Please enjoy the Reflection, including one student’s spiritual autobiography. It will mesmerize you!

Christmastide, the Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus

Welcome everyone back to the first Chapel after the Christmas holiday! What a remarkable holiday it was, punctuated with snow that started on Christmas and melted before we returned. Amazing. We hope that your holiday was fun and relaxing. Happy New Year!

We are beginning a new calendar year!  The first of January. It consists of 12 months and lasts 365 days and every four years 366 days. Our calendar year is the time it takes our planet to orbit our sun.

There are other ways to “mark” our year. Take for example, our academic year. We began in August and finish school in June. It is not a complete 365 day year, but we call it our academic year.

For anyone who accounts for finances, they are familiar with a fiscal year. That is, by year which begins pretty much anytime you want it to where you account for money coming in and money going out!  Our fiscal year starts the first of July and ends the last day of June.

But there is another way to mark our calendar that is especially important for our reflection today.  As many of you know, only a few weeks ago, at the beginning of Advent, we began another way of marking a year, the liturgical year.

The liturgical year is a walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father.   The church and begins the liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent and it ends with Christmas day.  Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” It spans the four Sundays before Christmas Day.

Christmastide is the next season and lasts for 12 days between Christmas Day and Epiphany, the day we celebrate Jesus beging visited by the three wise men.

Next comes: Ordinary time after Epiphany.

And then: Lent which begins with Ash Wednesday.

And the holiest days of the year: The Triduum.  Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Easter and Eastertide: From Easter to Pentecost.

Then a long time after Pentecost: Ordinary Time.  Gospels are ordered around Jesus’ ministry, miracles and parables. And this takes us back to Advent again.  The year is complete.

The feast of the Epiphany was celebrated last Sunday.  This coming Sunday is the feast of the baptism of Jesus which officially concludes Christmas time (or Christmastide) and begins Ordinary Time.

It is important to mention the Epiphany today because the Epiphany represents that Jesus came for all people.  Jesus was Jewish and some people during his ministry thought that he came to give the good news (the news of salvation) only to the Jewish people.  But this is not so.  You see, the wise men, (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) were not Jewish.. but they knew that Jesus was God’s son and came to worship him and offer him gifts. For us, it is important to know this so that we can help people understand that Jesus is “for them” to.

Let’s talk a bit about the next Sunday’s Gospel.  It is all about the baptism of Jesus.  Jesus begins his public ministry with his baptism.  It is an important event for us historically in the life of Jesus but also it gives us an example of what we must do in the filling our own baptismal promises.

Let’s consider John the Baptist: a voice crying in the wilderness!

John told the crowd, “I baptize you with water. The one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire!  I am not worthy to unfasten his sandals.”  John was answering the questions of whether or not he was the Messiah.  So his response was a powerful answer that Jesus was someone amazingly special, powerful and dynamic.

Since Jesus allowed himself to be baptized by John, it points to the importance of baptism in the Christian faith.  Baptism is a sacrament.  One of seven sacraments. The first sacrament.

Baptism is one of the sacraments of initiation.  Other Sacraments:  the Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Sacrament of the Sick.

We are initiated into the Christian faith through baptism.  We are “born again” in Jesus through baptism. Jesus said, “Unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Catholic Church accepts the baptism from all other Christian churches.  Becoming a Christian begins with baptism.

Jesus initiates (or begins) his public ministry with his baptism.  He was about 30 years old.  No doubt he had studied long and hard to get to this point where it was “his time.”

Every year during Lent and Easter, we renew our baptismal vows.  In closing our reflection today and before we hear the second reading of the Gospel of the baptism of Jesus, let us take a moment to read new our baptismal vows.

Most of you were baptized when you were infants so your parents and godparents vocalized your baptismal vows and promised to help you grow in the faith until you could choose for yourself.

And you can. The following “Renewal of Baptismal Vows” is an ancient tradition and I invite you to follow me in renewing them.

V. Do you reject Satan?
R. I do.
V. And all his works?
R. I do.
V. And all his empty promises?
R. I do.
V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do.

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R. I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R. I do.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

All you

For Parents and Teachers:

For those of you serious about teaching your students and children about the Christian faith, this Gospel reading is very important. Jesus begins his public ministry by allowing himself to be baptized by his cousin, John.  Known to us as John the Baptist.

