Mass this weekend focuses on the Holy Family. Although we annually celebrate this feast at this time, it is particularly significant this year because of recent events in the news. The death of eleven year old Sarah Foxwell in Maryland and the announcement that a five year old who was missing had been found in Phoenix mirrors the pain and anguish that Mary and Joseph felt when they discovered their son, Jesus, was missing. In Luke’s Gospel, we learn that “Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” This great anxiety that Mary describes is a heart wrenching feeling that consumes your mind and fills it with the most horrific thoughts imaginable. Joseph had to feel particular pain as he was asked by God to serve as Jesus’ earthly father, a task that undoubtedly made Joseph feel inadequate on a daily basis. As a father, I can certainly empathize with Joseph but again want to emphasize that Joseph’s typically difficult task was made monumental by the fact that he was being asked to care for the Savior of the world. Mary’s anguish is palpable and even if she knew of Jesus’ purpose and mission, she was his mother and could not deny her deep love and maternal instincts. I can only imagine how the Foxwell family is feeling at this moment. To have your child taken from you in such a brutal way is unfathomable and something none of us should have to experience. It goes to one of the questions I asked people in the seven question survey. Why do bad thing happen to good people? It is a difficult question to answer. We will have to console ourselves with the fact that Sarah’s death came at the hands of a sick and depraved individual who surely is not allowing God to lead his life. I am praying for the Foxwell family and all other families that have lost a child to evil this year. I urge you to do the same. Jesus’ answer to Mary’s question from the Gospel of Luke was simple and direct, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Being in God’s house at this time is a good thing. But we must extend His house to the entire world and maybe we can bring an end to any other innocent children dying at the hands of evil and destructive people.

The holidays are a joyful time but can also bring apprehension and anxiety. We are excited about visiting with our family but we very often are anticipating discord. Frequently this time of the year involves going “home” to our parent’s house for the Christmas celebration. The anxiety level is often raised on both sides. The parents want everything to be perfect and for all of the existing problems to be put aside, at least for the day. The “children” (who are now adults very often with children of their own) are anticipating the judgment they will have to endure from their parents. A lot of people feel like their parents want to change them so the holiday celebration becomes one of avoidance and allusion instead of a day of enjoyment. St. Paul offers some good advice for times such as these. In Ephesians 6:4, St. Paul tells parents to not irritate or provoke their children to anger but instead to rear them in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. Paul very wisely is pointing out that the provocation will usually only serve to create a resentful attitude in the child toward the parent. As parents, love and acceptance are two of the greatest gifts we can give our children. When we offer this path, our children are then free to become the people God designed them to be. If we try to manipulate our children, we are not loving them. Loving them means setting them free to be who they are and believing that God has a plan for them. The Book of Proverbs also offers us advice on this matter in 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” He or she will also, more than likely, not depart from you either. That is, after all, what we are trying to do as we love and nurture our children to adulthood. We want to build lifelong relationships with them. We want to be part of their lives and we want them to be part of ours. If you are the parent in this situation, I urge to open your heart and your home this Christmas and invite your children in just as God created them. If you are the child in this situation, I encourage you to realize that your parents are not perfect but are usually trying to be the best they know how. Perhaps a frank conversation with them about how their manipulation makes you feel would be the best Christmas gift. But remember to honor their role in your life. Share with them the spiritual journey you are on and talk to them about your understanding of where God is leading you. Removing strife and disharmony from your life is an ongoing challenge but you should use this beautiful season as a time to make a change in your life. Taking the first step is the most difficult but think of Mary accepting God’s offer. Think of Joseph accepting his role as earthly father. Think of Jesus accepting the heaviest burden of all. Their example provides a great template for the rest of us. Have a blessed Christmas.

