This book is dedicated to Bishop Ken Untener

(1937-2004)who was inspired to create

the Little Books. His life and faith continue to be their driving force.

This Advent booklet is based upon the writings of Bishop Ken Untener,and put together by Catherine Haven, editor of the Little Books, with thehelp of Sr. Nancy Ayotte, IHM, who works with the Catechesis of the GoodShepherd. Distribution is under the direction of Leona Jones.

® 2020 Diocese of Saginaw.For additional books, contact:Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw, Inc.P.O. Box 6009, Saginaw, MI 48608-6009(989) 797-6653FAX (989) 797-6606or visit our website at:www.littlebooks.org

Six minutes a day.That’s what you’re asked to give during these next 43 days – the 26 days

of the Advent season, and the 17 days of the Christmas season.Each 24-hour day has 240 “six minute” packages. During the Advent and

Christmas seasons, you’re asked to give one of those to the Lord.The key is the right-hand page. On that page each day (except Sundays),

we’ll walk through the Sunday Gospels for Cycle B.The left-hand page is like a buffet table with a variety of thoughts about

the Advent and Christmas seasons, the feast of the day, and varioustraditions and customs.

Start with either page, as you wish.All of this provides the framework for you to enjoy one of our oldest

traditions of prayer called lectio divina – sacred reading. We take a shortScripture passage and simply let God speak to us through the words,guiding us to reflections that sometimes seem to come from nowhere.

People are often surprised at how easy it is to pray this way, and howdeep such prayer can be.

It can change your day . . . change your life.

On the first Sunday of Advent, we begin our program of‘six minutes a day.’

Spend today’s six minutes with the Lord sketching below some ideas onhow you can spend these 26 days of Advent well. Your plans can includeitems that are spiritual (deciding where and when you will pray each day) .. . practical (your gift list) . . . personal (sending a Christmas card tosomeone with whom you’ve not been on good terms) . . . charitable (doingsomething for the poor) . . .

[Before you write anything, spend a few quiet moments with the Lord andask for help.]

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.On this day, many families and parishes celebrate the start of this season

by lighting the first of four candles on their Advent wreath.It’s thought that the origins of the Advent wreath lie in the pagan customs

of people in the far northern countries of Scandinavia – customs thatoriginated long before the birth of Christ. Because they couldn’t do farmwork outdoors in the winter, people brought into their homes the wheels oftheir wagons, decorated them with greens, put candles on them, and hungthem from the ceiling on a wire. Then they would twirl them to become aglowing prayer to the god of light in this time of winter darkness.

Christians later adapted this custom to celebrate the coming birth of theLight of the World.

In recent years, some parishes have added a fifth candle to their Adventwreath, which is lit on Christmas Eve. This white candle is known asChrist’s candle.

The Advent wreath is a weekly reminder for me to step back and look atthe whole sweep of what God has done for me, of which the birth of Jesuswas one part.

Today the Church lights the first of four candles on theAdvent wreath. Perhaps you will want to light a candle

too.

The reflections for this year’s Little Blue Book are taken from theLectionary cycle known as Year B. In Year B, the Gospel readings comemostly from Mark, with John providing a number of Gospel readingsthroughout the year.

The Gospel of St. Mark is the shortest of all four Gospels and is thoughtto have been the first Gospel written.

Unlike Luke and Matthew, Mark does not include an infancy narrative,but rather begins with the preaching of John the Baptist in the desert. Jesusfirst makes his appearance as an adult – not as a baby.

Following the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church began usinga three-year cycle of the Sunday Scripture readings at Mass. This respondedto the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy’s call for a greater variety in theScriptures proclaimed at Mass. The cycles were identified by the letters A,B, and C. Each Sunday, the Church proclaims three readings, generally oneeach from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels. A psalm is alsoassigned to each Mass as a response to the first reading.

During the week, the right-hand side meditation will bebased on the previous Sunday’s Gospel.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert!” (Mk 13:33)

Four times in this week’s Gospel parable of the gatekeeper, Jesus uses theword “watch” (which has the same root as the word “wake”).

So what am I watching for today?One of the traditional themes for Advent is the promise that Jesus Christ

will come again at the end of time. It seems that every generation feels asthough the end is near but there is no reason to believe it is near.

In fact, whenever the disciples asked Jesus when the end would come, hewould tell them not to be concerned about “when.” They were to beprepared at all times but not to be obsessed with exact dates and times.

The Scripture today tells me to stay awake, to be ready for the fullmanifestation of Jesus at the end of time – whenever that might happen.

Maybe in my lifetime . . . maybe not.That’s something to think about this Advent.

Named a bishop of Germania by Pope Gregory II on this day in 722, St.Boniface was a Benedictine monk who brought Christianity to Germany.

But he had to overcome deep-rooted idolatry to do that.Perhaps the best-known story is when Boniface stepped up to a great tree

dedicated to the god Thor, and began to chop it down. The people werehorrified. But when the tree crashed to the ground and nothing happened,many folks were won over to Christianity.

In 755, the 80-year-old Boniface was attacked and brutally killed by agroup of pagan bandits.

* * *

A later legend gives a different twist to the tree incident – and relates it tothe Christmas tree.

One day Boniface came upon some men gathered around a giant oak tree,preparing to sacrifice a child to Thor. Boniface struck the tree down, butfrom its center grew a small evergreen. Boniface used the tree’s triangularshape to teach the people about the Trinity. He also told them the evergreenwas a holy tree of the Christ Child, a symbol of eternal life, and that theyshould take small evergreens into their homes and surround them with gifts.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You do not know when the time willcome.” (Mk 13:33)

In this week’s Gospel reflection, Jesus reminds me that life is short.Like everyone, I have things that I am going to do . . . but haven’t done

yet. Some of those things may fit in with the Christmas season. They’re notnecessarily grandiose, but they are things that I can do this year:

Writing a note or two or visiting a family member from whom I’ve grownapart.

Giving away some of the clothes in my closet while they are still good sothat others can use them.

Visiting someone I know who is lonely and doesn’t get many visitors.Saying prayers before meals or as part of my family life (this is a natural

during the Christmas preparation and as good a time as any to start).Someday when I’m on my deathbed, it would be a shame to have left

things undone when they were within my reach to do.Maybe all I need today is something to nudge me from thought to action.Consider this the nudge.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the killing of four women from theUnited States by government death squads in El Salvador. They wereUrsuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clark,and lay worker Jean Donovan. Salvadoran soldiers stopped them on a ruralroad, raped them, and then shot them to death.

The women had been working on behalf of the Archdiocese of SanSalvador, helping refugees flee the violence of the erupting war betweenleftist guerillas and the military-backed right-wing government.

Five soldiers were sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for the rape andmurders. General Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova, head of the SalvadoranNational Guard from 1979-1983, and later appointed minister of defense,was charged as a human rights violator who covered up the torture andmurder of the four American women. In 1989, he moved to Florida, but,after a 16-year legal battle, was deported back to El Salvador in 2015.

Take another look at the Advent plans sketched lastSunday.

Jesus said to his disciples: “It is like a man traveling abroad. Heleaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, andorders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.” (Mk 13:34)

Jesus talked again and again about the “reign of God.” This is what hepreached about most of all. The reign of God comes about when creationreaches its destiny – when there is no more poverty, no more sickness, nomore wars, no more theft, no more killings.

That is why Jesus was born: to set in motion the coming of the reign ofGod. Jesus came to teach what the reign of God is like, and how we have apart in helping make this happen. This is the great work he initiated whenhe began his public life on earth.

But Jesus doesn’t do this alone. He also gave us the gift of his Spirit sothat we can do our part in bringing the reign of God to its fulfillment in thisworld.

In today’s scriptural passage, Jesus says, “The master leaves home andplaces his servants in charge, each with his work.”

The Lord has called me to have a role in bringing about the reign of God.What I do may seem small, but, like the tiny seed that grows into a greattree, it is part of God’s massive, great work of transforming creation.

How have I been doing with the work God has given me to do?

For many years during Advent, grade school children raised money forforeign missions by selling Christmas seals for the Holy ChildhoodAssociation.

After the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith was formedin France in 1822, its founders also wanted to make children aware of themissions and to help them develop a habit of giving to the missions. Movedby the plight of children in the missions in the United States and China,French Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson founded the Holy ChildhoodAssociation in 1843. The Infant Jesus was chosen as its patron.

Children became members of the Holy Childhood Association uponbaptism. As a member of the HCA, a child was to pray a Hail Mary dailyand to contribute a small coin each month to help feed children in themissions. From 1916 to 2004, children sold Christmas seals as a fundraiser.Today, HCA raises money by selling Christmas cards featuring the art ofelementary schoolchildren.

In 2013, the name of the Holy Childhood Association was changed to theMissionary Childhood Association.

* * *

On this date in 1890, 130 years ago, Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical letterSancta Dei Civitas blessed and recommended the Holy ChildhoodAssociation.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Watch, therefore; you do not know whenthe lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight,or at cockcrow, or in the morning.” (Mk 13:35)

Every couple of years someone announces the discovery of a codedmessage in the Scriptures that tells when the end of the world is going tohappen.

Usually, it’s going to happen very soon, and sometimes there’s even aspecific date.

I can be sure of one thing: there is absolutely no truth in any of theseclaims, no matter how sincere those who make them may be. How can I beso sure of that?

First of all, Scripture is not filled with “secrets” that are in some sort ofcode. Second, Jesus was clear about this question of “when” the end of theworld will happen.

In the first part of chapter 13 of Mark’s Gospel (the verses thatimmediately precede this week’s reflection), Jesus talks about thedestruction of Jerusalem (which took place in 70 A.D.) and also about theend of history. Peter, James, John, and Andrew were with him, and they askhim when this will happen. Jesus responds: “Of that day or hour, no oneknows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Jesus says that he himself, as a human being, doesn’t know. It’s as clearas clear can be: no one on earth knows when the world will end.

According to some scientific calculations, the earth will be habitable for abillion more years. It could well be that we are only in the early stages ofGod’s plan.

Now, that gives me a different perspective.

Today is National Cookie Day in the United States.The day was founded in 1987 by Matt Nader of the San Francisco area in

California. Nader and his then wife, Lori, started the Blue Chip Company,based on Lori’s cookie recipes. Begun in March 1983 in a storefront on SanFrancisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, the Blue Chip Company was especiallyknown for white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, chocolate chip cookies,and the black and white cookie.

