Category: Daily Reflection

Magnificat!

After she arrived at her cousin Elizabeth’s home, Mary is greeted by the beautiful and faith-filled words of Elizabeth, calling Mary “Most Blessed among women,” and crying out, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (NAB, LK 1:42) Elizabeth continues, proclaiming again how blessed is Mary, “the mother of my Lord.” (1:43) In response to Elizabeth’s praises, Mary speaks from the depth of her profound and saintly humility, and gives us a prayer composed of some of the most beautiful words of eternal love that have ever graced human ears:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” (LK 1:46-56)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Elizabeth’s Faith

When Mary is told that her elder cousin Elizabeth is pregnant, she immediately leaves on a nearly 100-mile journey to Elizabeth’s home, to spend time with her and help her through several months of her pregnancy.  Mary does this, as we know, while herself pregnant. Upon the Virgin Mary’s arrival, Mary greets her cousin. We are told that “when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does it happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? … Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’” (NAB, LK 1:41-43, 45)

This passage teaches much about Mary, but it also reveals the incredible faith and giftedness of Elizabeth. Four of the main characters we consistently hear about during Advent are Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary. Both sets of parents are involved in miraculous births. Zechariah and Elizabeth will have John, although Elizabeth is advanced in age and had been believed to be cursed with sterility. Joseph and Mary will have Jesus, although Mary remains a virgin and Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah, Joseph, and Mary are all visited by the Angel of God who announces to them the Good News of God, and reveals God’s plans regarding the births of John and Jesus.

We are not told of any angelic visitation to Elizabeth, yet she exudes confident and mature faith, and even makes profound theological statements concerning Mary and Jesus. Elizabeth has a special kind of faith, one made possible by the scandal, dishonor, disgrace, and intense scrutiny and judgment of others. We know that she lived a blameless and righteous life, but many believed that she must be cursed by God, since she was barren and without child. Interestingly, however, God would glorify and exalt what others saw as bad and shameful, and reveal to us for all time, the saintliness of Elizabeth through her humility, a humility borne out of decades of humiliation at the hands of others. Elizabeth’s humility and closeness to God gave her to prophesy about Mary, calling her “most blessed,” and Jesus, calling him “Lord.”

Heavenly Father, give me humility, the key to a virtuous life. There are no saints in heaven who did not have humility, whether it was borne out of love or humiliation. Give me perseverance to live a blameless and righteous life, so that in humility, I may see your presence and your work around me and in others. May I be like Elizabeth, who after suffering much, recognized your love and your blessing, and used them to proclaim your glory to the world. Amen.

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Let God Fight for You

Ahaz was King of Judah, ruling God’s people for a period of 16 years in the mid-eighth century B.C. Ahaz was the son of King Jotham, a godly man who tried desperately to get the people to follow God, but was flatly unsuccessful during his reign. When Ahaz became ruler at just 20 years old, he pulled the people farther from God by establishing false pagan practices, burning incense to pagan gods, erecting altars in the Temple to false gods, making and worshiping idols, paying foreign kings with treasures from the Temple, and even offering two of his own sons in human sacrifice to pagan gods. God sent prophets to Ahaz to have him reconcile with the Father, but Ahaz refused to listen and obey; he was more concerned about his material pleasures and worldly profits, glamor, and prestige, then he was about his soul, God’s People, and righteousness. Many consider Ahaz to be the most wicked king in all of Israel’s history.

The Prophet Isaiah counseled King Ahaz that he must trust in God, not man. Isaiah tells him that God will protect his people, but Ahaz has no faith in God; all his trust has been relinquished to the things and people of his world. As regional tensions grew, Judah was being threatened by surrounding kings, but instead of seeking God’s assistance, Ahaz sought to become subservient to the Assyrians, attempting to form an alliance with them instead of trusting God.

God, in his mercy and graciousness, was willing to give King Ahaz a sign so that he could believe and trust in the Lord, but Ahaz rejected him. Isaiah spoke to Ahaz as the representative of David’s family line of descendants, saying that the Chosen People will be given a sign of God’s faithfulness: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” (NAB, IS 7:14) Jesus is the sign of God’s love and faithfulness; he is the sign of redemption to all. And yet, he is much more than a sign, he is the perfection of love and all the virtues.

Heavenly Father, do not let me be seduced and trapped by the glamor, glitter, prestige, and profits of this world. Allow me to place my trust in you, and you alone. You have given me the sign of fidelity, your Son, my Savior and my Lord. Let me hear and live according to the words of your Prophet Isaiah, to be not afraid, and to allow me to let go and let you, Almighty God, fight and win my battles in this world. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.

