Building Our Nativity: A Pilgrimage of Hope

Christmas 2024

Merry Christmas! It’s so great to have you all here with us as a parish and extended family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. How His birth has changed the world!

This Christmas, we have added blessings because earlier today in Rome, Pope Francis formally inaugurated the 2025 Holy Year, reviving an ancient Church tradition encouraging the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome. At the start of his Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Francis pushed open the Holy Door on Saint Peter’s Basilica, which will now stay open throughout the year to allow an estimated 32 million pilgrims projected to visit Rome to pass through.

The Pope has designated this Jubilee Year, beginning today and lasting until January 6, 2026, with the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” This year, the Pope said, is a response to the world’s need for restorative peace and healing. In his message, he emphasized that the world is suffering from crises that have compounded division and conflict, and that the Jubilee Year of Hope is an invitation for the Church and the world to embrace God's love, mercy, and compassion.

At the beginning of the month, I was blessed to be able to travel to Rome, thanks to the generous gift of some friends, to celebrate my priesthood anniversary. My usual routine in Rome is to do two main things: visit Churches and eat, sometimes not in that order.

Having not been in Rome since my time as a student in the late 1980s, I had forgotten that the central activity that happens in early December every year is the building and setting up of the Presepe—the nativity scenes. This ancient tradition, which Italians proudly adhere to at Christmastime, is ever-present in every one of Rome’s more than 930 churches.

Tradition tells us that Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with staging the first nativity scene in 1223. The only historical account we have of Francis’ nativity scene comes from a biography of him by Saint Bonaventure. According to it, Francis got permission from Pope Honorius III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals—an ox and an ass—in a cave in the Italian village of Greccio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached about “the Babe of Bethlehem.”

Bonaventure also claims that the hay used by Francis miraculously acquired the power to cure local cattle diseases and pestilences. And as they say, the rest is history.

Within a couple of centuries, nativity scenes had spread throughout Europe and the world. We don’t know if people played Mary and Joseph during Francis’ time, as our children do here and in many places, or whether they just imagined those figures’ presence. We do know that later scenes began incorporating dioramas, replicas of the scene, and that the cast of characters gradually expanded beyond Mary, Joseph, and sweet baby Jesus to sometimes include an entire village.

As I traveled around Rome, visiting, praying, and watching the nativity scenes being built, I was struck that despite the basics being the same in most every Church, many of the details were different. Some were large, others small; some had a few central figures, others many; some included the wise men, others not.

(Nativity buffs will know, however, that the familiar cast relied upon today—the three wise men and the shepherds—is not biblically accurate. Remember that only Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ birth. Matthew mentions wise men, while Luke comments on shepherds. But nowhere in the Bible do shepherds and wise men appear together. And no one mentions donkeys, oxen, cattle, or other farmyard friends in conjunction with Jesus’ birth. But really, what would a nativity scene be without those?)

My Christmas challenge is simply this: in this Jubilee Year, where we are all called to be pilgrims of hope, let’s commit to build our presepe and celebrate the joy of Christmas every day…

• What will yours look like?

• Will it be large and inviting or small and selective?

• Will it contain only the usual people, or will you invite more?

• Will it be inclusive and expansive, or not?

• What message will it send?

  
  

Just as we celebrate our children’s birthdays every year, it’s entirely appropriate for us to celebrate the birth of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, every year. But we should never celebrate Jesus’ birth only at Christmastime—and then forget Him the rest of the year. After all, just because we celebrate our children’s birthdays doesn’t mean we forget them or ignore them the rest of the year! They are an important part of our lives, and our relationship with them should continue to grow every day. To ignore them is unimaginable.

We pray that Christmas this year is more than only presents and parties, and that we take some time to focus on Jesus and build our personal nativity scene in our hearts, in our homes, and in our world. Let the wonder of that first Christmas fill our lives today—and every day.

RSM

Advent: A Season of Spiritual Reset

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

12.1.2024

I bet that there are probably very few among us, at any age, who do not have a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or whatever device we use in ordinary life. And I also bet that, at some point, we have utilized the “reset” function. This function sets the device back to its original state, of course. Additionally, we can also use it to give our devices a fresh start, without all the digital junk and clutter we’ve accumulated over the years.

The full reset remains a useful troubleshooting tool not only if we’re having problems with a gadget, but it’s also an essential step to take before we sell or recycle a device. With cloud syncing and media streaming now the norm, you’ll agree that getting everything back up and running is easier than it’s ever been.

In so many ways, that’s what Advent allows for our spiritual lives—it gives us the opportunity to “reset,” to get a fresh start, and to remove all the junk and baggage that we’ve accumulated this year. It’s essential if we want to fully experience the true joy of Christmas. But how?

Each year, it seems that Advent sneaks up on us—especially because we live in an automated and rushed age. To be intentional this Advent and reset our spiritual lives, God isn’t necessarily calling us to make lofty commitments consisting of grand gestures like monastic-level prayer or giving away everything we own.

God’s heart supports sustainable rhythms for us, and He desires to enter into our everyday life in gentle ways—just like how He came into the world: no fanfare, no elaborate process, just gentle intentionality.

It seems to me that it’s the little ways we can align our lives to God and build small moments of daily conversion into our busy schedules.

Just as in Lent, in Advent, the Church encourages prayer, fasting, and almsgiving throughout this season. Here are a few simple and easy ways to enter into the powerful and prayerful season of Advent:

1. Pray with an Advent devotional. It is easy for the Christmas story to feel far away from our lives—like a fairy tale that starts with, “Once upon a time in a faraway land.” By using a guided Advent journal or program, we can be guided with meditations and prayers that will provide a manageable portion to pray through each day. There are plenty of sample devotionals on the internet.

   
   

2. Pray one chapter of the Gospel of Luke each day. To prepare for Christmas, we can read one chapter of the Gospel of Luke each day through December 24th. There are 24 chapters in Luke, and by Christmas Eve, we will have read the entire account of the birth, ministry, sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection of Jesus.

   
   

3. Use Christmas cards as prayer reminders. As Christmas cards arrive during December, place them in a basket in a noticeable area of your home. Once a day, pull out one card and pray for that person or family. You can also write the person a note signed by your family or send them a text that says, “We prayed for you today as we prepare for Christmas.” Remember those people when you come to Advent and Christmas Mass, too.

   
   

4. Fast. In our society, it is very difficult to fast from all treats during Advent, since anticipatory Christmas goodies are served everywhere you go—I’m living proof of it! The most effective fasting during this season might be to fast from noise, franticness, and media. As we try to cut back on news, sports, entertainment, politics, frantic errands, and other avoidable distractions, we can open up more space in our schedules for prayer and reflection.

   
   

5. Visit the lonely. Mother Teresa said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” Reach out to someone who is lonely in your neighborhood, church, or extended family. Ask them to coffee, invite them for dinner, drop off some cookies, or have a phone conversation. Ask them questions about their lives. This type of simple connection is a tremendously powerful way to see Jesus in another person and help them realize the dignity within themselves.

   
   

6. Make a good confession—don’t wait until the last minute! The sacrament of confession reunites us with the God who made us. How generously Our Lord lavishes us with grace in the sacrament of reconciliation! He calls us back to Himself, gives us a fresh slate, washes us clean, and resets us.

   
   

Friends, no doubt we spend a lot of time in our lives ensuring that our devices work optimally, are up to date, and are free from viruses. Advent gives us the same opportunity to do so for our souls.

Blessings!

RSM

What Treasures Do We Hold On To?

Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 13, 2024

Several years ago, construction workers were laying a foundation for a building outside the city of Pompeii. They found the corpse of a woman who must have been fleeing from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius but was caught in the rain of hot ashes. The woman's hands clutched jewels, which were preserved in excellent condition. She had the jewels, but death had stolen it all.

The story begs the question, what are the worldly treasures that we hold on to? The familiar story of the rich young man, from the Gospel of Mark, gives us Jesus’ take on the matter, but admittedly, it’s a pretty tough message.

I wanted to talk this morning with you, and at all the masses this weekend, to raise that very issue, what are the treasures that we hold on to … and I’m not talking about the material possessions we have, but the treasure of the Church, of our Church … and of this parish, in particular.  How do we hold on to it? Care for it? Support it? And prepare it to be passed on to future generations?

I know that the more cynical or astute among us are already thinking, oh boy, here he goes, he’s going to talk about money … and you’re right, I am, because this Sunday the Gospel opens that door. (And every week, if you’re keeping score, I preach on the topic from which the Scriptures opens the door … and today is no different.)

I am also well aware that some people think preachers shouldn’t talk about money ever.  But believe it or not, it was often this very thing that kept many from Christ! Look at Jesus.  So often we think He spent all His time talking about deep spiritual theology but look what occupied His subject matter the most.

Actually, Jesus talked a lot about money.

·      16 of 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.

·      In the Gospels, an amazing 1out of 10 verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money.

·      The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

I’m guessing that maybe people don't like the preacher to talk about money because it hits too close to home! It is certain that Jesus found the same reaction in His day! 

I’d like to put my words in the context of answering the question from our initial story, what are the treasures we hold on to, treasures that will outlast our own death.  I hope that among them is the treasure of our Catholic faith, of our Catholic Church, and of our parish, so that we can pass it on, in good shape, to the next generations.

I believe that our 2023-2024 Annual Report is in the mail, and you should receive it this coming week.  When they arrive, there will also be extra copies in the back of the Church.  That report is really our local version of good news … it contains the facts, figures and photos that reflect our response as a parish this year to the Gospel of Jesus.  It is good news, but honestly, it is not great news … and it could be.

You decide for yourself good or great … how many people live here in Summit (and beyond) that claim St Teresa’s as their parish? … and then ask, how many actually, regularly, and generously support the parish?

I don’t know the first number, but the second is only about 300 … yes, 300 for the most part are carrying the financial burden of this parish!  Further, by all measures, some, but not many, serve in our ministries.  I’m not a statistician, but with odds like that, there is no doubt that our long-term sustainability is not great, it’s only good.  We can do so much better!

This Gospel comes on the heels of the news that Cardinal Tobin is about to appoint some lay, religious and clergy groups to study our parishes and other ministries to help guide him in deciding where the Church should be as we go forward.  And while the Cardinal has made very clear that the bottom line will not be the deciding factor, you’d better believe that it will surely be an important component. How could it not be?

Cardinal Tobin has named the work We Are His Witnesses.  I guess I would ask the question, are we?  If so, how are we his witnesses in our world, in our community, in our parish today?  What’s the role we play? … how do we share our time, our talent and our treasure to pass on what we have received to future generations?  I cannot answer that for you, but only for myself.

Since my arrival here on October 15, 2017, our patronal feast day, I have worked with the help of many in order to protect and preserve our parish for many years to come.  As you can imagine, doing so has made some people over the years disagree with my decisions and my plan, forcing some even to leave.  While I am truly saddened by that, I understand.  People vote with their wallets and their feet these days!

But for those of you who have stayed, and have encouraged and helped me, thank you! You know that everything that happens here is not decided alone by me.  I am blessed with the advice and guidance of parish trustees, a parish finance council and several small working groups that give of their time and expertise to help guide me in pastoring this great parish ministry named St Teresa’s.  And while our task is not easy and is oftentimes complicated, we do our best in order first understand the metrics and the needs we have today because we cannot live in the past.

As I have been sharing in the bulletin, Cardinal Tobin has mandated that all parishes have a parish pastoral council.  I have already invited some to join me in this endeavor, and soon, we will ask you to consider that as well.  This is your parish … not mine, and certainly not the staff’s.  The future of St Teresa’s depends on you, its active and supporting parishioners … but it’s future also depends as a consequence of so many who do not come, or help, yet claim that this is their parish too!

We cannot do things as we always have, or we will not survive.  We must take an honest look at our strengths and weaknesses, our opportunities and threats and plan accordingly so that we can successfully pass this beautiful treasure on to the next generation.  Will you help me?

Let’s look again at the Gospel.  Beyond the fact that the rich man really has too much, there’s another part to the rich man’s problem. He knows only to ask about safeguarding his eternal life without concern for that of others. What must I do, he asks. He is unable to see that the potential to experience eternal life might very well lie outside of his own doing. He is incapable of recognizing that abundance may very well be found outside of the wealth and riches he has stored up. Let’s not make the same mistake.  While our parish is fine today, without a clear and realistic strategic plan it will not survive as it is for the future.

You are the members of this blessed community of the faithful.  I hope that hearing the truth about our true status will encourage you to tell our story to others.  And while there are many reasons that people will not welcome the message, we need to do our part to share it.  St Francis of Assisi said:

Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given:  a heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

Together, let’s embrace those words, and act accordingly … for today and our future. 

Blessings!

Fr Bob