Advent Ending

 

Our Advent shoes are by now well worn,

Our Advent backpack has hopefully not been filled with unnecessary things, and

Our Advent road is leading us very close to Christmas.

Have you ever noticed that the fourth week of Advent, even if we get a full fourth week always seems to slip by so quickly? I was struck by that as we all try to do the right thing to have the perfect Christmas and then I was struck by What is the perfect Christmas? Each of us would claim a perfect Christmas in different ways: a trimmed tree, all the cookies made, lots of snow, time with family, a getaway, the right carols sung, the outside lights blinking to welcome neighbors, another Christmas party to attend, someone to spend Christmas with, lots of gifts, and on and on the list could go.

Our Advent road must lead us beyond this and to the perfect Christmas which is Christ. Think of that first Christmas. What was perfect about it? Mary and Joseph were travellers away from family, the busy streets did not need to see one more person, there was no welcome at any door, animals and a barn offered warmth and complete strangers came to see what was going on. Does that sound perfect to you?

There was however, something that was perfect. It was true gifts – love, strength, courage and hope. When we ponder the imperfections of God coming among us we see that love wins out, strength comes from trusting in God, courage allows for simple ordinary people to be open and do God’s will and hope allows for the imperfections to slip away and for Christ to enter our lives. It really is perfect.

As we shift from preparation to celebrations, as the year comes to and end and we ponder our many blessings let us give thanks that God enters into imperfections and does great things for and with us. Emmanuel – God with us in the perfection we seek, in the brokenness we encounter, in the journey of life and faith.

 

 

As we gather around our Christmas trees and celebrate with family and friends, happy to be together and feeling safe, I would like to place a Christmas challenge before us. As you look at each ornament or each twinkling light offer a prayer for someone who is not experiencing true light this season… we think of those who lost loved ones this year (whether from natural deaths or tragedy); for families broken; for those who are trapped in additions or depression: for those that lost everything this year because of fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, greed, or unemployment; for those who are sick in hospital or care homes; for those who call the streets their home; for parents longing to have a child and they cannot; for the lonely; for refugees; for immigrants seeking a better home; for the people of the Middle East including Syria and Aleppo; for communities that live in terror because of extremists; for communities dealing with the aftermath of terror; for those who do not have access to water; for the hungry; for those who are bullied; for those who can’t go home; for those hurting for reasons we will never know and for so many others. Let us, those who believe that God is Emmanuel – God with us, let us unite ourselves with our brothers and sisters in prayer and offer love, strength, courage and hope.

If God chose to enter into our imperfections by the birth of his Son in a manger stall, then even in our imperfections God will enter. No matter what our Christmas celebrations will look like, God is with us for love wins out, strength and courage are ours and hope never dies.

Continued Blessings of hope, peace, joy and love

as we journey to the light of the crib,

the light of the world:

Christ Jesus - Emmanuel!

 

Advent Road

The right shoes and the properly packed backpack have had me thinking about the actual Advent road/path/journey. I have been thinking about the many paths we are on and the people we encounter. We do not walk this path alone, no, we walk it with people from all walks of life who “await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.”

The prophet Isaiah (35.1-6a, 10) gives us some idea of who we might encounter on this Advent trip. He suggests that we are among the weak, feeble, fearful, blind, lame, deaf and mute. Yes, you and I are counted among this group! That is not always easy to embrace but it is so true.

How often are we:

the weak because we are tired of the obstacles of the journey?

the fearful because we feel inadequate or that we lack skills?

the feeble because we stumble along uncertain of where we are going?

the blind because we close ourselves off from the light of Christ?

the lame because we choose to limit ourselves and others around us?

the deaf because we do not hear the words of God spoken in our daily life?

the mute because we close ourselves off to life-giving gifts that our poured daily into our lives?

I look at my own Advent path and know that I can easily let obstacles weigh me down from entering in. I know that I can be afraid that I won’t get it all done or I’m not doing it correctly or I am not skilled enough to be on the path (which is a total lie – we are all called to the path no matter what and can each offer who we are). I ponder if I put up my own blinders up so that I do not see those around me who need some light shed on their path. I wonder how often I limit myself because it is safer than embracing how the Spirit is at work in me. My own Advent path has called me to be attentive to others, to listen to them and how God is speaking through them (like God always has through those around us), yet I seem to stuff my ears full so I can’t hear what I need to hear. And finally I wonder if I let myself be mute instead of sharing a kind word, forgiving a hurt or being supportive.

 

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut in our path. Sometimes we let the pressures of society guide our Advent journey. Sometimes we have a blowout and are left stranded on the side of the road wondering what to do next. Sometimes we forget that we are journeying to the One who strengthens the weak, makes firm the feeble, gives courage to the fearful, opens the eyes of the blind, makes the lame leap, makes the deaf to hear and the mute to sing (see the above Isaiah quote).

Yes it is he, Emmanuel who comes to us and does not leave us on the path but rather draws us to himself and invites to embrace the good news of our salvation.

 

Where are we on our Advent path?

Who is traveling with us?

How are we traveling?

What do we need to let go of so we can make the rest of the journey (approximately 12 days)?

Who do we see around us on the path?

Who needs us to bring hope to them so they can make it to the crib? Who is weak, afraid, blind, lame or deaf this season and needs us to walk with them (remember we are not alone)?

Like John the Baptist, we must hear that Jesus is indeed the One who gives sight, makes the lame walk, cleanses the leper, makes the deaf hear and proclaims good news to the poor (Matthew 11.2-11). We must let Christ enter into the journey with us so we indeed may find him at the crib and in our hearts.

Think of Mary and Joseph, that is exactly what they did. They let Christ enter their journey and hearts well before they held him as their son, and they let his light guide their saying ‘yes’ and to journeying with them to the Bethlehem stall. They choose not to remain in darkness, we are offered the same on this Advent journey.

What step do we need to make next?

What is holding us back?

Where is the light being shed on our path?

We have nothing to fear, for God is with us and says, “Be strong and do not fear.”

We are called to walk in the light and the light grows brighter by the week (3 candles now aglow on the Advent wreath).

Let us continue to tread the Advent path together, for we all desire to make it the crib. Some of us may need a bit more support (let us be aware of those around us), but together is the best way to journey to Christmas.

Continued Blessings of hope, peace, joy and love

as we journey to the light of the crib,

the light of the world:

Christ Jesus - Emmanuel!

 

 

 

Advent Backpack

The Advent shoes now has me thinking about an Advent Backpack or Saddlebag. The journey for Advent must be light as the journey is a short one, we must not pack too many items or it will just add clutter to the purpose of the journey.

When I was ministering as a Youth Minister there was a prayer we used to lead with the youth called Prayer in a Backpack. The prayer has been crossing my mind over the past few days. Now that we are in Week 2 of Advent, and we got the right pair of shoes on (or we have changed them a few times), I think we should look in our Advent Backpacks.

In our Advent Backpack/Saddlebag we carry a:

Map – Lord, help us on this Advent journey to be open to the path you are calling us to instead of us always telling where we want to go.

Mirror – Lord, help us to look at each person we encounter in the hustle and bustle and see you and the light they offer.

Cash – Lord, help us as we go about our shopping for the perfect gift to realize that the things of real value in life are not measured by how much they cost.

Ball of String – Lord, help us to set aside any grudges or petty jealousies that tangle up our hearts and steal joy from us this season. Show us that you are the tie that binds.

Scissors – Lord, help us to reflect on the ways we act and things we say so that we may cut out our bad habits and dependencies and depend only on you.

MP3 player – Lord, help us to tune into you and tune out the distractions that try and rob from us the gift of this holy season.

Jewelry – Lord, help us to remember generosity this Advent, keep us from wanting more and more and putting things before people.

Watch – Lord, help us to slow down and walk this Advent path with purpose and meaning. Teach us to value the time we have with loved ones and friends, enjoying the moments of the season and to make time for you. Yes Lord, to make time for you and with you this season is key to the journey.

 

There it is... our backpack is not too full and it’s fairly light. May these hand little items remind us to stay focused on Emmanuel as we journey towards Christmas. May Mary and Joseph (fellow travellers who were open to where the path may lead) inspire us on the rest of this Advent journey.

 

Continued Blessings of hope, peace, joy and love

as we journey to the light of the crib,

the light of the world:

Christ Jesus - Emmanuel!

 

 

 

 

*Prayer in a Backpack item ideas from Pathways to Prayer Booklet

 

 

Advent Shoes

I've been thinking about shoes, all shapes and sizes, new and worn, too tight and comfortable. Not that I’m going to be buying a new pair any time soon, but shoes ultimately has me thinking about this Season we call Advent. This season of journey, of many paths, of tried and true, of new and uncertain. Each year as we begin this time of Advent the path is ours to tread, we know where we are going, we know we are walking or running or dragging or limping our way to the crib. That is the beautiful thing about Advent it doesn’t matter what path we take or what shoes we wear we end up at the crib of Christ.

 

New (and sometimes too tight) shoes – remind us that this season will have new paths for us to travel. Maybe that is prayer, or a way we will serve, maybe it is a moment of reconciliation, or an encounter with someone. Maybe it will be a newness as we begin the season, to embrace new ways to pray; or keep Advent promises that we have never been able to or new ways to prepare for Christmas that will not just prepare our homes but also the home of our heart. New shoes need breaking in, new shoes need to be worn every day for a certain amount of time so we can walk the distance.

 

Worn (and comfortable) shoes – remind us of tried and true practices for this Advent Season. Maybe that is familiar prayers we look forward to each season, maybe it is the comfort of hymns and carols for the season, or maybe it is the Advent wreath being lit each week. Worn shoes remind us that we are part of a bigger picture, we are part of community, and we do not travel this path alone. We journey towards Christmas with great prophets, with wise women, with angels, with common folk, with children, with neighbours and with hope. We do not walk alone.

In the letter to the Romans we read, “Salvation is nearer to us now… let us put on the armour of light, let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13.11-14)

Yes! Let us put on the armour of light this season and let us begin with our shoes! Whatever shoes we choose; whatever path to the crib we walk; we must remember that we are armoured in light: a light that is Christ Jesus, who is strength for the journey, and truly our salvation who draws near during these holy days of Advent.

Advent – check!

Shoes – check!

Path – To Be Determined!

Christmas – Our Destination!

 

 

 

Blessings of hope, peace, joy and love

as we journey these four full weeks

to the light of the crib, the light of the world:

Christ Jesus - Emmanuel!

Christ the King: Forgiveness, Rememberance, In Truth

Luke 23.33-46

³³When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^* there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’^* And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^* of God, his chosen one!’ ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ ³⁸There was also an inscription over him,^* ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^* him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah?^* Save yourself and us!’ ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ ⁴²Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into^* your kingdom.’ ⁴³He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^* until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵while the sun’s light failed;^* and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.

Father forgive them:

For the suffering they cause,
For the hate they fester,
For the torment they induce.

Father forgive us:

For the pain we cause,
For the actions and words we fail that divide,
For the selfishness we let guide us.

Father forgive me:

For the times I don’t see you at work in my life,
For the ways I complain and judge,
For the pride that is sinful.

Father forgive me:

For the ways in which I don’t include others,
For the lack of respect and reverence that can arise in me,
For the times I hold grudges and don’t forgive.

Father forgive them, forgive us, forgive me.

Jesus remember me:

When I am trapped in my sinful ways,
When I do not love as I should,
When I do not walk in your light.

Jesus remember me:

When fears seem great,
When my trust in you is tested,
When my uncertainty consumes me.

Jesus remember me:

When tears fill my eyes,
When laughter echoes out of me,
When peace settles in my heart.

Jesus remember me:

When I serve in your name,
When I extend a helping hand,
When I express your love.

Jesus remember me:

For I am yours,
For I live and move and be in you,
For I rely on the grace of your cross and resurrection.

Jesus remember them, remember us,

remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Truly I tell you:

You are loved,
You are precious,
You are mine.

Truly I tell you:

You are loved,
You are forgiven,
You are holy.

Truly I tell you:

You are loved,
You are a gift,
You are with me.

Truly I tell you:

I walk with you,
I know your hurts and pains,
I know your joys and hopes.

Truly I tell you:

I lived for everyone,
I died for your freedom,
I live still for love is stronger than death.

Truly I tell you today, tomorrow and always I am with you

and one day you will be with me in paradise.

Christ the King reign in our lives.

Christ the King reign in our heart.

Christ the King reign in our communities.

Amen.

 

Blessed Are They

Last week on All Saints Day, Pope Francis provided six new beatitudes for the modern era. They do not replace the eight beatitudes that Jesus preached, in fact I believe they help us to understand and live out the original eight with more honesty and grasping the message of Jesus for our day and age.

They have struck me as I have read them over the past week, they have sat on the top of my pile on my desk and I keep coming back to them. Maybe it is because I see the challenge in them, maybe it is because the beatitudes are good guides for our lives, and maybe it is because I’m trying to embrace how I am called to live out my part of God’s story.

What follows are Pope Francis’ beatitudes and my brief reflections on each.

Blessed are those who remain faithful while enduring evils inflicted on them by others and forgive them from their heart.

Forgiveness such a powerful gift and one we deny ourselves and others so often. It is not easy to remain faithful when we feel surrounded by easy options, enticing lies and what can sometimes be the cruelty of humanity. Choosing to stay grounded in Christ is a daily choice, choosing to embrace love and forgiveness leads to the fullness of life not an illusion of life that society offers. Remaining faithful may not always feel or be convenient but it keeps us connected to our true source.   How do we remain faithful and how often do we offer forgiveness?

Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalized and show them their closeness.

The challenge to be brother and sister with those who are hurting, those different from us, those who have made different choices from us, those trying to embrace the freedoms we enjoy, it is easy to stay in our comfort zones and to look the other way. The greater challenge is to be close to them, to journey with them. Jesus did that with the poor, the neglected, the sick, and the widowed. St. Francis did that with the lepers and his brothers. It is a challenge but one that leads to blessings. These are all our brothers and sisters, all of humanity. How do we look into their eyes?

Blessed are those who see God in every person and strive to make others also discover him.

Seeing God in my brother, my sister, and my neighbour maybe a bit easier to do, seeing God in the homeless, the drug addict, and the bully is a lot harder. This beatitude flows from the previous one and challenges us to see God in every situation and by our actions and words make God’s kingdom known. The love of God is meant to be share (we know this), the challenge of this beatitude is to actually do it with those we live with, work with and those who need to be loved. How do we see God in those we love and those we find hard to love?

Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home.

This is the only home we have. We seem to forget that a lot of times; we use it, hurt and destroy it for our conveniences. When God created humanity and said subdue the earth, God did not mean use it until it can’t be used any more. God asked us to be in partnership with creation, to bring it to fullness of life and to ensure it is here for generation upon generation. In this time of environmental crisis we have to ask ourselves what are we doing to ensure our sister, Mother Earth is cared for, protected and blessed?

Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others.

Yes the luxuries of life, we all have them and we all want them. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings of life, we however need to share these blessings and not live beyond our means, so others may live. Not always easy, even for us in religious life. We can get too comfortable and forget about helping others. This beatitude goes hand in hand with seeing God in every person. It has to be beyond ourselves and our own comforts, we must be able to see and enter into the journey of those around us. How do we live within our means and share our blessings?

Blessed are those who pray and work for full communion between Christians.

The challenge of Jesus, ‘that all may be one’. Christians all profess the same Jesus. We sometimes seem to forget this and think that our Jesus is different or better than their Jesus. Really? It is the same Jesus who lived, preached, died on cross and rose from the dead. He didn’t do this over and over again for that denomination or this one; He did it once for all and asked us to live our lives in reflection of him. Can we continue to pray for healing in the Christian family? Can we work harder for unity with our brothers and sisters in Jesus?

All these are messengers of God’s mercy and tenderness; surely they will receive from him their merited reward.

I need to remind myself that my reward is not here and now; no, my reward is when I am face to face with Jesus and filled completely with Him. Until then I continue to strive to live as a beloved Child of God, a Brother of Jesus and allow the Spirit to live and move and be in me. I pray that we all can do this. Let us together be people of the gospel and live with attitudes of being, forgiveness, care, generosity, solidarity, respect, love and mercy. The reward has to be out of this world!

Words of Wisdom

November 1 – All Saints Day – as you know one of my most favorite days of the year. If I could do it up like Christmas or Easter I would. I guess in the past I have (memories of Saints Suppers and school celebrations and Masses flood my mind every year) however now as a student Friar, the celebration of the day is simple but I still try and add a bit of gusto where I can (and believe me there are ways!). This day reminds us of our call to holiness, our call to radiate Christ, our call to be humble servants continually showing forth the love of God.

As St. Bernard, the Abbot said:

Calling the Saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us above all else, a longing to enjoy their company. When we commemorate the Saints we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us.

His words are a beautiful description and challenge of why we celebrate All Saints and All Souls Day; why we call to mind the Saints of the Church, and those known to us, why we remember our deceased relatives and friends and why we open ourselves to walk in the hope of Christ.

This past Sunday the Old Testament reading was from the Book of Wisdom. I was struck by the selected verses. Even though I have heard them before, this time they leapt off the page. I beleive they are gift for us striving to be Saints each day, in hundreds of situations and in all types of encounters.

Wisdom 11.22-12-2 says:

The whole world before you is like a speck that tips the scales,

and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.

But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things,

and you overlook people’s sins, so that they may repent.

Lord, you love all things that exist,

and detest none of the things that you have made,

for you would not have made anything if you had hated it.

How would anything have endured if you had not willed it?

Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved?

You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living.

For your immortal spirit is in all things.

Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,

and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,

so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.

The italicized phrases are the ones that seemed to jump off the page a bit more and into my heart.

The beautiful reminder that all is God’s – everything – all of creation and we are part of that gift, called to cultivate a culture of life and love and mercy.

The gift of God’s deep mercy, forgiveness and God’s love being greater than our weakness. Intrinsically woven into our DNA, our very fiber and all of creation. We can never tire of this gift. I know I am grateful for it each day.

The freedom that is ours in being a Child of God, a living Saint and the only requirement is to trust in God. Not always easy but always present to us. The more I come to grasp trusting in God the more I come to see how God tips the scales of his abundant love for us each day.

So yes… let us embrace being a Saint today in our world and let the words of St. Bernard and the Book of Wisdom strength our inherent holiness which is of God.

Together let us sing the Resurrection Song with all the Saints in Glory!

All Holy Men, Women, Teens & Children, pray for us!