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Trust His Faithfulness

Zechariah, husband to Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist, was a good and righteous man who observed “all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.” (NAB, LK 1:6) Because of his family lineage, he also had the privilege to serve as priest in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Zechariah and his wife had grown old without children, and this was seen as a curse from God; people believed that a husband and wife must have some great sin if they are unable to have children. Nevertheless, God blesses Zechariah by sending the Angel Gabriel to him as Zechariah served in the Temple. “The angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.’” (LK 1:11-15)

The Angel makes other promises to Zechariah about John, but then Zechariah, a man of faith and a man who had witnessed the faithfulness of God many times, questions whether this could even happen. Zechariah doubts the prophecy of God’s messenger. Zechariah has fears that God “can’t deliver” on this one. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Elizabeth did conceive a child, and that Zechariah, as a consequence for his disbelief, was made silent until the birth and naming of his child.

God makes so many promises to us in his Word. And we can look back on our lives and see the many, many times that God has been faithful to us: moments when he has brought us through incredibly difficult times; rewards we have received; the graciousness of God; his mercy and forgiveness, despite our waywardness and sins; and his constant, pursuing love for us, even when we have ignored it. We have received so many blessings from God, and yet, we ourselves, like Zechariah, doubt him and his faithfulness. We question his love for us. We want to choose our own way instead of his. We have decided to choose other paths, when God’s way is clear before us.

Father, give me wisdom and right mind to see you present in my life. Give me courage and faith to trust your promises and your Word. I know that you love me beyond my wildest imagination and understanding; may this knowledge and your grace allow me to release control of my life to you, so that I may follow you as a true and loving disciple, always trusting in your providence and love, and always seeking to do your will. Amen.

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Joseph’s “Yes”

During this Season of Advent, this time of preparation for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, we reflect on the faith-filled story of Joseph. He was betrothed to Mary, yet before Joseph had welcomed her into his home to consummate their marriage, Mary was found to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Although Mary had been visited by the Angel of God and had made an act of tremendous faith in her “yes” to bear the Christ, Joseph was left to struggle with the mysteries of these events.

We hear in the Gospel of Matthew that Joseph did not want to subject Mary to public humiliation and shame, so he was going to try to “divorce her quietly.” (NAB, MT 1:19) This reveals a lot about Joseph’s character. He was willing to do “the right thing” for what he thought would be best for Mary and her situation, not himself. He was willing to sacrifice his own ego and what was due to him by law, even when, by outward appearance, he would have been justified with public retribution.

Then, as we hear in what may be referred to as Joseph’s Annunciation, the Angel of God tells Joseph the plan: “Do not be afraid…. Take Mary your wife into your home…. 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, for he will save his people from their sins.” (MT 1:20-21)

In an astonishing and incredible act of faith, Joseph consents, says “yes” to God, not in words, but in acting according to God’s will. Joseph’s fiat is silent, as he loves and cares for Mary and Jesus, as husband and father, from that time forward. There were no theatrics, parades, or public recognition for Joseph’s trust, faith, and obedience to God, but in his saintly ascent to God’s will, Joseph shows the power of action over words.

Lord, make me ever mindful that actions speak louder than words. In my struggles, in times of difficulties, in moments when things seem impossible and insurmountable, give me the silent courage of St. Joseph to trust you, to do your will, and to accept Mary and Jesus into my heart and home. May I always first seek what’s best for others even when life’s circumstances are at their worst. Give me your grace, and increase my faith in you. Amen.

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Family Matters

In the very first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel (MT 1:1-17), we read the long list of Jesus’ genealogy, lists of successive generations of names, many of which we find hard to pronounce. For the people at the time of Jesus, this list had great meaning. Identities were wrapped up in family names, and this list demonstrated that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesse, David, and Solomon. Many of the prophecies regarding the Messiah were tied to his family of origin, so this genealogy also reveals that legitimacy of Jesus’ claims. After all, the Gospel of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish community, and they would have clearly understood the importance of Jesus’ family heritage.

Another aspect of this list of names, is that it is full of saints and sinners. Great leaders and great sinners were all integral and part of the family history leading up to the birth of the Son of God. None of us choose our families, and neither did Jesus. His mother Mary had a real choice to make when she was visited by the Angel Gabriel. Mary could have rejected the message, but she instead chose to accept the life that God would give her. She lovingly said “yes” in a profound act of faith and hope-filled trust in God: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (NAB, LK 1:38) At these words, Mary’s womb became the Tabernacle of our Savior as the God-man Jesus was conceived. The Word of God became man through the words of a woman.

Father, I thank you for my family. We are also a mixture of saints and sinners, and although I did not choose them, they somehow chose me. I know that my life is a gift that came about through all of the historical circumstances, happenings, and choices that were made, generation after generation, from people I have never known, but without whom, I would not be here. My very DNA carries on the imprint of these now-forgotten souls. May they, and all the faithful departed, rest in your peace, and may I one day be reunited with them at the table of your Eternal Banquet in Heaven. Amen.

