Merry Christmas from all of us here in Burlington

May the Lord, born unto us at Christmas, bless you during this holy season!

Peace & Every Good,

Front Row: Fr. Dennis Schafer - SHJ, Fr. Henry Beck - SJB, Br. Norbert Bertram - SJB, Fr. Ralph Parthie - SHJ, Fr. Scott Brookbank, HNP

Standing: Br. Robert Torres - IC, Br. Luis Hernandez - IC, Br. Jonathan Piette - SHJ, Br. Abraham Joseph - HNP, Br. Ramon Castellon - SJB, Br. Noel Bustillos - OLG,

Br. Zach Bischler - SJB, Br. Harry Milling - SHJ, Br. James Seiffert - SB, Br. Peter Lin, CSAP, Br. Chris Fitzpatrcik - HS, Br. Maxwell Klug - Assum.  

From Fr. Christopher Gaffrey, OFM, Provincial JPIC Animator. This reflection may be used personally, in your friaries or places of ministry.

Opening Song: City of God

Gospel Luke 7:18b-23

John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'" At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

Readings for Meditation

"Today we are seeing in many pastoral workers, including consecrated men and women, an inordinate concern for their personal freedom and relaxation, which leads them to see their work as a mere appendage to their life, as if it were not part of their very identity. At the same time, the spiritual life comes to be identified with a few religious exercises which can offer a certain comfort but which do not encourage encounter with others, engagement with the world or a passion for evangelization. As a result, one can observe in many agents of evangelization, even though they pray, a heightened individualism, a crisis of identity and a cooling of fervor. These are three evils which fuel one another.

At times our media culture and some intellectual circles convey a marked skepticism with regard to the Church's message, along with a certain cynicism. As a consequence, many pastoral workers, although they pray, develop a sort of inferiority complex which leads them to relativize or conceal their Christian identity and convictions. This produces a vicious circle because they end up being unhappy with who they are and what they do, they do not identify with their mission of evangelization, and this weakens their commitment. They end up stifling their missionary joy with a kind of obsession about being like everyone else and possessing what everyone else possesses. Their work of evangelization thus becomes forced, and they devote little energy and very limited time to it.

Pastoral workers can thus fall into a relativism which, whatever their particular style of spirituality or way of thinking, proves even more dangerous than doctrinal relativism. It has to do with the deepest and inmost decisions that shape their way of life. This practical relativism consists in acting as if God did not exist, making decisions as if the poor did not exist, setting goals as if others did not exist, working as if people who have not received the Gospel did not exist. It is striking that even some who clearly have solid doctrinal and spiritual convictions frequently fall into a lifestyle which leads to an attachment to financial security, or to a desire for power or human glory at all cost, rather than giving their lives for others in mission. Let us not rob ourselves of missionary enthusiasm!" - Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 78-80

"Gospel poverty cannot be authentically understood outside a personal relationship with 'the poor crucified Christ'. He makes Himself one of the least and of sinners, who wished to strip Himself in order to take on the condition of a slave. He comes down humbly into the midst of us each day in the Eucharist in order to join Himself to the poverty of each one, renewing us through His alliance. This experience alone will be capable of enabling in the Friar Minor that dynamism of joyful restitution of goods and freedom, of sharing in solidarity and friendship with the poor, which defines his Franciscan consecration." Ratio Formationis Franciscana, 79

Some questions and aspirations to take to the Lord in prayer: 

• Lord, when You first called me, who and what did you call me to be? How am I to be that today?
• Whom did You call me to serve?
• What do You offer me that I may fulfill Your call upon my life?
• Please renew my encounter with You!
• Show me how to know You more day by day.
• Reveal to me, Lord, how my actions or inactions affect those who are both spiritually and materially poor.
• Help me to set goals to benefit Your body, the Church, and all my brothers and sisters - fellow creatures of God the Father.
• Renew in me the joy of the gospel so that I may be an instrument of Your Peace and Justice in and through my life lived in union with You, reaching out to others with the good news in word and deed.

Our Father...

Final Blessing