December 31 - The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

The True Light

Today's Readings

Lord, let your light shine on me!

In today's Gospel a man named John was sent by God to testify about the "light".

John was not the light, but he was sent to testify to the "light". Why? Because the true "light" was coming into the world.

The "light" was not accepted by his own people. He was in the world but most of the people did not know him.

To the ones's who accepted him, and who believed in him received power to become children of God. The Word became flesh. He walked with them, he talked with them, and he taught them parables. They listened and believed in him because they knew he was in control and that he had power to do all things. The believers followed him and they were happy to be in his presence.

When I go into Cook County Jail twice a month to visit the Ladies in The Maximum Security Division, they are happy that someone has taken time to come and visit with them. However, they come to hear the Word of their Lord. They listen, they pray, they take communion, they laugh, and sometimes they cry. They hunger to learn how powerful God is and how he can make a change in their lives. I tell them that he will embrace them with his everlasting love. Let's be clear, we know that a "wrong" has occurred on their behalf, but they pray for forgiveness and pray for him to walk with them and guide them through this challenging time. These Ladies are striving to make a difference in their lives once they have served their time.

John testified to the "light" and cried out "This is he whom I said". "The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me".

Lord you are powerful and awesome!!

Catherine White

December 30 - The Holy Family of Jesus

In Our Hearts, Minds & Action

Today's Readings

The readings today highlight the importance of having love in my heart, mind, and actions. As we approach the end of 2016, and spend Christmas with friends and family, the text that resonates the most for me is from Colossians, Chapter 3. This reading provides me with a good reminder to reflect on the relationships I have with my family, neighbors, and friends in order to identify areas of improvement. As I pull key words from the scripture, such as, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, and thankfulness; I am able to review and identify areas where I have fallen short in letting “the peace of Christ control [my] heart” (COL 3: 15). Moving forward into the New Year, I will remind myself, “in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (COL 3: 17). 

• Which relationships can you let the “peace of Christ” be more in your heart?
• Forgiveness is hard to do, so what steps can you take to release yourself from this distress?
• Family matters can be large and overwhelming, or small and disregarded. What is hindering you from being more compassionate, kind, patient, gentle, etc.? How can you have more love in your heart, mind, and actions?

Huneth Lor

RCIA Catechumen

December 29 - The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

God's Love

Today's Readings

During the Christmas season, we hear from the scriptures written by St. John, the Beloved Disciple. St. John enlightens us with his message: 

When we honor God's word and Commandments, God's love is perfected in us, and we are truly in union with God. God lights our path and leads us to Him with His divine love.

God lays a stone pathway to His light through His holy Commandments. We make choices each day to follow God's righteous path. When we choose to turn away from God's word and Commandments, we spiral down a path in a double life of lies. It is a life without God's light and without authenticity. When we enter this path, we are self-propelled into arrogance, deceit, and spiritual darkness. One who chooses to stray away from God's Commandments becomes spiritually blind and disoriented from his faith. What he considers truth is illusion. Instead of having God at the center of his life, he has a self-centered focus and can no longer clearly see what is good and what is evil. Rather than being in union with God, he has become lost and blind and is no longer listening to God's divine word.

We learn from Simeon about the exalted reward of listening to God. Simeon had strong faith and walked in the Light. Because he listened to God in prayer, he was able to hear God's inspiration to go in the Temple on the day that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus as the Messiah. Simeon witnessed the miracle of the Messiah and gave praise and thanks to God.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us spend time in prayer asking for strength to live our lives in union with God, to honor His holy Commandments, and to listen to His divine Word. 

1. What can we do each day to live in union with God and to bring spiritual light into our lives? 
2. How do we recognize if we have started down a path to spiritual blindness? How do we find our pathway back to God's light from spiritual darkness? 
3. How do we rise above the temptation of breaking God's word and Commandments? 
4. What can we do in our faith to better listen to God's word?

Sherry

Holy Name RCIA participant

December 28 - Feast of the Holy Innocents

The Silence

Today's Readings

The leaving of one's home at a moment's notice and living as a refugee. The death of a child. There is so much chaos, noise, and bustle in those first moments. Then there is the silence.

The silence of the unique isolation of living in a foreign land, not knowing the language, being totally 'other' from all around you. The silence from having those closest to you be so very, very far away. The silence of looking all about you and seeing nothing familiar, just the overwhelming task of starting over.

The silence of a room that was supposed to be filled with the cries of a long expected child. The silence of friends and family who can't possibly find the right words. The silence of a heart broken and eyes drained of all possible tears.

It is when the silence descends that we are called all the more to be a presence for those around us. It is in the silence that we are called to be Christ's presence for others. Words and actions will never be sufficient, rather, we may be called to sit in silence with those who suffer.

If you are suffering through a period of silence, reach out to others if you can. If you find yourself unable to do do that, find one person, just one with whom you can sit in that silence.

For the rest, I invite you all to silence. See where your presence could be gifted to someone this Christmas season. Where might you be called to be the silent presence of God's love - a hospital room, hospice, a grieving mother, a desolate father, a child?

December 27 - Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

The First to Tell

Today's Readings

Mary Magdalene has been given a bad name by history. In actuality, she is best known as the Apostle to the Apostles. She is the one who first carried the Good News of the Resurrection to the Apostles. She ran with the joy, confusion, and hope of the miracle she had witnessed. She gave voice for the first time to the hope of eternal life.

Through her words, Peter and John ran, saw, and believed. Due to his belief, the Apostle John became the source of today's readings and feast. He and those who followed his spirituality offer us the beauty of the first reading and the power of the Gospel of John.

May you have the strength, joy, and hope of Mary Magdalene.

May you share the Good News with others as Mary and John did.

December 26 - Feast of St. Stephen, Martyr

But...just yesterday...

Today's Readings

Wasn't it just yesterday we were celebrating? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were wrapped in the warm comfort of the familiar Christmas story?

The martyrdom of St. Stephen reminds us that there is more to being Christian than enjoying the fun and joy of Christmas. As disciples of Christ we are called to follow Christ in the everyday moments, in the profound challenges of our lives, even into the times and places when we face ridicule or hate for our faith.

The martyrdom of St. Stephen reminds us of the profound impact one person can have. Through his life and his death he directed others to Christ. He pointed to the immense power and glory of God. He knew his vision, he knew to what he was called and he fearlessly lived it.

• How may you live such conviction in your life?
• Where might you need the intercession of St. Stephen to help you through difficult times of doubt or hardship due to your faith?

December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord

Merry Christmas

Today's Readings

In an epic drama, worthy of the most poignant holiday movies, Christmas is an annual reminder of one of the most traumatic moments of my childhood. In first grade, I knew deep in my bones that the teacher in charge of casting the Christmas Pageant at my school would get one look at me and decide to go against the traditional casting of an 8th grade girl as Mary and pick me. In a cruel, cruel twist of fate, I found myself that cold December night standing in front of all my family and class mates singing, "All I want for Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth" as I had sadly lost my front teeth in perfect time for the casting of this role. To add insult to injury, I had to wear those little footed pajamas as my 'costume' and do a little patty-cake hand game and dance with another boy in my class named, I believe, Charlie. As I was convinced, again, deep in my bones, that Charlie had cooties, this seemed like absolute torture. I'm surprised I didn't need therapy to recover from this.

As with many similar childhood experiences, when you look back on them as an adult you see the humor, hubris, and gentle lessons. This memory is now one I am happy to smile over each Christmas season.

In hindsight these dashed dreams of stardom remind me to approach Christmas with a touch of reality. Everyone brings such expectations of perfection to the season. Whether it is the perfect party, meal, family experience, or Mass we face so many pressures of what we think Christmas must be. The absolute let down of the footed pajama episode oddly puts me in the ideal place to celebrate Christmas each year.

Christmas, the original one, is a day that is all about the unplanned or even the disappointments. I really don't think that Mary and Joseph planned to bring Jesus into the world in a manger. They probably had plans to have family supporting them in their own warm and safe home. Those shepherds had their daily routines that were overwhelmed by a choir of angels (and don't you think the sheep were startled, scattered, and had to be gathered into a flock again?). And I wonder what the angels thought when they saw God Incarnate wrapped in folds of fabric, lying in the straw...hardly the grand moment that these celestial beings were used to, I would imagine.

Christmas isn't about the ideal. Christmas is not about perfection. Christmas is about Love. It is about the unimaginable love of God for us. Even when that Love came to us, it was in the messy and real way we each encounter love in our lives. 

My wish for you this Christmas day is that where ever you are, whether your day is perfect, whether you are with family or friends or in solitude, whatever the circumstances of this day you experience the unexpected, all-encompassing, all-saving Love of Christ. 

May you be blessed beyond measure today and every day. May you be open to the unplanned, unexpected, and unsought. May you find the grace, love, and beauty in the unexpected and chaotic moments of life. May you embrace the messiness of life and love. 

Jennifer Delvaux