Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 

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

Meditation Minute

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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled."

Gospel Reading: 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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"Out of Egypt I called my son."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

Today's gospel reading takes us back to the time of the first martyrs for Christ. Herod wanted to destroy Christ because of his pending royalty. To do this, he had all the male children under 2 years of age killed. But why would God allow this to happen. Why would he let so much sorrow and misery come into the world at the same time the world had received the most glorious gift. There is no explanation except that God does not interfere in man's inhumanity to man. Our own freewill lets us chose ourselves over others. Throughout history man has tried to elevate himself to the role of ruler and emperor only to be defeated. There is no great civilization that was ruled by greed, lust and a desire for power that has not been defeated. However, during their reign, they cause much suffering and sorrow. But, if we place our lives and hopes in God, we can find some solace and even joy in the face of suffering and sorrow. The young children that were sacrificed for His glorious Son found a special place in heaven. In today's society, the unborn children who are sacrificed in the name of "freedom of choice" are also martyrs in the movement to protect human dignity and human life. Today, we pray for all the children who have been martyred.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God in Heaven, please lift up all the unborn children who were sacrificed today.

May their souls rest in your arms forever.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Merry Christmas

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:15-20

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We are called to reflect on what happened today. Remember that Christ was born to save us from our sins. Salvation came to us in a small package; a baby born in a manger. Remember that our salvation originated in an infant in a manger in a small town in the middle of nowhere. What can you do to bring forth Christ. You may say that you are a small and insignificant package, yet when you bring forth Christ, you are greater than the universe.

Merry Christmas

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free.”

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. He doubts the angel and because of his 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 pray 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 your 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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

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

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

Meditation Minute

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 offered you. Remember, you are the greatest gift you can give to God. No matter what has happened to you on this earth; no 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 because my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

A Simple Pray

Lord Jesus, I am your Servant – Amen.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

What sort of reaction do you have when Jesus enters the room? When you are in church and the blessed sacrament is consecrated, are you busy yakking with your neighbor or do you leap with joy for Christ the King is present. In today’s Gospel reading, “Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.” Mary was so excited about the news from the angel of God that she had to go and confirm the news. When Elizabeth hears the voice of Mary, “the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit.” At this time, Jesus is probably only a week or so old in the womb of Mary and he is already changing the world. Can you imagine the joy and excitement that must have been shared in that house that day? What is most surprising is that Elizabeth recognized Mary as the mother of God immediately. She said to Mary, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Immediately she recognized her Lord. At this moment, these two women must have been overwhelmed with the excitement of what they contained within their wombs. The life that they carried within them would forever change the world.

We too must recognize God within us. God dwells in our heart and soul. Once we realize he is with us, we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit. We can allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives forever. When Elizabeth recognized Christ within Mary, not only was she filled with the Holy Spirit, but so was her unborn son. John the Baptist would be special from birth. His mission started in the sixth month of his conception. The Holy Spirit is a wonderful grace which allows us to see Christ within us and to bring Christ to others for their salvation. Mary brought Christ to Elizabeth and Elizabeth was overwhelmed with God. This is exactly why we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. We celebrate the gift which God placed on this earth to save us from our sins. This wonderful gift is placed within us from our conception in the womb. So on Christmas morning, thank God for giving us his son, and for placing Christ within each and every one of us.

A Simple Prayer

God, I am in joyful anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.

May he enter my life and fill me with the Holy Spirit.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

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 Zerubbabel, 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. Christ was the greatest present of all 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. We need to 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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:18b-23

At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Today’s Gospel reading presents us with a rather interesting encounter with Christ. John the Baptist sends two if his disciples to as Jesus if He is the Messiah. When asked, Jesus could have simply answered the question, but instead He says, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” So why does he answer the question like this? It’s simple – seeing is believing. Christ knows that being a witness to the signs is a much better testimony to His arrival than anything else. They witnessed Him curing the sick and giving sight to the blind. Do they not believe what they have seen with their own eyes. Are they blind to His miracles or deaf to His words. He gave life to the dead. He tells them to take this back to John as the answer to his question. During Advent, we too are asked to testify to His majesty. We must be a witness to Christ and testify that He is the Messiah.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, Open my eyes and my ears so that I may know you.

By your words, we know that you are the Messiah who freed us from our sins.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“To what shall I compare this generation?”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

In today’s gospel reading, the children play out their music, yet this generation sleeps. The people have become indifferent to the message. The music no longer stirs their hearts. “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.” The people found excuses not to hear the calling of John the Baptist calling him a disciple of Satan and refused to follow Christ because He mingled with sinners. This message is as true today as it was at the time Jesus. Today’s generation has also fallen asleep. We no longer find joy and happiness in the encounter with Christ. During Advent, we are called to be shaken awake, to come alive in dance and to sing out in joy “O Come, Let Us Adore Him”. We are called to acknowledge Christ our savior for He is coming. When the church plays its flute, we should dance in the streets and when the church plays a dirge, we should morn with sadness.

A Simple Prayer

Christ the King – Shake me until I awaken.

May I dance to your words and proclaim you are here.

O Come, Let Us Adore Him.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

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

Meditation Minute

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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

Gospel Reading: Luke 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is teaching a crowd of people including Pharisees and teachers of the law. The Pharisees and scribes were the most knowledgably of all the Jews. They knew what was and what was not allowed by Jewish law and tradition. Jesus is imparting wisdom on those who have stopped to listen to his message. Crowds of people would stop to listen making it almost impossible to even get near him. On this event, some men brought a friend of theirs who was paralyzed. They could not get to Jesus because of the crowds so “not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.” Jesus, seeing the faith of the men said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”

The scribes and the Pharisees began to question Jesus, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” So he answered them, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” At that moment, Jesus cured the paralyzed man to demonstrate who he was. This story has so many teachings. Jesus is moved by the faith of the group of men that brought him the paralyzed man. What burden these men had to overcome to bring their friend to God. First, they had to load the paralyzed man on a bed to carry him to Jesus. Once they got there, the entrance to house was blocked because of all the people. Seeing this obstacle, they could have simply turned around and went home. But instead they crawled up on the roof with the paralyzed man, cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man down to Jesus. These acts demonstrate the true determination of these men. Nothing was going to prevent them from getting to Christ. So what did Christ do to reward these men? He forgave the paralyzed man of his sins. Jesus knows what inflictions truly cripple us. It was important to forgive this man of his sins then it was to cure him of his paralysis.

The Pharisees were not happy at what they witnessed. Only God can forgive someone for their sins. They accused Jesus of blasphemy. What little faith these Pharisees had. Even listening to Jesus, they did not recognize who he was. To reveal himself to the Pharisees and scribes he replied to them, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” He then turned to the paralyzed man and said, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” After performing the miracle “astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, ‘We have seen incredible things today.’”

Jesus came to free us from our sins. He came to reveal himself to man by performing miracles, allowing the blind to see and the paralyzed to walk. Sins separate us from God. They make us unable to see and walk with God in his glory. What ailment was a greater concern to the paralyzed man, his sins or his physical paralysis? Obviously his sins would prevent him from walking in the kingdom of God. Therefore, Jesus cured the paralyzed man by forgiving his sins. What sins are blinding you and keeping you from walking with Christ? What are you willing to do to free yourself from those sins?

A Simple Prayer:

Lord God, you are the ultimate doctor.

You open my eyes and my ears so I can hear your words.

Allow me to see you and hear you.

Thanks

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Son of David, have pity on us!”

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

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Jesus talks about our final judgment and that it will take more than just a fainting cry to God to get into heaven. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” God knows when we are sincere. He knows our inner heart and our inner desires. Jesus tells us that it is simply not enough to cry out, but that we must do the will of our Father in Heaven. Our faith must have a solid foundation. It must be like the house built upon the rock. That way when Satan rains down upon us and the floods come, our faith will remain solid. The type of foundation we construct will determine how well we can survive the hard times. Satan throws many things our way trying to divert us from our journey, yet we have to be strong and face the storm.

Are you building your faith and preparing the way for the Truth and the Light? Is your faith rock solid or are you treading on shifting sands? We cannot wait until our judgment day to call out to our Lord for Salvation. A house built on the foundation of the rock of our faith will not be destroyed. We will have the strength to defend ourselves against evil. However, a faith built upon a weak foundation will topple in the storm. How many times have we had to face hardships trials or situations which tried the fabric of our faith? As young adults, your peers try to pressure you into situations which you know are wrong, but with a strong faith you can weather the storm. We are constantly bombarded with advertising, TV Shows and media which challenges the moral fiber of our Faith. TV programs and mass media which show adultery and sin with no consequence and glorify these actions tear away at the very foundation of your faith. We are judged by our actions, by our words and by our choices. We must learn to make good choices if we are to make it through the thin gate to heaven. These choices are learned actions which must be exercised daily through the teachings of Christ. Listen to His Words because “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” will make it through the gate.

How much time do you give to God? Is it just one hour a week or do you dedicate the whole week to Christ. God expects more from us then just going to Mass on Sundays. He also expects more than the one hour of religious education. Using the 10 percent rule, we should at least spend 16 hours a week in service to our Lord. This time is used to build the foundation by which our faith sits. During this advent season, dedicate the time for our Lord.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, builder of my faith.

Help me build a solid foundation on your rock.

I am weak and you are strong, with your help my foundation can also be strong.

Give me the wisdom and strength to form myself to your will.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon