Greetings Friends,
A few weeks ago I had the occasion to observe my 16 month-old very energetic granddaughter as she scooted, crawled, and walked with great determination. At one point she came near me and she flung her arms high in the air, uninhibited and with complete trust, reaching for me to pick her up. Those of us who have young children in our immediate or extended families have most likely witnessed a similar scene. What stuck me about Amelia’s act of reaching that day was how natural and trusting it was. I’ve been pondering this in light of how we adults may have become tentative (reserved perhaps) in our lives and maybe even in our relationship with God. I have asked, where along the line might I have lost that total trust and inhibition in reaching out to the God who loves so deeply and unconditionally? Certainly as we grew we were warned to beware of strangers and learned, maybe the hard way, that there are those we may encounter along the way who will hurt us, both physically and in our hearts. We have learned in order to survive in our world we must become wary of and guard ourselves from all that would/could harm us. This does make sense – who doesn’t want to be safe? But this line of thinking and living should not and cannot extend to our relationship with God.
In the Gospels, Jesus gives us many invitations to consider: “Follow me”; “Learn from me”; love God with all our heart, strength, mind; become like little children; he bids us to come to him…with all your heart. Taking these invitations to heart and living them is an act of trust and faith. On this feast of the Holy Family, we can clearly see the example of both the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:22-40) as living acts of total faith in God’s love and promises. They lived to see the new born Messiah, as was promised, and responded with words that reached out to God in thanksgiving – reaching up and out to God uninhibited and with total trust.
As we rapidly approach the New Year, may we find peace, joy, love, and a way to become that trusting little child who can reach high and stretch our arms and hearts out with complete confidence in the loving care of our God.
Peace on the Journey
27 December 2008
20 December 2008
21 December 2008
Greetings Friends,
Christmas is but a few days away as we celebrate this fourth and final Sunday of Advent. How are our preparations going? How many items are left on our “To Do” list? Is our shopping, gift-wrapping, baking and cleaning done? Is the tree up and trimmed? Have we mailed our Christmas greetings? Is our house ready?
Today’s first reading from 2 Samuel (7:1-16) speaks to us about houses, but from two different perspectives. David is convinced a temple is needed for the Ark of the Covenant – a building to house God. And wouldn’t you know it; God has something else all together in mind. It is God who will provide the house – not a building, but a people, a line of descendants until the Messiah comes. Wow! The concept of Church as people, not merely a building, has very ancient roots indeed! God cannot be confined within four walls of wood and stone, for God dwells in all of creation. God’s Love defies confinement and is freely and abundantly given to each of us. God lives amid and among, and around and within us. Every one of us is a house for God – living, breathing houses.
Christmas is coming…Is our house ready?
Peace on the Journey
Christmas is but a few days away as we celebrate this fourth and final Sunday of Advent. How are our preparations going? How many items are left on our “To Do” list? Is our shopping, gift-wrapping, baking and cleaning done? Is the tree up and trimmed? Have we mailed our Christmas greetings? Is our house ready?
Today’s first reading from 2 Samuel (7:1-16) speaks to us about houses, but from two different perspectives. David is convinced a temple is needed for the Ark of the Covenant – a building to house God. And wouldn’t you know it; God has something else all together in mind. It is God who will provide the house – not a building, but a people, a line of descendants until the Messiah comes. Wow! The concept of Church as people, not merely a building, has very ancient roots indeed! God cannot be confined within four walls of wood and stone, for God dwells in all of creation. God’s Love defies confinement and is freely and abundantly given to each of us. God lives amid and among, and around and within us. Every one of us is a house for God – living, breathing houses.
Christmas is coming…Is our house ready?
Peace on the Journey
13 December 2008
14 December 2008
Greetings Friends,
A good many years ago, when I was 3 years old, I remember Christmas morning. The house was dark when I awoke. There was a sheet hung over the doorway leading into the living room. My parents were still asleep. Believe it or not, I sat on the floor at the door to their bedroom and waited patiently for them to awaken. And…I did not even dare to peek into the living room. I remember being excited with anticipation – what did the Christmas tree look like? It was not decorated when I went to bed the night before. What presents did Santa bring this year? When would we leave to go to grandma and grandpa’s house? There was so much for a three-year old to look forward to – so much anticipation – and it was so hard to wait! Strange, but I do not remember much else about that particular Christmas – just the waiting for what felt like hours with excited anticipation. As I ponder this memory, I begin to wonder where that kind of anticipation went – how did the excitement of waiting for Christmas wane over the years? And, how can I get that feeling back but…in a new way.
Daring toward repetition, Advent is this wonderful season of preparation and anticipation. Yes we have our outward preparations; our own pre-Christmas traditions. And yet perhaps a question to ask ourselves is not really for what are we preparing or waiting, but for whom. How do we recreate in us a slice of childlike anticipation excitement during Advent? Maybe we don’t, at least not in the same way. I wonder if our Advent preparation is to be not so much about recapturing what once was, but more about accepting an invitation to experience the Light anew and embracing with anticipation where God might be leading us.
May we ponder all the ways God is leading us, pointing us toward fully receiving the true gift of Christmas – God’s deep and abiding Love.
Peace on the Journey
A good many years ago, when I was 3 years old, I remember Christmas morning. The house was dark when I awoke. There was a sheet hung over the doorway leading into the living room. My parents were still asleep. Believe it or not, I sat on the floor at the door to their bedroom and waited patiently for them to awaken. And…I did not even dare to peek into the living room. I remember being excited with anticipation – what did the Christmas tree look like? It was not decorated when I went to bed the night before. What presents did Santa bring this year? When would we leave to go to grandma and grandpa’s house? There was so much for a three-year old to look forward to – so much anticipation – and it was so hard to wait! Strange, but I do not remember much else about that particular Christmas – just the waiting for what felt like hours with excited anticipation. As I ponder this memory, I begin to wonder where that kind of anticipation went – how did the excitement of waiting for Christmas wane over the years? And, how can I get that feeling back but…in a new way.
Daring toward repetition, Advent is this wonderful season of preparation and anticipation. Yes we have our outward preparations; our own pre-Christmas traditions. And yet perhaps a question to ask ourselves is not really for what are we preparing or waiting, but for whom. How do we recreate in us a slice of childlike anticipation excitement during Advent? Maybe we don’t, at least not in the same way. I wonder if our Advent preparation is to be not so much about recapturing what once was, but more about accepting an invitation to experience the Light anew and embracing with anticipation where God might be leading us.
May we ponder all the ways God is leading us, pointing us toward fully receiving the true gift of Christmas – God’s deep and abiding Love.
Peace on the Journey
06 December 2008
7 December 2008
Greetings Friends,
Now that the second week of Advent is upon us, we’re most likely in full swing of our time of preparation – preparing outwardly still for Christmas. How far on our list of “to dos” are we? Are we “on schedule” or are we thinking we won’t get everything done? Have we allowed our lists and busyness to become such a priority that we find or allow ourselves little time to truly prepare our hearts? I have to admit that’s a very common thing I struggle with each Advent. It’s so easy to get caught up in the mindset of having to get everything done – on time and perfectly.
And yet, our readings this weekend (Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8) again remind us to prepare and to wait . “Prepare the way of the Lord”, the time is coming; the time is near. During these weeks of Advent, we are invited to ponder just what it is we’re waiting for, and how we can prepare ourselves – our hearts and minds and spirits – for the coming of the Light that breaks through all darkness. What is it that truly matters? It is God’s deep and constant Love. Knowing that and believing that prompts us to ask ourselves, what does God’s love mean to me and what does God’s love ask of me in response? Only we can answer for ourselves.
These questions posed may feel uneasy to think about – sometimes we just don’t want to go there and discern those answers. Still, if we truly want to prepare the way of our hearts for the Lord, get ourselves ready to receive anew the greatest gift of Christmas, our Advent journey and preparation calls us toward inner reflection on these things.
May we know without a doubt that wherever our Advent preparations take us, God is there – in front, behind, and along side of us – every step of the way.
Peace on the Journey
Now that the second week of Advent is upon us, we’re most likely in full swing of our time of preparation – preparing outwardly still for Christmas. How far on our list of “to dos” are we? Are we “on schedule” or are we thinking we won’t get everything done? Have we allowed our lists and busyness to become such a priority that we find or allow ourselves little time to truly prepare our hearts? I have to admit that’s a very common thing I struggle with each Advent. It’s so easy to get caught up in the mindset of having to get everything done – on time and perfectly.
And yet, our readings this weekend (Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8) again remind us to prepare and to wait . “Prepare the way of the Lord”, the time is coming; the time is near. During these weeks of Advent, we are invited to ponder just what it is we’re waiting for, and how we can prepare ourselves – our hearts and minds and spirits – for the coming of the Light that breaks through all darkness. What is it that truly matters? It is God’s deep and constant Love. Knowing that and believing that prompts us to ask ourselves, what does God’s love mean to me and what does God’s love ask of me in response? Only we can answer for ourselves.
These questions posed may feel uneasy to think about – sometimes we just don’t want to go there and discern those answers. Still, if we truly want to prepare the way of our hearts for the Lord, get ourselves ready to receive anew the greatest gift of Christmas, our Advent journey and preparation calls us toward inner reflection on these things.
May we know without a doubt that wherever our Advent preparations take us, God is there – in front, behind, and along side of us – every step of the way.
Peace on the Journey
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