Holy Innocents

A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loudly lamenting: it was Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were no more.
Mt.2:18

The Feast of the Holy Innocents sadly every year has new current victims come to mind. This year it is the children of Gaza. 

I'm not pro Palestinian. I'm not pro Israeli. I am pro humanity. For God's sake, for the sake of God, let there be peace in the Middle East. 

Amen.

Let it Be Done

I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.'

Lk.1:38

Mary has just been told the remarkable news that she is to miraculously conceive and bear the Son of God. Her response? Your will be done.

The Good News to Mary is the same for everyone, the same for me. It starts with, "Hail Mike, the Lord is with you. He loves you and has a plan for your life..." From that point my Good News differs from the annunciation to Mary. She had no sin to screw up God's plan. I do.  

However, Mary's Good News becomes my Good News again. Her son Jesus was born to die for my sins and set me right with God again. What a great motivation to radically reorient my life to Jesus. 

Mary, your fiat, your yes, has opened the door to eternal life for me. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

Turn My Heart

With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the disobedient back to the wisdom that the virtuous have, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.
Lk.15:17

Zechariah is receiving the amazing prophecy that he, in his old age, will receive a son. This son , John the Baptist, will be anointed for a mission to prepare the way for the Lord. Primary in his sights will be fathers, to turn their hearts to their children.

No one disputes our western society is in a bad way. The hand-wringing starts when trying to identify why. My two cents worth... the hearts of fathers have turned from their children. I would go further and say there is a silver bullet. Have fathers demonstrably love the mothers of their children. Even if children go to school with an inadequate breakfast and no shoes, if they know that Dad loves Mum... all is well in their world.  

Once I have demonstrably loved the mother of my children (for me, an easy task) my heart is turned back to them and I join those people fit for the Lord.

Saint John the Baptist, please pray for us.

Taught to be a Man

Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. 
Mt.1:19

Joseph's kindness and concern for Mary is shown even before Jesus was born. He was the right man to become her husband and the foster father of Jesus. 

I've heard it said that womanhood comes naturally to a girl but manhood has to be taught to a boy.  To become fully human, Jesus needed a true fleshly man to raise him, someone to teach him what it means to love, protect and provide. Joseph was that man. 

Jesus, as Saint Joseph taught you, help me to teach my son and grandsons what it means to be a man.

A Man of Action

Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. 
Mt.7:24

Jesus has just warned about false prophets and false disciples. The test for authentic prophets and disciples is to see how they act.

Go on to social media and there is a lot of "Lord, Lord". They are very good at tickling my ears. But how do these speakers act? It would be interesting to ask their wives, husbands, children. 

But the power of scripture is that it turns the spotlight on me. How do I act?  Am I an authentic disciple?What do my wife and children say about me?  I confess I do have my "Lord, Lord" days. Today is a good day to be a sensible man, a man of action.

Jesus, you are my rock. I build my life on you.

Be Part of the Solution

Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves have you?’
Mt.15:34

Jesus is concerned for the large crowd he has been teaching out in the wilderness. He takes the little food the disciples can scratch together and miraculously feeds the multitude.

This is one of the great mysteries of our faith. Jesus takes my paltry offering and magnifies it. All he asks for is something, anything, to work with. It's as if he can't (won't) do anything until I get involved, make a commitment to be part of the solution. Everyday there is always something I can offer him, no matter how small, to further God's Kingdom. What will it be today?

Jesus, it appears you have placed trust in me to be part of your solution. I place my trust in you. 

Strength

Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Lk.21:36

The final gospel of the Church's liturgical year gives good advice for a New Year's Resolution. Stay awake and pray.

So, how should I pray? For strength. It's going to take strength to stand with confidence at Jesus' return. It's a battle. "Gin Street" is always there, tempting and seductive. 

The encouragement of other believers is a great source of strength. I'm about to go off to a men's prayer breakfast, a real source of encouragement and strength.

Thank you Jesus for fellow believers that strengthen me for the battle.