“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Gospel Reading: John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

In today’s Gospel we hear John’s version of the infancy narrative. This narrative does not talk about the manger, nor the three wise men, nor having to flee Israel. Today’s Gospel links Christ to the Word of God we hear throughout the Old Testament. Today’s Gospel introduces us to the spiritual birth of Christ. Moses heard the Word in the burning bush on Mount Sinai. John tells us that “He was in the beginning with God” letting us know that Christ was with God when he spoke to Adam and Eve and when he spoke to Moses. We are told that Christ is the Word of God made flesh; that he is the light of the World. John tells us that Christ is life-giving and light-giving. When Christ was born, the people did not know who he was. John tells us, “He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.” John’s description of the birth of Christ is less spectacular then that of Matthew or Luke, yet it provides a much deeper understanding of the significance of his birth. “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.” John tells us that if we believe in Christ and accept him into our lives, we will be born into God. God gave us Jesus so we would believe, so we could see the Word of God.

A Simple Prayer

Christ, you are the Word made Flesh,

You are the light of the world.

I receive you into my home and believe in your name

Because through you all things were made.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:36-40 There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Today’s Gospel reading is about hope and prayer. We hear the story of a widow who dedicated her life to prayer and communion with God. The Gospel reading says she worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. She completely dedicated her life to the hope and glory of God our Father. In her case, this hope became the desire for the kingdom of heaven to come forth. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna recognized that her hope and desire had been answered. She came forth and witnessed that the Christ child was the hope and salvation that Jerusalem was waiting for.

We can experience the same hope and joy that Anna experienced by dedicating our lives to Christ. The hope which God placed in our heart from our birth is the hope for eternal life and happiness. Our hope grows in our prayers and our worship. It grows as we encounter Christ in the sacraments and most importantly, it grows when we encounter Christ in the Eucharist. Anna is a model of dedication to God. She prayed and fasted daily for God. We should also strive to be like Anna by daily committing to encounter Christ through our own fasting and prayer. Fasting should include eliminating those things from our lives which separate us from Christ or those things that diminish our prayer life. We must grow in hope and faith. To do so, we must be willing to place our complete trust in God. We must rely on his strength and not our own. We must submit our lives to the Holy Spirit who will strengthen us to do His will. Start by asking yourself a very simple question – Does my heart truly hope for God to grow within me? How you answer this question will determine your commitment to God in your life.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I am weak and you are strong.

May my hope and faith grow for you.

I commit my life to you to have as you will.

Help me grow in hope and faith.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

"Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord"

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Luke 2:22-35 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear two different stories, the purification of Mary and the presentation of Jesus. In addition, we hear the first prophecy and announcement of Jesus being the Messiah. According to Mosaic law, a woman who gave birth was unclean and needed to be purified. This state on impurity ended after 40 days with a rite of purification. Why would Mary, immaculate and ever virgin, need to be purified. She would not have needed to go through the purification process because of the special graces given to her by God. Because she conceived without a relationship with man, she would not be considered unclean. Through her example, we know that we need to submit to the wishes of God, regardless of our personal state. We need to submit ourselves to the purification whether we need it or not. Regular examination of conscience and frequent acts of reconciliation help keep us pure and focused on Christ.

The Mosaic law also required that the first born male was to be dedicated to the service of God. The law required that they make an offering to God to signify the dedication. This would normally include the sacrifice of a lamb or some other significant piece of property worthy to honor God in the dedication. However, for those who were poor, they would make a lesser offering such as two doves or pigeons. Jesus, who was rich beyond the universe became poor so that we may become rich in the grace of God. He chose to have a poor man’s offering so that we too would understand that we need to become humble and meek. That we need to become poor in earthly treasures so that we can become rich in heavenly treasures.

Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was told by God that he would see the coming of Christ before he died. In the performance of the ritual or purification, he recognizes Christ. He says to God, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” By touching Christ, the reality of the Messiah is revealed to him. Because he became united with Christ, he witnessed to us that Christ would become our salvation and the light which would lead us to the narrow gates of heaven. The words of Simeon reveal that Christ not only came to save Israel, but to save all of men. When we reach out and touch Christ through His Word and more importantly, through the Eucharist, these same revelations are revealed to us. We become nourished in the Bread of Life so that we too can become in communion with God.