I would recommend to you to look over at the baptismal vows are above and talk to your students and children about them.  Engage them in open ended questions where they can explore more deeply what these baptismal vows actually mean.

For example, what does it mean to “Reject Satan and all of his empty promises?”

The baptismal vows concentrate on the Christian belief in God the father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit.  These reflect the emphasis upon the Trinity in the Nicean Creed. Lead your children and students to the awareness that the evangelists Matthew, mentions God the Father, the Holy Spirit and, of course, Jesus in this Gospel on Christ’s baptism.  This understanding of the Trinity is a cornerstone of the most Christian belief.

Here are some questions that you might use with your students and children.

1.  Who was Jesus’ cousin?  (John the Baptist)

2.  Who baptized Jesus?      (John the Baptist)

3.  When people ask him if he was the Messiah what did John the Baptist say?  (Paraphrase: I baptize you with water.  The one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.)

4.  Approximately how old was Jesus when he was baptized? (30 years old)

5.  In what river was Jesus baptized?  (Jordan)

6.  What is the significance of the feast of the Epiphany?

a.  What were the names of the three king’s?

b.  What gifts did they bring?

c.  What significance does each of the gifts have?

More reflective questions:

7.  What was the relationship between Jesus and John?  That is, what did they talk about? What were they passionate about?  What did they share in common? How did they feel about the Romans to occupy their country?

8.  What did John know about Jesus in that he could say that he would “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”?

9.  To what audience was the Evangelist, Luke, writing?

10. Why do you think that Jesus chose this time to enter his public ministry?

Chapel Reflection, 15 December 2010

On Sunday the fourth candle will be lit, lighting a path that brings us closer to the manger and closer to the answers of why this little baby was brought into the world.

This fourth candle is linked to a story. The story of how a young woman betrothed to be married became pregnant and was scared. She was scared that she would be rebuked by her small town, by her rabbi, by her friends ….  maybe her family.

She had already received a heavenly message that she would bear this child and that the child would light the path to salvation and ultimately save the world from its sins.  She had to think, “How many people are going to believe that story?” “Who will believe me?”  This fourth candle tells an important part of Mary’s story.

This fourth candle is linked to the story of Joseph, a good man who made his living from the sweat of his brow and the work of his hands. It seems clear that he loved Mary. And rather than subject her to the public humiliation of not marrying her in her pregnant condition, he decided, according to his scripture, to quietly divorce her … at a later time.

Joseph was most likely frightened, hurt and embarrassed.  I suspect he shed many tears.  But then an angel appeared to him and told him “not to be afraid,” to take Mary and the child and to call the baby Jesus.

And so he did. They became a family and have become known since that time as the Holy Family. Mary has become known as the most powerful intercessor and mother of the Messiah, second person in the Blessed Trinity, Jesus.  Joseph has become known as the protectorate of households. (He is also a reputed to be pretty good at helping folks sell houses, but that’s another story.)

So God’s angels told both Mary and Joseph not to be afraid, do not worry about what other people said of them and to keep walking in the light of God.  Keep walking.  Keep doing the next best thing, the next right thing. Do not become confused by what others think or say.  Keep in mind that our God is the great, “I Am” and is always present, always loving, filled with truth and beauty.

One of the great lessons in this reading is to trust God even when we do not know how the story will end. It would be easy to move forward in life, enduring hardships and difficulties, if we already knew how it would end, how it all would go, what the outcomes would be, and that everything would ultimately be all right.

Well, at this point in Mary’s story, they really didn’t know what would happen?  Consider that, and what kind of trust and courage it took from them to move forward.

Listen to the song: Mary, Did you know?

If Mary knew that her son would walk on water, give the blind their sight, revealed to the world a different understanding of God, a God that was always present for every one despite their culture, race, ethnicity, money or social status. A God who loves us so deeply and personally that he doesn’t care whether we are Palestinian or Jew; Catholic or Protestant; Sunni or Shiite; black or white; French or English; rich or poor or any of the other things that human beings use to judge people and to separate them from the wholeness of our human family.