* * *

About 90 percent of United States households consume an average of300-350 cookies per person per year. What’s the most popular Christmascookie? That varies from state to state, but most polls agree that the classicsugar cookie, peanut butter blossoms, and chocolate chip cookies are topfavorites.

* * *

The patron saint of bakers and cookie makers is the sixth-century saint,Honore. It’s unclear if he was once a baker, but when he was named bishopof Amiens, France, a baker’s wooden paddle for removing bread from a hotoven was said to have been transformed into a fruit tree.

* * *

The Benedictine mystic, St. Hildegard of Bingen, is noted for her“cookies of joy.” Described as a proponent of healthy eating, she devised acookie recipe which, she claimed “will reduce the bad humors, enrich theblood, and fortify the nerves.”

Jesus said to his disciples: “May the lord of the house not comesuddenly and find you sleeping.” (Mk 13:36)

During Advent, we think about the depth and height and breadth of ourfaith, which sometimes I may take for granted.

We believe there’s a God, and we believe that this God is even greaterthan the immense, massive, million-billion-mile universe in which we live.A real God. A personal God. A loving God who knows my name. That issomething.

We believe – and we celebrate this belief especially in Advent – that thisGod became human. This immense, unimaginable God became one of us,and is my brother. Imagine that! Greek religions and some of the oldreligions would laugh at that belief.

We believe that this whole, immense creation is gradually being shapedby God, given a destiny. Just like Jesus’ image of leaven and dough, God isgradually, over billions of years, shaping this creation to become the reignof God. We believe in the destiny of this world, which is what we celebrateand think about during Advent.

Sometimes I can forget how strange and wonderful those beliefs are. Ineed to wake up and take this all in.

Advent is not the time to be found sleeping.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch people celebrate St. Nicholas Eve –Sinterklaas Eve – with special parties and a unique tradition.

Part of the celebration is the distribution of chocolate letters (the firstinitials of each person’s name). The chocolate letters can be white, milk, ordark chocolate.

The custom is said to go back to the Middle Ages when children weregiven pieces of bread in the shape of a certain letter. Once they learned toidentify that letter, they were allowed to eat the bread.

In the 19th century, Dutch parents would hide their children’s St.Nicholas gifts by covering them with a blanket, and placing a bread doughletter on top. Over the years, as chocolate became more available, bakersand candy makers turned to Dutch chocolate for the letters. When chocolatebecame scarce during World War II, the letters were made of gingerbread.

November 27 is the earliest day on which the FirstSunday of Advent can fall, while December 3 is the

latest.

Jesus said to his disciples: “What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”(Mk 13:37)

The servants in this parable were living in the master’s house. They wereeating the master’s food, drinking the master’s drink. They were enjoyingwhatever it was that belonged to the master. They were more like gueststhan servants, and all the master asked is that they use his hospitality andgenerosity well.

So what does the Lord ask of me?Advent is a time for me to perhaps step back and look at the whole sweep

of what God has done for me (the birth of Jesus being just one part).Sometimes I can travel through life and not be “watching” how much Godis doing for me.

Maybe I need to wake up to the reality of my life and say to God,“Thanks for life. Thanks for each day. Thanks for a destiny, forever. I knoweverything is all yours, and today I’ll try to use well whatever you havegiven me. I’ll try to use my money well – it’s yours. I’ll try to use my healthwell – it comes from you. I’ll try to use my talents well.”

That’s all God asks me to do. It’s so deep and so simple, and it bringspeace and strength and purpose to any day.

Thank you, God. Everything I have is yours and I’ll try to use it well. Iappreciate the gift.

Since the fifth century, the feast of St. Nicholas has been celebrated onthis date.

Little is known of his life, except that in the fourth century he was bishopof Myra (in modern-day Turkey). Legends say that, wishing to aid people inneed and do so anonymously, he would throw small bags of gold in theirwindows. The bags would land in stockings hung by the fireplace to dry.

Legends of his generosity encouraged others to give gifts at this time ofyear. But in the 16th century some Reformers felt Nicholas was too closelyidentified with the Catholic Church and replaced him with other figures – inEngland, Father Christmas.

The name of St. Nicholas survived, however, though adapted to variouslanguages – “Sinterklaas” in Dutch became “Santa Claus” in English. It wasClement Moore in his famous poem, “The Night Before Christmas” (firstpublished in 1823) who equipped him with a sleigh, reindeer, pipe, bag, andan entry through the chimney.

* * *St. Nicholas is considered the patron saint of prisoners and those unjustly

condemned. That’s because he was imprisoned because of his faith for fiveyears during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (who ruled from 284 to305 A.D.). Nicholas was released after Constantine the Great came topower.

In the early Church, four different “comings” or manifestations of theLord were celebrated together as one feast on January 6: his birth, the visitof the Magi, his baptism by John, and his miracle at Cana. The feast wasnamed “Epiphany” – a Greek word meaning “showing, manifestation.” Thisgreat feast became, along with Easter, a traditional date for baptisms.

Just as the baptisms at Easter were prepared for by a time of fasting andpenance (Lent), so the baptisms at Epiphany were prepared for by a time offasting and penance called “Advent” (from a Latin word meaning“coming”).

Gradually, in many places, Christ’s birth was given its own feast day onDecember 25, and the season of Advent shifted to a time of preparation forthis feast.

Over the years, Advent became less and less a carbon copy of Lent(fasting and penance) and more a time of prayer and reflection to appreciatethe meaning of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem, and his coming at the end oftime.

Advent is a wake-up call – to the Church, to the world, to me. Where inmy life do I need a nudge? Advent helps me to wake up to the beautifulmusic of Christ’s first coming and the great hope of his second coming.

Christianity’s trademark is to take what’s there and transform it, just asJesus took water and changed it into wine. If I find myself stressing overthis hectic season with its many tasks, obligations, and the commercialismthat surround Christmas, maybe I need to turn this “water” into wine. I canmake this season something beautiful for God.

‘I was witness to a small part of the universe that Ihappen to believe a Creator up there put together. To me

it was sort of like sitting on God’s front porch.’– Eugene Cernan

On this day in 1972, Apollo 17 was launched. It landed on the moon fourdays later on December 11.

When Apollo 17’s commander, Eugene Cernan, eventually stepped uponthe lunar soil, he became the last man to walk on the moon. After hishistoric moon walk, Cernan later said that his only regret was that he hadn’ttaken time to write his nine-year-old daughter Tracy’s name on a moonboulder.

Fellow astronaut Alan Bean later rectified that omission. Bean hadbecome a painter after his retirement from the space program. In 1984, hepainted the scene of Apollo 17’s visit to the moon, and added Tracy’s nameonto the boulder. Bean told Cernan that he did it to save Cernan andtaxpayers the time and expense of going back to the moon.

The boulder has become known as Tracy’s Rock.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]. As it iswritten in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messengerahead of you; he will prepare your way.” (Mk 1:1-2)

This week’s readings are from the dramatic beginning of Mark’s Gospel.Mark announces the coming of Christ differently than Matthew and Luke.

Matthew and Luke tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Mark says nothingabout the birth, but begins his Gospel with Jesus’ breakthrough into thisworld as the long-awaited Redeemer.

The people of Israel perceived their history as a journey: they werecoming from somewhere (their past) and they were going to somewhere,unfolding into a future that was somewhat uncertain.

By the time of Christ, this had been a long journey. But the people did notlose hope. They prayed that God would come again and be with them as hewas in the old days. A strong expectation had gradually grown up that therewould be a great prophet like the prophets of old – but better. And he wouldbe the Messiah.

They also believed that before this great prophet came, there would comea “prophet in the wilderness” who would announce the Messiah’s imminentarrival and call on Israel to do penance and prepare for him. In the Gospelmessage today, Mark lets me know that the messenger had come.

During those years of waiting, the people of Israel did not lose hope. Howam I doing when it comes to waiting for my prayers to be answered, myhopes to be fulfilled?

The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Marycelebrates the Catholic teaching that Mary was sinless from the firstmoment she was conceived in her mother’s womb.

Mary Immaculate became the patron saint of the United States throughthe efforts of Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1789, he was named the first bishop of the fledgling Catholic Churchin the United States. Realizing the difficulties that lay ahead in establishingCatholicism in this new country, Bishop Carroll (who was known for hisdevotion to the Blessed Mother) turned to her for help.

On May 28, 1792, Bishop Carroll issued his first pastoral letter. Amonghis reminders and instructions to the people was the plea for “fervent andwell-regulated devotion to the Holy Mother of Our Lord . . . Having chosenher the special patroness of this diocese, you are placed, of course, underher powerful protection . . .”

In 1846, the United States bishops unanimously chose Mary, theImmaculate Conception, as the patron saint of the United States, and madeDecember 8 the patronal feast.

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The prophet said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Preparethe way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” (Mk 1:3)

The setting is the desert.This is where John the Baptist carried out his mission of preparing the

way; this is where the public ministry of Jesus begins.The desert is a place of severity and beauty. It’s severe (one doesn’t see a

lot of trees) but there’s also a certain beauty, especially when the light of thesun strikes it from a certain angle, and different colors are there.

A desert is a place of sweetness and pain. It’s gentle, quiet, peaceful, anddifficult. It can be a place of great testing – with its sandstorms, heat, andthirst.

The Christian life is like the desert – sometimes beautiful and sometimessevere. It is a mixture of sweetness and pain. It is sometimes gentle, quiet,peaceful, and sometimes difficult. It can be a life of great, great testing.

Jesus was always honest with his followers about the kind of life theycould expect as his disciples. He told them there would be good times andthere would be bad times. He told them that anyone who followed himwould gain a hundredfold in this life and in the next. He also told them thatthis life would be extremely difficult at times.

It takes a lot of discipline to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. It’s likewalking in the desert – difficult yet beautiful.

The Gospels provide most of what is known about John the Baptist.John may have been born in the town of Ain-Karim, southwest of

Jerusalem. His parents were Zechariah, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalemwhose main job was to burn incense and offer small sacrifices, andElizabeth, a descendant of Aaron and a kinswoman of Mary’s. Elizabethand Zechariah were older when John was born. People had supposed thatthis long-awaited child, born to aged parents would be “little Zechariah.”But nine months earlier, the angel had appeared to Zechariah and said,“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John,” aHebrew word that means “God has shown favor.”

