December 29, 2024; The Feast of the Holy Family (Year C)

                     Readings: 1 Sm. 1:20-21, 24-28; 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52

We Must Always Return to Jerusalem to Find the Missing Link in Our Relationship

1.    When a man and a woman get married, they always think of a place they can call home, a place to return to after a day’s job, and where they would raise a family. A home should be a mini-church where the family gathers for prayer, reflection, and spiritual discussions. It should also be a mini-school where children learn about their faith and the teachings of the Church. It should also be a mini-social center where the family shares meals, celebrates special occasions, and supports each other. Children learn to be good, loving, graceful, forgiving, gentle, humble, and spiritual from their parents. At home, they learn to pray. They learn table manners from home as well. What they learn from school should complement what they learn from home. Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Mary was a homemaker while Joseph was a carpenter – the breadwinner and the child Jesus learned from his parents. At least, so it seems! Was their home free from anxiety? Were they worried about anything or any member of the family?

2.   In the Collect today, we asked God to give us the shining example of the Holy Family so that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity and so, in the joy of his house delight one day in eternal rewards. We want to model our family after that of the Holy Family. The first reading narrates the religious practice of Elkanah’s family. It was customary for them to go and present themselves to the Lord in the temple in Shiloh to fulfill their vows. They would offer sacrifices and prayers of thanksgiving to God for the blessings received. Samuel was an answer to Hannah’s prayer. She had asked the Lord for him and promised to offer the child to God should God answer her prayers. Now Hannah went to make good her pledge. Since God was at the center of her life, she dedicated Samuel to God. This dedication and commitment to God’s teachings and the example the Holy Family sets should inspire and motivate us in our family lives.

3.   In the gospel, we meet Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, who, as a typical Jewish family, also made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. It was, no doubt, a joyful celebration where families traveled in groups and enjoyed the company of one another. Things sometimes get in the way of such gatherings, and the important things often get ignored or forgotten. In this journey, we see a typical family dynamic in the Holy Family. The boy Jesus was forgotten and inadvertently left behind in the temple. One can only imagine the anxiety and panic that Mary and Joseph experienced during those agonizing hours that they could not account for Jesus’ whereabouts. They took him for granted and let their guards down. They thought Jesus would be taken care of by family members. They took some time out to be Mary and Joseph and not parents of a young boy of 12. Most families often find themselves in a similar situation. They take things for granted and usually feel that the kids will be just fine in the care of others.

4.   Isn’t it true that we often take things for granted ourselves, get busy with our jobs, and think of providing material things for our children, and we usually forget who is taking care of them? Children who grow up without close supervision from parents and caring adults develop their personalities and take up the guardian’s attitude. Truth be told, once you become parents, you live not for yourselves but for the children. Hence, the Church teaches the importance of responsible parenthood. This is not a burden but a privilege and a responsibility that we can handle. Christian homes must be enabling environments for children to grow into responsible adults. If not, it may be too late to salvage the situation when they discover the children are not with them.

5.   The beauty of the Holy Family and what makes it holy is that after paying the price for taking things for granted, they returned to the source where it all began – the temple. It was in the temple that they discovered Jesus. While they took things for granted, God was at work protecting his own. God had taken charge of Mary and Joseph’s situation. In referring to giving time to one another in the family, we must admit that the demands of time and situation are different today. The Holy Family of Nazareth was like any human family of their time. They also experienced the struggles of life – being refugees, working hard to make ends meet, having to meet the demands of the law, and all the other tensions that an ordinary family had to face. Despite all that, they were happy together. They went through their struggles together. But most of all, they always had time for God. God was in the center of their lives. To turn our families into holy families, we must allow the bond that binds us together to grow stronger and our love for every family member unconditional. We must bear with one another in love and forgive each other as soon as a misunderstanding occurs. We must never take any member of the family for granted. Most of all, we must always return to Jerusalem to find the missing link of our relationship; there, we will see Christ. He will teach us that the family that prays together stays together. May the Holy Family intercede for us on this day and into the new year. Amen. Happy Holy Family! Happy New Year to one and all.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

December 22, 2024; 4th Sunday of Advent (Year C)

Readings: Mic. 5:1-4; Heb. 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

 

The Sinless and Most Humble Woman

1.     Who is the greatest? Is it the wealthiest person in the world? Or the most influential person? Could it be the person who boasts about himself and his riches? Jesus addressed his disciples about who the greatest is: “Let the greatest among you be as the youngest and the leader as the servant.” He asked them: “Who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves.” (Lk. 22:26-28). As we end the Advent season and begin the solemn preparation for the birth of Christ, I want to look at the humility of the Blessed Mother, Mary. After the fall, God’s love for humanity and his desire to enter a deeper relationship with us chose the sinless Virgin to be the mother of his son. Mary said ‘Yes’ to God. Yet Mary did not see herself as the queen of the universe but as the Handmaid of the Lord. “I am the Handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” she said. The angel also informed the Blessed Mother that her cousin, Elizabeth, was with child. She was elderly and long past the child-bearing age. Nothing is impossible for God. When Mary heard that message, she thought of nothing else but being with her. 

