BIBLE STUDY #25

CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2010

Gospel                     Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, 
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth 
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, 
because he was of the house and family of David, 
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child, 
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, 
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields 
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them 
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy 
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David 
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: 
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes 
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Reflection

I am reflecting on the gospel for the midnight mass. The Ordo (The Order of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and Celebration of the Eucharist 2011) tells us all we need to know about mass and it states, “The readings from any of the Christmas masses may be used according to the pastoral needs of each celebration.” Here at St. Joseph’s, we use this gospel at all masses.

If you look at the other gospels, you will see why we do this. The gospel for the vigil mass of Christmas is Matthew 1:1-25, which is the genealogy of Jesus. The gospel for the mass at dawn, well, it doesn’t really matter to me because I would never do a mass at dawn, anyway. The gospel for Christmas Day is the Prologue of John’s gospel (John 1:1-18) and has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. The gospel for midnight mass (above) is what people want to hear at Christmas, so for pastoral reasons, this is what we read. We are preaching on it, wee might as well read it.

The gospel starts out mentioning a decree that all should be enrolled, that is, a world wide census, each to their own town. This census is not confirmed in non biblical sources, so the scholars aren’t sure if it ever happened. More importantly, it was common knowledge that Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Luke is getting Jesus to Bethlehem for theological reasons. According to Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 2, the Magi visit King Herod and ask where the newborn king of the Jews is to be born; the chief priests and scribes told him in Bethlehem. They quote the ‘prophet (Isaiah, maybe?): “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Jesus is also born in Bethlehem for Christological reasons, that is, his identity as the Christ, the Messiah. The Messiah was supposed to come from the house of David and be of his lineage. Having Joseph as his father takes care of the lineage, as Jesus was known as the son of David; and he was born in Bethlehem, as befits someone who is to follow David as a great ruler. Just as David brought Israel to its height as a worldly power, Jesus brings all of us to our height in the spiritual sense. And, just as in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is fulfilling all the prophecies about the messiah.

Jesus birth seems anticlimactic. Luke states it almost blandly, “While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.”  We need to read this passage in the context Jesus being born in the Roman Empire of the royal house of David but, more importantly, he is born of poor parents in a stable that contrasts with the political world around him. Jesus as the Savior and Messiah has nothing to do with earthly gains or aspirations, but of establishing a kingdom for all; here we see an aspect of universalism: the kingdom is meant for all, not just a few.

Jesus is the first born son, not in the sense that Mary had other children, but that Jesus had all the rights and privileges of a first born son; and that all who follow Jesus in the future claim Mary as their mother.

Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes could be an illusion to the book of Wisdom chapter 7, where Solomon, also a son of David, was wrapped in swaddling clothes; it is a reference to Jesus future kingship. Being laid in a manger (a feeding trough for animals) shows Jesus identification and membership in the family of the poor. It is what we would now call a “preferential option for the poor.” We have a king who is poor in the world’s eyes, but incredibly rich in God’s eyes.

The proclamation of the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds was more than just an announcement; it tells us who he is and what his mission is. When the angels appear, the shepherds are fearful, but are told not to be afraid because of the good news of great joy that a savior has been born. The shepherds go to see for themselves, and it is the wonderment caused by a king being born humbly that is good news (gospel): God has come to earth for all people. The angels refer to Jesus as savior, the only time this happens in the infancy narratives in the synoptic gospels. Here we see Jesus as savior, the one who comes to save us from our sins. Already the shadow of the cross looms over Jesus.

As inheritors of what Jesus began, we too need to proclaim the gospel to the entire world. We need to live our lives in such a way that the light of Christ is evident in our lives. I am convinced that one reason the Apostles were so successful was that people could see that belie fin Christ made a big difference. They may not have understood why, but it was so apparent that others wanted it. Can people say that about us?

