Advent through Christmas -- 2007

You are asked to give four to six of those 1,440 minutes each day to read this thread. Thus, giving you an opportunity to pray every day during Advent and Christmas

People who pray regularly will tell you that it works best if you do it at a set time every day. The main thing is to make it part of your schedule, not something you try to squeeze in whenever. It can vary at times, but you need a basic pattern. You can’t simply say, “I’ll do it when I get a chance.

The first posts for each day will vary in topics. The second post for each day will ask you to reflect on a passage from Scripture.

Wednesday, December 5, First Week in Advent

Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-37

Jesus came to reshape human society and create a new order in the world – the reign of God. These miraculous healings are signs of what Jesus came to accomplish.

Jesus isn’t showing off his power. Nor is he scrambling to go around and heal every sick person in the world. He is preaching through signs that show what the reign of God is like. He is showing us the future and calling us to be part of bringing it about.

Even though we can’t perform miracles, we can join in the Lord’s work through acts of kindness, forgiveness, peace. These signs change the world (and us) for the better, and help reveal the reign of God..

Christmas is less than three weeks away. There is a spirit of friendship in the air that actually makes it easier to reach out to others. No one would think us strange if out of the blue we “miraculously” touched another person’s life with a simple note, a Christmas card, a phone call, a visit, a kind gift, a word asking forgiveness…a word giving forgiveness.

It’s in the air, there for the asking.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Joyce Kilmer

Thursday, December 6, First Week in Advent

Bork in New Jersey on this date in 1886, Joyce Kilmer graduated from Columbia University. A writer and editor, he worked as an editor on Funk and Wagnall’s Dictionary, was literary editor of the Anglican newspaper, The Churchmen, and a feature writer at The New York Times.

In 1913, Kilmer converted to Catholicism and today is considered a major Catholic poet. His deep religious beliefs can be seen in his poem, "Prayer of a Soldier in France.” Perhaps his best known work is his poem, “Trees” (“I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree…”)

In 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. As a married man with children, Kilmer did not have to enlist…but he did. With the assistance of legendary chaplain, Fr. Francis Duffy, Kilmer transferred to the 165th Infantry (Once called the Fighting 69th, a primarily Catholic regiment from New York City.)

As a member of the intelligence staff, Kilmer was protected from the front lines, but the young man would not be kept out of action.

On July 30, 1918, the 31 year old Kilmer was killed by a sniper’s bullet. He is buried in France

* * * * * *

Actor Jeffrey Lynn portrayer Kilmer in the 1940 film, “The Fighting 69th. in which veteran actor Pat O’Brien played Father Duffy.

Today is the Memorial of St. Nicholas

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Thursday, December 6, First Week in Advent

Jesus said, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted his house. But it did not collapse. It had been set solidly on rock. Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Jesus says that if we take to heart his words and make them the basis of our actions, our lives are built on a rock solid foundation.

This raises some questions. First have I built a set of convictions that I try to live by? (These would be comparable to the house in the parable above.) Or, do I more or less operate of a vague desire to do right?

If I do have convictions, then another questions is this: What are they based on? The “rock” of God’s word? Or the sifting sands of what seems generally acceptable to our society.

When the rain and floods and winds come into my life – and they do – I need solid footings. As a disciple of the Lord, I commit myself to more than following the Gospel whenever possible, regardless of the convenience to me.

Just for starters…Do I forgive when I feel like it, or do I have a conviction based on the “solid rock” of what Jesus taught about forgiveness? Or, prayer. Do I pray, “when I get a chance,” or do I have a rock solid pattern of prayer?

I need to spend some time taking stock of the foundations on which I have built my life.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Day of the Candles

Friday, December 7, First Week in Advent

In Columbia, South America, Dia de las Velitas (the Day of the Candles) is celebrated today, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

The festivities date back to the mid-1850s when Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception to be a dogma of the Catholic Church.

To show their support, the people lit candles and paper lanterns and placed them in their windows. balconies and public squares, etc.

The day also officially begins Columbia’s Christmas season.

* * * * * *

In Columbia, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is a public holiday.

Today is the Memorial of St. Ambrose, the first Doctor of the Catholic Church.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Immaculate Conception

Saturday, December 8, First Week in Advent

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, often mistakenly thought to refer of the way Mary conceived Jesus in her womb. But immaculate conception means that what a person receives at Baptism, Mary had from her conception. From the moment of her conception, she was free from sin – immaculate.

* * * * * *

Thirteenth century Franciscan theologian and philosopher Blessed John Duns (usually known as John Duns Scotus because he was born in Scotland) is sometimes referred to as a “Marian Doctor.” That’s because he is credited with establishing the theological foundation for the then controversial doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.

* * * * * *

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated in England as early as the 12th century and in the 18th century was made a feast of the whole Church. In 1846, the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore made this the patronal Feast of the Church in the United States. In 1854, after consultation with the bishops of the world and with theologians, Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception to be a dogma of the Church.

