JESUS IS THE REASON!

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR CHRISTMAS!

As we prepare for Christmas, the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we reflect upon today’s readings.* Jesus is not only the reason for the celebration of Christmas, but He is our reason for hope, no matter what else is happening in the world.

The fact that Jesus, Who is God, came down to earth because He loves us (I mean, think of it—the God Who made you and I and everyone we love; the God Who made the beauty of the earth and the sky, the God Who created all of humanity, loves us so much that He became one of us!) is better than all of the presents and celebrations and candy combined!

2020, I think everyone can agree, has been a difficult year. It is possible that this year, we may be experiencing Christmas in a different way than we’ve ever experienced it before, especially those of us who have lived all of our lives in a free country. But take heart! Christmas is still coming! No one can stop Christmas from coming no matter what they do! The true meaning of Christmas has never changed. Jesus is the Good News, the reason for the season of Christmas, the ultimate reason for the hope that we have this season. God is still God and we are still His people and no one, no matter how seemingly powerful, can change that.

It reminds me of the Dr. Suess children’s movie, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” Theodore Geisel was a very wise man who imparted that wisdom in his lovely children’s stories. One of those lovely stories was the classic favorite, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I can think of a few Grinches who are in power right now who would like to stop Christmas from coming. But do you remember how the Whos down in Whoville responded when the Grinch took away every present they had and all of the food and decorations that symbolized Christmas?

They sang anyway. Christmas came–joyfully—anyway.

“…Christmas Day is in our grasp as long as we have hands to clasp…..” they sang loudly and beautifully. Christmas doesn’t come from a store, realized the Grinch. Christmas means a little bit more.

There are ways to interpret that song and “hands to clasp” We have each other. But even when we are apart (and I would encourage you not to be apart) we have our God, we have Jesus, we have the One Who loves us and came to earth to save us. Our hands clasping together, we have prayer, our connection to God that no one can take away.

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers…neither height or depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We still have Christmas, no matter how hard anyone tries to stop it from coming. In Jesus we have a treasure that no one can ever take away from us, no matter who they are.

Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and your families. And may you have a beautiful Advent in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ!!

Here is a lovely app that has everything you need to prepare for Advent, to pray the Rosary, to go to Mass and to even watch movies for free! It’s free to download and is called, OLMCTEMPE, available at Google Play (and I imagine other services like Apple).

John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

*Today’s readings are:
RV 14:14-19, Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
RV 2:10C
Gospel LK 21:5-11

December 8, 2015

The Year of Mercy

Today, December 8, 2015, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we begin a Year of Mercy.

This is a very special year, a year of jubilee, a holy year, in which sins are forgiven and all are welcome home to God. As Pope Francis has said, “The time has come for the church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters.”

Pope Francis officially marked the beginning of this special year today in Rome by opening the “Holy Door,” an entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica which is usually blocked.

After declaring the jubilee open, Francis appeared from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to deliver the Angelus prayer, during which he called on Catholics to celebrate the Dec. 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception in two ways.

“First: Fully welcome God and his merciful grace into our lives. Second: Become in our time creators of mercy through an evangelical path.”

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103

“I continue to say that today the revolution is that of tenderness, because from here derives justice and everything else.”

Pope Francis

March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!!! He is Risen!!!

John 19:41 (English Standard Version)

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

Happy Easter!!!! He is Risen!!!!

John 20+

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ²So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

February 13, 2013

Happy Ash Wednesday!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance and reconciliation with God.

In other words, you get to start over.

That to me is a great thing. God’s mercies are renewed every morning, and as human beings we need a lot of forgiveness, and a lot of chances to make things right again between us and God and between us and the people in our lives. We “Fall down 7 times, but get up 8” — we are human, we fail, but we can get up again and try once more to do better.

As Catholics we are so lucky — so blessed —to have these opportunities to come back home to God. We have Confession so that the mistakes we make in life do not weigh us down — we get to lay down our burdens at the feet of Jesus and start over again.

We have the Lenten season where we can reflect again on our lives, on our relationship with God and discover where we need to grow, to heal, to forgive and be forgiven.

We are strengthened by the Eucharist, healed by Confession and renewed by this season of Lent.

We are so blessed.

There are a number of resources out there with wonderful Lenten reflections, for example:

Praying Lent from Creighton University

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/index.html

The Holy Season of Lent

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/

And we await Easter morning with a joyful heart as we renew our faith during this Lenten season and are given yet another opportunity to grow closer to God.

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation

and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest,

as men rejoice

when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle

and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

May you and your family have a merry and blessed Christmas!!!!!

December 5, 2011December 5, 2011

Happy Second Week of Advent!

Dear Lord,
Through the darkness, I look for your wisdom.
I want my heart to be open to you.
But sometimes in these days, it seems that
so many things come between us.

Help me to be awake and aware
of the radiance you bring to my life.
Help me to be grateful each day
for the blessings of family and friends.
Let me be a peacemaker
in my own life, and in the world.
Let me pray especially for this difficult world
and those who are so in need of an end to violence.
My heart begs for this as my Advent prayer today.

From http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/aweek2.html

November 27, 2011November 27, 2011

Happy Advent 2011!

Isaiah 63 11-18 * :

¹¹ “Then his people recalled the days of old,
   the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,
   with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
   his Holy Spirit among them,
¹² who sent his glorious arm of power
   to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
   to gain for himself everlasting renown,
¹³ who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in open country,
   they did not stumble;
¹⁴ like cattle that go down to the plain,
   they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD.
This is how you guided your people
   to make for yourself a glorious name.

¹⁵ Look down from heaven and see,
   from your lofty throne, holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal and your might?
   Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
¹⁶ But you are our Father,
   though Abraham does not know us
   or Israel acknowledge us;
you, LORD, are our Father,
   our Redeemer from of old is your name.
¹⁷ Why, LORD, do you make us wander from your ways
   and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
   the tribes that are your inheritance.
¹⁸ For a little while your people possessed your holy place,
   but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
*(from Biblegateway.com)

And here are some Advent readings from EWTN!

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/inspiration.htm

November 2, 2011November 2, 2011

T’was the Month Before Christmas…..

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would
say

December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and
credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be
found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears

You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your
ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf
Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and
discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream
Tree’

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!!!!

(This is a very clever and unfortunately true early Christmas card that is being passed on through emails this year. Many thanks to the brilliant and insightful author, and may our Christmas celebrations of the future begin again to belong to Christ!)

March 10, 2011March 10, 2011

A New Season…

“To every son and daughter
Wayward and long gone
The love of a Father will leave the light on”

(From Nichole Nordeman’s “Lay it Down.”)

You know, it just occurred to me that there are other Seasons besides Christmas! We are now in the Season of Lent preparing our hearts for the Risen Christ at Easter.

Lent is an incredibly important Season — an opportunity for a new beginning and a new relationship with the God Who loves us. It’s an opportunity to stop and think, to turn around and find a new path. It is a time to lay the weight of the world –all of our sufferings, sin and burdens — down at the feet of Jesus and start anew.

Here are a few lovely places to begin your Lenten Season — reflections, online rosaries and other things that I hope will help you on your journey.

“Praying Lent” For Lenten prayers and reflections: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/

And here is their Daily Prayer Blog: http://dailyprayers.prayinglent.com/

“Come Pray the Rosary” is a beautiful site that allows you to pray the Rosary with people from all around the world in real time. http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

“The Virtual Rosary” is a way to remind yourself to pray the Rosary every day and comes complete with an application that you can download in order to pray the mysteries of the Rosary. http://www.virtualrosary.org/

God bless you in this new and wonderful season!!!

December 21, 2010December 21, 2010

The Fourth Week of Advent

I thought that this reflection was really inspiring and hope that you do too.

From:

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/fourthweek.html

“So many of us experience the ironic reality that Christmas can be the most lonely time of our lives. Some of these “mixed feelings” or “sad feelings” are difficult to recognize or name.

For some of us, the Christmas we will celebrate this year pales in comparison to wonderful Christmases of our past – perhaps because we were younger or more “innocent” then, perhaps because some of our loved ones who were central to our Christmas are no longer living or not where I am, perhaps because the burdens and struggles of my life or the changes in our world and the war have robbed this Christmas of something that was there before.

For some of us, Christmas will be just another day. Unable to get out to go to church to be with a faith community, and without family or friends to be with, Christmas will be a day we are tempted to ignore.

For some of us, Christmas inevitably means family conflicts. Facing the days ahead, whether it be the last few remaining parties, or conflicting demands of family and friends, or the friend or relative who drinks too much, or the experience I’m having that I drink too much and this season is an easy excuse.

For some of us, Christmas challenges us with terrible financial burdens. Children today become victims of the gross commercial exploitation of the day. For those of us struggling to make ends meet on a day to day basis, feeling the cultural pressure of buying for our children things which we can’t afford, can lead us to put more debt on the credit card in ways that simply push us further and further behind.

Some of us, might be really looking forward to Christmas, and not be aware of these struggles with Christmas, yet feel that, in spite of our best efforts to make Advent different this year, there is still something missing, and we still feel un-ready for Christmas.

For all of us, the story behind these days can draw us in, and invite us to bring our lives to the mystery of how Jesus came into this world and why. Our best preparation for the Holy Night ahead and the Joyful Morning to follow is for us to reflect upon how he came. He came in the midst of scandal and conflict. He came in poverty. He was rejected before he was born. He was born in a feed trough. He was hunted down. And he grew up in obscurity.

He did not shun our world and its poverty and conflict. He embraced it. And he desires to embrace us today, in this day. Right where we are. Right where we are feeling most distant. Right were we are feeling least “religious” or “ready.” If we let him come into our hearts to be our Savior these challenging days, we will find ourselves entering the sacred night and morning of Christmas “joyful and triumphant” as never before.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come and visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

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JESUS IS THE REASON!