Thoughts on the End of the Year

 

Another Year Ends

As another year draws to an end, let us pause before the manger and express our gratitude to God for all the signs of his generosity in our life and our history, seen in countless ways through the witness of those people who quietly took a risk. A gratitude that is no sterile nostalgia or empty recollection of an idealized and disembodied past, but a living memory, one that helps to generate personal and communal creativity because we know that God is with us. God is with us. Today the Word of God introduces us in a special way, to the meaning of time, to understand that time is not a reality extrinsic to God, simply because he chose to reveal himself and to save us in history. The meaning of time, temporality, is the atmosphere of God’s epiphany, namely, of the manifestation of God’s mystery and of his concrete love.

—from the book The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections from Pope Francis
by Diane M. Houdek

Thoughts on Boxing Day

This is an edited blog post that was originally written in 2008 and highlighted each year:

Boxing Day

Today is the day after Christmas. It is a day when kids play with their Christmas presents and parents sleep in and relax, if they are lucky enough to not have to go to work. It's also a day when lots of people return Christmas presents to the stores and exchange them for something else. For still others it has become a day to shop for super discounted items as stores continue to make deals to get rid of their Christmas supplies and overstocked items. For this reason, it is now being called Black Friday #2. But on my calendar it says Boxing Day (Canada). Boxing Day? What is Boxing Day and why is it on my calendar? It also says Kwanzaa on my calendar today, but that is a topic for another day. I did a little research and found out that Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain (England), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has it's roots going back to the Middle Ages in England and spread to the previously named countries over time. The name derives from the fact that in the early days, servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but were given the next day off. Their employers would give them gift "boxes" on that day (hence, Boxing Day), to thank them for their services. As time went on, people expanded the tradition to include other service people, like doormen, porters, mail carriers, and the like. I think this is possibly where the tradition of giving someone a tip comes from. Tipping is a good idea for a future blog also. Anyway, for whatever reason Boxing Day has continued on as a holiday in these other Anglo-Saxon countries besides ours. I'm not sure why this tradition did not make it to America (although tipping sure did). So that begs the question. Why is it on my calendar? Is it because all calendars sold in America are also sold in Canada where they celebrate Boxing Day? Or is it because there are plenty of Canadians who now reside in the United States? I'm not sure. Hey wait a minute...some calendars also say St. Stephen. What's that? Now this is really getting confusing. St. Stephen's Day is also an English holiday, and a Catholic Feast Day, marking the day that Saint Stephen was martyred by being stoned to death in Jerusalem in 34 or 35 A.D. This is where we get the line "on the feast of Stephen" from the Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas. If fact, many websites on this topic suggest that St. Stephen's Day was the name of the holiday before it became known as Boxing Day. So there you have it. A history lesson and my thoughts on Boxing Day.

Scott

Thoughts on Christmas

 

A Reflection for Christmas Day

Somehow I realized that songs, music, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying "yes" to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying "yes" to a hope based on God's initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God's work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying... But it is into this broken world that a child is born who is called Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, Savior. Thank you, Lord, that you came independently of my feelings and thoughts. Your heart is greater than mine.

Henri Nouwen

The King of Heaven

 

Thought's on Mary

 

Filled with God’s Grace

Mary knew who she was to the very depth of her being. She said yes to God and because of that, the world was turned upside down, or perhaps was finally righted. Mary’s is her testimony to the way God intended the world to be from the beginning. Because she said yes, a new creation would be revealed to the world. This woman at the heart of the Advent season is a remarkable role model for us. We might not realize it, but we, too, are filled with God’s grace, even if that grace is clouded and obscured by sin. Mary may have been born knowing who she was, but we are given many opportunities to learn the marvelous truth that we are sons and daughters of God. At times, we mistake humility for inferiority, but in truth humility means knowing who we are, with all our strengths and weaknesses, gifts and gaps. Our job is to clear away those things that keep us from saying yes to God. If we focus only on what’s missing, we miss the beauty that’s already there. As we become more and more clear, we better reflect and magnify the Lord who has given us all that we have, made us all that we are (and can be). And here, too, we can learn from Mary. Again and again, the Gospels tell us that she treasured everything in her heart, pondering the meaning of the angel’s words—and later those of her precocious child. She must have spent long days and even sleepless nights wondering where his adult path would lead him. But through all of ponderings, she knew in her heart that she could trust the God to whom she had said yes. How do you show forth the glory of God to those around you? Pray these words with Mary: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:46–47) We’ll never be asked to do what Mary did. Her role in salvation history was unique. But God asks us to have her openness to those things that we are called to do. Take some time even in this hectic week to reflect on your life—past, present, and future—and listen for how God is asking you to make things right in your little corner of the world.

— from the book Simple Gifts: Daily Reflections for Advent  
by Diane M. Houdek

Thoughts on gifts

 

The Gift of Enough

The gifts we give are ultimately about the receiver, not about the giver. How often when we’re giving gifts do we think about how the gift will reflect on us, our great taste, our generosity, our discretionary income? Much of this stems from insecurity, a fear that we’re somehow not enough in ourselves, that what we do and how much we make and the gifts we give bolster our sense of self. But the peril of this approach is that we’re bound to be disappointed by the receiver’s reaction, no matter how much they thank us. The Christmas holidays often surface doubts and insecurities that we ignore the rest of the year. It might be the stress of extra activities, more spending than we’re accustomed to, less sleep than we need, more food and drink than we should have. We see people we haven’t seen in several months, perhaps not since last Christmas, and we wonder what they think of us. Family gatherings can raise tensions as well. The wonder of the birth of Jesus is balanced by a darker reality: We are all broken and marginalized in some way. We are called to see the mercy and forgiveness that are such an essential part of the incarnation. The peace we can’t find in our daily life is waiting for us in the love of God, a love so clearly shown in the gift of Jesus.

Treat yourself to a little soul-searching. We usually know what fault we most need to work on in ourselves. Minor issues can often be dealt with through some reflection and journaling, being honest with ourselves, and making a commitment to work on our bad habits. More serious issues might need some counseling or therapy. That could be the best Christmas gift you could give yourself. Many churches have special reconciliation services during the Advent season; if you’re so inclined, you might want to attend one, with or without individual confession. A peaceful heart is one of the greatest gifts of Christmas.

—from the book The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections from Pope Francis
by Diane M. Houdek

Fourth Sunday in Advent

 

In the world there are many other voices speaking – loudly: "Prove that you are the beloved. Prove you're worth something. Prove you have any contribution to make. Do something relevant. Be sure to make a name for yourself. At least have some power -- then people will love you; then people will say you're wonderful, you're great."

These voices are so strong. They touch our hidden insecurities and drive us to become very busy trying to prove to the world that we are good people who deserve some attention. Sometimes we think that our busyness is just an expression of our vocation, but Jesus knew that often our attempts to prove our worth are an example of temptation. Right after Jesus heard the voice say, "You are my beloved," another voice said, "Prove you are the beloved. Do something. Change these stones into bread. Be sure you're famous. Jump from the Temple..." Jesus said, "No, I don't have to prove anything. I am already beloved."

Beloved Jesus, help me love as you love, forgive as you forgive.

Henri Nouwen

Thoughts on children

 

A Time for Children

Often we hear the phrase “Christmas is for children” and while it may seem like a cliché, it really is true. Children have an ability to abandon themselves to the joy, the anticipation, the expectations of this marvelous holiday that we lose when we become adults with responsibilities and budgets and hard economic realities. They enter into preparations with a glee that knows nothing of the perfect Pinterest project or decorations inspired by glossy magazines. Watching children create worlds out of their imaginations and doing our best to take part in their visions shows a respect for God’s movement within them and reminds us of our own more carefree days. There’s no doubt that the pope follows the one who encouraged us to become like little children: dependent, needy, but open to the grace and protection and providence of God. Find ways to include children in your Christmas preparations as well as the celebration of the day itself. Let them decorate their rooms themselves. Encourage them to help with decorating cookies, even if they use half a bottle of colored sugar on one cookie in the beginning. Overlook the five ornaments on one branch of the tree because that’s where the four-year-old could reach. Take delight in the Fisher-Price donkey on the roof of the stable where an adult would put the star. Christmas reminds us that there’s more to life than the workaday adult world.

—from the book The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections from Pope Francis
by Diane M. Houdek

Thoughts on the Baby Jesus

 Believing that the Baby Jesus Is the Son of God and the Son of Mary

In our Advent Gospels Mary initially questioned whether or not she could even be pregnant; Joseph questioned the child’ legitimacy. God stepped in to settle their doubts. A good friend of mine once said that if you truly believe that the infant born to Mary in the stable at Bethlehem is the son Mary and the son of God then our belief in everything else we profess in our faith is a piece of cake. He was not being flippant, but deadly serious. From the first time I heard him and reflected upon it until now I've appreciated the simple truth of his statement.

The heart of the matter for me is mind-boggling and joyfully overwhelming. Our God so much wants us to be one of us and for us to be one with the Lord that Jesus comes into our world in this manner, so simply, so bereft of all human comfort, so willing to enter into very troubling time in our human history. Our world and all peoples needed him and his message then just as it most certainly does now.

The great gift of Christmas is Jesus, that the Son our God is indeed fully one of us and ever with us. May he open our hearts and minds to believe, appreciate and rejoice in this great gift of Himself and his love for us.

A blessed and joyful Christmas to you and yours!

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

Thoughts on patience

 

What’s Your Hurry?

Patience can be in short supply at this time of year, when everyone is too busy. Technology has speeded up our lives to the point that we notice when our internet connection is sluggish or the person in front of us in the grocery checkout has too many coupons. We don’t even know why we’re in such a hurry. We’ve begun to value speed for its own sake. And yet the things that really matter in life still take time and patience. We can’t speed up the growth of plants or animals or babies. We can’t speed up the time time it takes for healing, whether it’s our bodies or our spirits. And all these things are well worth the wait. Instead of hurrying, we need to find ways to nurture ourselves and one another during the waiting time. The refrain of Advent is “The Lord is near.” Sometimes it’s hard to believe this. We don’t get the answers we want when we pray, or at least we don’t get them immediately. This season can help us wrestle with the waiting time. While we wait for the perfection of the world in the second coming of Christ, we have the mystery of the Incarnation to guide us in making our world a little more ready. We can appreciate the small signs along the way to that perfect time and place. People of earlier generations were far more aware of the slow growth of nature. We can learn a valuable lesson in patience from observing the small signs of growth. Take a walk today and notice not the bare branches of the trees but the terminal buds that signal next spring’s leaves.

— from the book Simple Gifts: Daily Reflections for Advent  by Diane M. Houdek

Thoughts on anxiety

 

God is Faithful

The situation in our world is frightening, and many people experience deep anxieties. More than ever we will be tested in our faith. I hope and pray that the Lord will deepen our faith during these weeks of Advent and will fill us with peace and joy, which belong to his kingdom. Hope is not optimism and I pray that we all will be able to live hopefully in the midst of our apocalyptic time. We have a promise and God is faithful to his promise even when we are doubtful and fearful. As Paul says: “Our hope is not deceptive because the Holy Spirit has already been poured into us” (Romans 5:5). Henri Nouwen

Third Sunday in Advent

 

Today, Gaudete Sunday, is a day for rejoicing. Jesus’ Coming at Christmas is only two weeks away!

 

Imagine the Blessed Mother’s anticipation that she felt deep in her heart as she was expecting the Lord. As the celebration of Christmas draws near, we can sit with the Blessed Virgin, awaiting, with her, for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.

 

After the miraculous conception by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, Mary sang her Magnificat with the Child Jesus present in her womb. Let us, with her, ponder the Incarnation and sing our own Magnificat to the unborn Jesus for the marvelous things He has done for us, too!

 

Today, we can rejoice that the Lord came to earth after many centuries of prophecies. We can rejoice that He lived among us for 33 years, teaching us about the Kingdom of God. We can rejoice that He died on the Cross and rose again on the third day, opening the doors of Heaven for each one of us. And we can rejoice because He continually gives us His Body and Blood in order to remain with us all days until the end of the world (see Matthew 28:20).

 

Today, we can thank Jesus for each one of these gifts and, along with Mary, “ponder them in our hearts.”

Thoughts on hope

 

Always Reason to Hope

I am increasingly impressed by the Christian possibility of celebrating not only moments of joy but also moments of pain, thus affirming God’s real presence in the thick of our lives. A true Christian always affirms life, because God is the God of life, a life stronger than death and destruction. In him we find no reason to despair. There is always reason to hope, even when our eyes are filled with tears. Henri Nouwen

Second Sunday in Advent

 

Prayer requires that we stand in God's presence with open hands, naked and vulnerable, proclaiming to ourselves and to others that without God we can do nothing. This is difficult in a climate where the predominant counsel is "Do your best and God will do the rest." When life is divided into "our best" and "God's rest," we have turned prayer into a last resort to be used only when all our resources are depleted. Then even the Lord has become the victim of our impatience. Discipleship does not mean to use God when we can no longer function ourselves. On the contrary, it means to recognize that we can do nothing at all, but that God can do everything through us. As disciples, we find not some but all of our strength, hope, courage, and confidence in God. Therefore, prayer must be our first concern.



Dear God, teach me to be open to you in prayer.

Henri Nouwen

Thoughts on the Kingdom of God

 The Kingdom of God is at Hand

In the gospel reading for last week, the first week of Advent, Jesus urges us to be alert, on guard, be fully ready for his coming.  This week the Sunday readings highlight our reasons for doing this. It begins with the ministry of John the Baptist and follows with the beginnings of Jesus' ministry with both proclaiming "that the “kingdom of God is at hand."

We know that throughout the public life of Jesus he will frequently speak about the kingdom of God. It is not an exaggeration to say that to a great extent the Gospels concern this kingdom, how one becomes a part of it, what are its requirements, and so on. In fact, Jesus' whole way of life can be summed up as the heart and soul of the kingdom. Why do all four gospels begin with Jesus and/or John the Baptist proclaiming that the kingdom of God, the reign of God is at hand, is now present?   

Religious Jews never forget that they are a people who had become a nation, one peculiarly dear to God. This had come about not because of what they had done but because of what God had done for them, how God had acted in their midst. They had these beliefs: that as a people they would one day be re-established as a nation, as a kingdom, as in the time of King David and Solomon. In this kingdom, they would become the channel of God's life and salvation for all peoples (a light to the gentiles). This is their destiny as God's chosen people. 

How will this happen? This will literally be God's endeavor, God's project. Some believe that the Lord would send a great leader like David, and of David's lineage, a messiah who will bring about the re-establishment of this kingdom.

And as all of this begins to take place it is summarized in the saying: the kingdom (or reign) of God is at hand, and all of God's past dealings with his creation are coming to climax and fruition. God's reign of peace and justice for all people is now being re-established. This is the final intervention of God into our history, God’s culminating endeavor to bring peace and justice to our world. At the beginning of his public life, Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom is beginning now, and is at hand in his ministry.

Advent is a time for us to recall and appreciate how Jesus comes to his people and how he has come and is coming to you and me. Let us pray for the faith and hope to look forward to his final coming when his kingdom will be fully established and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

 

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.