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Brief Reflections & Provisions
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
ADVENT Week I
Sunday, December 1
- Jeanne Moore
As
another Advent Season begins, I’m remembering the wonder of God’s incarnation in
Jesus. I’m feeling God’s profound sadness at the terrible injustices and
ecological disasters millions are enduring. I know the God who is yet to come
will never give up on us.
I recall the elation I felt in the final weeks of a 12-hour, two semester course
on the history of philosophy during my undergrad studies at Loyola. We were
introduced to Alfred North Whitehead who postulated that the all-powerful
creator of the universe was waiting to co-create the future in tandem with the
choices we humans made. His notion of God freed me from the Almighty Ruler whose
inexorable will I had to somehow intuit or accept as interpreted by a religious
authority. I embraced a God who lures me, in love, to make the best possible
decisions for each day.
Standing before the rising sun, coffee mug in hand, I pray Bergan and Schwan’s
poetic version of the Principle and Foundation for St. Ignatius’s “Spiritual
Exercises”:
As your love is spilling over into creation
You are thinking of me.
I am from Love. Of Love. For Love. . . .
May I never seek nor choose to be other than you intend or wish.
What is your prayer to the One who invites our cooperation in loving our world
into the fullest incarnation of God’s very Self?
Jeanne Moore, OP <njmooreop@gmail.com>
Dominican Sister of Peace
St. Catharine, KY
Sunday, December 1
- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
Sunday, December 1: “Guide me in your truth and teach
me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day”.
(Ps 25). “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and
drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise
like a trap (Lk 21:25-28, 34-36).
What are you waiting for? It amuses me to imagine someone waiting for God “all
the day,” when in reality, it’s the other way around! God waiting for us to
rouse from our stupor (caused, perhaps by the carousing and anxieties Jesus
talks about in Luke’s Gospel?! Usually, it’s not a whole day that we wait:
we set aside a half-hour and expect God to show up and guide and teach us, while
God’s been the one waiting around “all the day” for us to show up!
Provision: Look for God’s light in the little things. An acquaintance of
mine, whose faith was very simple, related a story to me. She was walking on a
city sidewalk in early spring when she spied “a flower”—most likely a
weed—growing between the cracks in the pavement. Her response (aloud, mind you):
“You go, God!” When anxieties and distractions get the better of me, I stop and
look around for the little signs of God’s light. And, when I find one—which BTW,
is not hard at all—I too say aloud, “You go, God!” If you are feeling tired,
drowsy from the anxieties of life, don’t wait. Go out and look for the little
stars of God’s light right in your own neighborhood!
Monday, December 2
- Philip Powell
St. Albert the Great Priory & Novitiate, Irving, TX
The centurion immediately recognizes Jesus' authority over disease and
disability. Drawing a comparison between his own authority as a military
commander and Jesus' authority as the Son of God, the centurion declares his
faith in Jesus' ability to command that his servant be healed. Not only is he
acknowledging Jesus' authority to heal, he's also confessing that he believes
that Jesus can heal his servant without seeing him or touching him: “. . .but
say the word and let my servant be healed.” Jesus' response to the man's faith
is telling. He is amazed, and says to the gathered crowd, “I tell you, not even
in Israel have I found such faith.” While those who should be flocking to Jesus
– the priests, the scribes, all the people of the Covenant – are instead
questioning, ridiculing, and arguing with him, this Roman solider – a pagan
invader, and occupier among God's own people – sees and hears the truth that
Christ is sent to reveal. The centurion sees in Christ the truth of his divine
mission, the truth of his purpose, and so he accepts the authority that this
truth wields in the man Jesus. There is no way to distinguish or separate
Christ's truth from his authority. If we accept the truth that Jesus is the
Christ, then we also accept his authority as our Lord.
Would he be amazed at our faith, our obedience in 2024?
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP <pnpowellop@gmail.com>
Monday, December 2
- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“I rejoiced because they said, "We will go up to the
house of the LORD” (Ps 122).
This psalm is the prayer of a pilgrim. A pilgrimage to the Holy Lands or on the
Camino in Spain is on my bucket list, and I’m not getting any younger, so I
better start planning soon. Sadly, a trip to the Holy Lands these days is
fraught with risk. It was full of risks in ancient times as well. Pilgrims
confronted wild animals, harsh weather, and rugged terrain—not quaint hostels or
local eateries and vendors that offer rest and refreshment. And, at night, as
everyone did at that time, they plotted their next steps based on the stars.
Provision: Pray for enough light to guide your next steps. Many people feel
off-balance, unsure of what the future holds. For some, the threat of government
job loss or deportation is very real. Others are hesitant to plan too far in
advance. As we talked about last week, pray each day for the light you need to
do the next loving thing. As pilgrims, we place our trust and hope in God to
guide and protect us as we journey through some rough terrain and harsh
realities.
Tuesday, December 3 - Carl Paustian
I love how so many of our scripture readings start during the season of Advent —
we get phrases like the one we had today, “On that day.” I love it, because it
shows us that we’re pointing towards something.
The Prophet Isaiah gives us this beautiful vision, this beautiful prophecy about
the coming of the Messiah: about the Root and the Stump of Jesse, how he will
judge with justice, how he will be a friend to the poor and the down-trodden. We
also get the incredible vision of peace: the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and
the goat, the calf, the young lion and the child. Enemies in a sense will become
friends. It’s a great vision of what is hoped for.
Advent isn’t simply a time to prepare for Christmas. Certainly, that’s our
proximate preparation. But this is a time, a season, meant for so much more.
It’s meant to prepare us for the end of time, it’s meant to prepare us for the
judgment. Ultimately, it’s meant to prepare us for heaven. The season of Advent,
these four weeks, are meant to prepare us for what we long to see and what we
desire to hear.
And if we’re preparing for something, that means it takes work. That’s the
difference between passive waiting and active preparation. It’s the input that
we must do. If we hope to see justice and lasting peace, if we hope to see the
Kingdom of Heaven, it means that our work now must be implementing that vision.
Fr. Carl Paustian, O.P. <vocations@opsouth.org>
Tuesday, December 3 -Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse: from
his roots a bud shall blossom (Is 11:1-10).
Growth begins in darkness. “In the beginning, the earth was a wasteland, and
darkness covered the abyss” (Gn 1:1-2).
A child is nurtured in the darkness of a womb, a seed digs its roots deep into
the dark, rich soil. The mystics tell us to do our best to be still and allow
for times of spiritual darkness, remembering that roots grow deeper when its
dry. The Jewish people of old, through their trials and tribulations, were
promised a shoot from Jesse that will grow and blossom. That promise is
fulfilled and alive, blossoming for us this very day.
Provision: Allow for darkness so that you can see the Light. It’s
important to remember psychological darkness, depression, or deep spiritual
angst requires help. The Lord does not want us to suffer in darkness alone, so
seek out wise pastoral companionship—someone to sit in the dark with you—or
professional counseling. But if your darkness is not the absence of hope, but
confusion or disillusionment, wondering where God is in the mess, don’t be
afraid to embrace the dark in prayerful silence. Pour out your heart to God and
ask for God to make you aware of the Light that may be hidden today but is
always present. “Help us to be the always hopeful gardeners of the Spirit who
know that without darkness, nothing comes to birth, as without light, nothing
flowers” (May Sarton).