When I look at all the event surrounding the Christmas story, I see the impossible becoming reality. The Annunciation, the Visitation, the birth of Jesus, and all the events surrounding this great story are beyond the realm of possibility. It doesn’t make sense in a strictly human context. A virgin becoming with child by the Holy Spirit? A woman beyond child bearing years having a son? A baby boy who is also the Son of God? It’s only through faith that we can believe all this. And believing it is a great sign of hope, isn’t it. Hope that God loves us so much to send his son to save us from our sins; hope that this life has more meaning than we can see or touch or feel in this world; and a hope that we can feel God’s peace and happiness. And a hope that the things we think are impossible can become reality. Will I ever stop grieving the loss of a loved one? Yes, with Go’s help. Will I ever be able to forgive the one who hurt me? Yes, with God’s help. Can my life get better? Yes, with God’s help. Christmas tells us that dreams are possible, that the impossible can become reality. As they say in the NJ Lottery, “Give your dreams a chance!”  Put yourself in God’s hands and see what miracles happen.

My all time favorite Christmas movie is “Scrooged” with Bill Murray, who plays a modern day Scrooge who believes Christmas is a fake and all for kids. He is visited by 3 ghosts (past, present, future, as in the original movie), and has a change of heart. He now believes in Christmas, or as he says, “Now, I get it!”

What he gets is that Christmas is not about getting, but about giving. It’s about helping those in need in any way they need help. Jesus was born to give to us; he loves us even when we turn away and he gives whether we want it or not. We carry on that great tradition when we love God and others.

In the most poignant part of the movie, Bill Murray says something like, “Christmas is the time of year when you become the type of person you always wanted to be.” Or I would say the type of person God always wanted us to be.

“Getting it’ is a wonderful feeling which can’t be duplicated in any other way. And, like Bill Murray said, the more you feel it the more you want it. And it is something that can be carried all year round if we just believe in Jesus.

I believe in Christmas because I believe in hope, and I believe in dreams, and I believe in love. Believe in the Lord and let the spirit of Christmas change and bless your lives.

Fr. Phil

BIBLE STUDY #24

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 19, 2010

Gospel                     Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, 
but before they lived together, 
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame, 
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit 
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, 
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, 
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him 
and took his wife into his home.

The Gospel of the Lord

Reflection

The main character in today’s gospel is our parish patron, St. Joseph. He is the silent saint – his words are not recorded in scripture.  He is told that his wife has conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit that she will bear a son, and he is to name him Jesus (Yeshiva in Hebrew, Jesus in Greek). We see that this is to be done to fulfill prophecy: Behold the virgin shall bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

In the bible study for the Second Sunday of Advent (December 5, 2010) I talked about the necessity in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus fulfills all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Here is another instance of that. It was thought that Moses was conceived miraculously. And in the book of Jubilees, it suggests that Sarah, Abraham’s wife, conceived miraculously. This motif of miraculous birth has to do not with nature but with the function of the person so conceived. Just as Isaac would be the Patriarch who establishes Israel, and Moses is the Law giver, Jesus is both the New Isaac because he establishes God’s new covenant with the people and the new (and improved) Moses because he not only gives new law as Moses did, as the son of God he also creates new law, as befits the divine son of God. Therefore, Jesus also had to be conceived miraculously.

Do you think that Joseph believed this whole story of a miraculous conception by the power of the Spirit? Would any of you husbands believe it if this were told it to you by your wife? I don’t think so, and neither did Joseph. The gospel never says that he disliked her, but it seems to indicate that he still loved her. Why? Because he was trying to protect her.  He didn’t want to expose her to shame, so he was going to divorce her quietly.

Here is a man in the throes of a dilemma.  He obviously thinks she has been unfaithful and he doesn’t want to marry her; but he loves and tries to protect her.  I personally don’t think he was satisfied with his decision, but I think he sees no better way out.

Then an angel appears to him in a dream and confirms Mary’s story. I always felt that it was at this point that Joseph felt a great deal of relief because now he knows the truth about Mary and he can marry her, which is what he wanted in the first place. Hearing the story from Mary only made it unbelievable, but hearing it from an angel, a messenger of god, made it believable.

Neither Joseph nor Mary completely understood the ramifications of saying yes to God, but they were willing to believe God and go ahead with what God wanted, regardless of what it may cost.

Because Joseph believed his dream, and therefore he believed Mary’s dream, the savior was born into the world that changed the course of human history. Jesus was born into the world as Emmanuel, God with us. He is the one to die and rise for our sins so we can attain eternal life.

