reason He will be their ruin. But for those who accept Him with
faith Jesus will be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life
and raising them up to eternal life.

The words Simeon addresses to Mary announce that she will be intimately
linked with her Son's redemptive work. The sword indicates that Mary
will have a share in her Son's sufferings; hers will be an unspeakable
pain which pierces her soul. Our Lord suffered on the cross for our
sins, and it is those sins which forge the sword of Mary's pain.
Therefore, we have a duty to atone not only to God but also to His
Mother, who is our Mother too.

The last words of the prophecy, "that out of many hearts thoughts may
be revealed", link up with verse 34: uprightness or perversity will be
demonstrated by whether one accepts or rejects Christ.

36-38. Anna's testimony is very similar to Simeon's; like him, she too
has been awaiting the coming of the Messiah her whole life long, in
faithful service of God, and she too is rewarded with the joy of seeing
Him. "She spoke of Him," that is, of the Child--praising God in her
prayer and exhorting others to believe that this Child is the Messiah.

Thus, the birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in
three different ways--first, by the shepherds, after the angel's
announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by
Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

All who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of
God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become
instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to other. In His
plan of redemption God avails of these simple souls to do much good to
all mankind.

39. Before their return to Nazareth, St. Matthew tells us (2:13-23),
the Holy Family fled to Egypt where they stayed for some time.

40. "Our Lord Jesus Christ as a child, that is, as one clothed in the
fragility of human nature, had to grow and become stronger but as the
eternal Word of God He had no need to become stronger or to grow.
Hence He is rightly described as full of wisdom and grace" (St. Bede,
"In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").

A reflection ,written for Candlemass Day (especially when in close proximity to Lent, as in this coming year) but still fitting for today's Gospel:

The change has been slow, yet unrelenting. Since the Winter Solstice, the sun’s setting has daily delayed, if even by one minute, so that journeys and chores once completed in darkness now are accompanied by brilliant twilight.

Yet, even as this change in evening’s day length has been progressing, mornings remain as dark and foreboding as they had a month before. Morning journeys and chores are still completed in darkness. The morning darkness has been unrelenting and slow to change.

But at this time the mornings too will brighten. With increasing rapidity the sunrise will advance, first by five minutes each week, then nearly by ten. The lengthening of the daylight at morning and night will become obvious.

Because the lengthening of the morning light first becomes obvious around the beginning of February, it is very probable that this helped inspire the tradition of candlelighting that begins the festival of the Presentation of Our Lord on February 2 . Surely the brightening of the morning sky would add cheer to the day when the faithful--like the Biblical Simeon-- hail Jesus as “the light of all nations and the glory of Israel” (Luke 2:32). As the great hymnwriter Charles Wesley has declared:

Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ the true and only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise, Triumph o’er the shades of night.
Dayspring from on high, be near, Daystar, in my heart appear.

This annual return of morning light and lengthening of the daylight in the Northern Hemisphere certainly influenced our forbearers in the faith as they developed the cycle of feasts and fasts that we know as the Church year. Indeed, the season of preparation for the Paschal Feast of Easter--Lent--derives its name from lengthen, a reference to the lengthening of the daylight.

There is a terrible irony that just as astronomical days grow longer we are very starkly and visibly reminded that our anatomical days grow shorter. As the first buds begin to swell and the first hints of green plants appear our brows are smudged with the residue of lifeless plants and we are told that truth that we would like to deny and yet can never defy: “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return.” That change back to the dust of the earth from which we were made is also one that is slow, yet unrelenting.

It is this inevitability that gives Lent and its disciplines such urgency. Knowing not when shall be our last day or hour, we hear all the more sharply the words of St. Paul addressed to the congregation at Corinth:

We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As we work together with him, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you."
See, now is the acceptable time;
see, now is the day of salvation!

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2
Epistle for Ash Wednesday

The Apostle pleads for his people not to delay in repenting of their sins or in redirecting their lives. The day of salvation may be at hand at any time.

And when it is at hand, will we greet it with the joy and faith that inspired Simeon of old to take the forty-day old Christ child, the “light of nations” in his arms and bless God because now, as it had been promised to him, he could die in peace?

For we know that without Christ, the day of the Lord brings darkness and no light. Again, to quote Wesley’s hymn:

Dark and cheerless is the morn, Unaccompanied by thee,
Joyless is the day’s return, Till thy mercy’s beams I see,
Till they inward light impart, Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

So it is then, that we should anticipate the lengthening of the daylight and the shortening of our days with the Lenten disciplines of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving to encourage that gift of heart-warming grace. And so it is that we should greet the lengthening of the daylight and the shortening of our days with the final verse of Wesley’s hymn:

Visit then, this soul of mine. Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine, Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display, Shining to the perfect day.

