The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Listen and Be Led

According to the Natural Institute of Health, the brain “rewires itself to enhance other senses in blind people.” One can’t help but wonder if Simeon’s physical blindness enhanced his ability to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb, led Simeon into the temple to meet Him. This encounter not only brought Simeon consolation in the fulfilment of God’s promise to him, but also amazement to Mary and Joseph. In spite of the challenges that they faced in their respective journeys, Simeon, Mary, and Joseph each exercised courage, deep trust, and patience. Certainly, these were fruits born out of their collaboration with the Spirit.

There is much to ponder and analyze in this Gospel passage. However, for those of us who may get into our heads and frequently ask “What does this mean?”, today’s Gospel may be inviting us into deeper attunement to the Holy Spirit. Rather than spiraling on our own about what incidents or messages may mean, could we instead pray to the Holy Spirit to give us a spirit of wisdom and understanding about what God wants to reveal to us? Could we ask the Holy Spirit to help us encounter the infant Jesus, Mary, and Joseph this Christmas season like we never have before? Could we ask for the grace to let go of distractions and worries to enhance our own sense of the Spirit?

Lord, help us to follow the example of Simeon and Your beloved parents, listening to the promptings of the spirit that lead us to embrace You this Christmas season, in the coming year, and throughout our pilgrimage to heaven.

Guadalupe De La O-González

Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Celebrating Your Holy Family

“Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged. Colossians 3:19-21

Growing up, I remember hearing the fifth commandment often, “Honor thy mother and father.” I mean, not doing so meant passing purgatory and going straight to hell. On the Feast of the Holy Family, I’ve often proclaimed the second reading from Colossians. For me, it is an excellent reflection for the reader of this article to reflect on their own family dynamics.

Before I was a wife, I remember reading the word 'subordinate' made me angry, but now, as a widow, I see it as a prompt that helped me discern which role to embrace in my marriage. What are my gifts, and what were my husband's, and to concede control where I was lesser. Thankfully, my husband managed the finances. As a child, obeying my parents was paramount to me, and I didn’t question them. But when the scripture warned, “Do not provoke your children,” it provided me the freedom to disobey now and then.

During my annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Holy Redeemer, I often gaze upon this bronze sculpture to thank God for my parents and for how they raised me; their model of marriage, albeit flawed, was how to be a child who was raised to love, respect, and feel the presence of God and model my faith to others.

All families are Holy, whether you define it as sacred or one that sparks surprise, alarm, or dismay. Pray, asking for the intercession of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to give you peace in and with your family.

Sherry Hayes-Peirce

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

God Speaks Through Uncomfortable News

“Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.’” - John 20:1a-2

Upon arriving at work, I got a text message from my paternal uncle Binh: “Your grandfather is dying and he only has a few hours left to live.” Given my estrangement from my father, I prioritized my time to visit the hospital during my lunch break. I sent a text message to my husband informing him about the news but got an immediate phone call: “I’m going to pick you up. Drop everything. You need to be there.”

I came to the hospital with an overwhelming sense of anxiety meeting with my father and the paternal family. However, as I pulled aside the curtain to witness my paternal grandfather (ông nội) dying, the Holy Spirit gave me an unexpected sense of calmness and peace in the room. As I sat next to ông nội, I held his hand and began to pray. God cleared my heart, mind, and soul reminding me: “Despite what your parents might have said, ông nội has always made an attempt to have a relationship with you. Now be with him.”

As I reflected on the Gospel Reading, I couldn’t shake off the fact that my uncle and my husband were like Mary Magdalene sharing that uncomfortable news of Jesus’ body to the disciples. I couldn’t shake off seeing how I was like the faster disciple who “arrived at the tomb first” only to “not go in” because I was held back by fear. I couldn't shake off how I felt the Holy Spirit’s transformation within me was like when Simon Peter inspected the burial clothes or when the faster disciple eventually entered into the tomb and finally “saw and believed.” I couldn't shake off the fact that I was fortunate enough to be with ông nội before his last breath.

Lord, please help me be open to any news that may make me uncomfortable so that I may come to see and believe in you like Mary Magdalene and your disciples.

John Huân Vũ