Mary and Joseph marveled, not about what they saw, but about how Christ was revealed to the world. Simeon not only prophesizes that Jesus is the Messiah, he prophesizes that Christ’s life is going to be controversial. Even today, Christ’s life is controversial, but his mission is clear. We are all called to become humble and meek; we are all called to become loyal servants to Christ; and we are all called to lead others to the narrow gates of heaven. But most importantly, we are told that this will not be without controversy. People will reject us and condemn us because of our beliefs. We may even be ridiculed for our faith. But nourished in the Lamb of God, we should have the strength and the armor to do His will.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I am a humble person and sits prostrate before you.

Give me the strength and the will to be a light to lead others to your gates.

Give me the strength to do your will in the face of adversity.

That I may find the riches of your glory in my service to you.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“Whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Gospel Reading Matthew 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Today’s Gospel reading seems to be just a little bit out of place as we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Martyr of the Church.. We just celebrated the glorious birth of Christ and were told of the great joy and hope which was given to the world by God. Yet, in today’s reading we hear that there will be consequences if we follow Christ. We hear if we follow Christ, others will hate us and others will make fun of us. It even says that some of us will be put to death if we follow Christ. This does not sound like the good news we have been hearing for the past couple of days. However, Christ became flesh to save us from our sins and free us from death. He came to give us new life in the Kingdom of God. We learn that the way to heaven is through the cross. If we want to live in the glory of God, then we must be willing to take up the cross no matter what the consequences. Jesus tells us, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” We should not fear being committed to God; we should not be afraid to tell our friends that we are Christian Catholics; and we should not be afraid to stand up for the teachings of Christ because “whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostle, it says, “But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” Following Christ is like running a marathon. The training and practice is grueling and our body continually tells us to quit, but persistence wins. We win the marathon not by crossing the line first but simply by crossing the line. In today’s Gospel reading, Christ is telling us that we may even be hated by our brothers and sisters, but if you are persistent, in the end you will be given the Kingdom of God. When you look up to heaven, what is it that you see? Do you see the glory of God raining down or do cower and hide from people when you are challenged for your faith. Stand tall, be proud to be a Christian for it is the through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can stand up for our faith a be a witness for God.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, I am scared to carry my cross.

Strengthen my will so I can withstand the punishment

For it is through you that I find the Kingdom of God.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“I proclaim to you good news of great joy, for today a savior has been born.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I proclaim to you good news of great joy, for today a savior has been born.”

Gospel Reading Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Glory to God in the highest, for today our savior was born. The Gospel reading tells us that Christ was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn. Today, as we celebrate the glorious birth of Christ, we need to decide whether we are the inn or the manger. The Inn was a glorious majestic place while the manger was located in cave used to house farm animals. How could the King of kings, Lord of Lords be born in manger? It was from these humble beginnings that Christ came into this world. He came not for the rich and wealthy, but for the oppressed, the humble and the meek. It is time to ask ourselves, “Is our house too full for Christ?” The world has received the greatest gift ever, our Lord and Savior. Do you have room for him in your life? This Christmas, we should remember those who cannot come home, those that have no home and those that are hungry. We should life up the poor and those that are marginalized from society. We should pray for those people society has no room for. No matter what burdens we have on our shoulders, Christ came to relieve us from these burdens. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” So who does his favor find rest, those who have no room for him or those who have humbled themselves. We need to become more like the manger and less like the inn. We need to become more humble to become worthy of the grace which Christ has given to us. Take time on Christmas to thank God for your real blessing and to pray for those who are less fortunate.

A Simple Prayer

Glory to God in Highest and Peace to All Men on Earth

For Today our Savior is Born – Christ the King.

