Monthly Archives: December 2018

WHEN GOD SPEAKS

When I was a little boy, I often remember being told to only speak when I was spoken to—in other words, “Children should be seen and not heard.” I always had trouble with that old canard; I suppose I always had “something” to say and I figured someone should listen. Children are like that: seeking and needing attention. Sometimes it’s “cute” and sometimes it can be annoying.

In a homily concerning the Holy Family of Nazareth, delivered in 2005 (30 December 2005), His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offered a similar insight for our consideration. He reminded us that God does not impose Himself, He never uses force to enter our lives; rather, the Pope notes that God asks, as child does, to be welcomed. In a certain sense, God too presents Himself in need of attention: He waits for us to open our hearts to Him, to take care of Him.

The innocence and vulnerability of a child is one of the most important elements that we learn in our contemplation of Christmas—of the Incarnation itself. Amazingly, God makes Himself vulnerable to us and for us.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #460) takes us further into the mystery as it teaches us that “the Word became flesh,” to make us “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4). “For this is why the Word became man: so that man by entering into communion with the Word, and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” (St. Ireneus)

St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas offered similar teaching, helping us to ponder that as God wanted us to be sharers in His divinity, He in His humanity might make men more like gods.

God speaks in simplicity and example. As we listen at Christmas, and all throughout the year in holiness and the practice of the sacramental life of the Church, we become more childlike, closer to the image of the Child—the Man Jesus. Listen in stillness and peace and have a Blessed Christmas.

The Promise

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

Hi Everybody,

Bishop Callahan here, reminding you of the great gift that was promised to us through the prophet Jeremiah. The promise of a Savior, to free us from our sins. The promise of Jesus Christ!

This Advent season our Gospel readings will be taken from the Gospel of Luke; we will hear accounts of the Annunciation and the Visitation. We will see Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of John the Baptist be fulfilled, and we will be reminded to be vigilant at all times; praying for the strength and courage to remain strong in our Faith.

I encourage you to incorporate this Advent time of preparation and waiting into your daily routine. Can you include a short prayer early in the morning as you prepare your breakfast? Or perhaps while you wait in traffic or for a family get-together, remember a time when you felt God’s presence in your life? Commit to increasing your time of witness to others and to yourself.

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. This Advent season, let your inner joy animate your thoughts, radiate through your actions, and overtake your very being so that your hearts are fully open to welcome the Christ child this Christmas.

Blessed Advent to you; let us wait together in prayer.