John’s public ministry began when he turned about 27. He preached andbaptized along the banks of the Jordan River. He lived as a hermit in theJudean desert, wore a leather belt and a tunic made of camel hair, and atelocusts and wild honey. His simple lifestyle suggests that he could havebeen part of the Essenes, a Jewish sect who lived an austere life near theDead Sea.

Because of John’s great influence among the people who heard himspeak, Herod Antipas (whose kingdom included Galilee) arrested John andimprisoned him at the Machaerus Fortress on the Dead Sea (in what istoday Jordan). John was beheaded after he denounced the incestuousmarriage of Herod and Herodius (who had been the wife of Herod’s half-brother Philip).

John the Baptist has two feasts: the Nativity of St. John the Baptist iscelebrated on June 24, and the Passion of St. John the Baptist is on August29. In some countries, St. John’s Eve is celebrated on June 23, inconnection with the summer solstice.

John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism ofrepentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mk 1:4)

How do I prepare for the coming of Jesus?Today’s passage tells me that John the Baptist prepared for the coming of

Jesus by “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”So how do I get ready for Christmas?I repent.That may seem strange because repentance is associated with Lent. But

it’s also the proper way to get ready for Christmas.Repentance means to re-think. That’s the literal meaning of the English

word, and it’s the literal meaning of the Greek word used in this Gospel,metanoia.

To repent means to think some long thoughts, take a good look at thewhole picture, and get a perspective – a perspective I might lose in thehustle of day-to-day life, especially during the holidays.

To repent is to see things differently and, as a result, to live differently. Iknow I have some attitudes, patterns and practices in my life that I need torethink in this Advent season.

In 2019, Pope Francis added today’s feast of Our Lady of Loreto to theuniversal liturgical calendar.

The Holy House of the Blessed Virgin is located in Loreto, Italy, and it issaid to be the home in which Mary was born and where the Angel Gabrielappeared to her.

Mary’s home had long been revered in her hometown of Nazareth, andthe apostles are said to have used the residence as a church. After the fall ofthe Latin Church in Jerusalem in 1291, tradition says that angels transportedMary’s home from Nazareth to what is now Croatia. They later carried thehome to Italy where it eventually came to Loreto on December 2, 1295.

The shrine of Our Lady of Loreto was believed to be the site of miracles.In 1482, the shrine officially became a parish and, two years later, wasplaced under papal protection. A basilica then was built on the site.

Because of the tradition that angels had carried Mary’s house through theair to Italy, Our Lady of Loreto is the patroness of aviation and constructionworkers.

Another House of the Virgin Mary can be found near Ephesus in Turkey.Local tradition says that Mary lived there later in her life. The Church hasnever commented on the authenticity of either home, both of which havebeen visited by various popes over the years.

People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants ofJerusalem were going out to John and were being baptized by him inthe Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. (Mk 1:5)

The people were being baptized by John in the Jordan River as theyacknowledged their sins.

Most people think of sin as a specific action that breaks a specific divinelaw. It’s sort of like a spiritual “crime.”

However, the root meaning of “sin” in the Old Testament is somethingmore personal. It is a failure to live up to the responsibilities of the covenantwith God: “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

More specifically, sin is the failure to live up to my connection with Jesus.Sin is much more than the violation of a divine law. Rather, it’s a failure tolive up to the God-likeness which has been given to me as a gift becauseJesus has taken us as his brothers and sisters.

Maybe in the next few days, I can find time to do what those people weredoing when they came to John the Baptist. I can acknowledge my sins.

I can do that when I’m alone in the car or at home, or alone in a roomsomewhere. Wherever I am, maybe I could say aloud the ways in which I’mnot living up to my connection with the Lord. I can do that in the sacramentof reconciliation as well.

Saying these failings out loud can make them seem less like a list, andmore like a conversation with the Lord.

The Essenes were a Jewish sect who lived an austere life in the desertnear the Dead Sea.

Their origin is uncertain, but ancient scholars suggested they date back tothe time that Moses was in the desert, seeking the Promised Land.

Their religious life was strict. They did not participate in Templesacrifices and rigidly observed the Sabbath. They worshiped one God, caredfor the sick, respected older persons, and were hospitable to strangers.

Essenes kept no slaves and lived off the land in a communal lifestyle.They carried no weapons, ate a simple diet, spent their days in work andprayer. They did not believe in marriage, but instead adopted children.

Was John the Baptist a member of the Essene community? It is believedthat he probably knew them and perhaps even lived among them at somepoint. But despite similarities in his lifestyle with this ascetic community,his missionary work would not have been in keeping with Essene beliefsand practices.

We’re 13 days into Advent, with 13 days left. Time to goback to November 29 and look at the plans we sketched

at the time and perhaps make some adjustments.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.He fed on locusts and wild honey. (Mk 1:6)

John the Baptist was a fiery preacher and great crowds came to see him . .. and then it all fell apart.

He lost some of his close disciples when they went over to Jesus.He was arrested and thrown in jail.Then there was John’s death, as senseless as a drive-by shooting – killed

for the price of a dance because of a king who got drunk at a party andmade a promise to a teenage girl . . . killed by some guard who probablygrumbled about having to get up late at night and go chop off the head ofsomeone he didn’t even know.

This does not appear to be the stuff of greatness, but Jesus said that Johnwas one of the greatest who ever lived.

So where did John’s greatness come from? Even though things seemed towork against him, John tried to do what was given him to do . . . and he didit with God’s help. John did what he had to do for God . . . and with God.

For that reason alone, John is a person of greatness.John the Baptist might be the patron saint of those who for a day, or a

week, or a year, or a couple of years, or a lot of years think that their life isuseless, senseless, hopeless, but are trying with God’s help to do what Godhas given them to do.

‘I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so that Imay therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help

and protection . . . ‘– Words heard by St. Juan Diego during Mary’s appearance.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.Mexican Catholics all over the world celebrate this feast, which

commemorates the appearance of the Blessed Mother to a native Aztecpeasant. Many will attend Mass at what is said to be the world’s mostvisited Catholic shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The basilica is located in northern Mexico City where Mary appeared toSt. Juan Diego in 1531. It is built near the site of a 16th-century churchhonoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, which still stands. When the foundationof the original church began sinking, the new and much larger basilica wasconstructed next to it in the early 1970s.

The basilica’s circular floor plan allows visitors to see the original imageof Our Lady of Guadalupe from any place within the church. The imageitself hangs above the main altar, protected by bullet-proof glass.

The annual Collection for Retired Religious is taken upthis weekend.

And this is what John proclaimed: “One mightier than I is comingafter me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holySpirit.” (Mk 1:7-8)

Picture how striking John was in his rugged dress and his powerful voiceout there in the desert.

He must have had a strong personality and a gift for speaking becauseeven though he spoke a hard message, people flocked to him.

John was a born leader, the kind of person I’d like to have up there infront of the group because his strength would give me and my groupstrength.

But John was clear that he was not “the one.” He was simply pointing theway to the Lord. To help people get to the Lord, he got out of the way. Heacknowledged that he was not even worthy to stoop and untie the sandalstrap of the one who was coming.

John was so powerful and such a good leader that his followers had ahard time accepting that he wasn’t “the one.” They were hungry for aprophet. They hadn’t had a good one in a long time, and they were glad torally around John.

John understood he was not the one, not perfect, not the Messiah. His rolewas to point the way to the Messiah.

He knew that, ultimately, the only person to put faith in . . . is Jesus.I can learn a lot from John the Baptist.One of the way to prepare for the coming of Jesus is to take a look at my

heroes, people I expect much of or put a lot of stock in..But I need to I accept them as the community accepted John – as second-

place people, as limited and imperfect. Only then I can learn somethingfrom them and never let them get in the way of the only true hero, JesusChrist.

Today is the feast of St. Lucy (Lucia in Italian), which marks the start ofSweden’s Christmas season.

Scandinavians celebrate this feast even though Lucy (a young Siciliangirl who was martyred by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the early fourthcentury) never lived outside Italy.

How did she become so popular outside her native country? Some folkscredit Christian missionaries who brought the story of her strong faith andmartyrdom to the people of northern Europe.

Because today is considered the longest night of the year in Sweden, andbecause St. Lucy is said to have died on December 13, she became asymbol of light for Scandinavian Christians. The first Lucia procession tookplace in 1927, and was the idea of the local Swedish newspaper. Thecelebration soon spread to other parts of the world with large Swedishpopulations.

Another popular tradition associated with St. Lucy’s feast day is thebaking of St. Lucy braided bread. It is a sweet roll that is braided into acircle, frosted, and decorated with almonds. Candles are then placed on topof the bread to resemble St. Lucy’s crown.

The tradition of the Christmas wreath may have its beginnings in theancient Roman practice of using a wreath as a sign of victory. Julius Caesaris often pictured wearing a wreath upon his head as a sign of his importantstatus.

The Greeks used wreaths as crowns which they awarded to their winningathletes. A story in ancient Greek also tells of the god Apollo who fell inlove with a reluctant Daphne. Trying to avoid his attentions, Daphne soughthelp from Peneus (the river god), who disguised her as a laurel tree. Theclosest Apollo could get to his beloved Daphne was to wear a laurel wreathupon his head.

* * *

Today is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” (the Latin word “gaudete”means “rejoice”). “Rejoice” is the first word of the opening antiphon for theThird Sunday of Advent (“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice!The Lord is near.” Phil 4:4-5). That’s why the candle to be lit on the Adventwreath today is often rose-colored.

God has given me special gifts and placed me on this earth for a purpose.I need to take to heart Paul’s words to “rejoice always.”

It’s sometimes thought that the abbreviation “Xmas” is disrespectful. Ittakes Christ out of Christmas.

Actually, the “X” is not an “X.” It is a Greek letter which is pronounced“Chi” (with a hard “C”), and was an ancient Christian symbol for Christ.

Evidence of this can be seen in the familiar and very old combination oftwo Greek letters – “X” and “P” (the “P” is comparable to the English “R”).These are the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ and became asymbol for him.

Take your time with the brief Scripture text on theright-hand page. These words are the graced word of

God.

A man named John was sent from God. (Jn 1:6)

Advent is a season that is meant to shake me up – not in a bad way, butrather into awareness of the deep and wonderful truths about God.

The truths of my faith are meant to be good news, to be joyful. God isgood. God loves us. God sent Jesus into our world so that we could be hisbrothers and sisters, children of God. Jesus overcame our greatest worry –death – so that we can live forever. These truths of my faith are all goodnews.

