THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD: HOMILY OF ST AUGUSTINE

Presentation of the Lord (Purification of B.V.M.; Candlemas), Gospel Reading: Lk2:22-32

It was thus prophesied of old: “Mother Sion says: ‘And a man was made man in her; and the Highest himself has founded her.'”

O almighty power of a newborn child! O magnificence coming down from heaven to earth! He is still being carried in the womb, and is saluted by John the Baptist from the womb of his mother; is presented in the temple, and is recognised by Simeon, an old man, famous and full of years, proved and crowned. First he recognised, then he adored, then he said: “Now dismiss your servant, O Lord, in peace; because my eyes have seen your salvation.”

“My eyes have seen your salvation”

He delayed his going from the world, that he might see him born, he by whom the world was made. The old man knew the Child, and in the Child became a child. He, who was filled with devotion, found himself renewed in old age.

Simeon, the old man, bore Christ the Child, Christ ruled the old age of Simeon.

It had been said to him by the Lord that he would not taste death before he had seen Christ born of the Lord.

Christ was born, and in the old age of the world the desire of the old man was fulfilled.

He who found a world broken with age came to an aged man.

“Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation”

He would not indeed stay longer in this world, and in this world he desired to see Christ, singing and saying with the prophet: “Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.” And lastly, that thus you should know it to be his joy, he says: “Now dismiss your servant in peace: for my eyes have seen your salvation.”

The Prophets sang that the Creator of heaven and earth should eventually be on earth with men; the angel announced that the Creator of spirit and flesh should come in the flesh; John from the womb saluted the Saviour in the womb: Simeon the old man recognised the Child as God.

– From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964

 

 

ADVENT: “THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT.” HOW DO WE MAINTAIN A STATE OF READINESS?

STAY AWAKE
(Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:37-44, Romans 13:11-14)

“‘You must wake up now,’ St Paul says to the Christians in Rome. Similarly, Our Lord warns his disciples to ‘stay awake’. Staying awake, fighting off the need to sleep, is not always easy. The exhausted disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane couldn’t keep awake even for an hour. Children on Christmas Eve try hard to stay awake, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, but inevitably their eyes close long before he arrives. We all need a refreshing sleep at the end of a day’s work.

WATCHING THEIR FLOCKS AT NIGHT

Surely sleep deprivation is not what Jesus wants for his followers. It is more a matter of being watchful, aware and ready to respond to events. Those shepherds who were the first witnesses of Christ’s birth were watching their flocks at night. It was dark and no doubt they nodded from time to time, but it was important to keep the sheep under careful surveillance. Because they were alert they were able to receive the angels’ announcement, prompting them to go and see the Christ Child.

THE THREE MAGI WERE ALSO ON CONSTANT WATCH

The Magi in their distant observatories were also on constant watch. They must have been routinely scanning the sky, plotting on their charts the positions of stars and planets. Had they not been vigilant they would have overlooked the bright star and missed the opportunity to find the Child whose birth it indicated.

BEING VIGILANT

During Advent we focus on that birth, the coming of Jesus into our world, but in the Gospel for today Jesus is talking about his second coming. We know he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead but we have no clue to when this will happen, so he urges us to be prepared. ‘Stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ How can we maintain a state of readiness? By keeping watch on our behaviour and on what is going on around us.

IT’S A BIT LIKE DRIVING A CAR

It’s a bit like driving a car: we need to be aware always of what is happening behind and in front of us, how we interact with other road users and what dangers there might be. We watch the road ahead so that we can anticipate any problems and react promptly, knowing that carelessness or inattention could result in disaster. On our spiritual journey we need to be alert, keeping careful watch over what we say and do and the situations in which we may find ourselves.

‘THOSE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTIES’

St Paul says: ‘Let us live decent lives: no drunken orgies, licentiousness, wrangling or jealousy.’ I wonder whether he was thinking about those office Christmas parties! Sadly, for some people the purpose of the four weeks leading up to Christmas is to get drunk as often as possible. Celebrations and parties are fine but be alert, be aware – and be ready to leave.

‘WRANGLING AND JEALOUSY’

Wrangling and jealousy? Surely not! But in fact the weeks of preparation for Christmas can often be a time of tension and arguments within families. Who is being invited for Christmas dinner? Who had the in-laws last year? Why do I have to do everything? It can all become very competitive, as children demand more and more expensive presents. We can start to feel like St Martha, overwhelmed with chores, becoming indignant about it and losing sight of the ‘one thing necessary’, a spirit of prayer. We need to be aware of this danger and be on our guard.

THE DANGER OF SLEEPWALKING THROUGH LIFE

It would be dangerous to sleepwalk through life, unheeding and unmindful. If we try, as St Paul advises, to live decent lives we should be ready to greet Our Lord whenever he comes. Of course, we don’t have to wait for the Second Coming. He comes to us in the Blessed Sacrament; he comes to us in little acts of love and kindness. If we are looking out for him, making time and space for him in our daily lives, he comes and makes his home with us. In the words of the Christmas carol, ‘Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.’ Let us try to be watchful and ready. –
If you enjoy reading Fr Francis’ weekly homily you may like to order his homily and other books, CDs and DVDs by requesting a mail order form. Address: 15 Cuppin St., Chester CH1 2BN; email: brfrancis@btconnect.com ”
– This article by Br. Francis entitled “We must be alert on our spiritual journey” was published in “The Catholic Universe” issue Sunday 1st December, 2013. For subscriptions please visit http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com (external link).

 

WHENEVER MONEY AND WORLDLINESS TAKE HOLD OF US WE LOSE OUR IDENTITY AS HUMAN BEINGS

“Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the centre of our lives, they take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings.” (Pope Francis)

“Being a catechist is about teaching the faith in its entirety and putting Christ – not oneself – on centre stage, Pope Francis told catechists from around the world.

Catechists ‘are people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves and they are able to revive it in others,’ he said in his homily.

The Pope spoke during a special Mass in St Peter’s Square for hundreds of catechists who were in Rome for an international congress hosted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.

He said a catechist who teaches the faith to be ‘at the service of proclamation, not to be important, not to talk about himself or herself, but to talk about God, about His love and His fidelity.’

They also speak about and ‘transmit all that God has revealed, that is, the doctrine in its totality, neither adding nor subtracting anything’, he said.

THE POPE WARNS AGAINST FORGETTING ABOUT GOD

The Pope warned against forgetting about God. ‘If we don’t think about God, everything ends up being about ‘me’ and my own comfort.’

The real meaning of life, the importance of other people, ‘all of these become unreal, they no longer matter, everything boils down to one thing: having,’ he said.

‘Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the centre of our lives, they take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings,’ he said.

He reminded his audience that ‘we are made in God’s image and likeness, not that of material objects, not that of idols.’

In an earlier audience with catechists, the Pope said the Church needs good catechists, who love Christ, live out the Gospel in their lives and courageously go to the margins of society to share the gift of faith with others.

‘Let us follow him, imitate him in his dynamic of love, of going to others, and let’s go out, open the doors, have the audacity to strike out new paths to proclaim the Gospel,’ he said.”
– This article entitled “Put Christ centre stage, pontiff tells catechists” was published in “The Catholic Universe” issue Sunday 6th October 2013. For subscriptions please visit http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com (external link).

 

WORK TO BE DONE UNTIL JESUS RETURNS

“ARE YOU READY WHEN JESUS RETURNS – LUKE 12:32-48

The New Testament teaches that Christ is coming again. It has been almost 2,000 years since Jesus left this earth and promised to return. Theoretically, we may believe that Jesus will return but realistically we do not expect it, at least not today. Seldom, if ever, I do wake up, expecting the return of Christ today.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples a story of a man who went on a long journey. While he was away, his servants were in charge of his estate. They were expected to take care of the place as if he were there. One day he would be back but they did not know when. His arrival would be unexpected. So the only sure way to be ready for his return was to be prepared at all times.

Parts of this parable are a bit difficult to understand. For example, it is hard to think of Jesus threatening his followers. It is also hard to think of the disciples doing right for fear they might get caught doing wrong. Surely a more generous attitude is expected of them?

There will be many days when Jesus will be to his followers like the man who went on a long journey. They may wait until their waiting seems pointless. They will wonder if he has abandoned them. Before leaving, he left instructions on what they were to do. He summed it up in these words: ‘Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment.’

That picture may be bleak but for many people, perhaps most, that’s what life will be in absence of our master Jesus. In his absence we can be certain that there are two things he will expect of us – to pray and to work. Our Blessed Lady can be our example. When her Son ascended into Heaven I can only guess how she felt. She must have missed his physical presence and longed to be reunited with him in Heaven. But she did not want to rob him of one second of happiness that was his. He had suffered enough and had longed to be united to his Father and the Holy Spirit. Besides she had work to do in supporting and praying for the infant Church that her Son had founded. Every day she would be found at her household chores.

In praying, we are faithfully to avail ourselves of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. We are to pray earnestly at all times and do our best to lead good Christian lives. As well as prayer there is other work to be done. For most of us it will not be spectacular work but just the ordinary things that are expected of us, working hard and not being lazy.

Another thing Jesus expects is that we be kind to each other. The story that Jesus told puts particular focus on this. One of the servants mistreated his fellow servants. He thought he could get by with it, so why not? But when the master returned, that servant was beaten with many stripes.

This seems strange language, coming from Jesus, but he wanted us to know that he is serious about how we treat each other. We are not to maltreat one another. That is strictly forbidden. Instead he expects us to help each other whenever we can. This can be expressed in so many different ways. Visit the housebound and offer to do their shopping. Babysit to give a mother a break. Give someone a ride to the doctor, the shops or to church.

One of the ways of being ready for the Lord is to live as though this day is the last day we will spend on earth. Then we will make sure it will be the best day we have ever lived. While we await the coming of our Lord we could say this prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, the day you return may I hear from your lips the words you addressed to the repentant thief, I promise you this day you will be with me in Paradise’.

So Jesus warns us: “Be on guard, therefore. The Son of Man will come when you least expect him.’ The best way to be ready is by doing ordinary things, like praying, working and being kind to others, faithfully and well.”
– Fr Francis OFM CAP “If you enjoy reading Fr Francis’ weekly homily you may like to order his homily and other books, CDs and DVDs by requesting a mail order form. Address: 15 Cuppin St, Chester CH1 2BN; email: brfrancis@btconnect.com ”
– This article was published in “The Catholic Universe” issue Sunday 11th August, 2013. For subscriptions of “The Catholic Universe” please visit http://www.thecatholicuniverse.com (external link).

 

BELOVED JOHN PAUL II, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR PRAYERS TO SUSTAIN THE FAITH OF GOD’S PEOPLE!

“BLESSED ARE YOU, BELOVED POPE JOHN PAUL II, BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED! CONTINUE, WE IMPLORE YOU, TO SUSTAIN FROM HEAVEN THE FAITH OF GOD’S PEOPLE”. THIS WAS THE PRAYER POPE BENEDICT XVI ADDRESSED TO HIS IMMEDIATE PREDECESSOR AT THE MASS FOR JOHN PAUL II’s BEATIFICATION AT WHICH HE PRESIDED ON SUNDAY MAY 1, 2011 IN ST PETER’S SQUARE. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE POPE’s HOMILY GIVEN IN ITALIAN.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, six years ago we gathered in this Square to celebrate the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Our grief at his loss was deep, but even greater was our sense of an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved Predecessor’s entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering. Even then we perceived the fragrance of his sanctity, and in any number of ways God’s people showed their veneration for him. For this reason, with all due respect for the Church’s canonical norms, I wanted his cause of Beatification to move forward with reasonable haste. And now the longed-for day has come; it came quickly because this is what is pleasing to the Lord: John Paul II is blessed!

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, which Blessed John Paul II entitled Divine Mercy Sunday. The date was chosen for today’s celebration because, in God’s providence, my predecessor died on the vigil of this feast. Today is also the first day of May, Mary’s month, and the liturgical memorial of St Joseph the Worker. All these elements serve to enrich our prayer, they help us in our pilgrimage through time and space; but in heaven a very different celebration is taking place among the angels and saints! Even so, God is but one, and one too is Christ the Lord, who like a bridge joins earth to heaven. At this moment we feel closer than ever, sharing as it were in the liturgy of heaven.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, today our eyes behold, in the full spiritual light of the risen Christ, the beloved and revered figure of John Paul II. Today his name is added to the host of those whom he proclaimed Saints and blessed during the almost twenty-seven years of his pontificate, thereby forcefully emphasising the universal vocation to the heights of the Christian life, to holiness, taught by the conciliar Constitution of the Church ‘Lumen Gentium’. All of us, as members of the people of God – bishops, priests, deacons, laity, men and women religious – are making our pilgrim way to the heavenly homeland where the Virgin Mary has preceded us, associated as she was in a unique and perfect way to the mystery of Christ and the Church.

Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to thank God for the gift of having worked for many years with Bl. Pope John Paul II. I had known him earlier and had esteemed him, but for 23 years, beginning in 1982 after he called me to Rome to be Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I was at his side and came to revere him all the more. His profound humility, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the Church and to give the world a message which became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined. In this way he lived out in an extraordinary way the vocation of every priest and bishop to become completely one with Jesus, whom he daily receives and offers in the Church.

Blessed are you, beloved Pope John Paul II, we implore you, to sustain from Heaven the faith of God’s people. You often blessed us in this Square from the Apostolic Palace: Bless us, Holy Father! Amen.