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Holy Name Monastery

The face of God on earth

December 21, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery 2 Comments

I believe that Jesus Christ,
the unique son of God,
is the face of God
on earth
in whom we see best
the divine justice,
divine mercy,
and divine compassion
to which we are all called.

Through Christ
we become new people,
called beyond
the consequences
of our brokenness
and lifted to the fullness of life.

By the power
of the Holy Spirit
he was born
of the woman Mary,
pure in soul
and single-hearted—
a sign to the ages
of the exalted place
of womankind
in the divine plan
of human salvation.

He grew as we grow
through all the stages of life.
He lived as we live
prey to the pressures of evil
and intent on the good.

He broke no bonds
with the world
to which he was bound.
He sinned not.
He never strayed
from the mind of God.

He showed us the Way,
lived it for us,
suffered from it,
and died because of it
so that we might live
with new heart, new mind,
and new strength
despite all the death
to which
we are daily subjected.

—edited from “A Creed,” In Search of Belief  by Joan Chittister
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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: Chirst, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joan Chittister, mercy, poem, The face of God on earth

The Waiting Begins

December 19, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

4th Sunday of Advent

First Reading:  Isaiah 7:10-14                  Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24

Each night for the octave before Christmas which begins tonight, we ask Christ to come, calling him by a different title in the Magnificat Antiphon, familiarly called the O Antiphons”.  These antiphons were developed during the Church’s first centuries, soon used widely in monasteries and by the 8th century they were in use in both the monastic and the Roman breviary (Divine Office).   They were originally in Latin and traditionally chanted. The O Antiphons are also used with the Alleluia for the Gospel Verse at Mass. The last one is sung at the Evening Office on December 23rd – there isn’t one for the evening service for Dec 24th because that is already the vigil of Christmas, so we are no longer waiting.

An interesting note that is not apparent in English, but it can be seen clearly in the Latin. Sometimes you see the phrase ERO CRAS on banners or cards listing the O Antiphons in Latin because if we take the first letter of each Latin title for Christ and write them in backwards order, we get “ERO CRAS, a Latin phrase that means “Tomorrow, I will Come.” Before tomorrow does come, Let’s take a stroll along the path of the O Antiphons …

O Wisdom!   Sirach (24:3) says:  “From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and like mist covered the earth”.  Wisdom “reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well”.  Wisdom is the foundation of fear of the Lord, of holiness, or right living: it is wisdom whom we bid to come to teach us prudence.

 

O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel! In Exodus (6:6) we read: “I will rescue you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment”. With this second antiphon we progress from creation to the familiar story of God manifesting himself by name to Moses and giving his law to Israel as their way of life.

 

O Root of Jesse!  Isaiah (52:13-15) prophesied the restoration of David’s throne – a new branch budding out of the old root. Christ is the root of Jesse in a two-fold sense: he is the descendant of David, who was the youngest son of Jesse, and he inherited the royal throne.  The angel foretold to Mary, “The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.”

 

 Key of David  Isaiah (22:22) makes a prophecy: “I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open.”  The key and scepter are traditional symbols of kingly power and authority. Jesus shared his authority when He entrusted the power to “bind and to loose” to Peter and the ministers of his church. We look to Jesus to unlock the fetters of our shadow selves that keep us so tightly chained to bad habits and the stumbling blocks that impede our spiritual maturity.

 

O Rising Dawn!  Peter’s epistle echoes the sentiment of the prophet Malachi (2 Peter 1:19): “Keep your attention closely fixed on it, as you would on a lamp shining in a dark place, until the first streaks of dawn appear and the morning star rises in your heart”.  This title is variously translated “morning star”, “Dayspring”, “rising sun”, “radiant dawn”, “orient”.  All beautifully express the idea of light with its brightness bringing healing and warmth to cold hearts.  We pray this petition daily in the Benedictus: “the morning sun will rise upon us … guiding us in ways of peace.”

