There is a Longing

Well, here we are already...the 4th Sunday of Advent has arrived!  Have you finished your Christmas shopping & wrapped all the presents, baked your holiday delectables, mailed your Christmas greeting cards, decorated your home to rival any display of Martha Stewart's? If you're like most people, you probably answered that you're nowhere near being finished. But you know what? That's perfectly fine because none of those items are important in the grand scheme of things.  The bigger & most important question to be answered is, "Have you prepared your heart to receive Jesus on Christmas Day?" After all, without Jesus' humble birth in a stable over 2000 years ago, none of the other things above would have any significant meaning! Today's Gospel tells us that Mary, upon being told that she would bring our Savior into the world, set off in haste to her cousin, Elizabeth. Advanced in age, Elizabeth was experiencing a miraculous pregnancy, foretold by...

At least once a year, for as long as I can remember, my Dad has read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. There are some years he's read it two or three times. While I've only read it a couple of times, I have seen numerous movie versions, some much better than others! It is definitely a classic story that stands the test of time & has touched many hearts. I think I'll read it again this year!  Most everyone is familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by four ghosts. One is his deceased partner, who warns him that he will be visited that night by three others who will show him his past, present, & future. Following is part the essay Olivia wrote for her book analysis during her freshman year of high school. The bolded sentence in the last paragraph really stood out to me. That year, I printed it on a sheet of cardstock with an image of Scrooge & the ghost, framed it, & gave it to my dad for Christmas.  ********** English 9 B...

Welcome to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday! Time to light that rose candle in the Advent wreath. Gaudete is a Latin word which means, "Rejoice" & on this today, we are called to rejoice in the hope our Lord brings for us. We rejoice that God loved us so much that He sent His only Song to redeem us from Original Sin. We rejoice that Mary said yes to God's call to carry & give birth to His Son. We rejoice in anticipation of Jesus' humble birth. Our readings today encourage us to rejoice in all circumstances, no matter what they may be. We, who trust & hope in our Lord, know that He has an amazing plan for each of our lives & even in times of trial & tribulation, He is there working for & with us.  The 1st reading from Zephaniah tells us, "The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love...."  Paul's Letter to the Philippians in the 2nd re...

In the Catholic Church, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8th. This year, because the 8th fell on a Sunday, the celebration was transferred to Monday the 9th. There are many over the years who have misunderstand this Solemnity  (myself included)  & mistakenly believe it is about Jesus' conception. However, it actually refers to Mary. From Her conception & birth, without the stain of Original Sin, God kept Her pure, undefiled, & full of grace. She was prepared to receive Jesus into Her womb, to bring the Divine into Human form, thus enabling Jesus to carry out His mission to save our souls for our eternal reward in Heaven.  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. (Luke 1:26-38) Mary is the sacred vessel delivering Jesus to all humanity. In Her "Yes" , She has become the example we should follow. Like ...

Welcome to the 2nd Sunday of Advent where our focus this week is Peace . While our Gospel today doesn’t use the word, it does conjure up a sense of peace in John the Baptist’s cry, quoting the prophet, Isaiah… “Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” We are asked to prepare the way in our hearts & homes for the coming of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. The daily readings over the past week have come from the Book of the Prophet, Isaiah, focusing on Jesus’ coming. We can find peace in these readings, knowing that whatever trials we may face in this life, there IS peace in Christ. We can use this Advent season to prepare our hearts & homes for His arrival on Christmas Day & His eventual 2nd Coming.  Sadly, there are many who do not feel this sense of peace & struggle to find contentment in their daily lives. ...

“...nations will be in dismay”, “People will die of fright”, “...powers of the heavens will be shaken”. One might wonder how a season in anticipation of our Savior’s birth can start off with such an ominous tone. This prediction of the fate of the world & the human race doesn’t make one feel hopeful & joyous. It doesn’t call to mind the pleasure of exchanging presents & cards, baking cookies, singing carols, decorating the tree, or any of those fun Christmas activities. Nor should it! We are beginning the season of Advent, NOT Christmas…much as secular society would have us believe. Advent is a time of waiting & preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. According to the Oxford Languages English Dictionary online, vigilance is “the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties” , coming from the Latin word, vigilare, which means “to keep awake ”. Carousing, drunkenness, & daily anxieties are some actions Luke lists which can be dange...

     Priests, deacons, religious, catechists, parents, and all others who will in some way preach today’s Gospel have a special privilege. To proclaim the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a great honor, for that is what we will be doing for all of eternity in Heaven. Adoring, praising, and worshiping our Triune God. What greater joy than to begin this occupation now, if only in part?      Christ’s Kingdom does not belong to this world. But we are very much in the world, aren’t we? For this reason, He reveals His purpose for coming into the world: to testify to the Truth. This Truth is veiled to us here, but through the gift of faith, we accept it and place our hope and trust in His promises. Faith may not remove this veil, but it assures us of what lies behind it and teaches us how to prepare ourselves for when it is removed.        To some it may seem foolish to follow a king who hides himself. But through faith we k...

