Love means Zero: A Reflection on Christmas Eve

Is God One?  Is God Three? Saint Augustine of Hippo was wondering about this question at the beach near Carthage when he saw a little child filling his bucket with water  only to go back and fill it more from the sea. When he asked the question to the child, the child answered "It is easier to fill the bucket with the entire sea than for you to comprehend the Trinity" and vanished. Years ago when Fr. Bishoy was the new pastor at Holy Family Coptic Catholic parish in Toronto, he welcomed Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. and asked him to give an answer to the question of the Creed. Fr. Boulad, in his customary beautiful way of attracting people to hear his message, gave a lecture which I attempted over the years to replicate and refine. Here is why we believe that God cannot be a unicity or a lonely person - In fact the lonely one enclosed upon himself according to Fr. Daniel Callam, CSB  and a host of other teachers of theology is in hell. Fr. Boulad's answer is YES. God is a Trinity in One. When the Father loves his Son eternally he abandons his infinite divinity and grants it in a self-sacrificial love to the Son.The Son also returns this divinity with unlimited love to the Father and the Holy Spirit binds them with his outpouring love in the unity of eternal God. Note how each fully abandons himself eternally. More here: http://todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2008/06/trinity-divine-communion-of-love.html

Every person in the Triune God shares the same divinity. This eternal love was reflected in two acts of God: Creation out of love; and self denial in redeeming humanity which was fulfilled in the incarnation, passion, and death of Jesus Christ. He had to die to himself in order to rise from the dead and restore wounded humanity in sin to the Father.

Inspired by a homily given by Fr. Boulad on the baptism of Jesus, I spoke about the "naked" God in January this year. See here: http://todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2016/01/baptism-of-naked-god.html
Naked means he has nothing - He leaves everything he has in order to complete his mission...

When I had graduated from engineering in 1976, I thought that "theology" could be expressed in mathematical forms. In this holy season of Christmas I wish to share this idea subject to correction by experts...In mathematics we have numbers but they are not unlimited. Infinity is expressed by the symbol ∞. If you divide ∞ by any number the result is always ∞ or infinity. The same is with 0 or zero. If you divide 0 by any number the result is always 0 (or zero). In differential equations "Limited" is used to express the tendency of any function: Ltd t -> 0 means time tends to zero. It is never zero.

This is only a simple example compared to the huge research in quantum cosmology, Big Data, artificial intelligence in computing technology, neuroscience, the origin of the human mind and other areas. ​

But ​to return to the topic, in the incarnation of the Word (Logos) God becomes ZERO. God the Word who is infinite is united to an imperfect humanity (or humanity that is wounded with evil) by becoming the smallest thing to the point of zero. He so much loves his creation that he could not leave humanity far from him. His love, always present in many ideas of philosophers and in some way in other ancient religions, was in the "fullness of time" present at last with the Covenants of God to Israel - the smallest nation broken by the Babylonians, Greeks. Romans and others - as the fulfillment of Israel's prophets and fathers. He was born away in a cave, a manger, in a little town from a little virgin who knew very little but only dared to say Yes to the angel.

ZERO means nothing. For the Divine who is unlimited in every good thing, becoming a little human is like ZERO!

For us, this requires action to unite with each other and with every one in the world in the love of God and for his glory. It means more than buying gifts to my family or yours because it is Christmas. It means unity of Christians against hatred...which translates to helping those in need everywhere we can help. May the Lord have mercy on me sinner...May the Lord be glorified in everyone we know...May the Lord's peace fill every heart in these days of fear, confusion and terrorism that the world is witnessing...It is easy said but it means that we accept and cooperate with the Spirit of God wherever he leads us as did Mary the mother of Christ...
Mary Did You Know? [Click here to listen]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxnU8fWv7uU

Ibrahim El-Haddad: Out of the Cave

The little infant was happy to dwell in the womb of his mother for 9 months. That was his cave but not like ours who move in this world's cave blinded by darkness that wants to choke our lives. The womb of the Virgin Mary became "larger than heavens" as the Byzantine liturgy reminds us. Christ came to redeem and to restore to his Father the entire human race. About 2000 years ago he was born in a cave too in the town of Bethlehem surrounded by his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, and simple shepherds who welcomed him with their sheep while the arrogant Herod, probably many today, could not rest when he knew that the Messiah was born there. If kings from the East worshiped Jesus Christ in the manger, why do we hesitate?
To all the faithful, and not only to the Knights of Columbus, I say "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2: 10). To men who read me, I invite you to join our Council of the Knights of Columbus because you will benefit and will benefit others in the faith and charity of the Lord. Open your hearts. Come out of the cave. The Lord is here!

The Knights of God?

