December 27, 2020
If you would like to view this weekend's Mass, "The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please click here.
Our God is full of surprises. When he begins the "divine rescue mission" to save the world's people who had gone astray, he sends a King. A ruler to save the people. But God does not send a powerful army of warriors with him, or a special weapon to force people to live God's way. No, he sends a baby in a family! You and I know what families are like - they are messy! There are disagreements, disappointments, hardships like illnesses, and personality differences. There are also celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, and successful accomplishments. But they are anything but smooth and easy. God sent Jesus into our world to a family very much like ours.
Families come in different types. Mom dad and the kids; single mom or dad with children, and various other combinations that make up families. And none of them are ever alone in their struggles and difficulties because of the Holy Family. Jesus knows exactly what it is like to be part of a family because he was raised on one. Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit now accompany us at all times.
In this weekend's Gospel, Simeon was called by the Holy Spirit to be in the temple until the arrival of the Messiah that everyone was waiting for. He knew that he would see the Messiah in his lifetime and waited, just as he was called. He heard the call of the Spirit, and he followed through. And it was very good that he did! Could you imagine how relieved Mary and Joseph would have been to have another person tell them that Jesus was the Messiah that everyone was waiting for? To be told that there would be hardships, but that His mission would be successful and that all would be well. Can you imagine how comforting it must have been to hear another person confirm what they knew, but which seemed so unbelievable? I can't imagine that this wouldn't have made life easier for them and helped them to accomplish their role of raising the Son of God.
Have you been called by the Spirit to some small task that may actually be very important to someone else? Is there someone who might need your encouragement and support, even if only a few words? I can remember a number of the people in my life who did just that. Sr. Carleen Marie, my 8th grade teacher is one. She told me that the small play that my friend Joe and I had put together as part of an assignment was good and that we were very creative. That meant so much to me as the years went by. It gave me confidence.
Another person was my next door neighbor Joe Krzeminski. He was older than I and showed me how to work on cars. He encouraged my limited knowledge and told me that I was good at it. It meant a lot to know that I was good at something. It was very encouraging to hear from someone outside of my own family in this positive way.
It is a good idea, from time to time, to think of the people who encouraged you over the years. Then, listen to the Spirit to find out if you are being called to lift someone you know up with encouraging words. Finally, if you do feel called, follow through like Simeon did. Provide the encouragement that will help someone accomplish all they were created for. Follow the call of the Spirit and bring Christ more fully into our world!
God's Peace,
Deacon Dave