In our Midst

Hark! My lover-here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. ..he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!"--song of Songs 2:8 and 10
The Lord, your God, is in your midst--Zephaniah 3:15
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  Luke 1:43

I was making German Chocolate Bars this morning stirring the caramel melting on the stove. It takes patience to do this so that it does not burn. While I was stirring I was thinking about the Sandy Hook families and the challenges they shall face in celebrating their holidays this month. There will be a family member missing from their celebrations. Will others talk about them so that their memories and life will be part of these December holidays as they have in the past? Or will people avoid their names and their memories in the face of grief and anxiety and fear?  All of us have lost someone near to us. Whether we acknowledge them out loud or not, the memories of these people will be in our lives. The woman who gave me the bar recipe has been gone for a few years now. but in the making (and enjoying!) of this recipe she still lives in my mind and in my heart. In the speaking of her name, in writing to her children about my enjoyment of this food, and the memory of her remaining in my own holiday celebration I bring her in my midst. We are called to remember our loved ones. With time it is much easier to recognize their part in our lives with joy and love instead of under the veil of grief and regret.Recognizing and acknowledging our loved ones, our friends, the good memories we carry within us; this is God in our midst. Trekking Catholic.

What answer will you give?

The Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!"--Isaiah 7:10,11
mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."--Luke 1:37

Two conversations with the voice of the Lord and two different responses. We are called to fulfill the requests of God. We are called to say, 'Yes.' but that doesn't normally happen. So many things can go wrong for us on that pathway: belittlement, failure from the world's point of view, discouragement from those around us. It takes a great deal of courage to know what to ask of God. It takes courage to listen in faith and respond with a whole-hearted 'Yes.' We must believe in the infinite goodness and loving hand of God. We must listen to the advice and wisdom of those who are grounded in faith, we must say yes to what God asks of us. Let the miracles begin! Say yes and walk in faith. Trekking Catholic.

Part of a long line

I love the reading from Matt 1:1-17, The Genealogy of Jesus Christ. I am a child of the 60’s and I secretly cheer when a woman’s name is on Matthew’s list. I wish there were more of them! Whether they are acknowledged in the Good Book or not I know they are there. We, too, are part of that line. I know it is up to us to live as if we are to be recorded for posterity for our contributions to the Catholic Faith. They will be recorded in heaven. How you keep the celebrations of this Holy Season are important. I pray for my ancestors in thanksgiving today. To acknowledge the place I have in my genealogy and my place in the path to heaven is Trekking Catholic.

Action

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!--Sirach 48:4

All of the readings today call us to question our actions. Not everyone can stand between a hail of bullets and a child, but we can strive to become 'the best version of ourselves' as Matthew Kelly so movingly speaks. This week my online exercise guru used a quote about action: Be not afraid of moving slowly. Be afraid of standing still. 'Wondrous deeds.' God grant me the sight to see clearly Your will for me and the courage to move in action. Help me to keep on Trekking Catholic.

What vanishes and what remains

For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.--Psalm 1

When we are in the midst of something as horrible as today's school shooting in Connecticut, it is very hard to see how the 'way of the wicked' could vanish. Perhaps like the events of 9/11 or of Columbine the reactions and actions of those touched by this event will bring a lasting good; something beyond the evil of the action of today. Like Anne Frank, I , too, believe in the inherent goodness of man. I pray for the little souls lost today to us, but gained for heaven. I pray for their families. And I pray for the family of the perpetrator. May all receive God's grace and blessing.

Listening

Whoever has ears ought to hear.--Matt 11:15

I was searching for a gift in a catalog and came across a tee shirt that noted the words "Listen" and "Silent" are composed of the same letters. There is a situation in our family that needs listening. Silence does not seem to be part of the dynamics at this time. It is painful for those of us on the outside looking in, but not nearly as painful as for those who are in the center of it all.Today I will listen Today I will keep silent while I am listening. That certainly makes it easier to hear what is being said! Hearing the truth is Trekking Catholic.

When You Hear the Voice

There are several options for today's readings. The one that struck me was that of Mary rushing to visit Elizabeth and the action/reaction of Elizabeth when she heard Mary's voice. She turned to Mary with welcome and a positive reaction. I understand the leaping of John the Baptist would be a strong hint to 'pay attention!'and I am very sure Elizabeth was filled with grace as well, after all she, too, was carrying a miracle within. But she reacted with welcome and compliments and joy. I admit that is not always my first reaction when I receive a phone call at work. I feel interrupted.  I hear incompetence in communication or indecisiveness, or multi-tasking lack of focus in a conversation.  I want to shout, 'get to the point!' I want to ask,'didn't your mother teach you the magic words of please and thank you?' I would not describe my reactions as one of welcome and compliments and joy. Today I will take my lesson from Elizabeth. I will think of her example when I answer the phone at work. I will use an attitude and voice of welcome. This is trekking Catholic.

Speaking Up

What is your opinion?

Oh boy! Over and over again today the word of God reminds me to use the voice I have been given. 
 Give comfort...speak tenderly...a voice says, Cry out!..Cry out at the top of your voice...What is your opinion?
How can I ignore those demands? It is pretty easy for me as I really, really do not like to argue in the face of others' opinions. I am comfortable letting others have their say and keeping my voice to myself."You could be right." is a favorite phrase. I am called, though, especially in today's readings, to speak up. I shall try to do so today. I have to take baby steps; one little sentence or phrase at a time. I feel more 'safe' if I phrase it as a question. "What about...What happens if...What do you think about...?" That seems to put the ball back in the others court and lets them feeling as  I am engaged and interested rather than confrontational. I do not know if that is a good thing. If I am to listen to what Jesus asks of me in today's Gospel, He is asking , "What is your opinion?" Give me courage, Lord. Speaking up for my beliefs, that is Trekking Catholic.

Seeing God's Hand in our Lives

Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see....Baruch 5:3

The rest of today's reading goes on about the good things that are in view: children gathered together rejoicing, mountains made low and gorges filled, Israel secure in the glory of God. Psalm 26 continues the list of good things. The second reading is a prayer for good wishes. The Gospel of Luke quotes John the Baptist and his promise of the Messiah. I cannot tell you the last time I got together with a group of people and there was a continuous list of good things and blessings and good wishes. Problems, complaints, gossip and bad news are far more common. To quote a funny commercial on TV, "You like to whine!" Although a clear analysis and a  healthy respect for what can go wrong in any situation is good, it is also important to recognize what has been successful and wonderful and good in our lives. And to understand Who and why this is so. It is not all about us. Giving thanks to our good and gracious God is Trekking Catholic.

Favors

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.--Luke1.

I have received so much from the kind hand of God. I am most grateful. This new liturgical year I am making a point of listing each day the gifts for which I am thankful. I felt I needed to start my day with this. I am also reflecting on the most significant part of each day, how I was surprised, where I may have regrets, my chief discomfort, and the lessons I have learned in each day, and how to implement at least one of them. I found these questions in Joyce Rupps book about her walk of the Camino Santiago de Campostella. I think they are apt for anyone who is trekking Catholic.

Faith

Let it be done for you according to your faith.—Matt 9:29

My reading from the Maxims of Bro. Lawrence today began with this quote: All things are possible to him who believes, they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are easier to him who loves, and still more easy to him who practices and perseveres in these three virtues.  And from another source I read that faith is to have total trust in God. And from still another source: Half-measures get me half-results. Am I satisfied with that? Alas for me, sometimes my faith is pretty limited. My expectations of God are at very human levels. Somehow I cannot let God be God. I want my faith to be Big. I want my faith to be True. I want my faith to be Full. I want the result of my faith to be Big and True and Full as well. That is my part. Today , O Lord, let me have total trust in You. To live this way is trekking Catholic.

Gates

Open up the gates--Is 26:2

When our kids were growing up we sang this song with our Advent Wreath prayers:

The King of Glory comes; the nation rejoices.
Open the gates before Him. Lift up your voices.

Reading this part of the first reading for today reminds me of our four kids and the lifted voices around the kitchen table. I miss them. The quiet of this Advent Time is different. I still hum that song in my head, though, when I say my Advent prayers.
I am delving into John of the Cross. The portion of the book I read today (The Practice of Contemplation According to John of the Cross by James W. Kinn) indicated that a dryness in prayer life was not a cause for distress, but the presentiment of change. John likened this to patiently and optimistically standing in front of a door waiting for God to open it before us.
Patiently waiting for God.
In another devotional I read of a person learning God always answers our prayers in the affirmative. Sometimes He says,"Yes, but not right now." And sometimes He says,"I have something much better in mind."
Patiently waiting in trust for God. Trekking Catholic.

Veils

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast...he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples..will wipe away the tears from all faces. --Is 25:6+

and in Matt 15:29-- At this time Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain...he cured them...moved with pity (he fed them all from seven loaves and the fish)

Life is such a struggle for people. Some are struggling to survive, to stay warm, to have a roof over their heads and a job. And some have other struggles: to be seen as individuals instead of checkbooks, to be acknowledged as hard workers, or responsible employers, or dedicated volunteers, employees or parents. We put so many veils over people by our prejudices and expectations. Some people hide behind veils of their own making because living in truth is too painful. We find them lacking or too different or 'ugly' in whatever definition that may be to us, and as a result people feel valueless. Today let us look behind the veil to find the treasure God sees in us and 'feed them' what they need. This is Trekking Catholic.

Promises and Responsibilities

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.--Is 11:1

I really love the first of today's readings for Holy Mass. I love the Promise of God in Isaiah: how Christ can bring opposites together. Wonderful. Of course the stump of Jesse part got me to smiling as I am working with the Jesse Tree this Advent. Today's reading and ornament were about Adam and Eve, about their creation,   their weakness and temptation. Oh that free will we were given in our creation! Adam and his Eve were called on their choices right away. The oh-so-familiar decline to admit responsibility started way back then. Why should I think people (myself included) would have that negative part of humanity licked lo these many generations later?  Not so.Yet look at what good God made out of those bad decisions,  He bailed us out with His Son. In today's reading we can read the promise of all the good He can do: wolves and lambs, calves and lions, children and snakes at peace and at rest, at play and in companionship. Christ reconciles opposites. As a Catholic I am called to act as the hand of God, revealing Him on earth here today in reconciling opposites and healing animosities. This is my responsibility. This is Trekking Catholic.

The House of the Lord

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.--Gen 1:1

This is the first verse of the readings for the Jesse Tree today. The story of God's creation is beautiful and poetic and awe-inspiring. As I was reading it I was thinking of those nature programs I have seen about bugs, and flowers blooming , and weather, and birds migrating, and animals in far off places and near to home.  And to think God thought of all of it, and how things will evolve. I am amazed!

This first verse of Genesis is the inspiration for the stained glass windows in our church, St. Vincent's. The artist has captured the waiting and the breath of God and the tipping point of change. They are lovely and a great grace to us here in Fort Wayne.

In perusing the readings for today, the verse that sang to me was;
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

This is the Responsorial to Psalm 122. I went to the Life Teen Mass yesterday. The air was full of incense and chant and the visual of the spectacular Advent Wreath and violet decorations we have in our church.  Fr. Andrew had a funny and engaging sermon. He instructed the congregation (esp. the teens) on lectio divina and invited them to read the Gospel of Luke this year and tweet about it at #lectioluke.  I have been reading about the Catholic Church and social media evangelization in the last two issues of Today's Catholic. I was so delighted to witness this in action at yesterday's Mass. How I hope (and pray) this effort will be a success. (My prayers for this success are today's way I can 'give to priests')

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy.

This verse was near the end of the readings of Genesis for the Jesse Tree. I know my reluctance to drop everything I'm doing on my day of rest, dress appropriately and go to church. But this day's Mass truly was a Holy event. The lessons of the prayers and the homily are guidance to make my life a holy one. The community and the interaction with acquaintances and the Giving Tree and the Pastor's call to start the new Liturgical Year on the right foot are actions of blessed people. In the beginning of the Bible I read the first reference to keeping the Sabbath holy. It is important to do so. Look at all the grace we have received! Attending Holy Mass, listening to the voice of God in all the ways He speaks, this is Trekking Catholic.
 

Word of the Year and Saint of the Year

Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all...--Thess 3:12

Quite awhile ago I read in Guideposts Magazine about a woman who chose, with the help of God, a word as a theme for her year. I thought it was a grand idea and have done that for myself. I decided the best way for me as a Catholic was to incorporate the verb of my Bible Verse of the Year. This is the verse I was guided to for Liturgical year C:

Give the priests...whatever is needed...for the offerings presented to God in heaven.--Ezra 6:9

Of course in light of my being drawn again to 29 Gifts it was easy for me to recognize God's push  for an attitude of charity in my life. it will be interesting to find out how I am going to asked to give to priests!
The name of my saint of the year is John of the Cross. My first thought was to throw him back! I had heard he is very difficult to digest. However, I girded my loins and did a search on the net for further information and found some more easily digestible information. Charity seemed to be a word closely connected with  him. Giving. Charity. I can work with that!
Of course St. John is also the patron of contemplatives. Finding silence to listen to the voice of  God is a very important part of his message as well. I have been praying for the grace and willingness to do this more in my life. I guess God heard and has answered me! I will have John of the Cross to walk with me. Trekking Catholic.

The Tree of Life

John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month--Rev 22

I am excited about a new Advent project for this year. I have drawn little pictures to add to golden stars I am going to place on my Advent Wreath. These pictures correspond to the Jesse Tree symbols. The first illustration is for a tree, and in my imagination I used the tree from the Oklahoma City Memorial as a pattern. But of course it didn't exactly look like that. Yesterday my friend showed me some pins and buttons she had fired embellished with designs of labyrinths. Her designs looked just like trees!  My dear granddaughter was reading a pop-up library book about Streganona in the car this afternoon. "Look, Grandma, a family tree!" The Jesse Tree is a walking prayer and it is a Family Tree. It  is a remembrance in story of the long walk of ancestors of Jesus Christ. The little paper stars we always place on our Advent Wreath each evening carry the names of friends and family and others we remember and for whom we pray. Jesse Tree, Advent Wreath. Family Tree, names of family and friends. Green leaves, green circle of eternity. Traveling through biblical history and family history. Trekking Catholic.

Beautiful Feet

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!--Rom 10

Today is the feast of St. Andrew and, of course, our associate pastor Fr. Andrew Budzinski comes to mind.  He has been ordained just a few years now and this may be a third occupation for him. I do know he was in the radio business, and we are well aware he was a Notre Dame leprechaun while he was at school there. He is enthusiastic and comes to the point and he has a sense of humor and smarts. We are so grateful he is with us here at St. Vincent's. He works with our Life Teen program and with men who feel a calling to the seminary. What an attraction for them! My gratitude list for today shall certainly have his name at the top.
Wouldn't it be grand to have as much enthusiasm for every priest we know? Each  has a special gift for which I am grateful, whether it be the grace of the confessional, or administrative abilities, or a spiritual presence, or good homilies, each priest I know has a gift. Often I hear of the 'problems' people find with our priests. And there are some, I can see them as well as the next person. But as a good member of our parish and of the Catholic Church, I believe it is up to me to point out the good the priests I know do. Nay saying is easy. But it leaves a pall of darkness behind unless solutions are added, or good points listed as well . It takes one candle to battle back the darkness. I am going to make a point to shine a light on the way our priests walk in my community.This is Trekking Catholic.

Millstones

A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea--Rev.

I work with people who have issues with food. I do not say they are addicted to it, but they have issues, as do I. I read something about this issue everyday. One of the most important things I have read was from a book by  Francis MacNutt called The Practice of Healing Prayer. In it he mentions working with an alcoholic and praying 'to take away his need' for alcohol. Every day I pray for God to 'take away my need' for the chocolate and sugar that waylay my health and happiness: these are some of my millstones.  I have other millstones too: bad attitudes about people or situations or work or responsibilities. I'd like to have them chucked into the sea just as this angel has done in the Book of Revelations. I pray for the miracle. I also pray for the ability to see  the error of my ways, to learn how to correct these errors, and to put my lessons into action. In that way I shall do my part of the miracle, helping to chuck it. Give me strength O Lord.

Winners

On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory....--Rev. 15

Victory! I won something yesterday. I entered my NaNoWriMo novel, validated the word count and Won! Historically 16% of those who begin the NaNo project finish it as winners. It was such a rush to see "You are a winner!" flashing across my computer screen. I talked to a Notre Dame fan yesterday. He was pretty enthusiastic over his football team's win last weekend. I certainly enjoy remembering the father from A Christmas Story saying,"I won! I won! I won! A major prize!" when he receives notification of the pending delivery of the infamous leg lamp. The lead photo on my online news source this morning was of the lines of people waiting to purchase a ticket in hopes of winning the $500M lottery drawing this evening. There are so many different kinds of victories in life: the victory over an addictive behavior, the victory of crossing a finish line, or the victory of a chance prize. Great and wonderful are the works of God who give us the fellowship and the program of recovery, the dedication, focus and  and perseverance to train and to complete a race or goal of any sort, and the lucky numbers that match and change the course of a life or lives in big ways and small.
 Thank you for my challenges and for my victories. May I be a gracious winner on earth and in heaven.

The Faces of God

So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury. –Rev 14:19

Yipes! I was lucky enough to grow up with a Loving God in my life. I have heard horror stories about the Judgmental God scaring and repelling others in their youth. Because of this a relationship with God is difficult and painful. Thankfully this Judgmental God is not my first thought, but He most certainly is real. In my local Catholic Church I don’t hear too much about this part of God. I wonder if this is not fostering a namby pamby idea of the Creator, something like those wimpy religious images of Christ. In my work with icons I learned about Christ Pantocrator (a word that closely means Omnipotent), the great visual of God on the ceilings of the Orthodox churches. In the sixth century someone ‘wrote’ an icon that seemed to encapsulate both the judgmental and the loving aspects of God. The face of Christ seems to be divided in two. The left side has a fierce eye and countenance: the all-seeing eye of God. You can run but you can’t hide! And the right eye seems to look upon the viewer with love and acceptance. An Orthodox priest told me penitents look at an image of this icon while in Reconciliation. The priest stands behind the penitent with his hand on his or her shoulder. God knows all and God loves us anyway.

I pray to know all of the aspects of God. May my fears not keep me from the Truth.

The Name of God

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his father’s name written on their foreheads….who had been ransomed from the earth.—Rev 14:1-3 +

Two things: Firstly, I pray for the Holy Souls every day. I have accepted this long-ago calling and have not turned my back on it and on them. I am praying them into heaven. I am grateful for the readings from the Book of Revelation at this time of the Church Year which reminds me of the Holy Souls. I like to imagine this symbolic number of 144,000 strong enjoying their place in heaven. May my prayers get them there!

Secondly: Today’s readings and the phrase about God’s ‘name written on their foreheads’ reinforces what I heard at yesterday’s homily. Fr. Andrew was giving us a bit of the history of the Feast of Christ the King. It is not a very old feast; if I remember correctly Pope Pius introduced it about 1928 in reaction to the threat of communism and its godless ideas. Fr. Andrew told us about a recent trip he took to the monuments around Washington DC, and told us of the places he saw the word “God” etched in stone. The older monuments had the word everywhere. The newest memorial, that to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, did not recognize his title (reverend) nor include the words of God, or Jesus, or Christianity anywhere. MLK’s speeches were laden with those words. He was a preacher! It has become politically incorrect to use the name of God in any public place. We are in worse shape than we were in 1928! How intolerant we have become. Can this be good for our country? I think we Catholics need to be visible and vocal. Let us keep the word of God in our lives. God give us courage.

Endings and Beginnings

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” said the Lord God.

Today is the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe. It wasn’t until this year that I noticed the ‘of the Universe’ part of the Title on my Catholic calendar. When I read this I thought of photographs from the Hubble Telescope we had seen at a performance of our Philharmonic. With the majesty of The Planets swelling in the background the audience was awed by a universe we intellectually may know is there, but to see it! I know the word amazing is over used, but these photographs are amazing. Our universe is amazing. To wrap my brain around the idea of Christ the King of the Universe is more than I can do. I have to accept this glorious and creative authority on faith.  The church window behind the altar of my parish of St. Vincent’s includes the symbols of Alpha and Omega. I look at these every time I attend Holy Mass in that building. These symbols never cease to fill me with awe. I am so grateful there is such a feast to honor this aspect of our God. Amazing !

This final week of the Church Year is kind of like New Year’s Eve for me. I say the last week of rosaries with the saints who have been my 2012 companions for each mystery. I also bid ‘thank you and farewell’ to the saint who has been my constant Saint Companion this year. St. Faustina wrote of this idea of a Saint Companion and I have been participating in this for several years. When December 1^st rolls around I pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit and then reach into my bag of names of saints and receive the gift given to me.  St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was my choice on December 1, 2011. What a gift she was to me! Frances Cabrini was a woman of great and selfless service. I have not been called to that kind of active lifestyle. I am a Carmelite, not a Franciscan! But her connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? That I could do. And I ‘assigned’ her to the Third Sorrowful Mystery to pray with me for my intentions of the day. In December of 2011 I had no idea I would be writing the NaNo novel, but here she appeared to grace my project. I named a character after her. I am grateful for the year we have spent together. I also look forward to the surprise of my saint companions for the new liturgical year.