December 5, 1999 |
QUESTION: Is there any special significance to the year 2000 that I need to worry about?
ANSWER: A thousand years ago, in the year 999, people worried about the changing of the millennium. There were prophets of doom, and those who claimed the Second Coming would occur. They attached all kinds of significance to the change; and groups even prepared themselves for cosmic battles and the destruction of the world. It was called millenarianism.
We are experiencing some of the same things. People attach all kinds of meanings and incredible predictions to the year 2000. But it is interesting to note that the Church looks to it as a Jubilee, a time to celebrate and be renewed, offering reconcililation and forgiveness.
Finally, we forget that God is eternal and timeless, In God's mind all time is one. It does not matter if it is 1999, 2999 or 99. All time is present to God at one and the same moment. When the hour comes that He wishes to bring to perfection all creation, He will. In the meantime, there's much to be done and good works to be accomplished. Let's let God be God, and us be busy seeking and doing His will.
Mary, who conceived the Incarnate Word by the power of the Holy Spirit and then in the whole of her life allowed herself to be guided by his interior activity, will be contemplated and imitated during this year above all as the woman who was docile to the voice of the Spirit, a woman of silence and attentiveness, a woman of hope who, like Abraham, accepted God's will "hoping against hope". (cf Roman 4:18)
POPE JOHN PAUL II On the Coming Third Millennium
One of the most popular advent customs today is probably the lighting of candles on an Advent Wreath in both churches and homes. This custom originated in Germany in the 16th century among the Lutherans. It spread quickly and became popular in other areas. It is an example of the Christianizing of practices from pre-Christian times. There had always been a festival of burning fire and special lights at the end of November or beginning of December in Germanic lands as the darkness of winter grew. This tradition continues into modern times. In the 1500s it acquired a distinct Christian symbolism, first among Protestants and later among Catholics. It was made popular among Catholics with the liturgical movement in the mid 1950s. Wreaths had always been symbolic of victory and glory. Early heroes and kings were crowned with a wreath. The basic symbolism today lies in the tension between darkness and light. It represents the long time that people waited in spiritual darkness for the coming of the Messiah. Each year people again wait in darkness. As the time for the celebration of the Birth of the Lord grows nearer the darkness is gradually overcome. The light spreads until at our celebration of Christmas the church is grandly decorated with many colorful lights.
John the Baptist is a major Advent figure. No matter how often we have celebrated this wonderful season, the desert prophet continues to challenge and shake us out of a comfortable complacency. "John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Repentance is a fundamental change of heart, or attitude, a willingness to abandon sin and embrace God's gift of life and love. This change is only possible with the grace of God. The Baptist reminds us that this grace is ever present. We sense an urgency in his preaching as the time for repentance is now. This ascetic, Advent prophet preached what he lived. He was courageous, unapologetic. His witness was so convincing, in fact, that many would have followed him. Yet he insisted that he was only preparing the way for "the one who is more powerful than I."
John's desert prayer and meditation was rooted in the word of God that had been taught by the prophets who preceded him. Today's first reading from Isaiah (another great Old Testament Advent figure) tells us that this message was one of hope for a dejected people. This hope reassured God's people of His care for them and His fidelity toward them even in their infidelity. The prophetic message was also a challenge to repent, to prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord so that the glory of the Lord could be revealed.
Advent is the Church's wilderness where we can truly hear the word of God. But we need to take time, to find the quiet, to be at peace for this word to find a home in the depths of our hearts. God's grace is ever present to find the courage to allow John's Advent challenge to give us insights into our own need of repentance. This is usually a very busy time in our American culture with Christmas shopping, social events, and all kinds of preparations for the holidays. Perhaps the big challenge is to find the wilderness in the midst of all this activity so the Word of God can touch our lives.
Father James Tobin, S.M.
Pastor
On December 9, 1531, a native Mexican named Juan Diego rose before dawn to walk fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City. Juan lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning, as Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard music and saw a glorious glowing cloud encircled by a rainbow. A woman's voice called him to the top of the hill. There he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site, so that in it "I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother." Once the church was fnally built on that site, thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas. Juan Diego has been beatified, but not yet canonized.
SHOUT OUT LOUD: Without fear say 'Here is our God!' God is patient with us. The Holy One is not slow to carry out promises; rather, the Lord is waiting for us to catch up. John the forerunner, baptizer of the Lord, cries out; 'Prepare the way. Make his paths straight.' He is coming sooner than we think, bringing the Holy Spirit and fire. Are we ready? How are we preparing ourselves for the Lord? (Philip J. Sandstrom, c.1999, Oregon Catholic Press)
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: This Wednesday we will celebrate the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation. On this day, we celebrate Mary as first fruits of Christ's redeeming harvest, preserved from sin from the moment of her conception. Even before it was proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854, the bishops of the United States declared Mary the nation's patroness under this title. At times people confuse this title about Mary with the virgin birth of Jesus, a confusion reinforced by today's Gospel of the Annunciation. The Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons describes today's scriptures as a a suite to focus our attention on what Catholic theology recognizes as a true and saving partnership. It is Christ who reverses Adam's disobedience (first reading), and Christ in whom we receive adoption as God's children (second reading. The gospel makes it clear that God's gracious will is to desire, not demand, our cooperation in the great plan of universal salvation. Mary is the model of such cooperation. Since Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation, let me remind you that we all have a serious obligation to participate in the Eucharist this day.
Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. (After this prayer is led by one member of the family, read one of the Scripture readings for that particular day, as found in the first column of this bulletin, light the appropriate number of candles on your Advent Wreath, and then pray your grace before meals.)
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.
(Isaiah 40:11)
The Lord cares for us so gently and lovingly. How do we show our gratitude to Him for all that He does?
My Dear Family in Christ,
As we entered the season of Advent, I invited all to focus on the importance of hope. This is truly a Christian gift, precisely because the One whom we await is the fulfillment of God's promise. Jesus comes to save us and draw us into the divine life.
This, unfortunately, does not cause us to radically redirect our lives unless we personally open ourselves to Jesus Christ. We are reminded once again by John the Baptist, "Make ready the way of the Lord, clear Him a straight path" (MK1.2). This is not a dream, a likely story, or even an advertisement. We are called to open our minds and hearts to God's personal revelation.
It is much easier to engage in activity, that is, buy gifts, decorate the home, the church, invite friends and neighbors. What the message of this second Sunday offers us is nothing less than the ultimate answer to our deepest yearnings. One does not come to this through activity but through silence, presence, healing and receptivity.
All of us have much to do during this time. I invite all to make a sacrifice of slowing down a few minutes each day and open the heart to the One who is our hope, Jesus Christ.
It is precisely in knowing Him who has come from on high that we realize the ultimate home to which we are called.
May the holy words of scripture find a home in your heart.
Father Ron
The year 1521 marked the conquest and total destruction of Mexico by Spain. When Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac she, revealed herself as the compassionate Mother of all people living on this continent. She heralded the beginning of a new era; a new civilization that would rise out of the ashes of the Indian civilization that had been destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. LaMorenita (the little dark one) came to give her people a new hope and a new meaning for their existence and their suffering.
In our times, a hope-filled reality of our Catholic faith is that Our Lady of Guadalupe is a symbol of unity among all peoples throughout the world. People have come to know, love, and venerate her as the Mother of God and the Mother of all Nations. People have given their lives to her as they commit themselves to living the Gospel of Jesus and sharing the Good News of salvation with all peoples everywhere. The Good News is to know God and Jesus, whom He sent, and follow the way of love, which leads to eternal life.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we ask that you guide us in the ways of Jesus until we reach eternal life, our promised land.
The opening of the third millennium harmonizes with the traditional date for the first Christmas. Without a doubt, the birth of Jesus is the most important event to celebrate in the new millennium. But there is plenty of doubt about when that birth took place.
There is no clear historical record of the date and year of Jesus' birth. Although two of the Gospels record incidents pertaining to the event, neither assigns a date.
Two main theories surround the choice of December 25 to commemorate the nativity. The first theory looks to a third-century Roman pagan celebration coinciding with the winter solstice. As the days began to lengthen each year, December 25 became a festival for the rebirth of the unconquered sun. Christians, who believed Christ was the real unconquered source of light, put his birth date on the same day.
The second theory looks to the passion of Jesus. According to early conjectures, the actual day of Christ's passion fell on March 25 in the year Jesus died. Some Christians believed that Jesus died on the anniversary of His conception. For this reason, March 25 became also the celebration of the Annunciation. Looking forward nine months, the birth of Jesus was placed on December 25.
The traditional year of Jesus' birth was fixed in the mid-sixth century by Dionysius Exiguus, a monk and scholar who set the calendar according to the system we now know as A.D. (anno domini, "in the year of the Lord"). However, Matthew and Luke both say Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great, which scholars now calculate from 37 to 4 B.C. Oddly then, Jesus was probably born "before Christ." Although the actual birth date of Jesus cannot be known, He was born, and the millennium commemorates this birth by recognizing that all of time hinges on the life of Jesus. (Fr. Paul Turner, S.J., Resource Publications, Inc.)
On December 6 we will celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas.
Perhaps the best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. Rather than see them forced to prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man's window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular ledgend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint's feast; and in the English-speaking countries. St. Nicholas became, by a twist of the tongue, Santa Claus - further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this Holy Bishop.
Maybe a handshake, a smile, an affirming pat on the back could be exchanged on this St. Nicholas Day, and don't forget to leave your shoes outside your door!
Does Mary's Immaculate Conception place her above and beyond us ordinary folks?
