Be Not Afraid

Details: 21 December 2012

On Thursday, Dec. 13, I traveled to West Point, Nebraska with Fathers Brian Connor and Matthew Eickhoff to the funeral of James Lux, the father of Father Thomas Lux (the pastor of All Saints Church in Holdrege).

We, along with almost 40 other priests of the Diocese of Lincoln and the archdiocese of Omaha, concelebrated the funeral Mass for Mr. Lux. It is always moving to see the great number of priests who attend funerals for parents of brother priests. We do our best to attend as many of these funerals as we can if we are in town and can reschedule meetings, classes and appointments. Moving also is the singing of the Salve Regina, or the Hail Holy Queen, prior to the procession out of church led by our bishop. Our Blessed Mother truly is our Mother of Mercy- our Life, our sweetness, and our hope. We who were banished children of Eve have been given through her Jesus Christ our Savior, who was born in utter poverty that first Christmas in a cave fit only for animals. It was she, the New Eve, who showed us the fruit of her womb Jesus who was wrapped in swaddling clothes and gently placed in a manger.

From the wood of the manger to the cross Jesus gave us His all including His mother. "When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home" (Jn 19:26-27). As our Blessed Mother, she is concerned about our well-being. In a homily on the feast day of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary St. John Vianney said "The Blessed Mother is like a good mother who, not content with looking after all her children in general, watches over each one separately."

It was St. Augustine who said, "He who fears death does not love God, that is very true. If you had been long separated from your Father, would you not be happy to see him again?" With the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and by the grace of God the fear of death can be dispelled. By looking at the cross we can hear Jesus saying ‘By dying I have destroyed death and by rising I have restored life.’

While exchanging gifts this Christmas surrounded by our family, friends and loved ones, let us not lose sight of the greatest gift God the Father ever gave us, the gift of His only Begotten Son who died on the cross so we who were dead in sin could live eternally. Jesus has truly come to set us free. As we gaze upon nativity sets and crucifixes in our parishes and homes may the fear of death be banished from our hearts. In this most holy time of year, please know that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers. Have a merry and holy Christmas and Christmas season!