Alpha and Omega

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)

As this year comes to a close and a new year is upon us, it is a good time to reflect on God’s presence in our lives. In today’s Gospel we are reminded that Christ “came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.” (John 1: 11) How many times did we not accept Christ into our daily lives this past year? How many times did we fail to recognize Christ in our lives? “All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” (John 1:3) We are nothing without God yet we often forget this. We think that our accomplishments and our success are the result of our own doing. We don’t acknowledge that it is God who presented the opportunities for which we were successful. It is God who allows us to move and see, to speak and breathe.

God made himself a gift to us through his Son. It is up to us to accept this gift and become the person he created us to be. We were each placed on this earth to fulfill a mission that only we can complete. We need to be docile and to move as he wants us to move. As we become more open to God and his will for us, we begin to understand his wisdom, power, and love for us. “In loving God I love myself most wisely, most fully, and most purely. Because he is the center of my being, the fountain of my life, and the source of my well-being, contentment, satisfaction, and happiness.” (Fr. Jacob Kalayil)

As we look forward to the promise of the New Year let us praise God for all that he is, all that he has been and all that is to come. May we use every moment to give him glory. In our sorrow let us praise him, in our struggles let us praise him, in our sickness let us praise him and in our joy let us praise him. 

Family

“The family finds in the plan of God the creator and redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do.” ~ Blessed John Paul II

As parents we are given an incredible gift and awesome responsibility. God has placed this child in our care and we are to bring him up as a child of God. It is in the home that children learn to love by being loved. In a family we learn that each person is part of a whole and without each of them the family is incomplete. It is through the family that we learn about sacrifice. We learn that the world does not revolve around me. We learn the meaning of community. If children don’t receive love they learn that this world is a cruel place and no one can be trusted. No child should ever experience this. We need to be an example of faith, hope and love not only for our own children but for all children.

I want to be an example of service for my sons not only by doing the things we enjoy doing together like feeding the homeless or giving of our time to help at Mount Carmel Center. I want to be an example of faith not by just attending Mass together but by spending time in Adoration, praying the Rosary together, and talking about our faith. I also want to be an example of the things that are hard to do like forgiving someone that has hurt me or admitting that I am wrong and asking for forgiveness; giving of myself even when I am exhausted and all I want to do is sit down and do nothing. To be an example of love by reaching out to those who are mourning, it is hard to know what to say or do so we often do nothing. I want to be an example of one who builds others up and not one who tears others down through gossip. These are the things I strive to do and the things that I want to be remembered for. On this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may we look to them as the perfect example of love and communion with one another. 

A Sword Will Pierce

Simeon tells Mary, “and you yourself a sword will pierce” (Luke 2: 35) When I read this I immediately thought of the mothers of my cancer patients at the hospital. A mother’s heart is pierced whenever she has to watch her child suffer. It is such a helpless feeling, yet placing our child in God’s hands is the only answer. Every mother I have met over the years tells me that she wished she could take her child’s cancer on herself and endure all her child’s suffering. Sometimes friends and family members tell them that they “could never do it.” What a silly thing to say. These parents didn’t choose this path, and there are times when they feel that they can’t do it either but they don’t have a choice. So they do the only thing that will get them though this, they place their child in God’s hands. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

The strength these parents and children show is an example for all of us. And they give God the glory for the strength they receive from him. Being a disciple of Christ doesn’t mean that life won’t be hard or without tragedy. And while it is appalling that a child is taken from a mother while she is on her knees praying for his healing; what we are promised is that we will be held in the palm of His hand. We will be able to go on because of His love for each one of us. He stores each of our tears; none of them are shed without his notice. 

My mother buried three children before she died. Her first child, Kathryn, died when she was only 8 days old. After my brother Mitchell died at the age of 18, she said that she could not survive the death of another child. But when my brother Kevin died 6 years later at the age of 25, she did survive. My mother’s heart was pierced many times during her lifetime and it is only by the grace of God that she survived them. Her faith and hope in the promise that we will all be united again in God’s heavenly kingdom allowed her to go on and not despair. When my mom was suffering so much her last few days on earth we kept reminding her that Kathryn, Kevin and Mitchell were there ready to greet her and that it was ok to let go. It is that same promise that allowed us to let go of our mother even though we knew our heart would be pierced by the sadness of her death. 

Martyrdom

“But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10: 17-22)

Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr. I used to think it was strange that the Church would celebrate the first martyr on the day after Christmas but I read this quote by Blessed John Paul II and it now makes sense and is so beautiful. "The Church calls the day of martyrdom a ‘dies natalis’ (day of birth). Indeed, by virtue of Christ's death and Resurrection, the death of the martyr is a birth in Heaven. This is why it is so meaningful to celebrate the first martyr the day after Christmas: Jesus who was born in Bethlehem gave his life for us so that we too, reborn ‘from on high’ through faith and Baptism, might be willing to give up our own lives for love of our brothers and sisters’" (Blessed John Paul II, Angelus, Feast of St. Stephen, 2002). St. Stephen was filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit and spoke about something so incredible, he saw the heavens open up and “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Yet the people didn’t want to hear it, they covered their ears and silenced him permanently. In his final words, he calls upon Christ to “receive his spirit”, almost the exact words of Christ to his heavenly Father as he breathed his last breath.

Although most of us won’t die being persecuted for our faith, we all will die, and hopefully it will be with Christ on our lips. I like to think that others recognize that I am a Christian through my actions but I know it isn’t always the case. One of the things that keeps me from speaking out at times is that I don’t want to be seen as a hypocrite. How can I speak about the precepts of the Church when I myself have not always followed them? But I shouldn’t let the sins of my past keep me from speaking the Truth. Just because I may have not followed them in the past or continue to struggle with them today, they are still the Truth and need to be spoken. Just because we speak the Truth doesn’t mean that we think we are “better” than others or are judging them. Admitting that I am a sinner and professing how merciful the Lord has been to me helps others to know Christ. 

Emmanuel

“’For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2: 10-14)

Jesus came into this world to save us but just as he was not of this world, neither are we. God sent his Beloved Son to drive out darkness from the world and to set the captives free from the bondage of sin. He brought peace, love, forgiveness, and hope into the world. We too are in this world to drive out darkness. We are here to bring hope to the hopeless, comfort to the sick, and to be present with the lonely and forsaken. We are to bring peace into our homes and be an example of one who can forgive instead of holding onto the hurts that live brings.

On bended knee, as we adore the Christ child and celebrate the birth of our savior, may we also celebrate our own rebirth. From this moment forward may we rededicate ourselves to the Lord. May we live a life of faith marked by receptivity, obedience, and total dependence on Him, who without, we are nothing. We can’t truly comprehend the love that God has for each one of us but may the wonder and awe of this day remain in our hearts and not be forgotten. Our secular world tells us that Christmas is over at the end of the end and it is quickly forgotten. But we know this is not so. Let us receive our King with an open heart and rejoice with the angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest.”

Freed From Doubt

“He asked for a tablet and wrote, ‘John is his name,’ and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.” (Luke 1: 63-64)

Zechariah was struck mute because he asked the angel Gabriel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And was told that he would “be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” (Luke 1:18, 20) I can see how Zechariah might question how this can be. His wife was barren and they were both past the age of bearing children. I am glad the Lord doesn’t take such drastic measures when I doubt his capabilities. Was Zechariah struck dumb because he was chosen to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and in this holy place he should have expected that all things are possible? Should he have not been surprised that the angel Gabriel appeared to him and spoke such wonderful news?

The Lord hasn’t struck me dumb but there are times that my lack of faith or my sinfulness has led me to a place where I am stuck and unable to see clearly. And once I become obedient to God, my eyes are opened just as Zechariah’s tongue is freed when he was obedient to God and named his son, John; and God’s plan is fulfilled. How many times have I interfered with God’s perfect plan? How often do I make it difficult for God to fulfill his plan? I know that God controls all things and that I can’t prevent his will from being done but I do think that we can make it more difficult for ourselves. For example, God wants us to be healed but when we keep going back to the same place of pain then the healing can’t occur. I know that part of healing requires us to work through the painful events in our lives but I have learned that there is a difference in working through the pain and wallowing in the pain. Lord, increase my faith and forgive me for the times that I have doubted that you are capable of all things. Amen.

My Soul Rejoices

“The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.” (1 Samuel 2:6-7)

The Lord makes all things right. He has the power to bring life into what seems hopeless. He uses a child’s laughter to distill the fear in his parents after being told that their child has cancer. He provides a glimpse of hope for the staff after being bombarded with new diagnoses and deaths. He has the power to bind up our wounds and bring peace to a grieving family. He wants us to “proclaim the greatness of the Lord” and for our “spirit to rejoice in God my savior.” God is faithful and he will lead us to the Truth and there we can find peace. He is Almighty.

In order to make things right in our lives, sometimes we are the ones that he has to humble. We are the ones he casts down from their thrones, the thrones that we have made for ourselves and that we sit upon and judge others. “The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.” I have been tottering these past few days. I have been struggling with letting go of the past and accepting that things will never be that way again; the relationship is over. Even though God has allowed our paths to cross, the Lord wants me to let go completely. He gave me strength yesterday when I was tottering. He wants me to “rejoice in my victory” over this struggle that I have been dealing with for a long time. He wants me to know that I can be victorious, but only if I put my trust in him and put on the armor of God. “Stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in the readiness for the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:13-15)

Lord, help me to make room for you in my heart and not allow you to be crowded out by fear or sadness. Cast out the darkness in my heart with the light of your love. Amen.

The picture I chose is one that I took during my visit to the Holy Land, perfect for today.

Root of Jesse

“O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not. Amen.”  ~ Antiphon for December 19^th

I had to do a little research to understand the reference to Jesse’s stump (or root). David is the son of Jesse. God promised that he would make a kingdom from David’s descendants. In the Babylonian exile, it was thought that the Davidic monarchy was eradicated. Hence, Jesse’s family tree was cut off. But Jesus is the shoot that springs from the stump of Jesse. Matthew’s genealogy proved that the line of David survived the Babylonian captivity. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise.

All things are possible with God. In today’s reading from the Book of Judges and from Luke’s gospel, a woman who was known to be barren, conceives and bears a son. The boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. In the gospel, Zechariah is told that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son and he will be great in the sight of the Lord. John the Baptist will be born of her womb that was once barren and a source of disgrace before others. And while all things are possible with God, often we don’t understand his ways. Zechariah’s response is almost the same as Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel, yet Zechariah is made speechless and unable to talk until the birth of his son. Mary asks almost the exact same question, yet she is praised and reassured. “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30) Why is Zechariah made mute and Mary is reassured?

 “O come, O Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.”  ~ Lyrics to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Redeem Us, O Lord

“O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the flame of the abundant bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and with an outstretched arm, redeem us. Amen.”  ~ Antiphon for December 18^th

“Adonai” is Hebrew for “my Lord” and was substituted by devout Jews for the name “Yahweh”, out of reverence. In this antiphon we see God manifesting himself by name to Moses and giving his law to Israel as their way of life. We are also reminded of the Israelites' deliverance from bondage under pharaoh - a foreshadowing of our own redemption from sin.  The image of God's arm outstretched in power to save his chosen people also brings to mind the later scene of Jesus with his arms outstretched for us on the cross.  ~ Jeanne Kun