Many non-Catholics believe that the Church has placed Mary out of the reach of ordinary person by the dogma of her Immaculate Conception. But the Church is trying to recognize the sanctity of the Virgin Mary and of Christ. Mary was a special person chosen by God from the beginning of creation to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary is a holy sanctuary so that she could give birth to Christ, who is the Holy One. It would not do to have Jesus come from a sinful place. In this way, Mary was certainly different from any of us. In many ways she is just like us. Mary is our mother, also. She accepted Jesus into her heart. Mary presented Jesus to God in the Temple and in a similar way, she presents us. Mary helped Jesus to walk his first steps and, in a similar way, she helps us. When Mary was with Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana, she brought those in need to Jesus. When Mary was with Jesus at Calvary, Jesus brought those in need to Mary. We can see that Mary is both ordinary and extraordinary. She is extraordinary enough to be the Mother of God, but ordinary enough to also be our mother.
The Season of Advent presents prophetic personalities and voices like Isaiah and John the Baptist -to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths (Mk 1:2). This Sunday's Gospel portrays John as proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. In the reading from Isaiah images of overcoming obstacles in building a highway are metaphors for seeking the Holy Spirit's light and power to overcome sins that prevent conversion steps to Christian maturity. So the Church recommends especially during Advent that we make plans to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a means of opening further the door of our hearts to Christ Jesus' reign. The Word Among Us Advent issue offers the following Advent Examination of Conscience
* Do I recognize God's authority over my life, or do I follow my own agenda? Is my life controlled by my own ambitions or desires, my career, or a need for human respect, rather than God's word?
* Can I see the envy, anger, lust, or hatred that keep me isolated from those who love me?
* Are there relationships in my life that are marred or even broken by a lack of forgiveness? Have I allowed bitterness and resentment to keep me from forgiving anyone who has hurt me?
* Are there any ways in which I am resisting God's invitation to let Jesus be born more fully in my life? Ways in which I am avoiding the call to decrease so that Jesus can increase?
* Do I recognize the pride, self-righteousness, and complacency that keep me from coming before God and receiving his healing touch?
Did you ever ask yourself that question? For one reason, they are there to secure the church when it is not being used. In other words it allows us to lock the church. More importantly church vestibules have always been meant to be the place of gathering. You meet your fellow parishioners and begin a communion with them as you come to church. The church should, to the extent possible, be kept a place of quiet prayer before Mass. This enables people to compose or collect themselves, to realize they are in a holy place, and to call to mind the awesomeness of what they are about to do and what God is about to do. The doors allow the noise of the world, specifically the vestibule or gathering place, to be shut out.
It is unacceptable to come into the church and carry on a conversation with your neighbor. I have at times pointed this out to people who were making noise and they looked at me as if I was in error. Please try to keep the church a place of refuge for the harried pilgrim. This includes ministers, including myself but specifically Communion Ministers, in the sacristy. I would ask the Communion Ministers to remember that they are still at Mass and a part of it when they take the Communion vessels to the sacristy to be purified. Everyone's cooperation will be needed to keep proper reverence in church.
I remember celebrating Mass early on a cold Winter morning in the chapel of the Daughters of Charity at Marillac House, a Catholic social services center in one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. I had walked the four blocks from our monastery, so I welcomed the warmth of the convent. I remember how empty the streets are at 6:30 on a cold Winter morning. My recollection takes us to the consecration of the Mass and the sudden ringing of the doorbell. Without hesitation one of the sisters was away to answer the door. Chit-chatting at breakfast I asked about the urgency of answering the door at such a special point in the Mass? She replied, "Our rule requires it since we are to see it as Jesus crying out for help." I learned something about the Daughters of Charity and their Vincentian dedication to the needs of the poor. I've witnessed this same dedication in the parish Saint Vincent de Paul Society. I attend their local meetings and I am impressed with their zeal. The local conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society consists of dedicated volunteer lay persons who are very serious about this low visibility and respectfully confidential ministry of need to those least able to help themselves. However, occasionally it can be time consuming and demanding, especially when some one in need appears at the most inconvenient time. These volunteers check their dedicated phone line daily and vigorously pursue the caller. Serious need cases require a visit to assess the need. Setting up these visits is not as easy as it would seem. I've been surprised how difficult it sometimes is to track down some one who has asked for help. The SHF team is good at it. This is the busiest time of the year for them. Thanksgiving and Christmas just run into one another. Certainly your generosity makes it a lot easier to do what needs to be done. When you drop off food, clothing or blankets be assured it will help someone have a better experience of life. Money is managed meticulously. This is how the conference pays rent and utility bills before eviction or shut-off. It is an emergency intervention and not long term. The resources of other organizations and agencies are used or referrals are made. When children are involved the sensitivity and caring increases. Believe it or not, there are more calls for help than you might expect in a neighborhood like this. I also have noted that the conference membership is aging and cannot do the lifting they used to do. New members are needed. This is not high profile organization but simply day to day lived Christian charity. If you are interested in helping, leave your name on the Saint Vincent de Paul Society hot-line (631-8248). Your call will be returned and you just might meet Jesus calling for help!
Father Michael Doyle, OSM
