Word for the year (2017)

Today is my last post for 2016. I am grateful for how far the Lord has brought you and I this year as we continued to journey with Him. Even as we crossover to 2017 in some few hours, I pray that you will have a blessed 2017 steeped in the grace and favor of our Lord. Amen

In the beginning was the Word. (John 1:1) 

Happy New Year’s Eve! Right now, people across the world are looking ahead and setting resolutions for the next year. How about you? Do you have special plans? It’s fun to consider the potential a new year holds; it’s almost like beholding a blank canvas. You may even feel that you can draw up a rough sketch of 2017 based on your goals or your calendar.

But wouldn’t it be fascinating to get a glimpse into what God has in mind for you next year? Many people pray to receive a “word for the year” to do just that. This is a single word or phrase that the Spirit brings to their minds while they’re praying or reading the Scriptures. It’s a word that hints at God’s plans for them and his desires for them in the coming year. Patience . . . Rest . . . Know that I am near. These are all real words that people sensed from the Holy Spirit in the quiet of their hearts. While these words are only small glimpses, they lend a splash of color and form to the blank canvas of the new year. Oftentimes, they become helpful points of reference for people as the weeks and months tick on—similar to a vanishing point used by artists.

A word for the year even seems to gel with today’s Gospel. In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1). Who’s to say that Jesus, the living Word of God, won’t give you a heavenly word to begin the year? Remember, John wrote of how Jesus longs to bring his light into the world by pouring out truth and grace upon grace (1:16).

Would you like to know the secret to getting a word for the year? Ask God! It’s that simple. Ask, and then be still. Be aware of any word, thought, or phrase that surfaces in your mind. It could be from God—especially if that word fills you with peace or hope or joy. Or spend some time slowly reading today’s Scripture passages. Watch for the Lord to illuminate a particular verse. Or wait to see if he gives you a word by drawing from the truths in the Mass readings as you carry them in your heart today, just as a painter draws from the colors on his palette.

“Lord, what’s my word for the year?”

from wau.org

The Advent Revolution -Fr Barron

"Elizabeths"

They rejoiced with her. (Luke 1:58) 

Who are the “Elizabeths” in your life? Who do you know that is hurting right now? Or feeling lonely or forgotten? There are so many in the world. It could even be a member of your family or an old friend. 

In today’s Gospel, we hear about a hard-won, jubilant moment in Elizabeth’s life: the birth of her son, John. She and Zechariah had been looking forward to this momentous event for years. Elizabeth, advanced in age, had been barren, which many people back then took as a sign of God’s displeasure.

Try to imagine the anticipation that spread in Elizabeth’s village once the news of her pregnancy broke—coupled with Zechariah’s story of an angelic messenger and his mysterious muteness. Then imagine how great the celebration must have been when she had a safe delivery. Finally, God had shown “great mercy” toward her and her husband (Luke 1:58)! 

We are two days away from Christmas, and as joyful as this is, there are surely people around you in difficult situations, “Elizabeths” who are still waiting for God’s mercy. Maybe there’s someone whom the Lord would like you to “watch and wait” with—or, as Pope Francis would say, “accompany.” 

Does someone come to mind? A friend? A family member? A neighbor? Or how about the homeless man you pass on your daily commute or the co-worker who suddenly seems withdrawn? Then there are the millions of refugees who will be away from their families and homes this Christmas, the victims of war and famine, even the people in your own town who are living without adequate food, clothing, or shelter.

Take a few minutes, and make a list of these “Elizabeths.” Watch and wait with them. If you can’t be physically present to them, accompany them by asking God to show them his mercy. Then, when you see their prayers being answered, celebrate—just as Zechariah and Elizabeth’s neighbors did. 

“Holy Spirit, show me who could use a little extra prayer and attention. Come and pour your mercy on every ‘Elizabeth’ this Christmas!”

from wau.org

Being vulnerable

Blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Luke 1:42)

From poisonous snakes to the neighborhood cat, animals have always had ways of defending themselves. They use their teeth, their claws, and even putrid odors to ward off attackers. Humans have ways of defending themselves too. Weapons, walls, and trained armies are just a few possibilities. We also have emotional defenses, don’t we? Yet if you look at today’s readings, you see a God who comes to us in one of the most defenseless ways possible: as a baby. 

Jesus could have come as a mighty warrior, a wise sage, or a majestic king. But he didn’t. He came as a baby so that he could go through all the stages of growth and development and so become a beacon for everyone. He came in poverty to show that every human being, no matter their status, is important to God. He didn’t come only for the wealthy and powerful. He didn’t come only to the educated or influential. He came to embrace every person, including you.

It was an incredible risk of love, wasn’t it? Jesus put all his cards on the table—and not just in his birth. He continued his way of humble vulnerability right up to his death on the cross. Even today, he comes to us in remarkably vulnerable ways: in our fellow parishioners, in the poor and needy, and in the form of simple bread and wine. That’s how valuable we are to him!

Right now, as you read these words, Jesus is standing before you. He is inviting you to respond to his vulnerability by being vulnerable yourself, by opening up your heart and letting him in. Welcome him in his smallness and humility.

Infants don’t look at the messes around them; they don’t judge or criticize. They have no defenses and no misgivings about you. They just want to love and be loved. Maybe it’s the first time, or maybe it’s the hundredth; still, dare to let down your defenses, and be as vulnerable to Jesus as he is to you.

“Lord, help me to open my heart to you, just as you have opened yours to me.”

from wau.org

Purposeful living

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham . . . (Matthew 1:1) 

Reflecting on the miracle of Christmas, St. Paul wrote, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption” (Galatians 4:4-5). Today’s Gospel shows us that this “fullness of time” comprises many generations, each one peopled with colorful individuals whose stories still speak to us. 

Included in this list of Jesus’ ancestors are many kings and powerful warriors. It’s interesting—and a bit comforting—that the Hebrew Scriptures tell us, not only about their heroic exploits, but also about their selfish and destructive choices. David, for instance, was not only “a man after [God’s] own heart.” He was also a schemer, an adulterer, and a murderer (Acts 13:22; 2 Samuel 12:1-12).

Matthew’s list also includes many common people and some who were far from admirable. What’s more, considering the cultural barriers that women faced at the time, the fact that Matthew’s genealogy mentions women at all shows this is a different sort of history. Something unique, intriguing, and mysterious is at work, and God is behind it!

There are also many people in this list about whom sacred Scripture is otherwise silent. For instance, we know nothing at all about many of those who lived “after the Babylonian exile” (Matthew 1:12). These names all point to the “silent saints” who have served (and who continue to serve) the Lord in their hidden lives of prayer, sacrifice, and obedience.

Besides the fact that this genealogy testifies to Jesus’ historical existence, it can give us great encouragement. Whether we know a great deal or nothing at all about them, every single person on this list was an essential link in the plan God formed long ago for our salvation.

It’s not too great a stretch of the imagination to believe that each of us also plays an important role in what God is doing in this outpost of his eternal kingdom. In his wisdom, God has placed each one of us right where he wants us. Let’s humbly ask him to help us further his plan.

“O Wisdom, breath of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, come and save us.”

from wau.org

Prepare to be blessed

Enlarge the space for your tent. (Isaiah 54:2) 

Pop into a large bookstore around this time of year, and you’ll see plenty of people hunting for Christmas presents. But return in a couple of weeks, and one section will be particularly busy: the self-help section. Millions of people will be looking for guidance in the new year as they seek to make it their best year yet.

Had the woman described in today’s first reading been reading self-help literature, she would have struggled to apply its advice. She had been deserted by her husband, and her hopes for children seemed lost. What could she possibly do to get out of this situation?

The answer is that it’s not about what she can’t do, but what God can do. Not only is God going to give her a child, but he is going to give her such a big family that she’ll need to extend her tent! Her family will become a mighty nation, and her sorrow will be healed.

For the prophet, this “woman” is Jerusalem, a symbol of the chosen people. And as far as we’re concerned, the way that God blessed his people back then sheds light on how he wants to bless us today. Enlarge your tent, he urges his people. Change your expectations. David wants to build a temple, but God says no, I’ll build you a dynasty (2 Samuel 7). A Samaritan woman thinks Jesus is offering her a drink, but he offers her a river of living water (John 4). Peter sees a career as a fisherman, and Jesus makes him the pope (Luke 5:1-11).

“The love of God is broader than the measure of our mind.” So goes a line from an old hymn. His plans are bigger than our plans, and the gifts he wants to give us are greater than what we would even think of asking for!

So as you head into 2017, prepare for blessing. What are your wildest dreams? Call them to mind, and then imagine something even greater—that is the extent of blessing that God has for you. It may look completely different than what you expect, but it will be exactly what you need. And when you notice self-help books on the best seller lists, smile. You are going to be helped by God in ways you can’t even begin planning for! 

“Lord, I thank you in advance for your generosity to me!”

from wau.org

Reflecting Jesus

Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? (Luke 7:19) 

This may seem like a strange question to come from John the Baptist, especially since his very mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. But there might have been a good reason for it. John might have expected Jesus to be more like him—a radical zealot who preached a message of repentance. But instead of going into the desert and preaching against Herod, Jesus was traveling throughout the towns and cities, healing people and teaching them to love one another. Was he really the One who would bring a baptism of fire and convict sinners to change their ways?

Jesus’ answer made it clear that he had come as a Savior, not a judge. He came to “bring good news to the afflicted,” and “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). He wanted John’s disciples to know that God was not dwelling on their sins—he had a much bigger agenda! Of course he wanted to forgive them, but he also wanted to bring them into a living relationship with him so that they could know the freedom of being his children.

Today, people are still asking if Jesus really is the One who is to come—and we are the ones they’re asking! They are looking to us to see if Jesus is compassionate and merciful. They’re looking to us to see if he is peaceful and gentle. Perhaps they have not known much compassion in their lives. Perhaps someone in the Church has hurt them, whether intentionally or not. We can show them a different face of God.

