Epiphany

Today we celebrate Epiphany...a few days early. Epiphany is actually on Wed.; the Church moves the celebration up to the Sunday prior. It makes me sad to see pictures on Instagram & Facebook of people taking down their decorations the day after Christmas. Christmas begins with Christmas Day. We spent Advent getting ready for the birth of our Lord; we take the 12 days of Christmas to celebrate his birth. We are called to not get sucked into the commercialism of Christmas but to rejoice that our Savior is born.
The star took center stage during today's homily. The star that the 3 Wise Men followed from the east, looking for this little baby who would save mankind still burns bright for us today. We are called to follow the light toward Jesus.According to the Priest, the Kings needed to witness God in the world. In following the light toward Jesus, we are to 1) look for the Lord, 2) follow the light, and 3) see the reality of God.
The 3 Kings brought gifts with them. The gift of myrrh caught my attention. The other Priest in our parish said that without Easter there wouldn't be Christmas. The gift of myrrh goes right along with that quote, since myrrh was used for burials. How did the Kings know what to bring as gifts? Rather prophetic, I'd say!
To end, Father left us with this statement and question:
We are called to be a light or a star and to lead others to Jesus. When someone looks at me, do they see the light of Christ?

Solemnity of Mary

Last week, I was a bit surprised when I saw that Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Family. For some reason, I always thought that 01 January was it. I guess you're never too old to learn something!

I chose to attend 9:00 a.m. Mass this morning because I figured that there wouldn't be very many people in attendance. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot, so I was pleasantly surprised. I guess our church is bigger than I thought, because when I walked in there were a lot of empty seats. 

During the homily, Father told a story about Jesus walking around in heaven where people passing told him "Good Morning". Jesus is looking around, wondering why some of the people were there. He was sure that they weren't supposed to be there yet. He went to the Gates & asked St. Paul about it. St. Paul told him that when he told them they couldn't come in yet, they would walk to the back door & Jesus' mom would let them in. 

Many non-Catholics have the idea that we worship Mary and question why we hold her in such high esteem. I think it's a no-brainer. Obviously, Mary is not on the same "level" as God or Jesus, but she did say "yes" and was Jesus' mother. And, since Jesus is the Son of God and is "True God, true man", of course she is the Mother of God. This is not about Mary, but rather about Jesus. Mary is the sign and symbol of Mercy.

Like most mothers, she never stopped believing in her Son, even when she was at the foot of his cross, watching him die. I can't even imagine what that must have been like, or how it really "pierced her heart". There are times when my boys have hurt me deeply by the choices they made, but there just isn't any comparison to what Mary must have felt. I just can't even imagine knowing that your son was put on this earth to sacrifice himself for humans who aren't worthy.

We shouldn't get caught up in "who should & shouldn't be", but just give it all to God. This is something I struggle with daily. The injustices of the world, heck, of life in general, get to me sometimes. Why does someone get away with not following the rules when there are those of us who insist on being "rule-followers"? Why do some people at work do the minimal when others are busting their butts to be better educators?

One of my goals this year is to "let go & let God". I find myself in church, judging other people: Doesn't that woman know that she's not supposed to be chewing gum during Mass? Why did those parents let their teenage daughter wear spaghetti straps to Midnight Mass? I have to leave all of that to God & focus on what I'm doing; how I'm living my life. That is one of the major things I'll be working on this year.

What is something that you will work on changing this year?

3rd Sunday of Advent

Yeah, so I kind of didn't get around to posting last week. Yet another reason why I'm "not so perfect"!
Here's my recap of last night's Homily:
REJOICE! We're half-way through Advent and our focus shifts from anticipation to joy. In order to see the blessings of God, we must be filled with joy.
Our priest took care of a woman who had taken care of his parents up to the time of their deaths. She passed away last Saturday. I know this is a time of mourning for him; she was a mother-figure to him after his mother passed away. Yet, he insisted that we have to be filled wtih joy. After mass I asked him how he was doing, and he said he was doing okay. I told him I knew it had to be hard, and he responded that he has to put it in the hands of the Lord.
Earlier yesterday, I tried my hand at making some pastries. Everything seemed to be going great: the dough rose (twice!), but when it came to the baking part, it didn't work out. And I missed my mama something terrible. This is the second Christmas without her, and it seems like this one is harder than last year. She wasn't there for me to call and ask her what was going on with the pastry. She wasn't there for me to call and ask her to run over to look at them. Even though I called one of my sisters (who is 1000 miles away), it wasn't the same. I felt so alone.
Yet, I do rejoice in her passing. I know she is with our Lord, and I know she rejoices with me. As I drove to church, a thought popped into my head: this is why Mama didn't bake this certain kind of pastry. She had trouble with it, too...I just bet that she did. That was why she made a coffeecake and cinnamon twists out of that same recipe.
So, I will do what Father suggested: I will take time to rejoice so I don't lose sight of where I am going.