The thing that always strikes me about Joseph and Mary is that they didn’t do anything we normally associate with greatness or great saints: they didn’t write anything; they didn’t found a religious community; they never participated in a social service program; they weren’t mystics or people who taught others to pray; they weren’t great preachers nor were they great teachers; they were parents who used their gifts and talents to build up the kingdom. That’s all God is asking us to do. He will take our gifts and talents and transform them into something great. God knows how to use our gifts and talents better than we do.

As Joseph believed in his dream, and in Mary’s dream, something wonderful happened: the birth of Jesus. Wonderful things happen when we believe in our dreams an din the dreams of others.

This Christmas, you will be spending a lot of money on gifts, some appreciated and some put in closets. But the best gift we can bring is to believe in someone’s dreams. Whether it’s your children, your siblings, your parents, your friends, we need to believe in someone’s dreams, and encourage them as much as possible. Love encompasses encouragement and attitude. When we know that other people love and believe in us, it gives strength all out of proportion to accomplish our goals.

Imagine what could happen if we believed in our dreams like Mary and Joseph?

Fr. Phil

BIBLE STUDY #23

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 12, 2010

Gospel                                                             Matthew 3:1-12

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, 
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, 
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply, 
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 
the blind regain their sight, 
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, 
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, 
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you. 
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women 
there has been none greater than John the Baptist; 
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Reading 1            Is 35:1-6a, 10

The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God;
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

The Word of the Lord

Reflection

As we prepare for the birth of Christ, we encounter an adult Jesus in today’s Gospel. Why? For 2 reasons, I think. One, there is not nearly enough material to cover a whole month of masses, and 2) we learn a little bit about who this baby will grow up to be; in other words, what type of Messiah is Jesus? We profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but we need to know what that means specifically in the living out of our lives.

We start with John the Baptist in prison. He is there because he denounced the marriage of Herod Antipas to Herodias, the wife of his half brother Herod Boethus, which is prohibited in Leviticus 18. While in prison, he is kept informed of Jesus activities by his own disciples. He then sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah.

Why would he ask this? He’s the cousin of Jesus; doesn’t he know who Jesus is? One answer is that Jesus was a different type of Messiah, one that John didn’t expect. Jewish messianic expectations looked forward to a messiah that was a vindicator, a judge, and a warrior; someone in the line of King David, someone who would expel the Romans, vindicate Israel in its beliefs and practices, and judge all nations for their sins.

Tied in with this messianic belief is the fact that John may have been disappointed and disillusioned because his expected messiah hasn’t yet arrived, so he reaches out to Jesus for a clarification. He may have even doubted himself and his mission. Had his mission, even his life, been in vain?

How does Jesus respond? “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” In chapter 3, John had preached a stringent judge and a fiery judgment. Jesus responds with his and his disciple’s acts of kindness, love, and mercy; these are the kinds of things that the messiah was supposed to do, as we see in today’s first reading from Isaiah. Jesus vision is one of peace and harmony, not vindication and justice.

The important part of Jesus answer is the preaching of the Good News. Healing and raising of the dead have a place in his mission, but it is the preaching of the kingdom that is important. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus conquers sin and death, and makes it possible tor us to live in his love forever, both in this life and in the next. Living in the kingdom means living like a saint; that is, being virtuous, and sharing God’s love with all. No matter how many times we are healed, life ends; what’s more important is what comes after.

It must have been very rewarding and peaceful for John to realize that Jesus is the Messiah. He knew than that his life was not in vain, but full of meaning. Why else would he go to his death without remorse for his speaking out against Herod? He fulfilled his mission in life; the next life of heavenly glory awaits.

John is the last of the Old Testament prophets, he is the bridge between the Old and the New, and Jesus extols him as the best prophet. He was not weak, he wasn’t swayed by other people’s opinions, he wasn’t about worldly pomp and circumstance, but he was devoted and fully committed to the kingdom. He was entirely focused on his mission. He would let no one or no thing distract him in the least from his mission to prepare the way of the Lord, even to suffering in jail and being killed. He fulfills Elijah’s role as the precursor of the Messiah. What a great example for us as we live discipleship. Can we be dedicated like that? Or do we let worldly things interrupt us as we try to build the kingdom?

