Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Mother of God_A_1/1/23 - New Year's Blessing

Deacon Tom Writes,

“New Year’s Blessing”

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Year A

In today’s First Reading from the Book of Numbers God blesses his people as they journey through the desert headed for the Promised Land. His blessings renew the promises he made to them on Mt. Sinai and instill in their hearts his kindness, his peace and his graciousness.

One blessing we consider today is that God, in his goodness and mercy, was not satisfied to remain simply an abstract image or a name on the lips of his chosen ones. God planned from the very beginning of time to share in his creation. We are blessed because God revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ who came to live among us and teach us His ways so that we “may live life to the fullest.” (JN 10:10)

Today we honor Mary as the Mother of God. We celebrate today what was declared dogma by the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 AD, that Mary IS the Mother of God, Theotokus. From the earliest days of our faith, people have turned to Mary and sought her intercession. The Council of Ephesus only confirmed what the people already knew, that Mary was the Mother of God and as such was a refuge for us in our time of need.

As we turn the page to a new year, one in which we continue to hope the world sees an end to the Covid-19 and other raspatory afflictions, we are profoundly aware of our many needs and those of our families and our world. Mary, whose love, sacrifice and surrender nurtured the Holy Family, waits for us to turn to her Son and also to her so that she can be an advocate on our behalf. And again, we are so spiritually needy! There is no favor her Son will not grant her if only we turn to her, for, since the beginning of time, it has been upon her that his favor rests.

Through the intercessions of Mary, may……
The Lord bless us and keep us!
The Lord let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us!
The Lord look upon us kindly and give us peace!

Wishing you and your families a…Happy, Holy, and Healthy New Year‼!

Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com for a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer.

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: “The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis written in defense of Christian faith, this popular satire consists of a series of 31 letters in which Screwtape, an experienced devil, instructs his young charge, Wormwood, on effective strategies for tempting the human being assigned to him and making sure he continues on a steady path toward damnation. A delightful way to begin the New Year. 

When Heaven Came Down To Earth, The Nativity of the Lord _A - Mass at Dawn_122522

Deacon Tom Writes,

“When Heaven Came Down To Earth…”

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass at Dawn, Year A

In the stillness of the night in a remote village, the sound of a newborn baby’s cry interrupts the silence. No ordinary child by heritage, his ancestors include Abraham, Jesse, David, Solomon and Amos, towering figures who had safeguarded the promises given to them by Yahweh that he would one day come down from heaven and live among his people. All creation celebrates this moment in time. Stars in the sky light the way. Angelic Beings sing with joy. Wise men set their course to find him. Nothing in the history of the world before or after this singular moment has had a greater impact on our lives than when heaven came down to earth.

We look back two thousand years and celebrate this joyful event today as we look forward to the dawning of this new day and the promises it has in store for us… the promises of hope that we have for our children, grandchildren and, for some of us, our great grandchildren…. the promises we have that our loved ones who are suffering will find comfort and rest…..the promises that our broken world may find some peace and that all that divides us will be reconciled.

The world that Jesus was born into was not much different than the world we find ourselves living in today. There are evil rulers who destroy the innocent as Herod did. Vast numbers of people lack the basic necessities of life; there is uncertainty about "What is truth?" Many are living in fear of what tomorrow will bring.

And so too there is nothing new under the sun as the saying goes... this was pretty much the way things were when Jesus was born. Yet, In the quiet of the evening he came into the world that he created to be its light. But, “the world received him not". It is by the choices that we make throughout the day that provide the surest evidence that we have chosen to receive him into our lives even though he is still rejected by the world. We do so...when we choose forgiveness instead of resentment… when we choose the good of the other over our own self interest…when we choose to do what is right and virtuous instead of pleasing the crowd…when we choose the Eucharist over (____) [fill in the blank], when we choose to be the light that in the midst of the surrounding darkness. And yet, Jesus chooses too; he chooses to come again and again into our broken lives, into our fractured world, peddling his goods… peace, justice, purity, love. One day we’ll get it right… That’s the promise. That’s our hope.