First Sunday of Advent

Happy New Year!
In today's Homily, Father spoke about waiting, which is what Advent is all about. How many of us pull out our cell phone when we have to wait? It distracts us so the time will go by faster, doesn't it?
Father used that analogy to underscore that Advent is a time of waiting...not "distraction" waiting, but waiting filled with hope and joy. He urged us to be active in waiting with God's presence in our lives.
We have so many distractions this time of year: the presents, the decorating, the baking...the GIVING. Advent should be a time of quietly waiting in anticipation of what is to come.
I love this time of year. I love lighting each candle in the Advent Wreath. I remember how it seemed like we'd never light that last candle when I was growing up. I loved the anticipation; in fact, I still do.
Best quote from today's Homily: Christmas has no meaning if we don't see the reality of Easter.

I Could Have Done More

Last week, as I was leaving a store, I noticed a woman walking across the busy street. She walked with a cane and a limp, and it looked as though walking pained her. There have been many times when I've seen someone walking on the road and have wanted to stop and ask if they need a ride. But, nowadays, you can't be too careful. Being a coward, I've always just driven on.
Something stirred inside me this time, so I pulled into the middle of the road (it's a 4-lane with a median) and asked if she needed a ride. She walked over to my car and told me she was just going to a neighborhood on the other side of the road. She told me her name, and then proceeded to tell me that she had been sleeping on a bench for the past few nights. She also told me a lot of her medical history. She fought back tears as she said she has a tumor that  needs to be taken out, but no one will operate on her because she doesn't have the money. She said she's tired and hurting and may die. She told me that she found someplace she could spend the night, but it was $15 and she only had $8. I rarely have cash on hand, but I had a $20 bill and 6 $1 bills. I debated quickly about giving her the 20, but then decided I needed to hang onto it because I was going to see one of my sons on Saturday. I gave her the $6 and told her I wish I knew of someplace for her to go.
I didn't give her a ride; she said she could make it to where she was going.

Here's why I'm feeling like crap about this whole situation:
~ When she walked over to my car, I panicked just a bit. I thought, "What am I getting myself in to?"
~ I should've given her the $20. It wouldn't have been hard for me to get another $20 out of the ATM. Plus, that $20 is still in my pocketbook...I didn't even need it when I visited my son.
~ After I gave her the money, She leaned on my car & I could see a pack of cigarettes tucked in her bra strap. She could've used the money she spent on cigarettes for a place to sleep. I don't know how much they cost, but I'm sure they aren't cheap. I judged her, and I regret that.


She did say that she knew I was "righteous" because people she knows will honk & wave instead of stopping to help. I hope I brightened her day just a bit.
I don't know if I'll ever see that woman again. I live in a small town, but that was the first time I've seen her and it may be the last. I'm just not sure if I did enough.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

To say I had a difficult time hearing what the Priest was saying during his Homily today would be an understatement. I sit in the choir section which makes it difficult to hear very well, and he is hard to understand (I'm not sure if it's the frequency of his voice that I have trouble with.).  Plus, I was having some difficulty paying attention.
Today's Gospel was JN 6:1-15, or the "Fish and Loaves Story". The priest did say some things that I understand that got me thinking:

God gives us more than we want and need. He uses this for reconciliation and to bring people together.
We may think we want & need more, but God knows best. He's giving us everything we need & want...and then some.

We still use food to bring people together.
Man, do we ever! Food was and is a big part of family gatherings. We always had more than we needed. I think most families' gatherings center around food. Summer get-togethers, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries: what would they be like if there were no food?
The parish that we attended in SC had "Supper Club" groups. It was a great way for parishioners to meet other parishioners they may not have met otherwise. Once a month, someone in the group was responsible for the main dish; others brought the sides & dessert. We met several people we wouldn't normally have met, and we even liked most of them! 
Even at one of my schools where I work, when we have monthly meetings, food is offered. More parents come to them when food is offered.

I think Father definitely pegged it this morning...even though I couldn't understand half of what he said!

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wow. I really haven't been doing well with keeping up with my posts!
This was Deacon Weekend...the Deacons were in charge of the Homilies.
With everything going on in the news lately, the 1st Reading really grabbed my attention, especially the "opener":
JER 23:1-4
Woe to the shepherds
who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,
says the LORD. 
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
against the shepherds who shepherd my people:
You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. 
You have not cared for them,
but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. 
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
from all the lands to which I have driven them
and bring them back to their meadow;
there they shall increase and multiply. 
I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them
so that they need no longer fear and tremble;
and none shall be missing, says the LORD.

The Deacon at the Mass I attended talked about the WWJD bracelets that were so popular some years ago. He talked about how, when it's his time to stand in front of God, he wants to be able to say he did and said everything he possibly could. He talked about how it's our responsibility as Christians to stand up for our beliefs.
As for those bracelets: I think it's time to bring them back.