 

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all nations!  Thus says the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore, says the Lord God: See, I am laying a stone in Zion, a stone that has been tested, a precious cornerstone as a sure foundation”.  This sixth antiphon, in the words of Isaiah and Jeremiah, (Isaiah 28:16 and Jerimiah 10:7) clearly addresses the savior as the king of the gentiles and the Desired One of the nations, the cornerstone on whom our spiritual foundations are laid. We call on Christ to once again breathe new life into us.

 

O Emmanuel!   In this the seventh antiphon, we are reassured by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14): “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel”.  With this last antiphon our expectation finds joy in the certainty of fulfillment.  We call Jesus by one of the most personal and intimate of his titles, Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Our Advent Scripture readings have been stressing the truth that Christ is the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Our repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all of us for the One who is to come in many ways – He came historically at Bethlehem in the fullness of time. He comes to us sacramentally.  He will come again at the end of time.  Christ comes to us also in the two-fold consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ and to us in Communion.  He comes in the words of Sacred Scripture and in the person of our confreres, our family and neighbors.  Christ comes in a special way through our corporate commitment actions – through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

In this final week of Advent we fix our attention on the messianic promises proclaimed by the ancient prophets.    The O Antiphons add a mood of eager expectation to the liturgy that builds throughout these seven days and climaxes at Christmas midnight Mass when the church sings: “I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us.”

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: Advent, Birth of Christ, Christ, God, Jesus, Week 4

Discrimination in Happiness

December 14, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

The truth is that the Christmas season is unabashed about the purpose of the Christian life. “I am bringing you good news of great joy,” the angel says to the shepherds on the hillside outside of Bethlehem about the birth of a baby in a stable there (Luke 2:10). Good news of great joy, we learn at the beginning of the liturgical year, is what searching for the baby is all about. It’s how and where we’re searching that matters.

“Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times,” the Greek playwright Aeschylus wrote. But that’s wrong. Happiness does not require choice some of the time. Happiness requires choice all the time. It requires learning to choose between what is real and what is fleeting, what is worthless and what is worthwhile. But that does not make the effort either impossible or unacceptable. It simply requires discrimination.

It is discrimination, the ability to choose between one good in life over another, that the liturgical year parades before our eyes over and over again, year after year, until we finally develop enough maturity of soul to tell what lasts from what pales, to discern what’s worth having from what isn’t, to know what happiness is rather than what satiety is.

Meaning, we discover, has nothing to do with what is outside of us. It has to do with what we have come to see within our souls. It has to do with the vision that is within us rather than with the things we are heaping up around us as indicators of our success, our power, our status. Joy is not about what happens to us, the manger indicates. It is the meaning we give to what we do that determines the nature, the quality of the lives we live.

—from The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister

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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: Christmas, discrimination, Good news of great joy, Happiness, Joy

Advent – Guadete (Rejoice) Sunday

December 12, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery 1 Comment

This past week we celebrated some feasts that are frequently connected in our minds to the customs of Christmas time: St. Nicholas shoes, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and next week we’ll honor our Lady of Guadalupe (roses in the snow) and St. Lucy, patron of the sight-limited and blind, with crowns of lit candles and cat cookies.  And, this weekend the liturgy says: “take a breather – we’re halfway to Christmas.”

Two figures, John the Baptist and Mary the Mother of God, stand out in the Advent Gospels as we prepare for Christ’s birth.  John’s purpose in preparing us for Christ is fourfold: to bring knowledge of salvation, to bring forgiveness of sins, to give light in the darkness, and to guide us in the way of peace.

First, John models for us simplicity.  He lived a simple life, keeping his focus on Christ in everything he did.  We, too, strive to keep our focus on the true purpose of Christmas – the celebration of the birth of our Lord – much more than gift-giving.

Second, John lived a life of fasting.  We too can make little sacrifices for others during Advent, thereby keeping the focus off of consumerism and placing it on relationships – with Christ and with others.

