2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C

A time to change...

(Fr. James McTavish)

Gen 15:5-12, 17-18 Ps 27:1, 7-8a, 8b-9, 13-14 Phil 3:17–4:1 Luke 9:28b-36

Today I was talking to an elderly man and he said to me “This world is not as it should be. Something needs to change.” Have you ever felt like that? Looking at the world around you feel a desire to improve things, to change things. When I was 19 years old, I was travelling on a train in Czechoslovakia. In our carriage a man asked me what I wanted to do in life. I told him I wanted to change the world, make it a better place. He said, “Do you know your problem?” I didn’t realize I had a problem! What was it? “You are too young,” he said, “When you grow older you will realize there is nothing you can do.” To my surprise I reacted and answered him back. I said with so much conviction, “I believe it is possible!” Even then I knew that it was not me speaking but the voice of the Spirit in me.

Sometimes it is tempting to believe it is not possible. To think that nothing can be done. But today’s gospel of the transfiguration gives us hope. Why? Because transfiguration is about change. In fact the Greek word for transfiguration is metamorphosis. Now anyone who has done biology will know that a caterpillar becomes a butterfly through the process of metamorphosis, through a change of form. It is a process, a slow one at times, from egg to lava to pupa but finally what emerges is a beautiful butterfly. Our whole life is called to be a metamorphosis, a process of constant conversion. How is this possible? Let us learn from Jesus himself by looking at the gospel of today (Luke 9:28-36).

Jesus takes the three musketeers – Peter, James and John, up the mountain. He takes them to strengthen their faith. St Leo the Great comments, “By changing his appearance in this way he chiefly wished to prevent his disciples from feeling scandalized in their hearts by the cross. He did not want the disgrace of the passion to break their faith.” Jesus is praying and he is transformed. Without prayer there is no transformation! St Paul says, “He will transform our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Philippians 3:21). Wow! But this is one of the privileges of our union with the Lord, that he will transform us. Jesus is talking to Moses and Elijah who represent the Law and the Prophets respectively. One old lady I know always prays to Moses when she needs anything. I asked her why and she told me because he is not so busy as no one prays to him so he is a good person to ask for help! But do you know that sometimes we really need to change from a Christianity of mere rules and regulations (the Laws) and seeking visions and apparitions (the Prophets) to the person of Christ. For example going to mass on Sunday for fear of breaking the Law that you must go, or going because I love Christ and have a dinner date with him! Or even for us priests and religious. Many times here in the Philippines people ask, “You don’t have a wife because it is forbidden?” I always say, “I don’t have a wife not because it is forbidden but I freely choose not to have one.” Anyway I remind them, I have a beautiful girlfriend and a nice photo of her. They usually looked surprised and in that moment I say I will show them the “photo” and then pull out my rosary beads! Yes, the most beautiful woman in the world – Mother Mary!!!

The event of the transfiguration takes place “8 days later.” It took place eight days after Jesus told them about his Passion and death but the number 8 is significant. Some baptismal fonts in Rome have 8 sides. Why? Because number 8 is 7+1. Obvious you say! One week (7 days) plus the first day of a new week. It is the first day of the new creation. But there is no newness without transformation or transfiguration. What would you like to change? Are there things in us we would like to change? Sometimes we become discouraged and think that we can do nothing. But change starts in each one of us. Like the man who came up to Mother Teresa and asked her what he could do for world peace. She told him to go home and love his family!

There are some great figures who inspire us that change is possible: William Wilberforce, who fought for the abolition of slavery in England and Sophie Scholl, the young German woman who spoke out against the Nazis. A concerned citizen is someone who believes in their country. But we are not mere earthly citizens, of England or Germany or the Philippines. In the letter to the Philippians, St Paul reminds us of our true “nationality” – “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). You and I are citizens of heaven. Now a citizen has certain privileges and rights. The right to speak the truth, the right to travel freely in certain countries, the right to pay too much to renew their passport! But a citizen of heaven also has other rights and privileges, one of which is the right to work for a better world, to build the Kingdom of heaven here on earth. It is not only a right or a privilege but a responsibility.