Mary did not know that her son would reveal to the world that God is present for us every second of every minute of every hour in the day. God’s forgiveness is ever present. He is not interested in offerings of killed animals as a sacrifice.  He sent Jesus to be the final sacrifice and to put an end to the useless ritual of burnt offerings.

If Mary knew this, it would have been easier for her to live through the difficulties of her life. God knows she had them.  In this particular time she was separated from her family (while in Egypt); undoubtedly ridiculed from those around her; later, she saw her beloved nephew, John the Baptist, murdered; witnessing her own son brutalized and murdered.  If she would have known the outcome, as difficult as life would have still been, it would have been easier. But she didn’t know and yet she still trusted, and prayed, recognized and sought God’s strength …. counted on it. And look what happened.

My friends, you have things in your life that you do not know how they will end. It could be difficulties in your families, it might be in your studies, and a skill you want to perfect … a friendship you want to see happen or heal.

The Holy Family, is whispering to you on  behalf of the Holy Trinity, to keep doing the right thing … right through the most difficult times as well as in the most happy and exhilarating times.  Keep doing the right things, following God’s will and Christ’s way.

Mary is whispering to you that you do not have to know what the outcomes will be and assuring you that everything will be okay. Trust and keep doing the right thing.

Joseph is whispering to you to be strong and courageous. To refuse to allow fear to take possession of you.  To refuse it!  Do not become a slave to the judgment of others.  To be strong and to keep doing the right thing.

Jesus is whispering to you that God loves you so deeply and so personally that you cannot even imagine.  Jesus is telling you that He is always present for you and, as we said last week… He is always on the Main line.  That there is no need to wait because He is come into the world and, in Truth, had to come into the world in order to reveal that God has always been, is now and will always be present for you.

For Parents and Teachers

The main points in this reflection on our 1.)  To trust in God and 2.)  To do the next right thing, especially when confused. Let’s take a moment just to discuss how we train children to trust in God and how to do the next “right” thing.

I would recommend that you pray with your children often and in your prayer, asks God for the insight to know His will and the resolve to trust and follow it. Modeling is always the best teacher and as a “coach” of your child, your example is the most powerful teacher. If you have not made a practice of praying with your children, there is no time like the present to start. The earlier you begin praying with children, the better but whatever the time you start, it will always have a beneficial impact on the kids.  When your children/students come to you with a problem, encourage them to pray about it.

It is helpful to know that the only problem solving tool that children have in their toolbox is their own behavior.  Channeling the conversation to let them know that you (as teacher or parent) are most interested is in what they will do to help improve the situation.  They will often need your advice but don’t be too quick in giving it.  Rather let them wrestle with the problem-solving for a while and when they come up with a solution (even if it is not the best solution) praise them for their attempts.  In this way you are reinforcing their independence and their problem-solving capacity. You’ll be surprised how often they come up with a good solution!

If you believe the child already knows the answer or can deduce it, don’t give it to them/her.   Tell them that you believe in them and know they can figure it out.  When they do, reinforce that enthusiastically.

Children will oftentimes try to blame a situation on something or someone else.  Although at times you will need to intervene if their well-being is in jeopardy, most often not falling victim to a victim mentality will prove to assist the child working through his or her own problems with success …. and that breeds confidence.

Lastly determining what the “next right thing” is … is important but it should be followed by how to do the “next right thing.”  Sometimes the method of doing the right thing is as important as doing it!

I hope these provide some helpful thoughts for you.

Blessings to you and your family,

Steve Hammond

Welcome to Mr. Hammond’s Chapel Reflection Podcast.  In this week’s reflection, Mr. Hammond reflects on the meaning of Emmanuel -  “God is with us”.

Hello Friends, Here is the reflection on the Gospel this week.  It is not the easiest Gospel to address, but it does have some dramatic and important lessons for young people…..and all of us!

Good luck as you teach your students and children well in faith and wisdom.  It is truly the most important curriculum we have.

Opening Remarks:

Our first quarter of school has ended.  And lots of activities had wrapped up.  We have our procedures in place. Sports seasons have ended. As has our holidays in Saint Frances Day, the Eve of all Saints Day, All Saints Day, and many other activities and events. Many things are going on in our school community right now.  They are beginning:

The Book Fair, Honk!, the Returning Thanks Breakfast, Grandparents Day, Basketball Season, World History Day, Thanksgiving Day.  And any, many other events. So, somethings have ended and some things have started.

Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. This is true with everything except God. God always was, is now and will always be.

Everything will eventually wear out. Our buildings will crumble.  Our big ships will rust away, our bodies will die.  All things material will pass a way.  But God will not pass away.

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, people were commenting on how extensively the Temple of Jerusalem was adorned with riches.  Can’t you hear them talking right now?  “Oh, aren’t those jewels wonderful! Isn’t that room adorned with all that gold, magnificent!”  And they were really going on about.  And in response, Jesus said there will be a day when there will not be left one stone upon another in this temple.

And that brought about a conversation about the end of the world.  So, today we’ll talk about the end of the world, what lasts and what does not, and what we can do it.

Gospel Lk 21:5-19

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

“Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.  You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.  By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

In this gospel, here are some point to discuss with your children and students. Remember to ask “open ended” questions in age appropriate ways (critical thinking) in addition to your own family beliefs (solidifying beliefs).  If you would like assistance in any way, just call.

1.  Nothing on earth is permanent.  (Word Wall: Impermanence) Can you name some great monuments or people that are around anymore? People are not permanent.  We are born and we will die.  That is the cycle of life. Treat people with great love and know that one day they will have to leave you or you will have to leave them.

2.  A whole lot of people will predict the end of the world.  Don’t pay any attention to them.  Can you name some times when people predicted the end of the world? Live your life like the world will end tomorrow. Live your life by doing the “next right thing.”

3.  There will be wars and destruction before the world passes away.  Ever since Cain and Abel, humans have been at war each other.  Jesus came that we have life, peace and joy and have it in abundance. He has shown us the way to peace. What are you doing to be peacemakers?  How can you be a better peacemaker?

4.  Many people will be persecuted because of being my follower and believing in me. The martyrs are great saints. What is one Christian martyr that you are particularly impressed with?  Just like the martyrs, our character is not defined in the easy times.  It is defined in the difficult times.  These difficult times help us grow.  When they come: Stop, Pray, Reflect, Study and then….Act. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

5.  Have faith and perseverance. Christ has assured you that he will protect you. Remember Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  Study, Pray, Reflect and Act courageously upon Jesus’ words.

In the great cycle of life, everything has a beginning and everything has an end.  Just like our school year, the end of one phase is simply the beginning of the next.  Whether or not you are physically living on this earth, know that your soul is knitted to God in a fabric that can never be worn out and will last forever and it has no end.  Your soul is a spark from God that eternally rests in God’s love. You are God’s child.

In closing, let’s praise and thank God for His great gift of life to us.  Let’s pray for others and ourselves every day that we may be aware of God’s will for our lives and then have the courage and commitment to live it….despite what may happen tomorrow or a year from.  Cycles, event, building and people will come and go, but God’s love of you will never disappear.

Good luck in teaching your children and students some of the rich lessons in the Gospel reading.

Love and prayers,

Steve

Chapel Reflection

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Becoming Holy, Refusing to Fear!

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

We first want to welcome our wonderful friend, Monsieur Jean Luis, director of the Maison Fortune Orphanage who is with us today.   How wonderful to have our friend and inspirational leader with us here today!

Here is my can of food that I will contribute to feeding the poor in our city and would ask you to remember to do the same every Wednesday. It is not much but when we pulled together and each do our part it can be very much.  Just like the loaves and the fishes, when they were all gathered up at the end, there were 12 baskets filled with what remained. We give these cans of food to the Catholic Worker, a Catholic social justice organization that is run here in Norfolk by Martin Baggerly’s parents. The little sprouts also give their vegetables to the Catholic Worker as well.  The Baggerly’s help feed the poor of our city.  They are inspirations to us all.

By the way, they Catholic worker needs an automobile.  Please send the word out and pray that they receive one.  They are doing great work and they need a car to fulfill that work well.

I would also like to thank Mr. Jim O’Brien for giving me and the school a wonderful copy of his sister’s new CD called “Saints and Sinners.”  Very much appropriate for our celebration today as we talk about “All Saints Day.”   Mr. O’Brien is a wonderful friend and benefactor of St. Patrick Catholic School and we deeply appreciate his support.