The scripture today comes from Mark 1:12-13, “At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” It is short and concise. The story is expanded in the other gospels, but the message is important when we look to how we should arm ourselves to deal with the temptation of the devil. We must be prepared to go to war with the devil each day. The temptations we faced are just as real as the ones that Jesus encountered over 2000 years ago. What sort of armor do you have? Are you accessing all of the weapons available to you to deal with Satan? We know from Ephesians 6:11 that the devil employs schemes against us using the forces of darkness. We are urged to take on the full armor of God and to stand firm against this dark force. Jesus was able to employ the help of angels and so are we. Many people have discovered the great aid offered by St. Michael the Archangel. He is one of the principal angels. His name was a war cry of the good angels in the war against the evil one and his followers. Saint Michael is spoken of in the book of Revelations 12:7-8, “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Prayer is a powerful antidote to evil and asking others to join us in prayer is a good strategy to combat the evil and wicked plans of Satan. If you are like me, you often feel that there are so many bad things coming at you at once that you quickly become overwhelmed. It is part of the plan of the devil to effect our lives without us even realizing what is going on and sending multiple threats and attacks is a time-worn war tactic. The armor that God has provided is the best method for fending off these attacks. The breastplate of righteousness is a good first step. Righteousness speaks to the fact that our actions are justified. We know they are if we are with Jesus Christ, who paid the price for us by shedding his blood. We are sanctified by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his blood has been sprinkled upon the altar to cover all our sins. Every one of our sins have been purged by His blood, and we have been set apart to God because we are now His possession. Another useful piece of armor is the belt of truth. Living in the truth by walking the path set out by Jesus is extremely powerful. I challenge you to think of the many times in your life when the revelation of truth could have prevented something bad from happening. Being in the truth and urging others to be truthful provides a powerful foundation to build upon. More importantly, when you hear a whispered lie from the devil, stop and focus on the truth and provide the light that will dispel the misinformation. Very often that is the missing ingredient in our lives that prevents us from living happy and living on purpose for Jesus. Our baptism calls for us to attain a higher degree of virtue and holiness and to revel in the sanctification that is provided by the diving grace of Jesus. This battle is constant and ongoing but we are called to be God’s warriors and prayer is the best weapon we have.

My wife and I taught religious education (CCD) for many years and enjoyed it immensely. It is an important part of the Catholic Church’s mission as there are many folks who cannot afford Catholic schools. One of the questions that we always got each year from our students and sometimes from parents was “what does catechism mean?” It is an interesting word. On the surface, we probably think of catechism for what it represents. It is school or class and we are taken to catechism by our parents once a week to learn about God and His Church. But the Church defines catechism much more deeply. After all, the definitive source for all things Catholic is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Last updated in 1992, the Catechism was created by the Church in response to her mission to guard the deposit of faith which the Lord entrusted to His Church. It is the reference text that is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. It is used for teaching the faith and is a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. It is a “sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is also offered to all the faithful who wish to deepen their knowledge of the unfathomable riches of salvation (cf. Eph 3:8). It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the holy desire for the unity of all Christians, showing carefully the content and wondrous harmony of the catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, lastly, is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pt 3:15) and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes” (taken from the opening of the latest edition). It is this local catechism that I think most of the questioning was about and it is an intriguing question. One of the best examples I could find to use as an example of a local catechism comes from the great Catholic writer, Father John Carville who writes a column in the Catholic Commentator, the official newspaper for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He notes that “Christmas is a complete catechism. The feast teaches us through Scripture, through story, through song, through symbol, even through smell and taste. We are led by revelation and imagination from the event of Jesus’ birth to the mystery that pervaded his entire life: “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We rejoice at the dawning of a light that in 2,000 years the darkness has never overcome and we wonder at the vulnerability of God’s unconquerable grace which came to us in human flesh.” Carville’s description allows us to see through example that a catechism is the means and method that we use to understand our faith. The use of the Bible to understand God’s message is integral to our faith. We listen to the proclamation of readings from the Bible each Sunday and for daily communicants, each day. The use of songs further illuminates the message and also allows us to offer praise and worship to our Lord. The symbolism of Christmas surrounds us in the form of the Nativity, trumpeting angels, the star of Bethlehem, and Joseph leading the pregnant Mary on a donkey. Christmas does have its own smell and taste. Fr. Carville has captured the concept of catechism perfectly but also offers us the perfect gift when he reminds us that the “word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It is the ultimate gift from God and the entire reason we prepare to celebrate the most important birthday in the history of the world. I hope that the catechism of Christmas provides you the perfect opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior and allows you to deepen your relationship with God our Father.

There is controversy today about a poster that is being used to promote the upcoming U.S. Census. You can view it here but it essentially depicts the Holy Family making their way back to Bethlehem for the census. As we all know, when they arrived there was no room at the inn so they were allowed to stay in the barn and Jesus was born there. Some folks are saying that the poster is sacrilegious. I do not think it is and in fact, brings focus to Jesus just when many folks lose sight of what Christmas is all about. Maybe my logic is simplistic but I think that it depicts the truth about the birth of Jesus. It also sends the message that we should try to be more like Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The art work is not derogatory, as is often the case, and in fact is similar to what you would find on a Christmas card. I was alerted to the controversy by an article in a national newspaper. The comments on the poster are mainly about the census itself. It seems that people are very concerned that the U.S. Government will now know where they live. I am not going to try to figure that out. I also wanted to mention that I received a few comments on the Yahweh post. The conversation centered on the fear that a return to the past, i.e. Latin Rites, etc., will be detrimental to the Church. Many fear that our young people will not respond to this tradition. I agree that the current form of Mass is much more beneficial to me as a Christian. I am much more engaged and truly feel connected to the Lord throughout the worship and praise. It is my hope that people will become more actively involved in their salvation and spiritual journey. That requires each of us to live in the moment. When we are praying, we should be only focused on that. It is important to reserve part of our day for conversation with the Lord. Finding the time and place for solitude is equably important and very often the most difficult task we face. Take another look at the poster of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I am sure that Mary and Joseph spent much of that trip in conversation with God. Maybe we all need a Bethlehem journey moment in this time of frenetic rushing.

Did you know that Pope Benedict has had the name Yahweh removed from all things Catholic? I discovered this yesterday, on the third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete (Latin for "rejoice") Sunday. The choir was warming up and I heard the director tell everyone to change the word Yahweh to Lord in the song "I Lift Up My Soul." Of course the director merely offered that the pastor had made the change without an explanation. I went to the Catholic News Service (CNS) and discovered that this change was made last year in deference to the Jewish people. It really is an interesting story. The name of God has been declared unpronounceable in the Jewish tradition and it is related mostly to honoring God. The Jewish people used the four letters YHWH to represent God. I guess over the years that came to be pronounced as Yahweh. At the end of the day, I am fine with this change. What I found to be disturbing is the abruptness of the change. Little did I know that the instruction had come form the Vatican last year. I guess my pastor was busy with other things. I would have liked an explanation from the pulpit on this as I think it is a wonderful teaching moment. I did send my pastor an email about this, just in case you think that I am only complaining but not doing anything about it. It also allowed me to send an email to the choir about what was going on. Who knows, maybe it will prompt someone to learn more about their religion and the rich tradition that exists. I have tried to stay up to date with the Church's announcements but I guess I was busy doing other things as well. Returning back to the season of Advent, the CNS did have a terrific story about Pope Benedict's message for this Christmas. "The secret to experiencing true joy is not found in accumulating lots of things, but from feeling loved by the Lord and being generous to others," Pope Benedict XVI said. Real joy is feeling that one's personal and social life "is touched and filled by a great mystery, the mystery of God's love," he said December 13 before his midday recitation of the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. It is a nice reminder especially at this time of the year when billboards, TV and radio are blaring that there are only ten shopping days left before Christmas. In reality, there are only ten days left for us to plan how we will reach out to friends and family in a manner that is respectful of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I urge you to take a half hour or so to think about that. What could be more welcomed by someone who loves you than to get to spend some time with you? Spend a little less time at the mall and a little more time in fellowship with those you love. Merry Christmas.

