Both Old and New

It's an old story and yet it seems to have gained a new twist.
It's the story we hear this weekend.
Water into wine . . . the Wedding at Cana in Galilee.
You know the story very well . . . or do you?
"They have no wine!"
That observation at a wedding back then and even at a wedding today is a declaration of social disaster. Back then weddings lasted for days and the bride and groom were expected to keep their guests well stocked and well satisfied. To run out of wine was a serious matter. 
Even today wedding guests expect a certain degree of hospitality in food, drink and entertainment.
"They have no wine!"
Disaster!
This morning I was reading the daily reflection that I receive via email - Word on Fire by Bishop Robert Barron. In the middle of his reflection on this Gospel Bishop Barron drops this observation: Wine, in the Scriptures, is a symbol of the exuberance and intoxication of the divine life. When God is in us, we are lifted up, rendered joyful, transfigured. 
Or said in another way - Wine, in the Scriptures, is a sign of God with us and, therefore, we being able to embrace the fulness of life and its joys.
"They have no wine!"
That declaration is made by Mary, our Mother, the Mother of all.
Woman (and that, remember, is what Jesus calls her in this story) speaks on behalf of all humankind. Her declaration is a statement of the need each and every one of us has for the Presence of God in our lives. Without that Presence our lives are empty. There is nothing to celebrate no matter how successful those lives may seem in other quarters.
A Mother speaks on behalf of all of us.
She declares our need for what only her Son can give to us.
And then she sets out advice for us: "Do whatever He tells you."
And when we do!
Wine!
An abundance of wine!
The best of wine!
God only gives the best! And plenty of it!
This is not just the story of a wedding at Can in Galilee long, long ago.
It is a story of today and a story that unfolds anytime someone listens to that Woman, that Mother.
"Do whatever He tells you!"


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Where did they go?

"What happened to Three Kings?"
After Mass the other day I was asked that question.
The questioner explained: Last Sunday was the Feast of the Epiphany but what happened to the Feast of the Three Kings? We used to have that feast. So, what happened?
Actually, I was able to explain, it was always the Feast of the Epiphany. Only in popular devotion did some start calling it the Feast of the Three Kings. However, Three Kings was never on our calendar and never an official feast title.
And truth be told, we need to ask if ever there were only just three and if any were really kings!
Check that out in Matthew's Gospel 2: 1 - 12.
No mention  of kings or any set number!
But as to the feast - well, it is, has been and likely for all time will continue to be the Epiphany.
Epiphany means "manifestation" or "revelation."
What we celebrate is Jesus revealed to the nations as the Promised One, the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Long Awaited One.
The story we tell on Epiphany is of how a star guided these mysterious travelers from some distant places to discover the Promised One.
But we do not stop there.
The following Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus - Epiphany, another manifestation.
This time the Voice is heard: "This is my beloved Son," and the Spirit is seen. Epiphany!
And this year on the Sunday after that we continue to celebrate the Epiphany as Jesus changes water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Epiphany!
However, while the Epiphanies continue, in the Roman Calendar on the day after the Baptism of the Lord we return to Ordinary Time. This is the time that stretches until Ash Wednesday and so it links our two great seasons - Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter.
Our brothers and sisters in the Christian Faith do not share our return to Ordinary Time. They continue to observe the time of Epiphany right up to Lent. The Sundays between the Baptism and Ash Wednesday are known as Sundays in Epiphany.
As a matter of fact the final Sunday before Lent in Christian denominations other than our own is known as Transfiguration Sunday.
I find that rather significant as in a very real way the Transfiguration is also an epiphany!
And the rationale behind the Sunday before Lent being this epiphany is to strengthen us for the cross and for those crosses which we must bear in our life journey.
When I finished my explanation of Epiphany to my questioner after that Mass, the response was, "Wow! Even at my age I have learned something new."
Perhaps that, too, was an epiphany.
So, what happened to the Three Kings?
Well, they and many, many others down through the ages found the Promised One. And men and women even today continue to discover Him.
Epiphany is a day, a season and a constant.
The star, in its many, many forms continues to lead to the Promised One.
After all, what good is Christmas unless we find and welcome Him?

Te Deum

Te Deum!
It's a prayer, actually a hymn that is sometimes merely recited.
It is a prayer of deep praise and gratitude to God. The very opening says it well: Te Deum Laudamus! To You, God, we offer our praise!
Actually, if I understand correctly, it is the prayer that provided the inspiration for the more popular hymn, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.
Growing up, I can recall that at the end of Forty Hours Devotion (if you don't know, Google it!) in our parish Te Deum was sung. Also in our parish there was a Mission every three or four years and those also ended with Te Deum.
In the official prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, on all Sundays except those in Lent, and also on Solemnities and certain feasts, the Office of Readings ends with Te Deum.
It is a very special prayer used at very special times in our faith-life.
Back in 1999 I gained an even deeper appreciation of the Te Deum.
New Year's Eve that year was that memorable and historic moment. We were entering not just a New Year but also a new century and with that a new millennium as well. Many celebrations were extra special and even carefully planned, some choosing to celebrate this moment in exotic venues.
For me and a group of pilgrims, we made a journey to Rome. We would be in the Eternal City as this historic moment arrived.
Thanks to the efforts of our late Cardinal Edmund Szoka, who was stationed in Rome at that time, we were granted tickets admitting us into St. Peter's Basilica that evening for the ending of the year Evening Prayer led by Pope (now Saint) John Paul II.
At the end of the Evening Prayer the Holy Father stood facing the great high altar of the basilica and he intoned the words: Te Deum Laudamus!
The building vibrated with the voices raised in song and praise to God!
We give You praise - for the blessings of the past year, of the passing century, of the passing millennium, of all time - we give You praise!
And for the opportunities You have granted us.
And for the challenges to which You have called us.
We give You praise!
What an appropriate way to end the year, the century, the millennium.
And I understand that this was not a one time occurrence.
Tradition is that every year ends with the Pope leading Evening Prayer at St. Peter's and then intoning Te Deum.
We look back in faith to blessings, opportunities and challenges - gifts from God.
And we look ahead to the uncertainties of the future with faith, hope and trust.
Te Deum!
Perhaps you do not have that text handy but there is no reason why, as the year draws to its end, you cannot in your own words, from the heart, acknowledge how you have been blessed.
And then give praise and thanks.
Te Deum!

Te Deum (text)

Te Deum (Video)

Surprise!

This is what we woke up to this morning here in Livonia!

And so what is so surprising about that?

After all this is Michigan and it is December 29.

So what do you expect.

The usual - right, except that yesterday, this late in December and here in Michigan the thermometer flirted with 60 degrees and folks were out on the golf courses.

And then overnight - this!

Ah! Michigan!

Surprise!

And that got me thinking to the point where I obviously sat down and penned a bit of a reflection inspired by this surprise.

This just serves to remind us that God is a God of surprises. God does not, need not and will not play by our rules.

God rules!

Just take a look at what we are celebrating and remembering in these days of Christmas.

The Word is made flesh - and in the womb an unmarried, young peasant girl - Surprise!

From Nazareth (from where?) - Surprise!

Born in a stable - Surprise!

Laid in a  manger - Surprise!

Visited by shepherds, who likely did not shower or shave before heading to that stable - Surprise!

And this all took place in little Bethlehem rather than mighty Jerusalem - Surprise!

And all this for why?

Not to condemn us, sinners, but rather to love us and redeem us - Big Surprise!

So, on this snowy morning after that round of golf, as we prepare to enter a New Year, get ready to embrace anew our God of Surprises!

In the Midst of the Darkness . . .

The shortest day!
The longest night!
The time of most intense darkness!
We have again come to that time.
It is winter.
And long ago in our history a decision was made regarding this time of greatest darkness.
It was decided that this is the most appropriate time to remember and to celebrate the coming into the darkness of the True Light.
When better to celebrate Christmas?
Using the rhythm of nature, calling on the God-lessons embedded in creation, the decision was made that this is the most appropriate time to unfold anew the Story of the Birth that took place so long ago in that out of the way little town, actually in a stable. The darkness helped to capture the power of this moment.
In that most unlikely setting, in the deepness of our darkness a Child entered our history and brought the Light that can overcome the darkness - all of the darkness.
Until our own time these days of greatest darkness have celebrated the coming of the Light.
And one of the things I find most amazing and most heartening is that so many are celebrating the coming of the Light of the World. Not only Christians, not only believers, just look around. Look carefully. Those who may profess that they do not believe, those who claim they do not know Him, even they are celebrating His coming!
Just look around on these dark days and nights.
Lights everywhere!
They outline the shapes of houses and trees and shrubs They twinkle through the frosted windows from the warmth inside. They decorate merchants' windows displays. They brighten the roadways and city centers.
Lights everywhere!
Believers decorate with lights. Non-believers decorate with lights. Merchants decorate with lights. Municipalities decorate with lights. Almost everyone does it! Lights!
In the midst of darkness - lights everywhere! And not just ordinary, functional lights - festive lights; colorful lights; playful lights; dancing lights.
And those lights testify to the truth that we do not want the darkness. Somehow, deep down, deep within each and every person is a hunger for goodness, for beauty, for light! Yes, for the Light!
And The Light has come to show us what is deep within, what is truly possible. The Light has come to lead us out of that darkness, whatever that darkness imprisoning us may be.
Those who know and those who do not know - we all work together to turn the night into a wonder of
jubilant lights.
When I enjoy the brilliant shows of light in these darkest of days, I think to myself that, know it or not, anyone who contributes to the splendor of light is truly keeping Christ in Christmas!
For that is what this Celebration is truly about.
"I have come to the world as its light,
to keep anyone who believes in me
from remaining in the dark." (John 12:46)
Merry Christmas to all!
And may you walk in His Light.

Gaudete!

Third Sunday of Advent!
Gaudete!
That is the name we have given to this Sunday - Gaudete! Of course translated from the Latin, Gaudete means "Rejoice."
With this Sunday we are already anticipating the joyful news of Christmas. Of course, throughout so much of the world these days, anticipation has given way to celebration long ago.
Nevertheless, for us we have Gaudete Sunday.
And this year our second reading from the Scriptures is Philippians 4:4-7. In his writing St. Paul sets the theme. "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say it: Rejoice!"
This year that is our second reading. However, readings cycle over a three year period these days and so we have this particular reading once every three years. No matter, however. This Sunday still calls us to rejoice.
Back when, before the development of the new and expanded lectionary, this passage from Philippians was the assigned reading every Third Sunday of Advent.
And it is to the time back when to which I take you for a few brief moments now.
Back when, specifically, is 1963. Even after all these years I remember it well.
I was a deacon back then. And I was in my final stages of training for ordination to the priesthood. And a critical part of that training was in the area of homiletics.
We were learning how to preach.
Somewhere along the line during that year we would be given a live experience. We would join one of the faculty members. The faculty member would preside at Mass and we would deliver our very first homily before real people!
We would be preaching at Mass off campus in some assigned setting.
And I drew Gaudete Sunday.
My very first homily would be given on this day. My topic, obviously, was the spirit of Christian rejoicing. I would be pointing to the coming Feast and capturing all the joy that fills and surrounds it.
Actually, I would be giving the homily at two Masses that day in two very similar settings.
Rejoice! I would proclaim!
The joy of Christmas is nearly upon us, I would remind them.
With one "slight" hitch!
The two Masses would take place back to back - first in the mens' section and then in the women's section -
of the Detroit House of Correction!
A jail!
I would be preaching about Christmas and Christian joy to prisoners!
In all likelihood those to whom I would be preaching that morning would not be home for Christmas, likely no exchanging presents, sending cards, greeting family, enjoying the family Christmas dinner.
Prisioners!
Rejoice!
But then again, why not rejoice?
After all, Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in prison.
He found joy - a deep inner joy - while in a prison cell. He did so because he knew the nearness of the Lord to him even there.
Should we not, then, Rejoice - wherever we find ourselves?

Gift Giving

Just watched today's installment of Dynamic Catholic's "Best Advent Ever."
At its ending there is a brief testimonial about gift giving, which, for many, is an important part of Christmas.
This reflection presented an idea that grabbed my attention and has led to this writing.
The speaker talked about gift giving in his family. He testified that in his family, when gifts are given at Christmas, this is done in a very special, and I might add, a very sacred way.
Before the gift is actually given, a brief testimony is given by the giver to the gifted. That testimony states what it is about the gifted that the giver loves and appreciates.
Gift giving is not just about making a list, heading to the mall, making a purchase, wrapping and then opening. It is about the rational behind the gift. It is about the gifted. It is about the relationship between the giver and the gifted.
What a powerful and potent notion this is!
Don't just give a gift. Do so while testifying to what is behind the gift. Testify to the place of the gifted in your life.
That is speaking to the true gift. It is declaring that, "I gift you because I see the gift that you are to me!"
That is about recognizing the true gifts in our life.
That is about decomercializing Christmas. Really!
That thought takes me back to my dad's last Christmas with us.
He had a gift for me. Well, he always had a gift for each of us, but somehow, this year this gift was special for me.
Before I opened it, he told me to read a note that accompanied the gift.
The note,  even though I no longer have it, I can remember it vividly in my mind.
It read, "Your mother wants you to have this. We made you a promise long ago and your mother reminded me that it is time to fulfill that promise."
It should be noted that mom had been gone now for seventeen years but that did not matter. Mom and dad had that something special and I can believe that she still had things to say to him and this was one of them.
You see, when I was a kid, one year for Christmas I really wanted an alb. That's the white garment worn for all sorts of ministries. At that time mom and dad told me honestly that they could not afford this "gift." They promised that one day they would give me my alb.
Now so many years later this parents' gift of love was right there in that box under those Christmas wrappings.
Time to fulfill that promise!
Dad did not know then. None of us knew.
This would be his final Christmas with us.
But on that Christmas, because mom had reminded him, dad was giving me this gift of love!
The promise of loving parents was being fulfilled.
So, this Christmas when you give that gift, before the gift is opened, take that moment. Speak those wondrous words. Tell the gifted one what they mean to you.
Tell them how they are gift to you.
It may be challenging and somewhat difficult. But it will also be so richly rewarding in so many ways.
Speak those gifting words!
What a Christmas this can be!

(Best Advent Ever!)