Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel:

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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When I think of Nagasaki, Japan, I think about the atomic bomb, which was dropped on it during World War Two, incinerating 37,000 people in a matter of seconds.

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But 350 years earlier, the people of Nagasaki were facing another tragedy. The Japanese government was trying to systematically wipe out our faith; Christians were being killed by the thousands. 

The first known group of martyrs included Saint Paul Miki and 25 of his companions, all of whom were crucified on a hill outside of Nagasaki, much like Jesus. 

Among them were not only priests…but also the elderly, women, and children. We celebrate their memory today.

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Like Jesus, Saint Paul Miki used the cross as his pulpit to preach love and forgiveness.

These were his final words: “After Christ’s example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as fruitful rain.”

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The Japanese continued trying to stomp out the Catholic faith until all traces of it were lost.

In fact, missionaries would not return to Japan for another two hundred years…

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But when they did, they discovered there were thousands of Christians living underground in Nagasaki and beyond, revealing that Paul Miki’s prayer was answered.

The Church never dies.

It continues to spread for God’s glory and for the salvation of souls. 

You and I are invited to share in this victory by spreading our faith in Jesus. How might I do that today?

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Image credits: (1) Archdiocese of Malta (2) Go!Good News Network, St. Paul Miki and Companions (3) Blog Archives, Verbum Dei Philippines

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Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Snacking is a popular American pastime. According to a recent survey, 94% of Americans admit to snacking at least once a day.

50% claim to snack three times per day!

I spoke to someone recently who said, “Father, I suffer from lack-a-snack-a-phobia!”

“Lack-a-snack-a-phobia,” I said. “What’s that?”

“The fear of not having a snack when you want one. So, I always carry a bag of chips in my purse!”

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The key ingredient to most snacks is salt.

Just a pinch of it goes a long way.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” Not, “You should be.” Not, “You might want to think about it.” 

“You are.”

We flavor the world around us much like salt flavors a chip. 

A little love – a dash of faith – goes a long way.

Think about how children feel when they open their lunchbox and find a note from mom or dad within. 

How you feel when someone offers you a compliment. Or the weight lifted from your shoulders when someone says, “I’m sorry.” Or a phone call, text, or visit from a friend when you’re sick or lonely.

Just a pinch of love goes a long way.

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Salt also preserves. Certainly, in the ancient world, salt was essential for keeping bacteria out of food. Without it, people could’ve gotten terribly sick.

So, if we are salty Christians, then what must we preserve? 

Our faith. 

We live it, learn it, and hand it on to the next generation. I think about our catechists, in particular, who labor week after week to preserve their faith and to teach it to our children.

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And salt facilitates thirst. Whenever you polish off a bag of Rold Gold pretzels, you’re thirsty. 

Similarly, Christians are meant to inspire a thirst in others for Christ, who calls himself, “the living water.”

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In what ways do I inspire faith – a thirst for Christ – in others?

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“You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.”

Salt flavors. Light dispels the darkness. 

Darkness is often associated with fear, chaos, the unknown. I remember as a child always wanting to sleep with a light on. I was afraid there might be something under my bed or in my closet…thankfully, there never was!

But just that tiny nightlight made me feel secure.

That’s the power of light – and by extension, the power of a Christian. We dispel the darkness. We order the chaos. We brighten the world around us. And make others feel loved and secure. 

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The nature of light is to burn bright. But it always comes at a cost to itself. 

Think about the sun and the stars. They warm and brighten the earth … and will continue to do so until they have no energy left.

That’s the type of person each of us is called to be – to give without counting the cost.

I think of parents who gladly tote their kids around town; who work all day to put bread on the table; grandparents who joyfully babysit the kids; parishioners who offer their skills, happily volunteering their time to help our parish grow.

And, above all, Jesus who on the last night of his life on earth gave us the only thing he had left, his Body and Blood.

So, in what ways are we the light of the world? How do we spend ourselves for others?

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“You are the light of the world, the salt of the earth,” Jesus says.

Bright and salty.

What might that look like for me this coming week?

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Image credits: (1) Christian Liberty Academy (2) Pastor Daniel Flucke, WordPress (3) Medium, Christopher Hoskins

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Gospel:

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

    “Now, Master, you may let your servant go 
        in peace, according to your word,
    for my eyes have seen your salvation,
        which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
    a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
-and you yourself a sword will pierce-
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The heart of today’s Feast of the Presentation is Jesus. But the Gospel also mentions another person, Anna, who is one of the few female prophets in the bible. This will be our only encounter with her.

So, a word today on Anna.

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Anna spent most of her life as a widow. 

Anyone who’s lost a loved one – particularly a spouse – has known the sorrow of Anna. But her sorrow didn’t make her bitter; in a sense, God became her spouse. As Luke tells us, she never left the temple.

Anna reminds us that sorrow can do one of two things in life: it can dry up our faith. Or it can make us softer, more compassionate people.

In her case, she became a stronger believer.

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Anna was eighty-four.

Age changes us. As we become increasingly frail, there’s the temptation to hibernate and complain about our aches and pains. 

But Anna shows us a different way: she got up every morning and offered her day to the Lord. She was proactive in doing good.

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What was her secret? Where did she draw her strength from? How did she become so gentle in spirit?

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Anna left room in her heart for the Holy Spirit, which is why she recognized Jesus that day.

In a word, she prayed.

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Perhaps it’s not too late for us to add another New Year’s resolution: to pray daily like Anna, committing ourselves more fully to God.

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Image credits: (1) Anna the Prophet, Grace and Peace Joanne, LLC, YouTube (2) Anna the Prophetess, Pinterest (3) Prince of Peace Church