Do You Really Mean it?

Are good thoughts good enough? Yes, I am thinking about all those ever new “New Year” resolutions. A few years ago, I was the Pastoral Minister at a city parish composed of middle aged parishioners. The Pastor and I where asked by a number of parishioners about the possibility of having a midnight Mass on New Year’s Eve! We talked about it and decided to schedule the New Year’s Eve mass for midnight. Come December 31^st at 11:30 p.m. we waited to welcome the parishioners—we waited and we waited. At 11:45 p.m. two people arrived, a mother and the daughter who cared for her. The rest of the crowd must be coming shortly we thought so we lit the candles. Father vested and we were ready to bring in the New Year. The New Year bells began to ring and oh what a beautiful sound they made. As the bells rang out Father, the mother, the daughter and I gathered around the altar—we were it. The mass was celebrated with all the trimmings minus the collection! It was a great celebration, very peaceful, and reflective. Those who thought it was a good idea but didn’t follow through missed out on a much graced moment.

The following weekend we heard a lot of “we were going to come but…!” Unfortunately, a good idea or thought counts for little if there is no follow through. Perhaps as we approach the New Year we might plan to look a little more at the spiritual side of our lives. We are always so busy—no one, we say, is as busy as we are. Really! Try to spend just five minutes a day in total quiet, come to church early or stay a few minutes after. Perhaps do something to help the environment. Each night before going to sleep think of at least six things you are grateful for. Try to find some positive action and follow through with it.

Let’s make 2016 a year of making this world and ourselves witnesses of God’s Great Love. Pope Francis’s challenge to “Wake up the world was not just for a year—it was for a life time. Blessings to all for 2016! Let’s all be the active influence for good in 2016.

“Let us open the doors of our hearts to Jesus, so that he will accompany us now and through the year that is about to begin”.

Barb Vaughan, CSJ

Ask

It was Christmas Eve.
Snow lay all about –
The night sky dark, black,
yet filled with pinpoints of light.
I was on the steps, on
the threshold of our parish church
Going to Midnight Mass …
I looked up.

Just then, a comet streaked overhead,
its tail long, crossing the heavens,
bright and beautiful.
And in my child-heart,
and to my Child-God,
I gave great Christmas thanks –
“You did it just for me!”
My words deep within.

The following Christmas Eve,
snowy expectations all around,
the night sky darkened –
those everlasting stars
were bound to break through.
Returning to Midnight Mass a year older,
I mounted the same church steps,
again crossing the threshold.
With the heart of a child
and to the God who would be Child,
I asked, “Do it again, just for me!”

A comet, great and true,
streaked-blazed overhead –
tail bright and signing the heavens,
long-laughing-singing awesome.
“Thank you, God!” from the child deep within.
“Thank you for doing it again, for coming
Just for me!”

“Ask and it shall be added unto you.” Jesus

A childhood memory of Fr. Bob Wild as told to Scott Eagan from Vol.68 No.10 publication of RESTORATION
Used with permission
www.madonnahouse.org/restoration

A Spirit of Hospitality

As I reflect on the gospel of the 4^th Sunday of Advent, I think of the warm welcome Elizabeth extended to her cousin Mary who had travelled far while herself pregnant in order to assist her cousin. These days ‘warm welcome’ calls to mind and fills me with gratitude and joy the arrival of the Syrian refugees and how so many individuals and communities and our country are reaching out with a spirit of hospitality. As well, at this time of year people are in the throes of preparing their hearts and homes to welcome others for celebrations.  Advent is a time of welcoming.

Just as the wombs of Mary and Elizabeth protected precious lives so are each of us and all of us called to protect God’s creation.  We have a long way to go but we leap for joy at the agreement reached at the Climate Change meeting in Paris last week. We recall that Elizabeth’s child John leapt with joy at the sound of Mary’s voice which was also good news.

Fr Bill Clarke, SJ said on a recent retreat that Mother Earth never gives up on us, we are all siblings held in the womb of Mother Earth and that everything we needed we had in the womb.

As we approach the end of this Advent season, in these very difficult times, it is good to leap for joy and appreciate the blessings we see all around us. This is indeed good news.

Nancy Sullivan, csj

A Time for Housecleaning

Everywhere we turn these days we are painfully seized by the images of fleeing Syrians and Iraqis searching for a place of safety, security and peace.  Whole families with children, parents and grandparents are filled with fear for their lives as they abandon their warring homelands.  Our times are heart-wrenching!

As we enter this third week of Advent, I ask, "How can we make a difference?"  

We could consider doing some personal "housecleaning".  This idea was meaningful for me when I heard a homilist recently refer to the seasons of Advent and Lent as times of "housecleaning".  In both cases we find ourselves approaching major events in the life of Jesus, his Birth, his Death and Resurrection. During most of the year, we are "housekeeping" but in these weeks of Advent we are invited to be about "housecleaning" so as to be ready and open to receive again Emmanuel dwelling among us.  

How open are we to receive the suffering Christ in the persons of refugees? Imagine the forced "housecleaning" thrust upon these people fleeing their country. What could "housecleaning" look like as we prepare to live this week?  

Presuming that refugees are being anticipated in our environs:

We can pray that all Canadians welcome warmly their arrival.

We can be part of the gathering of resources to address their needs.

We can encourage those around us to open their hearts and their wallets to assist them.

We can accept well, in the spirit of Jesus, whatever the day brings.

Sister Betty Berrigan, csj

www.stillpoint.ca/

“Come among us, Holy One, come …”

Advent/Christmas is the time when we celebrate the coming of the Christ into our world, and Advent specifically recognizes and calls us to an awareness of our need for God’s presence in our lives and our society. John the Baptist and the prophet Baruch both highlight that need. Baruch advises the casting off of sorrow and affliction to put on the beauty of God’s glory and the robe of righteousness; he suggests that we stand upon the heights, not in some hidden obscure corner, but to stand where our voice can be heard. We are assured of God’s invitation to this endeavor with the promise of light and peace.

Righteousness is not a term often used today, but that doesn’t mean it is no longer needed in our world. Righteousness points us in the right direction, smooths the obscurities in a circuitous path and proclaims the right course of action, hence the valleys of greed and prejudice become filled up and the everlasting hills of self-seeking and domination are made low. These smoothed-out ways allow the safe arrival of refugees to our country and the low-income person to receive a just wage. Righteousness is a personal quality found in one who is attentive to God’s ways, who lives in faithfulness and gratitude. Righteousness longs for the well-being of Earth and earthlings. It is found where God dwells and keeps company with truth, justice and compassionate thoughtful action.    

Psalm 26 reminds us of the ongoing deeds of our God accompanied by the call to laughter and peace. Our gratitude brings us in touch with those marvelous deeds. We not only recall the pregnant Mary and Elizabeth, but we are reminded of the wisdom of Francis who inspires us daily with his commitment to the poor and his desire for righteous living on the part of the church.

John’s call resounds today throughout our world, “Prepare God’s ways; make God’s paths straight.” As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, may our hearts and minds be ever open to the challenge of climate change and our response to it. May we seek the ways of compassion and openness as we greet the stranger in our midst. May we allow our hearts and our hands to be quiet as we listen for the calming presence of God’s call in this Advent time: “Come among us, Holy One, come …”

Sister Helen Russell, csj