Third, John forgave others.  We too can make a commitment to forgive others this Advent.  In forgiveness therapy there is a belief that anger is due to a lack of forgiveness and a lack of forgiveness is due to anger.  The two feed off each other.  Thus, if you are feeling angry, practice forgiveness.  What a great time to offer the gift of forgiveness to a love one, a confrere, or a coworker.

Fourth, John lived a virtuous life.  We too can focus on increasing the positive in our lives and letting go of the negative. Following John’s lead is a great way to our lives peaceful.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the other figure that prepares us for Christ’s birth.  Mary’s face in many sculptures, icons and images exemplifies the peace she must have exuded in her life.  Her peace came from putting Christ at the center of all she did.  Like Benedict says (in his Rule): put nothing whatever ahead of Christ.”  Mary’s “yes” was the ultimate gift she could give and she offered it peacefully.

We ask ourselves: what is my best?  What can I give to God this advent season?

This story, told in this month’s Catholic Digest illustrates the lesson that God cannot not be undone is generosity.  I quote:  When I was a child, my parents would have my siblings and me create a list of Christmas gifts we wanted that year.  Then, they would find children in need who were the same age and gender as we were.  My parents then asked us to give our No. 1 item to that child and cross it off our list.  It was a huge sacrifice for us – and a lesson in giving our best to God.

One year my brother wanted an action figure and was very upset that he was being asked to give that same action figure to another boy who had very few, if any, toys.  He balked at giving this best and did it only reluctantly that year.  Once it was gone, he knew it was off his list for the year, at least from my parents.  However, our aunt, not knowing our family practice, or what my brother’s best gift was and that he had given it away, gave him that same action figure for Christmas.  The joy on his face was radiant, as he exclaimed: “I’m giving God my best gift every year!”

What is your best give?  Just like the Blessed Virgin Mary, what can you give to Christ this year, knowing that the reward for giving is beautiful?

In tomorrow’s Entrance Antiphon (from Paul to the Philippians)  the Church exhorts us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!”  The antiphon reminds me of a hymn made popular by S. Miriam Therese Winter, with her peppy guitar rendition of “God Loves a Cheerful Giver.”  You may remember it – if so, sing:

God loves a cheerful giver, give it all you’ve got,
He loves to hear you singing when you’re in an awkward spot,
When the odds are up against you,
It’s time to stop and sing – Praise God,
to praise Him is a joyous thing!

Do what the church says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.”

(Disclaimer: in this reflection, I’ve borrowed a good bit from an article in this month’s Catholic Digest “Creating Advent Peace in Your Life” by Lisa Kiewicki)
~Relection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: Advent, Christ, Christmas, God, John, Mary, Peace

All Saint’s Day – November 1st

November 1, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

all-saints-day-9-450x318While historians do not have a definitive date for the Christian beginnings of All Saints’ Day, it is believed by many, to have been initiated by the Greeks.  In the fourth century, they chose the first Sunday after Pentecost to honor all saints and martyrs.

In 837 CE, All Saints’ Day was authorized a holiday by Pope Gregory IV.

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Filed Under: Homily Tagged With: All Sain't Day, Jesus, November 1

The True Host

October 31, 2016 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

First Reading  Wisdom zacchaeus11:22—12:2       Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2
Gospel Luke 19:1-10

Have you ever been to a parade, or a concert or a sports event where you couldn’t see much more that a sea of hats or heads?  When that happens, a periscope may be just what you need – you know, one of those things they use in submarines to see above the surface of the water … you can see over tall objects, even around corners.

Well, today’s story is about such a situation.  A man went to a parade, but couldn’t see above the crowd.  The main attraction in this parade was man who had become quite famous because he had performed many miracles.  He had raised people from the dead and restored sight to the blind; he cured people of leprosy and drove out demons.  This man Jesus, Luke tells us, was passing through Jericho.  Notice He wasn’t intending to stay overnight.  The atmosphere was like a circus parade. People lined the streets hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus.  Zacchaeus REALLY wanted to see Jesus!  But he was small of stature and he didn’t have a periscope

Remember the song ….  Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man ….

So what’s a short guy to do? He runs on ahead of Jesus and climbs a sycamore tree.  Now, I’ve read that people in the Middle East do not generally run and they wouldn’t be caught climbing a tree.  Zacchaeus would have had to run a long way ahead of the crowd to have time to climb up this tree and get a view of Jesus.  The law – the city codes – did not allow the planting of sycamore trees within the city limits.  They had to be planted at least 75 feet outside the city walls. So, Zacchaeus had to run past everyone in town to climb up that tree.  Now, just imagine that parade of people surrounding Jesus.  Most had their attention focused on Jesus but surely some would have spotted the little thieving rich guy climbing up in the sycamore tree.

Jesus arrives under the tree and looks up to Zacchaeus.  Their eyes meet.  Jesus called Zacchaeus by name. He made eye contact, and spoke to him face to face.  Jesus communicated to Zacchaeus that he was glad to see him.  How embarrassing for Zacchaeus.  You can just hear the people taunting him, shouting insults, and calling him names.  Jesus knew everything there was to know about Zacchaeus, yet He still loved him and still had compassion on him.  What a picture of grace!  That’s how it is for us, too.  Jesus knows everything there is to know about us, but He still loves each of us.

Jesus silences the crowd and His voice rises above the din of their taunts and shouts.  He absorbs the ridicule and shame of Zacchaeus upon Himself and invites Himself over for supper.  The people in the crowd were shocked!  Zacchaeus was one of the most hated men in all of Jericho.  They considered him a thief and a cheat!  No observant Jew would dine with this sinner.  Yet, Jesus chooses to honor the tax collector by staying at his house.  The crowd couldn’t believe it!  Of course they grumble. Jesus, on the eve of the Passover, hadn’t planned to stay in town.  And now he’s going to stay and eat in an unclean house?  Jesus is defiling Himself.  Zacchaeus gets down from the tree and gives his famous speech.  He promises, if he has ever cheated anyone, to give half of his goods to the poor and restore four times the amount he has ever stolen.

That’s when Jesus makes the bold declaration, “Salvation has come to your house!” Zacchaeus got saved! He was born again!   Experiencing the love of Christ, he became more concerned about others.

Jesus doesn’t say that Zacchaeus is saved because he plans on repaying everyone. Salvation has come to Zacchaeus’ house because He is simply lost.  In his search for salvation, he humbled himself by making a spectacle of himself climbing up a tree.  Perhaps you have heard the saying, “To reach the fruit of a tree, you must go out on a limb.”  That’s exactly what Zacchaeus did.

One Biblical scholar has described the paradox in this story.  “Zacchaeus is spectacular because he is not like other characters who encountered Christ.  He was not called as the disciples were, nor was Zacchaeus suffering from some kind of affliction.  What makes Zacchaeus so special is that he was an average man.”  Most of the characters in the Bible experience a call from Christ either as a personal invitation or through the public preaching of Jesus.  Others sought Jesus because of some affliction.  Zacchaeus was different.  He was a successful business man – and a wealthy one!  An interesting part of this story is that, as far as we know, Zacchaeus did not change jobs after his encounter with Jesus.  He did not join the entourage that traveled with Jesus.  He was a tax collector before he met Jesus, and it seems he continued collecting taxes after he met Christ.  His job was the same, but his destiny was different.

The text says Zacchaeus was “seeking” Jesus.  But if I read the story right, Jesus really was seeking Zacchaeus.  He came to seek and save all the lost.  Zacchaeus tried to climb up to God, but he didn’t get past the lowest branches.  Zacchaeus gets to host Jesus that evening because Jesus invited Himself to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus always ends up being the true host.  Jesus invites Himself here today. If you’ve come to seek good news, it’s the same the message Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus: “Come down; salvation has come to your house.  I want to dine with you this night.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: God, Jericho, Jesus, salvation, sycamore tree, tax collector, Zacchaeus

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