Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

At a 25th wedding anniversary reception, a husband, perhaps a bit tipsy, thanked the crowd and boasted about his perfect marriage. When he sat down, his wife asked, “Tell me what hurts me.” He replied, “How do I know what hurts you?” She answered, “If you don’t know what hurts me, how can you say you love me?”

Failure is a universal part of life. It touches all of us, and it is experienced in both minor and significant ways. Sometimes, we face small setbacks—losing a game, burning dinner, or struggling with weight loss. 

The more unusual an event is, the easier it is to believe that God is involved. Take, for example, two men diagnosed with cancer. The first man undergoes surgery, and it reveals a small tumor that is easily removed. After some treatment, he recovers and returns to work. Everything goes back to normal.

In our second reading today, we read a letter St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Corinth was a diverse city, attracting people from all regions of the Roman Empire. It was a hub of government, trade and sports, yet was also known as a "sin city." To live like a Corinthian came to mean "wallowing in immorality." 

One-hundred and sixteen years ago this week, our founder, Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, looked around the Christian world and saw nothing but disunity. Moved by this, he resolved to initiate an annual Week of Prayer, during which Christians across the world could come together and pray for the unity of all believers, echoing Christ’s prayer the night before He died:

Today might feel a bit strange. The Church is still lively, but somehow different. The Nativity scene is packed away, the wise men have returned to the East, the shepherds have gone back to their flocks, the angels have stopped singing, and the star has disappeared. Christmas is now a memory.

In our second reading today, we hear about Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and Gentile, whom the Jews considered unclean. Peter hesitated at first, seeing him as a foreigner, a soldier, and a sinner. But Peter’s heart changed when he realized that God shows no partiality. He baptized Cornelius, bringing him into the faith.

Many years ago, I saw a play called Down Will Come Baby. It begins with a husband taking down the Christmas tree, with a model of the Christ child in the manger among the ornaments. The wife asks, “Can’t we keep Him?” The husband replies, “No. I’ll throw Him out with the tree. The garbage man will collect Him.”

Today, on the Feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on the gift of family—a vital cornerstone of both society and the Church. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters, focusing so much on work and obligations that we neglect the family we’re working to provide for.

Why is there all this fuss over the birth of a child in a small part of the Roman Empire? Jesus’ birth marks a pivotal point in history, dividing time into B.C. and A.D. His life and teachings have inspired millions to shape their lives around Him, and belief in His resurrection has led many to call Him “Lord and Christ.”

Laced throughout the bible, there is kind of a Cinderella theme, highlighting how God often works through many lowly, despised, and unlikely individuals.

At the beginning of this Gospel, we encounter a timeless human question: What should we do? We all face this at various points in our lives, whether regarding minor choices like what to wear, or significant matters like our relationships and health. In times of uncertainty, we often wonder whom to turn to for guidance.

As we enter the Third Week of Advent, it’s impossible to ignore how Christmas has been commercialized and sanitized.

Christmas often sneaks up on us amid the whirlwind of shopping and parties, leaving us feeling fatigued by the time December 25th arrives. We can become overwhelmed by the commercialized season, leading to a sense of boredom or impatience.

Christmas holds a power that mere logic cannot explain; it is not a human invention. No one gathered and said, “Let’s create a holiday for everyone to be nicer to each other.”