Solemnity

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

One thing that I love about working with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is how new the Gospel is for those who have never heard it before. A few years ago on Palm Sunday, we headed downstairs from the sanctuary to break open the Word. We were not even to the basement door, when Roy, a man in his fifties, touched my arm and said, with tears in his eyes, “I never heard that story before!” The day before I wrote this, because it was a snow day from RCIA, one of our catechumens and her eleven-year-old son read Luke’s account of the death and resurrection by candlelight at home for their homework. The mom texted me afterward. “What an amazing story!” she said.

For a heart of innocence, what could be so breathtaking about the death of Jesus? When I read it afresh, what flabbergasts me is what also impressed St. Paul—the degree of self-emptying, self-giving, self-sacrifice that Jesus was willing to undergo in obedience and for our sakes. Where did he get the strength to do that? “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard.” Isaiah says, “The Lord God is my help . . . He who declares my innocence is near.” Our God is Deliverer. God lifts us up. God is faithful. God is for us.

For someone who has never heard this story, to have the Lord of the universe care, to take our side, to be willing to die to lift us up from the muck of life—that is not something to be taken lightly. For those who are used to feeling adrift and alone, this is fresh and life-giving! After being baptized at the Easter Vigil, Roy broke into a smile and his whole body radiated happiness. New life! Not just a theological idea, but a gift from the One who cares.

Jan 08 2025

Faith—Assurance That God Is at Work

Have you ever met someone who is really old and really wise? I have met several such men and women, mostly at daily Mass. Their eyes are gentle. Smile lines are etched into the wrinkles of their faces. In some, a lifetime of generosity is written into their bodies, as though their hands reach out to hug you, even when they have not moved. Others are quieter, but their faces radiate peace. Kindness and holiness have become a way of life for them.

Simeon and Anna are the first-century equivalent of those saints whom you and I have met. These two pray. They pray a lot. Simeon is described as “upright and devout.” When he sees the child, he believes. He believes! An eight-day-old baby is being presented to the Lord. And Simeon sees in that child the Savior of the world. How does that work? Something must have moved within him.

Faith is an inner assurance that rises within us to convince us that God is at work. That belief, at that moment, is a gift. Anna has prayed night and day in the temple for years and years and years. Many of us have tasted the seasoning of the Spirit. But there are saints who have tasted of the pure Spirit, as though it were something they drank straight. Anna seems to be one of those people, those who live on the borderline between God and the world.

You might just be one of those people. If you are, thank you for your life of holiness. If you are not, then like me, let’s keep working to drink deeply of God’s Spirit, day after day. God is real, at work at all times. Faith is a gift, an inner assurance that this is so.

Consider/Discuss

Think about those moments when you have been gifted with an inner certainty about God’s movement or action in your life. It could be a delicate touch or an overwhelming conversion experience. Share that story with someone this week.
Sometimes we start to think and act as though the living God were just an idea. If God is real, at work at all times, what does that mean for how we listen, how we are attentive? What does that divine presence mean for how we live our lives day after day?

Living and Praying with the Word

On this day of presentation, God of glory, we present ourselves to you. Purify us to become more holy. We see in others what beauty a lifetime of grace can create. We want to be like that. Lead us in your everlasting way.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

A major theme in Malachi is God’s apparent inattention to injustice. Immediately before the reading, God notes that the people have demanded, “Where is the just God?” (2:17). God responds that soon the messenger of the covenant will appear in advance of the one whom they seek. It is not clear from the biblical text who this messenger is or how the messenger relates to God. Understood eschatologically, it refers to the figure who will come to be known as the Messiah. In any case, the advent of this figure will bring about the justice the people seek, beginning with cleaning up corrupt priests (Levites) and their worship.

The focus of the reading from Hebrews is on the fact that Jesus shared our human nature (flesh and blood) precisely so he could deliver us from the fear of death. It is this fear, and not death itself, that holds us in bondage to the devil. In a time of persecution, it is fear of suffering and death that the author sees as potentially leading his audience into infidelity (3:1—4:14). Thus, the message: they have nothing to fear from death, because Jesus has endured it and come out the other side. Because he acts now as high priest, merciful and faithful, those who die have nothing to fear.

