The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – Cycle A (December 29, 2013)

First reading: Sir. 3: 2-6, 12-14

“For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.  He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother.  He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard.  He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the Lord who brings comfort to his mother.  My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.  Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength.  For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering—it will take lasting root.”

 

Second reading: Col. 3: 12-17

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with in another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.  And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

 

Gospel reading: Mt. 2: 13-15, 19-23

“When they had departed, behold, the angle of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.’  Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’

“When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.’  He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there.  And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.  He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He shall be called a Nazorean.’”

 

Introductory theme summary:

The common theme of today’s readings commemorating the Holy Family, obviously, relates to the honor and respect due to fathers and mothers ideally represented by the examples of Joseph and Mary.  Interestingly, the second reading, which expresses how we are all expected to treat one another in all things in order to fulfil the expectation of those who would qualify as being ‘chosen,’ ‘holy,’ or ‘beloved’ in Christ, is appropriately included with these two readings because this circumstance of family provides the most challenging situation for most of us to apply that condition. 

 

Reflection:

Having come from a divorced family, the concept of family was always a difficult concept for me to appreciate.  Not that I didn’t try.  I did.  But when one’s understanding of family requires their parents to remain married after becoming divorced, it’s just impossible to resolve that circumstance.  This is not, however, an insurmountable circumstance to overcome in order to still acquire a sense of family for one’s self.

I spent years struggling to reconcile the divisive effect my parent’s divorce caused within myself.  I seemed always stuck between choosing between sides.  This wasn’t just with respect to who I lived with or even which one I was closest to, but also even to the depths of which one I was most like and how I felt about those likenesses. 

I imagine this is much more common for others than I ever realized while I was going through the struggle on my own.  I’m not sure how common my solution to the obstacle was compared to others, but it had significant benefits for me so I feel it’s worth sharing.  As a consequence of doing so, I am breaking from my usual approach to my Sunday Reflections.  My apologies for those, if any, who prefer the other.

I remember sitting one day reflecting on this very struggle, when it occurred to me; instead of either/or it was actually both.  In other words: instead of deciding which one I was most like I simply needed to accept that I was like both, and not apologize to either one for also being like the other.  This ultimately led me to realize the real conflict was simply within myself.  All the while the obstructing illusion caused me to mistakenly presume, if they couldn’t accomplish a peaceful relationship between each other, I couldn’t find peace within myself because I was like both.  If, however, I could resolve the conflict of their differences that existed within myself, their inability to reconcile their differences became irrelevant.  By finding peace within myself I accomplished complete resolution for myself.  In essence, I became able where there were not, in so far as I possessed their likenesses, which, in their defense, is considerably different from two separate individuals.

This then freed me to begin a new relationship with both of my parents that was completely independent of the other and their failed marriage.  Only now do I begin to actually supplement for myself a sense of family by accomplishing a closeness with both of my parents within the singularity of my own individual heart.  Now, the respect due to my mother and father has become very easy for me; and it gives me great pleasure to both honor and love both of my parents despite their faults, which, I must add, WE ALL HAVE.

I don’t presume that everyone’s divorced family circumstance is the same by any means, but I do desire to communicate the possibility of accomplishing family for those who come from divorce, and do so without having to abandon the traditional understanding of family as our present society would seem to suggest by celebrating so many alternatives to it.  If one can accomplish peace within one’s self towards all other members of his or her family, whether they are at peace with each other or not, isn’t that what being a family is ultimately about; loving and caring for each other enough to actually be at peace for everyone’s benefit?

Come, let us celebrate our own families as they actually are, with all their faults; and in so doing we will accomplish family is it was meant to be, imperfect but true by virtue of sincerity!

