Calling upon the gifts of our Baptism.
The following reflection was published on January 22, 2020, for my Parishioners, in the weekend bulletin at Our Mother of Good Counsel, Los Angeles, CA.
In an ancient Christmas Tradition, in preparation for Christmas, a special set of prayers is prescribed in the Liturgy. In a special way, this takes shape in Simbang Gabi, a rich cultural tradition in the Philippines. Although our Parish Community celebrated on one evening, many communities have the ability to celebrate for a full nine consecutive days. This is what is referred to as a Novena.
Catholics familiar with the phrase Novena often associate this prayer with petitioning, or asking God for help with some difficulty in life. Whether this has to do with health, employment, or other unforeseen problems that we face.
Unfortunately, very few Catholics see prayer or novenas as an opportunity to respond to God’s call. A call to be the Royal, Priestly & Prophetic People. A call to allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be aflame in our hearts, a call to become a passionate witness to the Gospel in our words and deeds, a call to be salt to the earth and a lampstand upon a hill.
When I read the Gospels, I have a sense of adventure, and I certainly know that I will need to pray for God to help me to set out on this great adventure. An adventure that requires me to lose control, to trust, to move beyond the boundaries of my mere creature comforts, to find myself in a life where my strength and conviction are tested. As I have been following Christ, I find myself satisfied in many ways for having taken this risk years ago.
I want to invite parishioners to start finding ways to pray that the Spiritual gifts that we receive at our Baptism and Confirmation may move us beyond comfort for ourselves, and give us the courage to witness, to encounter, and to love. If you find yourself already giving much time to church or volunteering, I also invite you to pray this intention for others. Perhaps this may include another Novena. Perhaps this may include a regular meditation on the Scripture Readings of the Liturgy, perhaps this may include a conversation with others as to how God is calling me to be a Christian fully alive. Stay tuned, this will not be the last time I talk about it.