Merry Christmas

Michael Marcon

"Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied"

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Today’s Gospel reading is about the proclamation of Zechariah, this is the third installment of the trilogy of Zechariah. John the Baptist is born and Zechariah can know speak as was promised by the angel. And what does he do; he proclaims that John must prepare the way for the Lord. In the first installment the angel informs Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will bear a child. She doubts the angel and because doubt, he loses his ability to speak. In the second installment, John is born and the crowds want to name him after Zechariah. Learning from his first mistake, he names his son John as the angel told him. Because of his obedience, he get his voice back. In the third installment, he is filled with the Holy Spirit and goes out to proclaim the good news that his son will make clear the way for our Lord. How often does our own life mimic Zechariah’s. When we turn our back on Christ’s calling or fall from our faith, do we not find sadness in our lives and when we finally say “yes” to Christ, our lives are filled with joy. Obedience to God may not make us monetarily rich, but it will make us spiritually rich and help prepare our seat in the kingdom of heaven.

More importantly, on this day before Christmas, we are called to prepare His way and to let everyone know of Christ’s salvation and tender mercy. We are called to carry the torch to light the way for those who sit in darkness. We are called to guide them to the way of peace. At this time of year, we should focus our prayers for peace on earth and good will to all. We should focus on filling the church in hopes that those souls will become permanently connected with Christ and the Eucharist. We should prayer that hatred in the world is abolished and that peace shall reign forever. We should pray that all the new born children will become beacons of freedom for all and that those expectant mothers will deliver the joy and happiness that each child naturally represents. Tomorrow is Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, the day we celebrate the birth of our salvation and the day we celebrate the love, hope, and joy provided to all of humanity from God. Tomorrow we should proclaim that Christ is King.

A Simple Prayer:

Lord, I shout your name on high that all will hear it and come to you table.

You ask me to prepare the ways and give light for those in darkness, but my spirit is weak.

Strengthen me to plow the road and carry the torch which will lead others to your manger.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him."

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading Luke 1:57-66 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Today we celebrate John the Baptist. John is the crazy guy who ate locus and wore animal skins and had untamed hair. He was probably a rather frightening person and didn’t smell very good either. Yet this lowliest of people was the first to recognize Christ. He leapt in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to visit. John was blessed with an abundance of grace from the very moment of his conception. He stood his ground and did not cower when others challenged him. He was the one who proclaimed the coming of Christ. He made ready the path for Christ and baptized him. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was the messiah. And he was the first to sacrifice his life for the kingdom of heaven.

John the Baptist had one mission in life and it started when he was in the womb. His mission was to lead others to Christ and the kingdom of heaven. So what fueled John’s passion. John was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. His body was completely consumed by the Holy Spirit. He had surrendered himself and gave up all his earthly possessions to live in Christ. This made his faith come alive. We know that people flocked to see John the Baptist and he had a very large following even though he didn’t dress very well. People could see the Holy Spirit in him and the power God’s mercy upon him.

When we sacrifice our lives for Christ, we too are filled with the Holy Spirit. When you are doing something good for someone else, when you make an unselfish sacrifice for someone else, do you not feel the power of the Holy Spirit within you. The joy of Christ fills your soul when we do good for others. Our reward for our sacrifice is to experience the joy of the kingdom of heaven today. Every day we make a sacrifice for Christ, we experience the kingdom of heaven. Each and every day we commit our lives to Christ, we are renewed in the Holy Spirit. We are renewed with the faith, hope and love of God’s unending grace. John was willing to make that sacrifice every day of his life. We are called to live the life of John the Baptist. We are called to make an unconditional commitment to God no matter what the consequences. We are called to lead others to the banquet table.

A Simple Prayer

My God in Heaven, you have sent so many before me as an example of your love.

May I learn to live with the faith and hope exemplified by John the Baptist.

May I be willing to give it all for the kingdom of God which is before us.

May your outpouring of grace give me the strength to be your witness to others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord..."Luke

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.”

Gospel Reading Luke 1:46-56 Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

In today’s Gospel reading, Mary rejoices because God has found special favor in her. She was called by God and she answered the call not knowing what would be expected of her. She had to blindly accept the call of God without any knowledge of what was in store for her or for her son. We too should hunger for God’s favor that he would call us into action to do his will. Those who hunger for God will be filled with the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will allow us to share in God’s unending love and mercy. What better way to share in God’s love, then to say “yes” to his call. As we prepare for Christ’s birth, we are also preparing for our own rebirth into new life. We are all members of the mystical body of Christ; therefore, we are awaiting our own birth into the eternal joy and love which God gave to this world. As we partake of the Eucharist, we answer “yes” to God as did Mary. When you go to church this Christmas day and approach the table of our Lord, say “AMEN” with the commitment that Mary expressed when she said yes to the Angel Gabriel. Let those around you know that you have committed your life to God. Let the people know that you say “yes” to everything that Christ has for you. Remember, you are the greatest gift you can give to God. No matter what has happened to you on this earth; not matter how rich or poor you are, the greatest thing you can offer to the Christ child is your life. When you say AMEN, let him know it is with great pleasure and obedience that you offer your life to him at His alter.

A Simple Pray

Lord Jesus, I am you Servant – Amen.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:5-25 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

In today’s Gospel, we here the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist. The Angel Gabriel appears before Zechariah to tell him that his wife, late in years, will finally bear a child. In the time of Jesus, it was thought that God did not have favor on you if you did not have offspring. Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in age beyond child bearing age, yet God graced them with a child. Zechariah apparently wanted a child to carry on the family name. Gabriel says to Zechariah, “Do not be afraid because your prayer has been heard.” How did Zechariah respond to Gabriel? He responded with doubt and disbelief. Gabriel say that his son will be great, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit and he will make them very happy and yet Zechariah doubts the message of God.

Today’s Gospel reading has two messages focused on hearing the Word of God and responding to the Word of God. When God calls us forth, how do we respond. Through our baptism, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and called to grow in faith. When our parents or guardians approach the baptismal fount, they are asked what they seek. Their response is faith for their child. When Gabriel appeared before Zechariah, Zechariah lacked the faith he needed to believe. We too are called to grow in faith and serve God unconditionally. If we ignore the message, we are ignoring the calling of God. Advent is time for us to renew our hope in the new covenant of Christ. In the annunciation, Gabriel told Zechariah that his son would prepare the way of the Lord and that he would turn many people to God. In our Baptism, we are commanded to grow in faith and become a loyal servant of God. God is calling you to go out and bring people to the table of life. He wants us to share in the One Body of Christ which brings us everlasting life. This advent, renew you’re your faith in God’s calling so you can speak the Word of God. Do not be afraid – it is God calling. It is time to answer the call.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Father, fill my heart with hope that I may renew my faith in God.

You have given me the gift of the Holy Spirit, may I rekindle the fire that is within me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“God is with us.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“God is with us.”

Gospel Reading Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel ,which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the commitment of Joseph to the Angel of God. Joseph answers the call to take care of Mary even though she is with child. Therefore, today’s Gospel is also about knowing that God has called us to do special things. Joseph has just found out that Mary is pregnant with Jesus and being a just man and not wanting to shame Mary, he resolves to divorce her quietly. But an angel appeared to Joseph tells him not to be afraid for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived. When he woke up he did as he was commanded by the angel. This story has two great messages. The first message is the willingness of Joseph to obey the will of God. His fiancé is pregnant and they are not married. How embarrassing that would be for his future wife to be pregnant and they are not married. Yet Joseph listened and obeyed the angel of God. The second message, which is more subtle in this Gospel reading, is the faith and trust of Mary. Mary also has to trust in God and have faith that he will take care of her and provide for her. In the time of Christ, Mary would likely have been stoned or cast out of the community. She would have been put to the street to live with the vagrants and undesirables. This was a huge commitment by both. Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was able to go to Joseph and trust that he would be there to take care of her. Joseph was able to keep Mary even though he might be shamed and embarrassed.

