New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is always a special day. One looks back over the year to both thank and ask pardon. We are at the seventh day of the Christmas octave and like Mary need to keep and ponder all in our hearts. How has Jesus come to me this week, this year? How is Jesus with me today?
The Gospel is from the Prologue to John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....He came to waht was his own but his own people did not accept him...Ant the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth...From his fullness we have all received..."
let us make this a day of prayer to thank for the graces received during the year and to plan, with Jesus and Mary, the New Year.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...

Tomorrow's Liturgy uses Colossians 3: 12-17 as the second reading. I remember first "discovering" this reading as a young nun and was so taken with it that I thought "here is a program for life!" I can remember exactly where I was when I read this. I need to copy it here as it is so full of really good advice from Paul:
"Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
It still is a great passage to pray over and maybe take again as part of one's New Year's resolution!
Since this is a reading from the Sunday of the Holy Family, I think it would really make a family holy to practice all of the above!

Feast of the Holy Innocents

This Feast has a good and bad aspect. Jesus is saved by the warning the angel gave Joseph in a dream, but other children were cruelly torn from their mothers and slaughtered. This brings great sadness to many families; it is a tragedy to lose a child, but in such a horrible way goes beyond my imagining the sorrow inflicted on innocent families. At the same time, our faith tells us that these Holy Innocents will be with God and happy for all eternity. The second picture shows the triumph of the Holy Innocents. I have always struggled with this feast as it was always a special day of play and fun in the Society of the Sacred Heart - a day we looked forward to as novices as the rule of silence was relaxed. I guess I will always have mixed feelings about this day and think Jesus does, too. Maybe it is because so many innocent children are still being slaughtered.

Feast of St. John

St. John was the beloved disciple; he was one who followed Jesus from the moment that John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God. He and his brother, James, were always with Peter and Jesus. They had left their boats and all to follow Jesus and were with him at the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden.
As I reflected on the first reading today from I John:1-4, I was struck by the desire John had to proclaim to us what he had seen and heard so that we, too, may have fellowship with the Father and with his Son. He states: "We are writing this so that our joy may be complete." Have I the zeal that desires to proclaim Jesus in all the ways possible to me?

I also like the last verse of today's responsorial Psalm (Ps 97:11-12):
"Light dawns for the just; and gladness for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the Lord, you just, and give thanks to his holy name."

It appeals to me as I am trying to live each day in joy and gratitude!

The Day after Christmas and St. Stephen

Our Christmas stockings are empty now and we are full of memories of the Christmas Liturgy, dinner, carols, and just good conversation with those we love. It seems strange to be celebrating the feast of the first martyr today.
We know about Stephen from St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of the seven deacons chosen by the Apostles to help them serve the Greek-speaking Christians in Jerusalem. We know from the first reading in today's liturgy that Stephen "filled with grace and power was working great wonders and signs among the people."
Some tried to debate with him but his wisdom was too much for them; they became infuriated. Stephen, "filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Because he told them of this vision, he was stoned to death, but called out: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He is the first martyr and is also the patron saint of deacons.

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!

Last night, following the Society of the Sacred Heart's wonderful tradition of a "veilee" before leaving for Midnight Mass, we used prayers for peace from many religions. The twelfth prayer was Christian and began "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be known as the children of God."
Jesus is Prince of Peace! I reflected on this as we waited and listened to Christmas carols in the Church. Several times, even during the homily, we sang "Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord." One felt the joy throughout the Liturgy; The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing!"
And so I wish all my readers a very happy, holy, and merry Christmas Day! "Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. Light shines in darkness." Jesus has come - God is with us!

Christmas Eve

Today is the last day of Advent and Christmas eve; tonight we celebrate again the birth of Christ. Let us spend some time today in preparing our hearts and the gift we wish to offer Jesus tonight. He wants us to give ourselves to him; to open our hearts to receive him.
He was born in an open stable; maybe it was just a cave used as a stable. Why would God choose this poor place for the birth of his only Son? It was accessible to all. The poor and the outcasts could come and feel welcome.
Jesus came as a baby; Paul will tell us that he was like us in all things except sin.
He is helpless, vulnerable, and waits for us.
I felt happy with the Christmas card that came today from the Mother House of the Society of the Sacred Heart. It reminded us that the Society first set foot on Asian soil in January 1908. "In celebrating 100 years in Asia, we ask you to rejoice with us that God's tender mercy has been discovered and revealed in Japan, China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia."

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Fourth Sunday of Advent is here and with it our desire for the coming of Jesus increases. Having read some of the Pope's Encyclical on Hope released recently, I thought I would share parts of a reflection on The Gift of Hope by Joyce Rupp.

God of Hope, Come! Enter into my memory and remind me of the yearning of people of history. Stir up stories of how the ancestors hung on to your promises, how they stole home from tiny glimmers about you, passed on from age to age. Help me to hear the loud crying voices of the prophets who proclaimed that a new age would dawn.

God of Hope, Come! Enter into this heart of mine which often loses itself in self, missing the message of your encouragement because I am so entangled in the web of my own whirl of life. Enable me to not lose sight of the power of your presence or the truth of your consolation.

God of Hope, Come! Enter into every human heart that cries out for a glimpse of your love, for a sign of your welcoming presence, for a taste of your happiness. Be the one who calms the restless and gentles the human journey.

God of Hope, Come! Be the Morning Star in our midst, the Light that can never go out, the Beacon of Hope guiding our way to you. Come into our midst and make of our lives a home, where your everlasting goodness resonates with assuring love and vigorous hope.

My Own Antiphons

Last year I created my own O antiphons and thought I would share some of them with you.

O Come, O Come Emmanual
Wake my weary heart that slumbers still
So sluggish to your daily presence.
Come this Advent to transform my will.

O Come, O come tiny Infant dear
Attract me to your crib by helplessness;
My heart and arms reach out to hold you.
Come and fill me with your tenderness.

O Come, O come ever Faithful one;
Call me back to fervor everyday
That I may truly live for You alone
Who for love left your heavenly home.

O Come, O come Shepherd of us all
Who knows each sheep deeply and by name;
We follow joyfully when you call
Come to seek us all,when strayed or lame.

The other half will be posted later. Do try writing your own!

Fifth antiphon: "O Radiant Dawn"

"O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice; come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death."
Again, it is Christ, our Light, who will dispel the darkness.

That reminds me that I wanted to share with you a quote from Mother Teresa's Come Be My Light. The book was given to me by a very good friend for Christmas and I just opened it before as I know he would be happy to have me reading it. Here is the quote and she was speaking to her Sisters:
"Cheerfulness is a sign of a generous and mortified person who forgetting all things, even herself, tries to please her God in all she does for souls. Cheerfulness is often a cloak which hides a life of sacrifice, continual union with God, fervor and generosity. A person who has this gift of cheerfulness very often reaches a great height of perfection. For God loves a cheerful giver and He takes close to His heart the religious He loves."

O Key of David

The fourth antiphon is: "O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom."
It is the Messiah's prerogative to open or shut the gate into the kingdom. No one else can do this. We call out to him. Come, rescue us for we dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and need to be led into freedom.

O Antiphons

This third week of Advent has us following the O Antiphons. Today's antiphon, found before the Gospel, is "O Root of Jesse's stem, sing of God's love for all his people, come to save us without delay!"
Bethlehem's Jesse was the father of David, who became Israel's greatest king. Jesus is born of the house of David and flowered as the fulfillment of the hopes of all people. We continue to pray, "Come, save us without delay!"