So may we pray. So may we fast. So may we give alms.
So may we change slowly and unrelentingly .

Just found it at Catholic Encylopedia This is only a part of the article.

Also called: Purification of the Blessed Virgin (Greek Hypapante), Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Observed 2 February in the Latin Rite.

Blessing of Candles and Procession

According to the Roman Missal the celebrant after Terce, in stole and cope of purple colour, standing at the epistle side of the altar, blesses the candles (which must be of beeswax). Having sung or recited the five orations prescribed, he sprinkles and incenses the candles. Then he distributes them to the clergy and laity, whilst the choir sings the canticle of Simeon, "Nunc dimittis". The antiphon "Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel" is repeated after every verse, according to the medieval custom of singing the antiphons. During the procession which now follows, and at which all the partakers carry lighted candles in their hands, the choir sings the antiphon "Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion", composed by St. John of Damascus, one of the few pieces which, text and music, have been borrowed by the Roman Church from the Greeks. The other antiphons are of Roman origin. The solemn procession represents the entry of Christ, who is the Light of the World, into the Temple of Jerusalem. It forms an essential part of the liturgical services of the day, and must be held in every parochial church where the required ministers can be had. The procession is always kept on 2 February even when the office and Mass of the feast is transferred to 3 February. Before the reform of the Latin liturgy by St. Pius V (1568), in the churches north and west of the Alps this ceremony was more solemn. After the fifth oration a preface was sung. The "Adorna" was preceded by the antiphon "Ave Maria". While now the procession in held inside the church, during the Middle Ages the clergy left the church and visited the cemetery surrounding it. Upon the return of the procession a priest, carrying an image of the Holy Child, met it at the door and entered the church with the clergy, who sang the canticle of Zachary, "Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel". At the conclusion, entering the sanctuary, the choir sang the responsory, "Gaude Maria Virgo" or the prose, "Inviolata" or some other antiphon in honour of the Blessed Virgin.

FREDERICK G. HOLWECK

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Thomas was born in London, England around the year 1117. He
was the son of a gentleman and a woman who was converted to
Christianity by the example and teachings of his father. From his
early youth, Thomas was educated in religion and holiness. After his
childhood, Thomas was educated at a monastery and later at a
school in London. After the death of both parents, Thomas decided
to finish his schooling by studying canon law. He was successful in
his studies and was made secretary to one of the courts of London.

After working for a while at law, Thomas decided to give the rest of
his life to God and began to work toward ordination. In all that he did,
Thomas diligently applied himself and became well known as a holy,
honest worker. His work came under the scrutiny of King Henry II,
and, in 1157, Thomas was asked to serve as Lord Chancellor to the
king. After the bishop of Canterbury died Henry sought to elect
Thomas to the position, and in 1162 this suggestion was accepted by
a synod. Thomas warned the king that it might cause friction and
conflict of interests, but accepted the position.

Thomas served as bishop by seeking to help the people and develop
his own holiness. He practiced many penances and was very
generous to the poor with both his time and his money. As Henry's
reign continued, he began more and more to exercise his hand in
Church affairs. This caused many disagreements with Thomas, and
after one especially trying affair, retired for a while to France. When
Thomas returned to England, he again became involved in a dispute
with the king. Some of the king's knights saw this as treason and
killed Thomas in his own Church. Henry did penance at the grave of
Thomas seeking forgiveness for the actions of his knights, and the
tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage for the faithful.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The principal safeguard is a prudent reserve, and not allowing
liberties to be taken with you. Purity is a precious jewel, and the
owner of a precious stone would never dream of making a display of
his riches in the presence of thieves. -St. John Bosco

TODAY IN HISTORY

1223 Pope Honorius III formally approved the Franciscan order.

TODAY'S TIDBIT

The Franciscan order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi and is
formerly called the Order of Friars Minor abbreviated OFM. This
mendicant order of men has grown and evolved over the centuries
and now has several different branches. Francis founded the order to
preach the good news to all by the example of its members.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people to be filled with zeal for proclaiming the
Good News in their every day lives.

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

December 29, 2004

St. Thomas Becket

(1118-1170)

A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil and so became a strong churchman, a martyr and a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170.

His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of Canterbury, he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his chancellor the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair warning: he might not accept all of Henry’s intrusions into Church affairs. Nevertheless, he was made archbishop (1162), resigned his chancellorship and reformed his whole way of life!

Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At one time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came close to compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and prevented them from making direct appeal to Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled to France for safety and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned to England, he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas refused to remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the king, Henry cried out in a rage, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights, taking his words as his wish, slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral.

Within three years Thomas was a saint of the Church and his tomb a shrine of pilgrimage. Henry II himself did penance at Thomas’s tomb, but a later Henry (VIII) despoiled that tomb and scattered the saint’s relics. Thomas Becket, however, remains a hero-saint down to our own times.

