It's the beginning of Advent and of the new liturgical year - a time of anticipation. Advent is the time of year when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Jesus was given his name before he was born. "You are to name him Jesus..." Matthew 1:21. What a beautiful and powerful name that is!
"JESUS"
A favorite place at home where I like to pray is by an upstairs window with a view of the backyard. I can see a huge willow, a few pines, and a large maple tree which my husband and I planted years ago. Each morning I enjoy sitting by this window as I observe the change of seasons.
The other day I noticed that the maple leaves had turned from green to an autumn gold. The sun was shining and the golden leaves were magnificently bright. I admired the tree in all its beauty.
I reflected on the "golden years" of life. I hope that as I age, I can shine forth brightly in the Light of Jesus the Son.
Today I'm looking at that same tree. The leaves are now gracefully and steadily falling to the ground. I clearly see the tree's branches. It's as if the limbs and branches are reaching upwards toward the sky.
I hope that like the tree, I can gracefully let go - let go of my possessions (as I downsize), and even of my youthful abilities as I age. I pray that my arms, that my whole being, be lifted up to give glory to God.
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Autumn is here. Winter is on its way. And then comes a new Spring!
To God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be the glory
and praise forever.
I was looking for an old photo and I came upon a post I had written on Wrapped Moments many years ago. It still resonates with me and so I am re-posting here with just a few minor changes. It's about the extravagant use of our precious time.
"Father Michael challenged us to identify with some of the characters in the Passion Scripture readings. One of those he mentioned was the woman who poured out the costly contents of the alabaster jar to anoint the feet of Jesus. She did not just take a portion of the precious contents, but she broke the jar and poured out all she had. It was an extravagant gesture. To many it seemed that the contents were wasted. She could have graciously used a portion and saved the rest.
Father Michael challenged us to be extravagant in our relationship with Jesus, to be extravagant with our time. He asked us to think about 'wasting time' with Jesus in prayer.
I thought about all the other times I waste, whether it is listening to the same news over and again, or surfing the net, or just sitting with that second or third cup of coffee. And that may not be so bad. But I never thought about wasting time with Jesus.
No time with the Lord is wasted. So why not be more generous?"
I use a motivational running calendar. Yesterday in it I read about a man competing in an ironman triathalon. Less than 100 yards into the event, he felt a cramp in his leg. It painfully worsened as he was bicycling and then running. What kept him going? It was gratitude.
He focused on the fact that he was actually physically able to compete in a sport he loved. He appreciated the gentle warmth of the September day. He really enjoyed being with athletes and he felt the support of family and friends cheering him on. As intense as the pain was, he realized that "it's never all bad."
It is never all bad. Even in the most difficult of situations, we can find something good. We can look for something for which to be grateful. This may be cliche, but it's about an attitude of gratitude. And that may be just what is needed to keep going in difficult situations.
Resolved: To find the good in the most difficult situations.
My friends' daughter wrote a children's book. I bought a copy soon after I saw it was available.
After reading it, I gave it to my daughter to read. I asked her what she thought the message is. She replied, "that everyone has gifts, but other people may not be ready to see or accept your gifts, but the one who always sees your gifts is God. And even though other people do not want to receive your gifts, you shouldn't give up, but keep trying..."
Well, I thought that was a good response.
This is a wonderful book for children and even for adults, for parents and grandparents to read with their children.
(Don't tell my grandson, but this will be his birthday gift.)
Heavenly Father, thank you that each of is unique and that each of us is wonderfully made. Thank you for all the gifts you bless us with to share with others. Please grant us opportunities to share our gifts
and to gratefully receive what others share with us,
with all honor, glory, and thanksgiving to you,
the Giver of all good gifts.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works..." Psalm 139:14.
When our daughter was in grade school, she played on a softball team. Parents, family, and friends would come to watch the games. I'll never forget the time she was hit in the head by a fly ball. I not only saw it happen, but I could hear the "thud" as it hit her. The game stopped. I ran out into the field. The coach drove us to the doctor's office for her to be checked out. Thank God, no serious harm done.
Why did that happen? Was she momentarily distracted and not see the ball coming? Did she not have her glove ready to catch the ball?