John also points the way to Jesus. He is not looking for any earthly glory for himself, and he believes that as he decreases, so Jesus must increase. It is speculated that many of the first disciples of Jesus, including the Apostles, were disciples of John first.

Jesus also gives us hope by saying that the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist. Imagine what it must be like, if you can: to bask in the light of salvation. It must be incredible. I think when we get to heaven we will realize that any and every sacrifice we made for God was worthwhile.

This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday. This term means rejoice, and is taken from Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” There should be joyful expectation for the Lord’s birth and Second Coming. It’s a reminder that our faith should bring us happiness and joy. Following Christ should b ring us His peace.

We do have a lot to be thankful for this time of year, and all year round: family, faith, friends, careers, to mention a few. Count your blessings and you will realize how lucky you are, even if everything isn’t perfect. God has blessed us in many ways, and we need to give thanks.

Not every one is joyful and peaceful this time of year. Some people dread holidays and can’t wait for them to be over. Some people feel like John the Baptist. He was imprisoned by Herod for his words, and some people feel imprisoned by illness, by a death in the family, by financial reversals, and by broken relationships, to mention a few. We need to keep our eyes open for people who are suffering ‘holiday blues.’ They can feel like no one cares. We need to show them that we do care.

That’s why our giving tree and nursing home projects are so valuable. They are tangible ways we can show people that we care. Imagine being a parent who couldn’t afford Christmas gifts for their children? How sad is that? Imagine being that parent on Christmas morning. What do you say to your children? I know that Christmas is more than gifts, but tell that to a child who has nothing to open.

It must be hard to be in a nursing home to begin with, knowing that you are at the end of your life, and the only way out is by hearse. It must be even harder around the holidays, especially if no one visits you. I’m told that there are over 200 people in the Lincoln Park Nursing Home who never get a visit from a family member, ever. Without us, they wouldn’t get any gifts. Your generosity is what gives these people a bit of happiness, knowing that someone cares enough to give a stranger a gift.

This time of year can be especially hard for people who are suffering from a broken relationship or from a death in the family. While there is nothing we can do to solve their problems, we can offer our support and consolation. We can be like John the Baptist and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to those suffering, even if it is only by our presence and willingness to listen. Showing our love to someone suffering can make a great difference this time of year.

Remember – be Christ for other people, and see Christ in other people.

Fr. Phil

ST. JOSEPH PARISH

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

December, 2010

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent is Matthew15:29-37 (please read this first). This Gospel has to do with feeding and with healing. Jesus heals the multitudes from their many illnesses and injuries, and then we hear of the second multiplication of loaves and fishes (the first one fed 5,000 people, this one feeds 4,000 people).

When we read the Gospel, we need to remember that it is trying to tell us who Jesus is, and therefore who God is, and what God wants for us in our life (i.e. discipleship).

What is this passage telling us about Jesus? People of that time thought that sin caused illness. If one heals, then one is also forgiving sin. Who can forgive sin? Only God can do that. Therefore it is telling us that Jesus is God. Healing was also something indicative of what would happen when the Messiah comes, so therefore it is also telling us that Jesus is the Messiah.

The feeding of the people has very strong Eucharistic overtones. Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes, and his words and actions remind us of the words and action at Mass. There is plenty for everyone, with several baskets left over. God’s love is like that: it can never be exhausted. God provides nourishment to enrich and strengthen us as we make our journey through life until we reach the eternal banquet table of heaven. God cares for us and wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

What is it telling us about discipleship? As disciples, we need to be fed with the Eucharist. Not only to be nourished and strengthened, but also to be transformed; to be healed of our sins and to become more like God in every way. It is only when this happens that we can go out and share God’s love with others: we can’t share what we don’t have.

We are called to be healers: we are healed and we bring that healing those we meet. One important way to heal is to be affirming. Affirming ourselves doesn’t work. We need others to affirm us. This makes a world of difference: we feel good about ourselves and also more confident in ourselves. Saying things like please, thank you, good job, thanks for al you do, I appreciate you, are some ways we can affirm others and be healing.

A priest was telling me a story about a wake he attended where the pastor emeritus (retired pastor) showed up and sat next to the family on the couch for 2 hours and never said a word. When asked later about the most meaningful part of the wake and funeral, the family said, “When the pastor emeritus sat next to us at the wake.” Sometimes we can be healing and affirming without even saying a word. Our presence shows that when we care and are willing to help someone carry their burden, we are helping them to heal.

I hope we can all be affirming, and therefore healing, to those in our lives.

REMEMBER:   Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa's little helpers make toys.

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you

and your loved ones this Christmas 2010

and may He prosper and bless the work

of your hands in the New Year.

2010 Christmas Message and Schedule

In the midst of all we do in December, we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. His birth marks an important event in salvation history: God sends his Son to become human to give us peace and happiness in this life, and to show us the way to eternal life. This is truly a great season of hope. Who can fail to be grateful for this great gift?

We are so blessed here at St. Joseph Church by the gifts of time, talent, and treasure so freely and lovingly given by all of you. You are what makes this parish the best one in the diocese. Your generosity enables us to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus and to be truly Church. Thank you for all that you do.

We are sending you our Christmas schedule with the hope that all our parish family will come and share the spiritual benefits offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and at the celebration of the Christmas Masses. We especially invite and hope that those who have been away for a while might be encouraged to come and take advantage of this special season of grace. We want you to know that you are welcomed with love and understanding.

To all I extend my prayerful best wishes for a joyous and blessed Christmas. I am deeply grateful to all of you for all that is being accomplished in the life of our parish. As I ask your prayers, I assure you of mine, and that in the New Year, we who are God’s family may serve Him with gladness and joy.

Sincerely,

Fr. Philip LeBeau & the Staff of St. Joseph Parish

Christmas Schedule for the sacrament of reconciliation:

 (individual confessions)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

   3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Monday, December 20, 2010

6:00 pm to 6:45 pm

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

    7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Anytime by calling the rectory for an appointment

 

Christmas Mass Schedule

Friday, December 24, 2010

            Christmas Eve

4:00 pm            Christmas Pageant

4:30 pm            Special Family Mass

6:30 pm            Mass

11:00 pm          Mass

Saturday, December 25, 2010

       Christmas Day

8:00 am            Mass

10:00 am          Mass

12 Noon          Mass

NOTE: NO CONFESSIONS OR 5:30 PM MASS TODAY

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Feast of the Holy Family

8:00 am            Mass

10:00 am          Mass

12 Noon          Mass

Fable of the porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever.

Many animals died because of the cold.

The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided
to group together. They were covered and protected, 
but the quills of each wounded the closest 
companion. 
After a while, they decided to distance themselves,

and they began to die, alone and frozen.

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of 
their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, 
they decided to go back to being together.  They 
learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by their
close relationships because the most important part

was the heat that came from the others. 
They were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect

people, but the one that forms when individuals

learn to live with the imperfections and

admire the good qualities of others.

My ISRAEL TRIP.

I HAD A GREAT TRIP, but it was too short. We saw a number of places, but there is so much to see it would take months to see everything. We went to Haifa to see Stella Maris Church and visit the Carmelite monastery. We went to Mt. Tabor to see the church of the Transfiguration. It is an exciting ride up the side of a mountain which is steep, but a spectacular view when on top.

We went to Cana in Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding. I was able to celebrate Mass in that Church, and we also had the married couples renew their marriage vows. The church provided them with wedding renewal certificates.

We went to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and we also saw Mary and Joseph’s home and carpentry shop where Jesus lived for the first 30 years of his life.

We went through thee town of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, then stopped at Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We went to the Mount of Beatitudes, a very lovely and peaceful spot. We then stopped at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter.  We crossed the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat and had lunch at Kibbutz Ein Gev, where we had a meal of St. Peter’s fish. The gospels tall a story of St. Peter finding a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the Temple tax, thus St. Peter’s fish. Actually, it was Tilapia, and they served it whole of filleted. I’ll take mine filleted, if you don’t mind.

We went to Capernaum and saw the synagogue where Jesus would have worshipped.  We then went to Jerusalem.

We went to the top of the Mount of Olives with a breathtaking view of the whole of the city of Jerusalem. I was lucky enough to get a camel ride there. We descended down the Mount of Olives and stopped in a Jewish cemetery where many dignitaries are buried. It is believed by the Jews that the Messiah will arrive on the Mount of Olives and they will be the first to be raised. We also saw the Church of the Pater Noster, where the Our Father is on plaques in over 100 languages. We also stopped in the Church of the Ascension, and saw the Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. It is said that the olive trees in this garden are over 2,000 years old and would have been there when Jesus underwent his agony in the garden.

We then went to the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu (cock crowed) where Peter denied Jesus 3 times. We visited the room of the Last Supper, the tomb of King David, and the Church of the Dormition, commemorating Mary being taken up body and soul into heaven.

That afternoon we went to Bethlehem which is under Arab control. Our tour guide was not allowed to go there so we picked up a Christian Arab guide once inside. There are a handful of cities that the Israeli’s have put under Arab control and it is like going to another country. We brought our passports just in case, and we had to go through a checkpoint going in and going out (by the way, there is a checkpoint on the outskirts of Jerusalem, too). In these Arab towns, there are no Israeli soldiers patrolling and tensions are low. This doesn’t prevent a determined terrorist, but the chance terrorist, like a rock thrower who can incite a crowd. In fact, there are a lot less armed soldiers on the streets than I remember from my first trip, except in the Old City of Jerusalem and by the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall). I put a little slip of paper in the wall praying for the intentions of our parish. All in all, I felt completely safe every where we went. I certainly felt a lot safer in Jerusalem than I ever did in Manhattan.

Anyway, back to the trip. We also went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem built over the spot where Jesus was born, where I got to celebrate mass in an outdoor chapel. I toted my vestments all over Israel, but that wasn’t necessary since every church we visited had their own vestments for the use of visiting priests and deacons. We had a deacon from St. Peter’s in Parsippany with us and he preached at this Mass. He was really thrilled that we asked. In hindsight, we should have asked him to preach in Cana when the couples renewed their vows.

The next day we went to my absolutely most favorite spot in Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, which has an Arab, a Christian, and a Jewish section. It is like stepping back 5 centuries in time. I just love it. I could have spent 2 or 3 days there easily. In the Old City, we visited St. Ann’s Church (the birthplace of Mary), the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Ecce Homo Arch (Behold the Man). We carried a cross and did the Stations of the Cross down the Via Dolorosa. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which has the place where Jesus died and was buried. We celebrated Mass there, also. After this, we went to the village of En Karem which is the birthplace of John the Baptist and is the site of the Visitation. There are dozens of wall plaques with the Magnificat in many languages.

Our final day of the tour we went to Masada, the last outpost of 967 Jews who committed suicide rather than surrender to the Romans in 70A.D. We swam in the Dead Sea. Well, actually, we floated in the Dead Sea. It is about 60% salt and it’s impossible to sink. But don’t put your face in, it will hurt and possibly damage your eyes. It’s also big, about 3 times the size of the Sea of Galilee.

By the way, the Sea of Galilee is smaller than you might think. It is easy to see across it to the other side. We need to think in terms of a lake, and not a sea. Think of a larger Lake Hopatcong, and you have the Sea of Galilee.

The Jordan River is also not much larger than the Beaver Brook that runs behind the rectory and is no more than a few feet deep. Some countries have diverted water from the headwaters of the Jordan so that it dries up and there is a dry stream bed. Consequently, the Jordan is stagnant and it smells awful and is polluted. People were actually getting in it!  It takes all kinds.

The State of Israel is not much larger than New Jersey, and a lot of it in the south is desert. The part pilgrim’s traverse is similar to driving around northern NJ, with as much traffic as we have here. We were all very impressed with the bus drivers who drove a full size bus in small streets crowded with pedestrians, parked cars, and traffic. I think I’d rather walk than drive a bus there. There are no interstate highways, but some roads like state highways, similar to routes 46 and 23. Even with traffic, it is possible to get to almost everywhere in under 2 hours; it is about an hour from the Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem.

The locals live differently than we do. I found the meats and fish not nearly as good as here, but they have loads of all kinds of fruits and vegetables, which are even served at breakfast. My favorite foods were hummus (crushed chickpeas) and falafel, which is fried hummus in pita bread.

Our Israeli tour guide told us that most Israelis do not own houses, but live in apartments, what we would call condos, of about 1,000 square feet. That seems small to many people, and he said that the one big problem is a lack of closets. Pack rats would have a terrible time there.

Our guide also said that since water is in short supply, every house has a collection drum on the roof, and the water is heated by solar panels. It’s not enough for all needs if not conserved, so they take a shower by getting wet, turning the water off, soaping up, and rinsing off. They can take several showers and use the same amount of water as we do with one shower. They don’t make the hotels conserve water this way, and that leads to lots of waste. I began taking an ‘Israeli shower’ after I learned this, but I went back to my old ways at home. After all, our problem here in Lincoln Park is too much water. Our guide shook his head at that.

As you can see, it was a busy trip. I was too tired in the evenings to go out, so I stayed in and relaxed, getting ready for the next day. Every day we went to several places that have their own important significance in our salvation history. It’s impossible to pick a favorite spot, one that touched me more than others, but it was the cumulative effect of the whole trip that was important to me. I felt the presence of the Lord where ever we went and was uplifted in my own faith and in my priesthood in ways I just can’t describe. You would think that seeing one special place after another would lessen the effect, but for me, it was just the opposite.

After leaving Masada, I told our guide that I was thinking about what he had said on top of the mountain, and I asked him if he had ever heard of the Catholic saying, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith.” He hadn’t, and his response was that the blood of the Holocaust was the seed of the State of Israel. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but how true that is.

The blood of Jesus on the cross is the seed of Christian faith to untold billions of people over 2 millennia. Many have suffered and died to pass on the faith to us. As I ponder everything we did on this trip, I wonder how far I would be willing to go to pass on the seed of faith to others. Is any price too high? Our sacrifices are not only the seeds of faith to others, but the birth of salvation in us.

As we approach the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray that we all can open our hearts to his love, peace, and forgiveness, and that we can be the seeds of faith for others.

May God bless you and your families in this holy season and all year round.

FR. PHIL

BIBLE STUDY #22

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 5, 2010

Gospel        Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths. 
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair 
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, 
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you, 
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit 
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, 
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor 
and gather his wheat into his barn, 
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Reflection

As we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent, we go back to the beginning of chapter 3 of Matthew’s Gospel, which is the beginning of Jesus public ministry. Before we hear from Jesus, though, we hear from John the Baptist. He is the precursor of the Messiah, the one preparing the way of the Lord. John the Baptists plays the role of Elijah, the one who was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot and was supposed to return to prepare the way for the Messiah. He is the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah (Luke’s gospel). Matthew and Mark’s gospels describe him as wearing a camel–hair cloak, a belt made of leather, and eating locusts and wild honey.  It is possible that John was somehow associated with the Essenes, the community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, because of similarities between them.

As we go through Matthew’s gospel this year, it is important to remember that Matthew was writing to a group made up mostly of converts from Judaism. Before Christianity separated totally from Judaism, Jesus followers were seen as a new sect of Judaism. They would worship in the synagogue on Saturday, and go to someone’s house on Sunday for the breaking of the bread (Eucharist). In fact, the Liturgy of the Word at Mass is based on a synagogue prayer service, while the Liturgy of the Eucharist is based on the Seder service, which Jesus performed with his disciples on the night before he died. In order for Jewish converts to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, Matthew would have to show that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the Messiah; thus today we have John the Baptist fulfilling Elijah’s role as the precursor of the Messiah. This will become more evident as we go through the year.

John begins his preaching with the words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” These are the same words that Jesus says in 4:17 to begin his own public ministry. John wants people to prepare for Jesus coming by being baptized for the forgiveness of sins. He was ‘preparing the way of the Lord,’ that is, getting people to open their minds and hearts to be ready for the coming of Jesus the Messiah. He was trying to shake them out of the complacency of every day living so they wouldn’t miss Jesus.

We, too, can get lost in the complacency of the hustle and bustle of the secular Christmas, with the parties, the shopping, the wrapping, the baking, and all the things we do in December. Christmas day comes and what a relief! It’s here! The day ends, and we feel a sense of sadness, even of loss, because we miss the importance of the season and lose a chance to feel God’s grace.

The first step on the road to recovery from the addiction of secular Christmas is to realize that we are NOT in the Christmas season. That begins on Christmas Eve, and runs until the Baptism of the Lord on January 9, 2011. We are in the Advent season, when we take time to prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas. The secular celebration I would call the ‘Holiday Season’ for lack of a better name. Or better yet, we can call it the ‘Economy Season’ when we make our best effort to revive the failing US economy by spending money we don’t have for things others don’t want (or appreciate) and when we receive gifts that hold up the wobbly table or which we regift to someone next season (don’t give it back to the one who gave it to you, they will be mad!)

The second step is to realize that we have no control over our addiction to spending money and going to parties and the like, so we rely on a higher power (God) to help us overcome their stranglehold on our lives. We can become so focused on secular Christmas, that we forget the reason for the season.

The third step is to realize that this stranglehold can be broken, but unlike other addictions, it can be controlled and does not have to be eliminated. It is not an either/or situation, but a both/and situation.

The fourth step is to take time out for God through sacraments, especially Eucharist and reconciliation, and for personal prayer. There are a lot of things we can do to be prepared. How many people have an advent wreath? Can’t you gather at the wreath, light a candle, and do a prayer service once a week? Can you take a few minutes and read the bible or pray during the day? The best multi tasking we can do is to combine prayer with other things, such as driving, cleaning, or exercising.

I think one of the best things we can do to prepare ourselves is to help some one in need. Visit someone is a hospital, especially a Veterans Hospital; visit someone who is house bound or in a nursing home; call someone you know who is having a problem and offer your help, even if it is only to listen; be affirming: tell people that they are loved and appreciated (that’s worth more than anything you can buy them); reach out to an old friend you haven’t seen in awhile; buy less gifts or skip a meal or two and donate the money to your favorite charity. I am so proud of our parish because all of you provide Christmas gifts to between 15 and 20 needy families in town and because all of you provide over 800 gifts for the nursing home. When we give, we receive a lot more. God will never be outdone in generosity.

You know, if we don’t do anything to prepare ourselves and we don’t feel anything spiritual this Christmas, whose fault is that? It doesn’t take a lot of time each day, and these new habits are something we can take with us and use all year long.

I hope I didn’t offend anyone by using some concepts from the 12 step program, but I think it is a great way to look at some of the things we do in life.

John also tells us to prepare by acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness. Acknowledging our sins can hold a lot of surprises for us. We realize, sometimes much to our dismay (but not to others), that we aren’t perfect and make mistakes. And if we are really honest with ourselves, we may even realize how very much we sin! That can be a real shock. That’s one of the great advantages of confession, the more we go, the more we realize we need it.

Receiving forgiveness can be one of the most healing events in our lives. It’s like making up with someone with whom we have been angry. We feel so much better when we reconcile, both with God and with others. When someone mentions to me that God seems distant, or that they think God has forgotten them, I ask them, “When was the last time you went to confession?” Almost all the time it has been a long while.

Accumulated and unforgiven sin blocks the channels of God’s grace until we are totally cut off from God. That is where we get the term mortal sin; it is one that kills our relationship with God. What happens when our arteries are blocked? We eventually have a stroke or heart attack which can kill us. Sin can kill us spiritually. How is God’s grace going to come to us if we have blocked the way with our sins?

Unfortunately, there are many people like the Scribes and Pharisees in the gospel who refuse to listen to John or to Jesus. These are not only unbelievers, but those believers who think they have everything right and refuse to change and grow. We have too many of those.

I also think that John the Baptist is in all 4 gospels because he is meant to be an example to us. We don’t need to dress like him or stand around on street corners preaching repentance, but we should be cleansed by the fire of God’s forgiving love and try to share that with others.  John was on fire with the word, he was focused in his mission, he was affirming to those with faith, and held nothing back with those like the scribes and Pharisees.

John also knew who he was and he knew his mission. John takes a prominent role until Jesus arrives. John said that he must decrease and Jesus must increase. He is the precursor, not the Messiah. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry after John is arrested, almost like he is taking up John’s ministry, he is picking up where John left off. John realizes that he is unworthy compared to Jesus; his baptism is for forgiveness of sins, but Jesus baptism is with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The gospel then describes the consequence of faith or the lack thereof: “His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat (believers) into his barn, but the chaff (unbelievers) he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Fr. Phil