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Both the Gloria and the Creed are said or sung during a Mass of Solemnity.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Saturday, December 8, First Week in Advent

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. Luke:1:26-38

Do you think Mary, just before the Annunciation, had a sense that she was specially blessed by God?

It is our teaching that Mary was free from sin from the very moment of her conception. We also teach that she was “full of grace” and that she was perfectly sinless.

Do you think Mary knew this or had a sense of this?

There are legends about Mary that would have us believe that she must have known.

And what about me? Do I have a sense that God has been especially at work within me, blessing me with special gifts from my early years?

After all, I was baptized and confirmed. God cleansed me of sin, poured the Holy Spirit into my inmost soul. Jesus called me by name to be his disciple. I have received Jesus himself time and time again in the Eucharist. I have joined with him in going to the Father and giving myself completely to God.

There are very unusual special works of God in me. I have been specially blessed by God, but I don’t always think of it that way. Perhaps I have a hard time believing it.

Believe it and live it!

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

”God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him.” ~Opening Prayer at Mass today.

Sunday, December 9, Second Week in Advent

The annual Retirement Fund collection for Religious is taken up this weekend.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Sunday, December 9, Second Week in Advent

What Does the Lord Ask?

We all want to “re-form” ourselves from time to time.

New Year’s Resolutions are an example of our desire to change. Advent is also a time when we thing about reform – it’s the beginning of a new Church year, and we’re coming upon the end of another calendar year.

We usually try to reform ourselves by using our own resources…like a self-help program.

In a way, John the Baptist preached that kind of reform. He spoke forcefully about the need for reform…and then people had to figure out how to do it.

But the reform Jesus talks about is never based on our own initiative or our own resources. We turn to Jesus – not to our own self-help plan.

For starters, I need to turn to the Lord to find out what I should reform. My own list can be a fairly stock one, and fairly superficial: lose weight, stop smoking, cut down on my drinking, etc. Maybe I should do those things, but maybe that isn’t where I should start.

What would happen if I turned to the Lord first and asked, “Lord what is it you want me to change in my life? It might be something I haven’t thought about.

I don’t know what the Lord would say, but I do know that I ought to give the Lord a chance to say it.

Advent isn’t a self-help program. It’s a time when we try to open ourselves more fully to the Lord.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Monday, December 10, Second Week in Advent

Adeste Fidelis

Although occasionally attributed to St. Bonacenture, the popular Christmas hymn, “Adeste Fidelis” (“O, Come, All Ye Faithful”) was actually written by a Catholic layman who lived in England.

John Francis Wade (c.1711-1780) was a musician who made his living copying and teaching music. At age 32, he composed the music and words for “Adeste Fidelis.”

When Catholics were persecuted during the Jacobean rebellion, Wade fled to France were he died at age 75.

* * * * * *

This hymn was often used at Benediction and at Christmas time in France and England.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Monday, December 10, Second Week in Advent

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 he saw their faith he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:17-26

You know the rest of the story. The scribes and Pharisees think that, when Jesus says “your sins are forgiven,” he is committing blasphemy. After all, only God can forgive sins.

Jesus asks them, “Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Rise and walk?”

Think about it. Which is easier? Don’t answer too quickly.

It’s easier to say, “your sins are forgiven,” because no one can tell if they are forgiven. The harder thing to say is, “rise and walk,” because the result (or lack of result) is easily seen.

So, as a sign that he “has power on earth to forgive sins,” Jesus says to the paralytic: “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

Which is exactly what the paralytic does.

Jesus can forgive sins. Case closed.

But will he forgive my sins?

Ask him.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Tuesday, December 11, Second Week in Advent

The Wassail Bowl

The word “wassail” comes from Old Norse “vas heil” – a toast meaning “good health.”

The wassail bowl was a wooden bowl into which people dipped their cups for a beverage in preparation for a toast on ceremonial occasions.

At Christmas, the poor in England would “go wassailing,” which meant dancing and singing in the neighborhood streets, hoping that householders would give them a warm drink from their wassail bowl

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Tuesday, December 11, Second Week in Advent

Jesus said to his disciples, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the 99 in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it…he rejoices more over it than over the 99 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. Matthew 18:12-14-26

Luke’s version of theis parable is better known because it is read on Sundays. We call it the “parable of the lost sheep.”

But Matthew uses the word “stray” instead of “lost” (“stray” appears three times in this passage.) Getting “lost” often means accidentally losing the way. To “stray” can imply deliberately roving from the course we know is right.

When we sin, we probably see ourselves more in the “stray” category – deliberately leaving the right path. We can identify with the words ascribed to St. Paul

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patientce. (1Tim 1:15-18)

We have to be sure to take in the whole first sentence of the quote: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The first thing the Lord says to a sinner isn’t “Why did you stray?” The first thing he says is simply, “I came into the world for you.”

Our celebration of Christmas isn’t simply that Christ came into the world. It’s that he came into the world…for sinners.

For me.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Wednesday, December 12, Second Week in Advent

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

On December 9, 1511 (10 years after the Spanish conquests), Mary appeared to a native Aztec name Juan Diego along a country trail near present day Mexico City. The striking thing was that Mary’s features and clothing were Aztec, and she spoke to him in that language. Mary instructed Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site to replace a pagan shrine.

Juan’s efforts to convince the bishop failed. Finally, in her third appearance to Juan, Mary told him to take nearby roses (unusual at that time of year) as a sign. Juan put some in his cloak. When he came to the bishop and unfolded the cloak, imprinted on it was the painting of Mary that has since become famous.

Juan Diego’s cloak now hangs in the huge church of Our Lady of Guadalupe built on that site. After nearly 500 years, the picture on the cloak shows no sign of deterioration and artists have been unable to duplicate the combination of materials used in the paint.

* * * * * *

The feast of St. Juan Diego is celebrated on December 9.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Wednesday, December 12, Second Week in Advent

And coming to her, Gabriel said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But Mary was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:26-38

There are lots of different ways to pray. One way is to try to put yourself inside the person who is part of your prayer. We try to picture many of the things that aren’t described in the Gospel passage.

Mary Lived up in Nazareth, a three days walk north of Jerusalem. Nazareth back then was a small town up on a hill. Maybe 120 people lived there. They didn’t have any big buildings; they didn’t have any rich industry.

There came a day when Mary (like good Jewish people would do) went with her mother and father on a big trip to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. There, Mary saw great big buildings and the temple. People were dressed so well. And the food and clothes and stores and riches!

That’s when Mary realized she was from a small town. She wasn’t one of the important people in the world. That’s when she realized she had an accent, Mary learned that.

On the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we remember when Mary appeared to Juan Diego. She spoke with his accent, she spoke in his language. She dressed in his native clothing, and she looked like Juan Diego and his people.

Not only does Mary care about me as one of her own, but Jesus grew up that way. He knows what it’s like sometimes to feel small.

He understands.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Thursday, December 13, Second Week in Advent

“High Flight”

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earh
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.

John Gillespie Magee was born in 1922 in Shanghai. His father was a U. S. citizen and his mother was British. They were serving as missionaries in China.

In 1939, John won a scholarship to Yale. However, after completing his freshman year there, he wanted to do his part to resist the Nazi threat. In 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, was trained as a pilot, and in 1941 was sent for combat duty in England.

During a flight one day in late summer, he scribbled “High Flight” on the back of an envelope, and later sent a copy to his parents.

On December 11, 1941, his Spitfire collided with another plane and the 19-year old pilot crashed to his death. He was buried two days later.

“And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.”

We are approaching the halfway mark of Advent. Take an internal look at your Advent and Christmas plans. How are you progressing?

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Thursday, December 13, Second Week in Advent

Jesus said. “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.” Matthew 11:11-15

Jesus talks about John the Baptist. But John isn’t there to hear him because, at the moment he is in Herod’s prison.

John’s crime was to criticize Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. John will pay the full price for this when, late one night, an executioner is sent from Herod’s birthday banquet to cut off John’s head.

There have been many prophets in Israel’s history. Jesus says that John is the greatest of all because he was privileged to see the fulfillment of what the prophets had proclaimed – the Kingdom of God present in a new way in Jesus.

We live in the time after Jesus – the final stages of God’s plan. It may be a long stage (perhaps millions of years,) but it is the final stage. We need to remind ourselves of how different creation is because Jesus is now part of it.

All that remains is for the human race gradually to live the way we were created to live – in peace, love, forgiveness. That’s how the kingdom of God comes about. (That’s also why it might take a few million years.)

So…because of the coming of Christ, the reign of God is present in a new way, and I am to help make it more present. That has some implications for the way I live my life today.

What are those implications for me?

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Friday, December 14, Second Week in Advent

Christmas Cards

The custom of sending Christmas cards began in England in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole sent some cards to friends at Christmastime. These were not like today’s cards with Christmas or winter scenes. They depicted good deeds such as giving food and clothing to those in need.

* * * * * *

The first American cards were made in 1875 by Louis Prang, a German-born painter. These were more along the lines of the kind in use today. He helped popularize cards by holding contests each year for the best designs.

* * * * * *

Which is more important – the picture on the card, or the text inside? According to Hallmark, it isn’t even a close call. It’s the text by a mile.

* * * * * *

Speaking of miles, in the United States, over 2 billion Christmas cards are sent each year. To put in perspective…if average-sized cards were place side by side, they would stretch around the world six times.

We are approaching the halfway mark of Advent. Take an internal look at your Advent and Christmas plans. How are you progressing?

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