Month: January 2022

The twelfth night, the evening of January fifth, has marked the end of the Christmas season since the Middle Ages.  There are many who believe and just as many who think the Catholic meaning of the twelve days of Christmas is an urban legend.  When Catholicism was made a criminal offense by Henry the 8th in England in 1558, many believed that the song was a secret catechism for the Catholics living in Britain to remember and teach their faith without fear of prosecution.

Many people singing this song envision “my true love” as a smitten suitor, while others know the “true love” as God himself.  Each gift given has a catechetical meaning starting with The Partridge as a symbol for Jesus Christ.  Two Turtle Doves refer to the Old and New Testaments.  The French Hens for the Trinity, Four Calling Birds reference the Gospels of the New Testament.  Five Golden Rings symbolize the Pentateuch.  Six Geese are the Creation Days.  Seven Swans symbolize the Seven Sacraments.  Eight Maids are the Beatitudes and Nine Ladies are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Ten Lords refer to the Ten Commandments and the Eleven Pipers are the loyal Apostles of Jesus.  Twelve Drummers remind us of the twelve doctrine points of the Apostles Creed.  

The twelfth night may recall the romantic comedy by Shakespeare or the festivities still celebrated in a handful of European countries in Rick Steve’s Christmas Travelogue, but what does it mean to us besides a wee bit of history?

We are blessed to live in a country free from religious persecution.  It is difficult to imagine a world where a multitude of denominations and religions don’t coexist, but we all know those places do exist.  I am not a cradle Catholic, the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and over the head a few times until I found my home in the Catholic faith.  Would I be strong enough to withstand a world where I could lose my freedom or my life if I chose to remain and worship as a Catholic?  Would I be crafty enough to sing a song with dual meaning to my grandchildren in order to maintain our Catholic Faith?  The twelfth night to me is my litmus test.  

After all the gifts my true love gave to me, the greatest is love.  Our First Reading today says “….so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”  BE FEARLESS!

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Today’s Gospel reading tells the story of Jesus preaching to the masses and multiplying the loaves and fish. It begins: “When Jesus saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” 

How often do we feel like sheep without a shepherd? It’s easy to feel that way when things go wrong in life or when we choose to do our will rather than God’s will. We lose direction and feel like we’re floundering. But we know that God is our shepherd; He is always there for us. We simply need to seek Him.

God is our spiritual Father; He leads us. So we must follow His example and lead our children or the children in our lives. We must act in the spirit of God here on earth and teach our children what He would have taught—just as He did the day He multiplied the loaves and fish.

But talking to kids today can often be extremely difficult. If they’re not playing video games, they’ve got their nose stuck in a phone watching Tik Tok or sending Snapchats. They’re just like the sheep without a shepherd—unless we become a shepherd in Christ’s footsteps.

How do we do that? It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary.

Engaging them is key. Start by having a phone-free dinner or a phone-free game night. Sit together and talk about their day. Ask what’s going on in school. Ask their opinion about current events, about sports, or about anything you think they’ll discuss. Tell them about your day, even if you’ve had problems or difficulties. Allowing them to watch you work through problems is integral and can help them develop techniques to work through their own problems. 

Use Christ as your inspiration. Never forget that He is there for you, and make sure that your kids know that you—and God—are always there for them. Become the shepherd of your family. If you don’t, then social media or their peers will. 

Psalm 23 teaches: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.”

Let us ponder this Psalm and hold its words in our hearts, as we remember God’s infinite love and mercy, and as we extend that love and mercy to our own children.

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“From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Mercy offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is transformative. The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides this magnificent explanation on the grace of Confession:

 “Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time, it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace” (CCC 1431).

A “radical orientation of our whole life” seems powerful language for entering a confessional (or room) with a priest and laying out our offenses. Spewing out a laundry list of “should have” and “should have nots.” Why not bring these directly to Jesus in prayer? Why involve a middle-man of sorts?  

There was a time I was petrified to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My heart raced, palms sweat, throat closed, and my feet wanted to sprint to the nearest exit. Honestly, I avoided it until the Holy Spirit nudged me to go, and there, Jesus made me laugh. 

First, the nudge, Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). Next, the time the priest called me back into the confessional. After completing my Confession and opening the door to leave, I heard, “oh, wait, one more thing.” I am sure that’s happened to you before, right? Sweat formed on my brow as I made eye contact with the long line of people waiting for their turn! 

I sheepishly smiled at the kind folks staring back at me and slowly closed the door. The kind priest recognized my voice and wanted to share some exciting parish happenings with me. Although it didn’t seem the appropriate time (or place), a little spiritual insight sparked by grace helped it all come together, whereas I could recognize — God’s perfect timing and precisely the encounter I needed to overcome my fear. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the love and mercy of Jesus, offered through the priest, In persona Christi, Latin for, “in the person of Christ.” A genuine encounter with Christ, who is eager to impart grace and wash away your iniquities and cleanse you from your sins (Psalm 51). Sure, it will be uncomfortable; that’s contrition! Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel reminds us that the Kingdom is now, and we want to be always ready to enter it when called.

As for that middle-man? I am grateful for the opportunity to encounter Jesus through the priest because I have yet to experience anything in this world, as sweet as the words, “The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”

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