Your witness can have a special impact this time of year. During Advent, people almost instinctively think about heaven, angels, and Jesus. If they know that you believe in Christ, if they can tell that you have a relationship with him, half of the work is already done. The testimony of your life will soften their hearts and open them to the words you speak. Just as Jesus showed John, you can show your neighbors that they don’t have to wait for someone else. Jesus is the Messiah who has come to heal and forgive and save.

“Jesus, give me the confidence I need so that I can share your love with those who are searching for you.”

from wau.org

Contemplative instincts

They will see the glory of the Lord. (Isaiah 35:2)

Do you want to see “the glory of the Lord” this Advent? Of course you do! One of the ways to find this “glory” is by activating our spiritual instincts. We were all born with these instincts, and it’s something that the Holy Spirit wants to bring to life in us every day. While we have many instincts, let’s focus on just two of them. 

First, we all have aesthetic instincts. Aesthetic instincts help us appreciate a beautiful work of art or the majesty of a snowcapped mountain peak. During Advent, we can ask the Spirit to help us see the beauty in that dank and unwelcoming manger. Picture the manger scene, and see what happens as you dwell on the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Second, we have contemplative instincts—instincts that come alive when we focus on a work of God. Do you remember how Mary pondered and treasured everything that happened when Jesus was born (Luke 2:19, 51)? When we ponder God’s word, perhaps in the Christmas stories in Matthew or Luke’s Gospels, our spiritual instincts will come alive, and the Holy Spirit will give us new insights into his love for us. 

When you receive the Eucharist today, imagine yourself at the manger. Then pray, “Lord, show me your glory.” If you feel a sense of happiness or a desire to bow down and thank God or an impulse to reach out to someone who is hurting, take this as a sign that the Holy Spirit is enlivening your spiritual instincts.

As these instincts come to life, they will influence the way you think and act. You’ll find yourself becoming more loving, more forgiving, and more peaceful—especially in difficult times. God wants all his people to look to him and have their instincts awakened. And that includes you!

“Holy Spirit, come and bring my spiritual instincts to life. Lord, I want to see your glory!”

from wau.org

Hope

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) 

Every human being has times of discouragement, times when we “faint and grow weary . . . stagger and fall” (Isaiah 40:30). It’s easy to identify with Jacob when he says, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God” (40:27). It’s in times like these that we are most vulnerable to the lies and half-truths of the devil. And so the prophet in today’s first reading gives us ammunition against such attacks.

Sometimes our situation seems so hopeless that we are convinced there is nothing God can do for us. But Isaiah reminds us to lift our eyes to the power that God displays as he holds the whole universe together. Nothing is impossible for God!

Sometimes we feel as if God doesn’t know what’s happening to us. Here, Isaiah reminds us. “His knowledge is beyond scrutiny” (Isaiah 40:28). Not even the smallest detail escapes his notice.

It’s tempting to think that God has more important things to worry about than our little lives. But again Isaiah corrects us: “He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound” (Isaiah 40:29). This promise also puts an end to the lie that God doesn’t care about our struggles or trials.

We may think that we don’t deserve God’s help and that we may even bear part of the blame for how things have gotten so bad. But don’t get mired in guilt. God’s mercy is always available, even when we don’t deserve it. That’s the definition of mercy after all! Yes, “he pardons all your iniquities” (Psalm 103:3).

When thoughts like these arise, don’t just wish things were better. Christian hope is an active virtue. It urges you to bring your need to the Lord and leave your problem in his capable hands. Then you can expand your heart by praising him for his power, his knowledge, his wisdom, and his unconditional love. Finally, see if there is a step you can take that will help build God’s kingdom—some act of service you can do. Isaiah promises that if you do, you’ll find your own strength invigorated. 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2)”

from wau.org

Open gates

This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. (Psalm 118:20) 

You join the parade as it passes through the city, gathering scope and momentum with every person who joins in. Joyful music rings out as you surge toward the Temple. Then suddenly, the noise of prayer, song, and conversation ceases: you have come to a halt at a massive gate, the door to the Temple courts. From the head of the procession, a voice cries out, “Open the gates!” You smile in recognition—it’s the king’s voice! A reply comes from the wall, “This is the gate of the Lord, through which the just may enter.”

What does it mean to be among that seemingly elite group, “the just,” who are permitted to step through the gate? Do you have to be flawless? Do you have to be a recognized saint like Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul II? Maybe as you stand in that crowd, fear rises in your heart. If that gate is only for the righteous, do I really deserve to step through it? Let’s try to answer that question.

The first thing is to remember that Jesus is not just the king who commands the gate to be opened; he is also the gate itself. “I am the gate,” he once told his followers. “Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). On the other side of that gate are the courts of heaven, eternal life in the presence of God.

Second, remember that the gate has already been opened. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has removed all the barriers that have kept you from entering heaven. You can live on the other side of that gate as he showers you with gifts like prayer, the Eucharist, and his word.

Third, remember that no sin is so great, no sense of guilt so heavy, to keep you from entering through the gate. There is no unpardonable sin. We have all been made righteous through Jesus’ sacrifice!

So go back, and picture yourself at the threshold of the Temple. Go ahead, and walk in confidently and joyfully. Jesus is waiting to welcome you with open arms. 

“All praise to you, King Jesus! Thank you for opening the gate to salvation.”

from wau.org