Reflections of a beloved son

Today in the Catholic Church we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family - Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Jesus was born into a human family so that He can experience life as we do, and be like us in all things but sin.  God in His infinite wisdom planned for Jesus to be born into a poor family and in a lowliest of manners - among the animals, laid in a manger - the feeding place for animals.  Not too long after Jesus was born, Joseph, His foster father, was told in a dream, " Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you."  And so, he did. The life of the Child was already sought the moment He was born (before, really).  Perhaps, this does make sense - Jesus, after all, was born to die, and by that death, to save, to redeem, and to live.  I can only imagine how Joseph and Mary was feeling.  Their son's life was sought after and the King wanted Him dead.  " Herod is going to search for the child and destroy him."   Already with

" The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone " (Is. 9:1). These words of the Prophet Isaiah were read at the Mass during the night for Christmas.  That is the promise of Christmas - a light that shatters the darkness, the Light that leads us to the Father.  This light can never be extinguished.  People are living in darkness today.  We prefer darkness over light because in the darkness we do not need to face ourselves and others.  But to live in darkness is to live without truth, and we know that the Truth is what sets us free.  Hence, to live in darkness is to live in bondage and slavery.  The Good News is that in the fullness of time the Word was made flesh and this Word was the light.  Jesus is Our Light.  Jesus is our Light that illumines our darkness.  Jesus is the Light that frees and liberates us from our bondage and slavery to sin.  On Christmas day this light was born unto us in a mang

Have you ever woke up feeling well-rested, happy, and saying to yourself, "Today is going to be a great day!."  You get out of bed, brush your teeth, take a refreshing shower, and get dressed.  The coffee is brewing and you feel confident about the day that has begun already.  Then you phone dings and you receive a text.  You receive some news that you really were not hoping to receive.  Suddenly your day is ruined. What could have gone through Joseph's mind when Mary told him that she was pregnant?  Here Joseph was about to get married to the woman he loved and he finds out that she is pregnant with presumably another man's child.  I would have felt angry, betrayed, and hurt.  What would you have done?  In those days, Mary would have been guilty of adultery and who have been punished with death.  Joseph had every right  to tell the church leaders and officials and have her stoned.  But instead he decided to divorce her quietly.  "He was a righteous man, and un

“The brother is not bored. He is alone with God” (103). This line is from Nicolas Diat’s “A Time to Die - Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life.” The Father comes to meet us in the silence. Being alone is not being bored or lonely. Solitude and loneliness are different. The former is being aware of the presence of God and allowing yourself to rest in Him, but the latter is ignoring it and trying to find peace outside of its source. As we enter this final week of Advent, let us be aware of God’s presence in our hearts, in others, and in the sacraments, and invite others to do the same. For only in Him will we find peace and rest.  God is there - in the stillness of your hearts.  God knows it is difficult to find peace and to find Him in the noise and busyness of the world, and so He comes to meet us in a “light silent sound” (1 Kg. 19:12b). When you feel empty and restless, and cannot seem to find any joy or peace that lasts, call out to God, for then you will be able to experience t

As we enter the Third Week of Advent, and as we quickly approach Christmas, what is it that we really want?  Amidst the busyness of buying presents, decorating the home, baking cookies, or making holiday arrangements, what is it that we really hope for this Christmas? In the Gospel, Jesus asked the crowds three times " What or why did you go out to see? "  Wherever we are in our lives, why is it that we are there?  Is this where I want to be?  Where is it that I really want to be?  Sometimes we find ourselves lost and confused, and not really knowing what we want or what we should be doing.  At the heart of that confusion is really perhaps a desire to belong.  We want to belong to something or someone.  Maybe we thought we will find that sense of belonging once we have found "the right job," "the right person," or "the right place."  But once we have reached that point, then what?  What were you looking for?  What are you looking for?  Who are