Feast of the Epiphany - 2024

When we speak of the coming of Christ we think of Christmas. However, in a wider sense we can say there are Three Comings of Christ. The 1st being His Incarnation, His 2nd is the Day of Judgement and His 3rd is present, each time a person is baptised into the life of Christ. As it was for Christmas, 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 also, 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 latter, 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.) 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 - it is religious practice that connects our spirit to the heavenly where God is revealing himself to the people of this world; it's the Spirit who empowers the believer to see rightly so that he can bear fruit in the world by the true practice of the faith. The people at the time of the first Epiphany were religious people seeking a true spiritual life. But they were having difficulties with which religious practice was the correct way? Who best to sort out these complicated question than God Himself. The Epiphany is God becoming visible and personally present to this world. Jesus is God making himself present and demonstrating that imitating him is the way of true religion. ( ... now I see, now I get it. ) 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  tells us in person who he is. We are today's Magi-seekers and our gifts to offer are our open hearts and minds in search of "insight" and understanding. We are people with a dynamic spiritual/religious practice seeking a personal encounter with Jesus. Just as true spirituality does not make up who God is, rather it discovers who God really 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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Holy Family - 2023

Which One of These Two Are You? In the gospel for this Feast of the Holy Family we have Mary and Joseph with the newborn baby Jesus going to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after His birth to complete Mary's ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn son, in obedience to the Torah (Leviticus 12) In their visit to the Temple they have some unexpected encounters. The first encounter is with a deeply spiritual man who has been given a revelation by the Holy Spirit telling him that he would see in person the Christ the Lord and Saviour before he dies. He is literally compelled to go to the temple this day and when he sees Mary with Jesus in her arms he ask to hold Mary's baby. At this he speaks these prophetic words we read in today's gospel. As he hands baby Jesus back to Mary he addresses to Mary this awesome prophecy of future conflict and death that awaited the baby Jesus. Then to Mary these words: "And a sword will pierce your own soul too." While Christmas is a time for joyful celebration, for the devout Christian, Christmas is so much more. It begins a new year in the journey of faith; a year to experience ever deeper the consolation of the presence of the son of God as well as the challenges this broken world will bring upon us. Mary is set before us as a model for the way we should embrace this time. Luke tells us that Mary "treasured all these things she was hearing and pondered in her heart what they could mean." And so it will be for each one of us as we embark on this new journey of faith into all that lies hidden before us. The prophet wisely warns us that there will be crosses but the Word reveals that in these crosses faith will triumph. The answer to these mysteries we shall find reveal in God's Word that we "prayerfully ponder" each day. “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Christmas Week - 2023

“Someone has moved into our neighborhood”? Continuing with the theme we began in the previous post let us explore further the notion of intimacy and Christmas. We noted that the word intimacy is derived from the Latin "intimus", meaning inner or inmost. To be intimate with another is to have access to, and to comprehend, his/her inmost character. We noted that Jesus chose incarnation in human form in order to make it possible for us to see God and to enter into an intimate relationship with our God.  What is important here is to understand that in making his presence real with his birth at Christmas Jesus did not intend that this person-to-person contact would only be for a short time and conclude with his ascension into heaven. Jesus’ real presence is continuing to this very day.  As Catholics we are taught that Jesus is truly present in the sacraments – but there is more. The intimate, one-on-one encounter also happens in prayer, and more precisely in contemplative prayer. To better understand this let us take up the “homely” example of the neighbour across the street image we used in the previous post. Prayer is a one-on-one encounter. It is two persons, really present to each other, engaged in an interpersonal dynamic. If you never reach out to the new neighbour across the street, or you never respond to the  invite to meet from the new neighbour nothing ever happens. Simple.  But if you have a desire to meet your neighbour and get to know him better the possibilities are endless. So you go over to your neighbour’s and begin a conversation with him. This we might call the prayer of meditation. Here it is you doing all the talking from your side. If you say, “this is me doing all the talking, tell me about yourself”, and you become the listener, we now how have what we might call contemplation.  If one is convinced that the house across the street is empty, nothing happens. So many people today see only emptiness when they look across at religion; so, they never go over there. Some are curious, wondering if there really is someone to meet, but never check it out. Some wave from across the street, or call out, “have a nice day”, (like going to church occasionally but only to stand and sit and say amen). But for some, they are convinced and are willing to go over and meet the mystery person. They just need a little prompting. Exploring this most important subject of prayer is the purpose of this blog site begun in 2012.  On the side panel of this blog there is a list of pages that contain all the instruction on prayer posted over the years. Finally for this post may I offer this text from Vespers of the Office prayers for the Solemnity of Christmas. READING 1 John 1:1-3 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched – we speak of the word of life. (This life became visible; we have seen and bear witness to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was present to the Father and became visible to us.) What we have seen and heard we proclaim in turn to you so that you may share life with us. This fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Christmas 2023

INTIMACY The word intimacy is derived from the Latin "intimus", meaning inner or inmost. To be intimate with another is to have access to, and to comprehend, his/her inmost character. Is there an example of intimacy that is more compelling than a pregnant woman and her child; life drawing new life from another?  Jesus the Son of God could have reveal his presence to the world in many different ways. We see some of these ways in the Old Testament. But Jesus chose incarnation in human form for a very important reason. By taking on humanity Jesus makes it possible for us to see God and to enter into an intimate relationship with God. Now we see God with our own eyes, there he is. Now it becomes possible to get to know this person, a relationship can begin to unfold - or not as one chooses. Consider this example, a vacant house across the street from you has been purchased and a new person has just moved in. The possibility of the many stages of relationship with that person are now open to you. You did not choose him as your neighbour he chose to move in on your street. Where things will go from here is an open question, from never knowing even his name to a deep an caring friendship are possible. Jesus is a real historical person and not someone just made up. This is what Christmas is all about, Jesus moving in on our street. His coming is his choice and it is he who chooses to move into our life. What is more, he comes with the distinct purpose of having an intimate relationship with us, if we will have it.  The question Christmas asks us now is where on the intimacy scale does our relationship with Jesus stand?