Welcome to Day 1 of the Catechism in a Year! Today, we begin our journey with Fr. Mike through the Catechism from the very beginning: the Prologue. The Catechism tackles some big questions right out of the gate. Why did God make us? How can we know him? How do we help others understand him as well? Fr. Mike invites us to discover God’s plan for us and accept the challenge he has placed before us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1-10.
The Catechism reveals to us its intended readership, structure, and some practical directions for use. Fr. Mike and the Roman Catechism remind us that—above all—”the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 11-25.
1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him. 4 What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men; 5 and light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it. 6 A man came, sent by God. His name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, he was to bear witness to the light. 9 The Word was the real light that gives light to everyone; he was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world that had come into being through him, and the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to his own and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in his name 13 who were born not from human stock or human desire or human will but from God himself. 14 The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John witnesses to him. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.’ 16 Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received — one gift replacing another, 17 for the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
There are so many things I could say about Christmas. I could keep you here for hours, and even though we have padded seats, the mind will only hear what the seat can endure. But there are two things I want to mention about Christmas. One is to be grateful. There are times when we are not grateful. There are things we thought would work out but didn’t. People we love are no longer here. But be thankful for the time that you had with them. I am thankful I had the family that I had. And that’s as much as my attorney will allow me to say about them. But I am grateful for them. The second thing I want to say about Christmas is that we get so much from God which shows His love for us. Always say thank you. So few do. We get busy and distracted at Christmas time with shopping, travel, the weather, and this and that. We listen to the news, and everything is in crisis. Even so, we need to take time to say the Prayer of Thanksgiving which is the last part of the Mass.
I was meditating before church, and I thought of two things that I am very, very grateful for. The first thing is one that not all pastors can say. I am grateful that I am in the greatest parish in the diocese. I have been blessed to be here for 18½ years, and I hope to stay here until they finally put me into the old priest home. I have been with the best parish and the best people in the diocese. And although I say that to the Bishop, I don’t say it to other priests because they would want my parish. Also, you’ve heard the song, “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” One of the greatest Christmas presents I ever got was in January one year. I was in an airplane, and the captain came over the intercom and said, “We have now entered American airspace. Welcome home.” But the greatest gift of all is what lies in the manger and what lies reposed in the Tabernacle. Don’t ask, “What is love?” Love is not a “what.” Love is a “Who.” Love is a person. Instead of looking up and asking where love is, today the world can look down at it. God, Himself, became what He was not. He took upon Himself a human nature. Why? Because He loves us. As we say in theology, God is love. He loved us so much that He came down to take our human nature upon Himself. Through all the years of acts of love, the greatest of them is not His incarnation but His crucifixion, death, and resurrection so that we can share in His love for all eternity. So, we don’t have to ask “what” is love. Love is a “Who.”
People often say, “I like church at Christmas because it smells nice with the incense.” I went to college in the 1970’s, and I know we have a police officer in the crowd, but we don’t have any of that wacky stuff here. It’s still illegal here in North Carolina. But when I was in college there were a lot of different odors going around. Entering the dormitories sometimes made you wonder if you were in a monastery. But how wonderful Christmas can be with the beautiful vestments and decorations. However, it’s deeper than that. We have to look at Christmas with the wonder and awe of a child. Do you know why? Because the eyes of a child are not tainted by sin. Yes, they are tainted because of original sin, but they have few sins and probably no mortal sins. But as we grow up, we become jaded by life’s circumstances. . .by what we have done and what has been done to us. And we become hardened and calloused. But that can all be taken away when we come to the manger. This is a wonderful meditation and many books have been written about it. When non-Catholics see a manger scene, they wonder if it was put there by a Catholic. The manger is a way for us to meditate on the beautiful mystery of the incarnation.
So, how can we see with the eyes of a child? I have the best ophthalmologist in the business, and he cannot fix my eyes. But God can through prayer and the Sacraments. Slowly but surely my eyes will regain the innocence that was lost by my own sin and that of others. With all the world scattered around us, no wonder we believe the worst in people. But the eyes of a child still behold the wonder of Christmas. It’s like married love. I have done wedding anniversaries for people who were 60 years married. “Til death do us part” is not a death sentence that the State gives you. It’s not a waiting game until you are free. You should be more in love after 60 years than you were on your wedding day if you follow the holy way of life. Is it different? Yes. The man probably cannot open cans and jars anymore. He cannot bend steel with his bare hands. He is no longer faster than a speeding bullet or able to leap tall buildings at a single bound. Those days are gone. But the love has changed and is deeper and more profound than on your wedding day. Sixty years of prayer, sacrifice, and the Sacraments enriches it and makes it deeper and more profound because you are growing in Christ and to each other. The same is true with faith. The process of a husband and wife becoming closer is the same process in which we grow closer to God. That love for one another is based on love of God and through God. It is the love for our Lord. Our love for the Lord at the Mass in the Tabernacle can become so much more profound that we can become young again. No, I’m not getting my hair back, and I won’t be running 5-minute miles. But we can become young again, beautiful, and handsome. That happens in the heart. We are transformed by the love of Christ. He shows us how to love Him by loving us.
Our gift of love is much deeper. It is more profound and more childlike. This is God’s Christmas gift to you. What is His gift? Remember the first part of the sermon? It’s not a “what”. It’s a “Who.” God offers us the gift of Himself which is pure love.
How will you apply this message to your life? _____________________________
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When you think of this pope, you think of the Edict of Milan, the emergence of the Church from the catacombs, the building of the great basilicas—Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter’s, and others—the Council of Nicaea, and other critical events. But for the most part, these events were planned or brought about by Emperor Constantine.
A great store of legends has grown up around the man who was pope at this most important time, but very little can be established historically. We know for sure that his papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335. Reading between the lines of history, we are assured that only a very strong and wise man could have preserved the essential independence of the Church in the face of the overpowering figure of the Emperor Constantine. In general, the bishops remained loyal to the Holy See, and at times expressed apologies to Sylvester for undertaking important ecclesiastical projects at the urging of Constantine.
Reflection
It takes deep humility and courage in the face of criticism for a leader to stand aside and let events take their course, when asserting one’s authority would only lead to useless tension and strife. Sylvester teaches a valuable lesson for Church leaders, politicians, parents, and others in authority.
Saint of the Day – December 30th – Saint Egwin (d. c. 720)
Saint Egwin’s Story
You say you’re not familiar with today’s saint? Chances are you aren’t—unless you’re especially informed about Benedictine bishops who established monasteries in medieval England.
Born in the seventh century of royal blood, Egwin entered a monastery, and was enthusiastically received by royalty, clergy, and the people as the bishop of Worcester, England. As a bishop he was known as a protector of orphans and the widowed and a fair judge. Who could argue with that?
His popularity didn’t hold up among members of the clergy, however. They saw him as overly strict, while he felt he was simply trying to correct abuses and impose appropriate disciplines. Bitter resentments arose, and Egwin made his way to Rome to present his case to Pope Constantine. The case against Egwin was examined and annulled.
Upon his return to England, Egwin founded Evesham Abbey, which became one of the great Benedictine houses of medieval England. It was dedicated to Mary, who had reportedly made it known to Egwin just where a church should be built in her honor.
Egwin died at the abbey on December 30, 717. Following his burial many miracles were attributed to him: The blind could see, the deaf could hear, the sick were healed.
Reflection
Correcting abuses and faults is never an easy job, not even for a bishop. Egwin attempted to correct and build up the clergy in his diocese and it earned him the wrath of his priests. When we are called to correct someone or some group, plan on opposition, but also know that it might be the right thing to do.
A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil, and so became a strong churchman, a martyr, and a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170.
His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of Canterbury, he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his chancellor the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair warning: he might not accept all of Henry’s intrusions into Church affairs. Nevertheless, in 1162 he was made archbishop, resigned his chancellorship, and reformed his whole way of life!
Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At one time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came close to compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and prevented them from making direct appeal to Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled to France for safety, and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned to England he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas refused to remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the king, Henry cried out in a rage, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights, taking his words as his wish, slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral.
Thomas Becket remains a hero-saint down to our own times.
Reflection
No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of popularity, convenience, promotion, and even greater goods.
