Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

The readings for the Mass of Christmas During the Day are not often used but are essential for understanding the true meaning of Christmas.

The readings at Midnight Mass remind us of the light coming into the world at Christmas... and that darkness does not overcome it.

One of the most beloved songs of Advent is the famous "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Yet, few people are aware of the origin of this classic.

Balaam and His Advent Donkey

The time of Advent and Christmas is filled with traditional stories. The greatest story ever told is that of the birth of Jesus. We've got stories of shepherds and magi. We even have beloved secular stories like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. One lesser known classic Christmas story is actually found in the book of Number in chapters 23 and 24. Our first reading today gives us the very end, but misses the best part of the story. Nothing says "Christmas" like a talking donkey, and that's exactly what we have for your listening pleasure today. So light the fire, gather the kids, press play, and relax for the telling of a Christmas classic.

Like Israel, our borders are often attacked. God says, "Fear not!" He comes to be our vindicator and wants to bring peace to our borders.

Prepared for a Mission

In today's celebration we recognize the great gift that God gave to Mary in protecting her from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her mother Anne. In this singular privilege, we see that God had a mission in mind for Mary from before she even existed. Indeed, he had her in mind right from the beginning in Genesis when the first woman failed to say yes to God. Mary would be the new Eve that would say yes to God and her son would crush the head of the serpent.

God preserved Mary from original sin in order to prepare her to be the Mother of God. That was the mission for which she was created. We too have our mission. God also knew us before we were conceived. As was true for Mary, we've got to find our mission for which God has prepared us. We honor God today for the gift given to Mary. However, we also honor Mary for saying yes to this rather frightening and unknown plan of God. We pray that through her intercession, we too may always say yes to God's plan for our life.

In today's first reading the prophet Isaiah gives us an even greater symbol than a Christmas tree for this time of year...the Christmas stump.

Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary all give us key insights to living Advent well.

Now but Not Yet

As we celebrate this last Sunday in Ordinary Time we honor Jesus Christ our King. We celebrate and look forward to his return in glory. Yet we also prepare to "start over" at the beginning as the season of Advent begins next weekend. So is it the end or the beginning? Well, it's both. The kingdom of God which we celebrate is truly present "now," but is also "not yet" fully here and is still coming. This is the tension that we live in as we continue our pilgrimage through time.

Our church building actually helps us to keep our focus on the end. When we enter the church building we are, for a brief period, leaving the outside world and are able to touch heaven. Whenever we gather for Mass, we come from the "not yet" of our everyday life, with all its sufferings and struggles, into the eternal "now" celebrated in the liturgy where heaven touches earth and Jesus Christ truly reigns as king. As we enter the church we may not think much about the door through which we enter, but it has a significance. In traditional architecture the door to a church is often designed the reflect that of the classical "triumphal arch" such as the Arch of Constantine in Rome with its three gates. This is to remind us that as we enter the church, we do so a victors. We are triumphant in the victory that Christ has won for us.

Our church building also points us to the "not yet" of Christ's reign. We still await his return in glory. Churches used to be built facing toward the east and both the priest and the people faced east together in one procession. As the fathers of the Church teach, Jesus ascended to the east and promised to return just as he went. We look to the east with great expectation. Just as the sun rises in the east bringing the hope of a new day, so too we look to the east awaiting the new day of the return of the king. We likewise remember that the Garden of Eden was in the east and thus we are reminded here we are in exile and long for our true home with God.

While we eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ our King we also know that with his return comes judgement. As we look to the east we traditionally see on the wall the cross, the symbol of our victory. It reminds us that we have a king that gives us only the rules that will help us and, even when we break them, he takes the punishment on himself. We must do our part as we make our way through the "not yet" of this world, but God's mercy also allows us to be eager in expecting the return of Jesus Christ the King.

Expecting Fire

Today's Gospel paints what seems to be a pretty bleak picture of discipleship. If you follow Jesus, he promises that everyone will hate you and you'll be killed. Rather than happy days without end, Jesus promises his followers suffering and trials. As we come to the end of our liturgical year, we should see these sufferings not as a destructive force, but rather as a purifying fire.

We tend to look at a forest fire and immediately want to put it out. Yet, sometimes a fire is exactly what the forest needs to be healthy. The fire burns up all the dead wood and debris and all the undesirable plants and trees. In the process seeds are released for new trees. The fire actually rejuvenates the forest even as it seemingly destroys.  God's love for us is a lot like this. He is a purifying fire that wants to burn up all the selfishness and sin that threatens to choke out the beautiful forest of his grace.

At the end of the Gospel Jesus reminds us that, in the face of all the suffering and trials, there is one thing we must do...persevere. The Greek work for perseverance (hypomone) implies patiently baring with difficulty, holding out until the end. Yet it also has a second meaning. It also means waiting expectantly, longing, hoping. We don't just bear the difficulties of life with no purpose. They point us forward to a time when there will be no more suffering. We need a longing for the coming of that day.

The prophet Malachi in the first reading speaks of the coming of this day. There will be fire like an oven, but for those who love God he tells us that the "sun of justice" will comfort us with his "healing rays." As we go through the difficulties of this life we've got to have our eyes fixed on the east, awaiting the rising of the sun of justice. This is the day of the coming of our king that will end all the suffering in his healing rays and bring about a new heavens and a new earth. We celebrate his feast next week with the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Until then, our task is clear. Hypomone...perseverance...enduring and longing. "By your perseverance you will secure your lives."