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The Four Gifts of the Magi

Epiphany (C):  Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi.  The Three Kings. The Wise Men.

These strange visitors, with their exotic dress and lavish gifts, bring a splash of color and a hint of mystery to any Nativity scene. They stand out among the shepherds and animals who are around the Baby Jesus, along with Mary and Joseph. Who are they? Why are they here? Why do they bring the gifts they have brought?

We are not alone in our curiosity. From very early times, Christians have written about the Magi. They were eventually called kings, and given names.  Various interpretations were given of the significance of the gifts they brought the Christ Child, and of the star they followed to find Him.  Some Biblical scholars dismiss this story as without any historical basis, and the gifts of the Magi as without any significance. They forget, however, that all Scripture is interconnected, like a great web, and that Christ is the ultimate interpreter of it all.  Continue reading “The Four Gifts of the Magi”

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Icon Of The Trinity

Holy Family (C)

This is a photo of my mother’s family, from the early 1940’s. My mother, the only one still alive, is in the front row, second from the left.

In celebrating this feast of the Holy Family, we might assume that the focus is on Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and how they lived out their family life. In one sense, of course, that is true. However, when we look at the Gospels, we find very few details about the Holy Family. Certainly not the kind of detail that we in our time would look for in trying to understand them. The Gospels give us very little biographical info. We aren’t given Joseph’s psychological background, or what Mary’s personality was like, or what the child Jesus liked to eat for breakfast. We aren’t given examples of how they dealt with some of the challenges of marriage and family life. We aren’t told anything about what Joseph or Mary’s expectations might have been when they became betrothed to one another.  Continue reading “Icon Of The Trinity”

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The Threat of Vulnerability

Christmas 2018

Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about? – Charlie Brown

We Americans like to boast that we are the best country in the world, with the best of everything. We like to boast of our natural resources, our military, our traditions, and our power. We like public officials and celebrities who tickle our ears with such talk. We want to believe that, even now, we Americans stand astride the world like a Colossus – invincible, dominant, able to impose our will on everyone else. We are strong, we are great, we are the best.  We believe – or want very much to believe – all these things about ourselves. Continue reading “The Threat of Vulnerability”

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Visitation

Fourth Sunday of Advent (C): Luke 1:39-45

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. – Luke 1:45

A charming vignette.

Or so it seems.

One young pregnant cousin goes to visit an older pregnant cousin. They exchange a few words, and soon the encounter is over.

Is this merely a charming vignette? If so, then why does St. Luke bother to include it in his Gospel, his Good News, his orderly account of all that the Lord has accomplished in our midst?

There must be more.

Much, much more. Continue reading “Visitation”

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Anxiety in Advent?

Third Sunday of Advent (C): Philippians 4:4-7

I have decided, dear readers….  to follow Jesus? Check. Already did that; still doing it! This time, I’m going to do something I haven’t done before. I’m going to offer you a rerun! Below, you’ll find the same post I offered over a year ago, when our second reading for this Sunday was also the second reading then. Having re-read it, I believe that it will work as it stands!

So, asking your indulgence as I offer you a rerun…  here goes! Continue reading “Anxiety in Advent?”