The Lord delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and led them into the desert where they were totally dependent on Him for everything. They had no food or shelter, they didn’t know where they were going and they left behind all that was familiar to them. Even when our situation is awful; whether we are being abused by a parent, or a spouse or caught up in an addiction; it is familiar to us and stepping out into the unknown can be even more frightening then the abuse. It take so much courage to reach out for help, not knowing if you will be believed or if you can trust the person you are reaching out to. Just as God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, he sent his Son that we may all be set free from the bondage of sin, whether it is our own or the sins of others. As the deacon shared his thoughts on this O Antiphon this morning in RCIA, he asked us, “What would you ask the Lord to set you free from?” and “Do you really want to be set free from that particular thing?” I know for me there are a couple of things that I struggle with and many times I really don’t want to be set free from them. I have to pray for the desire to want to be free from them because often the desire isn’t there. I have become comfortable with them and sometimes I feel that God is asking too much from me. Why can’t I have these little indulgences? I know the answer to this question but it doesn’t make it any easier. Come Lord Jesus!  

“O come, O Come, thou Lord of Might, who to thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, in ancient times didst give the law, in cloud and majesty and awe”  ~ Lyrics to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The O Antiphons

Today begins the Octave before Christmas, December 17-23. The “O Antiphons” refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah.

O Sapientia: “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.”

Isaiah had prophesied, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” (11:2-3), and “Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.” (28:29).

Wisdom is here personified, present with God at the beginning of creation. Wisdom is the foundation of fear of the Lord, of holiness, or right living: it is wisdom whom we bid to come and teach us prudence. One of my favorite books in the bible is Sirach. It is one of the books that Martin Luther removed from the bible after breaking away from the Catholic Church which is too bad because it contains some beautiful passages of scripture especially regarding wisdom. God pours forth wisdom on all of his works and “upon his friends.” (Sirach 1:8) God sees us as his friends! He wants to lavish us with wisdom so that we may walk in his truth but we must be willing to carry her on our shoulders. We need to seek her out and draw close to her. Wisdom will “nourish him with the bread of understanding and give him the water of learning to drink.” (Sirach 14:3)

“O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go”  ~ Lyrics to O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Spiritual Peace

Today is the Memorial of St. John of the Cross. The meditation in Magnificat today was written by John of the Cross. Here are some excerpts from it.

“Since it (the soul) only knows how to act by means of the senses and discursive reflection, it thinks it is doing nothing when God introduces it into that emptiness and solitude where it is unable to use the faculties and make acts, and as a result it strains to perform these acts. It will happen that while God persists in keeping the soul in that silent quietude, it persists in its desire to act through its own efforts with the intellect and the imagination. It resembles a child who kicks and cries in order to walk when his mother wants to carry him, and thus neither allows his mother to make any headway nor makes any himself. A person should take note that even though he does not seem to be making any progress in this quietude or doing anything, he is advancing much faster than if he were treading along on foot, for God is carrying him. Although he is walking at God’s pace, he does not feel this pace. Even though he does no work with his faculties, he achieves much more than of he did, for God is the agent.”

~ Saint John of the Cross

When I visualize my struggles on my faith journey it is as John describes. I am like a child who kicks and cries in order to walk; to do things on my own and my own way; when my Lord wants to carry me and then neither of us makes any headway. Most of my kicking has been when God has tried to wrap me in his loving embrace and out of fear of his love I have resisted. I would rather be on my own than fear being hurt again. But I don’t make any progress on my faith journey because I can’t do it alone. I need the Lord, I can’t survive without him. And when I resist, I prevent God from making any headway too. He never forces us to do things his way.

I have to learn how to enjoy the “idleness of spiritual peace and silence” that God works through. I don’t always have to be doing in order to grow in my faith or to know our Lord. Our relationship will deepen only when I am able to be still and allow him to be God. Those times when I am able to completely surrender to our Lord he is able to move in me and through me. The peace that flows from the inward stillness is not only for me but for the world that longs for peace. 

Take Refuge in God

“She hears no voice, accepts no correction; In the LORD she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near” (Zephaniah 3: 2)

As I reflected on the readings for today, I kept going back to these words and felt like they were speaking my story. I was in the dark for so much of my life because of the fear that I lived in. Not only did I not trust others, I also didn’t trust the Lord. I was afraid that if I let him into my heart he would abandon me. I am sorry that it wasn’t until I was 40 years old that I began to draw near to Him; that it took me so long to see his goodness and to know that he would never betray me or abandon me. But the Lord takes us where we are at and helps us become the person he created us to be in his image.

“You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me” (Zephaniah 3: 11)

I am so thankful for his mercy. I allowed my shame to prevent me from receiving the graces of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I stayed away from it for 25 years and even when I began receiving the sacrament again, it still took me a long time to feel sorrow instead of shame for my sins. A friend taught me there is a big difference. I was also rebellious and would not accept correction. I thought my situation was the exception to the rule and that I shouldn’t be held up to the same standard. There are times that I still rebel but they are few and far between. I know there are days when I am like the son in today’s gospel where I say “I will not” to what God is asking me to do but I usually come around. I put aside my pride and ask for the courage and strength to do His will. Fear continues to come between me and our Lord so I find myself praying for courage often.

“The LORD redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God” (Psalm 34: 23)

There are so many beautiful words and treasures in today’s readings. The Lord loves us so much and he will never condemn those who take refuge in his love and mercy. Out of love for you, Lord, I want to follow your precepts and to be a faithful servant to my King. 

Gaudete Sunday

Today is the 3^rd Sunday in Advent. It is also known as Gaudete Sunday, the Latin meaning of Gaudete is rejoice.  On the 3^rd Sunday of advent the candle that we light on the wreath is pink and the priest may wear rose vestments instead of purple. We have passed the midpoint of Advent and the change in color provides us with encouragement to continue our spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. It is also a reminder that along with repentance and preparation, Advent is a time of joy. Our hearts are filled with joy in knowing that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world so that we may one day be reunited with Him in heaven. As Christmas approaches and we get distracted by all the things we need to get done, this is a reminder of the real reason for Christmas. The readings for today speak about rejoicing.  “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."  

 (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

And while we are to give thanks for all that God has done for us, our rejoicing should be evident in our actions. In today’s first reading we are reminded that we are called, just as Isaiah was called, to “bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn” (Isaiah 61: 1-2) In today’s gospel, we see that John the Baptist “was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.” (John 1:7-8) We are also called to testify to the Light of Christ. As we live out our lives as Christians are we are willing to follow in the footsteps of John the Baptist, the Disciples and all those that have been willing to lay down their lives for Christ? Will we speak the truth even if we are chastised? Will we will reach out to those in need and be the hands and feet of Christ?

Hearken to the Lord’s Commandments

“I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea.” (Isaiah 48: 17-18)

Sometimes we feel that rules prevent us from being free, they prevent us from being unique, but most of the time they are for our own protection and our own good. One of the rules in our home that the boys sometime complain about is going to Mass every Sunday. Our youngest son is in high school now and has tried to get out of Mass a couple of times but there is no flexibility to that rule. He knows this but will occasionally test it and when he is told that he is going to Mass there isn’t any more grumbling. When we are home for dinner we all eat together at the table and the television is off, there is no texting or phones at the table either. Sometimes there are grumblings about this rule too but we all see the benefit in us gathering together and sharing with one another what is going on in our lives. We are all so busy and there are so many distractions in our lives that we really need to provide protected time for us as a family.

God’s commandments are there out of love for us. They aren’t there to make life hard for us or to keep us from being ourselves. They provide us freedom instead of enslavement to our sins. If we love the Lord and follow his precepts, we are strengthened by them. And the more we follow them, the easier it becomes to turn from sin and to do the will of our heavenly Father. I like the Examination of Conscience that is used to help us call to mind our sins and failings before approaching the priest in Confession. When you run through the commandments you may think, I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t commit adultery, I didn’t steal anything. But the Examination of Conscience requires you to look deeper. Did I participate in gossip? Did I refuse to control my temper? Did I watch TV or movies that promoted sex outside of marriage? Do I try to live in the spirit of Gospel poverty or am I a slave to consumerism? All of the questions take us to a deeper level and allow us to really look at what is in our hearts and also give us a better understanding of the commandments.

When we struggle with sin, we need only to call upon the Lord for strength. He is always there for us and with this divine grace we are able to stand firm against the snares of the devil. And when we do fall into sin, the Lord is always there for us to approach with humble and contrite hearts and he will lead us back to the path of righteousness. 

The Power of Words

In Biblical School we are studying Ezekiel. This week the focus is on the promise of restoration and hope for a new beginning for the Israelites who have been in exile in Babylon. The hope for Israel’s future is grounded in God’s holiness. “Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you came.” (Ezekiel 36:22) Just like the Israelites, we sin against God and because he is all good, all holy, He continually calls us back to Him.

Israel is described as dried bones that have no life, no hope. The word of God is so powerful, even spoken through his prophets, life returns to the dead bone. Ezekiel hears the rattling of the bones as they come together, the sinews and the flesh cover them and the people are made whole. Then the spirit is called upon and life is breathed back into them (Ezekiel 37:7-10). In the beginning, God only had to speak the words and it came into being, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) This is how the whole universe came to be and all that is in it. God spoke and it came to be. Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her, “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” Mary’s response was, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:31-33, 38) Mary was open to these powerful words from God. Because of her fiat, the Word became flesh.

And while only God has the power to speak someone into being, our words are very powerful, too. Proper use of the tongue requires prudence, reserve and charity. If we are not careful, our tongue can be our downfall. If we don’t think before we speak, we may regret the words that come from our lips, and once they are spoken, it is very hard to repair the damage they have done. So may our words be used to build one another up, to comfort those in need and to continually give praise to our heavenly Father, to whom all glory is due. 

Ready the Way

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” (Mark 1:3)

 How am I preparing the way of the Lord in my own life? Am I making the path of the Lord straight or have I put up obstacles that make it more difficult for him to be present in my life? Are the obstacles placed there out of selfishness because I don’t want to Lord to be King of my heart? Would I rather hold onto my earthly treasures and worldly pleasures than give them up, even for my Savior? I know that God is a demanding God and he requires that we leave everything behind and follow Him. God wants unbridled love, no holding back. We can’t be true disciples if we are on the fence. “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Are some of the obstacles there out of shame or embarrassment? I am ashamed of my sin and the darkness of my heart so I prevent him from entering. I think I can make things right before I allow him in. It is only with his grace that my sin can be washed away, yet I somehow think that I can do it on my own. I want to show him that I can be good and clean up my own mess and make things right before letting him into my life completely. But only the Lord can purify and make us holy. The only way that I can make straight the path of the Lord in my own life is by humbling myself. I need to admit that I am a sinner and that I am nothing without him. I am the leper that needs to be made clean. I cry out, Have pity on me Lord! Once I humble myself, I pray for the strength and courage to follow Him on the path of righteousness. To take what I receive from the Lord and give it to others. I want to love and serve as Jesus Christ our Savior did.

 Make straight the road, raise the valleys, and mountains make low. Turning from sin, let the broken be whole, and ready the way of the Lord. As we wait for you, give us the strength to walk in your truth, so we may love more like you and ready the way for you, Lord. Let us see your face; in our hearts we prepare a place. Come bring this world your mercy and grace, as we ready the way for you, Lord.

                                                                                     ~ Lyrics to Ready the Way by Curtis Stephan

Heed My Voice

"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a Shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

Throughout the gospels, Jesus is filled with compassion for the people who are often described as sheep without a shepherd. Prior to feeding the 5,000, Jesus “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34) And in Matthew’s gospel account, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). When the leper came begging for Jesus to make him clean, “moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him… immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” (Mark 1:40-42)

Sometimes the image I have of God is him looking down on me from heaven and shaking his head. He feels pity for me because I sometimes wander around like a sheep without a shepherd. I am sure he is thinking; Kelly, how many times are you going to stray? Why do you not heed my voice? I know the Lord is my Shepherd and that I should not want for anything else than to please him. It should be that simple but it isn’t for me. I allow things to distract me; I allow my emotions to get the best of me instead of letting things roll off my back. At times, I am lazy about my spiritual life. I know what I need to do in order to live the life that God has intended me to live but the problem is that I don’t always want to do it. I would rather give in to my selfish desires or rant and rave about how I was offended or hurt. I would rather watch a movie or go to sleep then spend more time in prayer.

If I allow God to shepherd me, “He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:2-3) I won’t be wandering around like a lost sheep. No longer will I be overwhelmed by the storms around me. He will continually refresh my soul so that I am ready to take on whatever he places before me with courage and trust. “I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Yes, I Believe

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“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

These words seem so simple, the blind men believe that Jesus can heal them and they are healed. But as I reflect on them, they aren’t so simple. They require us to be participants in our journey here on earth. Sometimes we pray for God to do this or do that. We ask and we expect that he will do it. And if he doesn’t sometimes we get angry at God or we may turn away from God. But sometimes we are the problem. We prevent God from allowing us to see. We are used to the darkness of our sin and don’t want things to change. Sometimes he shows us what we need to do but we don’t want to do it. We don’t want to have to do the work.

I remember meditating on this very Scripture a few years ago. My husband and I were having some difficulties in our marriage and I was at a point where I wasn’t sure that I wanted to continue being married. We were meeting with our priest for some counseling and we were at a crossroad.  As I meditated on these very words, God was asking me, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And I had to really ask myself this question. Did I believe that my marriage could change? Did I want my marriage to work? Was I willing to try again? Was I willing to do the work to make this happen? God doesn’t wave a magic wand and suddenly things are better. The problem that kept coming up over and over and over in our marriage wasn’t going to magically disappear. We were going to have to do the work and more importantly I was going to have to have a change of heart. I had to have faith that God could change my heart and that I would fall in love with my husband again.  And as I began to allow God to soften my heart, I became hopeful. I was willing to do the work and to do things the way that God was asking me to do them instead of the way I was trying to make it work. Because of God’s love for me, my faith grew and I now believe that we will remain married until death do us part. I know that no matter what life holds for us, no matter how difficult life may be, we will remain strong in our marriage because of our trust in Christ. We recently celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary with a Mass and a small celebration at our home afterward. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our anniversary than by giving thanks to our heavenly Father with our children and dear friends. I don’t know if we will be blessed with another day, another year or another decade of marriage but I will cherish each and every moment.

Our Father’s Will

 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

It is not always easy for me to know the will of our Father. In the verses just prior to this one that we heard in today’s gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns us to be aware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. Sometimes things appear to be good but are really not and it is these things that sometimes make it difficult to discern His will for me. Sometimes I think that my gut reaction is what I should go with and even tell myself that it is the Holy Spirit prompting me. But sometimes my gut reaction isn’t the right thing to do. Because I lived in fear for so long, some things cause me to revert back to my old ways and I am afraid of things that can no longer harm me. Fear rises up in me and I become very anxious. But I am learning to remain present in the moment and not revert back to my childhood, and instead remain calm. I am learning to trust that God is present and will protect me and I no longer need to fear that person or that situation.

I am dealing with a particular situation now. When I first learned about it, my reaction was one of fear and I was ready to flee, thinking this is what God wanted me to do. But as I have prayed about it and discussed it with Fr. Jason, I have come to realize that fleeing is not what God wants for me. He wants me to stay put and trust that I will be fine. This person no longer has the ability to crush my spirit and if I place this situation in God’s hands then all will be well. God is obviously in control of the situation and what he wants of me is bearable and will help me to see that I am strong.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)