Moving from Darkness into Light

Moving from darkness into light, experiencing factions and divisions, and being called to discipleship are huge themes in this weekend’s readings, all deserving of reflection.

Isaiah speaks of a tremendous promise fulfilled, and “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Most of us, from time to time, experience darkness, gloom, and heaviness from burdens we bear. How is the promise of “a great light” part of our experience? Who is that light in our lives? As followers of Jesus, do we recognize when we can be that light?

Paul’s writing mirrors much of what we are experiencing in life today. We experience factions and divisions in so many aspects of our lives—in families, in sporting events, in politics, in business practices, in beliefs about justice issues. Paul preaches with great urgency about the desire to “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” As hard as it may be, we are all urged to listen to each other, to respect each other, and to try to identify the values that we share—to find common ground.

At the heart of both darkness and divisions in our lives is the call to “come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus extends the invitation to teach, to proclaim the Gospel, and to heal. Those called dropped everything to teach, counsel, and heal. What do we need to drop today in order to follow? Are we able to drop our phones, football games, video games, Facebook, online shopping, or whatever it is that gets in the way of our following Jesus and attending to those God puts in our path as needing light in darkness, unity among factions and the attention Jesus gave to those who were most vulnerable?

To walk in light, to heal divisions, and to say YES to God’s calls in our lives, for this let us all work and pray.

Me, Holy?

Baptism is our call to be holy. Do we consider ourselves holy persons? How would we know if we are holy? Our readings for this weekend suggest and encourage us to be just that—holy! In these readings we experience the call to be servants, to be a light to the nations, to give evidence of our attentiveness to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The prophet Isaiah promises Israel that they will become a “light to the nations.” That’s a pretty great calling, a huge commission. What does it mean to us to receive such a commission? How and where do we see our St. Francis faith community commissioned to be a “light”?

Let us pray this weekend that we will be servants, individually and collectively, who say with great integrity and firm resolve, “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”

Baptism Reflections

This Sunday marks the end of the Christmas season! Are you surprised? The baptism of Jesus is the beginning of his public life of ministry. Jesus is baptized by John and in the depths of the Jordan River takes on the sins of all and begins the journey to the cross, the cross that brings all of us salvation. The will of the Father becomes his focus, even unto death.

At St. Francis, the community baptizes children and adults during the liturgy. The assembly, the community gathers to welcome this new “holy child of God.” We all renew our baptismal promises, we invoke the saints to help us lead a new life in Christ. We sing, “You have put on Christ” and “You have been baptized.” The newly baptized is given a candle, the light of Christ. We pledge to help the parents, to be the community that surrounds and uplifts them.

What happens to us then, when we witness and experience Baptism in the midst of the gathered community? What memory of our own baptism do we have? How and when do we reclaim deeply the meaning of our baptism?

Our baptism is the most important credential we own. How do we give witness to that? Recently, I framed my baptismal certificate as a reminder. How will we remember our baptism this week? How will we “begin again” our ministry of proclaiming Christ?

Epiphanies

We all rush to see the birth of a new family member, no matter how near or far they may be. Sometimes we vie for who sees the baby first.  Jesus’ first visitors were Jewish shepherds and pagan astrologers, not counting the animals, the angels, and the star that were present at the birth.

Although they were led by a star, the journey of the Magi was troublesome, interrupted by a devious, jealous ruler. You might say they struggled with terrorism—Herod’s destruction of all boys under the age of three.

Do we find “Herods” in the world today? Who are Joseph, Mary, and Jesus running from today?

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis emphasizes that Jesus came to us in human form so that all might have access to him.

We must never forget that we are all pilgrims journeying alongside one another. This means that we must have sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of God’s face. Trusting others is an art and peace is an art.

Today we all look for a star, a light in the darkness. We seek wisdom and guidance in the midst of confusion. We ardently desire to be filled with the radiant love of God, often made known in the birth of a child. We yearn for epiphanies—new understandings of what it means to have wonderful care for each other, to dare to listen to each other in the midst of differences, and to boldly choose paths that lead to life.

Just as the Magi followed the star, may we seek out and be inspired by the spiritual work of musical composers, artists, writers, and poets.

For the Sake of Children

Can you think of any experiences where parents have to be brave to help their children? Joseph once again pays attention to a dream and flees to Egypt for the safety of his family. He is faithful and courageous. His is a radical action. The trek is long, mostly through wilderness, without provisions of water, and filled with danger from bandits.

Joseph and Mary immediately exercise their role as protectors of their child in dire circumstances. They become refugees, escaping the tyranny of King Herod, who had ordered the death of their child.

As you read and watch the news, see if you discover men (and women) who are willing to be both bold and brave for others, especially for the sake of their children. We learn about refugees/asylum seekers who are escaping the tyranny of governments and leaders who prey on the poor, the unwanted. We hear of women and children who flee abusive family relationships—sexual, psychological and verbal abuse that threaten their lives. Often they too have to leave without provisions or assurance of a place of safety as their final destination.

In his homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis points out that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees. Why would a savior arrive as a baby, when he could have come as a king? as a refugee? as homeless?

… Therefore, as we fix our gaze on the Holy Family of Nazareth as they were forced to become refugees, let us think of the tragedy of those migrants and refugees who are victims of rejection and exploitation, who are victims of human trafficking and of slave labour.

… Jesus wanted to belong to a family who experienced these hardships, so that no one would feel excluded from the loving closeness of God.

https://liturgy.slu.edu/HolyFamilyA122919/reflections_osdieck.html

Today we pray and act to accept our responsibilities as families to provide for the safety and security of our own children as well as those of strangers. We also pray for the many “angels” who warn of danger and guide others to safety. And we pray for new understandings of what it means to flee danger and act with courage, to sacrifice anything and everything for the future of children everywhere.

Joseph’s Dilemma

Doing the right thing! How did Joseph decide what to do when he discovers that Mary is pregnant? Common sense? The rules of the day? Doing what is proper? Protection from shaming? Joseph apparently is pretty sure what he has to do. But it all changes when an angel appears in a dream, when God enters the picture. Joseph receives new information, new understanding, new courage. What makes Joseph such an honorable man is his capacity to rethink his actions once God enters the picture in a surprising way.

This Sunday’s Gospel gives us an opportunity to reflect on what “fathering” involves today. In all family relationships, I am sure that each of us is caught in dilemmas about what the right thing to do is.

Have there been occasions when you were sure of the proper course of action and been forced to rethink things when you have come to a new understanding of the situation?

How do situations look different once we put God in the equation?

And so we pray: God of possibilities, deliver us from the presumption of thinking we know ahead of time the proper response to your surprising presence in our lives. Help us to remember that you are at work at all times, creating with compassion and mercy, in action for justice.