Spirituality: Mary and Latin America, Oscar Romero

Mary and the church in Latin America are marked by poverty. 

Vatican Council II says that Mary stands out among the poor who await redemption from God. 

Mary appears in the Bible as the expression of poverty, of humility, of one who needs everything from God. 

When she comes to America, her intimate, motherly converse is with an Indian, an outcast, a poor man. Mary’s dialogue in America begins with a sign of poverty, poverty that is hunger for God, poverty that is joy of independence. 

Poverty is freedom. Poverty is needing others, needing brothers and sisters, supporting one another so as to help one another. This is what Mary means and what the church means in Latin America. 

If at some time the church betrayed its spirit of poverty, then it was unfaithful to the gospel, which meant it to be distinct from the powers of the earth, not depending on the money that makes humans happy, but depending on the power of Christ, on God’s power. 

That is its greatness. 

DECEMBER 12, 1977 

The Lord is Near: The Third Sunday in Advent 2024

                                                                  The Lord is Near:

The Third Sunday in Advent 2024

December 15, 2024

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Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 126; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

 

Zephaniah offers us hope that our suffering is known and heard by God, and that we can rejoice because our Savior will renew us in God’s love. Those words bring about our joy because God is among us to comfort and console us. St. Paul punctuates this expectant mood when he says, “the Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all. Rejoice in the Lord always and you are to be known by your kindness. In the Gospel, John the Baptist responds to the heartfelt questioning about what people should do since they have had compunction, a change of heart, and they are ready to make amends. The Baptist gives sound moral advice that we need to heed, especially in today’s turbulent times.

 

The people ask, “What shall we do?” Our hearts need mending, and their conversions require acts of service and reconciliation. We need to realize the effects of our sins upon others, and that repairing the harm done to the world starts with repairing the most harmed parts of our souls. We need to think of structural sings like prejudice, racism, homophobia, and the effects of slavery and genocide. When we honestly acknowledge the wrong we’ve done to others, when we see that love has been compromised, the desire to make amends begins. 

 

John the Baptist points to the attitudes of people when he suggested that we must stop deceiving ourselves and acknowledge our past rightly. Christian wisdom is born from self-awareness and self-accusation. We are a people who ask for forgiveness from others. We are aware that we exist in a larger community and that our actions affect the common good of society. This reveals great nobility among human weakness. Asking for forgiveness heals relationships because it opens dialogue and the desire to restore the bonds of friendship. When we ask to be forgiven, the heart of the other person is touched, and it brings consolation and inspires acceptance of our request. The thriving of the relationship must be maintained, and we can bring love to places where we thought it was lost. Love makes the hurt bearable and strengthens our connection.

 

In Scripture, we see people turning from selfishness to care for the larger community. Selfishness leads to ingratitude and indifference, and it leads to that wise saying: If we compare, we despair. The best way to move on from that state is to love our brothers and sisters with respect and affection. Our hearts are moved when we become attentive to the sufferings and needs of others. 

 

Our great joy is that when we help or care for another person, Jesus is at our side. He is always at work and becomes present through our service. Our loving actions for our community is a solid way to witness our love for Jesus. Our love becomes service within the community, which is the reason St. Paul says, “your kindness should be known to all.” The people who asked the Baptist, “What shall we do?” were compelled to move beyond their conform zone, because they discovered that their mission to spread goodness in the world was the way they would find happiness. We are summoned to bring goodness and kindness to the world – each in our own way. We will experience the joy of our efforts when we share the love of Christ with others. This is the reason we rejoice. We are called to go forth confidently, generously, freely, and fearlessly to bring goodness and beauty to the world. How can we do anything but rejoice?

 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Zechariah 2) Rejoice, O daughter Zion. I am coming to dwell among you. The Lord will possess Judah, and he will again choose Jerusalem.

 

Tuesday: (Zephaniah 3) On that day, I will change and purify their lips that they may call upon the name of the Lord. You shall not exalt yourself on my holy mountain.

 

Wednesday: (Isaiah 45) I am the Lord; there is no other; I form the light and create the darkness. Turn to me and be safe all you ends of the earth for I am the Lord, your God.

 

Thursday: (Isaiah 54) Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, break forth in jubilant song you who were not in labor.    

 

Friday (Isaiah 56) Observe what is right; do what is just; for my salvation is about to come; my justice is about to be revealed.

 

Saturday (Genesis 49) Jacob said: You Judah, shall your brothers praise. The scepter will never depart from you, or the mace from between your legs.  

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 1) The angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin betrothed to Joseph to announce that the Holy Spirit would overpower her, and she would conceive a son. 

 

Tuesday: (Matthew 21) A man had two sons – one who said no but did what his father asked; the other who said yes, but did not do what he asked. Which son was better?

 

Wednesday (Luke 7) The Baptist sent his disciples at ask: Are you the one who is to come? Look around: the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the poor hear the good news.

 

Thursday (Luke 7) Jesus asked: Why did you go out to see the Baptist? He is the greatest of men born to women.   

 

Friday (John 5) The Baptist was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his lift, but I have greater testimony than John’s.

 

Saturday (Matthew 1) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus.

 

Saints of the Week

 

Saints are not celebrated during the octave leading up to Christmas.

 

December 17 - O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge.

 

December 18 - O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power.

 

December 19 - O root of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all the people, before you the kings will be silenced, to you the nations will make their prayers: come to save us without delay!

 

December 20 - O key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, opening the gates of God's eternal kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness.

 

December 21 - O radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• December 15, 1631. At Naples, during an earthquake and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Jesuits worked to help all classes of people. 
• December 16, 1544. Francis Xavier entered Cochin. 
• December 17, 1588. At Paris, Fr. Henry Walpole was ordained. 
• December 18, 1594. At Florence, the apparition of St Ignatius to St Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi. 
• December 19, 1593. At Rome, Fr. Robert Bellarmine was appointed rector of the Roman College. 
• December 20, 1815. A ukase of Alexander I was published banishing the Society of Jesus from St Petersburg and Moscow on the pretext that they were troubling the Russian Church. 
• December 21, 1577. In Rome, Fr. Juan de Polanco, secretary to the Society and very dear to Ignatius, died.

El Señor está cerca: El tercer domingo de Adviento de 2024

                                                                 El Señor está cerca:

El tercer domingo de Adviento de 2024

15 de diciembre de 2024

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predmoresj@yahoo.com | 617.510.9673

Sofonías 3:14-18; Isaías 126; Filipenses 4:4-7; Lucas 3:10-18

 

Sofonías nos ofrece la esperanza de que nuestro sufrimiento es conocido y escuchado por Dios, y que podemos regocijarnos porque nuestro Salvador nos renovará en el amor de Dios. Esas palabras nos traen alegría porque Dios está entre nosotros para consolarnos. San Pablo enfatiza este estado de ánimo expectante cuando dice: “El Señor está cerca ... No os preocupéis por nada. Estad siempre alegres en el Señor y seréis conocidos por vuestra bondad”. En el Evangelio, Juan el Bautista responde a las preguntas sinceras sobre lo que deben hacer las personas que han tenido remordimiento, un cambio de corazón y están dispuestas a enmendarse. El Bautista da un consejo moral sólido que debemos tener en cuenta, especialmente en los tiempos turbulentos de hoy.

 

La gente pregunta: “¿Qué haremos?” Nuestros corazones necesitan ser sanados, y sus conversiones requieren actos de servicio y reconciliación. Necesitamos darnos cuenta de los efectos de nuestros pecados sobre los demás, y que la reparación del daño causado al mundo comienza con la reparación de las partes más dañadas de nuestras almas. Necesitamos pensar en signos estructurales como el prejuicio, el racismo, la homofobia y los efectos de la esclavitud y el genocidio. Cuando reconocemos honestamente el mal que hemos hecho a los demás, cuando vemos que el amor se ha visto comprometido, comienza el deseo de enmendarlo.

 

Juan Bautista señala las actitudes de las personas cuando sugiere que debemos dejar de engañarnos a nosotros mismos y reconocer nuestro pasado correctamente. La sabiduría cristiana nace de la autoconciencia y la autoacusación. Somos un pueblo que pide perdón a los demás. Somos conscientes de que existimos en una comunidad más grande y que nuestras acciones afectan al bien común de la sociedad. Esto revela una gran nobleza en medio de la debilidad humana. Pedir perdón sana las relaciones porque abre el diálogo y el deseo de restablecer los vínculos de amistad. Cuando pedimos perdón, el corazón de la otra persona se conmueve, y eso trae consuelo e inspira la aceptación de nuestra petición. La prosperidad de la relación debe mantenerse, y podemos llevar amor allí donde creíamos que se había perdido. El amor hace soportable el dolor y fortalece nuestra conexión.

 

En las Sagradas Escrituras vemos a personas que pasan del egoísmo a preocuparse por la comunidad en general. El egoísmo conduce a la ingratitud y a la indiferencia, y de ahí ese sabio dicho: Si nos comparamos, nos desesperamos. La mejor manera de salir de ese estado es amar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas con respeto y afecto. Nuestro corazón se conmueve cuando prestamos atención a los sufrimientos y necesidades de los demás.

 

Nuestra gran alegría es que cuando ayudamos o cuidamos a otra persona, Jesús está a nuestro lado. Él siempre está trabajando y se hace presente a través de nuestro servicio. Nuestras acciones de amor hacia nuestra comunidad son una forma sólida de dar testimonio de nuestro amor por Jesús. Nuestro amor se convierte en servicio dentro de la comunidad, por eso San Pablo dice: “vuestra bondad sea conocida de todos”. Las personas que preguntaron al Bautista: “¿Qué haremos?” se vieron obligadas a salir de su zona de conformidad, porque descubrieron que su misión de difundir la bondad en el mundo era la forma en que encontrarían la felicidad. Estamos llamados a llevar bondad y amabilidad al mundo, cada uno a su manera. Experimentaremos la alegría de nuestros esfuerzos cuando compartamos el amor de Cristo con los demás. Esta es la razón por la que nos regocijamos. Estamos llamados a avanzar con confianza, generosidad, libertad y sin miedo para llevar bondad y belleza al mundo. ¿Cómo podemos hacer otra cosa que regocijarnos?

 

 

Escritura para la misa diaria

Lunes: (Zacarías 2) Alégrate, hija de Sión. Yo vengo a morar en medio de ti. El Señor poseerá a Judá y escogerá de nuevo a Jerusalén.

 

Martes: (Sofonías 3) En aquel día, yo cambiaré y purificaré sus labios para que invoquen el nombre del Señor. No te ensalzarás en mi santo monte.

 

Miércoles: (Isaías 45) Yo soy el Señor, no hay otro; formo la luz y creo las tinieblas. Volveos a mí y estad a salvo, todos los confines de la tierra, porque yo soy el Señor, vuestro Dios.

 

Jueves: (Isaías 54) Levanta un grito de alegría, oh estéril, la que no daba a luz; prorrumpe en gritos de júbilo, la que no estaba de dolores de parto.

 

Viernes (Isaías 56) Observad lo que es recto, haced lo que es justo, porque mi salvación está para venir, mi justicia está para revelarse.

 

Sábado (Génesis 49) Dijo Jacob: Tú, Judá, tus hermanos te alabarán. El cetro nunca se apartará de ti, ni la maza de entre tus piernas.

 

Evangelio: 

Lunes: (Lucas 1) El ángel Gabriel fue enviado a una virgen desposada con José para anunciarle que el Espíritu Santo la dominaría y concebiría un hijo.

 

Martes: (Mateo 21) Un hombre tenía dos hijos: uno que dijo que no, pero hizo lo que su padre le pidió; el otro que dijo que sí, pero no hizo lo que le pidió. ¿Cuál de los dos hijos era mejor?

 

Miércoles (Lucas 7) El Bautista envió a sus discípulos a preguntar: ¿Eres tú el que había de venir? Mirad a vuestro alrededor: los ciegos ven, los sordos oyen, los cojos andan y los pobres oyen la buena noticia.

 

Jueves (Lucas 7) Jesús preguntó: ¿Por qué salieron a ver al Bautista? Él es el más grande de los hombres nacidos de mujeres.

 

Viernes (Juan 5) El Bautista era una lámpara ardiente y resplandeciente, y por un tiempo ustedes se contentaron con regocijarse en su elevación, pero yo tengo mayor testimonio que el de Juan.

 

Sábado (Mateo 1) Libro de la genealogía de Jesucristo, hijo de David, hijo de Abraham. Jacob fue el padre de José, esposo de María. De ella nació Jesús.

 

Santos de la semana

 

Los santos no se celebran durante la octava previa a la Navidad.

 

17 de diciembre – Oh Sabiduría, que sales de la boca de nuestro Dios Altísimo, guiando la creación con poder y amor: ven a enseñarnos el camino del conocimiento.

 

18 de diciembre – Oh Adonai, y líder de la casa de Israel, que te apareciste a Moisés en el fuego de la zarza ardiente y le diste la ley en el Sinaí: ven a rescatarnos con tu gran poder.

 

19 de diciembre - Oh raíz del tronco de Jesé, signo del amor de Dios para todos los pueblos, ante ti callarán los reyes, a ti dirigirán sus oraciones las naciones: ¡ven a salvarnos sin demora!

 

20 de diciembre – Oh llave de David y cetro de la casa de Israel, que abres las puertas del reino eterno de Dios: ven y libera a los prisioneros de las tinieblas.

 

21 de diciembre – Oh Aurora radiante, esplendor de la luz eterna, sol de justicia: ven y brilla sobre los que habitan en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte.

Esta semana en la historia de los jesuitas

 

• 15 de diciembre de 1631. En Nápoles, durante un terremoto y la erupción del Vesubio, los jesuitas trabajaron para ayudar a todas las clases de personas.
• 16 de diciembre de 1544. Francisco Javier entró en Cochin.
• 17 de diciembre de 1588. En París, fue ordenado el padre Henry Walpole.
• 18 de diciembre de 1594. En Florencia, aparición de San Ignacio a Santa María Magdalena de Pazzi.
• 19 de diciembre de 1593. En Roma, el P. Roberto Bellarmino fue nombrado rector del Colegio Romano.
• 20 de diciembre de 1815. Se publicó un edicto de Alejandro I que desterró a la Compañía de Jesús de San Petersburgo y Moscú con el pretexto de que perturbaban a la Iglesia rusa.
• 21 de diciembre de 1577. En Roma, muere el P. Juan de Polanco, secretario de la Compañía y muy querido por Ignacio.

Photo: The Garden of Inspiration

 

Poem: “Making the House Ready for the Lord” by Mary Oliver

 Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but 

still nothing is as shining as it should be 

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an 

uproar of mice – it is the season of their 

many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves 

and through the walls the squirrels 

have gnawed their ragged entrances – but it is the season 

when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And 

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard 

while the dog snores, the cat holds the pillow; 

what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling 

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly 

up the path, to the door. And I still believe you will 

come, Lord; you will, when I speak to the fox, 

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know 

that I am really speaking to you whenever I say, 

as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in. Come in.

Photo: A Wall of Lights

 

Prayer: Cyril of Alexandria

Hail Mary, who enclosed under your heart the infinite God whom no space can contain. Through you the Trinity is adored and glorified; the cross is venerated throughout the universe. Through you the heavens rejoice, and the angels and archangels are filled with gladness. Through you the demons are banished, and the tempter fell from heaven. Through you the fallen human race is admitted to heaven. Through you kings rule, and the Son of God has become a star of light to those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Photo: Lights Algow

 

Poem: "The Coming," by R.S. Thomas

 And God held in his hand

A small globe.  Look he said.
The son looked.  Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour.  The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, A river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
               On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The sky.  many People
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs.  The son watched
Them.  Let me go there, he said.

Spirituality: “The Sacrament of Letting Go” by Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

 Slowly she celebrated the sacrament of letting go

first she surrendered her green then the orange, yellow and red             

finally she let go of her brown 

shedding her last leaf   

she stood empty and silent, stripped bare.

Leaning against the winter sky 

she began her vigil of trust.

 

And Jesus said:

Why do you worry about clothes? Remember the 

flowers growing in the fields; they do not fret about 

what to wear; yet I assure you not even Solomon 

in all his royal robes was dressed like one of these.

 

                Shedding her last leaf 

she watched its journey to the ground. 

She stood in silence 

wearing the robe of emptiness, 

her branches wondering: 

How do you give shade with so much gone?

And Jesus said:

Do not be troubled or needlessly concerned.

 

                And then, the sacrament of waiting began.

                The sunrise and sunset watched with tenderness.

                Clothing her with silhouettes they kept her hope alive.

                They helped her understand that 

her vulnerability 

her dependence and need 

her emptiness 

her readiness to receive 

were giving her a new kind of beauty. 

Every morning and every evening 

they stood in silence 

and celebrated together 

the sacrament of waiting!

 

And Jesus said:

Now if that is how God cares for the wild flowers 

in the fields which are here today and gone tomorrow, 

will He not all the more care for you …?