 

2.     Mary did not dwell on her glory. Instead, she immediately thought of her cousin and went to share her joy and look after her for a few months before the birth of John the Baptist. Mary’s selflessness is truly inspiring. She is not only sinless but also humble. Unsurprisingly, Jesus, our servant leader, took after her in service and greatness. How often do we see Mary as the blessed one, the chosen one, and the one who should be adored and even worshipped? But Mary debunked our wrong notion of her. When Elizabeth greeted her, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,” Mary replied, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; For he has looked upon his Handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Mary did not see herself as great, not because of her achievements but because of God’s mercy and graciousness. God looked down on her with compassion and chose her for greatness. She was grateful to God and believed and trusted in God’s promises. She devoted her life to God, listened to God, and pondered God’s mercy and love. Mary always points the way to her son. “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5) is her command to us. Mary’s greatness lies in her humility and service.

3.     As we celebrate Mary’s visit to Elizabeth on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we know that Christmas is here. When the Blessed Mother Mary visited Elizabeth, her cousin, she brought Christmas to her family. She shared not just the news of her pregnancy, but also the love of God and her own joy. Mary shows us why Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year. She invites us to share what we have with the people around us, to bring joy and love to their lives, and to embody the true spirit of Christmas.

 

4.     When John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Lk. 7:19). Jesus did not tell them that he was the Christ; instead, he said, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Lk.7:22). In my opinion, this is what Christmas is all about. Like Mary and Jesus, her son, we are to bring solace to the lives of the people around us. Christ sent John’s disciples back to tell him what they had seen and heard. It is about being there for people who are in need. We aim to assist them the best we can and bring a change into their lives.

 

5.     This is what we must do. As we visit families and friends, we must bring good tidings to them. We must go to them with love and share what we have with them. If there is misunderstanding and dispute, we must bring about healing. If people are in need, we must share what we have, no matter how small. We can bring with us some labor of love, like cleaning the house, doing laundry and dishes, or cooking and serving too. We can share our joy and laughter with them. Praying with our family and friends and encouraging them to return to Church may be all they need now. In your gift-giving, think of what will make a difference in their lives; not just give anything, but let it be something durable, something that counts, like a bible, a Missal, or a rosary. You may even spend some time with someone lonely and pray with them. These are all practical ways to embody Mary’s humility and service daily. May Mary, our mother, show us how to celebrate Christmas through our labor of love. Amen.

 

6.    Hail Mary, Gentle Woman: Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright, gentle mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom; teach us love……

 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 15, 2024; 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C)

 

Readings: Zep. 3:14-18; Phil. 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18

Live, Love, and Laugh

1.    Today is the third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday. At this Mass, we wear a rose-colored chasuble and light the rose-colored candle. The Entrance Antiphon is from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” There are 10 days to Christmas, the birth of Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16). We rejoice, not because everything is perfect, but because despite the deplorable condition of the world and its sinful nature, God deems it fit to come to our rescue through his Son, born of a woman to reconcile us to himself. The birth of Christ will bring us joy, peace, and happiness. But we must prepare for his coming by a life of repentance so that He may find us waiting in expectation for him. John the Baptist is still in the desert, calling us to repent, to a change of heart. He tells us to change the direction of our lives. Good deeds must accompany our repentance.

 

2.    Those who went to see John and heard his preaching were touched by his message. They wanted to know what practical bearing such a change of disposition might have on their lives (what should we do?). John told them that heeding the call to conversion implies a shift in one’s lifestyle. He answered the persistent questions of their hearts and called the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers to a new way of relating to others. To the question ‘What should we do?’ John answered: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. Whoever has food should do likewise.” We must share what we have with others, especially those who do not have as much as we do. The love of God is made manifest through sharing. The early Christians lived a life of sharing: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or house would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.” (Acts 4:32-35). Christ reminds us that whatever we did for the least of his people, we did it for him (Mt. 25:31-46).

3.    To the tax collectors, John said, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” They, too, must be baptized in preparation for the Messiah. Tax collectors were detested and discriminated against as the instruments of the Roman occupying power and seen by their fellow Jews as extortionists. John told them to live in social justice with their compatriots, avoiding the corruption that typified their profession, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” The Messiah has no discrimination: He excludes no one from his presence. John, the evangelist, expressed it better, “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave the power to become children of God.” (John 1:11). John the Baptist assured the tax collectors that living a life of grace would guarantee them a place in the new dispensation.

4.    Soldiers, too, wanted John to help them out. Soldiers were serving in the army of Herod Antipas as police. They supported the tax collectors in levying tolls and duties. John reprimanded them against intimidating the people. Though poorly paid and using their positions to extort money from people and threaten them with trumped-up charges, they were to change their approach to their duties. “Do not practice extortion; do not falsely accuse anyone. Be satisfied with your wages.” John reminded them that having a new life means having a different outlook on things and people. By treating people fairly, with justice, love, and compassion, we experience the peace and joy of a new life of grace at the birth of Christ. Let us apply the instructions John gave the different professions to ourselves and rejoice as people who have experienced Jesus in their lives.

5.    On this Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice and celebrate for “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness and renew you in his love; he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.” Christ, our life has come into the world; therefore, we must live, love, and laugh. His birth brings us life; we celebrate life because he lives. Life makes it possible to love; we love and laugh because God is in our midst. So, dear friends, let us do something that will bring joy, laughter, and happiness to somebody’s life today. Let us give something to someone this Christmas that will bring a smile to their faces, no matter how small. For in sharing our joy with others, we experience God’s love. St. Francis tells us that it is in giving that we receive. May we give a gift of love to someone this day so that they may live, love, and laugh, for Jesus, the greatest gift giver, is in our midst. May God bless us today and always. Amen!  

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP