A Christmas message from the Holy Cross Province Provincial Leadership Team.
Daily Scripture, December 25, 2024
Christmas Day
Scripture:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18
Reflection:
Christmas is here!
When we look at the readings for Midnight Mass on Christmas, it might be understandable to overlook the second reading from Paul’s letter to Titus (2:11-14). I like this reading, not so much for Christmas, but what I think it says about our relationship to the salvation of the world. In the first verse from our passage, St. Paul writes: “Beloved: the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ…” What this says to me is that we believe that Jesus came for the salvation of all, and instead of concerning ourselves about whether “they” should get in or not, we have been given the grace to “reject godless ways and worldly desires.”
How does Christmas “train” us to “reject godless ways?” As we’ve been hearing all through Advent, Christmas trains us to base our hope in God. We do not put our hope in violence or military might. Listen again to these words from our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6): “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone…For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.” Oh! How I wish that day would come!
We do not put our hope in economic wealth or influence. To whom do the angels appear to announce the “good news of great joy” that the Savior has come? Not the high and the mighty and the influencers! No, the shepherds! The shepherds on the night watch, no less! And where is this newborn Savior to be found? Not in some palace or the corridors of power, but lying in a manger in a stable! From such humble beginnings, and an ignominious death, this baby would grow and free us from sin and death! Our hope is in Him!
Christmas trains us to act in love, not react in hate or fear. The very birth of Jesus is an act of love. God’s love for us. Mary’s “Yes” and Joseph’s “Yes” to God were acts of love. We cannot earn the joy and hope of this day. We do not deserve it. But we can respond to it, by loving as Jesus loves!
May Christmas “train” us to be “eager to do good!”
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Christmas Eve
Daily Scripture, December 24, 2024
Christmas Eve
Scripture:
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Luke 1:67-79
Reflection:
Christmas and Saint Joseph
There is an old medieval painting showing the engagement ceremony between Mary and Joseph. We see in the painting two very upset suitors who were turned down and lost their request for Mary’s hand. Joseph must have been a very happy young man to get the most beautiful, good-hearted, and affectionate young woman the world has ever seen! I am sure he thought he won the lottery. It was the dream of every young Jewish man to have such a bride. He hoped to have beautiful children. He considered himself blessed by also having such a successful and secure job as a tradesman.
But soon all these wonderful dreams were shattered. Pope Francis observed that Joseph’s discovery that Mary was expecting a child that was not his must have created “shock, pain, confusion, perhaps even irritation and disappointment.” Joseph even seriously thought about quietly divorcing Mary!
An angel had to intervene! “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Mt 1:20f In the inspired Greek text the word “take” is the very strong and loving word “paralombano” which means ‘to welcome, to receive, to acceptwith a warm heart!
The shattered dream became an unbelievable blessing. Mary was given to Joseph as a companion! She is the most incredible purely human being that God ever made! Theirs was a union that far exceeded any marriage! Joseph was made the only earthly father that Jesus ever had. Jesus was so fond of His foster father that every prayer He said to His Heavenly Father always began with the word Father! Jesus described God as Father more than any other title. Jesus must have been really impressed with Joseph! Joseph’s occupation and business of carpentry gave way to the most important job any father could have. He lovingly and carefully cared for the most important family the world would ever see!
Christmas is a wonderful feast of hope. If so many of our dreams seem to get shattered, we must remember, like Joseph, that they are not lost! On the contrary shattered dreams become much higher Horizons in the marvelous Providence of God!
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.
My Sacred Space: Michael Nasello
My sacred space is the view of the trees outside my office window.
It is sacred for me because it allows me to see both the forest and the trees. This has been important for my perspective and prayer.
At times, I can zoom out and see the bigger picture of the forest as a whole, how the trees and all other elements of that ecosystem are in a beautiful symbiosis, and at other times, I can zoom in and focus on the needles, the bark, the small animals and (in my mind's eye) even the insects that are a necessary part of the inner ecosystem.
I can see and almost feel the trees move in the wind, observe animals taking shelter in the branches, and I can imagine the sap flowing up and down the flesh of the tree and, as some authors have described, the silent but alive communication between the trees, the interaction of their roots, their knowledge of Earth which is so much deeper than my own.
I am humbled and challenged by this view to be "more" and better connected.
~ Michael Nasello
Prayer for Peace
Daily Scripture, December 23, 2024
Scripture:
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66
Reflection:
I am writing this reflection on December 19, when our Gospel reading is the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, and the angel tells him that Elizabeth, his wife, will conceive and bear a child in answer to their prayers. Because Zechariah asks a question, the angel takes it as evidence of disbelief and renders Zechariah mute.
In today’s Gospel reading, Elizabeth has conceived, and the child is born. When the relatives come to the circumcision of the baby, they plan to name him after his father. But Elizabeth tells them he will be named John. The relatives do not understand this and ask Zechariah. When he writes affirming what Elizabeth says, his mouth is opened, and he praises God.
I find myself wondering about this. I’m not so sure I would be praising God after so long a punishment. But then, I thought, what if Zechariah really doubted the angel’s words, and then saw that it all had happened as he was told it would. Would he not simply praise God for all that God had done?
We may have doubts, and it may be hard at times to see God working in our lives, but God does so, even when we can’t feel anything. And so, like Zechariah, we ultimately come to simply praising God. When the relatives witness Zechariah being able to speak and praising God, they wonder about this baby who was born only eight days prior: “What, then, will this child be?” And Luke concludes: “For surely the hand of God was with him.”
It may not always seem so, but the hand of God is with us. We can enter into the celebration of Christmas with our questions and our hurts and our wondering. But God is with us through it all, and Jesus’ birth reminds us of God’s love and power and faithfulness. Blessed be God!
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Paul Puccinelli shares his reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.