All things came to be through Him

December 31, 2016 6:22 am

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” (JN 1: 1-3)

St. John’s Gospel starts with the same beginning as the first book of the Old Testament: “in the beginning.” Now we can see the beauty of creation from the new perspective—“all things came to be through Him”—Our Lord. And because “without Him nothing came to be,” everything in my life communicates His presence. My existence and my history, my family and my friends, my life and my work—everything announces and proclaims His love for me—“the child of God.”

“The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He shall be called a Nazorean

December 30, 2016 6:00 am

“He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.” (MT 2: 23)

We know how important is the place where we live. How often our decisions to move were made because of our children—to find a better place for them to live. Sometimes it was a better school; sometimes it was a better neighborhood, or maybe it was because of our friends. When St. Joseph chose a home for Our Lord, the Holy family “went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth.” From that moment He was “called a Nazorean.”

“Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To walk just as he walked

December 29, 2016 6:00 am

“But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.” (1 JN 2: 5-6)

Those “who keep his word” receive amazing help—“the love of God is truly perfected in him.” And the main grace of this is “to be in union with him” and “to walk just as he walked.” When we do this, our children are happier—being loved by parents with Our Lord’s love; spouses are happier—sharing Our Lord’s love with each other, and our societies are happier—receiving “a light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.”

“A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Walk in the light

December 28, 2016 6:00 am

“But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (1 JN 1: 7)

Building our lives on listening to Our Lord and following His example is like “walking in the light as he is in the light.” When “we walk in the light,” we can have “fellowship with one another”; when we walk in the dark, we can’t. Only when we are united with Him can we see what is right.

“We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The life was made visible

December 27, 2016 6:00 am

“Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life—for the life was made visible;” (1 JN 1: 1-2)

Our Lord is the true Life, and only He has “the Word of life.” When we listen to Him carefully, we can understand why we are here and why so many things happen to us. This Word “became flesh and dwelt among us,” and was heard, seen, looked upon and touched by the Apostles. We received the same “Word of life,” so we can make His presence visible and even touchable inside our homes as well.

“We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The Spirit of your Father speaking through you

December 26, 2016 6:00 am

“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (MT 10: 19-20)

When we became Catholic, when we invited Our Lord to our hearts and our homes, we became His witnesses. Crosses in our homes and stickers on our cars are visible signs of our faith. Sometimes we are invited to speak loudly about His presence in our lives. “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” Not earlier and not later, but exactly “at that moment,” “for it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” We are His beloved children, and He knows what we need and when we need it.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD: the LORD is God and has given us light.”

The kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared

December 25, 2016 6:00 am

“Beloved: When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.” (TT 4: 3-7)

In one sentence St. Paul concluded everything that happened tonight when Our Lord became a man. And the main reason for what He did is His “kindness and generous love of God,” not “because of any righteous deeds we had done.” Only “because of His mercy, He saved us.” We are celebrating today His victory over our weaknesses and poverty. His victory came, not by His strength and power, but by His pure love, kindness and generosity.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To give His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins

December 24, 2016 6:00 am

“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.” (LK 1: 76-77)

Christmas is coming! “Forgiveness of our sins” is coming. Our Lord came to save us, to bring us back to our Father and to share with us all His love for us. He is our Savior and Redeemer even though He looks like a newborn baby. He came to be with us and to “shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.” (Gospel Acclamation)

They rejoiced with her

December 23, 2016 9:37 am

“Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.” (LK 1: 58)

We are not alone because we are in relationships, and whatever happens to us can be shared with others, and whatever happens to others can have some impact on us. A happy and smiling spouse probably will produce a different effect than a “fast and furious” one. When God gives us a grace, He sees it in a broader perspective—when you change, your “neighbors and relatives” also can change. What they need to change is to see it or “hear that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward” us, and they can “rejoice with” us.

“O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!” (Gospel Acclamation) 

He has mercy

December 22, 2016 6:00 am

“He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.” (LK 1: 50)

“He has mercy…”—these words describe perfectly everything Our Lord does for us. He IS our merciful love, our protector, our Redeemer and our love. He doesn’t judge, doesn’t criticize, and doesn’t expect from us—He loves. And whenever He sees our weaknesses or our limits, He comes as a merciful love—“in every generation.”

“O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!” (Gospel Acclamation)