Wednesday, December 4 - Benedict Johnson
Readings: Is 25:6-10a; Ps. 23:l-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Mt
15:29-37
Memorial of St. John of Damascus, Doctor of the Church
Why
doesn’t everyone see the truth of God’s love for humanity? Why
are
so many simply unable to
know what God has in store for them. The reading of the Isaiah talks about a
great feast that God will provide for all humanity. This is
our
end, this is why
we
were made: to feast with
God in his kingdom. But until we arrive
there, we are held back. There is a “veil that
veils all peoples, the
web that is woven over all the nations.” The
sufferings of this life, the daily reminders of sin and death among us, the
injustices we experience—all of this keeps us from clinging to the God who simply
wants to feast with us. We find it so hard to see past this veil of pain, of
sin, of death. If anyone were to tell us, “Don’t worry! It’s all in God’s
providence!” we would dismiss him as naive, simplistic, unaware of what we
actually go through. So again, we have to ask: why can’t we see and cling to the
great love God has for us? And
further, if
we
are
an
Order of Preachers, how
do we communicate this love in a way that people will accept?
The
saint we commemorate today, John of Damascus, points
us
in the right direction.
He is best known for defending the Church’s use of icons and images. He taught
that, by becoming incarnate in our mortal flesh, Christ makes us see the
invisible God through his humanity. And so, now in the Church,
we
can really, truly know
and love God through our material images, be they icons, statues, paintings,
etc.. Now this all sounds great, but how does this help us deal with the veil
that blinds us to the feast God call us to?
Christ
uses
us
as images of his
redeeming love in the world. In our Gospel, Christ’s heart “is moved with pity
for the crowd,” the crowd that has followed him, hungry and thirsty and tired
as
they were.
But
his pity
doesn’t
stay inside him. It
actually impacts the crowd, and not without the help of his disciples. They are
the ones
entrusted with
distributing the feast. They are the ones supposed to feed the crowd.
In
so doing, they image and
make present the pity of Christ’s heart for the crowd. The disciples extend
Christ’s compassion to the crowd. They are images that make real and effective
what
the love
they
signify.
Imperfect as we are, we are called to do the same, especially as preachers. Our
words, our preaching, and our lives of ministry are supposed to be sacred images
of Christ’s pity and mercy in the world. The veil that Isaiah talks about won’t
taken away from the world, unless we allow ourselves to become images of that
love. As our
brother, Thomas
Aquinas, often writes, God delights in using secondary
causes.
God doesn’t remove the
veil by some abstract decree from above. He condescends, and he continues to
condescend through us. As we contemplate Christ’s coming this Advent, we should
remember that he continues to come and visit his people through us. The world
needs us to be authentic images of Christ.
Wednesday, December 4 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“On this mountain God will destroy the veil that
veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations” (Is 25:6-10).
This image portrayed in Isaiah of a veil and a web that ensnares people disturbs
me more than the image of darkness. I guess it’s the idea of being trapped,
trying to free myself from the web, surrounded by others trying to do the same,
all the while being able to see just enough through the veil to know there is
light and restful waters on the other side. I worry: Will my need for control
make me despair? Will I put aside my own anxiety to help others escape the web?
Provision: Look for the light through the veil. This image has relevance
in our current situation. Whether we are disturbed due to political or world
events, beginning to contemplate our own mortality, or worried about the future,
it can feel like we are trapped and not in control. For me, the key is to
recognize the light does indeed exist beyond that veil but is within our reach.
If we allow God to free us, we can live in that light right now, here in the
land of the living. We just need to stop railing against reality. One good way
is to turn to others in their struggles. Help them to surrender to the knowledge
that God’s got this.
Thursday, December 5 - Francis Orozco
We have
a lot to look forward to on that day when the Lord will come again!
We’re on the 5th day of Advent, the season where we prepare for the comings of
Christ.
We usually spend a lot of time and energy preparing for Christmas Day: buying
decorations and gifts, making plans to travel or host others — or both, and
tracking down an item or ingredient to make something perfect. How much time do
we spend preparing our souls for Christmas Day?
Jesus wants us to build our house solidly on rock, a stable, unshakable
foundation. A strong foundation gives the best opportunity for a robust faith
(as well as a home).
Our Dominican men, in formation to be priests and brothers, spend years in
study, living in community, growing in ministry, and cultivating a solid life of
prayer! And in the last few years, an additional year of formation was added.
People often wonder why, especially when there is such a need in the Church. The
answer is that the people of God need well-formed priests and brothers to be
good preachers and leaders in the Church.
We spend a lot of time preparing for important things. Spending time on the
foundation gives us the best opportunity for a robust faith!
Fr.
Francis Orozco, OP <forozco@opsouth.org>
Thursday, December 5 -Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to
trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes”
(Ps 118).
Oh, those princes of the world with their glittering gold and neon lights! Their
Baroque castles and cathedrals! Their huge mansions and bank accounts! It is
easy for us to be blinded by the lights of the world, and unfortunately, that is
just what “the princes and princesses” want to happen. It gives them control
over us. I would debate the psalmist today: it is not just better to take refuge
in the Lord—it is essential!
Provision: Take refuge in the true Light. Maybe you plan to take the kids or
grandkids out to see the lights in the neighborhood. I loved doing that when my
kids were young, to see the twinkling lights reflected in their wide eyes. After
that excursion, see if you can visit a local church that has a simple outdoor
crèche display. If the kids are old enough, talk to them to see what they were
able to see beyond the bright, flashing lights on the houses and trees, and what
they see now in the dimly lit stable. Remind them that the lights of Christmas
will be taken down and put away soon, but the true Light of Christmas will
remain forever. Encourage them (and yourself) to take refuge in this Light.
Friday, December 6
- Theresa Fox
Reading 1: IS 29:17-24
Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the
orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and
darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One
of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; All who
are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, Who
ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed
Abraham: Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face
grow pale.
When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, They shall keep my name
holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob and be in awe of the God of
Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault
shall receive instruction.
Gospel: MT 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have
pity on us!”
When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he
touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they
went out and spread word of him through all that land.
PREACHING - DECEMBER 6, 2024
Today is commonly known as the Feast of St. Nicholas, a bishop in Myrna in the
4th century. Not much is known about his life, but he was known for being
generous. A legend says that he saved three girls from prostitution by throwing
bags of gold into the house of their family. Somehow stories have come down
through the centuries to connect this bishop with our current idea of Santa
Claus- the giver of gifts at Christmas.
In today’s Gospel Jesus saved the two blind men from a life of blindness by his
healing. This was a precious gift that changed their lives forever. When they
left the house where Jesus healed them, they began to tell everyone of this
precious gift they had received. After all everyone they met would have noticed
the difference. Instead of feeling their way along the road, they now walked
straight marveling at all they saw. All because of Jesus and his miraculous gift
to them.
In this Advent season we often focus on gift giving. Today let us take time to
reflect on the marvelous gifts we have been given. Yes, our sight, our families,
our health and so much more. Let us especially appreciate the gift of faith that
leads us to God and guides our every action each day.
Theresa Fox <tfoxop@gmail.com>
Friday, December 6
- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“God tells the number of the stars and calls each
by name” (Ps 147).
Do you remember the TV ads several years ago for the International Star
Registry? It’s a business that enables you to purchase, for $33, the right to
name a specific star in honor of someone. I guess they don’t realize God named
them all eons ago!
