​Historians sometimes engage in conversations like “Who is the most influential president in US History?” or “Who was the most important thinker of the enlightenment?” or even “Who is the most influential person in Western Civilization?”  As a Christian historian, I have often thought in terms of “What are the most important events in our religious history?”  For some years, leading pilgrimages in the Holy Land, I have said, while standing in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, that we were in the place where the most important event in human history took place. Others might argue the same thing standing in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  A couple of years ago in Nazareth, standing in prayer before the altar that commemorates the Annunciation, inscribed with the Latin words “VERBUM CARO HIC FACTUM EST,” I rehearsed that discussion again in my mind, and I felt the answer was in front of me:  “HIC” (here, in this place) THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH. “HIC” occurred the most important event in human history.

Why would I say that? There is no Nativity, Passion or Resurrection without the “act of will” we celebrate on this feast day. It is very important that we do not confuse this with the human act of will depicted in the Gospel. Mary’s act of will is essential, but it is not that act of will referred to in the second reading: “Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will…” …By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:9-10) The Act of Will we celebrate today is the one of which St. Paul wrote tot the Philippians: “…though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross…” (Philippians 2:6-8).  This is the act of will that makes human salvation and all other salvific events possible. Today is a Solemnity of the Lord that celebrates what St. Leo the Great calls the “condescension of compassion,” when eternity broke into time and bridged the gap between divinity and humanity.

​St. Thomas points to 2 mysteries of faith as necessary for salvation: the Incarnation and the Trinity.  Both of those mysteries are explicitly manifested to the Virgin of Nazareth in this episode: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God…”  As recorded in Luke’s Gospel, the Annunciation would be the first time in Israel’s history that these two mysteries were made an explicit manifestation of God’s plan for saving his human creation. By the incarnation, Jesus brings the sacrifices of Israel (which cannot save humanity) to an end, and makes it actually possible for us to be lifted up to his Father.
When St. Paul tells the Philippians about the divine condescension, he begins the whole text by telling us that we must “let this attitude be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God…”  We celebrate Mary of Nazareth as the first person to do just that. As she gives her consent to the plan of God (“Be it done unto me according to your Word.”) she becomes the first to do exactly what St. Paul says.  She is offering herself in humility in imitation of the God who condescends to be born of a human woman. It is Jesus’ act of will that all of us, including the Blessed Virgin Mary, are called to imitate. As the first person to imitate her Son’s act of will, Mary is the first one to cross the salvific bridge erected by Jesus’ act of will, and is remembered as the first Christian.

So, on this solemnity of the Lord, as we celebrate Jesus’ act of will and remember how his mother aligned her will with his, let us give thanks for the Word made Flesh, and pray for the grace to align our will with the will of divine son, that we might be joined to the Trinity for eternity.

Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation.  Today we celebrate the Word made Flesh! The two painting below are by the 15th C. Dominican artist Fra Angelico.  The first is one of several Altarpieces he completed on the theme.  It is in the Medieval collection of the Prado and I was blessed to contemplate its beauty during 2 different visits to Madrid in 2015.  The other is a fresco inside a cell at the Convento di San Marco in Florence.  I have also visited there on two occasions and been blessed to contemplate this beautiful painting.

The 2 pictures below are from the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.  They are built on what is thought to be the ruins of the house of the Virgin Mary wherein she received the Messenger of God.  The Latin on the altar translate "HERE (hic) the Word was made Flesh"

In the Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, February 14th is the Memorial of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, the pair of brothers who took the Gospel to the peoples of Eastern Europe. You can learn more about the "Apostles to the Slavs" here.

During my three years in Antioch, California, I became acquainted with an organization called Pan de Vida Retreats. Because many of the teens from Holy Rosary Parish participated in Pan de Vida, I was called upon to hear confessions and/or celebrate Mass during the annual retreat at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Brentwood. I was impressed by the Pan de Vida program from the beginning.  Aiming to help young people have a closer relationship with Jesus, the entire retreat takes place in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament sitting atop a wooden structure, alight with candles, styled "the burning bush."  The creators of the Pan de Vida Retreat borrowed the format from the creators of the Youth 2000 Retreats with a desire to bring it to the young people of Northern California.  Working primarily with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs), they built the retreat around a series of talks (given by priests and/or religious) intended to lead the young participants to a deeper understanding of their faith and an awareness of the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  The model is simple - harness young energy and get them excited about the Church's teachings and liturgy.  

Since I joined Western Dominican Preaching, I have been blessed to offer my services to Pan de Vida. Part of the success of the Retreat is the presence of a number of priests throughout the weekend to hear confessions.  I have worked with the Franciscan Friars to split duty for teaching, preaching, and sacraments at retreats all over NorCal. In addition to the youth retreats, Pan de Vida also operates a marriage retreat called "Couples in Cana," following a similar format with the talks being focused on the theology of marriage.  It has been enjoyable to participate in full weekends for both youth and couples.  

Last weekend, more than 300 young people participated in Pan de Vida in Brentwood.  Once again, it was a great blessing to work with a great Pan de Vida Team and 3 Franciscan Friars to provide a quality Retreat experience for those teens.  You can learn more about Pan de Vida Retreats (including inquire about bringing it to your NorCal parish) here.

This is the Viacruces in a prayer garden behind Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, CA. I don't have any info about the artist, but will update this post when I am able to get the info.

“Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!”
-St. Josrphine Bakhita

read more about St. Joseohine, "the Daughter of Darfur," here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Bakhita?wprov=sfla1

I had the pleasure today of baptizing Crosby Roland Richards, the son of my dear friends Evan and Ashley Richards at Holy Spirit Church in Fremont.

January has been an odd "in-between" time.  While I have had some ministry opportunities during weekends, I have not preached any missions or retreats.  I have been working on a lot of administrative and preparation activities for things that are happening in the future - including getting this website up and running.  I will be busy with retreats during February and my Lenten calendar is full of Missions all over Northern California (You can see my Calendar here).  I also have been working on details for my upcoming pilgrimages and working on editing not 1, but 3 books that I hope to see published this year.  So it has been a busy month, but I am ready to get back out on the road...