Scripture: Matthew 10:17-22: "Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."
Meditation: What is the connection between Bethlehem and Calvary – the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion and death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and became a man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and death and to give us new life as the adopted children of God. The way to glory in the kingdom of God is through the cross. If we want to share in Jesus' glory, then we, too, must take up our cross each day and follow in his footsteps. Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world's way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid down his life for us. The Lord gives us sufficient grace to follow him and to bear our cross with courage and hope.
Refection question: Do you know the joy and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ?
Prayer: "Lord Jesus, your coming in the flesh to ransom us from slavery to sin gives us cause for great rejoicing even in the midst of trials and pain. Help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will." Amen.
Peace and all good,
Brother Ed, OFM
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Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Last Halloween I walked into a Hobby Lobby where “Deck the Halls” was blasting over the PA system and the shelves were stocked to overflowing with Christmas decorations. The sales people were dressed in red and green smocks complete with bow-tie and a Santa hat. Customers were dashing madly through the aisles filling their carts with garland and ribbon, tinsel and lights, bulbs and wreaths, paper and bows ... and don’t forget the giant blowup snowman for the front lawn. They pushed and shoved and grabbed and fought over the sale items that by now were strewn over the floor, all the while shouting expletives that wished their opponents anything but Christmas Cheer. Needless to say, I fled the scene in horror.
Back in the safety of the friary, I signed on to the internet, having decided to purchase some art supplies online, only to be bombarded with advertisements about Black Friday, which started on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and continued through Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent...and let’s not forget Cyber Monday, which lasted eight days this year! I quickly shut the computer off and turned on the radio (yes, a radio, I still have one), hoping to find some soothing music to calm my nerves. Ah, peace at last, so I thought, but not for long. My solace was shattered by the irritatingly perky voice of the broadcaster who wanted to be the first to wish everyone a happy holiday and announced that her station would be playing Christmas music all day on Cyber Monday while her listeners did their online shopping at work! Stop the madness!
Am I just getting old, or has our capitalistic world gone over the edge and completely removed Christ from Christmas? Although most of you will answer yes to both those questions, I think you can empathize with my frustration. In fact, I know you can and do. Having had the honor of meeting with the friars of Sacred Heart Province during visitation this year, both Bill and I were blessed with hearing your stories once again. It was an added blessing to heard from the people the friars live with and minister to. Countless stories were told of the good works the friars are doing and the love and care they emulate for the People of God. The refrain heard over and over again throughout the Province and our mission territories is that the friars make a difference in peoples’ lives. Bill and I believe that happens because the friars insist on keeping Christ in Christmas. Thank you for embracing the Christ-child every day of your lives. Thank you for your willingness to be instruments through which the good works of God are performed.
May God bless each of you for your commitment to our Christ-centered Franciscan way of life.
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Bill, OFM and Fr. Michael, OFM