The pro-life Nelson-Hatch amendment (the Senate version of the Stupak ban on public funding of abortion) has been rejected in the Senate by a 54–45 vote. The opposition of Senator Reid and his colleagues to the Hatch-Nelson amendment illustrates clearly that this bill is not about health-care accessibility or affordability. It is largely a vehicle to sneak in the wolf of federally-funded elective abortion under disguise of health-care-reform clothing. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Chair of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said: “Congress needs to separate facts and truth from political rhetoric on abortion funding. Even our opponents claim they do not support federal funding for elective abortions and they want current restrictions to apply. The way to settle this often misleading debate is simply, clearly and explicitly to apply Hyde restrictions to all the federal funds in the legislation. That is what the House did and what the final bill must do. The Senate should not approve this bill in its current form.” I literally feel like I have been transported to the world created by C. S. Lewis in his masterpiece The Screwtape Letters. The current administration is coming at us so fast and furiously, we literally do not have time to stop and think. It is clear that this strategy has been adopted in hopes that we will not have time to mount any opposition as they continue to ride roughshod over our civil liberties and the process of democracy that is so dear to the American way. I am prayerful that the Christians in Washington D. C. are being vigilant and letting the rest of us know what is happening. It is a very unsettling time to be an American who chooses to life his life following Christ's example. I know that in the end, the Lord will achieve victory but the ensuing journey is nauseating. Case in point: Diane Francis calling for planetary adoption of China's one-child policy. This policy calls for any woman who already has one child to murder any of her other children at conception. What sort of person develops villainous ideas like this? How does Ms. Francis justify this policy? I am fearful that something terrible must have occurred in Ms. Francis' life that has prevented her from developing compassion, empathy, and logic. I urge you to pray for the conversion of Diane Francis and an end to her lunacy.

The response to the seven question survey has been terrific. I have found inspiration in the responses from the participants and I hope they are helping you on your spiritual journey as well. Today I am adding the thoughts from Monsignor Charles B. King, who serves as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1894, Immaculate Conception is the older of the two Catholic parishes in Denton. They described themselves as a welcoming and friendly parish family; a community that is both multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, with more than twenty-five hundred registered families. I hope you enjoy Monsignor King’s thoughtful reflections. If you would like to respond to the seven questions yourself, please do so and send them to me at fellmananthony@gmail.com. Merry Christmas!

1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge to my faith has been the temptation to put material things and satisfactions ahead of my commitment to Christ. My daily prayer is a petition to Christ to keep me from temptations to the flesh and material attractions.

2. What scripture do you find yourself turning to most often? My favorite Scripture passage is the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of John in which John shows Jesus power over the forces of nature in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and His ability to control the forces of nature as He walks on water, both of which events preceded His teaching on the Eucharist at the synagogue in Capernaum.

3. How do you think God is revealing his presence to us in the world today? I am satisfied that God is revealing Himself in the forces of nature that challenge us to use our God-Given powers to bring nature under control for the good of mankind.

4. Do you have a book that you would recommend to people trying to develop their spirituality? I would recommend to those able to handle a more challenging book, The Confessions of St. Augustine.

5. Why do you think bad things happen to good people? I think bad things happen to good people because good people fail to practice the commandments of Chris to love. If we were faithful to those commandments, then the expenditures we put into the forces of destruction could have been used to create the environment that would enable people to live a quality life. Beyond that, the bad things that happen in our world are part of the mystery that daily challenges us to take up our cross to follow Jesus.

6. What have you found is the most effective way to introduce the word of God to a nonbeliever? The most effective way I have found to introduce non-believers to the Lord are the actions by which I live my faith day to day. That seems to get people’s attention and arouses in them the interest that often leads to questions about my faith and a desire to share it.

7. Do you have a favorite saint and if so, why? My favorite Saint is Charles Borromeo, a reformer in the Church who gave his life to getting the Church straightened out and led a life of austerity that backed up his conviction in Jesus Christ. He was named a Cardinal at the age of 16 and devoted his life to the reform of the Church and in particular to the reform of Clergy Formation.