May the joy of the Holy Family be with you and your families this Christmas and may the Christ Child grant us the deepest desires within our hearts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Deacon Tom
Enjoy this special day!

 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com for a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer.

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: “The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is” by N.T. Wright  The Challenge of Jesus poses a double-edged challenge: to grow in our understanding of the historical Jesus within the Palestinian world of the first century, and to follow Jesus more faithfully into the postmodern world of the twenty-first century. A very good read as we enter into a new year.

Fourth Sunday of Advent_A - Everything Is Ready_121822

Deacon Tom Writes,

Everything Is Ready

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

Saying yes to God is never easy. Somehow, we think that Mary had an easy time saying yes to God when asked by the Angel Gabriel to be the Mother of God. The same goes for Joseph. He was afraid to take Mary as his wife until the angel told him not to fear. We are fearful of many things and that is perhaps why scripture tells us, as we hear today, “Do not be afraid.”

Fear has governed many aspects of our life. We live in fear of losing our jobs, our health, our loved ones. We are afraid that we won’t have enough…. enough success, enough money, enough energy to make it through the day, or enough of the things we need to live comfortable and independent lives. In order to lessen our fears, we work longer and / or harder. We spend our time and resources continually seeking to improve our station in life. Yet most still live in a persistently fearful state, anxious of the uncertainties that lie ahead.

Advent is a time to put our fears to rest. That is what saying yes to God really boils down to. Yes, God, I trust you. Yes, God, I know you are with me through the turmoil and uncertainty of my life. Yes, God, you will help me bear the pain, the loss, the loneliness of life that I find myself in now. I know that you will calm my fears and give me all that you see as good for me.

Mary’s son was born into a dark and harsh world. Yah, some things never change! Yet, he never succumbed to the anxieties and fears of life. Like Mary and Joseph, Jesus did all that His Father asked of Him, saying yes even in becoming flesh and bones and blood like the rest of us and born of a fully human Mary; saying yes to taking on all the hardships of our human condition; saying yes to suffering the injustice and humility of death on the cross.

Today on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the stage is set; everything is ready. We are ready to greet the Child who frees us from our fears and anxieties and who guides us through all the uncertainties and challenges of life.

Have a blessed and joy-filled Christmas!
and Happy New Year

Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com for a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer.

 

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: “Father Ed The Story of Bill W.’s Spiritual Sponsor, By Dawn Eden Goldstein is an excellent biography of an incredible priest, mentor and spiritual guide who helped rescue many people from painful addictions and emotional suffering. A must read for everyone.

 

Recommended You Tube: A YouTube interview with Dawn Eden Goldstein by Robert Ellsberg, Editor of Orbis Books on the release of her recent book, Father Ed The Story of Bill W.’s Spiritual Sponsor. Wonderful overview of this timely book.

 

Third Sunday of Advent_A - Rejoice in the Lord Always!_121122

Image credit: REJOICE! By Sarah Brush, Discipleship Ministries

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Rejoice in the Lord Always!

 

Third Sunday of Advent, Year A

Today is known as Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete is the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for today’s Liturgy. "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! The Lord is near". One of the symbols of this Joy is the lighting of the rose candle on our Advent wreath.

In our first reading, the Prophet Isaiah tells us that a day will come when God's kingdom will break forth like the desert bloom. If you have ever seen this miracle of nature, you know how breathtaking it is. This barren, desolate and vast expanse gives way to an overabundance of delicate beauty. Water will gush in the desert, burning sand will transform into a bubbling spring. For all those who are twisted, bent and bowed down by their burdens and harsh realities of life, Isaiah prophesies that one day, “they will meet with joy and gladness, [their] sorrow and sighing will flee”.

Today’s readings prompt us to be people of expectant hope and who claim God’s promise as if we already possessed it, as if we were already living in this ultimate reality! Today we all claim as our own the gladness and joy Isaiah tells us will chase away our sorrows and sadness. Look closely at our readings today. Look around today at the litany of people who, although cast aside by the world, marginalized by poverty and ignorance, sadness and disease, refugees from war and famine; these are the very one who have a special claim on God’s love, mercy, and compassion. Look carefully at those Isaiah says have a very special reason to rejoice today: those with feeble hands and weak knees, those with frightened hearts, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the mute, the oppressed, the hungry, the captives, the bowed down, the strangers, the orphans, the widows, the poor, the lepers, and the dead. To be numbered among them…. is to be specially chosen by God!!!!! To be number among those who serve these little ones is to be faithful to Christ’s call to serve these, the least of our sisters and brothers.

On this day of Rejoicing, it is good to recall the times in our lives when we have been the forgotten, the alienated or hungry one. Let us resolve this Advent to be a source of strength, encouragement and support to those who have yet to claim God’s promise of gladness and joy.

Make this a joy-filled day!
Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com for a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer.

 

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: “Channel of Peace, Stranded in Gander on 9/11” by Kevin Tuerff tells the story of a stranded traveler’s encounter with boundless acts of generosity and compassion from total strangers. This is a great read during these challenging times.

 

Recommended You Tube: a short reflection on “Stillness and the Fruit of Attention” by Fr. Lawrence Freeman, OSB that encourages us to develop the practice of contemplation in our lives.

Second Sunday of Advent_A - Getting Right With God_120422

Deacon Tom Writes,

Advent, Getting Right with God

 

Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

 

“Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand,” John tells us. Repent from what? There was a book out in the ’70s that was very popular. It was called, “I’m OK, You’re OK” by Dr. Thomas Harris. Catchy title isn’t it! It gives us the sense that all is well; I don’t need any fixing. I/m not the hot mess that people think I am! And, by the way, you are OK too! Oh, if only that were true! Unless we are suffering from some deep phycological prob I think we know in our hearts that nothing could be further from the truth.

We are all sinners. As St. Paul penned, “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) We carry the scars and wounds of those numerous times when we have wronged God, others and ourselves by not living up to the to the high standards Jesus taught us. The memory of those failures festers deep within our innermost being. Our psyches are damaged as a consequence of the guilt those sins have spawned with us. We have much need to repent, but our pride often gets in the way and prevents us from coming to grips with the sinfulness of our thoughts, words and deeds, and even for those things that we should have done but failed to do.

In search of a remedy to their troubled consciences, the people of antiquity went out into the desert to hear John preach and to be baptized. In the solitude and isolation of the stark desert, people were able to grasp the notion that they needed to repent, to change the direction and focus of their lives in order to experience a spiritual rebirth as children of God.

This awareness of our sinfulness for the wrongs we have done or the good that we have failed to do is a prerequisite for us to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child into our lives. We need to be like John who testified, “He must increase; I must increase.” (John 3:30) That is, we must empty ourselves of our own self-centeredness, those driving ambitions, emotions and desires the place ourselves above others in order that we may be filled with the desire, the willingness and the passion to do God’s Will, to be the instrument of his joy, peace and hope in our world today.

These few remaining weeks of Advent are a special time to reflect on the way we treat others and ourselves. It is a time to get right with God, to turn away from sinful behavior and await the new life that God has in store for us, an abundant life and one promised to last forever.


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

 

Check the www.deaconspod.com for a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer.

 

OTHER RESOURCES

Recommended Reading: “Channel of Peace, Stranded in Gander on 9/11” by Kevin Tuerff tells the story of a stranded traveler’s encounter with boundless acts of generosity and compassion from total strangers. This is a great read during these challenging times.

 

Recommended You Tube: a short reflection on “Stillness and the Fruit of Attention” by Fr. Lawrence Freeman, OSB that encourages us to develop the practice of contemplation in our lives.