Spirit Energy

Today, Jesus’ baptism by John, was a special moment – the real coming of God’s spirit upon him. It was the same Spirit who had come upon Mary at the moment of Jesus’ conception, and would come to Jesus at his last moment on the Cross. The spirit brings him new energy. The feast marks that something new is happening, and that Jesus is the beloved and son; from eternity and into time. The Spirit came upon him – but not just for himself. He would send the Spirit later to us – of forgiveness and of perseverance in doing good.

Today is about energy. Jesus found a new spirit in himself after his prayer and he heard words he would never forget. Maybe you have heard words of love from someone you will never forget. They give energy to the heart and soul, making us people always on the go, ready for new life within us.

The Spirit pours the energy of God into bread and wine and they are changed forever. He sends himself forever. It is sending the love and presence and energy of God.

We know that we can get stuck.
We need new infusions of the Spirit to give new energy.
Can we be the type of people who others think it’s good to meet? Open to the Spirit of God,
open to new life, new love,
being really fully the person I can be?

May the waters of baptism, O Lord,
bring us the new life of your love.

Donal Neary SJ

Christmas: family feast

Jesus grew up like all of us in a family – coming from the family of heaven to that of Mary and Joseph and their extended family. We know his grandparents’ names; he had cousins and he didn’t get on with them all; he had an aunt as the wife of Clopas.

All of us are children, some are parents, some are grandparents, aunts and uncles. All play an important role in the lives of the family – the younger generation. Where Church and state strengthen and support parents and children they are doing something essential.

None of us has the perfect family. Families include people with all sorts of difficulties – alcohol or drugs, crime and prison, people who don’t talk to each other; families who had to leave home and come to Ireland for work, or leave Ireland for work. Joseph and Mary had their family difficulties – their child could have been killed by a mad king Herod, and they couldn’t go home for fear of him; Joseph died leaving Mary a widow, and Jesus was murdered in front of his mother. The holy family know what family life is about, and our faith is a support to family life.

In our family we learn most of the important things of life. We salute today families who survive and support each other in difficult times: parents bringing up their children in a one-parent family; grandparents making sacrifices for another generation; people widowed and living now without their loved ones; adoptive and foster parents. We thank our parents and families for sacrifices made to bring us up.

Jesus, guide us in life;
Mary, look after us;
Joseph, pray for us.

Donal Neary SJ

Sharing and Celebrating faith

One of Mary’s first recorded journeys was after the announcement to her that she was to be the mother of God. It was a journey of service, a visit to her cousin who needed help. When dealing with such challenges as pregnancy bereavement, redundancy, a son in prison, or a daughter on drugs, we want to talk and we want support.

Mary and Elizabeth had something else to share – their faith. The prayers they said have been said ever since. The stage was small but the audience has been millions ever since. They were not shy about their faith in their God.

In a time like ours we need to externalise our faith – to go to Church, send a card with a Christmas greeting, not just a season’s wish – not to parade, but to make present our faith.

The meaning this week is – Jesus is born, and we celebrate that together, with thanks, music, socialising, prayer and Mass. We need to find God again, and let ourselves be open to him in the deepest areas of life, just like both of these women. Mary and Elizabeth, and their spouses Joseph and Zechariah, were open to God promptings.

Nothing need keep us from God or from the crib at Christmas. All are welcome.
The real meaning of Christmas is to meet with God and to help our neighbour.

Come Lord Jesus and bring joy and laughter among us.
Come with the music of eternity and the songs of the earth.
Come among us and make us truly grateful for your birth and your love.

Donal Neary SJ