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29 December 2013
The Feast of the Holy Family (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23)
This Sunday’s Gospel about the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt gives us a small insight into the person of St. Joseph. Although the Bible records no words spoken by the foster father of Jesus, we see the holy man as a genuine model for listening to the Word of God and wasting no time at all in obeying that Word--no matter what it cost him and his family by way of inconvenience and discomfort.
How quick am I to obey the Will of God? Sometimes God’s Will seems just too demanding, even impossible to fulfil. When it does, I can be sure that TRUST is the key that will help me move forward. The Lord will give me the grace to do His Will. St. Faustina wrote about a meditation a priest once gave on the topic of obedience: “I tried to listen most attentively to everything and to apply everything to my own heart, as in every meditation. When the priest said that an obedient soul was filled with the power of God [I heard these words in my soul]... Yes, when you are obedient I take away your weakness and replace it with My strength. I am very surprised that souls do not want to make that exchange with Me” (Diary 381).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, help me like St. Joseph to act quickly in carrying out Your Will. Banish all fear from my poor heart, and give me the grace to trust that You will never fail to replace my weakness with Your strength to help me obey Your Holy Will. Amen.
22 December 2013
The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Matthew 1:18-24)
In today’s Gospel we hear the consoling words directed at St. Joseph, “Do not fear.” We can only imagine how overwhelmed the poor man must have been on hearing God’s incomprehensible plans for him explained by none other than an angel from heaven. Yet in spite of his fears, Joseph is invited to trust. And in response, Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”
A great deal of Joseph’s strength must have come from the news that Mary is going to bear a son “called Emmanuel, which means, God with us.” Convinced that he was never alone, Joseph was able to put his fears aside and move obediently forward to fulfil the will of God.
St. Faustina experienced similar reassurance of the nearness of God. During Advent, 1936, she learned that she would be spending some time away from her community in a treatment facility. She wrote: “When I was somewhat overcome by the fear that I was to be outside the community for so long a time alone, Jesus said to me, You will not be alone, because I am with you always and everywhere. Near to My Heart, fear nothing. I myself am the cause of your departure. Know that My eyes follow every move of your heart with great attention. I am bringing you into seclusion so that I myself may form your heart according to My future plans. What are you afraid of? If you are with Me, who will dare touch you?” (Diary 797).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, You are truly always with me. You never leave me alone. Give me Your peace so that I can bravely move ahead to do Your will without fear. I trust in You. Amen.
15 December 2013
The Third Sunday of Advent (Matthew 11:2-11)
This Sunday’s gospel begins with John the Baptist sitting in a prison cell. The man had spent his life preparing the way for Jesus, the Messiah, calling the people to repentance, baptising them, and announcing that the Kingdom of God was at hand. And now here he sits in a cold, damp dungeon, wondering if it his life has made any difference. Was his work all in vain, or has the Messiah truly come?
Life is never easy for those who strive to fulfil the will of God at all costs. On the one hand, His yoke is easy and His burden is light--but that’s only because we can always draw from Him all the graces we need to walk the walk. If we read the lives of the Saints, we can really get inspired at the obstacles they managed to overcome.
St. Faustina had the grace of learning why Fr. Sopoćko, her Spiritual Director, was facing so many challenges. She wrote: “And I asked the Lord, ‘Why are You treating him like that?’ The Lord answered me that it was for the triple crown meant for him: that of virginity, the priesthood and martyrdom. At that moment, a great joy flooded my soul at the sight of the great glory that is going to be his in heaven. Right away I said the Te Deum for this special grace of God; namely, of learning how God treats those He intends to have close to himself. Thus, all sufferings are nothing in comparison with what awaits us in heaven” (Diary 596).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I thank You that all the sufferings I endure for Your sake help me to earn me a crown of glory. Give me grace to persevere through every difficulty. I trust in You. Amen.
8 December 2013
The Second Sunday of Advent (Matthew 3:1-12)
This Sunday John the Baptist tries to scare his listeners into repentance by preaching in the wilderness about the Promised One who is coming soon. “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
No offence to John the Baptist, but he was projecting the angry God of the Old Testament onto the meek and humble Lamb of God. Yes, we need to repent, but there’s good news, too. God loves us! Jesus Himself said He didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but to save it, to lay down His life for His sheep. He told St. Faustina: “In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy” (Diary 1588).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I know that today, actually, is the Day of Mercy. You desire my conversion so that I may spend eternity with You in heaven. Help me during this Advent season to repent of my sinful ways and to make a good confession. I trust in You. Amen.
1 December 2013
The First Sunday of Advent (Matthew 24:37-44)
We begin this time of Advent with a calling from the Lord to keep watch: We must be awake and ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour we do not expect.
As a way of preparing for Jesus’ coming into our hearts on Christmas Day, we need to ask ourselves if we are truly ready to meet Him. Have we persevered in our good resolutions? Have we remained fervent in our prayer life? Have we been faithfully going to Mass, making regular confessions? Have we been diligent in carrying out works of mercy towards the needy? Now is the time for us to examine our consciences, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to take concrete steps in self-improvement.
Saint that she was, Sr. Faustina knew the importance of keeping watch, and tried to be ready at all times for that most critical of moments, when she would meet her Lord and Judge face to face. She wrote in her Diary:
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, help me to purify my heart for Your coming. Give me the grace to see where I have fallen short, and help me to make a good Advent confession. I trust in You. Amen.