“There is no doubt—in the parable or the painting—about the father’s heart. His heart goes out to both of his sons; he loves them both; he hopes to see them together as brothers around the same table; he wants them to experience that, different as they are, they belong to the same household and are children of the same father.” (pg. 105) Isn’t that just like our Heavenly Father? God loves all of us equally. He knew all about us before we were even born, because He chose each of us. He wants us to love one another, no matter how different we are. We belong to the same Heavenly household; we are brothers & sisters – children of God. Nouwen sums up the entire painting in one sentence: “It is the human expression of divine compassion.” (pg. 92) Back in 2006 & 2007, I had been going through a period of spiritual growth. I’m a “Cradle Catholic” & have gone to church all my life. I went through CCD & did everything that was expected of me. Even in college, when many young adul...

There is a discrepancy between the Parable of the Prodigal Son & Rembrandt’s painting. In the painting, the elder son is present upon the younger son’s return. This seems to be Rembrandt’s holding to the spiritual battle & the choice the elder son has – to choose for or against his father’s love. Rembrandt had chosen to represent the father & younger son in light, while the elder son is shadowed except for his face. “As I look at the lighted face of the elder son, and then at his darkened hands, I sense not only his captivity, but also the possibility of liberation. This is not a story that separates the two brothers into the good and the evil one. The father only is good. He loves both sons. He runs out to meet both. He wants both to sit at his table and participate in his joy.… [God’s] love does not force itself on the beloved. Although he wants to heal us of all our inner darkness, we are still free to make our own choice to stay in the darkness or to step into the light...

Both of us are avid readers. There are many wonderful books out there that have helped us in our Faith journey & we thought we'd like to start a series featuring some of our favorites. This first one will be in three parts. I first read it in 2007. I was struggling in my Faith & a dear friend lent me a stack of books she thought might help me. This review (edited slightly) was initially written & shared on my blog at that time.  *************** The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen  Many years ago, Nouwen came across Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son . He was captivated & spent many years studying it. This book is in three parts, compiling his thoughts from the perspective of the Prodigal Son, the Elder Son, & the Father.  After I finished reading Part One, two ideas specifically jumped out at me. 1) The Prodigal Son's asking for his inheritance is much more than just wanting to go his own way. It is a rejection of his...

    As we near the end of the liturgical year, the readings we hear at Mass have an eschatological focus [fancy word for “pertaining to the end times, death, judgment, etc.”].  As Christians, it is extremely beneficial to regularly ponder these realities.  We’re reminded that we were made for so much more than what the world has to offer us; we’re reminded of Who created us, why He created us, and of the immense love with which we were created.  Recalling who we are and Who God is opens an avenue for us in growing to love Him more.  Then we find that life gets easier.  Not because our problems go away, but because we can lay claim to hope in His promises.       The Gospel reading today takes a slightly darker tone, which is also important.  It’s too easy for us to make light of Truth.  When we don’t take it seriously, we can fall into relativizing Truth with what we might feel or perceive.  But Tru...

  Today’s Gospel is powerfully applicable to our present day lives and serves as a call to reflect on our relationship with Christ and His Church.  From the very beginning, we can see a universal temptation to separate our faith from the rest of our lives.  It’s much easier to isolate religion from work, family, and personal life.  It’s easier to give God our surplus.  Do I have an hour to spare this Sunday?  I guess I can go to church…I’ll say a rosary, but first I want to finish this show…Confession?  Maybe next time. If we dig a little deeper, we also spy the temptation to desire control.  We feel the need to have a backup plan, just in case God doesn’t come through, right?  I might not get that promotion, so I can’t donate money right now. I need to save what I have…I’d like to volunteer, but it’s just not the right time…God hasn’t given me an answer, so I’ll do something else The tables are completely turned.  It’s the world t...

Why is the scribe not far from the kingdom of God?  He questions Jesus and understands His answer.  He realizes that love renders greater glory to God than any other religious ritual or practice.  He affirms Jesus’ answer, yet is told that he is not far from the kingdom, which assumes there is still some distance he must go.  We might find our answer in the second reading today: Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away.  We find in our Blessed Lord the perfect mediator between God and man; the perfect example and expression of the love of God.  It is through Jesus Christ that we learn to love with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  If we take Him out of the picture, by what can we measure love?  Without Him, what is love? Perhaps this is what the scribe was missing.  Perhaps this was the distance separating him from the kingdom of God.  Perhaps he did not yet know Jesus.  We can place ...

    Jesus asks us the same question he asked Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel, “(Insert your name here), what do you want me to do for you?” We reply, “Master, I want to see.” Yes, Lord, I desire to see where I can help those in need.  Open my eyes to see the dignity of each individual, regardless of their race, religion, political party, etc.  Show me the beauty you’ve created each day, whether the sky is full of sunshine or covered by a canopy of clouds.  Give me the ability to see the world with the eyes of a child, from the tiny caterpillar on the sidewalk to the majestic trees in the forest.  Help me to see the path you have laid out for me and to trust in You to guide me.   Lord, guide me to see the times in my life where I’ve offended you or my loved ones.  Give me the eyes of forgiveness to look past the bitterness and anger I feel toward those who have hurt me.  Grant me the strength and fortitude to see through this trial I’m endur...