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Fiery Faith

Elijah was a powerful preacher and prophet in Ancient Israel. Sirach tells us, “Like a fire, there appeared the prophet Elijah, whose words were like a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; by the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wonderous deeds!” (NAB, SIR 48:1-4) Elijah truly was a great prophet whose prophecies were fulfilled by and through the very life of Jesus. This fulfillment is partly what gives us confidence in the divine Jesus as Christ, the Messiah, who came to save God’s people.

Jesus likens John the Baptist to the new Elijah. John was foretold by Elijah to be the “one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” (MT 3:3) In fact, it was the preaching of John which called the people of God to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (3:2) His fiery preaching would eventually cost him his life, but John knew his mission and persevered in faith. We owe a debt to John, who first made the Paschal connection regarding Jesus, whereupon seeing Jesus coming toward the Jordan river, John cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (JN 1:29)

Lord, give me a voice on fire for you, a voice that fearlessly proclaims your Word in the midst of this world wrought with so many trials and difficulties. May my life always point to you, your love, and your mercy, and may I persevere in the continual renewal and conversion of myself. Amen.

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Get Rid of Gossip

In many places throughout Scripture, we are warned of the dangers of talking idly about others, particularly speaking inappropriately or uncharitably, especially regarding another’s behavior, appearance, motives, or reputation. Gossip is so popular and typical in many of our conversations, that oftentimes we are arms deep into it before we even realize we’re doing it, and it can become a habit, or even the basis of “friendly” gatherings.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains how the people were gossiping about himself as well as John the Baptist. He says, “John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinner.’” (NAB, MT 11:18-19) These are the irreverent, inappropriate, and uncharitable remarks about John the Baptist, the one about whom Jesus says, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” (11:11) And these are the rantings about Jesus, the Christ, Son of God.

How wrong our gossip can be! We must be so very careful here, to ensure that we ourselves are not drawn into the judgmental conversations we encounter in our daily lives. As Christians, we pursue Truth, we pursue Love, and we pursue Wisdom. These are present in Christ, and so, as we seek Christ in others, we become able to witness Wisdom “vindicated by her works” (11:18), where grace allows us to, as yet, live imperfectly in the Kingdom of God, with faith and hope to sustain us.

I know that I am judgmental, and that only you, Lord, see with the eyes of perfect Truth. Help me to seek you in others and to find your presence in the world. Give me your grace to speak of others with charity, compassion, and understanding. Allow me to see your Wisdom as she expresses herself in works of faith and love. May I grow ever stronger in my love for others so that you may be glorified in my life. Amen.

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Gracious & Merciful

Oftentimes we forget that God is not only infinite in mercy and forgiveness, but he is infinite in justice as well. We see mere shadows and reflections of true mercy, forgiveness, and justice in our world. The closer we draw to the Lord, however, the better able we are to know “the Lord [who] is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and rich in kindness.” (cf. NAB, PS 145:8) The closer we draw to the Lord, the more we will imitate his perfection of infinite virtue.

This often-quoted verse from Psalm 145, is frequently used in weddings, and several Contemporary Christian songs are similarly titled. It would truly be an incredible world, and most certainly a godly marriage, if we were able to be gracious and merciful with each other, always being slow to anger and rich in kindness. This is our calling if we are to imitate our Creator, if we are to become most perfectly that which we have been created.

Father, teach me to be gracious and merciful with others in my life. I am impatient, selfish, offensive, quickly frustrated, easily angered, and unkind. Forgive my lack of humility. You know my imperfections and my sins. Heal me of them, so that by your grace, I may grow closer to you, and imitate you more and more each day. Amen.

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Serve Others

While we pray and think about the upcoming celebration of Mary’s pregnancy and the birth of her son Jesus, Scripture makes us aware of another pregnancy with a promise. Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, was becoming elderly and had been barren. Elizabeth, however, according to the prophecy of an angel and according to God’s will, did became pregnant with John the Baptist, and when Mary heard of Elizabeth’s pregnancy through the Angel Gabriel, she at once set off to help her elder cousin.

The nearly 100-mile trip that Mary took, likely by donkey along sweltering, unpaved roads, was difficult and treacherous, especially since she herself was pregnant. Nevertheless, her grace, the presence of Jesus, and her charitable desire to help her cousin supported her through her 4- or 5-day journey, until finally, “she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.’” (NAB, LK 1:40-44)

Mary stayed with her until just before the birth of John. Mary, the mother of God, served her cousin Elizabeth while she needed her. Jesus calls all of us to serve others in love and humility. [He who is greatest will be least. Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.]

Jesus, help me to see you and serve you in others. Fill me with your divine grace, so that through charity and humility, I may urgently serve you in others. Make me sensitive to those in need, especially the outcast, the rejected, the hurting, and the lost, so that your love, working through me, becomes a blessing to those in my world. Amen.

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Come Home

God desperately loves each and every one of us. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells a short parable of a shepherd with “a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” (NAB, MT 18:12) Jesus further explains that it is similar regarding our Heavenly Father when one of his children goes astray, and upon finding the lost, the shepherd, our Lord, greatly rejoices!

Being lost, and then found, brings to mind the incredible song by writer John Newton; the great spiritual hymn, Amazing Grace: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” It is by God’s good grace that we are found, that we are welcomed into his family, and it is only through his grace that salvation may be ours. We have wandered, but our loving Father brings us back home.

Thank you for loving me, sweet Jesus, and thank you for always searching for me and pursuing me in your love whenever I am lost. You love me with an inexhaustible love, and I am grateful. Help me to love others and rejoice in coming home to you. Amen.

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Forgive

We hear in the Gospel of Luke (5:17-26) the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man. The friends of this man were bringing him to Jesus, but were unable bring him close to the Lord because of the size of the crowd, so they removed part of the roofing above where Jesus sat, and lowered the stretcher holding their friend into the midst of Jesus. The opportunity becomes one where Jesus teaches us and all who were present that he has power, not only over the physical world, but the spiritual as well. He forgives the man of his sins (which those present cannot see), and then, to demonstrate the power of his word, heals the man of his paralysis (something that those present could visually witness).

Forgiveness is very powerful! Only God can completely forgive sins, but we also somehow participate in the forgiving capacity in our world. We are called to forgive others, as Jesus forgives us. God has given us a great gift, one that we are to give away and share with others. That’s one of the beautiful things about the gifts from God; they are multiplied when given away. The paralytic in this Gospel story had some incredible friends, people who were willing to use what God had given them to make healing possible for their friend. And then God, in his infinite love and mercy, bestowed on the man an even greater gift, forgiveness of his sins, opening the doors of Heaven and eternal life.

Lord, help me to share my gifts with others, that the gifts you’ve given me may be used for good, and bring you glory. You have also offered me the gift of forgiveness. Give me the strength and courage to share it with others and fully live out the words of the prayer you gave your Church: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Let my forgiveness of others be magnified according to your will. Amen.

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Hail Mary, Full of Grace!

Today, we hear the incredibly beautiful words from St. Luke’s Gospel, where the Angel Gabriel confronts Mary with a profound and timeless message. He calls to Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (NAB, LK  1:28, 30) The Angel announces that Mary, although a virgin, will be the God-bearer. While Mary cannot understand how the words of God’s Messenger will come to pass, her trust and faith were far greater than her doubt and lack of understanding. Thus, she responded with the words of eternal consequence and perfect unity of will: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (1:38)

Mary is the example par excellence of faith and discipleship. Being the mother of our Lord, she is also Queen of all Apostles, since she was the first one, literally, to carry the Gospel, to carry the Good News, the Word of God made flesh in her womb. Mary is not to be adored, but because of her special role in salvation history and her immaculate nature, being full of grace, she is due a veneration that is higher than that of other saints and loved ones. She is not our biological mother, whose water broke open to give us life in this world; rather, she is the Mother of the Son of God, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. When Mary’s water broke open, the world received God made flesh, whose very presence sanctifies the womb and woman who carried him and who sanctified the waters of our own baptism in his. Mary, our Mother, was set apart from the moment of her conception, as she, from that very moment, was completely filled with saving grace of Almighty God.

Heavenly Father, give me your grace. I am in this world as a broken, homeless soul, restless and uneasy in heart because of my nature. Make me a true disciple like Mary, your mother, my mother, who let faith and trust lead her to your truth, and when I am confused, in doubt, or don’t understand, may I repeat the words given to me by our mother: I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. Amen.

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Son of David, Heal Me

Matthew’s Gospel tells us that “as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, ‘Son of David, have pity on us!’” (NAB, MT 9:27) After a short dialogue, Jesus healed them of their blindness, saying, “’Let it be done for you according to your faith.’” (9:29) The term “Son of David” used by the blind men demonstrates that, while they may not have been able to see in the physical world, they saw with certain clarity the spiritual reality of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. “Son of David” was the title used by Jews for the future king, the Anointed One, the Christ, who would be a descendent of David, and who would unite God’s people, establish a new temple, and usher in an era of peace. The blind men in the Gospel see that Jesus is the Christ spoken of by the prophets, who would also bring healing and reconciliation to the world.

Almighty God, increase my faith. Take away my spiritual blindness so that I may recognize you as the Anointed One, the Christ, my Lord, and my Savior. I cry out to you, Jesus, from my confusion and darkness. Hear my voice, Son of David, have pity on me and heal my restless soul. Amen.

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