On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There’s a beautiful, sometimes overlooked, detail in today’s Gospel.
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After Jesus rose from the dead, he tossed his burial cloths aside – much like we’d toss aside dirty laundry, because he had no further use for them.
But he took the time to roll up the cloth once covering his head, placing it in a separate area.
Why would he do that?
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There was a custom in ancient Israel where a master would drop his napkin on the table when he was finished eating, signaling for his servants to clean the table.
The napkin had served its purpose; it was used, much like dirty laundry.
But if the master folded his napkin, then it meant he wasn’t finished eating; he was coming back.
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Jesus folded his napkin.
As the Gospel tell us, he “rolled it up in a separate place,” meaning:
“I’m not finished. I’m coming back.”
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Image credits: (1) The Message Hub, WordPress (2) Art and the Bible, Burnand (3) The Exalted Christ
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Maybe you’ve heard the old Chinese proverb, “Not one family can put a sign outside their home with the words: No Problems Here.”
Not one family – not even the Holy Family – can say, “No problems here.”
We all experience stress, growing pains, and bumps in the road.
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Consider the conditions Mary, Joseph, and Jesus experienced that first Christmas night.
They were homeless. Mary gives birth to Jesus in a stable, because there was no room for them in the inn.
I don’t know about you, but if I were welcoming my first child into the world, I’d rather be anywhere else than a stable surrounded by animals.
Yet there they were.
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Then, shortly after Christ’s birth, King Herod tries killing the infant Jesus!
Imagine having just given birth to your first-born child, then being forced to flee your home because the king issued a death warrant for you son.
Nobody dreams of being homeless, persecuted, or a refugee.
But Mary and Joseph had no choice.
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Twelve years later, as we hear in today’s Gospel, Jesus gets separated from his family in the temple. When Mary and Joseph find him, they’re exhausted from worrying.
These become the first words Mary speaks to Jesus in scripture: “Why have you done this to us?”
Every parent knows the fear of losing a child. Mary and Joseph were no different, reminding us that not one family, not even the Holy Family, can say, “No problems here.”
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But what makes the Holy Family “holy” isn’t just the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. Our families could never compare with that.
What makes the Holy Family “holy” – and relatable to us – is the fact that they endured all of these trials together.
Being homeless, persecuted, refugees, and losing a child in a crowd must’ve been incredibly stressful experiences.
Yet the Gospels never describe Mary and Joseph in conflict; they don’t yell at each other, they don’t call each other names, or force Jesus to take sides. They endure everything together.
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Herein lies the invitation for us.
There’s a world of difference between being stressed and being divided.
Every family is stressed from time to time. But we don’t have to be divided.
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What causes stress in my family? Or, what threatens to divide us?
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It could be as simple as a minor spat at Christmas.
Or, it could be something a little more serious. Perhaps the venom of addiction; unresolved feelings; troubled finances; a daunting illness; an absentee spouse – either physically or emotionally; an angry teenager mad at the world.
Like the Holy Family, it’s possible to remain united in spite of these challenges.
Although it’s much easier said than done, there are three simple phrases that can build us up: Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry. Phrases that should be spoken often, if not every day.
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Not one family, not even the Holy Family, can put a sign outside their home with the words, “No Problems Here.”
At times, every family is tested. But the Holy Family remind us that it’s possible – and better – endure all things together.
May Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) Les Dawson (2) St. Paul Center (3) FSSPX.news (4) Good Housekeeping
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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It never ceases to amaze me just how spellbound children are when they first see Santa.
It’s as if they’re in the presence of the Divine.
I’m sure we’ve all seen children approach Santa, gently hand him their handwritten letters, whisper in his ear exactly what they want, and walk away with a sparkle in their eyes, knowing Santa has the power to grant it.
Ask any child – Santa can do the impossible.
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The way children approach Santa reminds me of the innocence that once was within all of us… Maybe it still is.
It’s the innocence of belief.
In particular, it’s the belief that there is Someone out there listening to us… that there is Someone who cares for us… that there is Someone who knows what we want… and that special Someone has the power to grant it.
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That special Someone is, above all, God himself.
You will find here at St. Pius X as we journey together, God has done – and God will do – the impossible. He has listened to our prayers, and you will see, he has answered them.
Perhaps before Christmas ends, you and I can just close our eyes and see ourselves sitting on our heavenly Father’s lap. Tap into that innocence of belief. Tell him what you want. Then, see what he does.
Maybe we need deeper faith in his Son, Jesus – a faith that is not shaken when the storms of life come.
Maybe it’s more joy in your heart – a continuous pep in your step.
Maybe it’s a firm hope that 2022 will be better than 2021.
As we close out another year, what is it? What do you want from God?
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When I came to St. Pius X a year ago, I asked God for two things: first, I asked him to bring life into this parish – and look what he’s done.
We’ve developed our first parish pastoral council in 20 years; we have a vision statement – a reason why we exist, explaining what we believe; we have an SPX café; a family chapel; we’ve developed new ministries and revitalized existing ones.
There is life at St. Pius X.
My second prayer to God was this: that we would have a space for young people – and by extension, their parents, grandparents, and relatives – to gather (not just in the narthex).
Here to speak on God’s behalf is Santa, who reveals that we’ve been given what we asked for. I ask you to turn your attention to the screens behind me as Santa makes a very special announcement, reminding us once again, that God does the impossible.
(Santa announces that we will be building a playground behind the church, complete with a small rock climbing wall, monkey bars, and slides, as well as a 2,000 sq. foot half-court for basketball and other sports!)
But as you listen, keep in mind, this is just the beginning.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas and God bless you!
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Image credits: (1) The Columbus Dispatch (2) Very Well Family (3) The Indian Express
