Blog & Pastor Letters

It seems that, in many ways, we would be hard-pressed to have better readings for the Sunday before Lent begins. These teachings of Jesus—on judging others and the fruitfulness of our lives—help round out the sixth chapter of Luke and what we now know as Jesus’ “sermon on the plain.” Here, we find Jesus inviting us to reflect on the movements taking place within our minds and hearts, particularly with regard to how we relate to other people.

According to the introductory lines of the Open Doors Report (2021) titled Freedom of Religion and the Persecution of Christians, ‘the persecution of Christians is getting worse – in every region in which we work – and It is getting worse fast.” The analysis of this statement shows that religious extremism is becoming worse in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. And North Korea is the worst place to be a Christian. By far, the report indicates that the rise of Islamic extremism in sub-Saharan Africa dwarfs when compared to the violence in the Middle East. The persecution of Christians from across the world is fueled by factors such as Islamic extremism, religious nationalism, tribal antagonism, denominational protectionism, communist oppression, aggressive secularism, organized corruption, and totalitarian paranoia.

Parents can interpret the behaviors of their children. From early childhood, parents can decipher the kind of behavior their children will assume as adults. By watching their kids, they know who will excel in science or the arts. They can guess who is suitable for the Olympics Games, the French Open, or a Nobel Prize award. For some children, parents begin to see a Mother Teresa or a Padre Pio in their actions.

While visiting the St. Paul’s Cathedral London, I felt the power of God speaking to my heart. I tried to explain my feelings to my group but one of them pointed out that the cathedral does not belong to the Catholic Church. I laughed and I immediately thought about how we try to classify God based on denominational connections. Although the cathedral church is not Catholic, it does not stop Jesus from manifesting his power among those who call upon his name. The feeling I had while I was at the St. Paul’s Cathedral was a feeling of the presence of God. The music was inspirational; it sent me into thinking about my purpose in life.

Sometimes it is a struggle to see how each of the Mass readings correspond. Other times the threads between them interweave like a masterfully woven tapestry. Today’s readings, at least to me, represent the latter. Strands of being created for a plan and a purpose, prophecies shared and rejected, good people treated as evil, and connected to all of it, a God that loves without reserve — upholding, strengthening His beloved.

When I was a Dominican novice, I remember asking one of the older friars in our community to succinctly describe the charism of the Order of Preachers. He stopped, thought for a moment, and replied, “The Dominican is meant to have a preoccupation with the Word of God.” That has stuck with me throughout my years in religious life and helped shape my ministry as a priest. Would that we all have a preoccupation with the Word of God!

The life of St. Augustine of Hippo is filled with testimonies of his immoral living before he found Christ. As a young man wandering all over North Africa and around the Mediterranean Coastlands, he sought to find true happiness. He tested all avenues of finding happiness as a young man but found no true joy. In whatever he indulged in, he progressed to the next to suit his personal voids. During his wanderings, he travelled to Milan in Italy and entered a church where he heard the word of God that touched him for the first time in his life. He listened to Bishop Ambrose of Milan preach about Jesus and this attracted him greatly. St. Augustine changed his life and was baptized. He not only become a Christian, but he was ordained later as a priest and Bishop of Hippo.

One Sunday, I had only one candidate for baptism after Mass. The family arrived well before the Mass ended and took up positions in the front pews ready for the baptism of their lovely baby. Since I had the afternoon Mass, I dressed up appropriately in the sacristy and proceeded to the altar to start the initiation of this lovely baby into the Christian faith. The baby was dressed all in white, but he was busy having his lunch from a small feeding bottle and his face beamed with angelic smiles. I was later told that his father flew in from Germany to attend his son’s baptism.

The month of December has come and gone. The world did not end. Or at least we are still here moving around. The Mayans are gone and the calendar they left for us is hard to interpret. What can we say? A year comes in, and a year goes out, that is how life works. Such has been the cycle of life right from the creation of man. What has a beginning must have an end. The year 2021 has ended and we must brace up to delve into a new year with hope of better things to come.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived in Nazareth as a family. The kind of family life they lived was normal considering the standard of other families at that time. We all know that the trade of Joseph was carpentry and Jesus must have assisted in great measures while growing up. Of course, Mary did her best to cement the life in the family. The gospel of Luke tells us that they attended the yearly festival in Jerusalem. While returning to Nazareth, Jesus got separated from his parents and they had to search for him. When they found him, they said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” This is the kind of anxiety you would expect from a parent whose child has been lost.

The prophecy of Isaiah concerning the birth of a son was a soothing message for the people of Israel. When we read Isaiah chapters 7 and 9, we can see indications of the Lord’s desire to restore joy and happiness to his people. In Isaiah 7: 13-14 he says, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means God is with us.

The question many people always ask at moments of great panic is, ‘What am I to do?’ But that is only for those who can summon courage and ask. At moments of great panic, many people are speechless because the situation has gone out of hand. In desperation we cling to any opinion from anyone around us to save the day. When there is no one to offer any opinion, we use our instinct, and so we act impulsively without damning the consequences. At that point, it is a matter of survival not morality that rules our subconscious.

I recently watched a YouTube video on Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. The video was based on her contributions in uplifting the lives of Germans and other nations within Europe and elsewhere. Her country is enjoying an economic boom and her persona as woman speaks volumes to the world. The refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe are a challenge seeking the attention of the world. Germany is one place that the refugees yearn to find safe refuge.