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Cycle A (December 22, 2013)

First reading: Is. 7: 10-14

“Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!  But Ahaz answered, ‘I will not ask!  I will not tempt the Lord!’  Then he said: Listen, O house of David!  Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God!?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

 

Second reading: Rom. 1: 1-7

“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Gospel reading: Mt. 1: 18-24

“Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit.  Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.  Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  For 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, because he will save his people from their sins.  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us.’  When Joseph awoke, he did as the angle of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”

 

Introductory theme summary:

It may not be obvious but all three readings focus on the subject of Jesus’ nature.  Being born of a virgin necessitates our belief in him as begotten by God, thus making God His Father and Him God’s very own Son, sharing in One and the same divine nature as God.

 

Reflection:

As beautiful as these readings are, they also represent the very stumbling block for all non-believers in Jesus Christ.  Some see Jesus as a man who made himself out to be God.  But we who do believe see Him as having always existed as God, first, and then chose to become man, second, not the other way around.  For us this is evidence of God’s overwhelming love for all humanity by choosing to come down from heaven to become human like us in order to save us. 

Part of this belief requires accepting the principal of sin as a reality that warrants the horrible consequence of death or damnation as the Judeo-Christian faith believes.  Without a Messiah to save us from this just consequence we would all be doomed.  Unfortunately, many non-believers do not accept this principal as a reality.  Therefore, they see no personal need for a savior. 

The real error, however, is greater than disbelieving in our need to be saved from the consequence of death or damnation for sin.  By becoming our savior Jesus saved us from every aspect of sin, not just the eternal consequence for it.  By faith in the divine nature of Jesus Christ we submit ourselves to the Lord who is able to subject all things to Himself, thereby giving us new life in him by which we become able to overcome every aspect of sin in our lives on a daily basis.

The real reason more people don’t believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ, and become Christian, is because we who call ourselves Christians fail to display that new life by our own ability to overcome sin in our own lives.  Why should they believe as we believe when we do not show ourselves any different from those who do not?  As Paul says,[1] we must life lives worthy of our call, and do so for the love of converting those who do not believe. 

That is our responsibility as Christians; to be the light in this darkened world.

Come, let us all be the light for those who do not as yet believe in the divine nature of Jesus Christ so that they too may discover new life in Christ.

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[1] Eph. 4:1-6  “I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love…”

Third Sunday of Advent - Cycle A (December 15, 2013)

First reading: Is. 35: 1-6a, 10

“The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom.  They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.  The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.  Strengthen the hands that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!  Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.”
 

Second reading: Jas. 5: 7-10

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  You too must be patient.  Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged.  Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.  Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke on the name of the Lord.”
 

Gospel reading: Mt. 11: 2-11

“When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’  Jesus said to them in reply, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleaned, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.’

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, ‘What did you go out to the desert to see?  A reed swayed by the wind?  Then what did you go out to see?  Someone dressed in fine clothing?  Those who wear fine clothing are in royal places.  Then why did you go out?  To see a prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about who it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’ 

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

 
Introductory theme summary:

The theme common to all three readings this week addresses three different perspectives of the people of God.  The Old Testament reading, surprisingly, addresses the inclusion of the then Gentile people when they too become included among God’s people.  The second reading addresses what would appear to be a persistent problem for us former Gentiles; even till this day.  And finally, the Gospel points to a surprising distinction of the unforeseen dignity to be enjoyed exclusively by all those future people of God.
  

Reflection:

To the ancient Jews, the Gentiles were completely barren regarding faith in the One True God, much like the metaphor of a desert.  When considering this correlation, the meaning of the first reading takes on a strikingly different significance, truly opening the passage for us.  Since our inclusion into the People of God, Christianity has yielded a fertility previously unknown to the ancient world.  During the ancient times the People of God, the Jews, didn’t seek out the conversion of Gentiles to the ways of the Israelites.  Since the resurrection of Christ, however, we who have joined the People of God, the Christians, are converting the world to an unprecedented belief in God.  As a direct result of that we are transforming the entire world.  The beginnings of the new world can presently be seen clearly emerging from our Christian beliefs. 