We cannot spend time only enjoying the glory of the mountain. Perhaps Peter wanted to stay on the mountain because he did not want to touch the lepers anymore, or try to heal the sick or he got stressed out trying to affront and cast out the demons. But now is not the time for glory and honour but for sweat and hardship said St John Chrysostom. As citizens of heaven we believe in eternity. There is plenty of time to relax and retire upstairs but down here there is work to be done. Today we heard the sad news of another teenage suicide. How many people in our world of today are hopeless? We need to ask for a transfiguration, a conversion every day, to reach out to more and more people while there is still time. Just meditate on the fact that millions and millions of people in our world of today, especially here in Asia, have never even heard of Christ, never had the Eucharist or had the chance to discover the wonderful transfiguration that occurs with the sacrament of Confession. Of course, if we never make any effort to share our faith and our love, many may still go to heaven but I doubt we will.

What is the secret of the transformation? What do we need to change? Sometimes we don’t know as our vision is clouded. Even we can feel anxiety about where to invest our efforts as the harvest is big and the labourers are few. On the mountaintop a cloud covered the disciples. Their vision too was often clouded and they experienced fear. But in that moment comes the voice of the Father – “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” This is the secret, listen to Jesus! This will change your life from a BC to an AD. Lord, transfigure us, change us. Teach us how to pray, to listen to your voice. I need to be transfigured. I don’t want to remain a caterpillar all my life. And the Lord may tell us “I made you to be a butterfly. It is time for change…”

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

The Lord is calling you!

fr. James McTavish

Isa 6:1-2a, 3-8 Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 7-8 1 Cor 15:1-11  Luke 5:1-11

What do you think the call of God is like? Today Jesus calls Peter the fisherman to leave his nets behind and follow him. St Paul tells us of his calling too and the Lord calls Isaiah asking, “Who will go? Who will tell them?” Do you know that actually God calls EVERY ONE OF US! The most important thing you can do in this short life (and hurry because there is not much time) is to discover the call for you. How old are you now? Have you discovered it yet? St Thérèse of the Child Jesus discovered it at only 15. Sometimes we think we have all the time in the world but she died at 24. By then she had not only understood her calling but lived it to the full. So much so that when she was canonized she was called “the greatest of modern Saints.”

We are only on earth for one reason and no other. To answer the call of Christ. Everything else is secondary. When I say secondary, I mean it is not so important. What is happening in your favourite TV show, the headlines in the newspaper, the things you have to do...don’t get side-tracked. Stay focussed. Why are you so easily distracted? If you had all the time in the world then you can dilly dally but you don’t. I remember when I was 29, my birthday, and listening to a song by U2 called “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” Do you know what I realised right then, in a moment of grace? That I didn’t know what my life was for and if I didn’t wake up I would be listening to the same song when I was 69. Realise this and you will save a lot of wasted energy – God is calling you. Period. Now try to discover what the calling is.

The biggest misconception is the idea that the calling is to be only a priest or a nun. Wrong! I can even be a priest (and I am!) but it does not mean that I am responding to God’s call. A priest is the state of life that God calls one to but as a priest, one has to try to be faithful to that calling each day. That is why we have to pray! If I don’t pray how can I listen to what God wants? If your cell phone is switched off you cannot receive calls. If our hearts are switched off then we cannot listen to the call of God either.

What is the call of God like? Recently we had a first mass of a newly ordained priest. He talked of the need to share our talents and gifts especially with those most in need. One man listening to the homily came up and asked how he could help our mission. He was the owner of a pharmaceutical company and wanted to give some medicines to the poor. Now this is the calling of God! Later he was asking me about my vocation story. He was surprised that I was a Doctor before and now a missionary priest. When he told me that I was answering the call he didn’t realize that God was calling him too! Here in the Philippines there would be less poor if the many rich were prompter to respond to God’s call to reach out and share. As my father always reminded me “If we do not love the poor we will never enter the Kingdom.” How easy to ignore this calling of God! God still calls but many times we do not want to listen. Often we believe the Lord will take something away but as Jesus himself told us “I have not come to steal, kill or destroy. I have come to give you life, life in all its fullness.”

I remember meeting a doctor who had given up a very lucrative speciality in medicine to take care of those who are dying. When I asked the Doctor why, it was because they felt it was a calling from God. How beautiful the testimony of those Christians who are sensitive to the calling of God, those for whom God’s word does not fall on deaf ears but on good soil. We should not remain hard hearted in front of the Lord’s pleading to build up a more just world. It is good to see how the young still desire to do great things and help build a better world. This summer a group of young people will come on a mission trip to visit the Philippines. Well done to those young people who still believe it is possible to make a difference in the world of today! They are answering God’s call to push out a little from the shore, to put out into deep water.

