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.