Today’s Gospel is actually the Gospel not for the upcoming Sunday, but the Gospel for Monday, All Saints Day which is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.  A Holy Day of Obligation means that Catholics are expected to go to Mass on that day.

By the way, we are all aware that the Celtic Council is sponsoring a wonderful door decorating celebration in recognition of all the saints who have gone before us and who are living with us… those heroes who have been or are exemplary in following Jesus.  Of those Saints we have many that the Church has proclaimed as “patrons” of special causes.  And most of your classroom and office doors are decorated in celebration of those patron saints.  Let us celebrate them and all saints recognized or not who are showing us how to live holy lives as Christians. Thank you Celtic Council for your leadership.

Let us stand up and listen to the Gospel for “All Saints Day.”

Gospel

The Gospel is on Jesus and his first discourse and it is called The Sermon on the Mount. No doubt he said a lot more than what is in the Gospel concerning the Sermon on the Mount, but this is what has been captured for history.  There are eight “beatitudes” that Jesus offered the crowd and us in the sermon.  It still speaks to us as clearly as it did when Jesus uttered them for the first time.

Good, holy people have been living Jesus’ beatitudes since that time and we have many wonderful examples of them. Let’s go over a few. We have much to learn from them and how to be holy.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

1.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

St. Francis of Assisi

2.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mary, mother of Jesus

3.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

4.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed Mother Teresa

5.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Saint Cecilia

6.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Bishop Oscar Romeo, Mahatma Ghandi

7.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

St. Maximilian Kobe

8.  Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

St. Stephen, first martyr.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

You are called to be holy.  Being holy means being courageous.  It means being “countercultural.”  To do things that other people will not do because they are afraid that society will think poorly of them or will reject them.  Being holy, means being a saint and being a saint means this being courageous.

It means standing up for life and protecting life.  Whether that means protecting the rights of the unborn. Whether that means protecting the rights of the old and aging.  Whether that means protecting the rights of people not to be ravaged by war.  This is part of what it means to be peacemakers!  That’s what it means to be a saint.

Being saints means to take a stand and expose injustice in whatever form we find it.  That may mean taking a stand politically on unfair tax laws or it may mean standing up for someone who is teasing another.

Being a saint means feeding the poor, taking up for those who need your support.  Whether they are in your classroom, on your ball team or your fellow brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Being a saint means sharing what you have. Whether that is cans of food, money, toys and clothes you don’t need or even giving your hair that another person needs more than you do.

Being a saint means to respect differences and even celebrate them. Differences in the color of our skin, differences in our country of birth or the culture we have dissented from, differences in the way we speak, differences in the gifts we bring, and differences in how much we have.  Being a saint means knowing that we have these things for a short period of time only before we have to give them back.

So being a saint means following the beatitudes!  Let’s call them the “BE ATTITUDES!”  That means, we choose our attitude!  We choose to BE holy, to BE courageous, to BE of service, to BE a child of God and a follower of Christ.

We choose it every day, every minute every second. We choose to make someone’s day.  We choose to have a good attitude. We choose to give our classmates the benefit of the doubt. We choose to keep a smile on our face and joy in our heart.  We choose to be a light. We choose not to criticize, blame or complain.  We choose to be good problem solvers and seek always a win-win solution.

Points to Ponder:

1.  Read the Sermon on the Mount with your children. Ask them how they might follow the beatitudes.

2.  Speak to your children clearly your stance/belief against racism and other “isms”.  Explain to your children WHY these are wrong.

3.  Help your children in refusing to be afraid in the face of injustice.

4.   Use the school’s belief in your own home of not criticizing, blaming or complaining (CBCing).  Instead tell them how to be good problem solvers in addressing things that they see as issues.  Remember CBCing does nothing to help the issues. Determining and acting on what “I can do about it” teaches children to (as M.Ghandi) taught “be the change you want in the world!”

5.  Plan with your children how they can be better nonviolent peacemakers in the world.  Start with little things like not watching violent television or using violent video games.

6.  Explore with your children ways that your family and/or classroom can better live the beatitudes!

I hope this provides you some thoughts in working together to build up confident, compassionate, productive and, yes, holy young men and women!  Good luck and God bless you and your wonderful families.

With love and prayers,

Steve Hammond