Sometimes we can be hesitant to follow what God wants. We know but we doubt, we feel timid. But the Lord is very patient with us. He does not push us, or violate our freedom. In the gospel of today Jesus enters the boat of the fishermen and asks them to put out a short distance from the shore. They follow and then Jesus asks, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” What is the deep water that Christ is asking you to enter? Often it involves a risk, a leap of faith. Peter tells Jesus, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” Peter responds to the call of Jesus and catches such a great number of fish that the nets were tearing. What a dream come true for the fishermen. Responding to his call is the best way to enjoy this short life. What are you waiting for? Follow him! Don’t miss the boat! Respond while you still have time. Amen.

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

We need an anchor!

 Fr, James McTavish

Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15+17 1 Cor 12:31—13:13  Luke 4:21-30

Life has many highs and lows. One of my friends was complaining about his job and wanted to resign. The very next day he secured a big deal and was so happy. One day he was sad and dejected and the next day he was so happy. Life has high points and low points. In one moment we can be healthy and even taking our health for granted and the next day we fall sick. I was doing some sports recently and now I have back ache and have to rest. Life has ups and downs. In one moment you can be the hero of your work, receiving accolades then the next thing that happens is you get fired as happened to one man I know. Even in our spiritual life we have periods of consolation, when all seems clear and we seem to be running towards holiness. Then comes a dark tunnel, we wonder where we are going and we feel desolation. How can we live these various moments?

Jesus himself experienced highs and lows. When he spoke in the synagogue in his home town at first the people were amazed - “And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” (Luke 4:21-30). How easy to enjoy praise! But it can become a trap, a kind of drug that is very addictive – the desire to be praised and the concomitant allergy to criticism. St John Chrysostom commented “I know not whether any man ever succeeded in the effort not to be pleased when he is praised, and the man who is pleased at this is likely also to desire to enjoy it, and the man who desires to enjoy it will, of necessity, be altogether vexed and beside himself whenever he misses it… they who long for applause, not only when they are blamed without a cause, but when they are not constantly being praised, become, as by some famine, wasted in soul, particularly when they happen themselves to have been used to praise, or if they hear others being praised.” (Treatise Concerning the Christian Priesthood, Book V,4).

Jesus shows his freedom from human praise because afterwards he speaks the truth directly to those in the synagogue. He reminds them that the prophets Elijah and Elisha went to serve the non-Israelites and this enraged the crowd so much so that they were “filled with fury.” They wanted to throw him off a cliff! Jesus is stable in the praise and in the criticism. He can bear the intense heat of criticism and the cold shoulder of rejection, he is a man who is constant in all seasons. His example reminds us that we will experience challenges, sometimes our emotions are up, sometimes they are down, sometimes we don’t know where they are but in all this let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Even in front of the cross he did not give up, he persevered. The letter to the Hebrews tells us: “For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

We need to learn from Jesus how to live with praise and criticism. One huge problem with our faith is that we try to be people pleasers. We seek the glory of man and not the glory of God. As Christians we have each been baptized into the prophetic mission of the Church. To speak out for justice and truth like the many brave journalists around the world who have given their lives in the quest to announce the truth.

How can we be more stable in the middle of life’s challenges? How can we weather life’s storms? Any good ship’s captain knows the importance of an anchor, which gives stability in the storm. Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ that we have a solid anchor – Christ himself (cf. Hebrews 6:19). In early Christian art, in the catacombs of Rome, the anchor was used to depict Christ. He is our steady anchor and gives us much stability in the storms of life. We have a great anchor, Christ himself. Let us hold onto him tightly! Let us learn from him how to handle various emotions, to live with praise and offer it to the Father – “all glory and honour is yours Almighty Father” and when we are criticized to give it all to Jesus.

Only when we are firmly rooted in this relationship with the Lord will we be able to persevere and endure what comes our way. And in the middle of the battle we can imitate Christ – “They tried to throw him off the cliff but he passed through the midst of them and went away.” Water off a duck’s back! Jesus, teach us how to live all life’s situations with you, the highs and the lows, and to be more constant in our loving response to you. May you be our anchor in the highs and lows of life. Amen.

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

The joy of the Lord will keep you strong!

