Days of Grace and Stumbling

Looking Back to Egypt

2012-03-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

I once watched the movie about St. John Bosco. He was an italian priest who took in boys off the street, educated them, and gave them the love and respect they so desperately needed. His work was so successful it produced another saint, St. Dominic Savio. He was one of those young boys St. John took in. He died quite young. St. Dominic Savio once said, "Lord, let me die rather than sin against you." And he meant it. It was not for him a pious saying or platitude, he literally would rather have died than commit any sin against the One whom he loved, Jesus Christ.

That scene, that thought, that prayer...it stuck with me. Later I was talking with a priest about how to overcome particular sins. What does it mean to make a 'firm purpose of amendment'? "That's easy," he replied. "Hate sin."

Hmmmm. Easy? Let’s just say that I’m not St. Dominic Savio.

St. Francis de Sales explained attachment to sin a bit better.

All the Israelites did in fact leave the land of Egypt but they did not leave it in so far as attachment to it was concerned. That is why, in the desert, many of them were sad that they did not have the onions and the meat of Egypt. In the same way, there are penitents who in fact leave sin but do not leave their attachment to it. In other words, they intend not to sin again but they give up and deny themselves the unhappy pleasures of the sin with a certain reluctance. Though their heart turns away from sin and leaves it behind, yet it does not stop looking back again and again in that direction as Lot’s wife did towards Sodom.

They give up sin the way the sick give up melons.¹ The sick do not eat melons because of the doctor’s warning that eating them would mean death. But they are disturbed at having to do without them. They talk of them and try to bargain if they could possibly have them. They want at least to smell them, and consider those who can eat them to be very happy. Similarly, penitents who are weak and lack courage give up sin for some time but with sadness. They would like very much if they could sin and not be damned. They speak of sin with delight and appreciation, and regard as happy those who sin.²

Yup, that’s me—weak and lacking courage.

See, several years ago I became ‘convicted’, as they say, that gossip³ was wrong. This was sad news for me. I love to gossip. I didn’t really try to be deliberately mean, but I wanted to know what was going on in people’s lives and dissect it, voicing my approval or disapproval. Aside from Scripture, this story more than anything else convinced me it was wrong.

A man goes to a priest and confesses the sin of gossip. “For your penance,” says the priest, “go out on a hill and release a bag of feathers. Then come back to me.” A few days later the man returns, having released the feathers. “Now go pick them up,” says the priest. “But Father, I can’t,” the man answers. “So it is with gossip,” says the priest. “Once we release our words, we cannot take them back.”

In many ways, I was still attached to gossiping, even though I didn’t want to be. In many ways, I still am attached. Not too long ago I was working as a receptionist. The other receptionist left abruptly, and someone let slip a bit of information that tickled my ear. Honestly, I still want to know why she left! This was someone who was nothing but kind to me; she encouraged me, gave me pointers on doing my job well, listened, and gave me several good pieces of advice. Why do I need to know what personal problems caused her to leave her job? It’s none of my business!

Still, I keep confessing and I keep trying to become a person who doesn’t gossip. And, as time goes by, the attachment lessens. I begin to see gossip as God sees it; a way of tearing people down instead of building them up. A way of seeing the worst in people, rather than the best.

And that’s how it works. We see something in our lives that holds us back from God, from being Christ-like. We struggle to break free. In the struggle we recognize how much it’s gotten a hold of us. We see that we cannot do it alone. We need a Savior.

That’s part of what a Lenten sacrifice is all about. It doesn’t have to be a sin. Drinking Diet Coke is not a sin. Eating meat is not a sin. But when we have to do without it, there’s a recognition that maybe we’re attached to it in a way that’s not healthy. We want it. We envy people who have it. We keep looking back to Egypt instead of forward to the Promised Land.

I’m glad for this time of recognition; a time to reorder my priorities and put God first.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col 3:1-2

¹Obviously people in the 1600s, when this was written, had todeal with the same stuff we get from medical science.

For us it’s trans fats, gluten free, low-carb, no carb, lots of dairy, no dairy….it’s endless

² Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales guide to developing a deeper spiritual life.

This quote is from chapter 7.

³In the CCC, gossiping is not mentioned per se. It is, however, a sin against truth. “Everyone enjoys a natural right

to the honor of their name and reputation and to respect.” paragraph 2479. Further, the Church denounces

slander or calumny—intentionally spreading lies and detraction—disclosing something true about another

person to someone who has no need of that knowledge, thereby damaging their good reputation. Both are

seen as sins against the eighth commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness, and as sins against the

virtues of justice and charity.

So I set out on the road to become a non-gossiper. At first, I would just listen and try (not always successfully) to hold my tongue. I also tried the old ruse of wanting to know what was going on so I could pray for them. Yeah, that’s a big ole’ fallacy. You do not need to know what trouble a person is facing in order to pray for them. You don’t even need to know that there is any trouble.

Three Pillars of Lent

2012-02-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

Today's first reading at Mass was from Isaiah 55. Here's part of it (v 10-11)

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

It's paired with Jesus teaching his followers the Lord's Prayer. In essence, the Church is reminding us that the ultimate prayer is the one that came from Jesus; it is the prayer that will never go forth void of power, but will always effect some good in both the pray-er and the prayed for.

The thing about Scripture though, is one passage often leads to another, at least for me. I find my mind going from the Psalms, to the Gospel, to the Epistles; from the Old Testament to the New Testament seeing how all of Scripture seeks to tell us the same thing.

As I read this passage in Isaiah I found myself thinking of this passage...

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me. Jn 12:24-26

This led to...

Then Jesus said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Lk 9:23

Which led to...

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry weary land without water...
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise...
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

And one more...

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sow bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work...He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ. 2 Chor 9:6-13

Welcome to my mind. You might not see all of the connections, but Isaiah speaks of sowing, and the earth bringing forth abundant goodness, just as our souls should bring forth abundant goodness from knowing and loving God. Jesus tells us that knowing and loving Him means denying ourselves and bearing a cross, even daily. Why? Because our souls are weary of the world. Our souls long for God in ways our minds may not even comprehend, but by self-denial we awaken knowledge of that longing and God sets before us a banquet. He supplies us with everything we need, and it enriches our souls.

It reminds me of when I taught first grade and would bring in all sorts of seeds. We'd open them up and examine them, seeing inside each one a tiny plant and the germ cell that would provide the young plant with all the nutrients it would need to begin growing, before it had roots and could get nourishment from the soil and manufacture its own food from the sun.

Before the plant could grow, the seed had to die. It had to give up everything and cease to be. But, in losing its life, new life would be born. And the new life would have many seeds, so that the plant would not only continue, but proliferate and become abundant.

I think about all this in relation to one of my Lenten practices, which is giving up Diet Coke. Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, to pick up our crosses each day and carry them in unity with His suffering. If I can unite my thirst with His on the cross, if I can offer Him this small sacrifice, and do it joyfully, for love of Him, if I can overcome this thing that has in reality become an addiction, I will live more freely. He doesn't want me to be addicted, to have any earthly thing hold sway over me, but to cling to Him and "seek first the kingdom of God."

For me, that's a powerful thought. Right now, every time I walk into the grocery, or drug store, or go through a drive through, I have to resist the urge to give into the desire for a Diet Coke. I say to myself, "Pick up your cross. The seed has to die, so that something else can grow. Long for God, not Diet Coke. God loves a cheerful giver." These little prayers help me to resist the temptation, hopefully to weaken it, and even to give up Diet Coke forever. (That may seem strange to some of you, but when it comes to this stuff, I'm like an alcoholic who can't have even one drink. I think I can stop at just one can in the morning, but it quickly balloons into two or three, and another in the afternoon, and caffeine-free Diet Coke in the evenings. The stuff is seriously like a drug for me.)

So, if the seed has to die, what is that something else that will grow, I wonder? How does this supply for the wants of the saints? I think of the three pillars of Lent; sacrifice, prayer and almsgiving.

Giving away the money I would normally spend on this drink that has no nutritional value or health benefits, while others don't even have clean water to drink, is a good way to get out of my own head and start thinking more about others. In fact, giving it to any charity, like those that help the homeless, a food pantry, abused children, battered women, persecuted Christians, medical research--whatever, gives my a much greater significance. It helps me to see how my actions connect me to the world, both spiritually and materially.

My suffering becomes quite small when I think of so many people facing true suffering. These thoughts lead to prayer. Thanksgiving for the life I have. Intercession for those going through these ordeals. Praise to God for all the goodness in the world and the good people who reach out to those in need. Contrition for not helping more often in whatever way I can. It changes me. It may not be a change that anyone who knows me can see. And I seriously doubt, if I met someone tomorrow, they'd think, "Hey, she's changing the world by giving up Diet Coke!"

No, God is much more subtle than that. He seems to work in increments. I don't even realize what's going on in my soul each time I turn down the chance to drink a Diet Coke out of love for God, and love for my neighbor. But, something is.

Abba, Give Me a Word

2012-02-25T03:24:00.000-08:00

People used to go out into the desert and beg the Abbas and Ammas for a "word".¹ They were, in effect, saying, "God, please speak to me through this person." They were like the rich young man approaching Jesus, "What must I do to be saved?"

The word they were given was always personal. They ranged from affirming and encouraging, to challenging and admonishing. Sometimes one Christian will ask another, has the Lord given you a word? Yes, a million of them. They are bound, canonized, inspired.

So, I asked the Lord, “Abba, give me a word.” The Word He gives is personal; affirming, encouraging, challenging, and admonishing. Here are fourteen to ponder and meditate over Lent. Perhaps there is a word here for you. Or perhaps the Lord has given you a word already? Leave it in the combox.

Jesus said to Simon Peter,² “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

“I thirst.”³

“Lord, what must I do to be saved?” Mt 19:16

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Phil 2:12-16

See what love the father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are children of God now; it does not appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1Jn 3: 1-3

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
            to loose the bonds of wickedness,
            to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
            and to break every yoke?...
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
            and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you,

the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, here I am. Is 58:6-9

All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up…So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:21,31

And we all, with unveiled faces, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor 3:18, 4:1

There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Lk 15:7

Jesus said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mk 2:17

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel. Mk 1:15

Through Jesus we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Rom 5:2-5

I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting; for you felt a godly sorrow, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly sorrow produces death. 2 Cor 7:9-10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Eph 6:10-19

¹These are the desert Fathers and Mothers living in Egypt around the 4^th century. There are many collections of their sayings. If interested, try Benedicta Ward’s The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

²Try replacing “Simon Peter” with your own name.

³One Catholic tradition is to meditate on the seven last words of Jesus during Lent. All seven can be found here.

Random Thoughts on Lent

2012-02-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

I
So, Lent has begun, and as usual I find myself stumbling into it rather than racing in headlong. For example, I'm giving up my diet coke. I'm a fiend when it comes to diet coke. In the monastey we had a choice of soda or wine on feast days. I always picked soda. A big glass of it. When I left, one of the first things I did was stop and buy a diet coke to enjoy during my drive. I haven't stopped since. It's my morning wake up and my afternoon pick-me-up. I don't drink coffee, so this is my caffeine buzz for the day.

So Ash Wednesday comes and I see that I have two diet cokes in the fridge. This won't do. Too much temptation to have it sitting there forty days. So, I drink one, thinking, "Tomorrow. I'll start tomorrow." It then dawns on me, as I'm half-way through, that I work today as a sub. I could take that second one into school and put it in the fridge with the words, "FREE! Drink me," on it, and it would be gone--out of the house. But no, I drink the second one too.

Thursday comes and I notice there is still half a liter of diet pepsi in the fridge. I drink that also. It's not diet coke, but it'll do.

Now, it's Friday. All temptation is gone. I took two Excedrin's to fight any what?!-no-caffeine!!! headaches I might get. Today has gone a bit better. I remember that, in the Stations of the Cross, Jesus falls three times. But he always got back up. I'll follow His lead.

II
I taught third grade today and one of the girls asked, "What is fasting?" So simple to explain. So hard to understand.

I explain that fasting is usually about eating little or no food. We talk about how the Church describes fasting (two small meals, one larger--the two smaller should be less than the one larger meal) and the difference in fasting and abstinence. We talk about the age restrictions (healthy people between 14-59 should fast, almost everyone can abstain from meat). We discuss other ways to fast, like giving up TV time or some other technology (internet, video games, texting, etc.), or fasting from whining (wouldn't parents love that one!) and doing chores cheerfully. We talk about becoming better Christians, holier people.

It was a good talk. But later it dawns on me that we were talking about rules and avoiding the big question, which is Why?

The Catholic church has always taught that everything God created is good. When we fast, we say, "This is something good, but there is something better. God, the One who gave me this good thing, is better. When I give up this good thing, and do it with a cheerful, generous heart, I'm telling Him that I love Him more than this good thing He gave me. I'm reminding myself that I love Him more than this good thing. I'm reminding myself to be grateful for all these good things and learning to appreciate the good things He gives me more and more. I recognize that not all people have these things and that I should reach out to them in whatever way I can, by praying for them or donating to a charity or volunteering to help them." All things I need to keep in mind re: diet coke.

III
The world does not recognize Lent. The world has gone from holiday to holiday without noticing they are holy days. Easter treats and toys are already out, along with tons of green for St. Patrick's day. The world wants to party, and here we are, the counter-cultural Christians in our ashes; fasting, repenting, praying the Stations of the Cross, and thinking about the Passion of Christ.

Yes, the world wants all the joy and none of the sorrow, all the benefits and none of the work, redemption without sacrifice. It just seems so backwards to me. Well, now it does anyway.

It's a little like "Grandma's rule"; first you eat your dinner, then you get dessert.

During Lent, we're eating our dinner, vegetables and all. We're thinking more about Good Friday, even as we know that there will be the joy of Easter Sunday. We're turning our minds to the good thing Jesus willingly gave up for us, His very life, so that we could have something even better.

When the dinner is done, then we'll feast on dessert. The world will have Easter over in a day, but for the Church Easter Sunday lasts eight days. Yes, what people call Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, and so on, is liturgically celebrated just like a Sunday. We draw out that joy of the resurrection. And the party continues until Pentecost. Our feast is longer than our fast!

Do Catholics know how to party or what?

Understanding and Interpreting Scripture

2012-02-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

I wrote this handout for a Bible study I'm doing in my parish:

Hermeneutics is the method used to interpret text, especially Biblical, political or literature. Pope Benedict XVI called for Catholic Christians to employ a ‘hermeneutic of continuity’’ that is to interpret Scripture through the 2000 year lens of both tradition and Sacred Tradition.

We should read the Scriptures as telling the story of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and their relationship to mankind and mankind’s relationship to God.

The Catholic Church uses an ancient method of fourfold interpretation called the four ‘senses’ of Scripture.

The first and primary sense is the literal sense. Many theologians use what is called the historic-critical method. They analyze and research the culture and history at the time the Sacred books were written. They try to answer two main questions: What did the original author intend in writing this? How did the original audience understand what was written?

This is important, but not the end. Although human beings wrote the various books of the Bible, it is inspired by God. Therefore, God is the true Author working through human beings. Using the ‘hermeneutics of continuity’ we seek to find the literal sense by also answering the question, “What did God intend to convey in writing this both then and now?”

With the literal sense it is important to gain an understanding of the whole of Scripture; something that this Bible study seeks to do.

There is also a spiritual sense of Scripture, which is divided into three categories.

Allegorical—St. Augustine said that the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. The allegorical sense speaks to what is revealed about Christ in the people and events of the Old Testament. There are other allegories, especially in the parables of Christ, in the New Testament.

Tropological—This is more often called the moral sense of Scripture. What does the Bible tell us about the human person and how they should relate to each other and to God?

Anagogical—This sense is concerned with what is revealed about the things of eternity. What does this tell me about redemption, salvation, judgment, mercy, grace, heaven, purgatory and hell?

These three senses often reveal a “type”, something that in the Old Testament reaches its fulfillment in the Old Testament. This is a form of hermeneutics called typology, and was frequently used by the Fathers of the Faith, including the writers of the Gospels and St. Paul.

Examples from Genesis

Literal—The Creation accounts are not a scientific explanation of how God created the Universe. It is a ‘myth’ in the sense that it uses real events in a poetic form to reveal certain theological truths. God created the universe from nothing. He endowed the human person with a soul made in His image and likeness. Our original parents disobeyed God in such a way that if effects all the human race. God is merciful and will rescue the human race.

Allegorical—Eve came from the rib of Adam. Eve was Adam’s bride and this was the first marriage. It is seen as an allegory of Jesus as bridegroom to His bride, the Church. The Church was born from the side of Christ when he was pierced on the cross.

Moral—Adam and Eve disobeyed God, but Christ was always obedient. Through their disobedience we lost a fundamental way of relting to God and each other. St. Paul calls Jesus the “new Adam.” His obedience brought the gift of redemption to all people. We need to be more and more obedient to God, not only for our own redemption, but for the redemption of others.

Anagogical—Adam and Eve talked with God as with a friend. They were completely integrated; their minds, will, and soul were in perfect harmony. They lived in harmony with all of creation. Disobedience caused us to become dis-integrated, with our minds often knowing the right thing, but our will unwilling to take the right action. We lost the close relationship we had with God. Some of that was restored when Jesus overcame death and gave us His Holy Spirit. In heaven we will be fully restored to the people God created us to be and behold God in all His glory. In the new heaven and new earth, revealed at the Second Coming, we will still have free will, but the memory and understanding of the harm disobedience caused will have us freely choosing God at all times.

Seven Daily Graces Volume 12

2012-02-10T03:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Hallie for hosting 7QTF this week.

Well, I lost my job. I would have offered to work more hours for less money, learn new skills, whatever it took, but there was really no way to save it. Mom got a much better offer and just had to take it. God called her home on Friday, January 27. It was quite a shock. Yes, she had Alzheimer's, but otherwise her health was pretty good for an 83 year old.

It was the one day a week I happened to get called for a substitute teaching job. I left as usual and Angie came over to get Mom ready for her adult day service. Mom got up, ate breakfast, had coffee, and went to get dressed. It seemed to Angie that it was taking a while, so she went to check on Mom and found her on the floor, breathing, but unresponsive. 911 was called and my sister arrived shortly after the ambulance, but there wasn't anything that could really be done. Mom had suffered a massive stroke and cerebral hemorrhage.

The hospital was wonderful. The chaplain arranged for a priest to come and give last rites. They tracked me down, which took a while. Then they sent someone to get my mom's only living brother, who's unable to drive, and brought him to the hospital to say goodbye. Our parish priest came a bit later, and prayed with us and for mom.

When I arrived, my sister and brother were there, and two other sisters were on the way. Mom hung on for about ten hours, enough for five of her eight children to be there. She never truly regained consciousness, but we continued to hold her hand and talk to her until her last breath.

St. Paul tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes 5:15-18 This is a difficult passage in the light of mourning the loss of a loved one. Still, for those who have eyes that see and ears that hear, God was, has been and continues to be present. There are many things for which I am thankful to God, not only for my mom's life, but also for her manner of death, and the hope I have in Christ Jesus that I will see her again one day.

God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, hears and answers all prayers. For a long time now, Mom has been praying that God would take her sooner rather than later. She missed my dad tremendously and wanted to be with him again. She was aware of her failing memory and body; she had some scoliosis one hip was higher than the other) and walking was difficult, incontinence was becoming an issue. Her children prayed that she would not have to suffer; that God would take her quickly. While we might have wanted her around longer, God heard all of our prayers and answered them mercifully.

Mom hated winter. I would try to convince her the snow was beautiful and that it was nice to be able to snuggle under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate, but nothing I said or did could convince her winter was anything other than awful. As a consolation, I believe God gave us two unseasonably warm days for her visitation and funeral. It was also a reminder of the hope of spring, the hope that after death comes new life; eternal life.

God grants safe passage. I speak here of two things: first, safe passage to heaven. I am so grateful that Mom received the Anointing of the Sick which reassures me that she is in heaven. Second, my family is scattered all over the United States. People came from California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Missouri. Everyone arrived safely and made it home safely.

The Lord sends other consolations. For one of my sisters it was hearing my mom's favorite hymn, How Great Thou Art, at Mass once she got home. It was one of the songs we chose for her funeral Mass. For another, it was a client coming in who had never met Mom, but had lost his parents at a young age, to offer his condolences. It was a moment of realization of how blessed we were to have both our parents for so long. For me it was praying the psalms during morning office and hearing these words: "Lord, you know the burden of my sorrow." I am sure that Jesus, who wept at Lazarus' tomb, even though He was fully certain of his resurrection, knows how we feel. I am sure that He is and will continue to console us, even as we celebrate her life.

This has been a sad post, but my Mom was a joyful woman. All of us children and grandchildren grew up with her, and, as is normal in families, we probably took it for granted. However, at the visitation the one thing we heard over and over again was how our mom was a special lady with a great zest for life, always ready to celebrate. This is how I remember her most.

Mom at her wedding.

Mom with Oreo. We got her a few months ago and she "loved that little animal."

The family at Thanksgiving. Not everyone could make it, but we sure had a good time!

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,

And may the Perpetual Light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Therese Yager

May 18, 1928--January 27, 2012

Respect and Love

2012-01-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how many times my married friends have come up and asked me, "Karyn, how can I have a better marriage?"

Okay, that's a lie. I can tell you because the number is zero, for the simple reason that I am not, nor have I ever been married. So, what do I know? Probably nothing. Or next to nothing.

However, before embracing the single life as a form of vocation, there was a time I wanted to be married. I loved listening to married couples talk about their marriage and how they struggled and how they overcame those struggles. "Put that in the 'going to be married one day' box," I'd think.

I also love science, and I always found particularly interesting how science, especially the social sciences, often comes to conclusions that people should act the same way the Bible tells us to act. For example, there was a study on happiness that showed that people were happier when they did something to make someone else happier, rather than doing something they thought would make themselves happier. Sound familiar?

So maybe that's why I remember this talk I heard oh so many years ago about love and respect in marriage, and for some reason I woke up this morning and felt compelled to share it.

After a bit of time in the Google search engine I've found the name of that speaker, and it wasn't difficult. His name is Emmerson Eggrichs. Apparently his research on this issue has led to a thriving business including a book and lots of speaking engagements. I even found a free talk on iTunes (along with audio books and apps, if you're interested.)

Here's the gist of his message, which is a little like Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars, but from a Christian Biblical perspective.

In St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians we read: "Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." In 1 Peter we read: "Wives, be submissive to [that is, respect] your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives...Likewise you husbands, live considerately with [that is, love] your wives...since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered."

Read those Scripture quotes again and notice what men are expected to do and what women are expected to do--men are to love their wives; wives are expected to respect their husbands. Now, according to Eggrichs, both husbands and wives are expected to love and respect each other, but using these verses, he postulates that love is inherently easier for women. That is, women naturally nurture and love their husbands. For men it's the opposite; they find it inherently easier to respect women, but more difficult to love and nurture. This is not a difference in value--both are equally important. It is a difference in kind--both are understood differently by men and women.

Sarah, his wife, presents with him, and I remember her saying, "How many times have you or one of your women friends, said, 'I really love my husband, but I just don't respect him? Now, women, how would you feel if your husband said, 'I really respect my wife, I just don't love her?'" Her point was, if both are equally important, they can't be separated.

Now, our culture has pretty much indoctrinated men to be more feeling oriented and to say, "I love you." I mean, I just watched a whole Everybody Loves Raymond episode on that very thing. But, just as women need and want those affirmations of love, men want and need affirmations of respect. And, just as love in a marriage should be unconditional, so should respect. That's right. Unconditional. That idea is definitely counter-cultural. I mean, everyone knows respect has to be (everyone say it with me) earned.

But I think Eggrichs is on to something here. We often speak of God respecting our right to turn away from Him; to follow Him or not. God both loves and respects us; in fact, I don't think they're two sides of the same coin, nor do I think respect is a tributary off the river of love. I think they're the same thing.

What Eggrichs recommends is that men need to make more statements and acts of love to their wives and women need to make more statements and acts of respect to their husband. They each need to go against their natural instinct to give the other what they need to hear. Women need to say, "I respect you when... I really respect how you..." Men, substitute love for respect and you get the idea.

A few caveats here: as a teacher we were told to praise students. However, that praise needed to be specific and sincere in order to be effective. The same is true with making these statements; they need to be specific and sincere. They should not be about something you wish they would do, but about something they are already doing. "Sweetie, I really respect you when you do the dishes," is not going to get the dishes done. But, "I was watching you shovel the snow and thinking of how much I respect the hard you work you do to keep the house in good shape," might lead to dishes being done.

Likewise, "Gee honey, I love you when you rub my back," is not going to get you a back rub. On the other hand, "I love how passionate you are about your work. That company is lucky to have you," might lead to a back rub.

And there's the rub. It's tempting to make these kinds of comments because when you do good things tend to happen. I know, because after hearing this talk I gave it a try. I didn't have a husband, but I had brothers, friends, co-workers, neighbors. I didn't get my dishes done, but I could tell my remarks had an effect, and there was always a slight change in the way they talked to me, at least for a little while afterwards.

Eggrichs warns that the comments you make to someone need to be sincere, and that sort of implies that you aren't going to say it expecting something in return. Maybe there won't be any change, except perhaps a change in your heart as you reflect on the loving or respectful things your spouse does for you. We usually do things with mixed motives, so I think trying this technique, if you want to call it that, might begin with a desire just to see what happens, and end with a more positive outlook on your relationship; a new way of looking at your spouse.

It doesn't have to end there either. Fathers, sisters, cousins, bosses, friends, neighbors--we all need to hear these kinds of things. After all, the kind of love (and respect) we're talking about is not the romantic kind, but what is often called "agape" love.

Like I said, I don't know anything about marriage, but I do know something about relationships. Since this whole train of thought has come back to my memory, I plan on using it more often because I think we should be all about building each other up. If you're married and try this, drop a comment and let me know how it works out for you.

Seven Daily Graces Volume 11

2012-01-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting Seven Quick Takes Friday.

So, you've seen this video right?

With all the hits it's getting, I'm surprised I haven't seen it on my Facebook page. I only heard about it because of all the responses on blogs I frequent. I don't have much to say myself, except that it made me both sad and angry.

Sad...I can't really say why. Maybe because he seems to be speaking from youthful arrogance and Biblical and historical ignorance. I know what that's like and how it took me, personally, further from Christ, not closer to Him. Angry because he spouts several platitudes that are lies I'm so sick of hearing, like religions start wars.

People start wars and sometimes give religion as a reason, that's true. But, we should remember that WWI and WWII were begun by nations and leaders who were either occultists (Hitler) or atheist (Stalin, Lenin, Marx). I did once hear a great response to that claim (sorry I can't remember who and can't give them credit). He said something like, "People who do horrible acts in the name of Jesus are actually acting against what religion teaches. But atheist, like Stalin, are acting in accordance with their beliefs."

Anyway, here are three better responses I've read if you need some answers to discuss the claims of this video with others: Jimmy Akin, Almost Not Catholic, and this video:

I had my interview at the Women's Choice Center. I'm hoping to be a client advocate and share with women considering abortion all of their options. I fully believe that women are not given the truth of what abortion can do to them physically, mentally, and spiritually, and that many women choose abortion because they feel they have no choice.

If you have ever had an abortion and are suffering from Post Abortion Syndrome, help is available. Check out Rachel's Vineyard and receive healing. It is also open to men who have been affected by abortion.

I had a major freak out this week. I was praying the hours, Mom was at her adult day center, the house was quiet. I heard this weird noise and brushed it off as the cat playing with something. I heard it again. It sounded a little like when you run your fingers down the slats of a shutter. Again, I ignored it. When I heard it the third time I thought maybe Oreo, our cat, was stuck somewhere and went to investigate.

We live in a condo, so our washer, dryer, and water heater are in a little closet area in the hall. Oreo was crouched in front of the door. Thinking we might have a mouse (yuck!), I cautiously opened the door. A bird flew out! I couldn't believe it. He went right to the kitchen, all panicky and flying around. Oreo was going nuts! I opened the door to the back porch and started to go get a broom to help shoo the bird in the right direction, when he flew out on his own.

I'm still trying to figure out how that bird got there and viewing the dryer vent with great suspicion!

I got a gift card for Barnes & Nobles for Christmas and quickly spent it. Since then, I've been reading voraciously. I sometimes start one book only to be side tracked by something else. My favorite has been a new book by Patricia Treece: God Will Provide; How God's Bounty Opened to Saints and 9 Ways it Can Open for You, Too. I highly recommend it. In fact, we're hoping to start a book club at our parish and I'd like to begin with this book.

Alzheimer's continues its relentless pursuit of Mom's memory. For a while now Mom's vocabulary has been effected, but she's usually been able to come up with some word to convey what she means. Now, every once in a while she speaks in a way that makes no sense. By God's grace, I'm usually able to understand the gist of what she means. I pray that grace continues as I know it will become harder.

I'm continuing with my mini-retreat on Monday's using St. Francis de Sales Introduction to the Devout Life. This time it was a meditation on how good God has been to me. Interestingly, this topic came up in my interview at the Women's Choice Center. One thing that concerned me about volunteering there was the idea that I have never had to face that kind of choice. Could I relate to these women? Then I realized I was thinking more of my self rather than others and what I felt God calling me to do. God knows me better than I know myself, and if He thinks I have something to offer I need to go forth in confidence.

One thing I've learned about discernment is that most of the difficulty lies in ourselves. We put up road blocks. If God wants you somewhere, doing something, the path will be clear. You'll meet people who will confirm that you're on the right track. If it isn't something God wants you to do, you'll know that too, if you're taking it to prayer and keeping your eyes, ears, and heart open.

I have discovered smoothies! Well, not discovered, actually, since they've existed for a long time. However, like many food fads in the USA, it seems to me that they take a healthy concept and then process it, add sugar, fat, and other things that aren't so healthy, remove nutrients that are healthy, and we buy into the idea that here is a healthy alternative because aren't smoothies healthy?

Yes, they are, when you make them yourself with fresh foods, or what is known as "clean eating". The one I tried was made with pomegranate juice, almond milk, frozen blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and a banana, with a little flax seed thrown in for good measure. I even added a handful of spinach leaves, because I was assured I wouldn't taste it, but it would add extra nutritional value. And I couldn't taste the spinach or even tell it was in there.

It was so delicious! I wanted to eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack! In a rare display of self-discipline I was able to delay gratification until breakfast this morning. I'm trying a different recipe tomorrow and I hope it's just as good.

Thoughts in Ordinary Time

2012-01-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

Right now we are, liturgically speaking, in Ordinary Time. Not Advent, Lent, Christmas or Easter, just ordinary. Actually, it comes from "ordered". God created time and ordered all things for His glory. So, we are in a time where we set things in order; we focus on growing in our Christian walk of faith, hope, and charity. It's one of the reasons that the main color for this season is green, the color of growth. 1

This season of Ordinary Time lasts only a short while and then it will be Lent. The thing I've been noticing in the readings is that they are all about being called. Last Sunday was the call of Samuel paired with Jesus calling His disciples to "come and see." This coming week it is the call of Jonah to preach to Nineveh paired with Jesus calling his disciples to "become fishers of men." Looking ahead, we move to Moses speaking before the people, admonishing them to speak truthfully and listen to God. This is paired with Jesus speaking in the temple with authority and power, calling all people to repentance and driving out unclean spirits.

Following that are several readings on healing. Job laments his condition and the fact that life is so fleeting; Jesus heals the sick, but also seeks solitude for prayer. God tells Aaron and Moses that the unclean (the ill) are to be separated from the rest of the community; Jesus heals all who comes to Him and brings them back into community.

Finally, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, God's mercy is proclaimed. Sins can be forgiven, blotted out. Four men bring a sick man to Jesus, and he is healed, his sins forgiven.

What is the Church trying to tell us? When you see the liturgy as an organic whole, you begin to notice patterns. First, we are called to seek God, to follow Jesus. As followers, we are to speak that Truth, because that is what will bring healing. We also need to remember that the world is fleeting. Whatever troubles we have now, they are just a moment in time; our true destiny is Eternal. Whatever troubles we have now, Jesus can and will heal them, if we go to Him in faith; not expecting that He do X, but waiting expectantly for what He will do to heal us, which is often not X, but something even better.

We are to recognize our sinfulness, turn to Him for mercy, ask and accept His forgiveness, and try to live more and more like Jesus. We can bring others to Christ. Find time for prayer. Reach out to others.

All of this is leading up to what the season of Lent is all about. Listening for God, following Him, repenting, performing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, 2 reflecting on how we can be more like Jesus, and taking time to think more about our Eternal destiny instead of those day to day things of the world that can crowd out the voice of God and impede our walk with Christ.

You may not be thinking of Lent, but the Church, through the liturgy, is already leading us towards it. Now might be the perfect time to begin considering what you will do for Lent in order to answer this call.

1 Just in case you never noticed, or hadn't heard (I found out about 6 years ago and I was raised Catholic) the liturgy is "color coded". Certain colors are used depending on the season or feast being celebrated. You can find a chart here. Generally speaking, white is for saints who died natural deaths, special feast days, Easter, baptism and holy matrimony. Violet is for Advent and Lent, with rose being used on Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday. Red is for martyrs, the sacrament of Confirmation, and other feast days like Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Pentecost. Black is allowed for funerals, but is rarely used in the Western Church.

2 If you don't know the spiritual and corporal works of mercy you can check my page on "Catholic Terms", find them in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or use a search engine.

Moment of Grace: Spirit of Sacrifice

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

From Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

A sacrifice to be real must cost,
must hurt,
must empty ourselves.
The fruit of silence is prayer,
the fruit of prayer is faith,
the fruit of faith is love,
the fruit of love is service,
the fruit of service is peace.

"Have the mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" Phil 2: 5-11

Seven Daily Graces Volume 10

2012-01-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Jennifer at Conversion Diary for hosting 7 Quick Takes Friday

1
I'd like to say that as soon as I feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to do something, I jump up and do it. But, the truth is I am a procrastinator. About two months ago I felt called to get involved with the Women's Choice Center. I went and visited and picked up a volunteer information packet. I went straight home and filled it out.

Then it sat on my dresser for several weeks. Then came a cold, Thanksgiving, another cold, and what ever other excuse I could drum up. So it sat. Then I got a call asking if I'd be interested in attending their training session. I said yes, and I will be attending on Saturday. I hope to be able to give them one day a week as a volunteer and see where God leads me through this work.

I may not be (completely) faithful to God's call, but He is. Yes, I dragged my feet. My first zeal fizzled out rather quickly, and I became filled with all sorts of doubts. What about subbing? How will that work? Should I tell the school I can't come on a certain day? Should I just volunteer when I can? Will they let me? The litany continued as I saw obstacle after obstacle. God does not place obstacles in front of the good works we do for His benefit. In fact, He's the Master Mover! How often I need to be reminded of that fact. If God thinks I can do some good there He will make it happen. I just need to show up and get out of His way.

2
I've read several articles now on how important it is to continue to see to the spiritual needs of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. I talked to Mom and she told me that her mother was very devoted to the rosary. So, we have begun praying it each afternoon together. It's interesting to see how calm and reflective she seems while we pray.

I've been using The Rosary is a Place with Fr. Benedict Groeschel leading the prayers. I find it easier for her to follow when I use a CD (or in this case, iTunes). But, some of these CDs seem to pray really fast, leaving both Mom and I short of breath at the end of each Hail Mary. Fr. Benedict seems to be a bit more measured; steady, not slow; contemplative not rushed. You have time to actually think about each mystery for a moment. The meditations are also nice. I don't know if Mom follows them completely, but I get a lot out of them.

3
You know, it's really hard to love people when you have a headache. I have a completely new appreciation for Teresa of Avila, who was plagued by migraines, yet became a saint.

I've developed a bit of sinusitis and have had a headache for the last five days. I'd really like someone to take a drill to my forehead just to relieve the pressure on my sinuses! Other than the pressure and headache I have no symptoms--no fever, not a lot of drainage, a sore throat only for a short time in the morning--so the doctor thinks it's probably something that will clear up on its own. They don't like to prescribe antibiotics for it anymore, because of people contracting antibiotic resistant infections. So, it's decongestants, ibuprofen, hot compresses, nasal rinses and other OTC and homeopathic remedies. They've helped.

What most helped, however, was prayer. The first few days I was such a bear. I got easily frustrated and yelled at Mom, among other things. Then I said, "God, it's really hard to love when you have a headache." I guess I was hoping He'd make it go away. But, He did something even better. He showed me I could love, even with a headache. I started asking God for the grace to be patient and persevere. He has come through.

4
In an effort to build my prayer life I am trying to be more consistent with praying the Breviary1. Part of my plan is to pray Evening Prayer earlier in the evening. Usually I would wait until bed time, and then I'd often feel too tired to pray. Praying the rosary with Mom has actually helped with this. We usually pray it around 3:30 or 4:00, then I go into the living room and pray Evening Prayer. It's working out better and I'm more focused.

Now I'm trying to do an examen2 before bed time. I want to be able to reflect on God's providence through out the day, to thank Him, to petition Him, and say I'm sorry when I have failed to reflect His love as I should. I find, that for me, having some fixed times of prayer is very helpful. I'm trying to overcome my propensity to only pray when I feel like it.

5
Since I have a spirituality that needs these fixed prayers and prayer times, I find it harder to do other types of prayer or spiritual exercises. For example, I don't have the time for Lectio Divina3 that I had when I was in the monastery. I still make time for reading and studying Scripture or doing some other spiritual reading, but I don't have two hours a day, like I did before. Now it's more like a few hours a week.

When I started going to Monday night adoration4 I was doing Evening Prayer. Now that I pray that earlier in the day I have time on that night for quiet time with God, for listening. I've been taking the book Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales and doing one meditation each night. It's been like a little mini-retreat.

The first two meditations are about remembering who you are before God. This Monday's meditation opened with, "Remember, you are useless." I suppose some people would read that and find it a big downer. Our society has turned self-esteem into a type of idol. It's an "I got a trophy just for showing up" kind of world. But, there is a strange paradox at work in thinking of yourself as useless. If I'm useless, then why did God make me? The answer, or course, is love. No, make that LOVE. God is complete; He doesn't need me. The love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was so abundant and extravagant that it boiled over into Creation, and one tiny part of that creation is me. ME!

It is a reminder that the only good I can do is in Him, with Him, and through Him. It checks my ego, but rather than destroying my self-esteem, it raises it to a new level.

How wonderful to sit before the Blessed Sacrament pondering how God has a plan for me, that I am useless without Him and only useful so far as I live in the joy of His love. It's a lofty and ideal goal, one I'm sure to fail at from time to time, but one well worth reaching for.

6
Mom has always had a great devotion to her guardian angel. S/he must be working overtime! At Christmas she fell. Not hurt. She fell in the kitchen, on the hardwood floor. Again, not hurt. I told her that her guardian angel must be cushioning her falls. Still, I'm keeping an eye on her and asking both our guardian angels to reveal any hidden injuries. The problem is, people with Alzheimer's don't always recognize when they're injured. Please say a prayer for her that there are no hidden injuries and no more falls.

7
If you haven't already used the Saint's Name Generator, now's the time. Say a prayer and ask God to send you a holy helper for the year. I always do it twice, because I need a LOT of help. My first is St. Florian of Lorch who is a help against fire, floods, and drowning among other things. The other is St. Clare of Montefalco. She was an Augustinian nun and is an incorruptible, that is, her body has never undergone corruption even though she died 700 years ago. Her heart is said to have images of Christ's passion; a crucifix, scourge, crown of thorns, and three nails. I have no idea what any of this means, but I'll place my trust in Jesus. Try it and leave a note in the comments box about who you got, or maybe it should be, who got you.

1 The Breviary is a prayer book, sometimes called the Psalter. It is designed to be prayed at different times throughout the day. The laity are encouraged to pray the Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer (also called Vespers), and Night Prayer (also called Compline). It is composed of hymns, the psalms, Scripture readings, intentions and other prayers.
2 An examen, or examination of conscience. In this case I am refering to the Ignatian Examen which consists of looking back on your day to see God's presence in your life and when you did or did not respond to God.
3 Lectio Divina is also called the Divine Reading. It is a way of praying the Scriptures rather than simply reading or studying them. It is intended to be a dialogue with God through His Holy Word.
4 Adoration, of course, is the worship of God; loving Him for who He is and no other reason. However, in this case, it is Catholic shorthand for an act of adoration in that we go to a Sacred Place--a chapel or church--to pray before Jesus in the Eucharist.

Praying the Mass 4: A Word for the Wise

2012-01-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

Prologue:

Advent is over, Christmas is here, and the Jesse Tree has bloomed! I did a lot of posting during Advent, and I'm slowing down somewhat. However, it is now time to return to a series I've been doing on praying, not just attending, the Mass. You can find the first, second, and third parts (respectively) by clicking the links.

A few things I want to reiterate:

1) The entire Mass is a prayer; the prayer of the people of God. Our active participation is required.

2) The more we prepare, the more we are attentive. The more we are attentive, the more we are actively participating.

3) There are three basic postures at Mass that correspond to three basic types of participation:

We sit to hear teaching and learn.

We stand to pray.

We kneel to adore and worship.

Praying the Liturgy of the Word:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jn 1:1

Jesus is the Word God spoke from the beginning of time. At the Annunciation He left eternity and entered time as we know it. From the dawn of the universe, He has been revealing Himself; but God's greatest and clearest revelation is through the Scriptures and the lived faith of the Church He established. This is how we come to know the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If there is one thing I'd like to see abolished for the year 2012 is the joke that Catholics don't know Scripture. After all, it was the Catholic Church who compiled the Bible we know today. We hear it at every Mass. Catholics often know more Scripture than they realize, but can't quote it chapter and verse as some Protestants can. I'm here to tell you, that's okay. But, what every Catholic should do is become familiar with the Bible and how it is put together. The first step towards that is to become familiar with and be attentive to the Liturgy of the Word and the seasonal cycle of the Mass.

On most Sundays there are two readings from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament and they all flow together into one Word. Spending some time with the Sunday Mass readings before attending Mass on Sunday will help you appreciate how they all go together and make you more attentive as God's Word is proclaimed. As an example, let's look at the upcoming readings for the Epiphany. The first reading comes from chapter 60 of Isaiah.

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,

the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

(Doesn't that make you think of the star the Magi followed? Doesn't it make you think of Christ, Light of the World?)

See, darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the Lord shines,

and over you appears his glory.

(The darkness of winter, the darkness of a world not at peace, but upon you, yes, you, the light of Christ is shining. Here you are, worshipping Him at Mass; called like the Magi out of the darkness and pettiness of life to think about the eternal truths; to gather grace from the God who loves you and radiate it upon all those you chance to meet.)

Nations shall walk by your light,

and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you:

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

(Raise your eyes when you hear this at Mass. What do you see? Jesus on the crucifix. People from all walks of life. Adults, children and babies. All are called. This is joyful news.)

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,

your heart shall throb and overflow,

for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,

the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,

dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

(Now we get to it--the prophecy. Midian, Ephah and Sheba are pagan nations in the east. They do not worship the One True God. But, they will. Christ will come and draw all people to Himself. The prophecy will be fulfilled when the Magi from the east come bearing the three gifts mentioned here, and will continue to be fulfilled as the Good News is spread to every nation until the Second Coming of Christ.)

From the Old Testament reading we move to Psalm 72. What I’m about to tell you, I didn't learn until I entered the monastery and was using the Vatican II Missal published by Pauline Media (the Daughters of St. Paul). The psalm is directly connected to the first reading in some way. It is as if a person, or the people in the first reading offer a prayer, and we unite with them. Here, we can think of the Jewish people hearing this prophecy and thinking, “Everyone will come and worship our God! How wonderful! How marvelous! Lord, I feel like breaking into a song of praise!

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you!”

Then it's as if that is answered with a song of prayer:

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king's son;

he shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

Then they think, “Amen! That's wonderful. The rulers of the earth will govern with God's mercy and justice; the poor and outcast will be welcomed! This is so fantastic I need to sing again!

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you!

And so it continues with a call and response. This reminds us of God calling us, and our response to Him. It connects us to how the Jewish people, including Jesus, prayed.

Now, we are at the end of a joyful season; Epiphany officially ends Christmastide. At other times the psalm is penitential (like during Lent) or more of petition. But, you get the idea. When you read the psalm ask yourself: Which person from the first reading might be praying this psalm? Why? Is it joyful or sorrowful? Is it a psalm of praise, petition, repentance, admonition? How does it lead to Jesus? This will help you see how they are connected.

A reading from the New Testament follows because the psalms are considered the hinge between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The second reading usually comes from one of St. Paul's letters or one of the Epistles. This Sunday it is from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians:

Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God's

grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery

was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people

in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and

prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same

body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Here St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, is reminding us that the Old Testament prophecy is being fulfilled. All people are offered full membership into Christ's body, the Church, though not all will accept it.

Finally, we see the New Covenant revealed in a reading from one of the Gospels. Remember what I said at the beginning of this post about postures at Mass? So far, we have been sitting. God has been teaching us and we have been listening and learning about His saving plan. Now, we stand to honor Jesus, yes, but also because we are about to pray. In fact, there are two prayers we don't hear being said at this time. Before proclaiming the Gospel, the priest or deacon bows before the altar, and silently says, "Cleanse my heart and my lips, Almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel." At the end of the Gospel, the priest or deacon kisses the book and says, "Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away."

You see, in the Gospel God is most fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. So we approach a bit more slowly and reverently, singing Alleluia while the Gospel is brought to the ambo. If we have become distracted, it is a good time to renew our minds to be attentive. Something special is happening. God has come in a new way, in Jesus Christ, and He is about to speak to each of us, both as community and as individuals.

Sometimes the Gospels are incensed; this also signifies that we are praying and that our prayer, like incense, goes up as a "pleasing aroma to God." When the priest says, "A reading from the holy Gospel according to _____", we respond with, "Glory to you, O Lord." The priest or deacon pauses while we each take a moment to silently pray, "May the word of God remain on my mind, my tongue and my heart" at the same time signing our forehead, mouth and heart. This simple prayer reminds us that we want the Word made flesh to forever dwell in our minds, be spoken with our mouth, and loved in our hearts. This gesture has a deeper connection to the traditional teaching that the human person is comprised of an intellect that can know God (mind), a will that can serve God (mouth) and a soul that can love God (heart).

For the Epiphany the Gospel is taken from Matthew, who tells of the Magi coming to worship the new King.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."

When Kind Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel."

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Can you see how all of the other readings have been leading up to this? If the Liturgy of the Word were a musical score, the Gospel would be the crescendo.

There are so many riches in the Gospel that we can never mine them all. In the homily the priest tries to dig one out for our edification. We sit again to receive this teaching, which is really from Christ, through His minister, the priest. A homily is properly given by the priest, because the Liturgy of the Word is directly connected to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. God is feeding us in both.

I realize not all homilists are created equal. Some are excellent preachers. They show how the readings are connected to each other, and how they connect to our lives. Some are not as good. Or, for some reason, the homily may be about something other than the readings. For example, a priest may have chosen to speak about the changes to the words of the Mass, or a visiting missionary may speak, or it's the parishes' 100 year anniversary and the priest talks about its history. No matter what, we can be assured that Christ has chosen this man to speak, and He might be speaking to you. Listen.

Now, you all might be saying, this is great Karyn! Do this for us every week! After all, you are soooo smart and insightful. I don't know any of this stuff. I don't know a letter from an epistle or the Book of Wisdom from Micah. You were in a monastery. Some of that holiness must have rubbed off on you, but that's not me! I could never do this! Plus, I (fill in excuse here.)

So, a little admonish here, given in love. I did not come by this overnight. For years and years I attended Mass with little to no understanding of what was going on. I barely listened and just went through the motions. But once I began reaching out to God I realized He had always been reaching out for me. I started by reading the Sunday readings ahead of time, and later I added the weekly readings.

I am definitely not a theologian or Scripture scholar. However, I did spent time studying and reading the Scriptures. I read books, listened to talks, went to seminars and parish missions. I spent years listening to Christian radio, and then Catholic radio. I prayed. By God's grace, I was led to good people and good tools to help me know Him. It was a gradual process, which is true of learning anything.

Some of the most intelligent people I know seem intimidated when learning the faith, whether it is understanding a particular Church document, the Catechism, or Scripture. They have studied law, medicine, engineering, accounting, education, economics, you name it. They believed that they could learn and understand these things, but they knew it would take some time and effort. So it is with Scripture and the faith. Our education on the Eternal things of God should not end with Confirmation.

Besides, some of the most holy people in the Church had little to no formal education, but they prayed, listened to the Church, and were attentive to God speaking to them through the Church and Sacred Scripture. St. Andre Besset, whose memorial is tomorrow, couldn't read or write. St. Bernadette, the seer of Lourdes, had trouble learning the catechism. It was once said of her that "she knew nothing, but understood everything." The Church is filled with similar stories. The saints are a mixed bunch, from the unlearned to intellectual giants. One thing they knew, which we should remember is that we are sealed in the power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us seven gifts: knowledge, understanding, wisdom, piety, fear of the Lord, counsel and fortitude. These gifts draw us closer to God. Before reading Scripture say a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to activate those gifts in helping you understand what you are reading.

Let's face it, we make time for what's important. Family and work are important, but so is God. In fact, your relationship to Jesus is what gives meaning to life, whether it's your family, your job, your friends or your hobbies. It only takes about ten minutes to read the Sunday readings, and maybe an additional five minutes for reflection and prayer. Do it a few times during the week. Read them before you go out the door, then turn off the radio in the car while you're driving around and reflect on them for a few minutes. Ask God to help you find the time and be creative. He loves you and He wants you to know Him. Reach out and He'll find you.

Epilogue:

Like I said, the first step is to simply be aware and attentive to the readings at Mass. I'll do another post with additional resources for anyone who wants to go deeper into their Scripture study.

And I'll leave you with a few quotes to encourage you.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the person of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16

"What could be more beautiful than the voice of the Lord calling to us." St. Benedict (The Rule of St. Benedict)

"Learn the heart of God from the word of God." Pope St. Gregory

"To keep a lamp burning, we need to keep putting oil in." Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." St. Jerome

"(I)t is important that every Christian live in contact and in personal dialogue with the word of God...It should be truly personal, because God speaks to each of us through Sacred Scripture...We shouldn't read Sacred Scripture as a word from the past, but rather as the word of God addressed even to us, and we must try to understand what the Lord is telling us...We must also keep in mind that the word of God is given to us in order to build communion, to unite us in the truth along our way to God...(I)t is also a word that builds community, and that builds the Church itself. Therefore, we should read it in communion with the living Church...The privileged place for reading and listening to the word of God is in the liturgy...We should never forget that the word of God transcends time. Human opinions come and go; what is very modern today will be old tomorrow. But the word of God is the word of eternal life, it carries within itself eternity, which is always valuable. Carrying within ourselves the word of God, we also carry eternal life." Pope Benedict XVI

Moment of Grace: A Family Blessing

2012-01-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday this was part of the first reading:

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

This is a beautiful blessing that parent's can give to their children. Place your hand on their head, say the blessing, and use your thumb to make the sign of the cross on their forehead. Do it before they go to bed at night and/or before they leave for school in the morning. It's a simple, easily memorized, prayer that invokes God's blessing on them throughout the day and night.

Moment of Grace: January Prayer Intentions

2011-12-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

Every year Pope Benedict crafts prayer intentions for each month. These are published by The Apostleship of Prayer. There is a general intention and a mission intention; note that it is not a prayer for missionaries, but for all of us who are charged with the mission of Christ to spread the Good News. Here are Pope Benedict's intentions for January, as well as the prayer for January. A brief reflection can be found here.
General Intention: Victims of Natural Disasters. That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives.

Mission Intention: Dedication to Peace. That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will.

Prayer for the Month: Mary, Model of Christian love, we know we cannot heal every ill or solve every problem. But with God's grace, we intend to do what we can. May we be true witnesses to the world that love for one another really matters. May our daily actions proclaim how fully our lives are modeled after yours, Mother of Perpetual Help.

-from www.catholic.org

Seven Daily Graces Volume 10

2011-12-29T22:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Christmas was wonderful, as I hope it was for all of you. What is better than celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We went to the early vigil Mass with the children's choir. It was packed! We ended up in the gathering space, or what used to be called the nave, on folding chairs. Since I've lost my Magnificat missalette, I was a bit lost on the re-translations and so was everyone else. The hardest was the Profession of Faith, and we all muddled through, pretty much using the old translation. I ended up going to the midnight Mass as well, which is really my favorite Christmas Mass. There was an adult choir at this Mass and they sang an absolutely beautiful Ave Verum Corpus. Made my holy-day.

I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas. Books are my weakness. As an experiment, I put a new edition in my shopping bag and checked the price. Then I removed them and put in used copies. In every case I chose the cheapest one available. Savings? $3.84. Because it was over $25.00 I got free S&H from Barnes and Noble, but buying used I had to pay about $4.00 shipping for each book. Maybe if I do a combination, choosing the used books that had the biggest savings and buying the others new, I might save a few dollars more. Just not sure it's worth it.

So, do you have any New Year's resolutions? Mine is to only wear clothes that fit, which means the new shirt I got from the consignment shop will have to be taken in. I tend to wear clothes that are too big. Big and baggy. The Crescat has been trying an experiment of wearing only skirts for 30 days and blogging about the desire she has for people to dress less casually, both men and women. And Pat Archibold did an interesting piece on the difference between pretty and hot. Since I left the monastery I've chosen to wear skirts more often than not. I just like it better, because besides wearing clothes that are too big I tend to dress kind of frumpy. Wearing a skirt makes me tend to dress a little nicer, a little prettier. Something I just can't seem to manage in slacks, though I admire women who can. What can I say? I just never seemed to develop that style gene so many women seem to have. But, I think when you dress well, you feel better and present yourself better--more confidently. Think I'll give that a try.

I drove my sister back to Chicago on Monday, then stayed with her a few days. We didn't do a whole lot, though we did go out to dinner with one of her friends and had a great discussion on all things theological and spiritual. Perhaps there will be some posts on a few of our topics. We all agreed that we don't have those types of discussions with all our friends and family, but it got me wondering...why not? I have no answer to that. Mostly I just enjoyed some down time and did a lot of reading. Perfect!

One thing I did while in Chicago was drive to the Pauline Media bookstore downtown. The bookstore in St. Louis is huge and has a great selection; a few more miles down the road is the Catholic Supply bookstore with another great selection. I loved browsing in those stores. The Chicago store was not as big, but it was better than the Religious Supply store we have here. The best thing was that I asked Sr. Francis, who was running the store that day, if she had any recommendations for caretakers. I explained I was a caretaker for Mom, who had Alzheimer's. Turns out Sr. Francis' mom also had Alzheimer's and had passed away a few years ago. They didn't have the book in stock that she wanted me to have, so she went and got her own personal copy and gave it to me. It's a beautiful book called Pray With Me Still. It's a book of meditations on the mysteries of the rosary. I am so grateful.

Speaking of Pauline Media, I did find out that they will be publishing a Missal. It's due out in January. I'm torn between that and the one being offered by Magnificat. I like both better than the St. Joseph Missal. I love the Magnificat monthly missalettes, and I'll especially miss their article on sacred art each month. However, having a missal allows me to compare readings for each cycle and gives a better sense of the continuity of the liturgical year. There's also a permanence and dignity about a missal which appeals to me on a spiritual level, in that it mirrors the permanence and dignity of the Mass.

In Seven Daily Graces Volume 8 I mentioned a newborn girl, Maddie, who had a severe birth defect. She fought valiantly, but has now entered Eternal Life and is in the hands of the One who created her; a new saint in heaven. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy the Octave of Christmas,

or the twelve days if you prefer.

In any case, I'll be back on Friday.

God bless!

Seven Daily Graces Volume 9

2011-12-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Jennifer for hosting 7 Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary.

And with your spirit. And with your spirit. Andwithyourspirit. Maybe if I say it a hundred times a day I will finally get it down. Why is it that the most often repeated phrase is the one I'm having the most trouble with. I usually get it right the first time, but after that it's up for grabs. Sometimes I manage to merge the old with the new, as in And also with your spirit. Mom is having a harder time. I remind her each time before we go to Mass that some of the wording has changed. "It has?" she asks, surprised. "Why'd they do that?" "It's closer to the Latin," I answer.

I help her as best I can using mostly the Missal, since it's too difficult to switch between Mass card, Missal and song book. Then I noticed an interesting thing during the Liturgy of the Word; the simultaneous rustling of pages as everyone turned to the second reading. Seems like a lot of people are using the Missal more.

Father is doing a great job with his changes. I spent so much time reading about the changes on our part, and I knew there were other changes, I just didn't realize how many! Yes, he's flubbed a few times, but then again so have I! I find myself reading the Eucharistic prayers along with him because I love the new wording, though I did have to go home and look up the word "prevenient". My favorite change is when we say, "It is right and just." Then the priest responds, "It is truly right and just..." Just seems more cohesive.

I lost my December Magnificat and am totally lost without it. I love the daily reflections and articles and the ability to look ahead to the next day's or next Sunday's reading. Plus, it's so portable! I can use it on-line, but it's a little hard to carry my computer around with me, and I don't have a smart phone.

Now, technically, the Magnificat, and other things like it, including what we find in the pew, are Missalettes. That is, shortened or condensed Missals. They only have readings for a short period or time. I've been toying with the idea of getting an actual Missal, nicely leather bound, that has all the readings for the cycles of the Church year.

Anyone else thinking of getting a Missal? I used one in the monastery from the Daughters of St. Paul called "The Vatican II Missal", but it looks like they aren't reissuing one. I liked it better than the St. Joseph Missal. The VII Missal was only two volumes; weekdays and Sundays. Each day had a short reflection or catechetical lesson. But, the St. Joseph Missal was nice because there was an index in the back with the beginning lines for each reading. This was really helpful when a priest chose a different set of readings based on the feast day or there was a special Mass being celebrated where a variety of readings could be chosen.

I know there are several now being published with the ~~new~~ re-translation, but I really want to see them and look at their features, not just get the blurbs from the websites. Unfortunately, our Catholic bookstore only carries the St. Joseph version. Your thoughts?

Apparently my week to misplace and loose things. Left my Breviary at the Adoration Chapel. At first I didn't realize it, and looked everywhere in the house. It took me three days to get back to the Chapel and look, but there it was. In the meantime, I used Universalis; a great website to use for praying the hours, especially if you're new to this form of prayer, since everything is laid out for you and you just need to scroll down.

I also left my book Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed at the school where I was subbing, which means I'll need to wait until January to retrieve it. I've been slooooowly working my way through this book and was hoping to read a larger portion over the holiday break. Alas, it is not to be. God's plan, however, is better than mine. It lead me to pick up a book that's been sitting on the shelf for over a year--Pathways in Scripture by Fr. Damasus Winzen, OSB. Wow! is all I can say right now.

I can't believe it, but I finished the Jesse Tree posts! I did a post every day for 28 days. That's a new record for me. Some reflections were better than others, and as I look back I think the ones that were better were the ones in which I had made more time for prayer. Go figure, huh?

I saw on the Dynamic Catholic website that they're starting a new initiative. This group was begun by Matthew Kelly, a Catholic speaker and author. He's been to lots of different parishes all over the globe, and one of the things that bothered him is that there wasn't a more defined catechism for the Sacraments. Every parish sort of does their own thing; some better than others. So, they are trying to help parishes out by creating on-line tools for the Sacraments, beginning with Confirmation. It would be free to parishes.

The students would watch a presentation, answer questions, and then ask questions of their own. I find that last part especially encouraging, though I could see some people being scared off by it. What if I can't answer their questions? A catechist may not know all the answers, but there is so much help available now that almost any question someone has can be answered. If we want kids to make the faith their own, they really need to be able to ask questions, even those (especially those) that express doubt or confusion.

Personally, in reading my way back to the faith, I was shocked at how comprehensive and holistic Catholic teaching is. Theology, Christology, morals, Marian beliefs, Liturgy, prayers, devotions, everything was connected to each other and came out of or was supported by Scripture. It was consistent. Isn't that what we mean by the "fullness of the Faith"?

And finally, for your Christmas enjoyment, I offer you, When Parents Text. These are laugh out loud funny. It actually has nothing to do with Christmas, but...well, they're just so funny. Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

The Jesse Tree: O Emmanuel, O God With Us

2011-12-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

O Emmanuel

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.

Today it is "O Emmanuel, O God With Us.”

Latin: O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

English: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

Literal: O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

Scripture:       Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said; “Hear then. O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Is 7:10-14

My spirit abides among you; do not fear. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill his house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. Hag 2:5-7



Prayer:    My people, listen to me; hear me, all you who belong to my race; close at hand is my Just One, my Savior draws near. Now those redeemed by the Lord will come back and enter Zion with songs of praise.

The Jesse Tree: O Rex Gentium, O Lord of Gentiles

2011-12-22T05:28:00.000-08:00

O Rex Gentium

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.

Today it is "O Rex Gentium, O King of the Gentiles.”

Latin:               O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis,
                qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

English            O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart;
                O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature
                you fashioned from the dust.”

Literal: O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone

that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed

out of the dust of the earth.

Scripture:
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
     a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
     and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
     He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
     from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Is 9:5-7

In days to come
     The mountain of the Lord’s house
Shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
      and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
     Many peoples shall come and say,
“Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord,
     to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
     and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction
     and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
     and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
     and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
     neither shall they learn war anymore. Is 2:2-4


Prayer:    Come and set us free, O Lord God of Hosts; show us Your face, and we shall be saved.

The Jesse Tree: O Oriens, O Radiant Dawn

2011-12-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

O Oriens

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.

Today it is "O Oriens, O Radiant Dawn."

Latin: O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et

illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come,

shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Literal: O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice:

come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Scripture: See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it wil leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Micah 4:1-2

There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former times he brought into contempt the land of Zubulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

Those who lived in a land of deep darkness--

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest. Is 9:1-3

Prayer: Shout for joy, you heavens; exult, you earth! You mountains, break into happy cries, for our Lord is coming, and he will take pity on those who are afflicted.

The Jesse Tree: O Clavis David, O Key of David

2011-12-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

O Clavis David

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.
Today it is "O Clavis David, O Key of David."

Latin:                 O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
                 claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in
                 tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:           O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of
                  Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in
                  darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

Literal:             O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man
                 shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and lead forth the captive who sits
                 in the shadows from his prison.

Scripture:        These are the words of the holy one,
                                  the true one,
                           who has the key of David,
                           who opens and no one will shut,
                                  who shuts and no one opens:
I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no onr is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name...If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Rev 3:7-8,12-13

On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will comit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his hsoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house. Is 22:20-23

Prayer: Virgin Mary, receive the word of the Lord brought to you by the angel: You will conceive and bear a son, both God and man. You will be called, Blessed among all women.

You will indeed bear a son, yet suffer no loss of virginity; you will be with child, yet remain a mother ever undefiled. You will be called, Blessed among all women.

The Jesse Tree: O Radix Jesse, O Shoot of Jesse

2011-12-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

O Radix Jesse

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.
Today it is "O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse."

Latin:                       O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt
                          reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam
                          noli tardare.
English:                 O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all

                          peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship
                          before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Literal:                    O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom

the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication:
come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

Scripture:        A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
                        and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Is 11:1

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Is 11:10

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." Rev 5:1-5

Prayer: Listen to the word of the Lord, you peoples, and proclaim it to the ends of the earth; say to the far-off islands: Our Savior is coming. Proclaim the Good News, let it be heard; tell it to everyone, shout it aloud: Our Savior is coming.

The Jesse Tree: O Adonai, O Lord of Israel

2011-12-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

O Adonai

We continue looking at Jesus through the O Antiphons.
Today it is "O Adonai, O Lord of Israel."

Latin: O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti,

et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

English: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning

Literal: O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame

of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with

outstretched arms.

Scripture:        The Lord in majesty will be for us
                        a place of broad rivers and streams,
                        where no galley with oars can go,
                        nor stately ship can pass.
                        For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler,
                        the Lord is our king; he will save us. Is 33:21-22

                        But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
                        who are on of the little clans of Judah,
                        from you shall come forth for me
                        one who is to rule in Israel,
                        whose origin is from of old,
                        from ancient days.

                        And he shall stand and feed his flock
                        in the strength of the Lord,
                        in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
                        And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great.
                        to the ends of the earth;
                        and he shall be the one of peace. Micah 5:2,4-5

Reflection:    I know some people who think the Church is just a bunch of rules and regulations meant to stifle fun and creativity. "God just wants us to be happy," they say. This often surprises me, because these same people would not view the laws of our government, rules at schools or places of business, or the rules they've established in their families as a way of squashing happiness.

We call God "Father", and Jesus reminds us that "unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Personally, I've always had a hard time with that verse. I mean, I've worked with children. I know they can be sweet, patient, forgiving, generous, and trusting. Children often have a strong faith that they hold without prejudice or doubt. But, children also throw temper tantrums, make demands, get angry when they don't get what they want when they want it and will insist to the adult in charge, "If you loved me...." Now that child, I can be a lot like.

Then I realized there's more to that verse. "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mt 18; 3-4 Ah, that's the key word. Humble. Yes, children can get into quite a lather when they are told no, but in the end, don't they get over it? Don't they humble themselves? "I'm sorry mommy. I'm sorry daddy." They may even still be angry or at least disappointed, but they recognize this great truth, even when they can't articulate it: Mom and Dad love me so much and everything they do, everything they say "no" to, is done because they love me.

It is the same with God. He says no to some things because He knows they will not make us happy. It is when we become humble, when we repent and give up doing things our own way and accept God's way, that we see this.

What really turned it upside down for me was the realization that the Ten Commandments were not so much of a "no" to doing whatever I wanted, but a "yes" to doing it the way God wanted. G. K. Chesterton1 put it this way:

“The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden.”

"Thou shalt not covet" means saying no to petty jealousies and enviousness that make me unhappy, and a yes to all that God has given me and a desire to put it all at His service. "Thou shalt not steal" means saying no to hurting others by taking what belongs to them and yes to being a good steward of what God has given me and to a generous spirit of sharing with those who have even less. Every no leads away from a life of unhappiness and hurt and towards a life of abundance and joy. Sometimes it is a narrow way, and I may balk at having to take it, but it is the way that leads to life everlasting.

Prayer: Listen to me, you fainthearted, who are far from justice. I will grant salvation in Zion, and give my glory in Israel. I am bringing my justice near at hand; it shall not be delayed, nor shall my salvation tarry.

1 Chesterton converted to the Catholic faith and became a well known apologist, writer, theologian, and debater. He was a journalist who also wrote novels, plays, essays, and poetry.

Jesse Tree: O Sapientia, O Wisdom

2011-12-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

O Sapientia

With the Jesse Tree we have been looking back at Jesus' family tree. In this last week of advent, we begin to turn forward, toward the dawning of the New Covenant, the King about to be born. We reflect on seven titles given to Jesus in the Old Testament in order to draw closer to understanding the great mystery about to unfold; we shall see the face of God.

These titles are commonly called the "O Antiphons"; the song "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is based on them. Here's the explanation from the website Fish Eaters, where you can also hear them chanted in Latin, or listen to the Blackfriars chant them below.

The seven "O Antiphons" (also called the "Greater Antiphons" or "Major Antiphons") are prayers that come from the Breviary's1 Vespers2 during the Octave3 before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the "Golden Nights."

Each Antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaiah and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin "Ero Cras" which means "Tomorrow I come." Those titles for Christ are:
Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium
Emmanuel

Latin: O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

English:            O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong
                  yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Literal:             O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end
                  to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way
                  of prudence.

Scripture: All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are straight to one who understands

And right to those who find knowledge.

Take my instruction instead of silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold;

For wisdom is better than jewels,

And all that you may desire cannot compare with her. Ps 8: 8-11

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,

and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. Is 11:1-3

Reflection: Do you remember your confirmation? In that Sacrament we are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Sound familiar? Jesus had all of these gifts in abundance, for He is one with God and the Holy Spirit. What Jesus has, what Jesus IS, He shares abundantly with us, through His Church. Reclaim the gifts you received and live them in joy.

Prayer: Let the heavens drop down gentle showers, let the clouds rain down the Just One, and let the earth bring forth a Savior.

1 A Breviary is a book that contains prayers for the Liturgy of the Hours. This is a series of hymns, psalms, scripture readings, intercessions and other prayers said in a certain order at various times throughout the day.

2 Vespers is the evening prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours.

3 An Octave is a series of eight days that usually come before or after certain Holy days in the liturgical calendar of the catholic Church.

The Jesse Tree: Hail Mary

2011-12-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

Scripture: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
O Lord, we beg You to listen to our prayers. Give us the light of Your grace, that we may see goodness in the world and not be overcome by the darkness of sin. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And the angel said to her, And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Reflection: To pray the "Hail Mary" is to pray Scripture.

"Hail Mary, full of grace." These are the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary. In this translation it is translated "fully graced one" though it may be more appropriate to write it as "Fully Graced One". The word denotes a few things. First, it is a title, not an adjective. It isn't describing Mary, but naming her as one who is filled with God's grace. Second, the original tense of the word is such that it shows grace received and ongoing. It is one of the reasons we believe in Mary's Immaculate Conception. Full means full, completely filled with God's grace, no room left over for sin.

"The Lord is with you." We continue the angel's greeting. Mary has not yet conceived Jesus, so how is the Lord with her? In Dawn of the Messiah by Edward Sri, he points out that these words are spoken to people in the Old Testament before they are given a daunting task. People such as Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Gideon and David all heard these words. They are a reassurance from God that no matter what is asked of them, they will be able to do it, because God will be with them all the way.

"Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." These words come from the lips of Elizabeth when Mary goes to visit her. The only addition is that we name the "fruit of her womb" by adding Jesus' name.

This part of the "Hail Mary" was prayed often by people. The next part was added later, and became a proclamation of joy among people after the Council of Ephesus in the fifth century named Mary the "theotokos" or "God-bearer". At that time, some people were denying that Jesus was truly God and truly man. Maybe he only looked like a man, but was really God, said some. Or maybe he was a man who had a special connection to God. Maybe Mary only gave birth to the human nature, and the God-nature was added later. There were many speculations and the Church met to make a definitive statement.

"Holy Mary, Mother of God,"

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth, and at Ephesus, the Church leaders were led by the Spirit and declared that Mary gave birth to a person, not a nature. That person, Jesus Christ, was fully human and fully God. Therefore, Mary was the theotokos or God-bearer. Today we say, "The Mother of God." It also echoes Elizabeth when she declares, "And why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me!"

"Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen" We end the prayer by asking the one who always said yes to God, who raised the God-child to manhood, who told us to "do whatever He tells you", who stood at the foot of the cross, who prayed in the upper room, and who loved Jesus above all other things, to remember us in her prayers.

"Be joyful for there is someone who loves your God as He deserves, who knows Him as her only Son." St. Teresa of Avila

Prayer:

The Jesse Tree: Man of Action

2011-12-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame , resolved to send them away quietly. But s he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Now when they (the Magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. Mt 1: 18-21, 24-25 and Mt 2:13-15; 19-21

Reflection: You may have heard that women use about 20,000 words a day and men use about 10,000 words per day. I don't know if that's accurate, but it does make me think about Mary and Joseph. In the Bible Mary speaks. She converses with the angel Gabriel, she sings her Magnificat, she tells the servants in Cana to "do whatever He says." She's full of words. Joseph? Not so much.

In fact, not a single word of Joseph's is recorded in the Bible. Joseph is a man of action. The Lord speaks, and Joseph does. He doesn't wait, he doesn't sit around debating whether it was really the Lord speaking to him or whether he should go to Nazareth before he goes to Egypt. Nope. He just does.

What tremendous faith. It's such a contrast to my own mode of doing. I analyze, reflect, wait, analyze again, and then act. Maybe. Sometimes God has to give me a kick in the pants to get me going. I'm trying to be a little more like St. Joseph; when I feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to do something, I try to do it without over thinking it. The amazing thing is how wonderful things turn out when I do that. It's like the world is a well oiled machine and my little cog is just humming along right where it belongs. You'd think I'd learn from these experiences and do it every time. But, I don't.

Now, I could say something like, "That's just not me. I'm more of a thinker than a doer." But saying something like that is like admitting I can't change--or rather, that God can not change me--to be more responsive to His Spirit. God loves me where I am, which is not the same as wanting me to remain where I am. He loves me so much, He keeps calling out to become more, do more, love more, live more in His presence. That means listening for His Spirit and acting on it.

God knows me better than I know myself. He knows my personality, my temperament, my life experiences, my capabilities and my gifts. Like a good teacher he leads me just to the edge of my comfort zone and invites me to take a risk. When I do and learn to trust, the comfort zone gets moved, just a little. He's patient that way. And when I don't? Well, He's patient then too; more patient with me than I am with myself.

I admire St. Joseph. He shows such perfect trust in God's saving plan. Did he question his role in it? Did he ever wonder, "Why me?" Maybe. But it never stopped him from acting.

St. Joseph, pray for me.

Prayer: O Lord, we beg You to listen to our prayers. Give us the light of Your grace, that we may see goodness in the world and not be overcome by the darkness of sin. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: The Day is Coming

2011-12-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

Scripture: This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah."

And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the prophet?"

He answered, "No."

Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

He said,
                                   "'I am the voice of one crying out
                                                    in the wilderness,
                                   Make straight the way of the Lord.'
as the prophet Isaiah said."

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"

John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal."

This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Reflection:   Why do you believe in the Christian faith? This is an important question and has many answers. Perhaps you have had an experience of God, an internal knowing that He loves and cares for you. Perhaps you believe because of the faith of your parents. You've seen the merits of living a moral life, and the church helps you to do this. Perhaps you've read the Bible and are convinced of it's veracity. Perhaps it's a combination of these and many other reasons.

One reason I believe is better explained by Bl. Fulton Sheen in his book Life of Christ . His first chapter is titled "The Only Person Ever Pre-Announced". He compares Christ to many other spiritual leaders.

Socrates had no one to foretell his birth. Buddha had no one to pre-announce him and his message or tell the day when he would sit under the tree. Confucius did not have the name of his mother and his birthplace recorded, nor were they given to men centuries before he arrived so that when he did come, men would know he was a messenger from God.....There were no predictions about Buddha, Confucius, Lao-tze, Mohamed, or anyone else; but there were predictions about Christ. Others just came and said, "Here I am, believe me."...Christ alone stepped out of that line saying, "Search the writings of the Jewish people and the related history of the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans."

I have a chart that lists 100 prophecies about the coming of the Messiah from the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New Testament. Not only was Christ foretold, but so was His herald.

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. Mal 3:1

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all the evildoers will be stubble...But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings...Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents. Mal 4:1,2,5

St. John's coming was foretold. He was the last prophet, the bridge between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. He recognized Jesus even in the womb, and leapt with joy at the coming of God into the world. His entire ministry pointed always to Jesus. "He must increase, I must decrease."

Good words for all of us.

Prayer: O Lord, we beg You to listen to our prayers. Give us the light of Your grace, that we may see goodness in the world and not be overcome by the darkness of sin. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: Time for a Change

2011-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Scripture: After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people."

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord?"

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Reflection: I caught this video on Patrick Madrid's website. It's called "Change for a Dollar". Watch it first.

In the comment boxes a lot of people made remarks about how giving change to homeless people may not be the best way to help them. I think they're right. I think it's better to give to charities that help them or provide them directly with the help they need. But, I think that whole discussion kind of misses the point of the video. While one message may be that we should reach out to those in need, I think the real message is that the homeless man represents Christ in the world.

When we give Christ our "change"-- our time, talents, gifts, money--He multiplies and magnifies it. When we allow Christ to change our hearts, it changes the world, at least our little corner of it. One of the most powerful agents of change is prayer.

Elizabeth prayed for a child. In that time period, in that culture, to not have a child was seen as a sign of God's disfavor. She must have been at the point of losing hope, of feeling that her prayer was not heard. God does answer her prayer and gives her not just any child, but the one foretold by the prophets, the one who would "prepare the way of the Lord." Her heart was changed to one of rejoicing and gladness, and all the people "rejoiced with her."

God does hear our prayers, but His timing is not our timing. That was one of the things that struck me in this video. The homeless man's timing was perfect and he was always prepared. He places the penny in just the right spot. The matches aren't needed until night falls and the temperature drops, but there he is to provide. He gives the homeless girl money, and I think it's just the right time, she's just miserable enough to swallow her pride and call home.

That's God. Perfect timing, prepared for everything, providing exactly what we need at the moment we need it. And He prepares us, by our life experiences, by the gifts and talents He has blessed us with, by putting us where we are in the present moment. How can we respond to such a loving and gracious God? By reaching out to Him, by opening our hearts for His blessings, by trusting that our prayers are always heard, but that the answer may come in an unexpected way at an unexpected time, by perseverance, generosity, humility, and striving to grow in virtue so that our hearts are prepared to recognize and accept the graces He gives us.

Take time today to pray and open your heart for the coming of the Lord.

Prayer: O Lord, we beg You to listen to our prayers. Give us the light of Your grace, that we may see goodness in the world and not be overcome by the darkness of sin. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: An Imperfect Conduit

2011-12-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

Scripture: In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, and they were both well along in years.

Zechariah was once chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. Many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years."

The angel replied, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur."

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. cf Luke 1

Reflection If you pray the Liturgy of the Hours, you will pray three canticles for St. Luke's Gospel. In the morning, you will pray the Song of Zechariah, known as the Benedictus. This is what Zechariah says when he can finally speak again, after St. John has been born. It is the prayer of the Dawning of the Messiah: ""By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Lk 1: 78-79 We pray it in the morning, because we are desiring Christ to dawn in our own hearts.

In the evening we pray the Song of Mary, known as the Magnificat. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly maidservant." Lk 1: 46-47 Now we are rejoicing that in ways known and unknown to us, as we have cooperated with God's grace, we have brought Christ into the world, to the people we have met and prayed for, just as Mary brought Christ to Elizabeth.

The final song is during the Night Prayer or Compline. Hear we pray the Song of Simeon or the Nunc Dimmitis. "Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace. For my eyes have seen your saving power, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of your people Israel." Lk 2:29-32. We are preparing for sleep, which is reminiscent of death. We praise God for all He has done for us this day, and tell Him we are ready to see Christ, if He should so choose to take us.

And when we awake, we will again herald the coming of Christ into the world and into our hearts. In a way it is the Liturgical year in miniature. During advent we prepare for the coming of Christ, during Lent we think about the Lord's death and resurrection, and turn our minds to eternal things. In between, we have the long season of ordinary time, where we are to magnify the Lord.

What we can not do, must not do, is be mute. Al Kresta, radio host of Kresta in the Morning, gives his reversion testimony in Patrick Madrid's Surprised by Truth. In it, he tells of why he did not immediately return to the Catholicism of his youth. "Catholics I met seemed tentative and timid about their faith. The Bible spoke of Christians who were willing to risk martyrdom for their belief in Christ. The Catholics I met didn't even seem willing to risk embarrassment for their beliefs." Strong words. So many times we like to make an excuse to not evangelize, and we use the words of St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words," to justify our silence. Well, I'm not that good at preaching the Gospel with just my life. I'm no St. Francis. I have to use words.

I think words are necessary more often than we think. I struggle with this. I do not like confrontation, but I'm not sure why I've associated evangelization with confrontation. Perhaps sometimes it is. I study apologetics, yet when I'm challenged I feel like a deer in the headlights. But, it isn't always that way. I try to live by the advice of St. Peter, "Always be ready to give a defence of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence." 1 Pt 3:15-16 I read, study, pray, and work towards being able to defend the faith "with gentleness and love" not arrogance, pride, anger, or belittlement. In the end, I trust the Lord to use whatever I say for His glory.

I'm an imperfect conduit of God's grace. That's all right. God will use the imperfect. In the meantime, I'll keep praising God using the words of Zechariah, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David." After all, we want to be ready when our time of service is ended, and we go home.

Prayer: O Lord, we beg You to listen to our prayers. Give us the light of Your grace, that we may see goodness in the world and not be overcome by the darkness of sin. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: The War Within

2011-12-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

Scripture: And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Heb 11: 32-38

Reflection The prophets burned with a desire to proclaim God’s love and to call people back to Him. They preached repentance, and all of them were killed because the people did not want to hear that what they were doing was considered sinful by God. Sound familiar?

The prophets of today do not fair much better. About a year ago there was a massacre of Catholic Christians attending Mass in Iraq. A Dominican sister who was helping Catholics living in America, but who have or had family in the Middle East wrote: “Among the victims of this senseless tragedy was a little boy named Adam. Three-year-old Adam witnessed the horror of dozens of deaths, including that of his own parents. He wandered among the corpses and the blood, following the terrorists around and admonishing them, ‘enough, enough, enough.’ According to witnesses, this continued for two hours until Adam was himself murdered.”

The survivors were quick to offer forgiveness. Do we dare call what these religious militants did a sin? While it is true that we can not judge their hearts or the state of their soul before God, we can make judgements about their actions. Do they follow the moral law? Dare we talk about the idea that there in the last analysis, there is no personal sin? In discussing original sin, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that human beings were created to be social, or as he puts it, relational. “Sin means the damaging or destruction of relationality…and therefore it is not restricted to the individual. When I destroy a relationship, then this event—sin—touches the other person…Sin is always an offense that touches others, that alters the world and damages it.”

In looking at this tragedy, and all the war, hatred, bigotry and violence in the world, I am reminded that I too, am a sinner. So, I focus on something Thomas Merton once said, “Instead of hating the people we think are the war-makers, hate the appetites and the disorders in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed, but hate these things in yourself, not in another.”

Seven Daily Graces: Volume 8

2011-12-10T05:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you Jen, for hosting Quick Take Fridays.

I've skipped my seven daily graces posts the last few weeks because I've been working on a virtual Jesse Tree. So, I feel behind the times. First, Thanksgiving was a wonderful family event. Six of my siblings were able to come, which means 7 out of 8 were here with assorted in-laws, nieces and nephews. My sister in Texas tried to book a flight at the last minute, but came down with a bad cold and had to cancel. : ( On the plus side I finally got to meet my great-nephew who was born while I was in the monastery. Cute as the dickens and as ornery as can be! It was a crowded, happy house and my mom loved it.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I cooked my first turkey ever! Okay, two turkeys! Everyone reminded me to "take the stuff out", which I already knew. What I didn't know is that the "stuff" is in two different places! I took out the necks and kept feeling inside for more. It wasn't until I started smearing on the butter that I found the other stuff hidden in the butt. Disaster averted. My prayer that day: Lord, you helped out that couple by making sure they had enough wine. Please don't let me screw up the turkey. Prayer answered.

I've been trying to keep a more advent spirit, so I haven't decorated much. I got out the advent wreath and most days mom and I light the candles, say a prayer, and blow them out. We didn't do that much growing up, but I'm really enjoying it. This weekend, however, the Christmas stuff comes out.

Do you pray the Liturgy of the Hours? I fell in love with it during discernment. I can't always pray every hour like I used to, but I always try to find time for the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer. I love the readings from the saints and Church fathers, especially the seasonal ones.

I read an interesting book called Flunking Sainthood by Jana Reiss. I may do a longer post on it, but I'd recommend it. She tries a different spiritual practice each month for a year and writes about her successes and failures. Her faith background is mixed militant atheist (father) and former Christian, now agnostic (mother), but she always had an interest in all things religious, cultivating friendships with people of all denominations. So, the spiritual practices she chooses are from all sources. I had to let go of wanting to argue with her about Catholic practices, and enjoy the journey of her own discovery and where God was leading her. Okay, I still want to argue with her, but I won't.

I have my second cold of the season and let me just say, I do not suffer well. This time, though, I had a special intention which made it a bit easier. Seems there is a little newborn baby girl, Maddie, who had a rare condition--I don't remember the name--but it's when the babies organs begin to grow into the umbilical cord. Thanks to medical science, they knew before she was born and they knew how to fix it. Seems Maddie is doing pretty well, but extra prayers would surely be welcomed.

And finally, a big THANK YOU to Julie Davis over at Happy Catholic (everyone should read her book) for posting a link to my blog and recommending people read my reflections on the Jesse Tree, and to Fr. Bloom at Simple Catholicism for putting me in his links. And I have my FIRST FOLLOWER!

The Jesse Tree: Incline Your Ear

2011-12-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

Scripture: At that place Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:9-13

Reflection This has to be one of the most beautiful readings in the Old Testament, this reminder that God does not come in hurling rocks, windstorms or fire, but in softness and stillness. And in a strange way, that small whisper can leave us even more awestruck. Elijah, when he hears it, covers his face. Yet, he still goes out to meet God.

I think of the shepherds on that long ago night. There is the glorious presence and song of the angels announcing Christ's birth. They go out to meet God and find a newborn infant. A tiny whisper of humanity, poor, laying in a manger, hardly able to focus his eyes. This is God. The infinite made finite, creator become creature.

"Listen my child, incline your ear to the Master's voice," begins the Rule of St. Benedict. In today's media saturated, noise filled world, that is exactly what we must do; incline our ears. We have to strain to hear Jesus calling to us. We must make space and time for Him. That is what advent is all about, listening.

At Christmas Mass a prayer is said called the martyrology. Sometimes it is called the Christmas Proclamation. It summarizes all of Salvation History. Near the end is this line, "the whole world being at peace." Jesus came during a time of peace in human history. He comes when we are at peace.

I've spoken to Jesus in all kinds of emotions; anger, hurt, confusion, sadness, anxiety, doubt, fear. I know that He is with me then. But, it isn't until I find some measure of calm, some moment of silence and stillness within myself that I can hear Him speaking to me. There are still two weeks left of advent. Find time for that quiet. Listen for Jesus.

The Jesse Tree: Ark of the Covenant

2011-12-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Scripture: David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day. He was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care. Instead he took it to the house of Obed-edom.

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

When David heard how Obed-edom had been blessed David went and brought up the ark of God with rejoicing. David danced before the Lord with all his might.

They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women. cf 2 Sam 6

Reflection:    This post may have been more appropriate yesterday, which was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Perhaps some advent the two will coincide. You see, the Jesse Tree is all about Salvation History, that is, seeing God's actions throughout time leading up to the New Covenant found in Jesus Christ.   We are following Jesus' family tree, but all of these people have something else in common; they foreshadow Christ in some way.

Reading the Bible in this way is called typology, where the Old Testament has a type of something that finds it's fulfillment in the New Testament. The New Testament fulfillment is always of a higher order than the Old Testament type. For example, Peter tells us that we are saved in the waters of baptism, just like Noah and his family was saved in the ark. In the Book of Hebrews, Jesus is called the New Adam, another type.  So, who is the new Eve?

Yesterday you may have noticed that the first reading was from Genesis where Eve was called the mother of all the living.   Mary, however, was the Mother of the One who gives life everlasting. Eve brought death to her children through disobedience, but Mary brought life by her obedience.  Mary's obedience is a special grace given to her in her Immaculate Conception. God, not bound by time, applied to her the merits of the saving act of Christ on the cross at her conception. She was conceived without original sin and was able at all times to say a joyful "yes" to God.

So how does today's reading about David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant fit in?  Well, greater minds than mine have pondered these questions, and much of my understanding as Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant comes from John Martignoni at the Christian Bible Society.

There are many similarities between this passage of 2 Samuel and the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth in Luke's Gospel. Apparently, if we could still read Greek and Hebrew, we would see that St. Luke is using words in his Gospel to evoke a remembrance of this passage. For example,  both David and Mary go to a town of Judah; the Ark and Mary remain in the hill country for three months; both rejoice at God's coming; David asks, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" and Elizabeth asks, "How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"; David leaps before the ark as John leaps in Elizabeth's womb.

Another connection is made when we consider what the Ark of the Covenant contained: the tablets on which God had written the law, some manna from the desert, and the rod of Aaron the high priest. Mary contained within her: the Giver of the Law, the Bread of Life, and the High Priest.

However, the thing about Mary is that it's never really about Mary. David didn't dance before the ark because it was a beautiful work of art, he danced because it contained God in a very real way. Mary contained the living God made man, and that's why we honor her. We love and honor and esteem her because God did so first. All the things that the Church teaches about Mary points back to God and leads us to follow Mary's injunction, "Do whatever he tells you."

Prayer:    O Lord, stir up our hearts to make them ready for the coming of Your Son. Help us to become worthy to serve You. Give us pure hearts and minds. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: You Are a Temple

2011-12-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, Samuel looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lords does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, bu the Lord looks on the heart."

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Samuel said to Jessy, "Are all your sons here?"

And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep."

And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. cf 1 Sam 16

Reflection: In certain places we are known by our relationships. So it was with Jesse. A quick search shows that his name appears 45 times in the Bible, a few times as part of a lineage, but most often his name comes up in the phrase, "the son of Jesse" referring to David.

It's the same with us. When I go to Mass with mom her friends come up afterwards with hugs and greetings. Then they turn to me, "Now, your Therese's daughter, right? Which one are you?" Around my mom, I'm not Karyn. I'm Therese's daughter. It's probably happened to you too. Maybe you go to your spouses Christmas party (oh, I forgot, Holiday party) or the company picnic. "You're Alex's wife, aren't you?" or "Now, you're married to Jean, right?"

I suppose some people resent this, maybe a lot or maybe there's just a twinge. After all, it seems so unamerican. We are a nation of individualist, and this leads to a certain isolationism. Gone is the idea of corporate sin and redemption; the idea that my actions, no matter how small or "personal" has an effect on the world as a whole.

When Pope Benedict spoke about the sex abuse scandal in Ireland, he called all people to repentance. He spoke of the need for healing within the Church. Some were outraged. "I didn't abuse anyone! I'm not a sinner!" They missed the point that every act of sin weakens the body of Christ, just as every act of charity, every positive response to God's grace, strengthens it. It's why Bl. Teresa of Calcutta spoke of doing small acts with great love. She knew it wasn't just the individual on the receiving end who would be blessed, but the whole body of Christ.

"For God does not see as man sees." Yet, God wants us to at least try to see things from His view. We are to "put on the mind of Christ." Through our Baptism and Confirmation, we are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit and one of them is wisdom. Wisdom, in this sense, is seeing as God sees. Jesus gave us the Church to guide is into all truth, to teach us to see as He sees. But so often we reject the Churches wisdom in its teachings. Protestant communities, and even some Catholic parishes begin to take a "me and Jesus" approach to morality.

This is especially seen in areas of sexuality. "I am my own person," we think. Women cry out, "It's my body! I can do what I want." We condemn the Church for telling us what we can or can not do with our bodies, whether the issue is abortion, contraception, premarital sex or same sex relationships. Who is the Church to tell me that what I do in my bedroom or with my body is wrong? But, the Church is just a messenger, a guardian of the truth given to us by Jesus. It isn't really the Church saying it, it's Jesus. As St. Paul points out, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Cor 6: 19-20

The marriage between a man and a woman is more than a contract. That "two become one" is not just a nice sentimental platitude, but a heavenly reality, part of the visible and invisible we profess to believe. Likewise, a consecrated person is not their own. They prefigure the time when there will be no marriage, yet all will be welcomed to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Single people also have to fight against a spirit of individualism and isolationism. I find it especially hard, since by temperament, I prefer isolation. Yet God has put me in the community of family life to care for my mother, and I too have to be chaste. That does not mean simply the right use of sex, but the right use of people and relationships. Chastity challenges us to avoid seeing people as a means to an end, and instead see them as an end in themselves.

We are called to live in community, to think of others before ourselves, to think of the good of the individual and society. We are called to be a child of God; to think of ourselves not as Karyn an individual alone in the world, but Karyn, daughter of Christ. To be called "the son of Jesse" pointed to the esteem people had for Jesse. It went beyond David, just as being called a child of God or a follower of Christ points beyond me to the larger community in which I belong. It isn't isolating, but community building; one of the stones among many with which Christ builds His Church. May I be faithful to that call.

Prayer: O Lord, stir up our hearts to make them ready for the coming of Your Son. Help us to become worthy to serve You. Give us pure hearts and minds. We ask this of You through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Jesse Tree: Prayer from the Heart

2011-12-07T22:10:00.000-08:00

Scripture: There was a certain man named Elkanah who had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.

Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, Peninnah, her rival, provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" One day, Hannah went to the temple and in bitterness of soul wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying,

"O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me,

and not forget your servant but give her a son,

then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,

and no razor will ever be used on his head."

As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli the priest observed her. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."

"Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. "

Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."

She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes."

After they had returned home, Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel. After he was weaned, Hannah brought Samuel to the house of the Lord. She said to Eli, "I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." And he worshiped the Lord there. cf 1 Sam 1

Reflection: Hannah, loved by her husband, desiring to bless him with children; a woman of great faith, hope and love. Hannah is the type of person one might want for a friend; someone who is loyal, honest, and courageous. Out of the depths of her heart she cries to God for a son, and then dedicates that son to service in the Temple. She must have been someone Mary greatly admired, someone she could relate to for as Hannah prayed and longed for a child, so Mary prayed and longed for the Messiah—the one who would rise up and save her people. I think this must have been a very familiar story to her, one that she pondered in her heart, because it is Hannah’s prayer that Mary echoes when she sings her Magnificat. “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God,” sings Hannah. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” sings Mary. They both speak of God coming to the help of the poor, weak, and vulnerable. They both praise God for His saving power, and for His unswerving fidelity to Israel.

The virtues of Hannah foreshadow the totality of grace that will be bestowed on a poor young woman from a small backward town. Hanna dedicates her son to the service of God; Mary gives her son to the world. Samuel is a priest and prophet, but Jesus is the High Priest and the fulfillment of all prophecy. Samuel serves God; Jesus is God.

The Jesse Tree: Fractured Reflection

2011-12-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters, go your way. It has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me." Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her and said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried."

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. The whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" She said to them, "Call me no longer Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the Lord has dealt harshly with me?" So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

[In Bethlehem Ruth meets Boaz, and they are married according to the Jewish custom of the times.]

Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi, Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, today you are witnesses."

Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."   Ruth conceived, and she bore a son.

Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.   cf The Book of Ruth

Reflection:     I'm sorry, but this isn't going to be much of a reflection today. My sister called a couple of days ago to see if mom was all right. She had been here for Thanksgiving, and it seems that right after she and her family left, half of them came down with the flu. Mom, by the way, is fine. Me, not so much. Apparently, being back in the "world" and among lots of little ones, my immune system is taking a beating. I'm currently working on a theory that forgetting you should be sick helps you not actually get sick. Call it the theory of mind over germ.

Anyway, I've been sitting here for about three hours, starting one thought, going nowhere, starting again, etc.   Nothing seems to want to gel. I could keep at it, but I need to go pick mom up from her adult day center, and I just don't think I'll have the energy later.

I'll simply leave you with the beginning of some of my thoughts, and you can ponder them as you will.

It's interesting that the story takes place in Bethlehem, which means "house of bread." Jesus, the Bread of Life, will be born there. When we receive Him in the Eucharist, we become the House of the Living Bread--walking tabernacles.  Also interesting is that Naomi returns at harvest time and Jesus is the Harvester of Souls.

Another thought is how this takes place during the time of Judges, when "everyone did was right in their own eyes." Yet Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz seek to do what is right in God's eyes. God never leaves us orphans.

Naomi returns to Bethlehem a widow, with no sons, destined for a life of poverty. She is angry. She can't see how God is working in her life, but God blesses her greatly through Ruth. Then there is the intercessory prayer of the people, which God hears and fulfills in a wondrous way. Obed will be greatly renowned in Israel because David will be one of his direct descendants, and through David, Jesus.

Naomi says, "Call me Mara." Mara means bitter. The name Mary may be a derivative of that. Yet, Mary, in all her suffering, is never bitter. She accepts even the trials God gives her with a certain joy and peace that God is working out His saving plan. By joy, I don't mean that she is never sad, as she must have been at the cross, only that she has complete trust that God turns all things to good for those who love Him.

What strikes you in the story of Ruth?

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Open to us Your word in Holy Scripture and fill us with the light of Your love.

The Jesse Tree: Who's in Your Family Tree?

2011-12-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

Scripture: [Joshua sends two men to spy out the land. The king finds out they are hiding with Rahab, a prostitute, and sends for them. Rahab hides the Israelites and lies to the king’s men. Then she goes to the men and says,]

"I know that the Lord has given this land to you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will save us from death."

The men assured her, "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land."

So she let them down by a rope through the window. The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house."

"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

When the men came back to Joshua they told him everything, and said, "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." cf Josh 2

Reflection: Have you ever studied your family tree. I've done a (very) little bit of work in genealogy. Partly, I was trying to preserve the work my mom did before her memories completely faded. I have a cousin on my dad's side who has done some extensive work, and this was before Ancestry.com. It's interesting. I find little tidbits of information. But I don't know those people half as well as I know the people in Jesus' family tree.

The Jewish people were very interested in lineage. That's why we have the two long "begat" sections in the New Testament. You were more than yourself, you were your family. Where you came from mattered. I once traced all the names in Matthew's account in the Bible, and after doing that, when I hear that reading at Mass it's like looking through a photo album of Jesus' family tree. And today we meet a very interesting character indeed.

The book of Joshua tells us that Rahab was a prostitute and a gentile. But as Jesus said, the healthy were in no need of a cure, he came to save the sinner. And sinners are a part of his family. Matthew's lineage was written for Jews, to remind them that in the line of King David, and in line of the Savior, all nations and all types of people were included. The great men and women of their heritage, as well as the lowly and outcast. God worked His miracle despite an incomplete understanding of Him or even a total turning away from Him.

When I did my aspirancy at the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament the holy reading at meal time was a talk given by a woman, and I'm sorry I can't remember her name. One thing she said has always stuck with me. She said our Church is not a congregation. A congregation is a group of people who meet around a common interest. Our Church was an assembly. An assembly is a group of people called by God.

Someone may be sitting next to me, and I may not agree with their view of the Church. Maybe they were not catechized well. Maybe their religious education stopped after confirmation, and other than coming to Mass on Sunday, they seldom pray or read Scripture or study their faith. Maybe they sing off key, whisper to their companion all through Mass, or text people during the homily. Maybe God has not finished working in their heart. He certainly, please God, has not stopped working on mine.

The thing I have to remember is that God has called them here for some purpose of His own, and His purpose is probably much better than anything I could come up with. And lest I continue pointing my finger, I need to remember that I may be someone's stumbling block. God has called me there for some purpose as well. All I can do is reach out and continue working out my own salvation in fear and trembling.

Rahab said that hearts melted and courage failed because they knew they could not withstand such a powerful God. But for Rahab, this did not lead to powerlessness. She did act courageously, and for her faithfulness God rewarded her. She would be the mother of Boaz, who would marry Ruth. They would have Obed, who would have Jesse, who was the father of King David. It is from King David's line that the Savior would be born. I can only surmise that for Rahab, her heart did not melt from fear, but from love of a God who protected His people. She looked upon God with wonder and awe.

When I go to Mass may my heart melt in wonder and awe at the God who loved me so much that He remains present in the Eucharist. And in those He has assembled for His purpose.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Ready our hearts for Your glorious coming. Draw all people to Yourself.