The Torah prescribes that a newborn son be circumcised, marking his acceptance into the covenant community, and that the mother should be ritually purified (Leviticus 12:1–5). This gesture of obeying the Torah indicates the larger Gospel theme that Jesus himself will perfectly fulfill the Law. More than that, with Jesus’ advent God is fulfilling covenant promises to Israel, and ultimately to all nations. Thus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Simeon announces that in Jesus God has brought consolation and salvation—a gift that some will oppose (“contradict”). The widow Anna also recognizes Jesus, and likewise announces the good news of the redemption of God’s people.

Jan 08 2025

The Spirit Breaks In, Expanding Our Vision

Imagine that you are a seagull casually flying in from the Mediterranean, hovering for a spell above the Jordan River. It is a beautifully hot day and the wind floats you aloft. All is good. All is peaceful.

Suddenly the heavens open. Power fills the sky. You can feel the air vibrate. The Spirit breaks in. A dove descends. The God of glory thunders, the voice of the Lord over the waters: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

You’re knocked off guard, for you haven’t seen pictures of a furry man pouring water over a guy with his head bowed, a little bird fluttering overhead; you haven’t heard this baptism of Jesus story before. This Spirit of God is not like any other dove that you have ever seen. This is not like any other day. What is going on?

Below you, people walk with their heads bowed, trudging in the dirt, tired by their humdrum existence. You want to caw out, “Looooook, loooook, looook, looook! Come and soar with me! The Spirit of God is here!” The voice of the Lord is power. The voice of the Lord is splendor. You are roused with courage, feeling that you could keep flying even through the worst of thunderstorms.

Who are these two men? One stays by the water. The other turns toward the desert, where he will remain for forty days. The dove disappears to lead the man to the desert, that power remains with the man who walks away. Who could this be? Wherever he goes, you want to go. Wherever he stops, you want to stop. Life is richer in his presence. The air still vibrates. The splendor has not gone away. Something just feels fitting and right and abundant. What was crooked is now straight. All is good. All is warm. God is here!

Consider/Discuss

How often do we take the story of the inbreaking of the Spirit at the baptism of the Lord for granted, as though we have seen it before? How often do we take the inbreaking of the Spirit in our own lives for granted—a nice story, but not very real?
The next time you hear a seagull crying or a bird calling, look up. Look around. The Spirit of God is here. The God of Glory Thunders. The God of splendor whispers. Do we have ears to hear?

Living and Praying with the Word

O Jesus, give us a heart for you. Spirit of God, fill us to the max! Help us to soar and to dance above the humdrum of life, to be empowered anew. You have done something fresh. Break into our lives as well. Thank you for your glory!

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

In the Isaian passage, God presents an unnamed servant: chosen, upheld, and pleasing to God, who has endowed the servant with the divine spirit. This enables him to serve God faithfully. The nature of his service is to bring forth justice, not just to Israel, as one might expect, but also to the nations, establishing justice “on the earth.” The Hebrew word for justice, mishpat, here refers to the restoration of God’s order. This “victory for justice” will not be accomplished through physical or military force. Instead the servant will bring the nations into covenantal relationship with God, opening up the path for God’s light and healing.

Cornelius is a Roman centurion who, as a “devout and God-fearing” man (Acts 10:2), has always treated the Jews with respect. Just before the present scene, Peter has received a vision in which he is commanded to eat “profane and unclean” food (10:9–16), which he interprets to mean that the mission of Christ is to be extended to the Gentiles. Thus, we hear him say today that God shows no partiality regarding nationality. While it is true that Jesus himself was sent to the Israelites, he is Lord of all, and thus the healing ministry begun in him is now extended beyond the bounds of ethnic Israel to encompass all those who believe in him and accept the offer of forgiveness of sins (10:43).

Matthew notes that Jesus went to John in the wilderness specifically to be baptized. In response to John’s question, Jesus does not suggest that he needs to receive John’s baptism for repentance (3:11), but “to fulfill all righteousness.” Righteousness here means doing God’s will, and it has been suggested that by being baptized, Jesus is placing himself in solidarity with the sinners he will save. In any case, the baptism is the occasion for a confirmation of his identity as God’s Son and the empowerment for his mission by the Holy Spirit, who will immediately lead him into the wilderness.