Comment:

No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of popularity, convenience, promotion and even greater goods.

Quote:

In T.S. Eliot's drama, Murder in the Cathedral, Becket faces a final temptation to seek martyrdom for earthly glory and revenge. With real insight into his life situation, Thomas responds:
"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason."

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Meditation
1 John 2:3-11

Picture a young math student. He listens attentively to the teacher as she explains different formulas. He memorizes all of them. But then the teacher gives him homework, which the student has no interest in doing. The teacher, of course, will not let him move forward to harder math problems until he applies everything he knows. Ultimately, the student acquiesces, and progress is made.

In some ways, we are all like students in our walk with Jesus. In order to draw closer to him and progress in the spiritual life, we too have to “do the homework” of following his commandments in our day-to-day lives.

According to St. John, whoever “obeys God's word” has “reached perfection” (1 John 2:5). In other words, whenever we apply what we know about the gospel, we become more like Jesus. We become more convinced that we are his children, and our actions and demeanor show it.

Of course, this isn't always an easy thing to do. Oftentimes, it requires the discipline and energy of a dedicated athlete as we try to stretch and exercise new spiritual muscles. For one person, this might mean battling pride and stubbornness. For another, it might mean moving out of his comfort zone and serving other people more willingly. For a third, it might mean setting aside quiet time to read Scripture and build a relationship with God instead of being on the move every waking moment.

All the time, it is crucial to remember that we are never alone. The Holy Spirit will help us along when we are struggling. He will give us grace to conquer when we feel helpless. He will hold our hand and walk us through times of frustration, encouraging us and cheering us on, reminding us that all the hard work and training are worth it.

Today, let us commit ourselves to moving forward in our walk with Jesus. We have all experienced the peace of knowing Jesus a little bit, so we can be confident that as we come to know him better, we will experience even greater peace and contentment in his ways.

“Jesus, I want to follow you every day with all my heart. I want every step I take to be in you, loving you by loving others and serving you by serving others. Help me to draw closer to your side.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, December 29, 2004 >>

St. Thomas Becket

1 John 2:3-11

Psalm 96

Luke 2:22-35

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THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

“It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not experience death until he had seen the Anointed of the Lord.” —Luke 2:26

Sometimes when we look at the manger scene, we don’t see how we fit into Christmas. We see figures from ancient times in a distant land. But how do we live Christmas in the here and now?

Thank God the reality of Christmas is not limited to a particular time or place. Christmas transcends geography and chronology. It is not a matter of exterior circumstances but of the heart. Christmas is an “inside job,” a movement “of the Holy Spirit, Who is within” (1 Cor 6:19). The reality of Christmas does not happen by our might or power but only by the Spirit (Zec 4:6).

Without being at the manger and before seeing the Christ Child, Simeon already experienced the Christ of Christmas because “the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Lk 2:25). The Spirit guides us to all truth, including Christmas (Jn 16:13).

Let’s ask the Father to stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6ff). “The way we know we remain in Him and He in us is that He has given us of His Spirit” (1 Jn 4:13). The Spirit is also the way we know the reality of Christmas. Come, Holy Spirit of Christmas.

Prayer: Father, today pour out anew on me the Holy Spirit of Christmas so I may meet the Christ of Christmas.

Promise: “The way we can be sure we are in union with Him is for the man who claims to abide in Him to conduct himself just as He did.” —1 Jn 2:5-6

Praise: St. Thomas boldly imitated Jesus by traveling to the city where he knew death awaited him.

Lk 2:22-35
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
22	And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:	et postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis eius secundum legem Mosi tulerunt illum in Hierusalem ut sisterent eum Domino
23	As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:	sicut scriptum est in lege Domini quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam sanctum Domino vocabitur
24	And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons:	et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini par turturum aut duos pullos columbarum
25	And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him.	et ecce homo erat in Hierusalem cui nomen Symeon et homo iste iustus et timoratus expectans consolationem Israhel et Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo
26	And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.	et responsum acceperat ab Spiritu Sancto non visurum se mortem nisi prius videret Christum Domini
27	And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,	et venit in Spiritu in templum et cum inducerent puerum Iesum parentes eius ut facerent secundum consuetudinem legis pro eo
28	He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said	et ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas et benedixit Deum et dixit
29	Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace:	nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine secundum verbum tuum in pace
30	Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,	quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
31	Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:	quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum
32	A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.	lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel
33	And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.	et erat pater eius et mater mirantes super his quae dicebantur de illo
34	And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted.	et benedixit illis Symeon et dixit ad Mariam matrem eius ecce positus est hic in ruinam et resurrectionem multorum in Israhel et in signum cui contradicetur
35	And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.	et tuam ipsius animam pertransiet gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes

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