The Lord taught us how to pray: Our Father Who Art in heaven... Hallowed be Thy Name... Thy Kingdom come... Thy Will be done on earth as It is in heaven... Give us this day our daily bread, and Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and Lead us Not into temptation but Deliver us from the evil one.
Do we really talk to our Father with the trust that children have? Do we sanctify his name in the way we think and act?  These are the questions that Christians must ask themselves especially in the holy season of Christmas that reminds us of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ as a little baby more than 2000 years ago in a little manger surrounded by his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph; both humble persons, and the shepherds who ran to see him with their sheep before the arrival of the kings of the East to pay him homage! The earth knelt and worshiped Christ while the angels in heaven sang their "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth"!
Today, in a materialistic world, we hardly hear "Our Father" in public even though he gave us life and offered eternal life to those who wish to listen to and follow him.
In today's world, a few organizations try to help the successors of the Apostles in the living Church of God as much as the Knights of Columbus. With close to 2 million members, the Knights of Columbus, founded by Venerable Fr. McGivney as a fraternal organization to help the widows who lost their husbands in wars, portray a solid Catholic faith in their charitable work within the community, and for the needy and persecuted ones everywhere. They are pro-life who walk every year to support mothers to carry their babies in the womb to full term and deliver them to the joy of life. Many of them support their families and at the same time serve the parish or multiple parishes that constitute the community of the faithful. They serve in the collections in the Mass, and some as honor guards during religious festivals. They help the parish council(s) in planning and organizing events. They also organize social dinners, lectures around faith topics, and Bible studies. They sell holy items from the Holy Land for the benefit of the poor, refugees, and expansion of church little buildings. The Knights of Columbus publish books or booklets that help readers in their spiritual quest. With a chaplain (usually a priest) in every Council, their goal is to pray for the distressed and sick, reach out to those who despair, enrich those who are spiritually in need, and, above all, prepare people on earth for the Lord; a Biblical theme. To the distressed and persecuted in the Middle East, the Knights of Columbus sent much assistance to rebuild families, restore broken churches, and provide medicine in Iraq and to feed the hungry, help refugees, treat the wounded, and give medicine in Syria. The Supreme Knight participated in calling on the U.S. government and European governments to recognize the wars in the Middle East as acts of genocide. In the recent Supreme Convention in Toronto (August 2016) which some of Jesus the King Knights of Columbus Council members attended, we listened to Thomas Cardinal Collins advocating the right to life for the terminally-ill thus proclaiming the Church's stand for life and against the recent law in Canada for assisted suicide. Cardinal Collins has often spoken of the Knights of Columbus as "the strong arm of the Church." But above all, churches around the world have been called by Pope Francis to pray for peace in the lands that witnessed the early Christian testimonies from Jerusalem to Antioch (Syria) and beyond in the land of the Assyrians (today's Iran and Iraq).
The Church is here. Wishes alone do not deliver. Every member of every Council is encouraged to commit a few more hours to noble projects. The Knights of Columbus lead the Church in their services but they need more young members. This is the question that every young adult must ask himself.

The Church's Prayers

There are billions of people who do not know Christ. Some of them are atheists. Others are extremists who bomb people and kill them. Still others are Christians, devout Christians, who are only asking God for themselves and praying for their own little families. How about the rest?

I ask the entire Christian people whom  I know to pray everyday for the above people and for each other. They are like us men and women and children. They and we need God. Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

As the star guided the Magi to Christ, so we too can guide many to him. When they found him, the Magi adored him in the manger. Are we arrogant and selfish as Herod was? Do we only look for vanity? I saw many yesterday December 17, 2016 in the Christmas party in which we thanked Fr. Michel Chalhoub for his humility in 10 years serving the congregation of Jesus the King parish as a priest and others too who served the parish for so long. Are we only in Christmas to have a party? No. We thank God for him and them.

By the same token, we ask the Lord to help us prepare for Christmas by helping the needy, sending money or children clothing to pro-life organizations such as Birthright where mothers need help to avoid abortion, working with St. Vincent de Paul to feed the lonely and old, preparing some food for Out of the Cold program in Toronto and other cities, participating in "Baptism Preparation" for parents who wish to baptize their children or at least engaging in helping them if asked,

For our own sanctification, we need to fast if we can, go to confession - possibly with a spiritual director priest, receive the Holy Eucharist in the Church on Christmas where we mystically become one with Christ.

You may wish to listen to Bishop Robert Barron here on having a personal relationship with Christ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KZDQSxwF4

The Church is praying...Always trusting in our Lord the Holy Trinity who loves all that He created in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26-27).

"For in him we move and live and have our being" (Acts 17: 28).

A Vengeful God ?

After the terrible massacre in the Coptic Orthodox church of St. Peter at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo, we need to really pray for the victims and their families whether Christians or Muslims and pray for us and every one in the world (including victims and terrorists) so that God may help everyone to come to him and know him who is eternal love. God is merciful. He has no enemies. Christ was crucified and died for all, and is risen for all...He reigns in heaven which is among us.

The above massacre which took place on Sunday December 11, 2016 raises questions about the fate of the terrorist who died in making others suffer. He expected to be in paradise, but this is the reverse of heaven that Christians believe is for those who died in the grace of God. However if God is love according to St. John the Apostle (1 John 4: 8), then his love includes every one created. We may not encourage acts of terrorism that kill people. God understands the circumstances and psychological pressure that could drive weak persons into killing or committing suicide. This is why, in some cases, the Church may allow prayer of burial over a person who committed suicide if asked by his family. These are cases of psychological sickness. But the terrorist person may likely himself be lost...

In the Gospel, Christ warns against eternal damnation for those who do not help their needy fellow humans (especially persecuted Christians) in acts of mercy (e.g. see Matthew 25: 31-46). One man I know who has dedicated himself to work for helping students in the Holy Land is Hikmat Dandan. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus who won the Supreme Council's Award for the Youth in 2013. See the website of Jerusalem Students here http://jerusalemstudents.org. Hikmat collects funds from many churches and Councils in North America that Jesus the King parish sends to Melkite Catholic General Patriarchal Vicar  Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey in Jerusalem who is in charge of helping students in the Patriarchal school near Sahour where the angels appeared to the shepherds in announcing the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ. To donate or assist, contact Hikmat at knightsofcolumbus@hotmail.com or contact Archbishop Zerey at bishopjjzerey@yahoo.com

A little background:
In the Old Testament hell was expressed first with the word "Sheol" as the abode of the dead - a place that separates the sinner from God - It is an alienation from God (e.g. Psalm 28: 1, Psalm 6: 6, Psalm 88, 10: 19). When the Hebrew Scripture was translated to Greek in ancient Alexandria around 200 B.C. the word "Hades" replaced "Sheol". Christianity made a definitive change in the proclamation of the Gospel from the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, death and his Resurrection to his glorious Ascension. Hell has no more power over him and his true followers.
Throughout history, the doctrine of salvation, while is essentially the same, has developed as perceived by the Church (see "Who Can be Saved?" by Avery Cardinal Dulles here).  In his philosophy of personalism, Saint John Paul II wrote about the reality of hell here. 

The great Catholic theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote a book Dare We Hope “That All Men Be Saved”? (1988). He was appointed cardinal by Saint John Paul II for his services to the Church that helped her in the 20th century. Following in his footsteps, I hope and pray for the salvation of everyone regardless of his religion. See Richard John Neuhaus here and the story of his own conversion here. I also pray that God may in his unbounded mercy lead every non-Christian to the knowledge of Christ, believing in Him and the Church.

In my mind, I am frequently puzzled by the reality of hell that is everlasting for the damned. This could be the cause of many devout Christians repeatedly going to confession, and constantly praying popular prayers such as the Rosary. While we wish to enjoy life with others and families that we love I am simply afraid of damnation in an everlasting hell especially that the New Testament warns us against it. Yes, I pray that God may lead, in his unbounded mercy, all those non-Christians to the Church. But we cannot coerce them. A great recent example is Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta (see http://todayquestions.blogspot.ca/2008/11/third-teresa-woman-for-all-seasons.html).

To the above fear, several responses are found. There are, I believe, many young people who left the Church, and others who do not wish to believe in hell or would believe only if they are on death-bed... 

However, the popular Bishop Robert Barron spoke recently about hell. You may wish to listen to his points which are a moderate exposition from a Catholic missionary in America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmsa0sg4Od4

I received a response from the Jesuit scholar and popular homilist Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. I had sent him a little email about a devout lady who constantly prays the Rosary with her group and had to undergo a medical procedure because doctors suspected she may have cancer. So she went to confession, prepared herself with holy communion and said to God "I am in your hands...Thy will be done". Thank God, her prayers and mine were answered - she was told after the medical procedure that they found no tissue with cancer. Fr. Boulad responded today:
"I believe in the boundless power of prayer and what this lady has experienced is a proof of it. BUT, if my prayer is unanswered, I still believe that God has his own ways and I trust him fully. About HELL, I never think of it and don't fear it and don't care about it..." 

Both Barron and Boulad make me see the light in this turbulent age. Trust and love overcome hell through Christ. Read the Second Vatican Council, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Yes, God cannot be a vengeful God...He is our good Father. Pray. Fast. Go to confession, Receive the Eucharist, and live a real Christian life in serving the others regardless of their rank or religion. And above all, let us trust in Him who was crucified and died for the world, He rose from the dead to justify his followers. This is our God.

You may wish to listen to Bishop Robert Barron here on having a personal relationship with Christ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KZDQSxwF4

Christmas is here soon: Have a blessed Christmas!