In the second reading, we are reminded to not be critical of others, but interestingly, as a necessity to avoiding our own judgment.  Even to this day, those of us who fully accept the appropriate response to God’s unmerited gift of salvation, by repenting our sins and sinfulness, are tempted to be critical of those who don’t seem to understand this requirement.  This is a tremendous temptation for all of us, myself included.  We must persevere in our resolve to avoid this trapping, lest, as the passage cites, we provoke God’s judgment upon ourselves for our self-righteous presumptions, and failure to practice brotherly love.  Instead, as discussed in the first week of advent, it would be considerably more appropriate for us to pray for the neglects of our brothers and sisters with the hope of facilitating their eventual conversion to accepting this condition of holiness.  Appropriately, the second reading gives us the sufferings of the prophets as an example for our encouragement, because it is as those prophets suffered that our sufferings in this circumstance is likened.

Finally, the most interesting line of the Gospel reading is the last one.  It’s a bit of a puzzle, really, the statement that the one who prepared the way for the Lord is less than the least in the kingdom of heaven.  How could such a thing be true?  And, yet it is, if for no other reason that the Lord said it.  There is more to the reason than that however. 

To explain: We know that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit, even while in his mother’s womb.  This clearly accomplished a sanctification for John the Baptist, likely similar to the baptism that he preached to his contemporaries, which is how he came to understand his ministry in preparing the way for the Lord.  However, John’s question indicates he wasn’t uncertain of knowing if Jesus was the Messiah.  Because John suffered this uncertainty suggests, though John was sanctified he lacked the knowledge of Christ’s presence by which we all come to know Jesus as the Messiah.  That knowledge comes from Christ’s spirit, which was willed to us by Christ from the Cross; but the crucifixion hadn’t yet been fulfilled.  As a consequence of his place in the order of God’s accomplishment of Salvation, John the Baptist never had the opportunity to receive Christ’s own spirit and therefore never knew Jesus as we who have now know Him. 

To follow this train of thought even further, Jesus makes the reference to a person’s greatness as a direct result from this knowledge of Christ.  Contrary to attitudes of many present day theologian’s, there are differing measures of greatness in the kingdom.  By the analogy of John’s only difference from the least of us Christians, it is by the presence of Christ that all souls will be measured.  Therefore, a soul will only be as great in the kingdom as that person has converted to the likeness of Christ, regardless of that person’s vocation in life.

This is a very sobering reality that equalizes everyone’s chances for greatness.  It is only by likeness to Christ that we will all be measured.  Whether, pope, cardinal, bishop, priest, deacon, lay, religious, doctor, lawyer, plumber, electrician, athlete, artist, home-maker, or whatever… it doesn’t matter.  Likeness to Christ is equally available to all souls. 

Are you willing to do all that it takes to become like Christ?

Second Sunday of Advent - Cycle A (December 8, 2013)

 

First reading: Is. 11: 1-10

“But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.  Not by appearances shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.  He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.  Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.  Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.  The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox.  The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.  There shall be no more harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.  On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.”

 

Second reading: Rom. 15: 4-9

“For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.  For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  As it is written: Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.”

 

Gospel reading: Mt. 3: 1-12

“In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea [and] saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’  It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: ‘A voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locust and wild honey.  At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. 

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘you brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce good fruit as evidence of you repentance.  And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘we have Abraham as our father.’  For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.  I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you will the holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in his hand.  He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

 

Introductory theme summary:

There is a double theme in today’s readings.  The primary theme points to the anticipated coming of the Messiah, with the secondary theme pointing to the environment surrounding his coming.  The first reading describes the Messiah’s attributes and the environment that will result from his coming, with the second reading pointing to the environment immediately following his having come; and the Gospel reading highlights his actual “Coming.”

 

Reflection:

Most notably, in the first reading we have a description of an idyllic society that results directly from the coming of the Messiah.  However, a literal or even metaphorical understanding of that description indicates that, though the Messiah has come, this society has yet to come.  We should note that the description of that society, in most examples, puts what are naturally hostile members of the animal kingdom together in a strikingly peaceful association with one another.