Fr. James McTavish

Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 1 Cor 12:12-30     Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

In Italy at the end of the mass the final farewell is often: “La gioia del Signore sia la vostra forza, andate in pace” - The joy of the Lord be your strength, go in peace. This phrase was uttered by the prophet Nehemiah (1^st reading today). What does it mean to live in the joy of the Lord? When I first came to the Philippines in 1999 I remember one of the first people I met – an old man who had lived through many challenges in his life. He recounted how he had been sick, having to sell his small house to pay for the medical bills. What struck me was not the calamities he recounted but the big smile on his face. The way he shared made us both laugh! What was the source of this joy? I found this man strong and joyful in adversity. Around that time I heard the words from the book of Nehemiah: “The joy of the Lord will make you strong” (Nehemiah 8:10b) and understood the secret to be joyful in all weather, come rain or shine. Is my joy this day in the Lord?  What might this mean because surely the joy of the Lord is more permanent and enduring than just my joy?

One thing that makes us joyful is to believe that God is working in our lives and to be able to see that, to witness it. In today’s Gospel it tells us of the witnesses who became ministers of the Word, much like this old man who was sharing his experience of faith. How different when the minister of the Word is first a witness! As Pope Paul VI reminds us “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii nuntiandi no. 41). To be a witness we first need to see what God is doing in our lives, to “see” what he is telling but to see God’s hand in what is going on we need the help of the Holy Spirit. How great to be close to the Holy Spirit! Our helper, friend and advocate but often ignored. Many times prayers are made to Jesus and the Father but it is often true that the Spirit is the unknown person in the Trinity. Let us get to know the Spirit more, acting in our daily lives. Like one mother who was in her house surrounded by the mess created by her four children. She stopped for a moment. She was asked what she was doing. “I am praying to the Holy Spirit because I don’t know what I should do next.”

The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a gift, a gift that can make us joyful. Many times we get stressed because we think it all depends on us. Relax a little, take deep breaths, let the Spirit work! Jesus himself lived in this presence of the Spirit. In his mission he “acted in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). In one moment he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and entered the synagogue “as he usually did.” I was wondering if it was boring for Jesus doing things “as he usually did.” The novelty however is in the Spirit, who makes all things new like that mother asking the Spirit what she should do. How can we grow in familiarity with the Holy Spirit? As the responsorial psalm instructs us: “Your words are Spirit and life.” Why is it vital to listen to the Word of God? Because it is where we learn to listen to the Spirit, to learn the movements and intuitions of the Spirit. This week in my prayer I was struck by the words, “Blessed are the gentle.” It reminded me to be more gentle in my dealings with others. When we know what the Lord is asking of us we can collaborate more.

It is a great gift to be able to act in the power of the Spirit. The Spirit moved Jesus to announce the good news to the poor. “He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind... Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Today the same Spirit moves the Church and all Christians to continue announcing the Good news to the poor. We have to ask the Holy Spirit, “Who are the poor? Who are the captives? Who are the blind?” For sure the materially poor but also the rich person living in comfort can be poor in compassion, poor in humanity even. It is very noticeable that here in Philippines many of the materially poor children are very joyful, whereas the richer ones, similar to their counterparts in Britain, the United States or Australia, are often lacking in vitality even with all their iPods and Nokias. Who are the captives? I read this week that in Scotland, where I am from, the average Scot drinks the equivalent of 46 bottles of vodka per year. The mission of the Church also focuses on “liberating those who are captives” of alcohol and for those who can, saying no to drinking too much is a great witness in the world of today.

Each one of us has a mission! Let us not get bored or be idle when there is so much work to be done. May we be joyful in the power of the Holy Spirit and we pray that like Jesus, with his grace we too can also say, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”An attentive listening to the Word of God will indicate which way the Spirit is blowing. Where is the Spirit asking you to fulfil your mission? There may be challenges but we can rest assured that the joy of the Lord will keep us strong.

2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

Time to grow up...

(Fr. James McTavish)

Isa 9:1-6 Ps 97:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 Eph 1:3-6, 15-18 Luke 2:41-52

In the Philippines today a very famous festival is celebrated – the fiesta of Santo Nino, the feast of the Holy Child. The devotion began after the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave a statue of the child Jesus to the chieftain of Cebu and his wife. This original figure of the child Jesus is today held in the Basilica of the Santo Nino in Cebu and is the focus of a huge celebration every year on the third Sunday of January. The gospel reading associated with the feast is when Jesus blesses the children after the disciples have tried to stop the little ones coming to him (Mark 10:13-16). This feast is a joyful one but also has a serious message for all of us who want to listen. The Lord does not want us to remain childish in our faith. It is an invite to become like children to enter the Kingdom but it is not to remain childish.  Our faith needs to grow. Perhaps this day we can present everything in us that is immature, that needs to grow up to the Lord and ask for his blessing, his grace so that we can become more mature.

Pope John Paul II referred to the principle of growth in the Christian life in his encyclical about the family. In number 34 of Familiaris Consortio he wrote that man who “has been called to live God's wise and loving design in a responsible manner, is an historical being who day by day builds himself up through his many free decisions; and so he knows, loves and accomplishes moral good by stages of growth.” What do we need to ensure we are growing? One is a strong connection with the Life, to have deep roots in Christ. If our roots are not deep we can be Bonsai Christians. A bonsai tree has shallow roots and so it looks cute but its fruit are tiny. A Bonsai Christian looks cute but its fruits do not serve anyone. In our world of today we need deep roots in Christ. It is not enough only 1 hour with Jesus every Sunday. As my father used to remind me, “Little Johnny went to Church every single Sunday, little Johnny went to hell for what he did on Monday!”

Yesterday I met some teenagers who were spending the weekend organizing an activity of prayer and reflection, mixed in with songs and games for the youth to know Jesus more. One of the organizers, a little teenager of 16 years old was stressed. I was very touched to see these young people dedicating themselves to transmit the faith to other young people. They could have decided to spend their weekend relaxing, enjoying themselves and just being selfish. Instead they are thinking of others. They are young in age but very mature in their understanding of God’s will as He wants all to know him and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Sometimes we are ashamed to share about our faith. This week on BBC news it reported an electronics and communications fair in USA. One of the main speakers was an actor from X rated films. He was treated like a celebrity and everyone welcomed him despite the poisonous effect these films have on society. In the church teaching Evangelii nuntiandi it says that these things happen because of the “timidity of the good” and poses an interesting question of whether we will experience salvation if through shame or fear of the opinion of others we do not share our faith? While we remain quiet, many poisonous voices in our society are shouting out! Jesus got angry and frustrated with his disciples 2000 years ago and perhaps he becomes a little frustrated with us too at times.

Faith remains alive when it is transmitted. If we have the faith it is because it has been shared to us. A good image of this is the baptism especially in the moment when the parents and godparents light their candles from the Easter candle. They are involved in transmitting the light of Christ to the new member of the Church. If the light of faith is not passed on, many remain in darkness and the fire in us soon goes out. Pass on what you know and it will grow.

Let us ask the Spirit to “open the eyes of our heart” (Ephesians 1:18) to see how we can become more mature in our following of Christ. If we don’t take steps to go forward then the world will push us backwards. Let us have the courage to ask the Lord on this feast of Santo Nino, “In what ways can I grow up?”  

Baptism of the Lord, Year C

Don’t be afraid to dive in!

(Fr. James McTavish)

Isa 42:1-4, 6-7 Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3b+9b-10 Acts 10:34-38    Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Over New Year we went on a 10 hour overnight bus trip to visit Ilocos Norte in northern Philippines. We had an excursion for 3 days, swimming, hiking and enjoying the nature along with 2 days of retreat meditating on the truth that God is with us. On one of the days we did a two hour hike to arrive at a waterfall which had a beautiful little lake. The water was cold! I was hesitating to enter the water, dipping my toes in and being cautious. Another missionary showed me another way – he dived straight in!

Sometimes in life, we just have to dive in. There are situations that seem daunting and if we just stand there as a spectator our fears will only grow. The feast of the Lord’s baptism encourages us to enter into the waters. Jesus was not afraid to enter the murky waters of the river Jordan. Likewise he was not afraid to enter into our human condition. He could have remained a comfortable spectator, looking on from heaven at a safe distance. Instead he decided to become man and enter into all the human situations. He experienced joy, laughter, hunger, sadness, anxiety, uncertainty... - in a word all the situations and experiences which we too encounter. He entered and opened a way for us. How lucky we are! He is telling us in today’s celebration, “Don’t be afraid to dive in!”

If we are not careful we can spend our whole life wrapped in cotton wool, living in our shells like a tortoise. Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out. Life is too short to live in the shadows. In the film “Braveheart,” one memorable line runs “All men die but not all men truly live.” In our baptism we have already died with Christ. The baptismal promises pledge our desire to die to sin, to selfishness and to all that really stops us living as human beings. This week, back to work after our retreat-excursion, various offers arose for mission activities. At first I was hesitant to commit but in my prayer I received the assurance from Jesus, “Don’t be afraid to die.” This is not a call to be a kamikaze but an invite to trust in the Lord. As St Paul reminds us, “those who die with Christ with live with him.” In the early Church, baptism was done by full immersion and actually in fact the Greek word for baptism means immersion. It was to enter into the waters, be submerged by them to represent death and dying to sin and then to rise up out of the water signifying the birth to a life that will last forever. As Queen sang, “Who wants to live forever?” The answer – everyone who is baptized.

The alternative to diving in is to sit on the fence. How often we are afraid to commit! Afraid to make a decision, uncertain and insecure. Of course we need to discern well, to “test everything and retain what is good” but sometimes it is so very obvious what is needed! We know God’s will clearly. Committing ourselves means we have to confront our inconsistencies. Don’t be afraid to dive in!!!

In the baptism scene, God the Father speaks and reminds all to trust in Jesus - “This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him.” The Father assures us that we are safe in the hands of his Son. Trust is very important. What is Jesus telling you? If God is for you, who can be against you? Time is passing fast. Get on with it. Otherwise we grow old and we are only theoretical persons, people who bore others with all our “plans” but no action because we have no faith. What are you afraid of? Mistakes? Die to that self-image that stops you being your true self. Don’t be afraid to dive in. Life is not a spectator sport. What is Jesus asking you to dive in to? Challenges help us to grow - otherwise we become stagnant.

Dietrich Bonhőeffer, the famous protestant theologian put to death by the Nazis said, “When the Lord calls someone to follow him he invites them to die” – a call to die to everything that really stops us living. Don’t be afraid to die, it is the only way to true life. There can be no resurrection if first we don’t enter the tomb. If the snake does not shed its skin it never grows. As Jesus tells us clearly, “if the grain of wheat falls to the ground and does not die it remains alone but if it does it bears much fruit.” What do you need to die to? Dive in here, it is the way to life...

The Holy Family, Year C

After three days they found the child Jesus in the Temple

(Fr. James McTavish)

1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28 Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24 Luke 2:41-52

Today the Church liturgy celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Son of God became man and lived in a family. It helps us to reflect on what it means to be a family. Pope Paul VI wrote a homily on the Holy Family in 1964. He gave three characteristics of the life they lived in Nazareth – silence, love and work. Let us use these to guide our reflection and relate to the Word of God in the readings today.

The gospel of today (Luke 2:41-52) breaks the silence of the hidden life of Jesus. We hear nothing of the childhood of Jesus until he is twelve years old and lost in the temple. Silence was a feature of the life in Nazareth. Silence is golden, especially in the noisy world of today! Pope Paul VI said, “If only we could once again appreciate its great value. We need this wonderful state of mind, beset as we are by the cacophony of strident protests and conflicting claims so characteristic of these turbulent times. The silence of Nazareth should teach us how to meditate in peace and quiet, to reflect on the deeply spiritual and the value of a well-ordered personal spiritual life, and of silent prayer that is known only to God.” The fruit of silence spent with God is love.

We are called to love our human family. This love should lead us to grow in awareness of being children of God. We are not only children of our parents but as St John reminds us: “Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. And so we are.” (1 John 3:1-2, 21-24). Our family life on earth should always be directed towards heaven. We can give many gifts to our children but the best gift I received from my parents was their faith and love for God and each other.

It is quite fascinating the image of the Holy Family presented in the gospel today. Many images of the Holy Family show them peaceful, with halos and Colgate smiles. The holiness of real life is very different! The holy parents, Mary and Joseph, seem to have done something not so holy – they have lost the child Jesus! They had all gone to Jerusalem together for a feast. On the way back the parents of Jesus assumed he was in the caravan. It took them three days to find him. I remember being lost for only a few hours and my parents were so anxious but imagine the angst of Mary and Joseph after three days. His mother said to Jesus “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” Even more surprising is the response of the twelve year old Jesus “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

We can lose Jesus. It can happen to us too and can be part of our process of becoming holy! At times you have to search for Christ. This is a great antidote to mediocrity and complacency. One professional I know was telling me that he was bored with his faith, that the idea of sharing his faith with others was not exciting any more. He had lost his initial fire of following the Lord. He realised that it was time for a change. It was as if he had been with Jesus but in this moment of his faith journey he would have to search for the Lord with more intensity. These moments are a blessing, grace filled opportunities to grow, to move on - otherwise you stagnate. Jesus said “Seek me and you will find me,” if you seek me with all your heart. The problem is that sometimes we don’t search with all our heart, only part of it.

Occasional restlessness is vital for us. If we become lazy in our spiritual lives then we need to work a little more. “Pray as everything depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you,” the Saints remind us. Pope Paul VI reminds us “In Nazareth, the home of a craftsman’s son, we learn about work and the discipline it entails. I would especially like to recognise its value – demanding yet redeeming – and to give it proper respect.” Work, both material and spiritual, helps us grow in holiness.

How is my life of silence and contemplation? Does my love for my family remind each one that they are children of God and part of a bigger family? Am I working in my spiritual life? How can I search more for Christ?

“Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:45-47). If we feel we have lost Jesus be reassured that we can find him in silence, in love and in work even if it takes “three days” (symbolic of the number of days between His death and resurrection).

Let us give thanks for the life of the holy family, cherish our own more and more and offer a prayer today for all families, especially those in most difficulty. Amen.

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C - REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel,

Rejoice! - a commandment

(Fr. James McTavish)

Zeph 3:14-18a Isa 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 Phil 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18

At the moment I am teaching Catholic morality. Often when we think of morality what comes to mind are a set of rules and regulations, do and don’ts (and mostly don’ts!). How interesting to note what we are commanded to do on this Sunday of Advent, which is commonly known as gaudete Sunday, is to ...rejoice! This is a commandment.

In the first reading of the prophet Zephaniah we have. “Shout for joy, sing joyfully, be glad and exult with all your heart!” Wow! Let’s party! It is a time to be joyful. What can be the reason of our joy? Thinking of the gifts we will receive? Usually we enjoy them for a while but then later we lose interest. Thinking of all the nice food we will eat? Yes, but we also know that in January we have to begin the year with a diet! There are many things that happen to us every day that can make us really joyful like last night, for me to see two missionaries in my community in the chapel late at night preparing the Word of God in Chinese for a retreat they will give today. I was so happy to see them there dedicated to the Word of God. How great is this! We are called to share the Word of God in another language, helping prepare a way for the coming of the Lord. That is why we pray, “Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus!” As soon he will, so scripture tells us: “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty saviour; 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.” (Zephaniah 3:14-18a).

St Paul in the second reading continues this theme of joy: “Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” Sometimes we find it hard to rejoice because we have many worries. In one moment this week I found myself burdened with anxiety about all the things I had to do. I was taking myself a bit too seriously. Sometimes we have genuine concerns but at other times it can be because we give ourselves too much importance, we can feel that we are the only ones doing anything. We are reminded: “The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7). Present all your worries to the Lord. Don’t say to God that you have a big problem but say to your problem you have a big God! Then we will experience that peace that only Christ, the Prince of Peace, can bring.

Our preparation for the coming of the Lord is not only manifested interiorly but also exteriorly. All the people were asking John the Baptist that important question, “What should we do?” What shall we do for Christmas to really prepare our lives for his coming? John gives them some advice; “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none” (Luke 3:10-18). St Basil the Great said, “The coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes.” Of course it is not enough to know these things but to put them into practice so this morning I checked through my closet. I only have one pair of shoes but I did find 4 shirts that I don’t use, so I washed them and tomorrow will give them to a nearby congregation of sisters who will distribute them to the poor who live near us. It is scandalous that many Christians are living in excess yet so many have nothing. “Luxury corrupts more than poverty,” my African friend told me.

To the tax collectors John said “Exact no more than your rate,” which is not only good advice for taxi drivers but for all Christians in business. One insurance representative in Manila told me she could not pay money as compensation for the flood victims because the flooding is classified as: “an act of God.” In fact many here agree that it was “an act of man” as due to corrupt use of government funds there are no proper drainage systems in place. I told her not to hide behind the letter of the law, as doing so can even be a cover for greed, but to do what is just and right in her conscience, where God speaks and in following it lies our very dignity.

To the soldiers, John said, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” How many workers in rich countries complain about their pay! How many times we practice extortion to get our own way! Come, Lord Jesus and save us. Let us be like John the Baptist, helping to prepare the way of the Lord in the lives of many people. Sometimes we feel ill-prepared, and it is true we need to prepare our own lives first so often we desire to wait until we are more perfect. When will that be?! Even John was not perfect. Theologically he was announcing a salvation of wrath and repentance when in fact the Lord came wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger announcing a message of mercy and compassion. We should just do what we can, knowing, as John did, that one greater than us is coming. He is so great that our imperfections will not stop his arrival but then again he needs us to help prepare the way in the lives of many. May this be our great joy. Rejoice, we all have a mission and there is work to be done. Don’t be anxious, the Lord is near. He is coming soon. Let us help prepare for his coming. Amen.

Christ the King, Year B

Be a King by Following THE King

(Fr. James McTavish)

Dan 7:13-14 Ps 93:1a, 1b-2, 5 Rev 1:5-8 John 18:33b-37

The feast of Christ the King was instituted in 1925 by Pius XI. That period was a time of Kings and empires, of countries seeking to dominate others, to rule over one another. The pope instituted the feast to underline the Kingship of Christ – May Christ the King truly be the King of our heart, mind and will! I don’t know if you have actually ever lived under a king or queen. I am from Britain and I have always lived under Queen Elizabeth II. She has an empire, power and is very rich. The kingship of Christ is so very different. He was poor, and lacking in worldly power and status. He said “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” What sort of King is he? What sort of Kingdom does he have?

In the first reading from the book of Daniel we have a vision. “I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.” (Dan 7, 13-14). Many kings and queens will come and go but the kingship of Christ is everlasting. In the second reading it says, “Jesus Christ is the …ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us a line of kings” (Apoc. 1, 5-8). When did this happen? When did we become kings? Let us see if we know our theology. When did you become a king? In baptism! We receive the anointing with chrism and participate in the priestly, prophetic and KINGLY mission of Christ. All baptized are kings already. When you next fill out a form asking for blood type, don’t put ‘O’ for ordinary any more, put ‘R’ for royalty!

What does it mean to be incorporated into the Kingly mission of Christ? The Kingly mission of all the lay faithful is twofold – 1. To have dominion over the kingdom of sin and 2. To participate fully in the building of the Kingdom (cf. Lumen Gentium no. 36).

We need to dominate sin and not be dominated by it. For example, many people are dominated by material goods. So instead of putting Christ on the throne of our hearts they actually put the dollar sign. But you are called to dominate money, and use it well to build up the Kingdom. Like the lady in the little store in the squatter’s area in front of our house. One day buying bleach I asked her how much it was. I bought it and gave her thirty pesos. Not thirty she said, thirteen. Wow! In a corrupt world this woman is building up a kingdom of justice. She is really helping build the kingdom. She is not dominated by riches even though she is poor, instead she dominates her desire for wealth and helps build up the Kingdom. Let us not pay lip service to Christ the King alone - worshipping him with our mouths yet our lives remain far from him.

Our King is a humble one. Pilate did not recognize or understand this Kingship. “Are you the King of the Jews” he asked? Jesus is very clear “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Maybe we can be like Pilate – we have difficulty to recognize Christ the true King because many other kings dominate our heart. Who reigns in your heart? Is it Christ the King?

The only way that Christ may reign in us is to obey him. He states, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn 18, 37). The King of truth desires that we listen to him. In a retreat this week I understood from the Lord two things – to share everything with him in prayer and to work hard in building up his Kingdom. I started to pray but I was so sleepy, every time I wanted to pray my eyes were closing. It is so easy to be dominated by laziness and comfort! I had to get off my chair and kneel in front of the Lord in the tabernacle and beg him for strength to help me pray. Sometimes my feelings reign in me, I can even feel sad at times but Jesus reminded me to share everything with him. In that way he can really reign in my heart.

As baptized, let us take up the challenge to work in building up the Kingdom. I have seen many good people working for the Kingdom of Heaven. I have met others who are working only for earthly honours, riches and pleasures for their family but this kingdom will pass away. How about you? How are you working to build up the Kingdom of Heaven? Who is the King in your heart – is it really Christ? Let him truly reign and you will not be dominated by other kings.

Let us continue this celebration asking for the desire to build up the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us truly marvel at the kingly dignity we have. So many will do foolish things trying to find this dignity yet as children of God we already have this kingly identity? One father we know got on to a bus and found his daughter passed out drunk and covered in vomit. “This is my beloved daughter,” he said. God, our heavenly Father, looks at many of his children today with so much love because many also are losing their dignity. They don’t know who they are. Will you tell them? Will you help them discover their true dignity?

May we grow in faith to recognize the coming of our humble King, who makes himself present in every Eucharist, in all his power and glory, in a small piece of bread. Christ the King, may you truly reign in us, give us dominion over sin and make us more determined to build up your Kingdom here on earth.