Fr Kevin Kilgore

***

Gospel: Matthew 1: 18-25

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 angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home. 
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

How often does life seem unfair?

We don’t get into the high school or college of our choice; we get a pink slip at work; a poor diagnosis; a relationship ends; a brutal virus ravages our world.

In these moments, the challenge is to believe God is still working in our lives.

***

Consider the life of Saint Joseph. Scripture tells us he was a humble man; an honest man; the type of person you want to root for. Yet his world seems shattered by unfairness.

Mary, his bride-to-be, is pregnant and the child isn’t his. Even after the angel appears to Joseph in a dream and explains what’s happened, his circumstances remain terribly unfair.

God invites Joseph to love a woman whose story he doesn’t fully understand; to protect a baby that he didn’t father; to accept this child as the heir to his name; and, soon enough, to rush into Egypt as a refugee because King Herod put a death warrant out for Jesus.

That’s a tough pill to swallow. 

But maybe there’s a message in that for us.

***

Joseph’s experience of faith reminds us that God is always at work in our lives, even when our circumstances are difficult or seem unfair.

Sometimes we just need to be patient with the Lord – and trust.

When Joseph first heard Mary was pregnant, for example, he thought his life was over. But slowly he began to see that this was the first step towards the salvation of the world. 

What seemed like the end was merely a bend in the road.

***

When have my own life circumstances felt unfair? Or when has the Lord invited me to trust, like Joseph and Mary?

***

In the words Mary, who also finds herself at a bend in the road, “May it be done unto me according to your word.”

***

Gospel: Matthew 1: 1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar. 
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab. 
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab. 
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth. 
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. 
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph. 
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah. 
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. 
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok. 
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar. 
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. 
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

There are some pretty scandalous characters mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus – everyone from fools, liars, and con artists, to adulterers, murderers, and prostitutes!

After listing 42 generations from our own family tree, we might find a bad apple or two, as well. 

But this is Jesus’ family tree, not ours.

It would seem God would’ve chosen only men and women of honor – not sinners – to prepare the way for his Son.

***

But he didn’t.

***

And herein lies a lesson for us.

People often lead messy lives. We make mistakes. We write pages that we wish we could tear out, just like some listed in Jesus’ family tree. 

Still, God used them to prepare the way for his Son’s first coming.

***

Similarly, God uses saints and sinners alike to prepare the way for his Son’s second coming.

We don’t have to be perfect to be instruments of God’s grace in the world. We must simply be willing. 

As we continue through this season of Advent, how might we be instruments of grace?

***

Perhaps we can reach out to the lonely; give a gift; put a smile on someone’s face.

Small gestures that warm the heart, preparing us to receive Christ at Christmas. 

***

***

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (Sunday’s second reading):

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.

The word of the Lord.

***

Christmas is only twelve days away!

For many of us, our trees have been decorated, most of our gifts have been wrapped (unless they’re on back order from Amazon), and our ugly Christmas sweaters have been pulled from the closet.

Although we’ve all had to downsize this Christmas, with fewer family members and friends around the table and perhaps fewer gifts underneath the tree, there’s still excitement in the air.

We need the cheer that comes from Christmas.

It’s been a hard year.

***

But I wonder, is Christian joy something seasonal? Or should we be able to find a reason to rejoice year-round, even while stuck in a pandemic?

In our second reading, Saint Paul says, “Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks.”

Not, “Rejoice while opening Christmas presents.” 

Or, “Rejoice after a vaccine’s been found…or rejoice after you receive it.”

But, “Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks.”

How is this possible? How can we rejoice always?

***

Allow me to offer five simple tips. If one of them strikes you, perhaps make it a New Year’s Resolution.

***

Number one: Be grateful.

We can all find a reason to complain. But studies have shown that the happiest people are also the most grateful. 

Strangely enough, some of the happiest people are also the poorest people. Although they have very little materially, they’re grateful for what they have.

If you know the twinge of hunger, for example, then it’s easier to be grateful for a hot meal.

In our case, we know what it feels like to be isolated. COVID’s kept us quarantined and socially distanced these last nine months. But this distance can increase our gratitude for other people in our lives.

Count your blessings in 2021; look for a reason to be grateful. Then you’ll experience Christian joy year-round.

***

Number two: Give more.

Every Christmas we’re invited to be generous. 

Over the last month, for example, I’ve been amazed at how generous the parishioners of Saint Pius X are. You’ve filled the entrance of our church with gifts for children you’ll never even meet.

But don’t stop giving on December 26^th. Keep giving. In fact, give more.

Instead of giving sweaters and toys, however, give the gift of yourself.

People matter more than things. COVID’s reminded us of that.  Don’t let any commercial or advertisement convince you otherwise.

You are the greatest gift of all. What this parish – and your family needs – is you.

Be present for one another and you’ll experience Christian joy year-round.

***

Number three: Spend more time with God.

For some of us, God gets more time during Advent or Lent than other times of the year. 

In preparing for Christmas, we may have attended daily Mass, tuned in online, prayed the rosary, or added a few moments of prayerful silence to our day.

When the anxiety and busyness of life returns, especially after COVID, these routines shouldn’t stop. Our relationship with God should never be seasonal.

The formula before, during, and after Christmas is the same: More God equals more joy.

***

Number four: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

During the Christmas season, we fill our homes with Nativity sets, Advent wreaths, and angels on top of our Christmas trees.

All those little bits of Christmas décor are, in a way, reminders of God’s presence in our lives. We need these reminders, but not just during the month of December; we need them throughout the year.

When Christmas decorations come down, put other reminders of Christ up.

Replace your Christmas tree with a family altar, the Advent wreath with a crucifix, or the Nativity set with a statue of Jesus, Mary, or a favorite Saint.

Keep some physical sign of your faith in view and the source of Christmas joy – Jesus Christ – will remain with you always.

***

Number five: Stay connected.

The holidays often inspire us to do a little more. We write Christmas cards, make extra phone calls, and carve out extra time for others.

When the holidays conclude, keep it up. Stay connected, especially with those who are isolated.

Make loving God, present in your neighbor, a top priority in 2021 and you’ll experience Christian joy year-round.

***

In twelve days, we’ll celebrate Christmas. Holiday cheer is everywhere! 

In order to keep it going: Be grateful. Give more of yourself to others. Spend more time with God. And stay connected. Then Christian joy will be ours year-round.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas and God bless you.

***