22-Dec-2006 Dear Friend, We all look forward to Christmas, but do we look forward to meeting Christ? We look forward to getting gifts and presents but do we look forward to giving and sharing with others? We want to have a good time, but do we look forward to giving others a good time? The spirit of Christmas is found in going out of ones way. Have a thanks-giving Christmas! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections: Christmas Day God comes as a child for us! 25-Dec-2006 Readings: Isaiah 9: 1-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; In todays reading the prophet Isaiah speaks of the light in the darkness announcing the birth of a royal child shining as a splendid light. This child will have the qualities of the prophet Moses and be brave as King David, and wise and peaceful as Solomon. The darkness and misery of the Israelites held in bondage is over and the people who lived in darkness will see the light of hope shining on them. The Lord comes to break the yoke of slavery. Yet this mighty Yahweh, comes in the guise of a frail child. He comes to bring peace forever. His name is Wonder Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. The Source Of Light Every act we do to bring Gods light further into the world is another small Christmas. And the way Gods light comes into the world today is through us. A missioner in Japan tells us the story of being called to a Catholic lady who lay dying at her home. Her son, a medical doctor, although not a Christian, always greeted him respectfully when he brought the Eucharist to his dying mother and eventually anointed her, but was always formal and distant. A few months after the death of his mother, the physician appeared on the missioners doorstep. After an exchange of social amenities, he came to explain that he wanted to go to confession. He had heard his mother speak of the inner peace she experienced in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and he had seen that for himself, and he wanted to try it for himself. There were things weighing heavily on his mind. The priest called down Gods blessings on him; evidencing peace, he thanked the priest and left. Six months later the doctor took instructions and was happily baptized. His mother had brought him the light of the world. And the doctor himself thereafter provided the light of the world, too, to all around him.-Harold Buetow Pauls letter to Titus reminds us that Gods grace has been revealed to us by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through him salvation is made possible for us. All we have to do to receive this gift of salvation is give up everything that does not lead to God and all our worldly ambitions. We must control ourselves and live good and religious lives. Jesus came to set us free and he sacrificed himself so that we might attain freedom from all sin. He made us his very own by becoming our very own; one with us in all things but sin. Todays gospel describes the simple yet beautiful events of that first Christmas day. At the centre of Christianity is the great proclamation of the identity of Jesus: that he is not only the son of Mary, that he is the Son of God; that he is not only the prophet from Nazareth, that he is Christ the Lord. In his story Luke registers the birth of Jesus at a particular time in history and in a particular place in the world. So the birth of Jesus is located in time and space, the natural boundaries of every human life-story. In the person of Jesus God visited his people. He registered himself in time and place and that is why we celebrate tonight. In an obscure town of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph were forced to go in obedience to a faraway Caesar, who imposed his will on the known world. Mary and Joseph, uncomplainingly go to where God is leading them and there this child is born. Unnoticed by the great world, recognized by the poor as the awaited Messiah, Jesus is born and a new era in the history of mankind begins. God is at home with us in the form of a weak and helpless infant. The almighty has become powerless as he offers humanity a new way to God. Only the simple shepherds are told of his coming and believing they rush to the infant king and worship him. Only those who have faith believe that this is God come to be at home with mankind. His coming changes everything and everyone who believes in Him. Seventh Heaven The play Seventh Heaven is a story of love and regeneration. The hero is Chico a sewer worker manly, honest and honourable. The heroine is Diane, a street woman abused, hostile and forlorn. Chico rescues Diane from the streets and takes her to his sky parlor on the 7th floor of a slum tenement in Paris. Their relationship is honourable. Chico refuses to believe he loves her until he is called to serve in the French army during World War I. For the next four years Diane starves and suffers in that dingy Paris attic, but never falters in her faith that her beloved Chico would return from the war. Chico does return but he is blind. Nonetheless, in spite of her poverty and his handicap, their love for each other transforms their apartment attic into a Seventh Heaven. The play gives us some insight into the meaning of Christmas when the word was made flesh and dwelt among us: And we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds Surrounded by silence, surrounded by the night, the Word who is with God, the Word who is God, is made flesh. Jesus is born at a definite time and place but we are concerned not so much with the details of his birth as with the central fact of Mary, ever virginal wife of Joseph tending her child. To those who accept him he gave power to become children of God. Gods feeling for the little and humble people is shown when it is to the poor shepherds that the birth of the Good Shepherd is announced. The sign given to them is Poverty in person, a sign that must find a profound echo in their hearts. For the shepherds the message that the Lord has sent them means that this thing that has happened is real, this thing is true. They hasten with all speed and find what their hearts seek: not riches or power, but the Child, the reality of the sign given to them. That is enough for them, for they are in harmony with him. Indeed they become the first missionaries of the gospel, telling the good news to all the neighbours. Let us join in thanksgiving of these shepherds. It is not enough to stand in awe before the manger. We must not only believe, we must also live our faith. Like Mary, the witness par excellence of this mystery, let us treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts.Glenstal Bible Missal What Language Does God Speak? There was once upon a time a boy named Emmanuel, who always asked questions. One day he asked his teacher What language does God speak? The teacher did not know the answer so Emmanuel asked others but they merely shook their heads. Emmanuel was convinced that someone knew and so he traveled far and wide but the answer was always the same. One night exhausted by his travels, Emmanuel came to a village called Bethlehem. He tried to get a room but the rooms were all filled up. So he decided to look for a cave outside town. In the early hours of the morning he found one. When he stepped inside the cave however, he saw it was occupied by a couple with a child. When the mother saw him she said, Welcome Emmanuel, weve been expecting you. The boy was stunned. How did this woman know his name? He was even more stunned when she said: For a long time youve been searching the world over to discover what language God speaks. Now your journey is over. To-night you can see with your own eyes that the language God speaks is the language of love. Emmanuels heart overflowed for he had finally found his answer. God speaks the one language that every person from every nation of every period of history can understand. God speaks the language of love. This is what he also came down on earth for, to teach everyone to speak, the language of love. Mark Link in Sunday Homilies May His coming teach us to love! Fr. Jude Botelho www.netforlife.net PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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