2025 has several anniversaries marking the Christian calendar. One is the 1,700th anniversary of the first Christian ecumenical Council at Nicea (near Constantinople) in 325. Highly important, this council affirmed the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Trinity, thus opposing Arianism, a prevalent heresy claiming Jesus had only a human nature, not a divine one as well. The Council also fixed the date of Easter, no longer relying on the Jewish lunar calendar. It also forbade kneeling during the Easter Season, for kneeling was a penitential posture, while standing is a posture of affirmation and celebration.
The theme for this year’s Church Unity Week is “Do you believe this?” This is the question Jesus posed to Martha at the death of her brother. Martha’s belief in the power of Jesus was realized in the raising of her brother Lazarus.
It seems to me that the efforts toward Christian unity have dissipated over the past years at least in my experience. Do you remember pulpit exchanges, special inter-faith prayer services, and the frequent singing of “They’ll Know We Are Christians”? Perhaps we could challenge ourselves to revive the prayer and events “that all may be one.”
Why does the Church observe the Christmas Season for three weeks? Why do we keep our decorations up several days after December 25? The Church gives us time to understand the mystery of the Incarnation, which is also the mystery of redemption. Let’s look at the gospel used for the Christmas Mass during the Day. (There were other gospel passages for the vigil and midnight.)
In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Logos [Word] was God (Jn. 1:1). “Word” can also be “meaning,” “rule,” “plan” and “reason.” What the Gospel writer is really saying is this: From the beginning there was a meaning and structural plan of creation, and this plan finally became visible and tangible in Jesus Christ. In the Son God’s thought and reason of creation has become flesh. God’s reason for creation is simultaneously the reason for the incarnation and redemption. And what is redemption? It’s unconditional forgiveness and reconciliation. In other words, no rivalry, war, disputes, enmity on a personal or universal level. So of course, all Christmas cards and carols speak of peace. For thousands of years we missed the point, although prophets tried to tell us again and again. Even when Jesus came, “God’s reason [Logos] came into what was God’s own and God’s own did not accept God” (Jn. 1:11). But this is not the end. There’s a different story, one of faith and reverence for God: “And the Logos became flesh and came to dwell in our midst, and we have seen its glory” (Jn. 1:14). The word “we” is the community of witnesses, the Church. The Christian churches, the world—we—are entrusted with telling this Good News: God lives among us! No wonder we need three weeks—and a lifetime—to celebrate our joy!
This is the 2025th anniversary of the birth of Our Lord. Pope Francis declared that this anniversary intends to “fan the flame of hope” as we “look to the future with a trusting heart and a far-sighted vision.” A holy year begins with opening the door at the Vatican, an event that occurred on Christmas Eve. You don’t have to fly to Rome to walk through the special jubilee door. Dioceses designate cathedrals and shrines where jubilee blessings and indulgences can be obtained. But perhaps a kind of jubilee door can be your own front door—or another door in your house. Let me explain.
Throughout this jubilee year the Catholic Church has designated certain days to prayerfully remember groups of people, such as the Armed Forces on February 8-9, Artists on February 15-16, and Teenagers on April 25-26 with many other groups in between. You can find these groups on the internet, but here’s another thought. What about taking one of those 2025 calendars you’ve received and color-code it with groups and individuals for whom you’d like to pray. Perhaps your favorite color could represent friends and family. Then select other colors to pray for healthcare personnel, law enforcement, teachers, your employer/employees, neighbors, and others. The calendar could become part of your prayer space. Looking at it will help you remember to pray for those persons.
The people ask John the Baptist “What should we do?” I imagine they got the answers they didn’t want to hear. They were to do more than they really wanted to do. Soldiers and tax collectors were told to do their job justly and be satisfied with what they got. The crowd was told to change their lives. They were to see life differently, counter-culturally, and act accordingly. (Ouch!) What should we do on our job, at home, in the crowded stores and airports? “Your kindness should be known to all” (Phil. 4:5). (Another translation is “Everyone should see how unselfish you are.”)
This hymn is captivating in its haunting melody. (I’d love to have it sung at my funeral.) The verses refer to the O Antiphons, such as Key of Knowledge and Root of Jesse. The most prayerful part is the refrain: “For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits. Truly my hope is in you.” Are you waiting in hope? Is your soul still today? Before each new activity you begin today, stop for a few seconds. Prayerfully reflect “Whatever I am about to do, let my soul be still. My hope is in God. I can’t do this [next on my list activity] alone.”
December is a month of anticipation and waiting. This leads to questions like “What do we anticipate?” and “How do we wait?” For us Christians we wait for more than a day; we await a Person—Jesus Christ reigning in glory. We prepare the way of the Lord, which adds another question: “For which Lord are we preparing?” What or Who is our “lord”? Sometimes we fear we give our allegiance to presents and parties—not that we intend to; it just happens in the busyness. In the Christmas rush, I’m sure we remember the Babe in the manger. But the themes of social justice from the prophets remind us to remember the real events in our world—the suffering, the anxiety, and hopeless–along with the promises of joy and peace. In a word, we need to recognize Christ in Word and Sacrament, in tinsel and requests to share our bounty, in people waiting in line, in the Scrooges, and in the saints. Take a breath. You are waiting for God’s coming in you.
A hymn appropriate for Advent and any feast of Mary, especially
the Annunciation on March 25, is “No Wind at the Window.” Much more than a meteorological
statement, the hymn describes the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary in silence and
mystery in Nazareth. The angel pleads “Don’t hide from my face. Be glad that
you’re favored and filled with God’s grace.” (The angel was on God’s mission
after all, and Gabriel didn’t want to mess this up!) The hymn claims a divine
Child must be born “that the kingdom might come.” How would Mary respond to the
angel’s request when “no blueprint was displayed”? Mary replied with
conviction, “Tell God I say yes.” To whatever comes your way today, imitate
Mary by saying yes.
Have you noticed the pattern in Biblical annunciation stories? A woman is barren, an angel appears, the woman is told not to fear, a name is given to the future child, and the woman conceives. The annunciation of Angel Gabriel to Mary continues the pattern but is significantly different. Mary, neither aged nor barren, conceives by the Holy Spirit. And Mary, through her Immaculate Conception, is chosen “before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before God.” The story of the Annunciation is told at least once during Advent, sometimes more often depending upon the Gospel passage chosen for Marian feasts. It can be our story, too. When have you heard “The Lord is with you,” “Do not be afraid,” “Nothing is impossible with God”? Have you with Mary responded “Let it be done to me”?
Recent weeks may have been stressful for you as division
hampers “e pluribus unum.” Division, however, never wins; eventually unity rises
victorious. Every night those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours pray Mary’s
Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” A modern version of
Mary’s song is “Canticle of the Turning” by Rory Cooney. “My soul cries out
with a joyful shout.” The hymn claims Mary “sings of the wondrous things.” What
things? God fills the hungry, comes to the aid of those in need, extends mercy.
This lively hymn repeats the issues of social justice found in Luke 1:46-58. Tyrants,
beware! Mighty power will be put to flight. Fortresses will be demolished. The
hungry will weep no more. The “spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is
turning the world around.” When visiting her cousin Elizabeth, Mary shared the
Good News: “Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near; and the world is
about to turn!” With Mary let us praise
God for the impact her Divine Child has had upon our world.
By “paschal mystery” we mean the entire mystery of Jesus Christ—that is, his life, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, and promised Second coming. We also mean our participation in this mystery, because we are Christ’s Body, the Church. Liturgy acts in the here and now and sends us forth to live the life of Christ. Liturgical spirituality is much more than an hour of worship. It’s living the life of Christ day by day in multiple dyings and risings in union with Christ’s death and resurrection. It’s offering ourselves to God along with Jesus Christ’s perpetual self-offering to the Father.
In Advent we live liturgical spirituality when we don’t wait for a day but for a Person, Jesus Christ who reigns in glory. We await not just his entry into the world in Bethlehem, but his Second Coming at the end of time. The Church has chosen royal purple to mark the season, for it’s the color of sovereignty. Let’s await Christ our sovereign to come with power and glory.