Friday of the Second Week of Advent

Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston, Texas

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:  "To what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children who sit in the marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'  But wisdom is vindicated by her works.

Criticism.  How often I have felt like this!  There is no pleasing some people - because they are committed to being displeased.  The worst thing to possibly do is cater to the whims of the displeased, because they will always be displeased.  But wisdom is vindicated by her works.  To me, that tells me that we stay the right course, regardless of whether or not we are in fashion or favor.

How difficult it is to live as a Christian in our society.  I am having a number of difficulties right now.  They are minor compared with things other people are dealing with, let me hasten to tell you.  One very high placed individual in my workplace has decided to "hone in" on me for the last two weeks.  He does it to everyone eventually, there is no reason it should not eventually be my turn.  So, now it is my turn.  In two meetings last week, he spent at least a half hour each, grilling me.  In public, in front of everyone. Somehow, I managed to pray and sit still and not cry!  I answered his questions as reasonably as I could. Later, people who have either witnessed this or heard about it and want to hear all about it.  Yesterday afternoon a woman was asking me, standing close, staring intently into my eyes... as if she could will me to say something evil about this man.  Oh, I want to.  I want to find a way to make his life miserable.  But that is not what we are supposed to do.  So, I pray for him and try with all my might not to say anything evil about him.  

And today I have a job interview elsewhere.  After 16 and a half years in the same place.  I don't want to go.  But I might just go anyway.  So, I better get dressed, all shiny and happy looking for my interview.  

I am asking for your prayers - and thanking you in advance.

Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church, Lakewood, Colorado

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Matthew  11:11-15

Jesus said to the crowds:  "Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.  All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.  And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come.  Whoever has ears ought to hear."  

This is a challenging passage for me.  I do not understand.  

I am reminded of our first homework assignment at Biblical School.  We were to read an article about "understanding the Bible" and write a paper about it.  The article said that it is difficult to understand the Bible, and that trying to do so would produce humility in a reasonable person.  I have been humbled repeatedly.  The Book of Isaiah almost made me drop out of Biblical School.  Prior to attending the school, I would have told you Isaiah was one of my favorite books.  Now I will tell you that I simply do not understand it.  I can pray for understanding, but my intellect is not going to "figure it out."  

Thankfully, I am increasingly spending time with people who are also praying for understanding.  I can't help but think this is good.  

And thank you to anyone who is reading my blog.  I appreciate it.  I once had a "successful" blog, in fact, although I abandoned it at the beginning of Advent, it still is "successful."  After writing daily on it for over five years, it comes up frequently on Google for many things.  Over 100 people a day end up there as a result of a Google search.  In the course of those five years, I came to realize that it was not where my heart was.  My heart longs to write about Jesus and his church.  In this, I am not articulate.  But I need to be.  If I can spend an hour a day preparing to write this blog, in addition to the time I am already spending in prayer, at mass, at adoration, etc., I hope I can become more articulate.  We are charged to  "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).  I cannot be effective in my attempt at this until I can speak of it.  (I think)

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

St. Stephen Catholic Church, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.  And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you."  but she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the 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."  But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"  And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power ofthe Most High will overshadow you.  Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."  Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."  Then the angel departed from her.  

Years ago, I had an Anglican friend.  A very good friend.  I credit him with forcing me back into the Bible in a deeper way.  He loved to argue.  He loved to argue about religion.   And unfortunately, he usually won the argument because he knew more about my religion than I did.  

But I am haunted by our conversation about the Blessed Virgin.  He said although he admired her, he would never pray to Mary.  He went on to blast the Rosary - he said we prayed to Mary for the forgiveness of sins.  He said that the Rosary was not scriptural.  I knew enough to argue that point.  I told him that the Hail Mary could be found in the Gospel of Luke.  But that was the only thing I could speak to.  I have wanted to write him a letter to describe how very scriptural the Rosary is, to go, point by point, through every prayer and reference it back to the Bible.   I have composed this letter in my mind many times.  But then I have wondered if I would just be trying to prove a point - and therefore prove that I am right - or if I am truly trying to show him something wonderful.  And hence, I have not written the letter.

But I am grateful this morning that I get to go to 6:30 a.m. mass.  It is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  And I won't have to argue with anyone at mass.  But I know I will still be thinking about that letter...

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

At St. Mary Catholic Parish, Littleton, Colorado

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:  "What is your opinion?  If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?  And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

I am more grateful than words can say for these passages in the Gospels.  I was, for so long, a lost sheep, a lost coin, a prodigal.  In my ego, I would think that I was just too bad for anyone to care about.  I surely didn't think that God could possibly want me.  What a revelation it was for me to read that He really does.  He wants me!  No matter how "bad" I have been.  I can repent and just be one of the flock of sheep, one coin in the purse, one "son" in the family.

My computer has done strange things twice in the last 12 hours.  I have had to shut it down and pray it would start back up.  It is a computer I longed for, and spent a great deal of money (for me) for, it is only 2 1/2 years old.  I thought it would last longer than this.  I wanted an Apple so very badly.  And I have loved it.  I absolutely cannot pay for a new computer at this time.  I have just spent an equivalent amount of money to save one tooth in my mouth - after insurance.   Then I wonder, is this a message about my computer usage?  I do spend an inordinate amount of time sitting looking at this screen.

I go back to what I said a couple of times last week, it has been such a long journey for me to just get here.  I know I need to go so much farther.  I hope I have the time.  I am relying on Our Lord to help me get there.  To stop worrying about stupid things (like my computer) and start living in Joyful Hope.

Three Theological Virtues:    Faith     Hope      Charity

May I live by these today.

Monday of the Second Week of Advent

St. Peter Church, Charlotte, North Carolina

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke  5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.  And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.  But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."  

Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who but God alone can forgive sins?"  Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher and go home."

He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.  Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."

"Some men" brought this paralytic to Jesus.  The paralytic has no voice in this passage.  The men have great faith, they take the paralytic to the roof - and lower him through the tiles into the house!  Jesus forgives their sins!  And then he heals the man on the stretcher.  So, there is great merit in bringing the "ill" to Jesus - he forgave the sins of the bringers before he healed the ill.  

I know a lot of people who have their own version of illness, including myself.  I have the opportunity to bring them to Jesus.  I will pray that I be shown how to do this.  

What a wonderful day I shall have today.  Working all day long, then Eucharistic Adoration, then Biblical School.  I love Mondays!

Second Sunday of Advent

A window on the hallway to the Adoration Chapel, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Lakewood, Colorado

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,  Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey.  At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.  

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and throw into the fire.  I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I, I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in his hand.  He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  

At mass this morning the priest said today's readings were not about hell, but about "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  He went on to describe how this is true - right now.  I guess that is the difference between a wonderful priest and me.  My eye is drawn to the chaff burning with unquenchable fire.  The way to avoid being chaff?  Producing good fruit.  Oh please dear Lord, may I bear good fruit.

One week after starting this blog - what do I think?  I am happy to be spending more time studying each day's Gospel.  I have become even more aware of how little I know.  But I  am willing to admit my ignorance and go forward in faith.  I have been heartened by the comments of visitors.  I have been heartened by the feedback of the one and only person I know in "real life" I told about this blog.

And yesterday, I went shopping.  Shopping is one of my problems.  I can't ever seem to get enough clothing.  I am invited to a Christmas party today, with people from work.  I wanted to purchase something "festive."  I went to one of my favorite purveyors of quality women's clothing.  I tried on clothes.  I purchased nothing.  Undeterred by this, I got back into my car and drove to another purveyor of women's clothing.  However, I could not find a parking place.  I started to get annoyed.  I thought about how wrong that was.

Instead of continuing in my determination to purchase something, and becoming increasingly irritated that everything was not going my way - I stopped for a second.  I thought about a nearby church with a Perpetual Adoration Chapel.  Instead of persisting in my endeavor to "get stuff," I changed course and drove to the church.  I spent a beautiful silent hour of adoration.  It was the best part of my day.

Would I have done that if I had not had "An Advent Journey" blog?  Probably, but maybe not.

Thank you for your kind support and comments.

Your humble blogger,
Mary Christine

Saturday of the First Week of Advent

St. John Frances Regis Chapel, Regis University, Denver, Colorado (my Alma Mater)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew  9:35-10:1,5a, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  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.  Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them this, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.  Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

This reading is so dense. Since I am writing about the reading every day, I go to my Bible with my own notes, and another study Bible (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament) and really study it.   I am struck by how much is in these few words.   Today I will just focus on "His heart was moved with pity for them  because they were troubled and abandoned."  

Today I will meditate upon his mercy.  

I am greatly in need of it.  

Last night I went to bed full of happy anticipation of today's activities.  All three of my grandchildren (including a 7 week old infant!) are coming over to help me decorate our small Christmas tree.  I am making dinner for them - and after considering gourmet meals they would not like (because I love to cook), I arrived on a menu I know they will love - homemade macaroni and cheese.  A salad.  And hot cocoa with marshmallows for desert.  

At 2 a.m., I woke with a migraine.  At 3 a.m., I decided it was worthy of taking a very expensive medication which wipes me out the next day.  At 4 a.m., I went back to sleep - the time I normally wake up and get busy.  At 7:30 a.m., I woke up, without a migraine, but sick from the medication and the after effects of the migraine.  And I am foggy from the medication.  Now it is after 10 a.m., and I still have not started cleaning the house and making dinner.  

I will offer this up, and hope to suffer it with a grateful heart.  

And get to work.

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.  

Thank you.