Let the world despair; you, fly to Bethlehem! Sermon for Epiphany

Epiphany of the Lord

January 2, 2011

Matthew 2:1-12

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.

Some modern atheistic scientists will tell you that the universe is entirely self-contained and closed off to any outside involvement. They will claim that there is nothing beyond the created world, no Creator who could possibly have any real effect in the world. Moreover, their reasoning leads to a radical form of determinism – for these materialist scientists will tell you that all reality is determined by the interaction of matter. They say that human freedom is just an illusion, what is real is simple cause and effect.

In this way, such scientists are not too different from the astrologers of old. For it was believed, in ancient pagan cultures, that a man’s life was determined by the stars – if he was born under good stars he would have a good life, but if under bad stars he would have a hard life.

And against all of this, we have the mystery of the Epiphany. Today the star goes before the Magi and leads them to the Christ Child. We see that the material world does not determine freedom, and it does not determine God. For it is not that the star blesses the Child, as the astrologers thought, but the Child blesses the star. It is not that the star determines the Child, rather the Child determines the star.

Today, God shows us that he is present in the world, he proves that he is always among us. By making his presence known, my manifesting his love for us in Christ, the Lord teaches us that he is always active in our world.

God’s love for us, his love for you and for me, is made manifest in the Christ Child – God has so loved the world that he sent his Son to become a little baby, to die for us, that we might live. God became a baby, what a wonder!

How great is the love of God! Man fell, so God descended. Man fell miserably, so God descended mercifully. Man fell through pride, but God descended through humility and grace.

This is the mystery of Christmas. But perhaps we are wondering – is Christmas over? The children are returning to school, businesses are returning to their normal hours, Christmas decorations are coming down – even the presents and we have received are starting to seem a bit “old”. And so, perhaps we ask ourselves – is that it? Is that all there is to Christmas?

No, I tell you! Let your Christmas not end in such a way! Indeed, it is true that the “Holiday Season” has passed; but what matter is this to us? For the “Holiday Season” is the secular distraction – it is good that it is finally over, that it has passed. Now that the secular distractions are over, turn to the true meaning of Christmas.

Let the world go back to its dull, dreary, despair – You, fly to Bethlehem. Fly to Bethlehem and rest a while there, together with Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar (the three Wise Men). Sit in the stable or the cave; speak with the Magi, with Joseph, with Mary. Look upon the Holy Child – adore the Lord present before you. Take a moment to contemplate the true meaning of Christmas.

Today the Magi find, crying in a manger, he who is true God. Today the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the Lord for whom they have longed. Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth and earth in heaven, man in God and God in man, he whom the whole universe cannot contain is contained in the tiny body of an infant. As they look, they believe and do not doubt, as their gifts bear witness: gold for him who is King, frankincense for the true God, and myrrh for the one who would die to take away our sins.

How to have a happy and holy family, Sermon for the feast of the Holy Family

 Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

December 26^th, 2010

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.

Today, the feast of the Holy Family, we are afforded the opportunity to consider the great dignity of married life. The vocation to marriage is indeed a high calling, both a challenge and an immense supernatural blessing. As we think of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we are both encouraged to strive forward in our own vocations and we are strengthened by their example to persevere in the face of every difficulty.

As we consider the home in Nazareth, there are two central realities which come to light: first, this home was a place of prayer; and second, the Holy Family worked hard. Prayer and work intertwined to create a marvelous harmony in the life of the Holy Family.

First, we consider the Holy Family as an example of prayer. The home in Nazareth has a spirit of quite about it – I do not say that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were perpetually silent, not by any means! Certainly, there was much joy and even laughter in that house; for the happiest people are holy people, and so the three holiest people will certainly be the most joyful Family of all. Yet, there is something of a spirit of quite which is associated with the home in Nazareth – it is the silence of prayer.

Note well how this prayerful silence differs from the sad and angry silence which is present in so many families today. Today, there is silence in the home because the husband and wife are angry with one another, or the parents and children are at odds. The silence in many families today comes from sin.

But this was not the silence of the Holy Family, it was a silence filled with love, filled with prayer.

We know that the Holy Family prayed together regularly, as all families must. Indeed, the family is the first school of prayer. But this meant more than just common prayers said together each day, for the Holy Family this also meant times for personal silent prayer as well. In addition to their common prayers, Mary and Joseph (and Jesus as he grew older) took time each day for personal mental prayer and meditation.

We can imagine how Joseph would take care of the Christ Child, so that Mary would have an opportunity to make a meditation – perhaps for an hour. Then, Mary would in turn allow Joseph to take his time for daily mental prayer as well.

And this is something which every family must do – husbands and wives must give each other the opportunity for daily mental prayer, this daily period of meditation is essential for any Christian family.

Moreover, in addition to teaching their children the common prayers that are said together, parents ought to instruct their sons and daughters on how to make a meditation. By the time a child is in high school, he should have learnt from his parents how to pray with Scripture, alone and in quite.

But it was not all prayer in that holy house of Nazareth – there was much hard work too! The Holy Family offers us an example of consecrated labor. Joseph was dedicated to his profession as a carpenter, and he worked hard to complete his work with perfection. But he didn’t put his job ahead of his Family either. When the angel came and told him to flee to Egypt, Joseph willingly abandoned his work, sacrificing his business, for the sake of his wife and her Child. Joseph knew the true value of labor and he was a good worker, but he also knew that his vocation as a husband and father came first.

And after Joseph worked hard all day in the shop, what did he do? Did he go out to the bar with “the guys”? Did he seek relaxation in the secular distractions of the world? Of course not! After a long day of work, Joseph returned home to his Family. He went to Mary and to Jesus, he fulfilled his primary vocation as father of the household.

Now I do not say that it is wrong for a man to go out with friends every so often, but we ought to ask ourselves where we find our true consolation and rest. Do we seek consolation and joy in the world, or in our family? Do we get rest and relaxation by fleeing our responsibilities, or is our true rest found with our family? Let us heed the example of St. Joseph, the worker and the spouse.

And what of Mary? She too worked hard! She was dedicated to the care of her home – for her profession was to be the housewife in the Holy Family. Did she spend her day gossiping and chattering endlessly? Of course not! She was dedicated to her work, and she fulfilled her responsibilities as the Mother of Jesus.

Consider where Mary found her consolation, joy and refreshment. It wasn’t in going off shopping all the time. She didn’t always need the newest fashionable clothing. She was constantly looking for ways to spend Joseph’s money. Rather, she found her consolation in her husband and her Son. Mary’s rest and joy was to be with her Family.

Likewise, Jesus, as he grow older and became a young adult, was not always off with friends running around Nazareth. No! He knew his duties to his Family. He loved Joseph and Mary very much, and so he spent time with them and they were his true joy.

Now I know that this can all be pretty challenging. I know that the Christian ideal of married life is exalted indeed. But we need not be discouraged, we must never despair.

If you find that family life is difficult, if you find it hard and full of sorrow; the Holy Family is with you.

Remember, that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (as holy as they were) suffered many hardships and difficulties. No one can claim to have had a more difficult family life than the Holy Family – even looking past all the challenges which arose from the miraculous nature of Christ’s conception (challenges which nearly led Joseph to divorce the Blessed Virgin), from the moment that Christ was born the Holy Family suffered persecution and difficulties. When Jesus was just a baby, King Herod sought to kill him and they all had to flee to Egypt.

Recall as well that Joseph died when Jesus was not yet thirty years old – what sorrow this must have caused Jesus and Mary! Moreover, Jesus himself was murdered in the prime of his life, leaving Mary in grave sorrow and affliction.

Indeed, this is a Family well acquainted with grief. And so, if your family suffers, if your family struggles – the Holy Family is closest to you today! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are your companions; turn to them, speak with them, ask them for assistance and aid. Consecrate your family to the Holy Family, and they will bring you safely through the storms of this life unto life everlasting.