I just finished a great book by Edward Rowell called Emma's Journal. I found myself crying at the end. Not becasue it was sad but because it was simply a beautiful story. The premise is based on the life of Emma Estes who was in an abusive relationship for most of her life. Once her husband dies and her grown children have left, she makes a life altering decision to turn everything over to God. Her journey is mainly guided by the scripture in Luke 1:80 which describes Jesus' life between His childhood and when He begins His ministry. Emma decides to live a life of purpose and to make a difference in the world around her. This is not a literary masterpiece but a simple book that brings hope. Rowell gives us a nice blueprint for improving our life each day with small steps that get us to change our bad habits into good. It is easy to read and would be appropriate for children as well (ages 10 and up). What this book did for me was two-fold. It was reassuring in the fact that people can change if they want to but it is best to set small, reachable goals that can help us get to the person we were meant to be. Living a life on purpose means that we are making conscience Godly decisions; ones grounded in our beliefs and faith. In addition, it reminded me that Jesus again provides the best example of how we should choose to live our lives. He was relational and sought people out. He engaged them in conversation (woman at the well) and truly cared for them. He did not judge, although He could, and He sought to help them see that God loved them. The heroine in the book, Emma, is an oversimplification but her journey is inspirational. Although she was not a great mother to her two children, when she decides to live a purposeful life, she becomes a great mother to so many others. The first entry in her journal reads, "When it’s time for me to go, I just want to know that my life made a difference, Lord." Isn't that something we all desire? Merry Christmas to you.

One of the most beautiful modern Christmas songs that has emerged recently is Mary Did You Know? I have heard a number of folks sing it and the impact is always the same. The song makes you stop and think about Mary and what she experienced when she was asked to carry Jesus. Isn't that what a good song is supposed to do? Not only entertain you but take you to another place. It always makes me think of the time before Jesus' birth when Mary was in Bethlehem. Her relationship with Joseph was already established but we know that this certainly caused him to reconsider the prospects of marriage with this young woman, that is until God sent his angel to intervene. Since I am not a woman and cannot ever experience the miracle of child birth personally, it is almost impossible for me to know on a biological level what Mary felt as this baby grew inside of her. But I can, as a parent, empathize with her feelings of doubt, concern, and wonder. How was this child going to change her life? Would she be able to be a good parent? What type of adult would her child become? It is here, of course, that Mary has a distinct advantage over all of us. She is assured by God that this child is coming to save the world. Her child, Jesus, will provide the path to heaven for all of us. Those facts probably did more to make her anxious than comfort her. Yet she is the picture of calm and composure. Mary even travels to visit Elizabeth her cousin. I especially like the part in the song where it asks, "Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?" She probably did not think of it but if she had, I assume she would have known that this was a possibility. After all, this is God's own Son. He could do anything and was not bound by the limitations of humanness. Another wonderful line in the song says, "When you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God." That is surely something that we can all dream about. To one day kiss the face of God in heaven provides me with great hope and incentive. I am driven to meet my God in heaven and show my adoration face to face. I hope that this Christmas season brings moments of great joy to you and yours. I encourage you to take the time to listen to songs like this one. I assure you it will help you to prepare for the celebration on December 25.

Anticipation and preparation are the keywords for the Advent Season. How are you preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Is the anticipation you are feeling merely the pressure created by shopping, parties, and other commercial hassles? It is very difficult to slow down at this time of the year and really think about the meaning of December 25. But is it incumbent upon you to find the time to focus on the meaning of Christmas as a Christian. Not only are we celebrating the birth of Jesus but anticipating His second coming. The manifestation of Jesus to the world in His human form provides us the perfect opportunity to realize that we are not alone. A good example of the anticipation comes from Mary's cousin Elizabeth and appears in the Gospel of Luke 1:41-45, "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.'" Although Elizabeth was expecting her own child after being barren for many years, she realized the importance of Mary's pregnancy. Elizabeth could be described as the first Christian. She is faithful to God's word and honors and adores Jesus while He is still in Mary's womb. What a wonderful witness and example for us all. Later, her son John provides a perfect example of preparation when he is baptizing people in the Jordan as the Gospel of Mark 1:3-5 tells us, "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.' John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins." How can we make straight the path for the Lord? I think this is again an example of God asking us to be His hands and feet on earth. We are called to share the Good News. We are called to talk with each other about God. That is why I started this blog and why I have asked folks to answer the seven question survey. Being in communication about our spiritual journey allows us to grow personally but also offers a path for others, those who are struggling or may just need a nudge. I hope that you are able to spend a portion of each day during Advent preparing to celebrate Christ's birth and anticipating the glory that is to come. Merry Christmas!