I live on the East Coast of the US, and you’d be hard pressed to find any
stretch along the I-95 corridor that allows for good star gazing. But I’ve
visited places far enough away from city lights, and I can only imagine the
awesome majesty of the night skies in the ancient world. For us in the modern
world, we need to be reminded the stars are there, even when we can’t see them.
Today’s Provision: Trust the light is there. A few weeks ago, I shared
the Native American saying about those who have gone before us: “Perhaps they
are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to
let us know they are happy.” These pinpoints of light, be they stars or holy
souls, are with us always, guiding our way, even though it is dark. Trust the
light is there.
Saturday, December
7 - Sr. Mary Rose Carlin
Memorial of St. Ambrose
(Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps
147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)
Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Lufkin, TX
Jesus, God made manifest as teacher and healer as prophesied in the Book of
Isaiah in today’s first reading, steps off the page in today’s Gospel for he
comes “teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and
curing every disease and illness” (Mt. 9:35). Recently, at a Novitiate Scripture
sharing on the widow who put two small coins into the Temple treasury, our
aspirant remarked, “How fortunate that woman was to have Jesus looking at her.”
Her comment struck me and came to mind when reading the Gospel of today. In this
case we could say, “How fortunate that crowd was to have Jesus looking at them.”
Moved with pity for the troubled and abandoned crowd, he surprisingly tells his
disciples to ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.
Here we see the marvelous mystery that God’s mercy will be extended through
human beings. When he summons the Twelve he specifically gives them authority to
heal. Theologically, we view sickness and disease as the result of sin, although
not necessarily the result of personal sin. Yet God uses what is the punishment
as also the remedy for it is in our sickness and weakness that he is drawn to us
in compassion and we reach out to him in our need. It is also what draws and
binds us to each other. As his coworkers, when we share in his teaching and
healing ministry we share in the very heart of Jesus, the very heart of God for
our hearts like his are moved with compassion at the suffering we see, and we
are filled with gratitude at the mercy we receive.
Christ’s injunction to pray the master of the harvest to send workers into the
harvest is often interpreted by Catholics as an injunction to pray for priestly
and religious vocations. This is fair enough since they are certainly workers.
The immediate context of the Gospel makes it seem even more restrictive. Since
it is the Twelve Jesus calls after saying this, it could be taken as a command
to pray for bishops to be like the good St. Ambrose, whom we celebrate today.
Yet Jesus’ order seems even broader than this for we want all of us to be sent
out to gather the harvest, all of us to share in Our Lord’s tender and
restorative love. Since it is God’s love, only God can give it to us. That is
why Our Lord tells us to ask for it for ourselves and for each other. During
this Advent may all of us proclaim, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” by our
lives. May we cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons
whether this is through sacramental ministry, the ministry of our work, or
through our manifest charity. May our own illnesses be healed; what is dead in
us, resurrected; what is leprous, cleansed; and our personal demons driven away
that we may freely give what has been freely given to us: “the tender compassion
of our God” (Lk1:78).
Sister Mary Rose Carlin <srmaryrosecarlin@gmail.com>
Saturday, December
7 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“God tells the number of the stars and calls each
by name” (Ps 147).
Do you remember the TV ads several years ago for the International Star
Registry? It’s a business that enables you to purchase, for $33, the right to
name a specific star in honor of someone. I guess they don’t realize God named
them all eons ago!
I live on the East Coast of the US, and you’d be hard pressed to find any
stretch along the I-95 corridor that allows for good star gazing. But I’ve
visited places far enough away from city lights, and I can only imagine the
awesome majesty of the night skies in the ancient world. For us in the modern
world, we need to be reminded the stars are there, even when we can’t see them.
Today’s Provision: Trust the light is there. A few weeks ago, I shared
the Native American saying about those who have gone before us: “Perhaps they
are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to
let us know they are happy.” These pinpoints of light, be they stars or holy
souls, are with us always, guiding our way, even though it is dark. Trust the
light is there.
ADVENT Week II
Sunday, December 8
- Chris Eggleton
Joyful anticipation and
hope are in the air! In the Gospel passage, Luke highlights human history, for
God will be born in a particular place and time. John vigorously announced that
the Salvation promised has now arrived and interior disposition is crucial. The
mountains of greed, racism, and hatreds are to be flattened; whatever impedes
our ability to receive the Source of merciful love is to be relinquished.
In her
novel “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter” Carson McCullers writes: “There was hope in
him, and soon perhaps the outline of his journey would take form.”
The
brown-streaked song sparrow, which only begins singing in late winter offers its
hope-filled song.
Chris Eggleton <ceggleton@opsouth.org>
Sunday, December 8-
Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more
and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value”
(Phil 1:4-6, 8-11).
That last phrase, “to discern what is of value” caught my attention. In this
season of rampant commercialism, in the current political climate that appears
to devalue things like education and human rights, it’s a good time for all of
us to do some real, honest reflection on what we value, and how closely our
lives reflect those values. Try as I may, I cannot fathom how Christians, who
kneel to worship the poor babe in the manger whose family must flee for their
lives from the country of their birth, can turn a blind eye to the poor and
oppressed and support the mass deportation of immigrants; how some can be more
concerned with their own little worlds than with what ails Mother Earth. I am
troubled as I look at my own life and how my habits and behaviors support the
status quo. I pray my love and yours may increase ever more so that our eyes may
be opened to see beyond ourselves, to live lives that reflect what really
matters most.
Provision: What do you value? How does your living reflect what you
value? I rarely take time to look at my habits and assess how what I do and what
I tacitly support align with what I say I value. Do you? This can become a trap
for “analysis paralysis” so we also need to be practical. This can play out in
our personal lives as well. We say we value health, but do our habits reflect
that? Take time to discern a habit or action that is misaligned with what you
truly value. Try to pick one on a personal level and one on a societal level.
This week, see if you can adjust the alignment!
Monday, December 9
- Ceal Warner
Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps
98:2-4; Eph1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38
St Paul tells us that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing, that we are
chosen, that we are adopted, that we are destined according to God’s will. Prior
to Paul, an angel told Mary that she was chosen, that she was full of grace,
that she was favored by God.
From great love, God has lifted us to be in the company of Mary. This is not a
boast on our part, it is the mysterious worthiness in which God see us. Our
response is one of humbleness that God should care for us in such a way.
Mary, of course, holds a unique place in the eyes of God and the Church as the
Mother of God. She is the beginning of salvation history with her yes to carry
the Son of God and birth him into this world. Such a gift she is to this aching
world. Her role in salvation history did not end with the birth of Christ. After
his death, with a mother’s love, she carried and birthed the word of God to all
she met. She continues her ministry to us from her place in eternity.
Ceal Warner, OP <Ceal.Warner@oppeace.org>
Haddonfield, NJ
Monday, December 9
- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called
Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:26-38).
Several books I use for Advent reflection suggest that, instead of skimming over
the all-to-familiar words of the infancy narratives, we take time to imagine
what is happening and what the message is for us. In true Ignatian contemplation
fashion, we put ourselves in the scene, either as a participant or as an
observer. We strip away all the artists’ renditions (except for my favorite,
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Annunciation, which is a more likely depiction). We put
aside all the theological justifications and rational refutations to embrace the
mystery of God entering into our reality. Even for those who are not Christian,
can you see how the Creator desires to be one with their creation?
Provision: Remember—God appears to unlikely people in unlikely ways. This
is God’s chosen way with humanity: To make the Divine known to simple people, in
simple situations. So never discount the possibility that God has and will come
to you. Try to simplify your life…even if it’s just for today. Set aside time
for quiet prayer, but don’t necessarily expect God to show up during your
“allotted” prayer time! Instead, be aware as you go about the day for moments of
quiet peace that seem to appear out of nowhere. They appear from the heart of
God.
Tuesday, December
10 - Joseph Kerstiens
—
Matthew 18:12-14
What is
your opinion?
A small business owner has worked tirelessly for his family and most of his
life. He is moderately profitable, he is prudent with his finances, and on top
of that he is a great employer and an even better manager. Having put in extra
time to grow his enterprise at a healthy rate, he now has several storefronts
throughout town that have quickly become a beloved part of the city’s culture.
Despite the success of his small chain, he has one location that consistently
underperforms. This location is on the edge of a dying part of town, regularly
receives complaints about the staff, bounces between being in the red and
turning an unjustifiably meager profit and fails to measure up in quality of
output to the rest of the chain. One could easily say it is damaging the
goodwill of everything that the entrepreneur has worked so hard to build.
Knowing this, it makes it understandable when he decides to close the failing
location without hesitation. What good business is there in supporting something
that hurts the rest of all you’ve worked for? Why keep a seemingly
unsalvageable, failing part of the business? Why pour in even more extra work
with little promise of return? It is frankly bad business.
So why do we see the shepherd in the Gospel today make a similar reckless
and bad decision? If you’re like me, you’d think it is foolish to endanger such
a large part of your livelihood for something so trivial. What are we missing?
How can God, as the good shepherd be so foolish?
In a sense, God is foolish—at least by human standards. He is ready and willing
to put aside and give up absolutely everything for the sake of his beloved, with
zero expectation of a return on investment. His love is so sacrificial that he
would make the bad business decision to “keep the failing shop” or “go in search
of the stray,” not because that “failing shop” and that “stray” are
intrinsically worth saving, but because His love for them gives them value. My
friends, we are not a good business decision for God; it was a scandalizing
decision for him to give Himself up on the cross for us. And yet this love is
exactly what we are called to emulate.
In His seeking out those who are lost, God communicates both (1) where our value
truly comes from—that is, His desire to salvage us and seek us out, His desire
for us; and (2) the nature of love that we are called to—that is, a foolish and
reckless love willing to give up of our own livelihood and being for another.
This twofold lesson will benefit us as we prepare for Christmas:
(1) How have I defined myself? By my successes? By my accomplishments? By my
relationships? How might my life change if I see my sole value in God’s love for
me? On Christmas day, God entered into this world to seek us out. What does it
mean for Him to seek me out?
(2) Christ became human on Christmas so that we can become like Him. Do I love
as God does? Do I love without thought to myself, foolishly and recklessly? What
can I abandon for love of Him and love of my neighbor?
Joseph Kerstiens <jb.kerstiens@gmail.com>
Tuesday, December
10- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
A voice cries out: “In the desert prepare the way
of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley
shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land
shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley” (Is 40:1-11).
Have you ever considered how this image from Isaiah squares with the journey
Mary and Joseph make from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Imagine making the trip with
them: You’d likely travel with a group; others must make the same trek, and it
is dangerous to travel alone. It is about 90 miles (upwards of ten days), south
along the flatlands of the Jordan and west over the hills into Jerusalem and
onto Bethlehem. Our tradition says it is winter, so in that part of the Judean
desert, it would be in the 30s (F) during the day and very rainy, freezing at
night. You’d be wearing a heavy woolen cloak over your long robes (yes, they
would get soaking wet) with tube-like socks and enclosed shoes protecting your
feet. You’d also be carrying provisions for at least 2 weeks: Water in big skins
made from goat hides, wine, flat bread, oil and herbs, dried fruit and nuts… A
straight highway? Level hills and broad valleys? Think again.
Today’s Provision: Bringing Christ into the world is not easy. Look for
support. That’s why “traveling the holy way” is always better with companions!
Do you have trusted “God friends” who accompany and support you as you strive to
bring forth God’s peace into the world? I hope so! They make all the difference.
If not, start looking for groups of people who value what you value, and make an
early New Year’s resolution to join them on the journey.
Wednesday, December 11 - Carmen Mele
Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
(Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30)
Today’s
reading from the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah highlights the
paramount virtue during Advent – hope. Hope enables humans to tolerate desperate
situations by providing a plausible remedy. In the reading Jewish exiles in
Babylon are experiencing hardship. They were defeated with heavy losses during
the siege of Jerusalem. Now as strangers with a distinguished heritage they face
ridicule and contempt. God, speaking through the prophet, assures the people
that they will not remain marginalized for long. He, forever young and strong,
will see them through the trial to peace and prosperity again.
The well-known passage from the Gospel of Matthew likewise gives a message of
hope. Jesus tells those who feel overburdened by the many laws of Judaism not to
give up. Rather they are to find hope in a relationship with him. He provides
comfort and strength with his love for them. He is the long-expected Messiah who
has come to save them from their sins.
Many find the Church today a legalistic overseer with countless rules. Because
they have lost the sense that she is the Body of Christ, they leave her. Christ
would have us tell them to wait and try developing a spiritual relationship with
him. We, Christ’s body, are to share their joys and sorrows, work and recreation
in his name.
Carmen Mele <cmeleop@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, December 11 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“Lift up your eyes on high and see who has
created these things: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all
by name. By his great might …not one of them is missing!” (Is 40:25-41).
The “army” Isaiah refers to are those stars we read about last Saturday. Huge
stars that shine brightly like our sun, little twinkling ones that fill us with
wonder, provide us with inspiration, and grant us just enough light to see the
way forward!
Provision: Give thanks for the “stars” in your life. Call them by name.
Let’s spend time today giving thanks for the “stars” in our lives, the great and
the small; those who have gone before us who shine in the firmament and those in
our communities and neighborhoods who greet us each day. Call them by name, and
if feasible, let them know how they brighten your life. If you are out and
about, thank the people who serve you. Be a “star” for someone else today.
Thursday, December 12 - R. B. Williams
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
[Zechariah
2:14-17 OR Revelation 11:19a;12:1-6a, 10ab
and Luke 1:26-38 OR Luke 1:39-47]
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed
with the sun, with the moon under her
feet, and
on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with
child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. [Revelation]
Sing
and rejoice,
O
daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among
you, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day,
and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know
that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. [Zechariah]
Marian devotion is one of the most prominent signs
of Catholicism, whether East or West. Here in the United States, and south of
our southern border, the devotion resulting from an apparition of Mary
to
a humble peasant on a
hill in Mexico in 1531 has a very prominent place. This would be particularly
important to Mexican Catholics. Despite some sentiment to the contrary since
almost every country south of the border has
a particular Marian devotion -a Nicaraguan student
once said to me,
'Tm Nicaraguan.
She's not OUR Lady!" -
Pope John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of
Guadalupe
to be the patroness of
all the Americas! The image from the cloak ("tilma") of St. Juan Diego on
display at the shrine in Mexico City is visited by thousands of pilgrims every
year.
The
significance of the image is multi-layered. Mary is presented as a young
pregnant
mestizo
woman surrounded by many symbols. She is seen by many as God's favor and
presence among the poor and oppressed people of the Americas. I have seen
reproductions and stylized versions of the famous image on all kinds of surfaces
in Texas and elsewhere in the Southwest of the USA. I have met both women and
men with the first name "Guadalupe!" There is no question of the power of the
image and the one who is depicted in it!
As with
all Marian apparitions, whether Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima, Medugorje, etc..,
people of faith are invited to consider the message and the person, Mary, who
brings it. These should all point to the Son of Mary and strengthen the faith of
those who are drawn to the particular devotion. The celebration of this feast is
a reminder
of the Blessed Mother's
maternal care as well as a reminder of what her
Son‘s
teachings challenge us
to
do for others, especially
the poor and oppressed of the Americas.
AMEN
Thursday, December 12 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
A great sign appeared: a woman clothed with the
sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
…Then another sign; a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns…Its tail
swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth (Rv
11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab).
Lots going on here. Good and virtue are portrayed by the woman, adorned simply
but dramatically with the Light of the Cosmos; and the frightening image of the
evil and violence of the “Accuser” represented by the huge dragon. It is the
classic battle of good and evil we see played out in Star Wars movies, TV shows,
and, if we are lucky, occasionally in real life. But, given our theme, I’m
intrigued by the image of “a third of the stars” being swept away and hurled
down to earth. What happened to those stars?
.
Provision: Light always overcomes darkness. If you read the next verses,
it turns out Satan and its angels were also thrown down to earth (v. 7-9) and
continue to prowl around. But the heavenly stars are still here as well and
continue to burn as brightly. Maybe they appear to us in dreams or perhaps in
our memories, when we look back on times when we felt all was lost, only to find
a light to lead us forward. Maybe they are the people we honored yesterday, or
someone we encounter today! The light of the stars that endure here on earth
will always overcome any darkness we encounter!
Friday, December 13 - Auggie DeArmond
St. Anthony of Padua
New Orleans, LA
Lectionary: 185;
Reading 1: Is
48:17-19; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6;
Gospel: Mt 11:16-19
Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Jesus compares the people of his day to two groups of “children who sit in
marketplaces,” playing make-believe games, who are rather fickle about what they
want from each other. The argument has to do with whether John the Baptist’s
ascetic way of life and discipleship were better or worse than Jesus’s
“celebratory” spirit of welcoming sinners to repentance. In other words, Jesus’
critics try to create friction between those who followed John and those now
following Jesus.
Yet, both John and Jesus focused on the same goal: Calling men and women to
reconciliation with God. There was no animosity between Jesus and John. In fact,
there was great admiration for each other and, from the perspective of John,
great devotion to Jesus as the Messiah. John even directed his own disciples to
follow Jesus!
Every person in the Church has an opinion on discipleship and devotion to the
faith. There are those people in today’s generation who criticize the members of
the Church for being inconsistent in our witness to that faith. Why do you spend
so much time in adoration? Is it not more practical and effective to offer
outward service to the community? Shouldn’t you be more involved at the local
food pantry instead of always fretting about your regular participation in the
Sacrament of Reconciliation? All of these are important exercises of Christian
discipleship, and we should make such active and contemplative practices a
reality in our own lives, regardless of the criticisms of others.
Whether through prayer or works of charity, both of which are integral to the
Christian discipleship, we should direct our hearts to the hearts of both John
the Baptist and Jesus. They both desired that men and women turn back from sin
and be reconciled to God. As we continue the Advent Season, let us offer both
our corporal and spiritual works toward the goal of preparing ourselves and our
neighbors of the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate image of God and
man reconciled.
Fr. Augustine J. DeArmond, OP, JCL <adearmond@opsouth.org>
Friday, December 13 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your
good, and lead you on the way you should go” (Is 48:17-19). “Those who follow
you, Lord, will have the light of life” (Ps 1, Jn 8:12)
There are two essential parts of this equation: first, we listen to God’s
Word—for Christians, that would be Jesus (so none of the “eye for an eye”
stuff!). This is how we learn what is for our good. Second—and this is often the
hardest part—we follow in Jesus’s footsteps, to put into living practice what we
have learned. These two things add up to having the light of the Lord in our
lives.
Provision: How’s your math? One thing about this equation: if we don’t
listen well and thoughtfully to God’s Word, we will have an even harder time
trying to add in the second part. Too often, we skim over the words of
Scripture. We have heard the same old lessons and stories so many times that we
fail to grasp the meaning for our individual lives. Take the gospel for today
(Mt 11:16-19). What is Jesus saying to you about your faith? Take time with the
readings today. See if you can read them like you’ve never heard them before.
How do they help you to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?
Saturday,
December
14 - Elaine Ireland
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross,
priest and doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 693;
1 Cor 2:1-10a;
Reading 1:
1 Cor
2:1-10a;
Psalm:
Ps
37:3-4, 5-6, 30-31;
Gospel:
Lk
14:25-33
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
The
disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He
said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things, but I tell you
that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him
whatever they pleased (Mt 17:9-13).
What does Jesus mean by Elijah coming to “restore all things?” There had not
been a prophet recognized in Israel since Malachi, some 400 years ago, so what
“things” needed to be restored? Fear of the Lord? Prophetic reminders about the
need for repentance and God’s promises of salvation and mercy? Hope for the
oppressed? Israel had become a law-bound, uneasy subject of Rome. You get the
feeling there was little Spirit to be found, particularly among the poor. Enter
John the Baptist, with his fiery prophecies and burning criticism of the
hierarchy, “the brood of vipers.” Oh they recognized him, alright. And did to
him what they thought was expedient, just like they will do with the Son of Man.
Provision: Look
for the light of real prophets. There are false prophets out there today, some
who talk about “profits” as being a sign of God’s favor. Who are real prophets,
those who preach God’s mercy for all, God’s preferential option for the poor?
“By their fruits, you will know them.” “Do not be deceived.”
ADVENT Week III
Sunday,
December 15
- Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP
The Fulfillment of All Desire
At this time of year, I often think about the Christmas morning of 1980. I’d
spent weeks pining after a battery-operated toy electric guitar to bring my rock
star fantasies to life. I remember that ecstatic moment under the tree when,
having torn through the scotch-taped wrapping paper, my hands finally held the
fulfillment of all desire. After inserting the C batteries in the plastic casing
and striking my coolest rock-star pose, I ran happily about the house,
improvising melodies on the colorful plastic buttons (it was string less!) and
showing off the most amazing Christmas gift Santa (my dad) had ever given me. I
played my new guitar for hours, sharing my excitement with everyone that
Christmas morning… until I sat on it. And that was that.
Christian life is a school that forms us to look perseveringly toward the
fulfillment of all desire. Our faith schools us the sometimes-difficult
discipline of living in hope. Advent especially fosters this, with readings and
liturgical texts that train our hearts and minds to watch and wait in darkness,
as we quietly rejoice in the approaching light. The indispensable element, of
course, is to continually refocus the heart on the right thing, on that alone
which can truly fulfill every desire, plastic electric guitars notwithstanding.
On Gaudete Sunday, or the Sunday of Rejoicing, we are reminded that in some
sense, the end of our wait is always near. We never know when a piercing ray of
grace will break through the darkness and turn it on its head, any more than we
know when the Prince of Peace will call us home. Life in Christ trains us to
persevere in quiet joy, in times both dark and bright. As Advent gives way to
the fulfillment of all desire, let us perseveringly seek Jesus, knowing that his
presence is within us and around us, waiting to be known, loved, and made known.
And as God sustains us in hope, may we rejoice, knowing that the Spirit of Life
conforms us - even now - to the One for whose coming we so ardently yearn.
Cristóbal Torres <cmti1971@gmail.com>
Sunday,
December 15 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“Whoever has two
cloaks, share with the person who has none…whoever has food should do
likewise.” He answered [the tax collectors]: "Stop collecting more than what
is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him. He told them, "Do not practice
extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages”
(Lk 3:10-18).
I’m tempted at times to stop writing based on the lectionary and instead use the
verses that immediately proceed them, in this case: “He said to the crowds who
came out to be baptized, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not
begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God
can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the
root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will
be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Lk 3:7-9). You can imagine the people
trembling and asking, “What then should we do?” They cower as he lowers the
boom: Share what you have. Don’t throw your weight around. Stop stealing, lying,
and whining!
Expecting something more dramatic? We may think we must go to great lengths for
salvation: extreme acts of contrition, beating ourselves up for our
all-too-frequent lapses. But in reality, it’s about two things: what we do in
our daily lives and “not only what we do, but where we do it from” (John Shea,
Starlight, p. 103).
Provision: Do everything with love. The crowd is concerned with their own
salvation. Based on John’s words, that’s not surprising. There’s nothing wrong
with that goal but note what John says about the people just relying on their
status as children of Abraham. Note what he says about producing good fruit.
Remember, the word “repentance”—metanoia in Greek—has to do with changing, not
only our actions, but our minds and hearts. If we are doing works of charity and
justice based solely on obligation or for our own salvation, we are missing out
on the joy of true repentance. God looks into our hearts and sees our
motivation. Let’s try this week to do what we do with love from our hearts.
Monday,
December 16 - Francine Schwarzenberger
“I
shall ask you one question…”
The time of Jesus’ passion is approaching. Tension is building as Jewish
religious leaders attempt to catch Jesus off guard. Jews and Gentiles alike are
rejecting God’s invitation to the Messianic banquet. But Jesus, so cleverly,
asks one question – precise and concise – in today’s reading. “I shall ask you
one question…”
Jesus asks one question often. Some scholars say he does this more than 70 times
in the Gospel according to Matthew, but in all the Gospels, he only answers
three. Sometimes the questions confer dignity, or initiate a conversation, or
lead people to deeper knowledge. Sometimes the question exposes duplicity.
“Who touched me?” “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother ‘s or sister’s
eye?” “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” “What do you want me to do for
you?”
It is Advent, a time of welcoming the Incarnate Word in our midst. What question
is Jesus asking you today?
Francine Schwarzenberger <francineop@msn.com>
Monday,
December 16 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“I see him, though not
now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a
staff shall rise from Israel” (Nm 24: 2-7, 15-17).
This passage is part of the oracle proclaimed by the pagan prophet, Balaam. It’s
not referenced in the New Testament but is considered a messianic prophecy and
was used in early Christian writings. It speaks of experiencing “him,” seeing
and beholding a star from Jacob’s lineage, but in a far-off, incorporeal way.
The Incarnation changed all that—God coming in the flesh—but there have been
times in my life when I’ve felt God was distant. I imagine this happens for most
people. We cognitively acknowledge God’s presence, just not right now and not
right here. Find hope in Balaam’s words.
Provision: Look for the star of God’s presence. Maybe the star is a
memory of a time when God was with you. (I recall God’s presence being so real
for me as I accompanied my father when he died.) Try to recapture that feeling
of God’s closeness and savor it. Tell God your desire to feel that closeness
again. Perhaps you can find the star in the eyes and the smile of a loved one,
or even a stranger. “Rise up in splendor! Your light has come… raise your eyes
and look about” (Is 60:1,4). Raise and open your eyes, open your heart. Look for
God’s star in the darkness.
Tuesday,
December
17 - Carlos Salas
Tuesday
of the Third Week of Advent
Genesis 49:2, 8-10 | Matthew 1:1-17
To look forward to what’s ahead, we look at where we’ve been. On this final week
before Mary gives birth to the Word Incarnate, we remember today the ancestors
and the pillars of our faith. Matthew begins the genealogy of Jesus with
Abraham, God’s friend, the one who models faith in God for us. The second
section begins with David the king, the father of the wise Solomon, and the
final section post-Babylonian exile. Fourteen generations in each section,
though not precise. Matthew’s goal was not to set in stone the hard historical
information but to convey the relationships. Most importantly that Jesus is the
son of Abraham and the son of David by lineage through the adoption of St.
Joseph, the husband of Mary.
In this lineage we find ancestors who remind us both of the praiseworthy and
grace-filled example doing of God’s will on the one hand, and the reminder that
sinfulness has entered humanity on the other. I think that that is what we all
need to recognize when doing an examination of conscience before approaching the
Confessional. When we only look at our sinfulness we can be led to anguish, but
only looking at the moments of grace can tempt us into a state of comfort.
Instead, both are necessary. And it is only by that holistic approach that we
can more easily notice that the Lord has been walking with us through our life,
and not that He is distant (or even altogether gone) in the darker memories of
our life. Christ Himself referred to the ancestors by Moses in the passage about
the burning bush when he called “Lord” the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob, and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him
all are alive. If the Lord is with those who have already died, how much more is
He not with us who are preparing to welcome His Son into our life?
In this process of examination of one’s conscience, recognizing that the Lord
has been with us through it all, we are then ready to give Him all our
sinfulness and accept His grace. We look forward to what’s ahead: the
remembrance of His birth and His dwelling among us. To welcome Him into our life
even more, it is helpful to take this final week to make a thorough examination
of conscience and ask the Lord to help us notice His presence with us through it
all.
fr. Carlos Salas, OP <csalas94@hotmail.com>
Tuesday,
December 17 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
The genealogy of Jesus
Christ...Abraham became the father of Isaac, father of Jacob... Salmon
was the father of Boaz, father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed, the
father of Jesse, father of David the king, father of Solomon…After the
Babylonian exile, Eliakim, the father of Azor, father of Zadok… Matthan,
father of Jacob, father of Joseph, husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus”
(Mt 1:1-17).
Genealogies can be pretty dry. What makes them interesting are the back stories.
Take those in Jesus’ family tree: We see the faith of Abraham as well as the
deceit of Jacob; the loyalty of Ruth and the cunning of Tamar. The sinfulness
and the humility of David; the wisdom and the weakness of Solomon. The
unconditional trust of Mary and Joseph. Through nature and nurture, customs and
traditions, Jesus became the person he was, just as we become who we are through
the love and trials of generations past.
Provision: Accept the past. There’s an Irish proverb: “If there are
skeletons in your family’s closet, you might as well learn to dance with them.”
Our lives are a tapestry woven with threads from the past, some strong, some
frayed. It’s what makes us so wonderfully, so utterly human. The holidays can be
a time of family joy, but they can also be difficult. If you can’t celebrate the
past, at least try to accept it. If there are wounds from deceit, sinfulness,
and weakness, pray Christ’s Christmas gift to you is a forgiving heart. And then
learn to dance!
Wednesday,
December
18 - Cecilia C. Bryant
Righteousness, justice, salvation; these words are heard throughout today’s
readings and are significant as we approach the celebration of the Incarnation.
Righteousness is defined as acting in accord with Divine or moral law. True
justice can only be obtained through the Just Judge GOD himself who shows no
partiality and loves each of us equally as His own and confirmed this by sending
His only Son so that everyone who follows Him will obtain Salvation – Eternal
Life with GOD. We cannot achieve salvation without GOD. HE is in us and with us.
Joseph knew this because as the Gospel states he was a righteous man and did not
hesitate when the angel told him he was part of GOD’s plan for the salvation of
the world. Are we prepared to follow the path of righteousness and allow GOD to
be the Just Judge?
Cecilia Cahill-Bryant <cmcahill63@hotmail.com>
St. Peter Chapter Dominican Laity
Memphis, TN
Wednesday, December
18th - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home!” (Mt
1:18-25).
In the book I’ve been referencing, Starlight, John Shea has an interesting take
on this story: “Mary is found to be pregnant before she has lived with Joseph.
Joseph, a just man, decides to divorce her quietly. …He is not open to scandal.
The angel entreats him not to fear scandal. …What looks like scandal is really
the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a truly appropriate conception story for a
man who, when he grows up, will scandalize everyone” (pp. 54-55).
Provision: “Do not be afraid.” We talked last week about putting aside
the romanticized images of the infancy narratives. While Bible stories are not
looked at as factual history (we don’t know the actual story of Jesus’ birth,
but we embrace the mystery) still, there are many traditions and legends that
have arisen that teach us important lessons. One lesson is to know that doing
God’s work, bringing God’s living presence into the world can be very messy,
even scandalous at times. We pray for the clarity with which Joseph discerns,
but sometimes, we just need to trust the voice we hear in our hearts. If it
speaks to us of love and compassion, of being fearless for God, it’s likely an
angel of the Lord.
Thursday,
December
19 - Carl Paustian
Doubt is a funny thing. Now, I consider myself
something of
a pragmatist and a
practical person. I am someone guided by facts, and logic, and reason. And so,
doubt comes easy
to me everything
needs to
make sense, it needs
to
line up before I
trust
it.
I'm not
sure what I would have
done if I
were Manoah or Zechariah.
Both of our Scripture readings today speak of
un-probable
events. Barren
women giving birth to
sons, who change the course of history. Samson won
victory over his foes to restore
the glory of Israel. John the Baptist
foretold the
coming of the Messiah,
sent
by
God to
bring
salvation. All
of these things
improbable, unexpected, against practicality
and
reason. And
yet,
over and over again,
God shows
us that
he will
do
incredible things-
that
with him,
nothing is
impossible.
The
story
of Mary and Joseph, the
birth
of Jesus show us this
too.
And
yet,
all God asks is that we
trust
him, that we
cast
away our
doubts
and
trust
him.
Soon, we celebrate
the feast of the Incarnation, Christmas, the
celebration of
the coming of
Christ- and indeed, Christ will
come, one way
or
another. Practical
or not- just as he did in
a stable
2,000 years
ago. Do
we
trust
and believe his
coming?
Do we make room for him
in our lives, in our hearts-
allowing his will, God's will,
to
take hold?
Advent
is
about making room
him
for
Christ,
about preparing
the
way as
John the
Baptist did, for the
coming of our savior. About getting
ready to
receive him anew, and
to
let him take hold of our
lives so that we can follow him.
Christmas is
coming,
ready or
not.
More important
than
gifts, decorations
and
holiday cookies is our
hearts.
Are they open, ready
to
celebrate Christ,
to greet him
when he comes again?
Thursday, December 19
- Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
Those who’ve lived awhile know from experience: God does not work on our
timetable. Or, to put it more bluntly: God is not a vending machine. The fact
that God does not heal the sick relative or arrange the prayed-for acceptance at
a job or school, or on a global scale, stop the slaughter of innocents can cause
people to reject God. If we are aware, we can see God’s living presence
everywhere, but the real test comes when what we pray for, long for does not
come to pass.
Provision: Reflect on God’s hand in your life. Spend time today looking
back on your life. Are there difficult things that happened to you,
disappointments and losses that occurred that you are ready to look at from
another vantage point? This can be hard but try to look for God’s hand in what
has happened. Has past sinfulness or loss led you to a closer relationship with
God? Did something you hoped for lead you in a different, more fulfilling
direction? “God’s presence is not discerned at the time when it is upon us, but
afterwards when we look back” (John Henry Newman).
Friday,
December 20,
2024 - Francis Orozco
The
Lord loves to give us signs, he loves to send us little messages or, at times,
big messages.
Do we like receiving signs?
I often think of an episode of The Simpsons where Homer, the father, prays to
God for everything to remain the same:
“Dear Lord…For the first time in my life everything is absolutely perfect the
way it is. So here’s the deal: you freeze everything as it is and I won’t ask
for anything more. If that is okay, please give me absolutely no sign. [1 second
pause] Okay, deal. In gratitude, I present to you this offering of cookies and
milk. If you want me to eat them for you, please give me no sign. [1 second
pause] Thy will be done.”
Most of us, though, whether we notice them or not, whether we ignore them or
not, do receive signs from God. Unless we believe that our life is headed in the
wrong direction, we’ll usually pray a variation of Homer Simpson’s prayer. But
our Lord has great plans for us; he has a mission for us that we may not even
believe we can accomplish. And he tells us about it! What comes after the pause
can determine our life. Homer Simpson doesn’t wait. Our Blessed Mother pondered.
Today, ask the Lord for a sign and wait longer than 1 second. Give it a few days
or weeks. Use that time to ponder. Our Lord has great plans for us; he has a
mission for us that we may not even believe we can accomplish.
Fr.
Francis Orozco, OP <forozco@opsouth.org>
Friday, December 20 -
Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“Nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:26-38,
NABRE). “Because nothing, of all the things I have said, is impossible with God”
(literal Greek translation).
In the first translation, the angel states the obvious: “Nothing is impossible
for God.” We get it. God can do whatever God wants. I may be reading more into
the second translation, “Nothing is impossible with God,” but let’s consider it.
Mary has free will. So do we. And as the Bible tells us over and over, God, for
some reason, seems to prefer to work with us. This is God’s chosen way. “Christ
has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes
with which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which
he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours” (Teresa of Avila).
Provision: “May it be done unto me.” Mary has a choice. She agrees to be
God’s servant and, in a real sense, sacrifices her body to have something “done”
to her. What if we arise (after we’ve listened to the words God speaks to us—see
tomorrow’s provision) and say, “I consciously give my “Yes” to God today to be
God’s servant, willingly sacrificing my own desires, plans, and needs to be able
to bear Christ in the world.
Saturday,
December 21 - Moses Owens
Readings:
Song of
Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 33; Luke 3:39-45My mom talks about how when she was pregnant with
me she could sometimes see me rolling my little fist across her stomach–my
knuckles outlined on her belly. I have no memories of those prenatal acrobatics,
but she and my dad remember. Their tiny baby is now a grown man, but that little
fist saying hello from within left enough of a mark that she can talk about it
30 years later. As our Advent waiting gets closer to ending, we’re swept up in a
similar joyful image of waiting–of love not yet fully seen but nonetheless
believed. And in that belief the wait moves from task to delight. We are called
up into sweetness still to come, into an embrace deepened by delay.
We’re used
to thinking about waiting alongside ideas like patience, endurance, and
suffering. But what about joy? Can we sit still long enough to let the
discipline of waiting lead into the joy of resting in a good thing, in Goodness
Himself?
That little fist on my
mom’s stomach decades ago spoke a promise to her and my dad. That all the
backaches, sleepless nights, and otherpains of pregnancy would be beyond worth it. That a
child really was coming. Not just any child–their child,
their son. My parents could wait, and bear the less than
pleasant parts of that wait, because they believed in the goodness of what was
coming once those 9 months were over. We’ve waited these 3 weeks so far and now
are invited to rejoice as we take stock of who we’re waiting for. Not just a
savior, our
savior. Not just a
random, poetic ‘lover’ in Song of Songs, but
our lover.
Our God and King.
Our faithful and promised Friend.
Our
Jesus.
So if these past 3 weeks, months, years or decades
have been more labor pains than happy baby-bumps and cute photo shoots
announcing life to come, rejoice anyways. Dig deep and ask the Christ Child to
leap within you, to call out to something or someone around you and get you out
of yourself and into His life and love. Ask Him to let you see a little foot or
fist pushing out in joyful defiance of the labor of waiting. And even if He
doesn’t show you what you’re looking for, sing all the same. After all, it's to
you and me that He says, “Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice
is sweet, and you are lovely.”
Moses Owens <tylerowens94.to@gmail.com>
Saturday,
December 21 - Elaine Ireland
Provision for the Journey to Bethlehem
A brief reflection
preparing us to meet the Christ Child.
“Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one and come! Let
me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely”
(Sg 2:8-14).
Nobody in the hospital could tell the age of the old woman who was called
Susanna. I knew she spoke some English and that she was an immigrant out of a
little country trampled by armies. Because she had no visitors, I would stop by
to see her, but she was always sleeping. All I could do was to get out her comb
and carefully untangle the tangles in her hair. One day I was beside her when
she woke up. Opening small dark eyes of a surprising clearness, she looked at me
and said, “You want to know the truth?” I answered, “Yes.” She said, “It's
something that my mother told me: ‘There's not a single inch of our whole body
that the Lord does not love.’ She then went back to sleep. (“Susanna,” by Anne
Porter, from Living Things: Collected Poems. © Zoland Books, 2006, pp. 51-52.)
Provision: Know you are beloved. There are four days until Christmas,
four probably very busy days and you might just not take enough time for
prayer😉. So, do this: imagine each morning hearing God call to you, “Arise, my
beloved, my beautiful one.” And then, in ten days, make a resolution to hear
God’s call to you every day of 2025!
ADVENT Week IV
Sunday, December 22
- Br. Francis Mary Kratz, O.P.
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps
25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14; Lk 1:57-66
God is
constantly calling us back to Him and seeking us to renew our commitments to
Him. He does not just seek a half-hearted “yes” to His call, but a decisive turn
of heart towards Him and our neighbor (Mal 3:24). Sometimes this turn of heart
confuses those who are close to us, especially if they expect us
to act a
certain way. We
see
the shock people have
when Elizabeth and Zechariah decide to name their child John, against the
traditional custom, due to the angel Gabriel’s
message
to them. But also note,
as
Zechariah takes the
decisive step to follow God’s will for his life, “immediately his mouth was
opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.” (Lk 1:64). And those who
were originally opposed to this decision were in
awe
and took the events to
heart
(Lk 1:65-66). Following
God along His path frees us and gives us joy, even in the midst of life’s
difficulties, and this is picked up by those around us.
The Advent
season
is
a
wonderful opportunity for
turning our
hearts back to
Christ. Each day of life we are called to turn back to the Lord’s path, but the
Church has instituted particular seasons focused on this
to
help reinvigorate
our
efforts.
In
Advent, we anticipate
Christ’s Second Coming
by
examining our life and seeing what needs changed.
Just as
Zechariah surely had
to
reflect on his decision
to follow God’s will after a previous fall,
so
we also must
examen
our
lives
and bring them into
conformity with Christ. In a few days, we will celebrate in joy at Christmas,
where we are truly made present to Christ’s birth
on
earth through the
liturgy. We ourselves must internalize this mystery, take it to heart, and allow
it to change our life into
that of Christ’s.
Monday,
December
23 - Br. Bede Raymond
Sauser
In the readings today we
see
how God has sent the
fiery John the Baptist to prepare us for the coming of Christ. I was reminded of
when I recently made fresh pretzels. They were actually fairly simple to make
except for one step, the pretzels needed to be boiled in a solution of lye or
baking soda before baking. This step is what gives the pretzels their
distinctive brown luster and tangy flavor. It’s a tricky step
as
well. If you boil the
pretzels for too long, they can
end up tasting like soap. But the pretzels need to
be boiled in order to be cooked
properly. In some ways, this is what John the
Baptist has come
to do. “For he is
like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye.” He is sent by God to prepare
us, to give us the bitter medicine, the boiling in the base, that we need in
order to
cook properly. For us
today, John the Baptist can represent the asceticism of Advent, of the deep
cleaning we need, or rather the deep cleaning we desire in order to receive
Christ into our hearts in a special way this Christmas.
Tuesday, December 24 - Dave Caron
Luke
1:67-79
On this last day of the Advent
season, we hear from the father of John the Baptist who prays that the “...the
dawn from on high will
break
upon us...” These words remind us
that we have a God who brings
order out of chaos. In Genesis we hear that God creates the earth
and
all
that lives on it We learn that the first act of creation is the creation of
light and darkness—even before the creation of the sun
and the moon. Thus, the dawn, the first light of day is God, from whom Zechariah
expects a merciful visit.
While Zechariah is expecting
a
messiah, whom we know to be
Jesus, we might apply Zechariah's prophecy to every day. The dawn continues to
be the sign of God’s presence. Who among us hasn’t been caught up in the glimpse
of a sunrise over the blue ocean or peaking over a magnificent mountain? Each
year Easter Masses and Sunrise Services are held to welcome the
Christian
sign of Christ's resurrection.
Every day the dawn appears and proclaims that God is with us. Like the sun, God
lights our way out of hopelessness, despair, tragedy, war, etc. God’s
faithfulness and trustworthiness is like that of the sunrise. We can be assured
that that it will
lead
us and guide us to peace, wholeness, and holiness
in
God’s
presence. All
this is God’s handiwork.
May
the
Sun
of Justice whose birth we celebrate tonight, Christmas Eve show us mercy and may
His kindness
lighten our hearts, just as the sun illumines the earth. Amen.
Dave Caron, OP
- Tom Condon
Unlike
the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, St. John’s Gospel does not contain the
story of the birth of Jesus. Instead, the first chapter of John’s Gospel, known
as the prologue, contains this famous verse: “And the Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us.” John doesn’t mention Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds,
animals, or other familiar figures we associate with the birth of Jesus. Yet
this passage is what the church proclaims on Christmas day. John’s Prologue is
more poetic than descriptive. The verse is simple and beautiful. and states the
theological message of the event of Jesus’ birth. The Word of God, the Second
Person of the Trinity, was born a human being and lived among us. That’s what
this great Solemnity is all about. God’s Son joined us in our human state and
revealed to us the glory of the Father for all to see.
Our Christmas traditions include opening presents, visiting family and friends,
and eating a festive meal. It’s a wonderful day for everyone. In all our
celebrations, we must not forget why we celebrate. Pure and simple: “And the
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Christ remains with us now
and will remain with us until the end of time, when he will come again to gather
all his holy ones to share in God’s glory for all eternity.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Fr. Thomas M. Condon <tcondon@opsouth.org>
St. Dominic Priory
St. Louis, Missouri
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