Fullerton T

The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple

MAY THE LIGHT OF CHRIST LIGHT UP THE PATHS OF OUR LIVES

In terms of the Liturgy there’s a lot going on this first Sunday in February and that’s right you did read February TIME IS PASSING US BY.  Like so many festivals in the church living in the northern hemisphere, a lot of liturgical celebrations centre on seasons and weather. This year especially, we are very inclined to pay attention to changes in the weather as it has been so very bad but at least we haven’t had temperatures of minus 55 like those who live in parts of Canada.

This Sunday we celebrate a major feast of Our Lord, The Presentation. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day, since traditionally candles used in the Liturgy were blessed on this day, with a solemn procession in which all carried lighted candles before the Mass. Forty days following the birth of a child, a Jewish mother, having been “purified”, came into the Temple with an offering to the Lord. Since every child belonged to God, the parents would “buy back” their child. Poor people, like Joseph and Mary, were obliged to bring only two inexpensive birds, like turtledoves or pigeons. This feast was first observed in the Eastern Church as “The Encounter.” In the sixth century, it began to be observed in the West: in Rome with a more penitential character and in Gaul (France) with solemn blessings and processions of candles, popularly known as “Candlemas.” The Presentation of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter.

“In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. The Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day. We Christians stress our communal worship, especially our Sunday Eucharist. But we are also encouraged to take our faith home with us. In numerous ways we learn in our homes what we express each Sunday when we come together for Mass that we are the body of Christ. We are a family, Gods family who are nourished by our God through Word, Sacrament and one another. Our Faith is a treasure beyond price, by the strength of which we stand boldly against the winds of fad and fashion. May we be the light of Christ to all those we meet as we move forward in faith that is faith in God and in one another with our pathways lit up by the light of Christ.

CHRISTMAS 2013

Well, here we are approaching the big event that all the preparation has been leading up to, but  the even bigger question is this, “Has all our preparation been about tinsel and glitter without anything else, especially the spiritual preparation that the Advent Season calls for?” That is the same type of spiritual preparation that we are called to undertake during Lent when we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Many people forget the real reason for Christmas as the secular preparations overtake and often undermine the Spiritual reasons which are much more important than the externals of tinsel and glitter.

 Preparing for Christmas is often a very tense time with extra hours at work, standing for hours at the end of queues at the shops as the craziness goes on around us. And spending more time with families and friends can be an endurance test in many ways to say the least!! Having said this, we need to remember that for some people Christmas is not all it seems as they deal with the stresses of not being able to provide a good time for the members of their families.

 We need to remember that in many houses throughout the country things are not as good as they might be or they might have been in the past. Children are not unwrapping the presents as they have none. Many families are not preparing to sit down to a big Christmas dinner because they are going hungry again.  People have lost their faith, faith in God and man. Many others sit in dark despair, wondering where exactly the light will come from and who will bring it to them. And it simply put it is the baby in the manger who is  the reason for the season that brings the light of God into the world.

During these days of celebration we will often have occasion to sing as the angels did long ago, “Glory to God in the highest!” At this time when we celebrate the birth of “a saviour who has been born for us”, the One who is “Wonder- Counsellor and Prince of Peace,” the One who is “a great light” in the darkness of war and strife around us, we welcome an opportunity to put aside our cares and worries, bask in the joy and generosity of the season, and sing out our “Glory to God in the highest as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. And as we do this we cannot forget those who are less well off than we are those who have little or nothing at all. We are mindful of all the organizations such as the Salvation Army and the St. Vincent De Paul who do so much good for so many at this time of year and throughout the whole year.

None of us will travel to Bethlehem to behold the newborn infant in the way the shepherds and the wise men did in their time. But all of us travel the road of daily life, and we are called to see Jesus the newborn Infant in the youngster who needs companionship, the teenager who needs a listening ear, the parent who needs a helping hand, the older person who needs someone to care, to name but a few. There are so many others. We remember in a special way all those who have died since last Christmas and we keep their families in our thoughts and prayers. Some of our Christmas customs seem to turn away from Christ. Or do they? The giving of gifts expresses love of the other person. Festive decorations set this season apart from all others.

Santa Claus was originally St. Nicholas, who was bishop of Myra in Lycia which is now in Turkey he was remembered for his generosity. Every letter sent and received bears the stamp of this special season, tidings of good will, and a reminder that those who are far away are close to us in mind and heart. The customs of this season are veiled announcements of one message: Christ is born for us. To remove the veil, to hear the good news, we gather together in our churches. There the message of Christmas speaks loud and clear. The Letter to the Hebrews says, “In times past, God spoke in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.”

 The customs of Christmas speak the message in partial ways, but God speaks the message clearly through his Son, who is born in our midst this Christmas day. On this day the whole community of heaven joins with all believers of good will on earth in a jubilant song of praise and thanksgiving for the good news proclaimed by the angels: Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). So, with Mary and Joseph with the shepherds and Angels and the Archangels and the whole company of heaven, let us take this story and the good news of great joy into our hearts and let the joy and peace flourish within us and around us this Christmas.

Let us be thankful for this great light that is Christ the light of the world. Let us keep the light burning brightly in our hearts and in our lives.  Let us hold this simple story of Jesus birth in the Manger in our hearts throughout the year as we continue to travel the often bumpy roads of daily life and living.  As we proclaim Come let us adore him Christ the Lord, the child in the Manger, the true reason for Christmas.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A

This weekend we come to the last Sunday of the Advent season. In our churches we light the last purple candle as well as the other three leaving the last candle the white one for the first Mass of Christmas Day. It’s only in this last week before Christmas that we begin to hear about the “Christmas story” itself. For the past weeks we have been preparing ourselves to greet the Lord, when he comes. Now we prepare to remember how he first came, by listening to the prophecies of his coming, and by hearing of the events before his birth. We meet Mary, who herself had been prepared for the coming of the Messiah. She has received the angel’s greeting, and his strange news, and has accepted her role in God’s plan. Now she hurries to her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who herself bears John the Baptist in her womb. John,  alerts us to the presence of the Lord, as he leaps for joy in his mother’s womb. His joy is that God has kept his promise, and is with his people.

Matthew is well planted in his Jewish tradition. He shows that from the very beginning of his gospel. By quoting the prophet Isaiah, Matthew tells us that God is with us; not in general, but now on the throne of David – as God had promised. The promise found in Scripture has been fulfilled. By referring his readers to the scriptures, Isaiah reminds his readers that believers do well to put confidence in the Scripture – especially to sustain hope and strengthen faith in discouraging times.

God enters into our world: it’s a world where plans don’t always work out and where people have to adjust to the reality presented to them. Joseph was betrothed to Mary; he had his plans. Mary’s pregnancy turns his world and plans upside down. Instead of exposing her, he “decided to divorce her quietly.” He was a “righteous man” and he will protect Mary from being publicly dishonored. He is not vengeful and, though wronged, displays mercy. After his dream Joseph, “took his wife into his home.” The world God chose to enter was not only one of poverty, hard labor and political and military oppression but, from the beginning, messy – even while the child was still in his mother’s womb. God took a big chance being born among us. Surely there must have been neater options for God, to make the savior’s path and work a bit smoother. But who has a “smooth path” through life anyway? It’s good to know that Emmanuel, “God with us,” chose to be with us – people of the real and messy world. God is with us in the mess of our daily lives!

31st SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

This week we celebrated the feast of All Saints on November 1^st and  then All Souls on November 2^nd. Last Friday we prayed with  all the Saints of God who are in heaven and on earth, I’m sure we all know someone in our localities who we might say are saints and there are so many great examples of people who were declared saints on our own time. Then on Saturday we prayed for all the holy souls, that is for all those who have passed to their eternal reward we pray that they are in the kingdom of God. Also during the Month of November we offer our prayers and masses for the holy souls remembering our family members our friends and all those we have known in this life who have passed on may all of them rest in the peace of god’s kingdom.

 Our gospel reading for this Sunday is the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector who was a small man who was anxious to see the person that all the fuss was about. The image of this Sunday’s gospel is a short man looking for something more.  He climbed into the branches of a sycamore tree to get a peek at Jesus as he passed by.  Zacchaeus put his dignity and prestige on the line when he scrambled up the tree like a kid.  Jesus saw him in his need and willingness to repent. Zacchaeus’ house became a place of God’s presence to sinners. The story of Zacchaeus encourages us to seek and find Jesus present in our own lives in our daily living.  We need to let go of ordinary behavior and become removed from the ground of our lives and ascend to a different level to find the Lord passing by.  

Just as Zacchaeus finds Jesus passing by in the crowd, we also find Him in the crowd.   We each have a role to play in God’s continuing work of creation.  Our task is to bring care and love to all creation we encounter.  Our relationship with God depends on how we relate to all others.  Do we impose taxes and burdens on the poor, the weak?  If we abuse, ignore, burden, conquer and subjugate them to our wills and our self-centered desires we end up being the thorns and weeds that are removed from the harvest and cast into the fire as thrash. We come to worship to get a better glimpse of Jesus. It is the “tree” we climb. Our hope is that Jesus  will stop and give us a clearer glimpse of where he is in the midst of the issues and struggles we face day and daily. We’ll stay in this “tree” where we meet the Lord today – but just for a while. Then we will climb down to return to our daily lives. In the days ahead may we be like Zacchaeus  not afraid to go out into the world looking for Jesus and recognise him in those around us.

28th SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

As I sit here writing this on Friday evening I am thinking about so many different things that have happened and people that I have seen, having said that coming from Belfast the two murders that have taken place in Northern Ireland during this past week are uppermost in the mind’s eye. One of those who died murdered at the hands of those who are trying to impose their will on the local community lived not far from me here in North Belfast and will be buried after a funeral Mass on Monday Morning at our local church. Much has been said over the last few days about what this man had done but the overwhelming message from everyone including our politicians is that NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER and this statement has to be reinforced time and time again is so many situations in life. In our world today life is so very cheap, with so many taking up arms against their brothers and sisters in so many situations in the world. When we stop we think of Syria, Egypt and Iraq to name but a few there are so many war zones in the world, we pray for peace wherever we are, peace in our hearts our minds and our souls.

Our Gospel story for this weekend is the story of the ten Lepers, It is really a story of being grateful for all the various things that are done for us in faith and otherwise Jesus cured ten, but only one returns to day thank you, perhaps this percentage of thankfulness continues among God’s children today. All of us have reasons to give thanks for so many things yet very few turn to the Lord with words and hearts expressing  our gratitude for all the wonders he has done for us in our personal lives and in the life of the Church. The working of the grace of God is seen here in this reading in the gratitude of the Samaritan the man who came back to say thank you.  A Samaritan who was thought to be socially repulsive, and an outcast even before he contracted leprosy, shows the dignity of faith in returning to give thanks to Christ. “Rise, and go ob your way, your faith has saved you.

How often do our prayers turn to the theme of thanksgiving to God?  The gospel today encourages us to voice our prayer as simply and directly as the lepers did in the story do: “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” No need for pretense, excuses or false pride to block or alter the request. Bluntly put: “Have pity on us.” We yes YOU AND I are like the lepers, who did not pray as individuals alone, but as a group in need.  When we voice our simple prayer out of need, what do we expect – instant help and healing? Sometimes that’s what happens. But we take a clue from the lepers in the Gospel story Luke tells us, “As they were going they were cleansed, “As they were going, they were cleansed.” In my own life I often say that my prayers are answered not when I wanted them answered but when God saw I needed the requests  answered. We need to ask ourselves today, “Am I really grateful for God’s constant love and for His forgiveness? Or do I just take Him for granted?” Thankfulness is a necessary component and expression of our love for God who has loved us in Christ to His death on the Cross. What can we do but give thanks every day to God who has put to death our death by the death of His own Son and, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given us a share in His own life which never ends? If we open our hearts and minds to this perspective of faith, how could we fail to begin and end every prayer and offering in heartfelt and loving thanks to our heavenly Father? 

Let us continue our lives with a lively faith which includes thanking God for all that he has done for us.  We remember the words taken from the psalms “what wonders the Lord worked for  us indeed we are glad.”

The Ascension of the Lord

Recently it was decided to move the celebration of Ascension in of the  Dioceses to this Sunday. While this moves the feast away the fortieth day after Easter Sunday it does open up  the celebration of the Ascension as part of the journey of the Easter Season. This Sunday’s gospel passage contains part of the prayer Jesus addressed to his Father following his Last Supper discourse with its the promise of the holy Spirit. Jesus prays for his disciples and for all who will believe in him through their words. The depth and poetic beauty of Jesus’ prayer defies making an adequate prose summary. Principal elements of the prayer are listed here merely as an aid to memory for the reader — communion in the life of Father and Son, desire that the world come to believe in him, desire that all may see his eternal glory, desire that the Father’s love be in all who believe. Ascension is not just a feast that “happens to fall in Eastertide”: it is an integral part of the Easter mystery. Remember the Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “I am going to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me.” Jesus does not open the way to us just by rising from the dead: to complete the mystery presumes the Lord’s return to the Father. Ascension is therefore a feast of hope: our hope that the Lord will return, as he went. Our hope that he will take us with him, when our bodies are raised as his was. Our hope that in due course we will take our place in heaven, where he sits at the Father’s right hand.

 Our focus today is on the retelling of a story declaring that Christ has returned to the Father, and so we think of it as the ‘end’ of the Christ event or the ‘end of Easter’ – in times past there was a custom of extinguishing the Paschal Candle after the gospel to signify: ‘he is gone’. That said he is gone but at the same time we believe that he is truly here with us. The ascension is an end As well as a beginning. While it was the end of Jesus’ physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus’ presence with them and with us in  a new way. Jesus promised that he would be with them always to the end of time (Matthew 28:20)  and he is with us too in the Eucharist, that is also called the real presence of Jesus in the blessed Sacrament.  Now as the glorified and risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, and he promised to send the Apostles the Holy Spirit who would give them his power on the Feast of Pentecost.

 The Feast of the Ascension is a call for us to renew our participation in the Church’s mission. We help to make disciples of others by our words and actions. When we are committed to the Church and its teaching, we teach other people about the eternal life that is offered to them whenever we speak about our faith and its relevance to our lives. This is how we participate in the Church’s mission and begin to understand more fully its nature. On the Feast of the Ascension then we focus our minds and hearts not so much on Jesus’ departure from this world but rather on his continued presence among us, albeit in   a different way. While his earthly mission concludes with the Ascension, his mission of salvation continues in the Church. We, together one and all are the Church. We are the Body of Christ which is a sign of God’s loving presence to the entire world. We are reminded to assume the responsibility that comes with baptism as we renew our commitment to being the Church and to loving the Church as a son or a daughter loves his or her Father. In this last Sunday before Pentecost, may we take courage in the vision of Jesus Himself of a world at peace, living in unity and love. May we pray today with Jesus’ prayer for unity, in local church, in our parish communities  and in the universal church. We beg God for stronger faith and stronger love and stronger courage in our own witnessing as we continue our journey of faith.