In the second reading we have Paul urging how necessary it is for the Jews and the Gentiles to accept one another in order to form a unification of all people in Christ as God’s people.  From this we can begin to identify a metaphorical understanding for the first reading’s description as pointing to the hostility between Gentile and Jew; or rather, differences between people that we would characterize today as prejudices. 

When putting these two readings together for a better understanding of the idyllic society we all wait in joyful hope for, it can safely be asserted that WE have a part to play in that eventuality.  We must fully embrace the Christian principal of loving thy neighbor for that to occur, and do so with utter and total completeness.  This is a tremendous challenge for all of us in this self-seeking society of ours that still sins, in many cases with total abandon, and as well commits injustices against the weak with barely a thought. 

What must WE do to change the course of our society?

Let’s examine the Gospel reading to see if it yields an answer to this question for us.  In the Gospel we have John the Baptist’s call “Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand.”  The Gospel reading is solely concerned with the absolute necessity for us to repent our sins.  According to John’s perspective there is a direct correlation between the coming of the Kingdom and OUR repentance of sin.  Now clearly, those who are reading this are not likely to represent those impenitent just mentioned above.  So, the question for us now becomes: how can we who accept the need to repent our sins, and injustices, influence those who do not, to do so in order to change the course of our society?

Truly, this is the toughest problem our society now faces.  Every ill behavior our society faces is in its own essence – SIN.  Unfortunately, as soon as anyone instructs another on their sins and the need to repent them that person who dares to express such a concern is perceived as self-righteous and reasonably critical.  These concerns are heard as judgments rather than as genuine concern for another person’s eternal well-being.  No one seems humble enough to accept instruction from another concerning their own sins.  Do they not understand, “A wise son loves correction, but the senseless one heeds no rebuke” (Prv. 13:1)? 

Conversely, it truly is every individual’s personal responsibility to listen to his or her own conscience.  This, it would seem, renders everyone who does not have the legitimate authority to instruct another on matters concerning sin, speechless, thus reserving that responsibility to all parents and religious leaders exclusively.  What are we to do if parents and our religious leaders no longer remind believers of the need to repent their sins and sinfulness?

Well the answer is actually very simple, just not easy.  In a word: Forbearance!  There is no better way to provoke the silenced voice of a sinner’s conscience than to turn the other cheek when faced with suffering the injury of their sins, and injustices.  This is also the boldest way to display ourselves as true children of God, and incite the motion of the Holy Spirit.  There will be no need for proclamations from us of any kind.  The Holy Spirit will communicate to each conscience all that is needed to be heard by that soul; and do so better than any person could even imagine accomplishing on his or her own.  This is how the children of God are meant to work WITH the Holy Spirit.  All we need to do is love them enough to forbear their injuries, and forgivingly pray for them to come to repentance.  This is the greatest challenge for all true Christians that yields the greatest of all fruits – participation in Christ’s sacrifice as full members of His body.

 

Come!  Let us show ourselves to be TRUE children of God and advance God’s kingdom on earth by practicing forbearance so that the Holy Spirit can instruct and inspire sinners to repent their sins and injustices.

First Sunday of Advent - Cycle A (December 1, 2013)

 

First reading: Is. 2: 1-5

“This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills.  All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.’  For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples.  They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
 

Second reading: Rom. 13: 11-14

“And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.  For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.  Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”
 

Gospel reading: Mt. 24: 37-44

“For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  In [those] days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.  They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.  So will it be [also] at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Therefore, stay awake!  For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.  Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.  So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

 
Introductory theme summary:

All of the readings this week address three different dimensions of the hope for the coming of God’s kingdom.  In the first reading we have a description of how nations will respond to God’s kingdom when it is fully established.  The second reading addresses the reality that our present time is a transitory period for waiting until that time becomes fulfilled; and the Gospel reading specifically addresses the parousia, the second coming, when our Lord does return to consummate the full establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. 

 

Reflection:

It’s kind of interesting that the first readings of Advent, a season for anticipating the very happy celebration of our Lord’s birth, would begin with readings that all point to the much graver reality of our Lord’s second coming.  Quite different from the Nativity, anticipating this moment in the future is distinctly sobering rather than filled with excited anticipation. 

Even if one is confident of his or her own salvation, brotherly love should compel all true Christians to an overwhelming concern for the eternal welfare of all others; especially when one considers the harsh consequences that will befall all the impenitent.  In truth, if one’s focus is simply on his or her own salvation, he or she has most likely neglected the condition of loving one’s neighbor as one’s self, and in reality, such a confidence in salvation would then actually be a presumption.  

Still, this is a difficult perspective to consider in this day and age where the attitudes of “live and let live,” and “don’t proselytize me” are so prevalent throughout our society.  In fact, it is a moral obligation for everyone to respect the liberty of all people’s free will.  However, that dispenses no one from caring for the eternal welfare of other human beings, and expressing that concern.  As true Christians we are obligated to develop and express such concerns.  And, if our concerns are denied, while we must respect their liberty, we must not deny our Christian responsibility.  We are to maintain our concern, but instead express those concerns through prayer.  That is how every lay Catholic is called to practice his and her priesthood in Christ.

Now naturally, if one isn’t practicing his or her own faith sufficiently so as to enjoy some assurance of salvation, then that should become that individual’s immediate concern without any delay.  The second reading helps us, dramatically, to understand one of the most important aspects of Christianity that is too often taken for granted.  Though Christ has won, for us, pardon from our sins; no one is exempt from the responsibility of still conform his or her behavior to moral acceptability.  A true faith in Christ cannot respond in any other way.  The motivation for this conformity is simply humility and gratitude.  As if to say: “I need you  . . . and, I thank you  . . . so, I want to please you, Lord.”

Everyone knows how difficult it is to persevere, especially when it comes to things as difficult as not sinning.  The message in the Gospel reading addresses this by stressing the importance of not becoming relaxed in our self-discipline.  The secret to achieving constancy in moral conformity is to become happy in conformity.  When ‘being conformed’ causes greater satisfaction than the temporary pleasure of sin, it then becomes a simple matter of preference.  When such a preference is fully embraced, the fear in watchfulness will disappear.

The most interesting of the three readings, really, is the first reading in which we have a description of what kind of world we will ultimately have when God’s kingdom is fully established.  Certainly these passages were written for the encouragement of the people of those ancient times.  However, many Old Testament scriptures utilize metaphors to explain hidden meanings that are intended for later generations, while still affording the current generation their much needed hope.  Considering nations have continued to train for war since those ancient times, the full meaning of this passage was clearly meant for a later generation than those ancient people.  

Unfortunately, an in-depth examination of those metaphors exceeds the scope of a Sunday homily, so this reflection will not be burdened with an attempt to explain those metaphors.  Instead I will paraphrase Isaiah while supplementing present day meanings for the metaphors to convey a present day application accordingly.

Paraphrasing Isaiah 2: 1-5:

In the future Christianity shall become the greatest religion, having more power than even governments.  Nations and peoples will voluntarily subject themselves to God through Christianity and Catholicism.  Christian principals will become the standard for the world’s values, and Catholicism will successfully communicate God’s will for all people.  Then the Lord Himself will establish order between all the nations, and they will practice war no more.

The most important verse of the whole passage is the last one, yet paraphrased, which reads; “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”  This verse quite simply means; let “the revelation of the Children of God” (Rom. 8:19) come, so that life on earth may be enjoyed as God created life to be enjoyed.   

Now, if we were be back in ancient times, and were told; ‘out of Judaism would come a religion that would take its name from a single man whom people would came to believe in as God incarnate, and that religion would become so widely spread throughout the world that it would become the largest in the world,’ we would probably have thought it delusional.  Yet, that is precisely what has happened.  Is it really too much to believe that God can also accomplish a world that does not practice war?  I don’t think so.  More importantly, I think our Christian faith obligates us to believe that very thing.  Why?  Because these passages in Isaiah give us that specific testimony, and His word is trustworthy. 

Come!  Let us practice our faith, and believe that God can . . .  and will . . .  do, exactly what He said He will do.