Yes, there are struggles, suffering, sickness, sadness in life. But deepdown, at the deepest level, underlying everything, should be quietjoyfulness. Someone once said, “Happiness is no laughing matter.” That’strue. Happiness isn’t all laughter – it’s a steady, down-deep sense of peaceand joy.

During this time of year, we wish each other a Merry Christmas, not aMournful Christmas. Yesterday (the Third Sunday of Advent) istraditionally called Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” is the Latin word for“rejoice.” But I don’t rejoice always . . . at least, a lot of times I don’t,especially when times are tough.

Consider today’s reading: “A man named John was sent from God.”Those same words can be used for me. A person named _______ was

sent from God. God formed me with my own special gifts, and put me onthis earth at this time and in this place for a purpose.

I need to think about that . . . and rejoice.

The custom of sending Christmas cards began in England in 1843 whenSir Henry Cole (the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum inLondon, England) sent cards to friends at Christmastime. His cards weren’tlike today’s cards decorated with Christmas or winter scenes. Instead, theydepicted good deeds such as giving food and clothing to those in need.

The first American cards were made in 1875 by Louis Prang, a German-born painter. These were more along the lines of the kind in use today.Prang helped popularize Christmas cards by holding contests each year forthe best designs.

* * *

In the United States, over two billion Christmas cards are sent each year.If average-sized cards were placed side by side, they would stretch aroundthe world six times.

John came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all mightbelieve through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to thelight. (Jn 1:7-8)

One characteristic of John’s Gospel is that Jesus is on trial throughout hislifetime.

In the other Gospels, there is only a dramatic trial just before his death.John, however, weaves this theme into his entire Gospel. From the verybeginning, Jesus is on trial.

John calls as his first witness, John the Baptist. Notice how much thisweek’s reading sounds like a cross-examination, interrogation of a witnessgiving testimony.

John the Baptist is a good witness. Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus will sayof John the Baptist, “He was a burning and shining lamp, and for awhileyou were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater thanJohn’s.”

I, too, am to shine as brightly as I can. My place in this world will alsopass, and much of what I do will not be remembered after I am gone. Ishould have no illusion that everything I do must be lasting or even that myname shall be remembered within history.

I am not the light to burn forever. But, like John the Baptist, I will havedone well if I have given my witness on behalf of Christ.

I am just a light to shine for a while, like a Christmas candle. I want Godto rejoice that I burned brightly and burned well in the circumstances of myown life.

Jesus did and said much more than what was included in the Gospels.The material in the Gospels was chosen because the early Church found ithelpful for dealing with questions and problems before them at thatmoment.

This week’s Gospel was intended to respond to the controversy that hadsprung up between some disciples of John the Baptist and the followers ofJesus.

It was not altogether clear from the Old Testament that there would bejust one Messiah. Some people thought there would be one; others thoughtthere would be several.

Some disciples of John the Baptist considered him to be a Messiah, muchlike Jesus. After all, John had led a holy life, he preached, he baptized, hehad a strong following, and he died a martyr’s death.

Confronted with this problem, the early Church looked back to things thatJesus said, and things that John the Baptist said. Some of these things weredrawn together and presented in the Gospels to help clarify the relationshipbetween Jesus and John the Baptist.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalemsent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” Johnadmitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” (Jn1:19-20)

John is very good at saying who he is and what he is not.He is not the Messiah.Sometimes I forget and act as though I am the Messiah.Especially when I pray.Perhaps I try to be sure to include everyone in my prayer. I do this

sincerely because I care about them and I want to help.Perhaps my prayer gets busy and cluttered because I’m trying to

remember to mention all the intentions and all the people for whom I’vepromised to pray. It’s as though I think God wouldn’t be able to remembersomeone, if I didn’t specifically take care of it.

Perhaps I feel I have all these people depending on me and I work veryhard to include them in my prayer.

In all these ways, I am acting as if I am the Messiah. It all depends on me.When I do this, I have things backwards. God is God and I am God’s child.God handles things as God, and I handle things as God’s child.

I can simply relax and talk to God.

‘I wish to encourage the beautiful family tradition ofpreparing the Nativity scene in the days before

Christmas, but also the custom of setting it up in theworkplace, in schools, hospitals, prisons, and town squares

. . . As children, we learn from our parents andgrandparents to carry on this joyful tradition, which

encapsulates a wealth of popular piety. It is my hope thatthis custom will never be lost and that, wherever it hasfallen into disuse, it can be rediscovered and revived.’– Pope Francis, Admirabile Signum, December 1, 2019. Francis was born

on this day in 1936.

The custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ owesits origin to St. Francis of Assisi, who made the first Christmas crèche ormanger for Christmas Eve of 1223.

Within 100 years, this kind of display had become a custom and everychurch in Italy was expected to have a Nativity scene during the Christmasseason.

Pope Honorius III (1148-March 18, 1227) is credited with giving the firstblessing of a Christmas Nativity set. He also was the pope who, in 1223,formally approved the Rule of the new religious community started byFrancis of Assisi.

‘O Antiphons’ (a series of prayers to framethe Magnificat in the Evening Prayer on the seven days leading up to

Christmas Eve) begin today.

So the priests and Levites asked John, “What are you then? Are youElijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” Heanswered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give ananswer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” (Jn1:21-22)

The Jewish people knew that the Messiah would have a herald precedinghim. They knew this ever since the prophet Isaiah had written about a voice,calling in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

So they asked John, “Are you Elijah?” who was taken up to heaven in achariot of fire drawn by horses of fire. Perhaps Elijah would return inwhirlwind fashion and trumpet the coming of the Lord.

John was not Elijah. So they asked, “Are you the Prophet?” Perhaps theherald would be a great prophet, like Moses, who would thunder from themountain tops the news of the Messiah’s arrival.

The people were looking for something spectacular, something apart fromthe ordinary, with an unmistakable divine stamp . . . and they looked invain. For here was a simple man, performing purification rites with water,preaching a doctrine of repentance that was hardly revolutionary.

I wonder, if in looking for God in my life, I don’t make the same mistake– expecting the will of God, or the work of God to be something apart fromthe ordinary, something clearly stamped with the divine seal. I look in vainif I am looking only for the extraordinary. God’s work is seldom somethingapart from the work of my daily life.

God most often works through the ordinary . . . always has . . . alwayswill.

The first American Christmas carol was written by a 17th century Jesuit,St. John de Brébeuf, one of the eight North American Martyrs.

Fr. Brébeuf worked for 22 years among the Huron Indians primarily inthe Quebec area. When in 1649 the Iroquois attacked the Hurons, Fr.Brébeuf was captured, tied to a stake, and underwent one of the worstmartyrdoms ever recorded. He was canonized June 29, 1930, and is thepatron saint of Canada.

Earlier, Fr. Brébeuf had adapted a French folk song and written aChristmas carol in the Huron language. Some of the Hurons who escapedthe Iroquois preserved the hymn and it has lived on ever since.

Here is an English translation of the first verse of the “Huron Carol,” as itis known today:

’Twas the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled,That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead.Before their light the stars grew dimAnd wond’ring hunters heard the hymn:Jesus, your King, is born; Jesus is born!In excelsis gloria!

John said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Makestraight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” SomePharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize ifyou are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” (Jn 1:23-25)

In the Old Testament, Isaiah the prophet emphasized that the Messiahwould bring freedom. This promise meant a great deal to a people who hadknown exile and enslavement.

When the Messiah came, the early Christians did experience freedom.Paul wrote about this over and over again – the early Christians were borninto a whole new way of life and were free from the treadmill of the law.Observers remarked that Christians were a people with a sense of freedom –there was a certain peace and joy about them.

I experience that same freedom through baptism. In the waters ofbaptism, I have been joined to Jesus Christ. All those things that I cannotdo, I can entrust to Jesus because he has accepted the job of Messiah. Hecarries the whole world in his hands, and I can entrust my cares to him.

So what am I to do?I am free to do what I can do, as John the Baptist did. When John was

asked why he baptizes when he’s not the Messiah, he pointed out that hewas doing what he could. He was doing something, just not everything. Hewas helping to prepare the way for the one to come after him.

Jesus is the Messiah . . . I am not. He has freed me to do what I can do tobring his message to others.

And like John the Baptist, I can do something.

Sometimes called the “conscience of Victorian England,” CharlesDickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” in six weeks and published it on thisday in 1843, 177 years ago.

Although some religious leaders criticized the book (because there wereno explicit references to the birth of Jesus), “A Christmas Carol” helped torekindle the Christmas spirit at a time when English Christmas traditionswere in a centuries-old decline.

When Dickens began to write “A Christmas Carol,” he was strugglingwith money problems, the impending birth of his fifth child, and lacklustersales from his books.

His inspiration for the Christmas story came during a walk through thestreets of London. The sight of beggars, pickpockets, and streetwalkersstirred up old memories of his early years as an abandoned child when hisfather was in debtors’ prison. At first he considered putting his ideas in apamphlet to be called “An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of thePoor Man’s Child.” Instead, he wrote “A Christmas Carol,” which hasbecome one of the best loved stories in the English language.

Reading Scripture is not simply information. It isformation – God is shaping our thoughts and feelings

through these words.

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one amongyou whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whosesandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethanyacross the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (Jn 1:26-28)

The four Gospels each tell the story of Christ differently.For example, the story of Jesus’ birth is told by Matthew very differently

from the way Luke tells it, while Mark and John don’t even include hisbirth. The writers come closer together on the passion and death of Jesus,because that part of the story was so imbedded in the earliest preaching.

Today’s little detail of the sandal is mentioned in all four Gospels. Thewords aren’t exactly the same, but all four Gospels have John sayingsomething like, “I’m not worthy to untie his sandal.”

Even in the Acts of the Apostles, although Paul rarely talks about thedetails of the life of Christ, Paul says in a synagogue speech, “And Johncame before him, and it was John who said, ‘I am not worthy to stoop anduntie one of his sandals.’” (Acts 13:24-25).

That image obviously meant a great deal to the earliest Church, andbecame part of the spoken tradition very early in its formation.

I need to remind myself of this fundamental truth about humility. It’ssignificant that in the story of Adam and Eve, this is a truth they failed toaccept. They wanted to be “like gods.” Apparently it’s been a problem fromthe beginning.

Maybe that’s why all four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles have thisdetail of the sandal. God is God, and I’m not. I need to remember thesandal.

This year, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, celebrated its200th anniversary.

Pope Pius VII established the diocese on July 11, 1820. At the time, itsterritory included the state of Virginia and what is today the state of WestVirginia.

A prominent Catholic in Richmond’s history is a French priest namedJean Dubois, who had fled to the United States in the wake of the FrenchRevolution. The French statesman Maximilien Robespierre, who wouldignite France’s Reign of Terror (September 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794), knewFr. Dubois from college, and helped his former classmate escape France in1791.

Fr. Dubois arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, and lived for awhile with a futureUnited States president, James Monroe. Monroe was friends with Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier (best known as the Marquis deLafayette) who had provided Fr. Dubois with letters of introduction forMonroe, Patrick Henry, and other prominent American leaders.

While in Virginia, Fr. Dubois helped Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton as sheworked to establish the Sisters of Charity. He also opened a seminary andseveral schools, and celebrated the first Mass in Richmond.

In 1825, Fr. Dubois became the third bishop of New York, and died onthis date in 1842.

* * *

One of Richmond’s most popular Christmas traditions is the annualHoliday Festival of Music performed at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

The yule log has to do with a pagan feast celebrating the winter solstice,which occurs at about this time of the year.

No one is sure where the word “yule” comes from. Some say it has itsorigins in an old Germanic word that meant a turning wheel and wasapplied to the supposed orbit of the sun. Others say it is from an Anglo-Saxon word (“geol”) which means feast.

What is known is that the yule feast is pre-Christian, celebrating thevictory of the sun god over darkness. People celebrated it by hauling a logfrom one of their largest trees and burning it to honor their god and to bringgood luck in the coming year.

Holly was also placed under the yule log to help kindle the fire. Peoplewould also toss a sprig of holly into the fire to burn up the troubles of thepast year, and to keep their houses safe from fire in the year to come.

* * *

This year’s winter solstice is tomorrow, December 21. “Solstice” comesfrom two Latin words which mean “the sun stands still.” After seeming tomove away from the Earth for six months, the sun seems to stop briefly andthen begin its return.

As the days slowly begin to get longer, I can start my day by moreconsciously making God a part of my planning. A simple prayer can help:O God, I want to do today whatever it is you want me to do.

Macy’s Department Store is noted for its annual Thanksgiving parade(which kicks off the Christmas season) and its holiday-themed storewindows in Manhattan, New York.

Ironically, the store’s founder, Rowland Hussey Macy was raised as achild to treat Christmas as just any other day, in accordance with hisreligious upbringing.

Born in 1822 to a Quaker family on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts,Macy and his brother opened a dry goods store in California during theheight of the 1850 Gold Rush. Macy’s brother remained in California, butRowland headed back east, and eventually opened R.H. Macy Dry Goodson 6th Avenue in New York City in 1858.

Over the years, he expanded his store. To draw customers, in 1862Macy’s became the first department store to feature an in-store Santa Claus.In 1874, Macy began decorating his store windows with illuminatedChristmas displays to entice customers. In 1924, Macy’s started the annualChristmas parade (now the Thanksgiving Day Parade) as another attention-getter for customers.

Rowland Hussey Macy died on March 29, 1877.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town ofGalilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. (Lk 1:26-27)

Luke’s account of the Annunciation is one of the most familiar passagesin the Gospels.

It is read on a number of the Church’s major feasts and on this pastSunday. But no matter how many times it is read, God works through thesewords and it’s possible to hear them in a new way and with a new depth.

I wonder if, just before the Annunciation, Mary had a sense that she wasspecially blessed by God.

The Church teaches that Mary was free from sin from the very moment ofher conception. The Church also teaches that she was “full of grace” andthat she was perfectly sinless. Did Mary know this or have a sense of this?

What about me?Do I have a sense that God is at work within me, blessing me with special

gifts day in and day out?Let’s see, I was baptized and confirmed. God cleansed me of sin, poured

the Holy Spirit into my inmost soul, and called me by name to be a disciple.It’s true. I’ve been specially blessed by God.Do I believe it?Do I live it?

Catholics have grown up with the Hail Mary. Here is the evolution of thisfamiliar prayer.

• As early as the sixth century, Christians joined two Scripture passagesto form a prayer to Mary:

(1) The words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation: “Hail favoredone! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:38)

Wording used in the Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is withyou.

(2) The words of Elizabeth at the Visitation: “Most blessed are youamong women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1:42)

Wording used in the Hail Mary: Blessed are you among women, andblessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

• In the 16th century, a third piece was added so that the prayer wouldclose with a petition: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners nowand at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thus, the prayer known as the Hail Mary was born, to become one of themost familiar prayers of Catholic devotional life.

And coming to Mary, Gabriel said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord iswith you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and ponderedwhat sort of greeting this might be. (Lk 1:28-29)

Mary is a disciple of the Lord Jesus, just as I am. The same human bloodthat runs through her veins runs through mine and through all who arebaptized. We are all daughters and sons of God.

So what I celebrate about Mary, I can celebrate about myself.What happened to Mary can also happen to me. The details may be

different but the substance is the same.For example, the Immaculate Conception. Mary was conceived without

sin. By the grace of God, she was free of original sin. I was freed fromoriginal sin by God’s grace at my baptism.

The words that the angel said to Mary in the Gospel today can also beaddressed to me: Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.

Like Mary, I have been formed with God’s grace – and the Lord lives inme through the Holy Spirit given to me in my baptism.

One question remains, however: will I respond to God’s call asgenerously and completely as Mary?

A legend or a fable is a story that doesn’t pretend to be historical,but simply teaches a lesson. The events surrounding the birth of

Christ gave rise to many legends.

One Christmas Eve, a woodsman was walking through the forest when hecame upon a lost and hungry child.

The woodsman and his wife were very poor but they had kind hearts andgave the child food and shelter during the night. In return, the child broke abranch from a nearby fir tree and gave it to the couple.

The next morning, when the woodsman awoke, he found that the childwas gone. But outside of his door was a beautiful Christmas tree decoratedwith gold apples and silver nuts.

The child was the Infant Jesus and the Christmas tree was his thank-yougift to the generous woodsman and his wife.

* * *

Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, with Oregon, North Carolina,and Michigan as the top producers.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you havefound favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb andbear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” (Lk 1:30-31)

Mary probably never forgot the words the angel spoke to her: “The Lordis with you. Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God.”

What she said to the angel in response, she must have said to God athousand times along the way: “If you are with me, then let it be doneaccording to your word.”

Those words, spoken and lived, are the key to Mary’s greatness.The words of the angel were spoken to me at baptism: “You have found

favor with God . . . the Lord is with you.”The truth expressed in those words enables me to respond, “Lord, if you

are with me, then I can do whatever it is you want me to do. Your will bedone. I believe that all things, whatever they are, in your hands can becomebeautiful and can lead to fulfillment, to life.”

You are with me, Lord.Whatever you want me to do in my life today, let it be done according to

your will.

The light of the Christmas star to you,The warmth of home and hearth to you,

The cheer and good will of friends to you,The hope of a childlike heart to you,The joy of a thousand angels to you,

The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.– Irish Christmas Blessing

In Ireland, families often place lighted candles in the windows of theirhomes. The Christmas Eve tradition is said to have started years ago when,under English Protestant rule, Irish Catholics were not allowed to celebrateMass. A lighted candle in the window told Catholic priests that thecelebration of Mass was welcomed at the home.

* * *

It was customary to ring the church bell when someone in the village haddied. On Christmas Eve, the local churches would begin ringing their bellsabout an hour before Midnight Mass began. The death knell was to signalthe end of the devil, who was believed to die with the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Church’s Christmas season begins tonight, and thisyear it ends on Sunday, January 10. You might want tokeep some Christmas decorations up in your home until

the Christmas season ends.

The angel said to Mary: “He will be great and will be called Son ofthe Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David hisfather, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of hiskingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:32-33)

The angel predicts a wonderful future for Mary’s son.What the angel said was true, but there was a lot more that the angel

didn’t tell her.After all, Mary is told that Jesus would be given the throne of David his

father and would rule the house of Jacob. But when Jesus conducted hispublic ministry, a lot of important leadership people of the Jewish religiondid not accept him. Eventually, he would be arrested, tortured, and put todeath on the cross.

Mary could have said, “Nobody told me about that.”Have there been some things in my life that didn’t work out the way I

expected? Did my marriage turn out differently than I expected? Did my jobturn out differently? My health?

Mary understands.That’s probably one important reason why Mary is so well loved. She

understands, but she also encourages me through her example.Even if things do not turn out as I think they should have or as I expected

or even if they turned out very badly, I can almost hear Mary say to me:“You know how my story ends. It’s a beautiful story. If you stay with the

Lord and keep God in your life, whatever is happening can have awonderful ending.”

At the very beginnings of the Church, Eucharist was normally celebratedon Saturday evening after sunset. That is because the members of the earlyChurch were almost entirely Jewish, and still practiced the Jewish religion.These Christians still observed the Sabbath, which included going to thesynagogue service.

The rules governing the Sabbath (e.g. how far a person could walk on thatday) made it difficult to travel to the synagogue, and then walk to anotherplace where Christians gathered for the Eucharist.

The Sabbath began at sunset on Friday, and ended at sunset on Saturday.That is when the Eucharist was ordinarily celebrated in those earliest years– late Saturday evening. The Sabbath was over and there was no restrictionon travel.

As time went on and fewer and fewer Christians were Jewish, it becamemore common to make Sunday the special day each week, in honor of theday the Lord rose from the dead. Thus the Eucharist was commonlycelebrated on Sunday mornings.

Christmas, however, was different. Very early there developed thepractice of celebrating a Mass at midnight, based on the tradition that Christwas born at midnight.

No one really knows the time of Jesus’ birth, but the origins of thistradition may lie in a passage from the Book of Wisdom: “For whenpeaceful stillness encompassed everything and the night in its swift coursewas half spent, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven . . .” (18:14-15)

At Christmas, the cathedral of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan, oncehad the custom of putting up a very tall Christmas tree in church –sometimes as high as 40 feet.

One year, when the Christmas season ended and the tree was taken down,the huge trunk was cut into two pieces. The shorter piece was lashed withropes to the taller piece to form a large rugged cross. This cross then stoodin the church throughout the season of Lent.

The wood of the Christmas tree became the wood of the cross.

The English word “merry” did not originally convey “jolly, mirthful.” Itwas more along the lines of “blessed, peaceful” – a deep-down inner joyrather than revelry.

One gets a sense of its original meaning in the well-known carol “Godrest ye merry, gentlemen.” As can be seen from the comma, the word is notused to describe jolly gentlemen, but rather was a blessing from Godinvoked upon them – “God rest ye peacefully, gentlemen.”

Thus, “Merry Christmas,” when spoken to one another, is a blessing.

* * *

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?According to a poll by the Public Religion Research Institute, Americans

prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” as the greeting for this time ofyear.

Forty-four percent of those polled preferred “Happy Holidays” or“Season’s Greetings” out of deference for people of different faiths.

Today is the feast of St. Stephen.

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have norelations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holySpirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High willovershadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, theSon of God.” (Lk 1:34-35)

For this great journey she was about to take, Mary had no road map withall of the details of what her life was going to look like.

Luke’s account contains the only information Mary received speciallyfrom God before she said “yes” to his invitation. No one warned her about:

The trip to Bethlehem and no room at the inn.Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce her heart.The confusion of losing Jesus for three days when he was 12.Joseph’s death and her own difficult widowhood.The struggles Jesus would face in his public ministry.The nightmare of his arrest and execution.

More than 2,000 years later, I know all of this, and can see it from alarger perspective. It’s a beautiful story, but, up close, for Mary, it probablydidn’t always appear to be so beautiful. This wasn’t the road map sheprobably imagined, but it was the map of her life.

And since Mary knew that God was in charge of the journey, sheprobably held close to her heart the angel’s words: “Hail, favored one, theLord is with you.”

My life may seem chaotic at times. My life may seem like it is fallingapart. But whatever my circumstances, like Mary, I need to remember:Lord, you are with me.

Holy Family Church in Chicago, Illinois, is the Windy City’s secondoldest Catholic Church and was its first Jesuit Parish.

Founded in 1857, Holy Family would expand to more than 15 buildingsserving Chicago’s Catholic population. An elementary school became St.Ignatius College Prep and then Loyola University in Chicago. At one time,Holy Family was the largest English-speaking parish in the United States.

When the Great Fire nearly leveled Chicago in October of 1871, HolyFamily was one of the few buildings to survive. When the fire began, theparish’s pastor was out of town, and he prayed to Our Lady of PerpetualHelp to protect the church. If the church were undamaged, he promised tolight seven candles before her statue. The church was one of only fivepublic buildings that survived the Chicago Fire.

In 2019, Holy Family merged with Notre Dame de Chicago Parish tobecome Holy Family/Notre Dame de Chicago Parish.

* * *

Holy Family’s parishioners included the family of Catherine and PatrickO’Leary, whose cow is frequently blamed for kicking over the lantern thatstarted the fire. Today the O’Leary home is the site of the Chicago FireAcademy.

Other parishioners have included Charles Comiskey (founder of theChicago White Sox), and Mother Frances Cabrini, who was a familiarfigure in the parish neighborhood as she raised money for ColumbusExtension Hospital.

Holy Family was also the location for the TV wedding of firefighter JoeCruz on the NBC series “Chicago Fire.”

Tradition is strong and consistent on two points about the birth and earlylife of Jesus: (1) he was born in the town of Bethlehem, located in the areacalled Judea; (2) he was raised in Nazareth – about 90 miles to the north.

What is uncertain is where Mary and Joseph lived at the time of theirmarriage.

Matthew assumes that Mary and Joseph were living in Bethlehem andwere married there. His problem is to get them from Bethlehem where Jesuswas born to Nazareth where he was raised. Here is how this isaccomplished in Matthew. Recall that after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, theHoly Family fled to Egypt. After Herod’s death they intended to return toBethlehem:

But when Joseph heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place ofhis father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had beenwarned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went anddwelt in a town called Nazareth. (Mt 2:22-23)

Luke has Mary and Joseph living in Nazareth and married there. Hisproblem is to get them to Bethlehem for the birth:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the wholeworld should be enrolled . . . So all went to be enrolled, each to his owntown. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth toJudea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem. (Lk 2:1-4)

Wherever the Holy Family lived, they lived as a family. Theyexperienced the problems and crises that any family faces, and they lived asa faithful Jewish family.

A family may not be a perfect place, but it ought to be a holy place, aplace where God is in the air.

In football, a Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary play refers to a long forwardpass, especially as a last-second attempt to score at the end of a game,where a completion has little chance of success.

The phrase was made famous by Dallas Cowboys quarterback RogerStaubach. Staubach, a Catholic, used the term to describe his game-winning50-yard touchdown pass in a National Football League playoff gameagainst the Minnesota Vikings on this day in 1975. The Cowboys won thegame 17-14.

Afterwards, Staubach described the play to a reporter, saying, “I closedmy eyes and said a Hail Mary.”

* * *

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Staubach grew up in nearby Silverton. Heattended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School and graduated fromPurcell Catholic High School in Cincinnati (now named Purcell MarianHigh School after a school merger in 1980) in 1960.

When the days were completed for their purification according to thelaw of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to theLord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male thatopens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer thesacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordancewith the dictate in the law of the Lord. (Lk 2:22-24)

Luke wants us to know that Mary and Joseph were devout and pious intheir religious practices, always faithful to the Law of Moses. (In this briefpassage, Luke mentions the “Law” three times.)

There is much to be said for this kind of faithfulness to religiouspractices. There’s more to holiness than external practices, but religioustraditions are important.

How did Mary and Joseph know about these traditions? By belonging tothe Jewish community, and joining in its rituals.

Over these past 2,000 years, Christians have developed traditions. Someof these go back to the early days of the Church. How do we know aboutthem, and know which ones are important? By belonging to a parish, andjoining in its rituals.

We are about to begin the Year of Our Lord 2021. It would be a goodtime for me to think about how much these ancient practices are part of mylife. Or, to put it another way, it would be a good time for me to think abouthow much I am part of and tuned in to the life of the Church.

Gingerbread has been a holiday treat since medieval times, when thecrusaders returned from the Middle East with new spices, sugars, almonds,and citrus fruits.

People soon incorporated the exotic items into their baking, creating(among other things) gingerbread. Often baked into different shapes,gingerbread in floral designs was popular at Easter. Monks baked speciallydesigned gingerbread cakes, depicting saints and other religious themes.

Making gingerbread soon became a profession, and, except at Christmasand Easter, only a true gingerbread baker could make the treat.

Don’t skim the Scripture passages at the top of theright-hand page. Read slowly. Let the Lord speak to you

through these words.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. Thisman was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, andthe Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the HolySpirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah ofthe Lord. (Lk 2:25-26)

Simeon is about to hold the Messiah in his arms. (Take a moment andimagine doing that.)

He had waited many years for this, but he knew that some day it wouldhappen.

Here’s an interesting question: what is it I want to see before I die? Itemson my “bucket list” might include:

• To see my son/daughter straighten out their life.• To see a world at peace.• To have someone in my life who loves me specially, and forever.• To get my own life together, my head above water.What are the things I want to see before I die?It would be good to talk it over with the Lord.

In medieval England, the name of the feast being celebrated was joined tothe word “Mass,” and this became the name of the day. For example, thefeast of St. Michael is called “Michaelmas.” The feast of the Presentation,because candles were blessed on that day, is called “Candlemas.”

Thus it is that in English the feast of the birth of Christ is called“Christmas.”

Simeon came in the Spirit into the Temple; and when the parentsbrought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard tohim, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according toyour word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you preparedin sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, andglory for your people Israel.” (Lk. 2:27-32)

This is quite a scene – an aged, holy man holding the two-month-oldJesus in his arms, looking into Jesus’ face, and talking to God.

The name “Simeon” (“God has heard”) characterizes him as a man ofhope. He trusts in God and speaks of peace and light and salvation andglory.

Simeon’s words have become part of the night prayer of the Church, usedat the end of every day of the year. This canticle is known as the NuncDimittis, Latin for the first words of the prayer, “Now you may let yourservant go . . .”

That’s a good way to end each day. We go to bed and rest in peace,entrusting ourselves into the hands of God. We can do it in Simeon’s words,or we can use our own. Just one short sentence would do it: “Lord, as I goto sleep, I place myself in your hands.”

A holy thing to do . . . and maybe a helpful way to get a better night’srest.

Today is the feast day of St. Sylvester, who served as pope for 21 years.Sylvester became bishop of Rome in 314, just as the persecution of

Christians ended. It was a transitional time for the peaceful building of thenew Church.

Sylvester is said to be the first pope not to have been martyred. But he didhave to deal with the beginning of the Arian heresy, which spreadthroughout wide sections of the Church for a century and a half. At theheight of this heresy, about 25 percent of the bishops were estimated to beArians.The Arians taught that Christ’s dignity as Son of God was bestowedon him by the Father after he was created. This doctrinal dispute led to thefirst great council of the Church, the Council of Nicea in 325.

Little is known about Sylvester. Stories that he slayed a dragon, and thathe cured the Roman Emperor Constantine of leprosy and later baptized himon his deathbed are considered legends.

Sylvester died in 335, and his remains were transferred to the Catacombsof Priscilla in Rome on New Year’s Eve. That’s why today is “Sylvester’sDay” in many countries, such as Croatia, Switzerland, and Brazil.

One tradition on Sylvester’s Day is to serve lentil soup. The round lentilsresemble coins, and eating the soup is said to guarantee prosperity in theNew Year.

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said abouthim; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold,this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be asign that will be contradicted [and you yourself a sword will pierce] sothat the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:33-35)

Simeon now speaks to the mother of this little child he is holding in hisarms. He is looking ahead to the division between those who opt to followJesus, and those who do not.

Mary herself will have to make the decision to be on one side or theother. She is his mother, but will she become not only a mother who lovesher child, but also someone who believes in the way of life that hepreaches? That goes beyond family ties.

Mary made the decision. The Gospels show her relating to Jesus not onlyas his mother, but also as his disciple – a difficult bridge to cross. Pope PaulVI described her as the first and most faithful disciple.

All of us have to cross this bridge. There is a “sword of division” betweenthose who simply admire Jesus . . . and those who are willing to followJesus.

Which raises the question: have I crossed that bridge?Talk to the Lord about it.

In 1984, Christian songwriter Mark Lowry was asked by his pastor towrite the program for the living Christmas tree choir presentation.

For the breaks between the scenes, Lowry came up with questions that hewould like to ask Jesus’ mother. Those questions were to form the lyrics forthe contemporary Christmas song, “Mary, did you know?” Twelve yearslater, country/bluegrass composer Buddy Greene wrote the music for thesong.

Lowry also performed with the Gaither Vocal Band. His fellow bandmember, Michael English, was the first artist to record and release “Mary,did you know?” The song was featured on his debut album, MichaelEnglish, which was released on this day in 1992.

* * *

“Mary, did you know?” has also been recorded by such artists as ClayAiken, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, Donny Osmond,Kathy Mattea, and Rascal Flatts.

Today is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

Many different celebrations are held on January 1.It’s the feast of Mary, the Holy Mother of God – in honor of the title that

was fought over in the early centuries. The question was: although Mary isthe mother of Jesus, can she be called “Mother of God?” The Council ofEphesus in 431 decided that she could, and the feast of Mary under that titlehas been celebrated ever since.

Today is the Octave of Christmas. It’s also been traditional to celebratethe naming and circumcision of Jesus on this date, for Luke says that it waseight days after his birth that Jesus fully became a member of God’s chosenpeople.

Today is also the World Day of Peace.You can legitimately include all these in today’s celebration, but what’s

on many people’s minds, above all, is that it’s New Year’s Day. And thatmeans making New Year’s resolutions.

Studies have found that New Year’s resolutions are usually not veryeffective. We often make too many of them, or we don’t think themthrough, or prepare for them very well. As a result, they don’t have roots.

Taking a cue from the Gospel, maybe instead of resolutions, maybe Ishould make reflections. The Gospel says that when Mary heard what theangel told the shepherds, she “kept all these things, reflecting on them inher heart.”

A good reflection question is not whether my life is moving, but wheremy life is moving. Is it toward God, or away from God? God’s plan has acertain rhythm to it, and my life does too. I need to be attentive to that. Justbecause some choices are available to me now doesn’t mean that they willnecessarily be available always and everywhere.

‘As for your birth, on the day you were born your navelcord was not cut; you were not washed with water or

anointed; you were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in swaddling clothes.’

– Ezek 16:4

The method of covering infants in “swaddling clothes” is typical ofsociety in the Orient.

Basically, to swaddle a child is to wrap the baby in a square of cloth andstrips of cloth similar to bandages – almost like a mummy. The infant is laiddiagonally on the cloth, the corners of which are then folded over the feetand the body, but leaving the head free. The cloth strips (bandages) securethe cloth.

An infant would be in swaddling clothes until about age one. In the Bible,the prophet Ezekiel notes that a child not in swaddling clothes would beconsidered “abandoned.”

* * *

Modern-day research has suggested that swaddling may help sleepingbabies remain on their backs, and decrease their risk of sudden infant deathsyndrome (SIDS).

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of thetribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven yearswith her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until shewas eighty-four. She never left the Temple, but worshiped night andday with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, shegave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaitingthe redemption of Jerusalem. (Lk 2:36-38)

Nothing is known about Simeon and Anna before or after theirappearance in Luke’s Gospel. They are both aged persons with a wisdomthat comes only through years and years of living. They are among thosewho appear briefly in the unfolding of God’s plan, and whose names areinscribed in our memories because they are heralds of good news . . . likethe angels who sang to the shepherds.

Anna will leave the scene without a word of hers recorded in the Gospel.All we are told about her is that she “gave thanks to God” and passed alongthe good news to others.

Giving thanks to God is the best thing we know how to do. I don’t haveanswers to all of life’s questions. I don’t know all the how’s and the why’sof God’s great plan. What I do know is that this child, who became a grownman, who died on the cross, who went through death to the other side, andwho was raised up in glory, will bring about the redemption of all creation.

Anna died before it all worked out. Probably I will too.In a world that tends these days toward pessimism, I would do well to

imitate the confident hope of this kind old woman named Anna.

The Magi (those mysterious figures from the East, about whom little isknown) have long been the subject of stories and legends.

In early tradition, they came to be looked upon as kings, probablybecause of Psalm 72 (written for the coronation ceremony of one of David’ssuccessors): “The kings of Arabia and Sheba shall bring tribute; all kingsshall pay him homage.”

No one knows how many Magi there were. The three gifts have givenrise to the number commonly used, but some medieval Eastern lists have asmany as 12 Magi.

The Magi have been given various names. Those most commonly usedgo back to the sixth century: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. An unknownwriter a century or two later even provided a description (a description thathas influenced artists ever since): “Caspar, young and beardless and ruddycomplexioned . . . Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard . .. Balthasar, black-skinned and heavily bearded.”

The story of the Magi is a drama that captures the imagination.Matthew is teaching that Jesus came for the whole world. At the end of

his Gospel, the risen Jesus will tell the Eleven to go “and make disciples ofall nations.”

The coming of Jesus into creation affects all people, all cultures, everypart of human life. That is what “catholic” means – all-embracing.

The “Church” is not western or eastern, black or white, European orAsian, Latin or English, Portuguese or Japanese. The Church is all of these.That is why diversity in the Church is essential – the Eastern and Westernrites, the 300-plus languages in which the liturgy is celebrated, ethniccustoms, different schools of theology. The only way the Church can trulybe “catholic” is to embrace a wide diversity – a sign of richness, notweakness.

This story about the Magi “from the East” should set us thinking aboutwhether our own hearts are all-embracing. We do not have a private God.We are sisters and brothers of the whole human race. When I receiveCommunion, I am joined with people of every race and color around theworld. It is not simply a private audience with Jesus.

I need to spend some time thinking about that.

The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in many diocesesthis weekend.

The most popular and best-selling Christmas song of all time was writtenby a Jewish composer.

“White Christmas” first aired on a radio show on December 25, 1941. Itwas only 18 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and war was oneveryone’s mind. The next year, Bing Crosby recorded the song fordistribution. It has been a best-selling Christmas song ever since.

The composer of “White Christmas” was a Russian-born Orthodox Jewnamed Irving Berlin. Berlin was a widower when he met novelist EllinMackay in 1924. Fifteen years younger than the composer, Ellin was anIrish-Catholic heiress whose millionaire father disowned her when shesecretly eloped with Berlin on this day in 1926. Ellin and her fatherreconciled five years later.

The Berlins had four children including their only son, Irving, Jr., whodied at three weeks old on Christmas Day in 1928. After their son’s death,the Berlins still celebrated Christmas, but stopped once their daughters hadgrown up.

The couple was married for 62 years. They raised their children asProtestants, but Ellin also took them to Jewish services. Married to a Jew,Ellin was barred from social clubs she had previously attended, and herhalf-Jewish children were often excluded from certain society events.

Ellin Berlin later reconciled with the Catholic Church and worshipped atSt. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. She died in 1988, and CardinalJohn O’Connor gave the final blessing at her funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of KingHerod, behold, Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying,“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its risingand have come to do him homage.” (Mt 2:1-2)

That a star rose to signal the birth of the king of the Jews would not haveseemed strange to the people of that time. It was widely accepted that thebirths and deaths of great people were marked by signs in the heavens.

The Magi use the phrase, “king of the Jews.” It is one of Matthew’s hintsof the Passion. One can’t help but think of these very words hanging aboveChrist’s head on the cross.

The Christmas season is not a time of unmixed joy. There is also sadness,pain. It will be lonely for those who have just lost someone they loved. Forsome others, it is always lonely. This season sends me deep within my soul– a mixture of happy and sad thoughts, thanksgiving for what I have,sometimes musings of what might have been.

I don’t have to resist the mixture. It’s already there in the feast itself. I’mcelebrating the birth of the one who suffered, died, and rose from the deadto open the door of life for us. I’m celebrating the birth of the one whocame to reach out to those who need him.That’s what he came to do.

And that’s what he still does.

The word “wassail” comes from Old Norse “vas heil” – a toast meaning“good health.” It’s usually celebrated on January 5 or 6, as part of the 12Days of Christmas.

The wassail bowl was a wooden bowl into which people dipped theircups for a beverage in preparation for a toast on ceremonial occasions. AtChristmas, the poor in England would “go wassailing,” which meantdancing and singing in the neighborhood streets, hoping that householderswould give them a warm drink from their wassail bowl.

* * *

The ceremonial good wish directed to another when drinking a beverageis called a “toast” because of the spiced piece of toast often put in a drink toflavor it. The greeting is usually a wish for good health.

* * *

According to the encyclopedia, Old Norse was a North Germaniclanguage used from about 1150 to 1350. Sometimes called the language ofthe Vikings, it was once spoken in Scandinavia, the Faroe Islands, Iceland,Greenland, parts of Russia, France, the British Isles, and Ireland.

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and allJerusalem with him. (Mt 2:3)

The Romans did not normally permit local leaders to use the title “King.”However, in 37 B.C., because he had connections in Rome, Herod the Greatwas allowed this title, which he kept until his death in 4 B.C.

The fact that King Herod was “greatly troubled” when the Magi camelooking for “the newborn king of the Jews” was not surprising. Nor was itsurprising that he would attempt to kill this child.

Herod’s reign was marked by a bloody struggle to protect his throne. Hekilled anyone he considered a threat, which included (among others) two ofhis sons, his mother-in-law, and his favorite wife Mariamme.

This ruthless exercise of power was not a sign of his strength andcourage. It was a sign of his weakness and fear.

Unlike Herod, we don’t go around killing people. But we can kill theirspirit or their reputation. When I badmouth others or put them down, it’s asign of weakness and fear.

One of the psalm refrains we sing at liturgy is: “The Lord is my light andmy salvation. Of whom should I be afraid, of whom should I be afraid?”

“Of whom should I be afraid?” Maybe I need to talk to the Lord aboutwhat and whom I fear.

In Spain and many other Spanish-speaking countries, it’s not Santa Clauswho brings children their gifts at Christmas time.

It’s the Three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), whose feast istraditionally celebrated today.

On the day before Epiphany (January 5), an elaborate, colorful paradeheralds the arrival in town of the Magi after their long travels from the east.

That evening, the children set out milk and a plate of sweets for the Magi,as well as hay for their camels. They also place their shoes by windows anddoors, hoping the Three Kings will fill them with gifts.

In the morning of Epiphany, breakfast includes a round cake, topped withcandied fruit. The colorful fruit symbolizes the Wise Men’s regal clothing.Inside the cake is a small figurine of a king, and a fava (or faba) bean.Whoever finds the “king” in their piece of cake is the king or queen of themeal and have good luck for the year.

