State (Battle) Lines

The weekend nearest January 22 is a bittersweet time for those in the pro-life movement. On the negative side, it is the remembrance of the anniversary of the 1972 Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, rulings that allowed for unrestricted abortions in this country. For over 50 years it has been a time of peaceful protest as well as the herculean effort to change hearts and minds. And while there have been incremental steps forward (as well as backward), the giant leap for humanity was the ruling June 24, 2022 of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe's (as well as Casey v. Planned Parenthood) "settled precedent" on this most controversial subject.

The pro-life events last year had many celebratory moments. But in the back of everybody's mind was the stark reality this SCOTUS decision, while a major victory, now made the pro-life challenge even more daunting. In fact it became at least 50 times difficult. All this did was now return the legal question to the states. (Nor has it entirely stopped the federal government's attempts to enshrine this so-called right into law on a national level.)

In the over 18 months since Dobbs took effect, the battles have increased and intensified in individual state legislatures, courts, and ballot boxes. And it is easier to keep score. Progress or regression has more measurables now--the passing of laws, rulings, or constitutional amendments at the state level. But the color representing those achievements still remains the same. Unfortunately, depending on your political persuasion, the country can still be colored red or blue regarding this. It is just becoming more clearer which hue goes where.

What does this mean for the pro-life movement? In a sense, it is still more of the same. The changing of hearts and minds continues. Limited resources are more stretched. There are more threats of violence to those whose voices are raised loud enough to be effectively heard. And there is still the bully pulpit that is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, where the current occupant has perhaps staked his entire political career (some of a religious nature would opine at the cost of his soul) on cementing his legacy with this issue.

The response is still the same. More prayer and fasting (for this is a spiritual battle as well); more speaking the truth in love (for the opposition is still winning the war of words); more grassroots efforts (for this is where the pro-life movement is most effective); more visible signs of support for not only mother (and father?) and child but those who have been scarred by this act (for true compassion is shown in loving deeds). This is what we do best:  offer authentic hope and love.

We are 366 days from inaugurating the next President of the United States. But we can't be assured of that person's support; we have seen what the political tides do to this issue. We still have to pray as if it were up to God and work as if it were up to us.

And both are right to do.

January 2024 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when prayer the Morning Offering:

For the Gift of Diversity in the Church. We pray that the Holy Spirit may help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community and to discover the richness of different traditions and rituals in the Catholic Church.

A reflection for this intention can be found here.

After The Countdown

You know what my 2023 has been like. I have heard other people mention it wasn't a very good year for them. So be glad that we literally and figuratively can turn the page and start fresh. Let the words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns remind us to remember, but not repeat, the past:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pu'd the gowans fine;

But we've wandered mony a weary fit

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roared

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne, 

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

May God bless you abundantly in 2024. May you keep Him close to you the next 12 months. May He bestow upon you every grace you need when you seek Him.

Happy New Year, Everybody!

The World Turned Upside Down

It is an observation of mine there seems to be one event in a person's life which overshadows and somewhat defines it. For me, it was simply called "The Move". That is not to say other events cannot compete for that ignominious crown, but they can be jewels in it. There was 2006, where the threat of homelessness gave way to the glory of God. There was 2007, when I was uprooted and transplanted. But the most ugliest time of my life has taken place within these past twelve months.

I think most of your have met Catherine Garcia. She is the one who took me in some 16 years ago. This year's review revolves around what has happened to her and, by causation, to me.

Janus' Ugly Face

The new calendar year actually didn't start very well for either Catherine or me, as we both contracted the latest strain of COVID-19 on December 30. My symptoms were mild (more to me like a moderate head cold), but recovery was longer than I wanted. It took about two weeks before I tested negative.

Then on January 14, a not so insignificant event occurred. Catherine was feeding the three cats we had their evening portion of wet cat food. She called to me into the master bedroom where they lived, "Ron, I think Willow is dead." I rushed in, and she asked me to look under the bed. There he was, a 14 year old male Ragdoll who had lost a lot of weight the past few years, rigor mortis already happening; he had died sometime during the day. The following Monday, having put him in a freezer over the weekend to preserve him, he joined the rest of the pets in our makeshift columbaria for them.

Then on January 30, another not so insignificant event occurred. Zoe, the Labrador-Border Collie mix Catherine received as a Christmas present eight years ago, was having significant trouble urinating over the previous weekend. While she had a history of urinary tract infections, this was much more serious. We took her to the vet mid-morning; an x-ray revealed a cancerous tumor growing around her bladder, severely restricting the ureters and urethra. We then took a trip to an urgent care clinic in another city early that afternoon, where a more detailed x-ray confirmed the previous diagnosis.

We were presented with three options. One was to catheterize her, but that would only alleviate symptoms. The second was surgery, but that only promised a limited extension of life for a cost which was unaffordable. I think everybody knows what the third was. And while their were times that day Zoe exhibited her energetic self, she was in a lot of pain. It was still a difficult choice, but euthanasia was the one made. Add more cremains to the collection.

But on January 27, a very significant event occurred. For the first time in 14 years, Catherine had a seizure around 1:05 PM, just as I was ready to leave for crossing guard duties. The 911 response was quick, but 30 minutes after the first, she had a second, just as the paramedics were wheeling her to the ambulance. I called my supervisor and informed her of the situation (letting her know I couldn't make this shift), then went to Catherine's workplace and informed her boss of the situation, they went to the emergency room. Once stabilized, we came home later that night.

The Bad News Items

The last MRI Catherine before this latest episode had revealed the location of the cause of her seizures, the meninges above her right ear. The MRI taken a month later after her last seizures was able to give greater detail. They revealed it was not meningioma causing them.

It was a brain tumor. In those 14 years between images it had grown and became able to overcome the seizure medication she originally was taking. The surgery to remove it, an option back then, was now a necessity. Her medical care was now under the auspices of the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, while I had changed locations at my position as a school crossing guard in March, the situation at the amusement park also changed. I started the year as a supervisor again. The staff was being challenged to get to know the attendants better, starting by memorizing names and faces. The perception I had, whether or not it was correct, was that knowledge was to be instantaneously retained and summoned upon command. During a shift in April, I wasn't doing it, and I was starting to freeze. After a few discussions with my manager and some time to reflect, I returned my supervisor badge and remained on staff as an attendant.

That was just a tremor. Little did I know the earthquake was coming. And, in a sense, the title of this post.

The Unmerry Month Of May

The surgery to remove the tumor was May 5. It just so happen I was scheduled for jury duty the same day; however, a phone call the day before informed me I didn't have to report. In any case, Catherine and I agreed I didn't need to be in the waiting room while she was in surgery.

The operation was successful; the surgeon was able to remove all of it save for a few tendrils which would require radiation and chemotherapy to minimize if not eliminate. I visited her later that afternoon after the operation, stuck in my head the following afternoon as she was sleeping, and spent a couple of hours with her Sunday night.

The biopsy came back a few days later. It revealed it was a Grade 4 tumor, the equivalent of Stage 4 cancer. During a pre-operation consultation, that prognosis was given an estimated life expectancy of five years.

Catherine is having none of that. She is determined to see her grandchildren graduate from high school, and the youngest is three years old. Encouraged by stories of people who survived at least that long, it gave all some hope.

But it was the weekend of the surgery when my problems started. I am not going to get into any details, lest I be accused of detraction. Catherine's two adult daughters, for reasons only known to them, turned on me. They claimed I didn't love and cared for their mother and was basically being parasitical. They were making my life a living hell, especially the younger one, with threats of all types, most of all the threat to evict me from the house, seemingly by any means necessary. If they were, I couldn't call their bluff; I had to take them seriously, even though it seems they were taking the modern tact of making me defend every story they would create.

It created lots of stress. It created even more fear. After three weeks of this kind of harassment, perhaps crossing the line into bullying, the pressure finally got to me. During this time I was in contact with my sister, explaining the situation to her. She agreed to let me live with her temporarily.

The Flight Into Egypt

I formally resigned my position at the amusement park. I packed most everything I had, save for clothes, into storage and left for the Midwest where my sister lives the Friday before Memorial Day, arriving the following evening. After taking the holiday weekend to unwind a little, I restarted the job search.

The good news was there was more opportunities; I cast my net into a deeper job market. The obstacle was now a disconnect between where I worked and where I was living. The bad news was the results were still the same--nearly no interest, hardly any interviews, and almost no job offers

There were two. In late June, I was offered a position as a dealer at a nearby casino, but after 30 minutes of shuffling half a dozen decks at one time as part of training, my elbow tendonitis was telling me this wasn't going to work. I actually did accept an offer to work as a clerk at a 24/7 truck stop, but then got cold feet and changed my mind. (The thing about that was the Sunday before I was hired, I was assisting at Mass in the same city where the truck stop was located. A parishioner came up to me after Mass and said, "You belong here. God bless you." Did I ignore God's voice?)

It was this action plus another incident which put an end to my stay. My sister had put me on a short leash, reminding me this arrangement was temporary and pushing me to take anything. While she was generous enough, I violated what trust she had in me. And I had no argument.

I also had just enough money to do what I did next.

I went back to Utah.

The Return Of The Prodigal 

I returned the first weekend in August, following the same timeline as when I left. I spent the weekend in a motel room, thanks to the generosity of the Grand Knight of my local Knights of Columbus Council (of which I am a member), With the aid of the Council, I started living in a long-term motel the following Monday. I was able to return to the amusement park and started work there Tuesday. Since I never officially resigned, I also still had my crossing guard position when school started later that month. I had income, though very limited. 

When I wasn't working, I continue to search for a full-time position, either at a state unemployment office a short walk from my temporary home or the computers from the county library branches. Toward the end of August, I accepted what I though was a full-time position at a local office of a national testing center. I had investigated a couple of apartments I thought I could afford. It looked like I was starting to turn a corner.

My brother Knights had helped as much as they could. My stay in the hotel would end on the last day of August. I paid for an extra three nights to get me through Labor Day.

A week before the first rehearsal with the church choir with which I sing, I sent them an e-mail, briefly explaining my absence. I wrote near the end, "God is close to resolving my issues. I just have to get through September."

Little did I know I picked the wrong Latin prefix for the "-ber".

Mobile Home

After onboarding and orientation with my new job, the manager dropped a bombshell. While the position was advertised as full-time, she was only able to give me 20 hours a week at the most. She was also was not willing to work around my hours as a crossing guard. With the office a 30 minute drive from where I was, I kept the bird in hand; I resigned that job after three days.

But I had a bigger problem. I couldn't afford my room anymore. I only had one solution, as there was no one I knew who would house me.

My car became my home. For the next two months, my life took on a routine which allowed me to survive. Between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, I parked in the driveway of a neighbor who lived two doors east of Catherine's house, an area where I would be safe. (In talking to him later, he knew I was there, anyway.) The back seat became my bed; sleeping was in fits. Leaving around 6:00 AM every morning, I utilized a very gracious offer. The amusement park also had a campground with modern shower facilities; my manager made an arrangement with the campground manager to let me use them. I made sure I was in and out by 7:00 AM so as to not draw attention to myself. The cycle of work and job search continued, now with more urgency.

There had to be that sense. On October 25, the first snowfall occurred, a warning to me winter would soon be here. On October 29, the amusement park closed for the year, leaving me without that financial and hygienic asset.

Needless to say, I was very scared.

Then God said, "Fear not. Your vindication is at hand. Your prayers are answered."

Back From The Brink

The first step was gaining a roof over my head. The landlady of one of the apartments in which I was interested had a room for rent in the same house. Security deposit, first month's rent (thanks to the generosity of a husband and wife who also sang in the choir), and proof of rental insurance later, I moved in on November 2. I spent the night before in a motel, gratefully knowing I would be off the street soon.

I needed a back-up plan to replace the income from the amusement park. That plan came to fruition when a local family amusement center hired me. I would get enough hours at the same rate as the amusement park to keep me at the same income level.

I didn't need the backup plan (although I am still on staff and squeezing in shifts when I can), I finally gained the coveted full-time position I was seeking. On the third attempt, I finally was able to land a position with a locally owned grocery store, primarily as a cashier, secondarily as a courtesy clerk (i.e. grocery bagger). Now I could safely give up my hours as a crossing guard, although I remain on staff as a substitute and am getting as many shifts as my schedule allows and as needed to cover zones.

Epilogue

I don't think it will be possible to return to Catherine's house. The situation between her daughters and I is seemingly irreparable. While she still wants my companionship, the feud with her daughters is making it almost impossible to continue any kind of relationship. The stress cause by all this does not help Catherine's well being, as her doctors want her to reduce it as much as possible.

As of this post, Catherine's tumor is in remission. She is currently undergoing a cycle of chemotherapy, seemingly keeping the tendrils under control. However, the tumor was located in a part of the brain which controls her vision; unfortunately, she is almost legally blind. As with any brain injury, her mental acuity waxes and wanes; patience is required when interacting with her. The regimen of chemotherapy leaves her fatigued. Her personality has been muted by all this. But she is fighting this. And right now, she is winning.

Aftermath

Between the stress of this situation, not eating enough, and not eating well, I lost 25-30 pounds and 2-3 inches off my waist line. Not the best way to get to a more healthier weight, I admit. Now the challenge will be to maintain it.

I have returned to a more active role with my Council. I became a "silent Knight" during the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly due to the leadership style at that time. It is the least I can do to show my gratitude and appreciation for their help, including on September 30 the removal of the deck in the back of the house that had collapsed due to the passage of time.

I did return to the choir for the first rehearsal. I also recently returned to my duties as a cantor at my home parish in December. It's another way I'm reconnecting with society.

I am doing OK with my new employer. All I ask from me is to keep improving. As my own worst critic, I am not sure how well I am performing.

But the most important thing that happened was my own Eucharistic Revival. On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I finally was able to worthily receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in 16 years. My situation wouldn't allow me until recently to have firm purpose of amendment, the necessary condition required for forgiveness. And at Mass that night as part of a parish celebration, I literally did "taste and see the goodness of the Lord". 

His goodness had been with me all along this ordeal.

What's Next

I was working December 21 as a courtesy clerk. As I was assisting a customer, I looked up and saw a former supervisor from the amusement park, five years removed. It was someone I thought I would never see again because she was moving on with her life. We briefly conversed. I asked her if she had heeded the advice I had given her, as she was wrestling with some inner turmoil. When I reminded her what I said, she briefly explained she had.

And what did I say way back when?

"Reclaim you."

(Is this why we crossed paths?)

It is now a case of "physician, heal yourself'". While the journey to recovery started last month, it still needs definition. The financial side is obvious. But it is my inner being which has been shaken to its very core. My psyche feels battered, bruised, bloodied, broken. All types of doubts and fears seem to be haunting me even more than usual, even as I start to dream again. The trauma of the past twelve months has made me ask if I need mental health therapy. While prayer will be the cornerstone, I wonder if counseling wouldn't be a worthwhile idea.

Speaking of which, please add or keep Catherine and me in your prayers for a while. Ask God for healing and the grace to bear our crosses. They are a part of my petitions.

And so ends this review of 2023.  The lyrics from the song "So This Is Christmas" by John Lennon sums up my hope and focus:

"Have a very Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear."

Go Forward. Be Bold.

Reclaim me.

Amen.

2023 Christmas Card

Nativity (1654)

by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1699)

May the newborn Savior of the world bring joy, peace, and love to you and yours. May the Infant Jesus dwell in you and guide your life. May the Christ Child bring you abundant blessings in the coming year.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

2023 Christmas Eve Reflection

The Second Reading from the Nativity of the Lord--Vigil Mass:

When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue, he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,  “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it. Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;that he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am?  I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”  

Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

As I began to prepare this year's reflection, I looked back on the Readings which I had already used and discovered I have only two choices. (I had used the Gospel Reading from the Mass During the Night as a basis for my 2006 and 2008 reflections.) One is the Gospel from the Mass During the Day--the Prologue of the Gospel of St. John (1:1-18). As I had mentioned before, while I have used the themes of Light and Word in other posts, there is plenty of material upon which to reflect. (Guess what's coming next year, at least?)

The other was this one. By default (or is is my fault?), this is the reading for this year. On first glance, one can see a synopsis of salvation history's promise--a Messiah. Let's apply a little lectio divina and see what is beyond that initial look. (Remember, I am barely qualified to do this, if at all. As to what you discern, your mileage can and should vary.)

"When Paul...entered the synagogue..." Remember, even after his Damascus moment, he still considered himself a Pharisee (cf. Acts 23:6). It was the Pharisees who originated the idea of a synagogue. And as teachers of the Law, my guess is they had preaching rights anywhere they went.

“'Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing,...'" Not only was he addressing the Chosen People, but also those who believed in some divine being who they were getting to know. Recall that Jesus also did this (i.e.--the Samaritan woman at the well). The People of God were not only the Twelve Tribes, they now included the Gentiles, meaning all of humanity shall see the salvation from God.

"...Listen." How often has this word appeared in my posts. It comes from the Latin obaudire (to hear), from which we get our word obey. From Adam and Eve to even today, our degrees of listening and properly responding (obeying) vary. It is the Word made Flesh we hear, grounded in its triune foundation of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterial Teaching. We would do well to be that grounded.

"The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors..." We go back all the way to Abraham. It is God seizing the initiative to bring back humanity to Him.  In His immensity, He started with one person; in His omnipotence, He found our Father in Faith. And so salvation history continued.

"...and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt." And so their numbers grew until they were a threat to the Egyptians. What followed was then the first attempt at a holocaust of the Jews, albeit by indirect methods. Their captivity is an allegory to our slavery to sin.

"With uplifted arm he led them out of it." We now turn to Moses. God worked through him to liberate the Chosen People via the ten plagues, most notably the Passover event. Then came the Decalogue, the Word for the first time in written form. Then there was the forty years in the desert, the habitation of the Promised Land, and another time of flourishing.

"Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king;..." We now jump ahead to the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel after the rule of the Judges. Like his namesake, the Saul of the New Testament was not a man after God's own heart. It literally took a flash of light for that conversion to begin.

Remember, the Gospel Reading for the Vigil Mass (in its Long Form) begins with St. Matthew's genealogical account of Jesus. The Messianic line had to be reestablished. So God chose the youngest son of Jesse to be that connection.

"'I have found David,... he will carry out my every wish.'" While David was somewhat more successful in obeying God, there were times he didn't. Yet this shepherd-king became an archetype for the true Shepherd-King, who would be a man after God's own heart because He is God. The imperfect passed away so the perfect could come. (Not the same meaning as what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, but I think there is a bit of truth in it.)

"From this man's descendants..." We now skip ahead past the time of the prophets. The four major and twelve minor prophets, throughout more times of captivity and exile, repeated and repeatedly proclaimed the promise of a savior. While they were also men after God's own heart, the imperfect was still passing away.

"...God, according to his promise,..." Ever since the Fall, God has never abandoned us. Throughout all generations, He has made a covenant, first with Himself, then with Abraham and his seed, to send a savior to redeem us from our sins. He would do this in "the fullness of time". That time is now.

" God...has brought to Israel a savior... " Recall the Annunciation. Because nothing is impossible for God, He begins the penultimate chapter of salvation history with an act inconceivable to the human mind (pun intended). Angelic hosts celebrated; demonic legions howled in agony. A woman assisted in the Fall; a woman would assist in the restoration.

"...Jesus." The name above all names. A variation on Joshua, meaning "God saves". The one who comes to deliver us from sin and death, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became for us the Lamb of God of the ultimate Passover in the New Covenant, the Body and Blood of the eternal Wedding Feast we experience as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

With and because of God's grace, I have never lost belief in the Real Presence. In this time of Eucharistic Revival, I gently but firmly challenge and exhort those who have to sincerely face your doubts. He waits for you in tabernacles and monstrances. He still commands us to eat of His Body and drink of His Blood so you may have Life within you. He desires to be one with you.

" John heralded his coming..." That began in Elizabeth's womb and continued throughout his life. The bridge between the Old Testament prophets and Jesus, his was the loudest echo of the Word. But, he knew his role.

"...by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel;..." His message was simple and consistent. He even called out those who were hypocrites of this action. His calling out of hypocrisy would cost him his life.

"...as John was completing his course,..." Is this not a foreshadowing of what Paul wrote to Timothy (cf. 2 Timothy 4:7)?  John had run his race and ran it well. May we do the same.

"...John...would say, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.'" The Baptist knew who he was. He was a child of God preparing the way of the Lord. Nothing more, but nothing less. This is the foundation of Advent. How well prepared are you?

"'Behold, one is coming after me;..." Here again, the Herald understands what God is asking of him. He has obeyed in humility, the same as the Blessed Virgin Mary. While a martyrs crown washed him, his reward in Heaven was already great.

"...I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'" In this phrase are the final words we say as a congregation before receiving Holy Communion. They are words best remembered. We never could make ourselves worthy of God after Original Sin, much less our own sins. It is only with the help of His Grace, made possible by the Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we are not only made worthy, but also become adopted children of God.

Thus did the Apostle to the Gentiles speak to his own people. But this only happens because of a much earlier event. Buried in this short synopsis is the whole point of what we celebrate now.

Hodie Christie natus est.

For without His Birth on Earth today, there would be no Death and Resurrection.

And, therefore, no Heaven.

Ever.

Foreshadowing The Second Advent

Something old--the tune is GAUDEAMUS PARITER, composed by Johann Horn, circa. 1544.

Something new--a paraphrase of Isaiah 35 by Christopher M. Idle, circa.1975.

Something borrowed--well, I did for this post. (NB:  I capitalized the first word in each phrase; they are lower case in the hymn.)

1.  When the King shall come again, all his power revealing,

     Splendor shall announce his reign, life and joy and healing;

     Earth no longer in decay, hope no more frustrated;

     This is God's redemption day longingly awaited.

2.  In the desert tree take root, fresh from his creation;

     Plants and flowers and sweetest fruit join the celebration;

     Rivers spring up from the earth, barren land adorning;

     Valleys, this is your new birth; mountains greet the morning!

3.  Strengthen feeble hands and knees, fainting hearts be cheerful!

     God, who comes for such as these, seeks and saves the fearful;

     Deaf ears, hear the silent tongues sing away their weeping;

     Blind eyes, see the lifeless ones walking, running, leaping.

4.  There God's highway shall be seen where no roaring lion,

     Nothing evil or unclean walks the road to Zion;

     Ransomed people, homeward bound, all your praises voicing,

     See your Lord with glory crowned; share in his rejoicing!

Something true--when the King shall come again.

Ero cras.

O Antiphon: God Is With Us

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:10-14

++++++++++

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us."

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25

Emmanuel. God is with us. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

Even though man left God, He never left us. The Word was always there: in the rainbow, the visitors to Abraham, the plagues, the cloud, the manna, the tablets, the ark, the temple, the tiny whispering sound, the speech of the prophets and psalmists, and whatever examples you may find elsewhere in the Old Testament.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Echoes of sound and glimmers of light. The faintest sensory perceptions for the soul damaged by Original Sin. Reflections of true reality. All pale in comparison.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Emmanuel.

God is with us.

God is still with us.

"And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)

Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them (as their God).

Revelations 21:3

**********

Fr. Z's reflection can be found here.
Fr. Kirby's reflection can be found here.

**********

Click here to listen to the chant.

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

++++++++++

O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

O Antiphon: King Of Kings

Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered for you, the rams of Nebaioth shall be your sacrifices; They will be acceptable offerings on my altar, and I will enhance the splendor of my house.

Isaiah 60:1-7

++++++++++

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage....Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance....After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:1-2,7,9-11

It was a question which framed the beginning and end of His life.

A question of identity.

"Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." (Matthew 2:2)

Strangers in a strange land, the Magi saw a glimmer of the Light and inquired about to Whom it lead. When told, they were able to hear the Word and find Him, while those who help them wanted to silence the echo. The echo would now grow louder because more would be able to hear it.

"Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33b)

An earthly ruler, feeling threatened by the Word (history does repeat itself, doesn't it?), asked again. He directly heard, but could not respond. In the end, he would help to attempt to silence once and for all the Word.

And even in between those two questions, people wanted to know if they were among royalty.

They were right.

Found in the Book of Revelation (cf. 11:15, 19:6 and 19:16, KJV), used by Charles Jennens in a libretto, and set to music by Georg Frideric Handel, the Word reigns just as true at His birth, death, resurrection, Good Friday of 1742, and today.

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

**********

Fr. Z's reflection can be found here.
Fr. Kirby's refection can be found here.

**********

Click here to listen to the chant.

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

++++++++++

O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

O Antiphon: Light From Light

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness; for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

Isaiah 8:23b-9:4

++++++++++

Jesus said to them, "The light will be among you only a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light....Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me."

John 12:35-36; 44b-50

Return again to the creation story. What was the first thing formed from nothing by the Word? Light. But Who was this Light? St. John gives the answer (and expounds on it further in his first letter):

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (1:3b-5)

Yet, once it thought it had succeeded with Adam and Eve, the darkness tried and tried again to overcome the Light during salvation history. But just as the echo of the Word still remained, so did a glimmer of Light. Noah saw it in the rainbow. Moses, who already viewed the burning bush, was privileged to see more than a glimmer on Mt. Siani. The Magi followed a star.

All of these pale when the Word spoke plainly:

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b)

**********

Fr. Z's reflection can be found here.
Fr. Kirby's reflection can be found here.

**********

Click here to listen to the chant.

O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

++++++++++

O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!