We too are called to be obedient to the will of God no matter what he asks us to do, no matter how embarrassing, and no matter how uncertain the outcome. The Holy Spirit comes down upon us and gives us many gifts wrapped in strange packaging. We are called to use those gifts to spread the word of God, to make way for the Kingdom of God. We are also called to have great trust and faith in God. We need to trust that he knows what he is doing. In our daily lives, it is so easy to get caught up in the materialistic aspects of “All I want is…” when I should be saying yes to the angel of God when he calls. We should be willing to take the time to reflect on the gifts which God has given us and give him thanks and praise for these gifts are given to us freely without any expectations of return. We should reflect on our talents which were given to us by God. We should decide whether we are using our gifts how God intended us to us them. We must be willing to sacrifice the material gifts that we receive for the spiritual gifts which are wrapped up in the paper of the Holy Spirit. We should celebrate the family that we have and blessing that we were given. We should celebrate the gift of Christ in our lives. Once we accept these gifts from God, we can truly appreciate the other material gifts which we receive.

This Advent season, who do you carry inside you. It is not long before our greatest gift will be born again. Take this time to renew your commitment to the gifts and graces which have been provided to you by our Father in heaven. Let us not focus on our weaknesses or the things that might embarrass us, but focus on the glory of the new life which has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Say yes to our Father as we complete the final days of Advent.

A Simple Prayer

God, you give me more graces than I deserve.

Give me the strength to use those gifts to your satisfaction.

May I have the obedience of Joseph and the faith of Mary to use the gifts which you have given me.

Your son was the greatest gift of all for he came to forgive us our sins;

May I also forgive those who sinned against me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of erubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the genealogy of Christ. So why do we need to know our genealogy? It helps us understand who we are and where we come from. We hear that Jesus is a direct descendant of Abraham, the Father of God’s chosen people and of the house of David, the King of Israel. This genealogy fulfills the Old Testament scriptures which promised that a descendant of the house of David would come to save us from our enemies. The linage presented in Matthew confirms that Christ is the promised Messiah, the Son of Man sent to save us. Like Moses who freed the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh’s slavery, Jesus freed us from the bondage of sin. We know from this Gospel reading that Christ is the hope which was sent to lead man to the Kingdom of God. The greatest present of all was given to humanity. This small present wrapped in swaddling clothes fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament. This small package, born of the Virgin Mary, came to adopt all of humanity. Christ was not a present just for the Jews but for all Nations. Through Christ, we are adopted into the royal family, through Christ, we are delivered to the Kingdom of God.

This year, as we prepare for Christmas, we should ask ourselves, “Who am I?” Such a simple question can stir some very deep thoughts. Am I truly committed to Christ? Am I willing to do the will of Christ? Am I ready for Christ in my life? While we ask “Am I…,” we must recall that I AM is here among us. I AM the Word made flesh. I AM the light of the world. As we continue our journey through advent, release those items which steer us away from the Christ child. Look to heavens to find guidance. Find the Star which leads us to his doorstep.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are the Messiah from the house of David.

You are the savior of the world and the hope for all of humanity.

You are my Lord and Master, take my heart and my soul

Give me the strength to do your will.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“By what authority are you doing these things?”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“By what authority are you doing these things?”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-27

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

“By what authority are you doing these things?” Why are the high priests and elders so upset with Jesus? For one, they do not like his teachings. They want nothing better than to trap Jesus and prove he is wrong. They want to condemn him for his beliefs. But Jesus turns the argument around and asks them a question. “Where was John’s baptism from?” In doing so, he challenges them to speak the truth about their own questioning. Are they truly brave enough to stand up to the challenge. We too can be challenged about our faith and how we answer the question tells God about the foundation of our faith. Do you avoid the answer for fear you will be persecuted or do craft an answer that avoids conflict? The elders would not answer the question because it would either anger the crowds or validate Christ as the Messiah. They knew the true answer but did not have the strength to answer the question.

God is often associated with conflict. How often do we see Christians arguing with non Christians, Protestants arguing with Catholics, or Catholics arguing amongst themselves. Throughout history, major battles have been fought over religion. And our faith can lead to internal conflict when we have to decide between God’s will and our own. As we struggle with our faith, we must make decisions which sometimes are not easy. When you must choose between God and yourself, who wins out. The elders did not like Jesus because he was not aligned with their own beliefs. The chief priests and elders had twisted the teachings of the Old Testament to a point where it glorified them and not God. We too can find ourselves in conflict with our beliefs trying to justify our own actions. If we do not like a teaching of the church, often we try to rationalize our actions. The rationalization of sins is one of the greatest distractions along the road to the kingdom of heaven. We must ask ourselves, is this my will or God’s. When I say I do not believe in the Church’s teaching on (you fill in the blank), one must ask the simple question, “Is this because it conflicts with my will?” This is not an easy question answer and requires a deep evaluation of our own soul and beliefs. Do you disagree because it causes you to concede to God?

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you are the one true Messiah.

Help me to know your way and your will

So that I can see the truth which leads to the gates of Heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the Annunciation. This is the second time in a very short period that we hear this gospel reading. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Story behind this feast is one of conversion and a call to discipleship. The Angel Gabriel appears before Mary and tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Today, we celebrate Mary saying yes to God and the Feast of Mary appearing before the people in Mexico and converting them to discipleship. Mary’s loyalty to God is exemplified in her response to the Angel. She does not know what lies ahead, but just that God is calling her. She does not know what the future holds nor what her son will go through in his life. We too are being called by God to be his servants. Do we take joy in answering yes? Every single one of us is called into the service of God. How do we respond to God when he calls upon us? Do we react with the same wonder and awe that Mary did? Do we respond with doubt or do we respond with the joy and amazement which would show that we are a handmaid of the Lord. We must not worry about the future but just be receptive to the calling. God will take care of the future, we must worry about the now. We must have faith that God will take care of us and lead us to his house. “Do not be afraid.” He is there to hold us and protect us. He is there to guide us. Do not be afraid, because God has found favor in you. God has blessed you with many graces.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, you call me by name to be your disciple.

Help me find strength to say yes to your will.

Your Servant in Christ

Michael Marcon

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Gospel Reading Matthew 11:11-15 Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that there is none greater than John the Baptist; yet he is not as great as the least in the Kingdom of heaven. So if John is the greatest, how can somebody be greater. And who are the least in the Kingdom of heaven? This statement appears to be a contradiction. How can the least be greater than the greatest? Christ is telling us that John the Baptist is the last of the great profits who came to announce the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist pointed us to the Messiah so that we would know that Christ is born. John the Baptist announces the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new covenant. A covenant which is centered on the life of Christ and a communion with him in the Kingdom of heaven. Those that were Baptized under John the Baptist received a symbolic Baptism while those who were Baptized by Christ were Baptized into an eternal life. Those that are Baptized in the Holy Spirit are Baptized into the Kingdom of heaven. The sacraments that Christ brings forth from Baptism to the Anointing of the Sick help to bring us into full communion with the one Bread of Life. Therefore, those of us that experience Baptism, the Eucharist and Reconciliation are greater than those who could not because we are encountering the Kingdom of heaven here and now. Even though we are not as great as John the Baptist, we are greater in the Kingdom of heaven because of our rebirth into the one body of Christ.

As we celebrate Advent, we should keep our focus on the announcement of John the Baptist that we are living in the new kingdom, the kingdom created through Christ. We must realize that we are called by Christ as the Baptized to be missionaries of the Church and the Word of God. We must go out and announce the birth of Christ and invite people to share in the Sacraments. We can encounter Christ anytime we want be celebrating the Sacraments. We can rejoin ourselves with one body of Christ by celebrating the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.

A Simple Prayer

My Dearest Heavenly Christ, you are the Messiah who came to free me from eternal death.

You are the Sacrament which brought about the Kingdom of Heaven.

You are the new birth which gives me hope in an eternal life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Today’s Gospel reading is such a comforting message when we consider the message from earlier this week. Jesus tells us to take up the yoke of the Lord “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” To help ease the load on the oxen, each ox had its own tailor made yoke. Jesus tells us that he will help us with our load if we will take up his yoke. He has a tailor made yoke just for us. It is designed to free us from the heavy burden of life. Yokes are made for two. This makes room for you and Christ to pull the load. We are called to pull the load of Christ which sets us free from the heavy burden of sin. Any other load is crushing and weighs us down. It is through Christ that we find our worries removed.

We are all called to prepare for the coming of Christ. We open the doors to our soul to let Christ in. He is coming to lighten our load and to remove the burdens of sin which we place upon ourselves. Through Christ, our sins are not only forgiven, but removed from our cart. Through reconciliation, we ask God to lift the sins from our back. It is through the love of Christ that he relieves us from our burden. We too have the option to lighten the load of others. We are called to forgive those who trespass against us. When we ask for forgiveness we are also called to give forgiveness. This forgiveness removes the burden which others have placed upon themselves. What a great place this world would be if we all forgave each other for all the sins that they committed. Take up the yoke of Christ and he will give you rest.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, my yoke is heavy and my load is burdensome.

Help me free myself from the burdens which hold me back

And give me strength to help free the burden placed on others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God"

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the Annunciation. The Angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” At that exact time, what do you think went through Mary’s mind? First, she was visited by an angel, and secondly, she was told by the angel that she will bear the son of God. When the angel greets her, he knows she will be scared so he says to her, “Do not be afraid.” The first thing he does is calm any fear she may have so she can openly hear the Word of God. Mary does not question the commandment of God, but responds with absolute wonder and awe. She doesn’t respond, “This cannot be!”, but replies, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” The angel tells her, “for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary responds with total commitment, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Every single one of us is called into the service of God. How do we respond to God when he calls upon us? Do we react with the same wonder and awe that Mary did? Do we respond with doubt or do we respond with the joy and amazement which would show that we are a handmaid of the Lord. It says that the Holy Spirit came upon her and overshadowed her. The same power of the Holy Spirit is available to us. If we call upon God, He will send the Holy Spirit to us. Through our Baptism, the fire of the Holy Spirit is lit within us. We are called to grow in faith and service to our Lord. Once we have matured spiritually, we are again called to finalize our Baptism and again be sealed with the Holy Spirit so that we may go out into the community and preach the Word of God. If we are willing to be the handmaid of the Lord, He will overshadow us “for with God nothing will be impossible.” When we encounter Christ, the first thing we must overcome is fear. Anytime a person encounters an angel, the first thing they say is, “Do not be afraid.” When we encounter Christ, the first thing we should hear is, “Do not be afraid.” He is there to hold us and protect us. He is there to guide us. Do not be afraid, because God has found favor in you. God has blessed you with many graces. We should take time today to inventory the graces which God has given us and to hear what God is calling us to do. Do not be afraid at what you hear for all things are possible in God.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, you call me by name.

You call me to be your handmaid.

Help me to hear and understand my calling.

Give me the strength to accept my challenge

With the wonder and awe as Mary did.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

Gospel Reading Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ cures two blind men because of their faith. The blind men cried out to Jesus, “Son of David, have pity on us!” Jesus asks the two men a very simple question, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And the two men replied, “Yes, Lord.” Do you ever feel blind in your faith? There are times in our lives when we all experience dry spells where it is hard to see Christ in our lives. His message is there but for some reason we do not hear him or see him. The message in today’s Gospel reading gives us hope. All we need to do is cry out to the Lord, “Have mercy on me O Lord.” Our God is all powerful and all merciful. When the blind men cried out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” they are not only asking for God’s compassion, but they are asking him to remove their suffering. God’s mercy is unending and all we need to do is have faith in his ability to cure us. Jesus tests them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” Because of their faith, they were set free from their affliction. God wants all of us to be freed from our afflictions. Faith in God is the answer. We must trust in his ability to cure us; to open our eyes and our ears so we can see and hear him. Christ wants us all to be members of the kingdom of heaven. When we are Baptized, our parents ask for one thing, faith. Through our baptism we are given faith. It is our job to make this juvenile faith grow. We do this through a surrendering to God. Through our growing of our faith, we will see the kingdom unfold before us.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, Have mercy on my soul.

Free me from my blindness in faith.

Open my eyes so I can see the kingdom of God.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon