The Three Epiphany's - 2022

During the Advent / Christmas cycle we reflected on the Three Comings of Christ. Now let us look at the Three Epiphany's of Christ. We commonly think of the Epiphany as that one event in Christ's life where the Magi, led by a star, make their way to see him and offer him gifts fitting a new king. However, the Catholic liturgy considers the Epiphany to be threefold, the visit by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus by John, and the Miracle of the Wine at the Wedding in Cana. The Greek word, "epiphaneia", was used to signify the coming of a king or emperor. It was also used for the self-manifestation of a god or for his miraculous intervention; this later, likely the original use of the word. A popular use of the word “epiphany” today means a sudden discovery, something finally seen and recognized, the beginning of understanding; we say, “ah, now I see, now I understand!” "I just had an epiphany". The word "insight" comes to mind here. Let us stay with this notion for now. Many people these days have abandoned the practice of belonging to a church. They say they are spiritual but not religious and do not need the structures of church membership to be a good person. It is true that everyone is spiritual for that is how God created us, a physical being with a spiritual soul. However to simply claim to be spiritual is to leave out one important thing - God. The people at the time of the Epiphany were both spiritual and religious. Where they were having difficulties was with which religion, which God? Who best to sort out this complicated question than God Himself. The Epiphany is God revealing himself for all to see. ( ... now I see, now I get it, so this is who God is, the One come into our world to clear up our confusion.) And O what confusion we people are capable of creating. So the work begun with these three Epiphany's continues to unfold even as we speak.  Do you get it? Do you understand? How is your "epiphany experience" unfolding? Here is where true spirituality enters the discussion - true spirituality happens when we become seekers, searching for Him the One who will tell us in person who he is. As seekers our gifts to offer are open hearts and minds in search of "insight" and understanding - people with a dynamic spiritual practice seeking a personal encounter with Jesus. Just as true spirituality does not tell God who he is, likewise true religion does not make up how God is to be served, God himself has come to show us how he wants us to worship and serve him. So we need to belong to the Church that Jesus established as his way of gathering us around himself for instruction.

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Feast of the Holy Family - 2021

Link to a previous Post - The Holy Family [ select ]

Christmas - 2021

May the struggles the world faces at this Christmas time not burden your heart, for nothing can prevent His Coming. Though hidden from natural eyes, Jesus the teacher is among us NOW - teaching us to see that what began at His First Coming continues today, and  will continue until all is accomplish. As our world tries to dispel the darkness by lighting many lights, we have in our midst a Light shining upon us from within, a Light that can never be extinguished.  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. Jo. 16:33

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Fourth Week of Advent - 2021

It is Luke's gospel that gives us the details of the birth of Jesus. It is from his account that all the beautiful images Christ's nativity have been created. One of Luke's details informs us that it was in the night that Jesus was born, for we read, "And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.…" Lk. 2:8. In our Christmas hymns we sing, O Holy Night.  In scripture, "night" has a much deeper meaning than just the time of day. Day and night, light and darkness, are images used to describe the spiritual conditions in which the souls of people find themselves. Perhaps one of the most dramatic uses of the word "night" is found in John's account of the Last Supper and Judas leaving the table to go and betray Jesus: "As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was NIGHT." During this Advent time I have been exploring what we mean by the Three Comings of Christ; the First being the Incarnation, the Second End times and the Day of Judgement, and the Third being Now, each new day as people encounter Christ and are born anew into a life of faith. But this Third Coming has a characteristic different than the First and Second. The Third Coming is real but unseen, hidden as it where from mere human viewing. It is as if we are in the dark, unable to see - that is with natural eyes. To see the Jesus of the Third coming you need the "eyes of faith". It is John in his gospel account that the image of light and darkness is used as the instrument to teach us about the true spiritual life. In John Chapter 13, verses 35 & 36 gives us an intriguing insight into Jesus the light with them, vs. 35 and then Jesus the light hidden from them, vs. 36  Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”  After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. John 13:35-36 It is this hidden presence that John of the Cross takes hold of for his teachings on the mystical life. He describes how one first enters the Night of the Senses and then ever deeper into the Night of the Soul. In the night of the Senses one detaches their heart from the things of the material world. Then in the Dark Night of the Soul even our constructed beliefs about God must be set aside, imperfect as they are compared to what God will now teach us about who He really is - the God of Love. The early Church Fathers understood the necessity of this hidden condition Jesus requires of us but they quite openly confessed the suffering their longing to see caused them. Quoting from an earlier post St. Anselm says it so well; Enter into your mind's inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart.  I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire. Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him.  Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you. St. Ignatius in his Exercises gives us the example of three different responses  to the invitation to seek for Jesus here and now.  There are persons who are quite aware of the value of forming a spiritual approach to their life, a true seeking to have a real, personal relationship with Jesus. But they are much too busy with making a success of their secular life and do little more than decorate their homes at Christmas. Then there are persons who do get involved in certain religious practices, but only those that do not interfere with their otherwise busy secular lives. Religion when convenient. Finally there are those who truly set out in search of Him. They will not let anything interfere with their pursuit. No thing, no person, no attachment they may have in this life can compete with that union with Jesus they desire. These days of Advent 2021, as all  Advents do, have led us to reflect on the First Coming of Jesus. We have come to understand that these are not simply days of sentimental remembering before we pack up the Christmas decorations for another year. Rather this is a time for us to grasp the fact that he who came is NOW COMING, standing before us, inviting us to leave all behind and go with him into a new and hidden future with only his word as a guarantee. If we are willing to risk everything he will lead us into a glory beyond all imagining. Are you with him?

The "O" Antiphons - 2021

Beginning today, December 17th.  the Church recites or chants the "O" Antiphons. They are the seven antiphons that precede the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours, and are the words of the gospel acclamation for the daily liturgy of the Word at Mass. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. For a detailed look into these Antiphons go to this LINK >>>.
December 17 O Sapientia: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.	December 18 O Adonai: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
December 19 O Radix Jesse: O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.	December 20 O Clavis David: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
December 21 O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.	December 22 O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
December 23 O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Saviour of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

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More Reflection on the Third Coming - 2021

VOICES began this Advent with reflections on the Three Coming of Christ. The unique character of the Third coming is that it is not visible to ordinary sight, it's really present but invisible. It is rooted in our very nature that when we love deeply we are driven by a desire to behold our beloved. We have already noted that Jesus, by remaining hidden, disarms the demand of "seeing is believing". But what of those who believe, why are they not permitted to see? The answer to this question is rooted in the mystery Love. In James 2:19 we read, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."  In his First Coming, Jesus revealed himself as someone who could be seen; in his public life, his teaching, his miracles, his resurrection and ascension. With these "seeing-is-believing" has been addressed. We are now in the time titled Jesus' Third Coming. Faith continues to be awakened through the witness of the First Coming, but now something deeper is unfolding. To faith and hope LOVE now becomes the focus of this Third Coming.  The desire to see Jesus' face continues, but not as proof of him who is, rather because of the unquenchable desire one has for union with the beloved One. St. John of the Cross in his Mystic Ladder of Divine Love describes it this way. 1st step: Love causes the soul to languish with great profit for God’s glory. The soul no longer desires earthly things nor finds pleasure in them. 2nd step: Love causes the soul to seek the Beloved in all things (thoughts, words, works, etc) without ceasing. 3rd step: Love causes the soul to work and gives it fervor so that it fails not, desiring to die a thousand deaths to make up for the scantiness of its service. 4th step: Love causes in the soul the boldly follow after God in the spirit of suffering for His sake. The soul is now strong, seeks no gain for self, and its sole desire is to please God at any and every cost. 5th step: Love makes the soul desire and long for God impatiently. 6th step: Love makes the soul run strongly and swiftly to God. 7th step: Love makes the soul become vehement in its boldness and the soul begins to receive what it so lovingly prays for. 8th step: Love causes the soul to seize Him and hold Him fast without letting Him go, even as the Bride says, after this manner: 9th step: Love makes the soul burn with sweetness from the gift of the Spirit as God bestows upon the soul indescribable riches and blessings. 10th step: Love causes the soul to become wholly assimilated to God, by reason of the clear and immediate vision of God which it then possesses; when, having ascended in this life to the ninth step, it goes forth from the flesh. We must not think that this dynamic of love with Jesus is only for the super spiritual. Jesus wants everyone to engage with him in love. On Thursday of the 2nd. Week of Advent, in the Office of Readings we have this inspiring sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus. When God saw the world falling to ruin because of fear, he immediately acted to call it back to himself with love. He invited it by his grace, preserved it by his love, and embraced it with compassion. When the earth had become hardened in evil, God sent the flood both to punish and to release it. He called Noah to be the father of a new era, urged him with kind words, and showed that he trusted him; he gave him fatherly instruction about the present calamity, and through his grace, consoled him with hope for the future.  But God did not merely issue commands; rather with Noah sharing the work, he filled the ark with the future seed of the whole world. The sense of loving fellowship thus engendered removed servile fear, and a mutual love could continue to preserve what shared labor had effected. God called Abraham out of the heathen world, symbolically lengthened his name, and made him the father of all believers. God walked with him on his journeys, and protected him in foreign lands, enriched him with earthly possessions, and honored him with victories. He made a covenant with him, saved him from harm, accepted his hospitality, and astonished him by giving him the offspring he had despaired of. Favored with so many graces and drawn by such great sweetness of divine love, Abraham was to learn to love God rather than fear him, and love rather than fear was to inspire his worship. God comforted Jacob by a dream during his flight, roused him to combat upon his return, and encircled him with a wrestler’s embrace to teach him not to be afraid of the author of the conflict, but to love him. God called Moses as a father would, and with fatherly affection invited him to become the liberator of his people. In all the events we have recalled, the flame of divine love enkindled human hearts and its intoxication overflowed into men’s senses. Wounded by love, they longed to look upon God with their bodily eyes. Yet how could our narrow human vision apprehend God, whom the whole world cannot contain? But the law of love is not concerned with what will be, what ought to be, what can be. Love does not reflect; it is unreasonable and knows no moderation. Love refuses to be consoled when its goal proves impossible, despises all hindrances to the attainment of its object. Love destroys the lover if he cannot obtain what he loves; love follows its own promptings, and does not think of right and wrong. Love inflames desire which impels it toward things that are forbidden. But why continue? It is intolerable for love not to see the object of its longing. That is why whatever reward they merited was nothing to the saints if they could not see the Lord. A love that desires to see God may not have reasonableness on its side, but it is the evidence of filial love. It gave Moses the temerity to say: If I have found favor in your eyes, show me your face. It inspired the psalmist to make the same prayer: Show me your face. Even the pagans made their images for this purpose: they wanted actually to see what they mistakenly revered.

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Advent Meditation - 2021

In our reflection on this Advent, the First Coming of Christ, it was noted that in fact there are Three Comings of Christ. The numbers assigned to each are actually titles not order of sequence, that is why right at this very moment the Third Coming of Christ is happening - Christ is coming into the lives of people all over the world. But in this titled Third Coming, Jesus is unseen, invisible to the naked eye. Because of this the Third Coming presents us with a challenge - believing in him who is unseen. In the Office of Readings for this past Friday, Saint Anselm presented us with a beautiful meditation in which he depicts the soul in a deep longing to see the face of Jesus. "Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made."  Why is this, why has Jesus designed this Third Coming with such a challenge attached to it? It all has to do with Faith. In our natural world seeing is believing. That is why the numbers of Catholic believers is in decline in our part of the world today. Like St. Thomas this age says - unless I see, touch with my fingers . . . without proof I will not believe. The Realm of God with the now glorified Jesus is not made "of" this world, it is not made of physical components. It is made of something wholly "other" than any thing we know. So Jesus being present now happens in an entirely other way - but in no way less real. The word for this is Mystical. The saints from the time of Pentecost to this very day have shown us that we can access this mystical realm now, and when we do we see. This is what is meant by the Spiritual Life, and it is open to any who wish to enter. At Mass, when the celebrant elevates the consecrated host we are looking into the face of Jesus truly present here and now. That is why we say in our hearts the words uttered by St. Thomas, "... my Lord and my God". The one standing beside us, not having a living faith exclaims "... where?...". Christmas is a very visual time, with a multitude of brightly coloured lights, festive decorations, and models of the nativity scene - so much to see. Yes, but do you really see?  Desire for the vision of God - From the Proslogion by Saint Anselm, bishop  Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him. Enter into your mind's inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire. Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here where shall I look for you in your absence? Yet if you are everywhere, why do I not see you when you are present? But surely you dwell in "light inaccessible." And where is light inaccessible? How shall I approach light inaccessible? Or who will lead me and bring me into it that I may see you there? And then, by what signs and under what forms shall I seek you? I have never seen you, Lord my God; I do not know your face. Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him. He desires to approach you, and your dwelling is unapproachable. He longs to find you, and does not know your dwelling place. He strives to look for you, and does not know your face. Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made. Lord, how long will it be? How long, Lord, will you forget us? How long will you turn your face away from us? When will you look upon us and hear us? When will you enlighten our eyes and show us your face? When will you give yourself back to us? Look upon us, Lord, hear us and enlighten us, show us your very self. Restore yourself to us that it may go well with us whose life is so evil without you. Take pity on our efforts and our striving toward you, for we have no strength apart from you. Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you.

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The Three Comings of Christ - Advent 2021

We are about to enter Week Two of Advent, that time when we are preparing for the Coming of Christ the Saviour of the world. We also believe that there will be a Second Coming in which Jesus will bring to an end this order of creation and establish a new heaven and a new earth following the Day of Judgment. But did you know that there is a Third Coming which takes place in time between the First and the Second? This coming is no less real and it is happening now even as we speak. In this coming Jesus' presence is not visible but it is no less real. While we do not see Jesus' present we experience his presence working in us, in the depths of our soul, in our minds and hearts. The First Coming has taken place already in history. The Second Coming is yet to happen in the future. But today we are not alone, on our own, struggling to make sense of this life all by ourselves, Jesus is here with us now leading, guiding and protecting us through each and every day of our lives. As Jesus brought his disciples to the mountain of the Ascension to conclude his First Coming he commissioned them with these words. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20) Now the Third Coming is about to begin with Pentecost and the anointing of the Church by the Holy Spirit. Jesus continues to be present and working in and through the many ministries of the the Church, especially through the sacraments.  In our popular culture Christmas is beginning to loose its meaning for true Christians; even the name is being replaced with the name 'The Holiday Season'. That is why Advent is such an important time. Yes we revisit the memories of the First Coming but let us not look on Christmas in a nostalgic way, but to be a time of Faith renewal. Jesus is truly here with us now. Let our voices now be heard: "Speak Lord, your servants are listening." + + + + + + + +  Bishop Barron has an excellent video on this same subject "LINK"

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