In our humanness, we all aspire to greatness on some level.  Children want to be first in line to reach the playground.  Athletes strive for the win in championship games or the gold medal in the Olympics.  Musicians compete with one another for the honor of first chair within their instrument section.  My examples could go on and on! Here in today’s Gospel, we hear James and John vying for places of honor on either side of Jesus.  Once again, Jesus has to admonish his disciples!  He explains that those seats are not for Him to give and asks if they will be able to drink the cup He will drink and endure the baptism He will face.  They say they can, but still do not comprehend His mission.  He was not to rebel against the kingdoms of Earth and be served by others, but to establish a Heavenly Kingdom and serve mankind through His love and mercy.   Jesus lowered Himself to the point of humility, dying a violent death on the cross so that we...

  Mark 10:17-30 In last week’s bulletin reflection, I wrote about keepsakes and how we take extra care of them because they mean something special to us.  By itself, that’s not a bad thing.  However, when we begin to place unhealthy attachments on those possessions, we become distracted from our true calling…our eternal inheritance.   We see this in today’s Gospel.  This man who approached Jesus already kept the commandments and was looking for anything else that might help him on his path to eternal life.  He probably thought Jesus would give him some extra prayers, studies, or tasks to perform.  However, Jesus’ response was NOT what he was expecting.  “Go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor….”   That task was extremely difficult for him to do.  He had formed an attachment to his belongings, placing love of things over love of God.  What he didn’t realize was that, while he would have to give up all his possessio...

Genesis 2:18-24 & Mark 10:2-16 Both the first reading and the Gospel speak to the sanctity of the bonds of marriage and family.  In the first reading, we hear about God creating Eve to be a suitable partner for Adam.  The two become one flesh, man and woman joined together to not only keep one another company, but to procreate and tend to the land.  In the Gospel, once again those Pharisees are trying to trip up Jesus.  His reply is an admonishment to their hardened hearts, reaffirming that marriage is for one man and one woman and that no human can separate what God has joined.   Unfortunately, we have become a throwaway society.  We overbuy food that ends up spoiled and tossed.  Clothing and furniture tears or breaks and rather than repairing them, we throw them out.  We get rid of things in good condition when the newest model is released (game systems, cell phone).  The same applies even to marriages and friendships.  I have...

On May 17, 2024, four pilgrimage routes began in Mississippi, Connecticut, Wisconsin, & California. The purpose was to cross our nation, presenting Jesus to the people of America, & meeting in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17. Along the way, with Jesus present in the monstrance, the perpetual pilgrims made stops at parishes, schools, & prisons. You can read more about the pilgrimage HERE . About 60,000 people gathered at The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, attend Mass daily, pray together, & listen to great speakers.  Fr. Mike Schmitz, Monsignor James Shea, Bishop Robert Barron, Jonathan Roumie, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Chris Stefanik, & more shared their great love of our Lord & how much of an impact the Eucharist has had in their lives.  Unfortunately , I couldn't make it to Indiana, but I was able to watch many of the speakers live & on YouTube....

Like their ancestors' flight from Egypt, the crowds followed Our Lord and were led to a deserted place.  Now, instead of fleeing from the Egyptians, perhaps they are seeking freedom from their slavery to the Romans.  In Jesus they have found a refuge amidst political turmoil, mistreatment under the Roman hand, and even disunity among their own people. Yet this refuge is found in a deserted place, not in a fortress or barricade, where provisions are stored.   There is no food and the hour grows late.  But what is there to fear?  As He provided manna for the Israelites in the desert, so too does God now provide food for the hungry crowd.  They have followed Jesus, and now He is almost unwilling to let them go! Neither is He willing to let us go.  We are all invited to follow Our Lord into the desert.  We especially keep this in mind during the season of Lent, but it is true throughout the rest of the liturgical year as well.  The desert might s...

After carrying out their first mission, the Apostles gather again with Jesus to give their reports.  They didn’t just witness miracles, they worked them.  Profound teaching they did not receive, but rather they gave it.  We can imagine what wonder they might have felt.  And now Our Lord has a new mission for them: to follow Him into a deserted place.  Quite a contrast from the awe inspiring journey they have just returned from! Perhaps they were a bit annoyed, when arriving at their destination, they found it crowded with people seeking Jesus’ attention.  Especially if they were looking forward to some rest after their labor, we can almost picture them complaining about it and telling Jesus to dismiss the crowds.  But instead, what is His reaction?  His heart was moved with pity for them .   There is no trouble of ours that does not move His heart.  No sorrow, no pain, no suffering, that He does not feel, and in His infinite l...