Today is the traditional feast day of the Epiphany.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, Herodinquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him,“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through theprophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least amongthe rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is toshepherd my people Israel.’” (Mt 2:4-6)

Matthew, in the story of the Magi, sets before us a striking contrast:• Visitors from the distant East, who did not have the benefit of the

patriarchs and prophets sent by God, who did not know the Scriptures,come to adore Jesus.

• Herod, who has all this, tries to kill Jesus.Like Herod, I too have the benefit of patriarchs and prophets. I also have

the Gospels and other inspired writings of the New Testament, plus 2,000years of Christian tradition, rituals, customs.

The question is whether I treat all this as a collection of data . . . or asfood that feeds my faith.

A good indicator is how I read these Scripture passages each day. Is itdata, or is it “live?” During my quiet time with the Lord, do I make spacefor him to speak to me?

Maybe I need to take some moments of stillness – perhaps a minute – andlet the Lord speak to me.

‘They for whom all days are holy can have no holiday.’– Puritan maxim

The Puritans thought so.Puritanism was a reform movement within the Church of England that

sought to purify the Church from Roman Catholic practices and influences.This movement began in the latter 16th century, but by the end of the 17thcentury was no longer significant.

The Puritans frowned upon the celebration of Christmas because of allthe externals – Christmas trees, crib scenes, decorations, gift-giving – whichthey felt were born of pagan customs, rather than rooted in Scripture.

In fact, Puritans in Massachusetts Bay Colony actually outlawedChristmas. From 1659 to 1681, anyone caught celebrating Christmas in thatcolony was fined five shillings.

Today is Orthodox Christmas.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them thetime of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Goand search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring meword, that I too may go and do him homage.” (Mt 2:7-8)

Under the pretense of wanting to pay homage to the newborn king, Herodasks the Magi to provide the information he needs to find and kill the child.

If there’s one thing Matthew can’t stand, it’s hypocrisy. His is the onlyGospel to use that word, and he uses it 14 times, each time on the lips ofJesus who condemns it.

“Hypocrisy” comes from a Greek word associated with acting. It literallymeant to wear a mask. (Back then, actors wore a mask on stage.)

Nobody wants to be a hypocrite. I would cringe if anyone ever called meone. Trouble is, I sometimes feel a touch of it in me. No one knows me as Iknow myself, and I know when I’ve faked it a bit.

There’s a place for diplomacy – using tact and timing, while still beingfaithful to the truth. But hypocrisy is pretending something that’s just plainnot true. Peter tried that in the high priest’s courtyard, and it got him into anawful mess.

If there’s ever a time not to be hypocritical, it’s when I’m talking to theLord. Maybe I could take some time now and experience the freedom ofsaying the truest things I could ever say about myself.

And say them to the Lord.

In France, Catholics traditionally place straw in their manger to make itmore comfortable for the baby Jesus. The straw represents their prayers andgood works throughout the day.

In Ireland, as people visit their parish Nativity scenes on Christmas Eve,they take a small piece of straw from the manger. Believing it to bring goodluck in the coming year, folks also give the straw to homebound friends andrelatives so that they feel like they’re part of the parish Christmascelebration. Other folks place the straw in their wallet so that it is neverempty in the coming year.

In 2012, the Dublin Archdiocese forbade parishes from using straw intheir manger scenes, after a Wicklow church was damaged when theNativity straw caught fire.

* * *

A similar custom takes place in Poland. As a reminder that Jesus wasplaced in a manger, families sometimes will place straw under the tablecloth before dinner, or in the corners of the room.

After their audience with the king, the Magi set out. And behold, thestar that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came andstopped over the place where the child was. The Magi were overjoyedat seeing the star. (Mt 2:9-10)

Matthew describes strange phenomena that appear at the birth of Jesus. . .and at his death. Matthew is teaching me that the coming of Jesus into thisworld was an earthshaking event. It was meant to change the world.

• Jesus’ birth is signaled by a strange star in the heavens.• Mysterious visitors from the distant East unexpectedly arrive to pay him

homage.• At his death, dead people rise from their tombs and are later seen by

many in Jerusalem.• At his resurrection, there is a great earthquake and an angel descends to

the tomb.Jesus was born into history more than 2,000 years ago. Has it had

“earthshaking” effects? Has it changed the world? In other words, is theworld any better today than it was back then?

Let me think about it. (It might make for an interesting discussion athome, work or wherever.)

Let me talk to the Lord about it. After all, he didn’t come for nothing.

Catholics in the Philippines celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarenetoday.

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized wooden statue of the Jesus Christ as hecarries his cross up to Mount Calvary.

In the 17th century, a ship left Mexico, carrying this life-sized figure ofJesus. It arrived in Manila on May 31, 1606, and was delivered to theAugustinian Recollect Friars who ministered there.

At first, people thought the statue’s dark color had been purposely doneby its Aztec carver. But that wasn’t true. On the trip, the ship caught fireand the statue’s wood was charred. Over the years, the statue would survivetwo more fires (which destroyed two of the churches where the statue hadbeen venerated), two earthquakes, and the liberation of Manila in 1945.

Today the Black Nazarene is located at the Minor Basilica of the BlackNazarene (St. John the Baptist Parish) in Quiapo, outside Manila. It’sthought to have miraculous healing powers, curing the person who touchesit.

Besides January 9, the Black Nazarene statue is also brought out forpublic veneration on New Year’s Day, (marking the start of a nine-daynovena which ends today), and on Good Friday.

On entering the house, the Magi saw the child with Mary his mother.They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they openedtheir treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magideparted for their country by another way. (Mt 2:11-12)

The Magi offer gifts to the Lord.If I were to give a gift to the Lord, what would I give?The truth is that I ought to give the Lord everything.When the bread and wine are placed on the altar at Mass, they are meant

to be my gift – the gift of my whole self, everything I am, and everything Ihave. The money too – the “collection” at Mass – is my gift. This representsme. It’s what I live on. It’s my living, my life. I place it all in God’s hands.

This way of thinking goes back to our Jewish roots. The Jewish peoplereturned the first part of the harvest to God to acknowledge that all of itcame from God in the first place.

Stewardship is the deep-down realization that “the earth is the Lord’s andall that is in it.” This has to do with more than money. It includes our time,our abilities, our possessions. Everything we have belongs to God:

O God, everything I have is yours. Everything. I am a steward, a managerof all that you have entrusted to me. Help me to use it that way. Today.Always.

On this day in 236, St. Fabian was elected the 20th pope of the RomanCatholic Church.

Fabian was a farmer who happened to come to Rome as Church leadersprepared to elect a new pope, following the death of Pope Anterus. AsFabian was watching the proceedings, a dove flew into the hall, and settledon his head. To the people, this was a sign from the Holy Spirit that Fabianshould become the next pope.

Fabian served as pope for 14 years. He set up the structure of the Churchin Rome, appointed deacons, directed that restoration and building be doneon the catacombs, and sent missionaries to Gaul (France).

For a time, Fabian and the Roman Emperor Philip (legend says thatFabian baptized Philip and his son) ushered in a time of peace andacceptance of Christianity. But after Philip’s death on the battlefield in 249,a soldier named Decius became emperor and resumed the persecution ofChristians. After refusing to deny Christ, Pope Fabian was martyred in 250A.D. He is buried in the Catacomb of Calixtus, a catacomb which he hadhelped improve.

St. Fabian’s feast day is January 20.

Only one Gospel (Jn 3:22) describes Jesus performing baptism as a ritualfor those who became his followers. Yet, when Peter addressed the crowdson the first Pentecost and they asked what they should do, Peter said:“Repent and be baptized.” How did it happen that baptism so quicklybecame the step by which a person became a Christian?

During his earthly life, Jesus called a very small group to follow him –the Twelve and other disciples. Many, many other people were moved bywhat he did and said. But they did not become “members” of a “Jesusgroup.” People went out to hear Jesus, admired him, and then they wenthome.

It was different after his death. He had been condemned and publiclyexecuted as a criminal. When the disciples preached about Jesus, they facedopposition. If people wished to commit themselves to the way of life Jesustaught, it was no longer simply a question of admiring him. They had tocommit themselves to be part of this group that would later be called“Christians.” They had to participate in some clear and public sign that theywere making this step. That sign was baptism.

The same is true today. In addition to the other effects of the sacrament ofbaptism, to be baptized is to become part of this group.

Christians are a minority of the world population. In baptism we commitourselves to be part of an identifiable minority group, and to lead anidentifiable way of life. Perhaps we don’t think of it that way often enough.

Today is a good time to think about my identity as a Christian because ofmy baptism.

In 1999, Bishop Ken Untener of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw,Michigan, decided to create a Little Black Book.

The purpose of the book, he said, was simple: To encourage people topray . . . even if only for six minutes a day.

To accomplish that, the Little Black Book would use the prayer traditionof lectio divina to help people pray the passion of the Lord.

The Little Black Book debuted in 2000 as a Lenten reflection book for thebishop’s mid-Michigan diocese. Besides an English version of the book,there was also a Spanish edition, and a children’s version (Little PurpleBook). Soon word of the Little Books began to spread to parishesthroughout Michigan and the Midwest, and the Saginaw Diocese wasflooded with requests for copies.

The following liturgical year, Bishop Untener added a Little Blue Bookfor the Advent/Christmas season, and a Little White Book for the Easterseason. Several years later, he introduced a Little Burgundy Book, anundated four-week reflection on stewardship in light of the Gospels. Thefirst Little Burgundy Book was based on the Gospel of Luke; similar booksbased on the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and John were later added.

Bishop Untener died almost 17 years ago, on March 27, 2004, but hishomilies, talks and writings are the basis for the reflections on the right-hand side of Little Books.

Today, more than three million books are distributed annually worldwide.

• Little Burgundy Books (available in English and Spanish)Stewardship in light of the Gospel of MatthewStewardship in light of the Gospel of MarkStewardship in light of the Gospel of JohnStewardship in light of the Gospel of Luke• Little Black Book for Lent(available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)Little Purple Book (Lenten book for children ages six to 12)• Little White Book for the Easter season(available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)Little Books are available in digital format;the English books are also available in large print.“My Name is Ken and I will be your waiter for a long time,”a collection of writings by Bishop Ken Untener.(available in hard- or soft-cover).“Angel Fred,”a Christmas fable written by Bishop Ken Untener.“Introductions to Sunday ReadingsCycles A, B, and C”(available in English and Spanish)Please visit our website for more details:www.littlebooks.org