January 3, 2021 - The Epiphany of Jesus Christ

The Feast of Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Jesus as Savior for all peoples. The gifts brought by Magi from different countries have very special significance.  The gold reminds us that Jesus is of royal descent since He was of King David's line.  The Frankincense indicates the adoration that is owed to Jesus who is also divine. The myrrh, which was used to anoint the body before burial, calls forth gratitude for Jesus' giving his life to redeem us.

Through the study of Creation, our ancestors could recognize the power and intelligence of God.  However, God, our Father, with the gift of Jesus as a human being, helps us to understand other qualities of God, most especially those of love and mercy.

When we observe the life of Jesus in the New Testament (Christian Scriptures) we develop a deeper understanding of our loving and merciful God. Jesus taught us both by word and example.  His parables (stories to teach a lesson) e.g.  The story of the Prodigal Son who squandered his inheritance and was welcomed back by his merciful father illustrates this.  Jesus' own example of forgiveness of the repentant woman also provides a deeper sense of the merciful kindness of our God. Jesus asks us to show mercy to one another also when he teaches his disciples to pray: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."

In addition, Jesus instructs us to treat one another as brothers and sisters with a common Heavenly Father. The Jews considered the Samaritans to be inferior because some of them intermarried with Assyrians. In response to a question: "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus offers the parable: "The Good Samaritan."  While others pass by a man who had been injured by robbers,  the Samaritan stops and goes out of his way to help him.

In Jesus' lifetime, women and children were considered to be possessions of men.  Jesus treats women with respect and even converses with a Samaritan woman and asks her for a drink of water.  He could have faced heavy criticism for that.  When the disciples try to send children away because they know Jesus is tired, Jesus stops them and tells them to let the children come to him. He also informs the disciples that unless they become like children, they will not enter the Kingdom of God.

The story of the Magi's travels from distant lands to find their God and King is like the journey of each one of us. The light of the Star is the unique guidance we receive along the way. Sometimes it is a personal inspiration or something we read or comment on or an example of another person. 

Pope John Paul II described the Christian life as a " pilgrimage to the House of God, our Father."

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A  Christmas Story The Other (Fourth) Wise Man

by Henry Van Dike

A wise man, possibly an astronomer, named Artaban from Persia saw signs in the sky proclaiming that a King had been born among the Jews.  He sets out to see the newborn ruler, bringing with him a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price." On his way to meet the other three wise men, he stops to help a dying man and is too late to join the caravan.  He cannot cross the desert with only a horse, so he has to sell one of his treasures to buy some camels and supplies. 

Artaban continues his journey and arrives at Bethlehem too late to see the child because his parents have fled with him to Egypt. They went to Egypt to avoid the threats of King Herod who does not want any competition for power from a new King.  While there, Artaban saves the life of a child by giving away another treasure intended for his King.

Not to be discouraged from finding his King, Artaban travels through a number of countries, doing many kind deeds along the way. He arrives in Jerusalem as Jesus is being crucified.  There, he is struck in the head by a falling roof tile.  As he lays dying, he hears a voice saying: "Verily I say unto thee, inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) Artaban dies in peace and joy, realizing that his treasures of kindness had been accepted lovingly by his King.

 Jesus - Emmanuel - God with us 

One of my favorite names for Jesus heard often during the Christmas Season, is our Emmanuel (Immanuel).  It means "God, with us."  We never really are alone.  We find God in creation,  in the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Communion), in Sacred Scripture, and in one another.

God is present to us through one another.  Although this true at all times, it is most evident when disasters happen, e.g. hurricanes, forest fires, and today during our pandemic. We see our healthcare personnel working long hours providing care and comfort to the sick and dying.  We see essential workers providing food and other needed items and services. Police and firefighters risk their lives to help those in need.  Caring people check on their elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors to provide meals and help when needed.  Volunteers work many hours staffing food banks, etc.  Yes, God is ever-present with us in many ways. Let us express our gratitude daily for these wonderful blessings!

A Happy and Healthy New Year to You and Yours!

Comments

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., ASBS, Historian, Certified archivist emerita

The Blessed Mother went on a pilgrimage to be with her relative Elizabeth who was with child. Can you imagine being a teenager and being told that you are to be the Mother of God? Mary must have had many thoughts and questions about this Motherhood. Who could she talk with who would understand her excitement? Elizabeth, now miraculously with child herself, may have shared some of this same excitement. Elizabeth understood the situation as she greeted Mary: "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:39-45). Clearly, something beyond the ordinary was happening to these two women. As we know, our Lord is always with us, offering love, support, and guidance. God provided Mary with love, support, and possibly some guidance, in the person of Elizabeth. As St. Katharine Drexel urged the Sisters in 1902, "Yes, arise from the Christmas thanksgiving to find your Jesus always with you." Even in these difficult days, Jesus is always with us in many forms, e.g., the person delivering food or the person who made you smile or laugh the other day. We can be that person for others as well. May you always sense the presence of God with you on your own pilgrimage.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

I promised myself that I would leisurely savor the morning of the day after Christmas. I curled up on the sofa with my mug of steaming coffee and my Scripture readings for the day. I opened to the first reading, Acts of the Apostles 6:8-10, and read of the hatred toward, and the stoning of Stephen. It struck a note of disturbance as I was anticipating a continuation of the celebration of the birth of the Baby Jesus. That passage felt so cold after the nighttime Christmas Mass focus on the peace, joy, light, and grace of the Savior’s birth. Was there a “no loitering” sign outside of the stable? I wanted to settle into the warmth and hominess of the Nativity scene.  When I thought about it, I was reminded of when I was a young mother and never wanted the tender infant-stage to end. I resisted moving forward even as my baby went on to crawl, teeter, and walk on his own.

Author Michelle Francl-Donnay poses the questions, “What has changed as a result of this birth of God into time?... What must change in me as a result of this coming of the Lord?”

Our focus must change from merely gazing on the “frozen” statuettes in the manger “toward the living Christ.” Francl-Donnay writes, “This is the scandal of the Nativity, this is the stumbling block I face, that God demands of me not merely adoration, but witness. Not merely awareness, but action…We are called to walk from the crib into the world, carrying with us the Light.”

With the feast of Epiphany, the Wise Men seek the Light of Christ, offer their unique gifts and, as a result of worshiping the Christ child, the courses of their lives were changed. Returning home after encountering the holy...  How will we incarnate the Holy One in our lives? Will we be changed? Transformed?  Epiphany challenges us to move forward with spiritual vision.  Do we have the spiritual vision to recognize Christ in the faces of those we encounter in our daily lives and offer to them our unique gifts?

These are the questions I need to ponder as I seek to encounter the Christ Presence in everyone I meet. I know not what unique gifts I have to offer but I trust that they will manifest when I am open to respond to the epiphanies that Christ places on my path.  I share these questions with your readers who may, like myself, recognize that we are called to respond to the invitation that Epiphany offers and are open to being led by The Light.   

7-14-19 The Good Samaritan

July 14, 2019  -  The Good Samaritan
  

Image © LUMO Project

Reading I:
Deuteronomy
30:10-14

Psalm:  69

Reading II:
Colossians 1:15-20

Gospel: 
Luke 10: 25-37


“Good Samaritan” has become a common expression to refer to a person who goes out of his or her way to help a stranger in need. Many are not aware of the fact that the expression comes from the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” preached by Jesus Himself.

When a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus reminds him of the law and asks him how he reads it. The lawyer responds that he must Love God and one’s neighbor as himself.  Jesus tells him he is correct. However, the lawyer challenges Jesus: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus knows that the prevailing belief is that only Jews are neighbors. He wants to expand their understanding, so He tells the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”

Jesus describes a situation in which a man is attacked by robbers, stripped and beaten half to death.  Both a priest and a lawyer saw him, but walked on, offering no help. However, a Samaritan has compassion, stops, cares for his wounds, takes him to an inn, continues to care for him, even pays the innkeeper to care for him. Then, he offers to repay the innkeeper if he spends more than he was given.

Jesus had two strong messages which He gives to his listeners. First, what He expects of His disciples is inclusiveness in their bringing the good news to others. The Samaritans were not respected by the Jews not just because they were from a different province, but because they were of mixed blood. They practiced a different religion, accepting only the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. On the other hand, the Jews also accepted other books of the Bible. The Samaritans had their temple in on Mount Gerizim, while the Jews had their temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans were considered to be a low breed. You can imagine how they felt when Jesus presents to them a Samaritan as a model of brotherly love!

The second message Jesus gave was to call for generosity among his followers. He expects them to sacrifice their own comfort and goods to bring love and care to others. He asks them and us to reach out to those suffering from loneliness, prejudice, injustice, poverty, illness, etc. The Samaritan was traveling somewhere when he stopped to help, put himself out, interrupted his trip, paid for the care of the injured man and showed the type of kindness that Jesus wants of His followers. That is the same challenge Jesus gives to us.

 Reflection Question:  Can you give an example of  someone you know or heard about who acted as a “Good Samaritan?”

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

El Buen Samaritano

“Buen Samaritano” se ha convertido en una expresión común para referirse a una persona que hace todo lo posible por ayudar a un extraño necesitado. Muchos no son conscientes del hecho de que la expresión proviene de la “Parábola del Buen Samaritano” predicada por el mismo Jesús.

Cuando un abogado le pregunta a Jesús qué debe hacer para heredar la vida eterna, Jesús le recuerda la ley y le pregunta cómo la lee. El abogado responde que debe amar a Dios y al prójimo como a sí mismo. Jesús le dice que tiene razón. Sin embargo, el abogado desafía a Jesús: “¿Quién es mi prójimo?” Jesús sabe que la creencia predominante es que solo los judíos son vecinos. Él quiere expandir su comprensión, por lo que dice la  “Parábola del Buen Samaritano”.

Jesús describe una situación en la que un hombre es atacado por ladrones, desnudado y golpeado hasta la mitad. Tanto un sacerdote como un abogado lo vieron, pero siguieron caminando, sin ofrecer ayuda. Sin embargo, un samaritano tiene compasión, se detiene, cuida sus heridas, lo lleva a una posada, lo sigue cuidando, incluso le paga al posadero para que lo cuide. Luego, se ofrece a pagarle al posadero si gasta más de lo que le dieron.

Jesús tenía dos mensajes fuertes que él da a sus oyentes. Primero, lo que Él espera de sus discípulos es la inclusión en el hecho de llevar las buenas nuevas a los demás. Los samaritanos no eran respetados por los judíos no solo porque eran de una provincia diferente, sino porque eran de sangre mixta. Practicaban una religión diferente, aceptando solo la Torá, los primeros cinco libros de la Biblia. Por otro lado, los judíos también aceptaron otros libros de la Biblia. Los samaritanos tenían su templo en el Monte Gerizim, mientras que los judíos tenían su templo en Jerusalén. Los samaritanos eran considerados de una raza baja. ¡Puedes imaginarte cómo se sintieron cuando Jesús les presenta a un samaritano como modelo de amor fraternal!

El segundo mensaje que dio Jesús fue para pedir generosidad entre sus seguidores. Él espera que sacrifiquen su propia comodidad y bienes para traer amor y cuidado a los demás. Él nos pide que nos pongamos en contacto con aquellos que sufren de soledad, prejuicio, injusticia, pobreza, enfermedad, etc. Hombre y mostró el tipo de bondad que Jesús quiere de sus seguidores. Ese es el mismo desafío que Jesús nos da.

 Pregunta de Reflexión:  ¿Puede dar un ejemplo de alguien que conoce o escuchó acerca de quién actuó como un “buen samaritano”?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph. D, Historian, Certified Archivist, emerita

Moses told the people that they should “heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and keep his commandments. The scholar told Jesus that the law was to “love the Lord, your God with all your heart …and your neighbor as yourself.” Actions speak louder than words. By living the love of God we can draw more people to experience God’s love than by just talking about it.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

Jesus commands, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  We ask, “Who is my neighbor?” hoping for an affable response.

The door to her home, and her heart, was always open. As a child, I spent weekends at her house. My cousins, their friends, and usually an unrelated adult or two, hung out there as well. The environment was lively, as well as colorful.  Guests and visitors were of varied ages, races, beliefs, and interests. My memory is of a big old house with a huge “parlor” which, at Christmas time, held the biggest tree imaginable. The magical thing was that Santa always left a gift for whoever happened to be there during that season. I recall times when entire families “visited,” and stayed indefinitely. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned they had no other place to live. Then there was Charlie. Charlie was a middle-aged single man without any family. He was a truck driver, on the road a lot, but in between road trips, he needed a place to stay. He became a boarder at the house and found a family that welcomed him as a member. He lived there for a very long season of life until his health deteriorated to the point he needed skilled care and transitioned to a facility.  Aunt Doris was a professional singer and the band practiced in the parlor; music, singing and laughter filled the room. As we grew up, married, and had our own children, we just kept coming back. Whenever any of our kids, or extended family members got sick, Aunt Doris was the one we reached out to for prayer. To this day, I believe she had a direct line to Jesus. She consoled individuals through divorces and she continued to welcome the ex-spouses who returned to her “sanctuary” for her wise counsel and unconditional love. 

 My aunt had very little money but we never realized she was poor because she created an atmosphere of abundance. Spaghetti dinners seemed like a feast in Italy as she created an ambiance to resemble fine dining. Hot dogs were the centerpiece of a fun-filled indoor picnic. She nourished many hungry stomachs, broken hearts and wounded souls from the hearth of her loving heart and the depths of her love of God and His hurting children. Aunt Doris cared; she was present to those in need. She was willing to enter into the lives of others, to listen attentively, and to share their pain. When she learned that the father of a family down the street lost his job right after Thanksgiving, she got to work making “shoe boxes” filled with age-appropriate goodies for each of the eight children so they would have something to open on Christmas morning.

The church was full on the day of her funeral Mass, a testimony to her total gift of self. A community of unrelated people, united, as we exchanged stories of how Doris C. contributed to healing our common brokenness. As the priest who celebrated Mass commented, she truly understood the connection between loving God and serving neighbor. 

She lived a good Samaritan life demonstrating that compassion has no boundaries. She was the good neighbor who crossed the road to minister to the hurting, disenfranchised, and less fortunate. To Aunt Doris, the person who ends up dying in the ditch is the one who distances himself/ herself from others by judging them as being less than worthy of his/her time and attention. 

Being a good neighbor begets good neighbors. Jesus’ wisdom holds the vision of the peaceful kingdom right in our own backyard! Let us pray for an attitude of abundance so that we are able to share of ourselves with others with ease and grace.

February 19, 2017 - God is all-inclusive, all-embracing

The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time  A

Reading 1:  Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18
Response:  Psalm 103
Reading II:  1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel:   1 Corinthians 3:16-23

When most of us hear the word “Catholic,” we think of a particular group of Christians. However, the word’s basic definition is “universal, all-encompassing, and all-embracing.” Christianity is a religion of all-inclusive love

Even in Jesus’ time, the question came up “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus' response was to tell the story of the “Good Samaritan” who came to the aid of a man who had been robbed and injured. Even though some Rabbinic authorities considered Samaritans as a branch of Judaism, others considered them as outsiders. Ironically, the priest and levite passed him by while
this “stranger” when out of his way to help.


According to Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar, in his book Light of the Word, “In the ‘Old Testament,’ love was primarily something for one’s own clan which constituted “one’s neighbor in that era.”(p.50) On the other hand, Jesus taught that everyone is to beloved as a neighbor — even our enemies. He gives us many examples during his lifetime and especially as he asks His Father to forgive those who are putting him to death.

Today, the expression “good samaritan” is commonly used for people who extend a helping hand to those in need, even if they do not know them. I am always happy when the newscasters, after telling us of all the violence and crime of the day, will share some of the wonderful deeds of the many kind and generous people in our world.

Because of the ripple effect, I have always felt that the world would be better place if more stories of the good people do would be told. Just this week, I heard about someone who paid-off of unpaid school lunch bills for children in need. It triggered a flood of similar outreaches from others across the country.

When we find it difficult to love someone, let us ask the Lord to remind us that we are all children of the same Father and pray for whatever the person needs.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Dios es todo-inclusivo, todo-que abarca 

Cuando la mayoría de nosotros escuchamos la palabra “Católico”, pensamos en un grupo particular de cristianos. Sin embargo, la definición básica de la palabra es “universal, todo-que abarca, y todo-abrazando.” El cristianismo es una religión del amor inclusivo

Incluso en el tiempo de Jesús, surgió la pregunta “¿Quién es mi prójimo?” La respuesta de Jesús fue contar la historia del “Buen Samaritano” que acudió en ayuda de un hombre que había sido robado y herido. Aunque algunas autoridades rabínicas consideraban a los samaritanos como una rama del judaísmo, otros los consideraban como forasteros. Irónicamente, el sacerdote y el levita pasaron Este “extraño” cuando fuera de su manera de ayudar.

Según el p. Hans Urs von Balthasar, en su libro Luz del Verbo, “En el’ Antiguo Testamento”, el amor era principalmente algo para el propio clan que constituía “el prójimo en esa época.” (P.50) Por otra parte, Jesús enseñó que todo el mundo es amado como un Vecino - incluso nuestros enemigos. Él nos da muchos ejemplos durante su vida y especialmente cuando le pide a su Padre que perdone a los que lo están matando.

Hoy en día, la expresión “buen samaritano” se utiliza comúnmente para las personas que extienden una mano a los necesitados, incluso si no los conocen. Siempre estoy contento cuando los periodistas, después de contarnos toda la violencia y delito del día, compartirán algunos de los maravillosos hechos de las muchas personas generosas y generosas de nuestro mundo.

Debido al efecto de la ondulación, siempre he sentido que el mundo sería mejor lugar si se contara más historias de la gente buena. Sólo esta semana, escuché acerca de alguien que pagó-fuera de las facturas de almuerzo escolar sin pagar para niños necesitados. Esto desencadenó una avalancha de actividades similares de otros en todo el país.

Cuando nos resulte difícil amar a alguien, pidamos al Señor que nos recuerde que todos somos hijos del mismo Padre y oramos por lo que la persona necesite.

July 10, 2016 - The Good Samaritan

The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Year C

1st Reading: Dt. 30: 10-14

Response: Psalm 69

Second Reading: Col. I: 15-20

Gospel: Luke 10: 25-37

Over the years, the expression “a good Samaritan” has become a popular description of a person who goes out of  his or her way to help someone in need.  It is indeed an appropriate way of describing a kind person’s response to someone in need. However, it has become so commonplace that it does not fully describe the heroic courage of the person presented by Jesus.

First of all, Samaritans were despised by the Jews because they had intermarried with non-Jews and were worshipping pagan gods. Theirs was a mixed culture including Jewish and Gentile aspects. Because of prejudice, this Samaritan risked not only distain, but possible violence because he chose to help this Jewish man while others passed him by. 

Nonetheless, this compassionate man not only bound up the wounds inflicted by the robbers, but he placed him on his own animal. Together they managed to carry wounded man to an inn. After the laborious trip, the Samaritan left the injured man in the care of the innkeeper so that he could receive the shelter, food and care he needed. That was not enough! He planned to check on him on his return from his journey and to pay the innkeeper for any expenses incurred. This Samaritan is motivated by love and compassion, not just for his own people, but for a suffering brother in the family of God. 

I recall being reminded in the past that in God’s garden, there are many types of flowers. They have their own colors, shapes, sizes, and fragrances. The variety adds to the beauty of the display. Whether we differ in race, nationality, appearance, faith, ability, talents, personalities, sexual preferences, or political persuasions, we are all children of our Heavenly Father who loves each one of us as we are. This Samaritan saw the injured man as his brother. That is what made all the difference!