Who is in the Manger?

When I was a child I was one of the “actors” in the Christmas  pageant.  I was one of the three kings.  Now I am older and the hymn that goes along with the kings has always had a special meaning.  The verses of the hymn explain the three gifts the kings bring.  The fourth verse was mine: “Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, Bleeding, dying, Sealed in a stone-cold tomb.”  I am reminded every year of how contradictory are the details of the scene.  Contained here are great acts of faith, ready for our reflection.  The model for these “acts” is the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Our expectation whenever she is introduced at Christmas time is that the appropriate focal point is the manger scene.  Whatever else we may see, the Virgin Mother with child is the most recognizable.  Perhaps the scene has lost some of its depth by becoming too familiar. 

One of the iconic places in the city of Rome is a very old church.  It is called “Our Lady of the Snow” because of a miraculous snowfall that prompted the faithful to build this church as a response.  In the crypt beneath the altar is a shrine that honors both the Blessed Mother and Pope John XXIII.  The statue of Pope John is depicted staring intently at a few pieces of a manger, the crib in which Jesus was placed at his birth.  We are tempted to forget the meaning of some these details.  Here, in only a few words one detail is restored to its proper place as the description of much more than a Christmas Card. 

“ 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.”  (Luke 2:7 NAB)

And we busy ourselves by filling in the gaps.  The “cold winter’s night” comes from a buried detail in the Book of Wisdom:

“For when peaceful stillness encompassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent,  Your all-powerful word from heaven's royal throne leapt into the doomed land.” (Wisdom 18:14-15 NAB)

This is the sweetness of the season and it is easily embraced as the focus of our reflection.  But the manger is also a sign of the rejection of mankind.

It was not too long ago that the Incarnation of the Son of God was reflected on in the Mass, at the end of the Mass in what was called the “last Gospel”.  The priest and the altar servers would stop in the middle of the procession out of the Church.  They would face the altar and begin the reading of the prologue of the Gospel of John: 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 NAB)

Then the manger would, so to speak, come into view: 

“He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.” (John 1:11 NAB)

The solemn reminder of the cross is uncovered.  The babe in the manger is the Lord who will give himself for the redemption of humanity.  His will be the sacrifice of a great king.  From manger to cross the child will be made ready for this destiny.  Perhaps we will be exonerated for turning away from that looming shadow.  We cannot help it even though the reminder of our sins should be enough to overcome the blindness of the reality we have constructed. 

End of the Year / New Year Giving

It is possible that you might have an opportunity to make a gift to the parish before the New Year arrives.  This would be very helpful, especially in light of the information below.  There are tax advantages in making a year-end gift.  Even more importantly we can gain a blessing from God on our efforts this year to make a difference in our world.  Please know that because of your support of the parish we have been able to make a significant impact on our community and our church.  Here are some financial highlights from 2012:

KITCHEN

We continue to work on plans for the expansion of the Kitchen.  This is not a small effort in any sense.  It involves removing all that separates the old business office from the current kitchen: the installation of a hood (a very expensive piece) and all new commercial “type” equipment.  The kitchen is a focal point of the facility simply because so many events are supported by the all-too-small kitchen.   The current cost estimate is $180,000.

MISCELLANEOUS

We provided assistance to Santa Clara Catholic School ($10,000.)  This school serves very poor children in south Dallas.  The assistance provided scholarship aid to one classroom for the year.
We assisted two “Title One” schools in Allen.  These schools depend on contributions to supplement their less than adequate budgets.  We have focused our attention on children who cannot afford to participate in field trips.  Many of these families are also clients of the Allen Food Pantry. 
We continue to organize in preparation for building a parochial school in Honduras.  More on that by the end of February. 

OTHER CONTINUING EFFORTS INCLUDE

Gospel of Life, Samaritan Inn, Allen Ministerial Alliance Senior Luncheon, St. Brigid’s Needle Arts Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick, Addiction Ministries, CSI, Food Pantry, American Heritage Girls, Venture Crew, Boy Scouts Troop 131, Cub Scouts, ESL, Collin County Juvenile Detention Center, Alzheimer’s Support Group, and Grief Support.

The list above is gleaned from the parish newcomer’s guide and includes only those efforts that we would classify as “outreach.”  There are dozens of additional fellowships, education and service organizations that would spill over on this page.  It has been an expressed goal that we increase the activity of the parish to fill the available space.  And, we encourage you to find a niche so that we are truly living the Gospel.

PLEDGE CARDS

Included with this report of giving (“Good Steward”) is a 2013 pledge card.  If you will be giving the same amount for this coming year as you did in 2012, simply fill out a new pledge card and note that you want to stay at the amount pledged in 2012.  We do, however, want to encourage your “growth in giving.”  Working toward the tithe (10% of gross) is one of the most satisfying challenges we can undertake.  The increased strength of the parish to accomplish the goals that are provided by your giving is very important indeed.  From the brief description of some of our endeavors you can see that we are working to responsibly use your contributions to the parish.

Joseph

For good reason, Mary takes center stage in many of the accounts of Jesus infancy.  She is the one who gives her flesh to Jesus that he may be properly understood as “savior” of mankind.  We strain in a few places to understand exactly Joseph’s role.  One of the characteristics of the Gospel account is that it is the account of Jesus and only in a lesser sense a chronicle of the life of other “characters.”  While the position of Joseph in the account is obviously surrounded by tenderness and affection, it is nonetheless not about him.  It is about Jesus, the answer to the question that is put to the disciples: “Who do men say that I am.”

The caution that is associated with this understanding of Joseph is not subtle. 
In the stories about great men of ancient times there is a dramatic need to discover the influence that shaped their lives.  Military leaders, philosophers and others accounted for their lives with complex stories of their birth and of their childhood.  There are stories in the so called apocryphal New Testament which include the origin of his good character.  They are stories of later centuries that attempt to fill in the blanks that are so widespread in the New Testament when it comes to understanding what Jesus is like.  This is the motivation for these stories: to substitute imagination for more sketchy truths.

In those secular stories from ancient times you would expect to find certain stories of a required type.  What was his father like, his mother?  Did he follow in the family business?  Did he have a hobby?  He must have liked fishing and thus all the stories about fishing that fill the Gospels. 

Here are some considerations of St. Joseph:

• He was the husband of Mary who is the Mother of God.
• Jewish custom required marriage between 13 – 19 years old.
• Joseph was betrothed to Mary when she was found to be pregnant; Joseph was ready to set aside the marriage contract to protect Mary from shame.  He must have loved Mary very much to risk being considered disobedient to the laws of marriage.  Indeed, out of this obedience grew a renewed sense of discipline to the Father’s plan.
• Joseph was brave.  He made a long journey to Egypt and back to Nazareth in order to protect Mary and the child Jesus from the evil King Herod.
• Joseph received from angels information about each step in his participation in the plan.
• Jesus is of the lineage of King David through the patrimony of Joseph.
• He probably died before Jesus began his public ministry, or at about fifty.
• He was a carpenter.  He was probably moderately successful since he would have been required to return to Bethlehem from Nazareth to pay tax on his second property.  Even with this success Mary and Joseph practiced a voluntary poverty, associating themselves with the poor.

There is, of course, the very dramatically important role as father.  We usually remember this as a homiletic note on his feast day, March 25th.  It also has an importance in preparation for celebrating the Incarnation.  It might seem silly that the author of our salvation would live happily in a family amid those who have need of his instruction.  Remember that Jesus submits to the authority of his earthly parents so that he can be an example to us.  In this relationship between father and son, heaven touches the lowliness of human life and elevates it to its proper place.  It is our pitiable flesh, our simple, weak manhood that He assumes. 

Suggested Prayer to be Used During Advent

Let us begin our Advent Season with an act of personal prayer - a petition, a prayer for myself, that I may have:

A sense of purpose
To make a difference
To be appreciated
To feel God’s forgiveness
To live a clean, uncomplicated life
To be assured of your acceptance, O Lord.
To know that my family will miss me when I die.
To know that I am ready to die.
To know that I am taking good care of those who have been placed in my care.
To believe in the future and not worry about the past.
For good health.
For healing.
For spiritual gifts: generosity, courage, compassion.
And the courage to pray “Maranatha” (Come Lord)
To say it and mean it absolutely,
That we want him to come,
Now.
Come, Lord Jesus.

The First Sunday of Advent

The first Sunday of Advent is a good time for us to renew our reflections. The defunct blog we attempted a couple of years ago will hopefully rise to this new opportunity, encouraged by our Holy Father as part of the “Year of Faith”. The intention is to provide space for a weekly reflection as part of the bulletin. You will also be able to read these online. Please understand that there will likely be many times when we will have to resort to “guests” to fill in if I get behind.

 
Advent is filled with many symbols, some of them appropriate to the season and having an ancient origin. Others don’t belong to it at all, but have firmly planted themselves in a new home like a department store Santa Clause. We think of Advent candles, Children’s pageants and special musical performances that go along with this first season of the Church. The attention we pay them is oftentimes hurried, as if the waiting for extra chores or anticipating something maniacal that might be pushing the intended good out of the season. And so, we light all the candles at once to be sure that we have done this or another custom, just in case. We give the season lip service, out of a reasonable fear that everything about Advent will be swallowed up in a shopping frenzy.

 So if the season is to be saved what must the valiant do? As with all things we must first build (or rebuild) a foundation. The whole year has the same need to be remodeled. One of great contributions that Vatican II gave the church was to rediscover the sacred character of our worship. This is not a simple task, and one that requires a better grasp of many things, including the language of faith. Simply put, the Church is drawn into an experience of God’s presence. He is here with us. And because that is true about this season, that he is present, he makes the Year sacred.

 
Pope St. Leo the Great (died 468) provides us a glimpse into the past, as we carry with us certain questions about how the Church Year can make much of a difference.

 “Beloved, the remembrance of what the Savior did for mankind is most useful to us, provided that what we venerate in faith we also receive and imitate. For in the communication of the mysteries of Christ to us, there is present both the power of grace and the encouragement which teaching gives, so that we may follow by out deeds him whom we confess in the spirit of faith.”

 This is the desperately-held center of our faith, where things of the past meet things of the future, the timeless realities of the years as they pass more quickly each changing season. During the celebration of the Year we are enabled by the saints to share in the mysteries of Christ. For example, St. Francis invented the Christmas Crib to display for his villagers in Assisi what they could not imagine - God laid to rest in a manger. And all the other little scenes that do in fact help us to see and understand what happened long ago.  Again St. Leo will help us:

 “All that the Son of God did and taught for the reconciliation of the world we not only know through the narration of past events; we also experience the effects of it in virtue of these present deeds, the sacraments.”

 In the weeks of Advent let us all, with enthusiasm, seek a greater understanding and experience of our encounter with Jesus Christ.

In the News (November Good Steward)

The tiny little news piece is probably a summary of events that are taking place many miles away. It is easy to speculate about why this might be happening, but it is hard to imagine. I have visited many parishes in many countries and it is hard to imagine that Catholics might be thought of as someone’s enemy. I grew up in the Bible Belt where there were tensions from time to time, but they were more the subject of sermons thought to give testimony that one group was better than another. We did foolish things growing up around here but we were mixed in with every kind of religion.

We feel a certain amount of frustration when we hear that some of our brother and sister Catholics have lost their lives because they are a different religion. I can imagine the scene of a few people at a time, slipping into a side door to come to Mass. To not call attention would certainly be better. Just like in our parish there would be hugs to greet one another. Having made it through the door would make everyone feel safe. There were little conversations in every part of the Church, discussing the well-being of some in the little congregation that were not present. But everyone was accounted for and they nervously started the Mass.

We can hardly dismiss the thoughts that this is the way it was for the first Christians. One of the criticisms of the ancient Church was that it was a secret society, with a closed membership. If it were too open it would quickly call attention. There is a little archeological evidence to help form this image. There have been found some larger buildings that would hold a hundred to two hundred souls. Interestingly, since there have been lots of Sunday school lessons that told about the Jews persecuting the Christians, some of these were similarly configured. They are like Jewish Synagogues and Christian Churches right next to each other. They are built on quiet streets and no one asked what went on there. Whispers guided those who might be interested in learning more about this unique religious movement.

There are always sacrifices, especially in an organization such as the Church. Sacrifice is a way of life. Sometimes it may not seem so, because the sacrifices seem small or unnoticed. We might hear about them or read about them but if we are not careful we might miss them entirely. I have to imagine that Jesus and the Saints, especially the martyrs take great notice. But this is not merely the stuff of excited children dressed up like Saints. That is all very well and good, especially if someday they realize that the costume they are wearing is more real than they might think. We could certainly say a lot about Columbine and other such horrific and violent events. And for those in Nigeria, may they be remembered with the glory of the martyrs. May the blood that was shed by those gathering for Mass be remembered as an efficacious sign of the Passion and Death of Jesus. May His Passion heal our world.

We would ask ourselves if this could help us all to be more enthusiastic about our attendance at Mass. Simply ask the question, “Am I going to be in Mass this Sunday?”

We are taking a collection during Cardinal Tumi’s visit. It will be sent to the Church in Nigeria in memory of those who have lost their lives in the civil strife there.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the whole parish of St. Jude. You have accomplished another goal as our parish continues to grow in God’s grace. Thanks to all who have supported this effort financially. For those who have made significant sacrifices, may God bless you for your service to the work of our community. This effort is not merely to improve our “work space.” It is to be further evidence of the light and grace of God flowing through our parish to the community that we are called to serve.

One of the mysteries of our Faith that we should receive with great joy is the mystery of the parish community. There are times when we feel strongly motivated to a deep affection for our parish. At these times it is a community in every sense of the word. We want to pile up descriptive words, especially those that relate to the “family.” A priest understands this on a daily basis, especially because of the use of the title “Father.” The community is not like a corporation or even a team, these are words that never occur in the New Testament.

It is curious that there seems to have been something of an evolution of the use of the Greek word “ecclesia” (from which comes the word ecclesiastical, having to do with the church.) Originally the word synagogue and church were completely interchangeable. Gradually, the paths divided and our Jewish brothers and sisters stopped using the word “church” and preferred the word “synagogue.” The Christians did the same thing, only preferring the word “church”. Under this there was a division between the synagogue and the church that is reflected in the use of words. It is with sorrow that this division was recognized by the first Christians. St. Paul remembers it with great sadness:

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. (Romans 9:1-3 NAB)

It is with great humility that we should approach the community of the Church. God has given us the assurance of His acceptance of us. Through the Church we are made part of the Body of His Son:

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell... (Colossians 1:13-19 NAB)

It is not by chance that we have been brought to this place in our journey. We are guided every day to the work God has given us. We should be ready, always, to spring into action at His call, for we are his beloved children, members of the Body of his Son.