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
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
20 December 2008
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
29 November 2008
30 November 2008
Greetings Friends!
Many, if not most of us are not comfortable with waiting. We live in a society that promotes instant gratification: “fast” food, drive-through banking and prescription service, even self-serve checkout kiosks at grocery stores, and more. Get it hot and get it now is a prevailing theme! Waiting in long lines has become not only irritating but unacceptable. Funny, but some of our potential “wait-eliminating” conveniences don’t always provide us with more time. And more time – time to prepare – is what many of us may desire amid this busy holiday season to come.
As we enter and celebrate this first Sunday of Advent, we are encouraged to focus our minds and hearts on preparation. Liturgically this IS a season of preparation, but in our daily lives we are well aware these four weeks are filled, perhaps to the brim, with a great dose of busyness. After all, there is shopping and gift wrapping, house cleaning and decorating, tree trimming, baking and cooking, parties and Christmas concerts. Our list of “to do’s” could potentially be nearly endless. So much to do; so little time. It’s no wonder we hear some say they can’t wait till Christmas is over. And yet amid our busyness, we are invited to pause and prepare ourselves for the Coming of the Light anew in more that outward ways.
In recent weeks some of our Scripture readings have spoken to us about darkness. The advantage of Advent is that it offers us a time of hope – reminds us there is light amid the darkness. Perhaps a key to beginning our preparation is to take some time – to “watch” and “wait” – in the check-out lines, as we have our morning coffee or tea, as we prepare our meals, as we ready ourselves for bed (to name a few). And in our watching and waiting we have the opportunity to ponder where inside are we experiencing darkness; what are the struggles in our lives; for what and for whom does my spirit long? By reflecting on these things we can discover our need for light and encounter with God. And when we are able to identify and discover our need for light in our lives – the light that our loving God provides – we can be able to echo the Advent refrain “Come Lord Jesus” with a renewed sense of hopeful longing, meaning, and anticipation.
As we watch and wait, may we always be sustained by the light of our knowing the deep and constant Love of God in our lives.
Peace on the Journey
Many, if not most of us are not comfortable with waiting. We live in a society that promotes instant gratification: “fast” food, drive-through banking and prescription service, even self-serve checkout kiosks at grocery stores, and more. Get it hot and get it now is a prevailing theme! Waiting in long lines has become not only irritating but unacceptable. Funny, but some of our potential “wait-eliminating” conveniences don’t always provide us with more time. And more time – time to prepare – is what many of us may desire amid this busy holiday season to come.
As we enter and celebrate this first Sunday of Advent, we are encouraged to focus our minds and hearts on preparation. Liturgically this IS a season of preparation, but in our daily lives we are well aware these four weeks are filled, perhaps to the brim, with a great dose of busyness. After all, there is shopping and gift wrapping, house cleaning and decorating, tree trimming, baking and cooking, parties and Christmas concerts. Our list of “to do’s” could potentially be nearly endless. So much to do; so little time. It’s no wonder we hear some say they can’t wait till Christmas is over. And yet amid our busyness, we are invited to pause and prepare ourselves for the Coming of the Light anew in more that outward ways.
In recent weeks some of our Scripture readings have spoken to us about darkness. The advantage of Advent is that it offers us a time of hope – reminds us there is light amid the darkness. Perhaps a key to beginning our preparation is to take some time – to “watch” and “wait” – in the check-out lines, as we have our morning coffee or tea, as we prepare our meals, as we ready ourselves for bed (to name a few). And in our watching and waiting we have the opportunity to ponder where inside are we experiencing darkness; what are the struggles in our lives; for what and for whom does my spirit long? By reflecting on these things we can discover our need for light and encounter with God. And when we are able to identify and discover our need for light in our lives – the light that our loving God provides – we can be able to echo the Advent refrain “Come Lord Jesus” with a renewed sense of hopeful longing, meaning, and anticipation.
As we watch and wait, may we always be sustained by the light of our knowing the deep and constant Love of God in our lives.
Peace on the Journey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)