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I thought of that incident this morning when I read a commentary on the Biblical phrase: "He lifts up the lowly." The image of "lifting up" is that of a father scooping up his child into his arms and holding the child close and comforting the child. I thought of children playing freely, not always aware of dangers that may be around them. I thought about children who fall as they run and play, whose smiles turn into tears.
We the children of God the Father are the little ones, the lowly ones. We are sometimes hurt by circumstances in our lives, not always seeing troubles coming our way. Our Father is there to lift us up, to take us into his strong arms and hold us close. No matter what the dangers are that surround us, we can always trust him to be there. He is with us always.
When I was in third grade, I had trouble seeing the blackboard from where I was sitting. At home I would get as up close to the TV as possible to see the programs. My Mom made an appointment for me to see the optometrist.
The optometrist put lenses in front of my eyes and asked, "Is this one better? Or the other one?" "Does this make it more clear?" - and he would continue doing this until the best possible lens would be chosen for my vision. When I put on my new glasses, I was astounded how sharp and clear everything looked!
In a way, I feel like my life has been somewhat "out of focus." With new and different responsibilities, what I see as the reality of my daily life has changed. When I try to look at life with my prior expectations and plans, I am discerning that this vision, with many of my comfortable routines, is not quite right. God's plan for me evolves as my circumstances change.
His plan is like the lens through which I can see the way before me. When I cling to my old way of seeing, my vision is "blurry." The Lord wants to sharpen my vision, for me to see my situation as it really is here and now. It is when I accept his plan for my life in the present time that my thinking readjusts and my responses can once again realign according to his divine plan. And I am astounded at the magnificence and beauty all around me, even in the mundane details.
Every once in a while, life "throws us a curveball" that breaks into our daily routine and changes our circumstances. It may be an accident, an illness, an unexpected conflict, a loss...
This happened to me recently when a loved one needed to be hospitalized. Medical decisions needed to be made to provide the best care. There was uncertainty regarding response to treatment. My own daily life became centered on hospital visits and how to become supportive of someone in a strange environment and somewhat scared about the future. I am questioning how I can be most supportive of someone who is now limited in caring for self and who is feeling loss of personal independence.
In prayer I sensed the Lord saying, "Keep going one step in front of the other. Look for my Holy Spirit of Love to guide you along the way."
While driving home from another visit, I thought of this hymn:
Back in the day most cars did not have dual seats for drivers and passengers. There was a front seat and a back seat. I recall a joke dating back to that time about a husband driving with his wife. The wife looked at her husband and said, "Remember when we were first married and how much you liked us to be sitting close to one another?" And he said, "Well, dear, I'm not the one who moved."
I've been reading the book The Father by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR. I'm reflecting on chapter 2 about how the Father infinitely delights in caring for us his children. I am imagining a group of children happily playing in the yard, and a father watching them having so much fun. When one of the children is hurt, however, the loving father runs to that child, takes the child into his arms, wipes away the tears, and does everything he can to take away the pain.
The Father is drawn to us in our need, in our wounds, in our weaknesses and sin. He is drawn to us because it is his delight to care for us. It's what a loving Father does, and he is most loving.
Sometimes we may have a tendency to want to avoid God when we think we are not perfect enough or holy enough to be with him. But in a way it is just the opposite. It is our need that draws him to us. We are created to depend on him. Sometimes the only prayer we feel we can pray is "Help!" And that prayer is always answered. It is his delight to help us.
Maybe this is why in the Gospels we read that Jesus was seen to be with prostitutes and other sinners. In a way he was drawn to be with them, as the Father is drawn to be with those who are in need.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
May we take delight in loving and serving others, as our Father takes delight in loving us.
I heard that one can expect to experience trials during Holy Week. This is Holy Week.
I've been feeling overwhelmed with all that I think I need to be doing. I have family medical issues I need to face and deal with. When I turn on the news, what I hear is not good. Yesterday I felt discouraged. And I am tired.
Last night I went to Mass and Adoration. I was grateful to come into the most Holy Presence of Jesus, just to be with Him.
This morning I awoke with more peace, hope and energy. I know that everything is going to be all right. Life is good. God is good always. Praise be to our merciful and most loving God, our Redeemer.
After watching a recent Poco a Poco podcast, I am reflecting on the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10: 30 - 35), especially with a desire for a personal transformation during this Lenten season.
I am thinking of myself as the one on the wayside, parts of me broken, wounded, in need of healing. When I am aware of hurting, it's an experience of poverty. I cannot heal myself.
Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He will find me in my deepest need. He is seeing me with all my woundedness, weakness, and pain. He is not passing me by. He will find me even in the darkness.
He sees me. He stops to be with me. He anoints my wounds. He bandages me with love. He takes me to "the inn," to our Father's house. He asks me to rest here, to rest in his Father's arms while the healing, while the process of transformation takes place. All he asks that I trust him.
"My Jesus, I trust in you."
I'm reading Mary and the Interior Life by Fr. Shryock, CFR. In the first chapter he describes surrender and control with the example of driving in the car with Jesus.
When I have the wheel and Jesus is in the passenger seat, I listen to him give me directions to our destination. If he says, "Turn right," then I turn right. When he says, "Slow down," that's what I do. I am very attentive to him as we drive along.
Then he says, "How about if I take the wheel?" And I give him the keys and I sit in the passenger seat. But I soon learn that Jesus does not drive like I would drive. Sometimes he seems to go too fast for conditions. Or he takes a rough back road full of potholes. And sometimes he even seems to be asleep behind the wheel! I become anxious and maybe not trust the way he is driving, and I want to take back contol.
The author is writing about Mary's total surrender. I can't wait to read more. There are 14 chapters about the 14 Biblical moments in Mary's life.This book is based on a retreat he gave, 14 talks about Mary.
Mary our Mother, Help us say "Yes!" to God when He
invites us to trust him. Jesus is our Way,
our Father's house is our destination.
I like to look out the window in the morning, like I did this sunny morning, and see the footprints in the snow, footprints made by animals and birds that have come into our yard. I don't always see the bunnies and the squirrels or other animals (like the deer), but I know they've been here. I see the impressions they have made.
I began to wonder, what are the impressions I leave behind me? Is it disorder or a mess? Any attempts to deceive? The echo of impatient harsh words?... Or do I leave behind me the results of loving service? The healing effect of kind and attentive words? The beauty of having created something new?
We leave impressions wherever we go. Some may be hardly visible and others very deep. People may even bear the scars of our hurtful actions long after we are gone. Or hopefully we leave behind us the impressions of love, beauty, truth, kindness.
Wherever I go, may I follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
We have a little Beagle named Stella. When I call her, "Come," she takes her sweet time. Whe wanders this way and that way, searching for crumbs she might find on the floor, and being distracted by scents in the air that only she can smell.
When I say, "Treat," or if I rattle her treat jar, she looks up and sometimes runs to me.
Is it something like that when God calls to me? I am so easily distracted by what I see around me, looking for something else that would please me. However, when I am hoping for a special favor (a "treat") from him, or when I am praying for a special intention, I tend to focus more intensely on him.
I think the Lord would have us focus on him for the mighty, glorious, amazing God he is, and not as much on the favors gives. He longs for a personal relationship with each of us. All of our desires truly are completely fulfilled in and with him.
It is the beginning of a new year and a time when many of us are making "resolutions" to improve our lives, to become better people...
One of the gifts our daughter gave me for Christmas is a Bible study book. Toward the beginning of the book, one of the questions is about reflecting on the purpose of one's life. What is it that gives my life meaning? What is God's plan for me in my current circumstances? When I know my purpose, I can then make resolutions that will direct me in fulfilling that purpose.
What about the people who are closest to me? My family? My friends? Or even the people I encounter during the activities of my day? They, too, have a divine purpose. How about making resolutions to encourage and support others to accomplish their purpose in life?
How can I support my husband in fulfilling his responsibilities? How can I encourage our daughters to become the women they are called to be? What are simple actions I can take that can make life easier for others?
This year may my resolutions be not so much about improving myself and my own life, but about what I can practically do this year do to be more helpful to others.
Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash