Pray the week: Lord Jesus, send forth humble shepherds to serve Your people in Your Holy Church.
“I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD.â€
In 1906 a Special Holy Synod of our Church was convened and one of its actions was to declare the Sunday after Christmas the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds.
As the faithful of the Polish National Catholic Church we annually celebrate the example of humble working people represented by the Bethlehem shepherds, the ones chosen by God in Luke’s Gospel to hear the first announcement of Jesus’ birth.
God had exalted these often shunned and discriminated individuals. God had honored their honest and humble work as He sent His Son into the world in such an extraordinarily ordinary circumstance.
This Solemnity was meant to encourage the predominantly immigrant, working class, and poor Church members of that day.
Those hard working and under-appreciated first parishioners were spiritually strengthened to maintain the good fight for a democratic, people’s Catholic church by remembering the example of the Humble Shepherds. They fully understood the humble shepherds who, when prompted by God, went to meet the newborn savior: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Then having seen the fulfillment they took action and made the good news known: And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child.
This Solemnity reminds us to maintain our focus. We must listen to God’s word and then we must take action. We must continue to fight against meaningless parades of pomp for the sake of glorifying clergy in carrying out our faith life. Ours is a humble Church, built by the humble, and led by humble shepherds who love Jesus and their people. This is a model of Christian faith, practiced in the PNCC for over 100 years, which other Churches are beginning to find.
On this Solemnity we also particularly remember and pray for our shepherds – the priests and bishops who lead us with love and humility. They listened to the prompting of God and took action – standing before us to make God’s word known so that we might take action. Let us ask God to bless our clergy and to call forth to Sacred Vocations those called by Christ to be the humble shepherds of our congregations. May they hear, listen, and take action.
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist.
Born in Bethsaida, John was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. He became the beloved disciple of Jesus. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and Revelation.
The beginning of John’s gospel tells us of the pre-existence of the Word, who by His Incarnation became the light of the world and the life of our souls. His focus on the divinity of Christ and His fraternal love for us are greatly comforting. John knew that Jesus is God among us and that He came with deep love for us, to redeem us and release us from fear and death.
John, with James, his brother, and Simon Peter, was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration. At the Last Supper, John leaned on the Jesus’ breast. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to John’s care. St. John is known to us as “the beloved disciple.” Jesus showed particular instances of kindness and affection toward St. John above all the rest. He was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake Jesus in the hour of His Passion and Death.
St. John remained in Jerusalem for a long time, later going on to Ephesus, where he founded Churches.
St. John was the only apostle who did not undergo martyrdom. The emperors tried to kill him many times. John was brought to Rome and was cast into a caldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian. He was miraculously preserved unhurt. One of the symbols used to represent St. John is a chalice and serpent (the cup of sorrow foretold by Jesus). It is said that the emperors tried to poison John by giving him a chalice filled with poisoned wine. He prayed over the cup and serpents fell out. He drank the wine unharmed. That is why, on this day, we bless wine in his honor. With all attempts at killing him failing, the emperor exiled John to the island of Patmos.
In his extreme old age he continued to visit the Churches of Asia. St. Jerome relates that when age and weakness grew upon him so that he was no longer able to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assembly of the faithful by his disciples, with great difficulty; and every time said to his flock only these words: “My dear children, love one another.”
St. John died in peace at Ephesus in the hundredth year of the Christian era, or the sixty-sixth from the crucifixion of Christ. St. John would have been about ninety-four years old.
The key thing for us to contemplate is the fact that wine, mixed with water, becomes for us the blood of Christ in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we engage in an act of “remembrance.†Remembrance, as we often preach, is not a mere memory of what Jesus did at the last supper, but a real and living unity with Jesus’ divine role as our redeemer. We proclaim that we are not just remembering, but in the Eucharist are indeed present at every moment of Jesus’ Divine life. It is why the Holy Mass is the key and most essential celebration we engage in as Christians. We, in that moment, are really present in Jesus life, at the last supper, in His death, resurrection, ascension, and at His return in glory; all in that holy moment. In the Eucharist we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us. In communion we all receive Him and we are given the grace to live in Him as He lives in us.
St. John knew this. He was completely connected to Jesus, not just because he lived with Him and followed Him throughout His ministry in the cities and countryside of Israel. He was really part of Jesus, and Jesus was in Him, not just as a memory but in reality. John lived the Eucharistic reality of Jesus fully present. When St. John tells us: “My dear children, love one another” he is asking us to live in the reality of Jesus past, present, and future. In partaking of the Eucharist at communion we receive the full reality of Jesus who is in the world and will come again to fulfill all His promises to us. This is the Christian life of love we must have, a life that is eternal.
While John underwent many tortures and exile he never feared. Death to him was nothing. He remained steadfast, even as Jesus was dying on the cross as well as amid all the tortures that would visit him later in life. He knew that his life was not just for the here and now, but for all eternity. We know that too. Like John, nothing can or should separate us from the love of God – Jesus living in us. John expectantly knew that Jesus would return. He lived that reality. Jesus, the eternal Word, our Lord and God, has come and will come again casting out all fear. To John and to us death is no more. Only love and the promise of eternal life in Jesus matter.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. — Isaiah 9:5
Lord Jesus, as we gaze upon You, sleeping peacefully in the manger, we feel a deep peace radiate from You. A holy calm fills our hearts. You have kept Your promise, You are here, with us now.
Lord Jesus, you were not afraid to come to us; help us to be not afraid in coming to You. Give us Your deep inner peace that we might impart joy, hope, and courage to all we encounter. Open our hearts to see You more clearly, receive You more deeply, and follow You more willingly. Increase our capacity to give and receive Your love. May this Christmas Day and Season warm our hearts all year.
Who is Wise?
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” — Matthew 2:1-2
Millions saw the brilliant star. But only a few Wise Men left the comforts of their homes to find out what it meant.
Thousands, including Herod and the Jewish scholars, knew the Bible had predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But only the Wise Men went there.
Millions will hear Christmas Carols this season, but only the wise will listen. Thousands will attend special services and Solemn Holy Mass, but only the wise will go to Bethlehem (The House of Bread) and find the Savior.
Millions will read the Christmas story in newspapers, on-line, in the Bible, or in church programs, but only the wise will take action.
What did the Wise Men do?
How can we be wise?
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! — Psalm 95:6
We, the wise, have come this Christmas to find Him, the greatest gift. We have recognized that something has happened, sought the facts, and continue to respond. Jesus taught them saying: “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock†— Matthew 5:2 and Matthew 7:24
Thank you to all who have come to share this Holy Christmas Day in our community. Our community is your community! It is a place where we journey together to follow Jesus, to learn and grow together, and to serve each other and our larger community. A small church, on a small street, with a big and welcoming heart for you. May God bless you in every way.
Deacon Jim and the Parish Committee.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, uphold me in the path of righteousness.
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
Today we hear of Joseph as he confronts fear, doubt, and a decision about right and wrong.
The Gospel tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. Now, being ‘righteous’ or ‘just’ as an observant Jew meant that Joseph followed, lived, and abided by the law.
The law laid out the penalty for pre-marital sex and adultery. It was death for both the woman and man involved. Leviticus 20:10 states: “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.†Deuteronomy 22:22 states: “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.â€
Since Joseph and Mary were engaged, Mary was legally Joseph’s wife. Mary was obviously pregnant – so in everyone’s mind she was an adulteress. By law Joseph could denounce Mary and she would be stoned to death. Joseph would cast first stone.
Joseph is shamed by Mary’s pregnancy. Joseph went home to think this all over. We can imagine his thoughts, the stress, the anger, the shame, and the hurt. What should he do? The law says put her to death, get revenge, and purify the community. What would happen if he didn’t follow the law?
Before his adopted Son would ever proclaim the value of forgiveness, before Jesus would say, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,†or “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment†Joseph acted with true righteousness. Amidst the hurt, pain, and conflict Joseph decided against death. He would arrange a no-fault divorce, without admitting or denying paternity of child. This would save Mary’s life.
God would intervene through His angel to give Joseph all of the facts – that there is no human father for Jesus. More importantly, Joseph provides us with an example of true righteousness. This is the kind of righteousness we are called to live.
Death is the penalty for sin. Thankfully, through Jesus’ coming, we have been freed from death. Being freed, Jesus asks us to free others from death. This is not the literal death of the Old Testament imposed by stoning, but the sort of death we impose if we harden our hearts to those who have hurt us.
As Joseph chose true righteousness so must we. When we do, when we forgive as we are forgiven, when we free as we have been freed, we overcome death by love.
The latest issue of God’s Field is now available online
Enjoy reading about the life and work of our parishes and people including Christmas wishes and news of the 2014 National Synod.
Articles for the January issue are being accepted now through January 1, 2014. You may E-mail items and photos or send them to:
God’s Field
Polish National Catholic Church
1006 Pittston Avenue
Scranton, PA 18505
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner.
“Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.â€
If we have been watching television over the past several weeks we may have encountered a twenty-four days of Christmas programming marathon. Twenty-four days of non-stop Christmas movies and shows. Among the shows we will certainly encounter Dickenson’s “A Christmas Carol.â€
As we recall, his former partner, Jacob Marley, first visits Scrooge. Marley is fettered in heavy chains that he drags behind him. He tells Scrooge that he created these chains throughout his life by his lack of charity and love. We immediately understand and connect. We see our sins and failings as heavy chains that bind us, that prevent us from reaching heavenward.
Jesus told John’s disciples: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.â€
In sin we are the poorest of the poor. We are blind. We are crippled. We become deaf to the call of love. We reap the wages of sin, which is death. Amidst all this Jesus comes to save us.
Jesus’ salvation is an ongoing grace in our lives. In Him we find the One who will break the chains that bind us. In Him we find clear vision. In Him we are healed. In Him our ears are opened. In Him we find the guarantee of freedom from death and the hope of resurrection.
Jesus’ offer of salvation requires our cooperation. We have to be willing to lift up the chains that bind us. If we lift them before Him and His Holy Church, and ask forgiveness, He will free us. If we ask Him to hear us in the sacrament of penance, which He entrusted to His ministers, we will be forgiven for: “He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’â€
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would strengthen feeble hands and knees and give strength to the frightened. He would come with vindication – freeing us from the accusation brought about by our sin. He would exonerate us completely by paying the price for us.
Jesus came to save you and me. He came to free us, to take the weight from our shoulders, our hands, and our hearts. He came so in freedom we would be ready to stand before Him at His coming.
Pray the week: Lord Jesus, grant me endurance and constant encouragement in carrying out Your will.