A Parent's Influence

~~~ Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne ~~~

~~~ Jeremiah 14:17-22 ~~~ Psalm 79 ~~~ 

~~~ Matthew 13:36-43 ~~~

We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,

the guilt of our fathers;

that we have sinned against you.

In the garden of life there are some flowers 

like people who capture your attention.

Many times we are told that it is our 

childhood that is the cause of our adult problems.

Many times we are led to believe 

that our parents did something wrong.

Many times we blame our parents for our own shortcomings.

Today we remember the parents of the Blessed Mother, Mary.

Anne and Joachim raised their daughter 

to be the wonderful woman God chose to carry 

Our Lord, Jesus into our world.

God honored Anne and Joachim

by sending his angel Gabriel to their daughter

with the news of her Immaculate Conception.

Mary's parents filled her with love and goodness.

Mary's parents taught her to be open to the voice of God.

Mary's parents raised her to be humble.

Mary's parents valued her purity of mind, body, and heart.

Mary's parents modeled sincerity, truth, and integrity.

Today we honor Anne and Joachim

because they were vital in preparing the Blessed Mother

 to speak her words of the Magnificat.

Is it not you alone, O LORD,

our God, to whom we look?

You alone have done all these things.

May these wonderful parents, Anne and Joachim,

 inspire us to raise their own children with pure 

love and true integrity.

Saints Anne and Joachim,

pray for us.

We give you thanks 

for your beloved daughter, Mary

~~~ Peace~~~

Nurture Your Soul

~~Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time~~

~~~Genesis 18:1-10A ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~

~~~ Colossians 1:24-28 ~~~ Luke 10:38-42 ~~~

Hospitality, Generosity, Stillness, Anxiety...

Martha and Mary, two sisters who showed their love

 for Jesus in very different ways.

Mary who sat beside the Lord at his 

feet listening to him speak. 

Martha, burdened with much serving, 

came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving...

Martha thought it important to prepare

 a good meal; to serve Jesus.

She wanted to nourish his physical body.

She was busy in the kitchen. 

She could not hear what Jesus was saying.

The two sisters did not get to see Jesus very often.

They were excited that he came to visit them in their home.

Jesus came to get away from the crowds.

Jesus came to relax with his friends.

He could just be his natural self...he was 

comfortable in their company.

Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 

Mary did not want to waste any time being near to Jesus.

She sat at his feet soaking up every word he spoke.

She relished to hear the stories of his travels.

She was eager to hear how people received him.

She was mesmerized with the healings of how 

he had helped so many people.

The beauty of this story is that Jesus accepted 

both of these women for who they were.

Both are beautiful examples for us.

We need to have spiritual balance in our life.

Jesus does not expect us to pray exclusively.

Jesus does not expect us to go

 out each day and just do good works.

We need to have both prayer and good 

works in order to have a rich fertile spiritual life.

...it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.

Find ways to bring prayer and good works into your life;

this is how you nurture your soul.

Be the goodness in our world

 that you want to see. 

Be the peace in our world

 that you want to experience.

Be the love in the world

that you want to feel.

Be still for the presence of the Lord.

He has not abandoned us...

near to all who call on him.

Blessings

Let there be Peace in our world.

Do You Reflect Joy?

~~~ Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~~~
~~~ Zephaniah 3:14-18A ~~~
~~~ Psalm Isiah 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6 ~~~ Luke 1:39-56 ~~~ 

Be glad and exult with all your heart, 
O daughter Jerusalem!

Today we commemorate the Visitation.
Mary joyfully makes the journey to visit
 her senior cousin, Elizabeth.

Mary was so filled with joy
 after learning she was to be the mother of her Lord,
she could not resist sharing it with Elizabeth.
She could only imagine how much joy Elizabeth
 was experiencing with her own pregnancy.

Under normal circumstances Elizabeth
 would have been to old to conceive a child.
God had everything under control.
He needed John the Baptist to be born before Jesus.
John was chosen to be the last prophet.

Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

The spirit of God was residing within
 the womb of Elizabeth, in her son.

Mary went out to embrace Elizabeth.
Sometimes a hug speaks volumes to the other person.

Elizabeth eagerly greeted Mary with words
 of honor and praise.

Today when we use the word visitation
we are usually referring to the rights
 of divorced parents to see their children.

Sometimes the visitations are even supervised.

Prisoners get visitation rights.
It is a part of the rehabilitation process.

You have most likely visited a funeral home
during the visitation to express your sympathy
 to the family members.

The first definition of visitation is
an official, formal visit...
the appearance of a divine or
supernatural being.

The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
might not have been a 'formal' visit,
but it was a visit of a divine being...Jesus...
being carried in the womb of Mary.

Elizabeth received a visit
from the young mother, Mary,
 carrying Jesus...
a visitation from God.

Mary models for us the true meaning of joy.
She also teaches us to how to express and celebrate joy.

Blessed to have the Blessed Mother Mary
to teach us true joy.

Let your mind, body, heart, and soul
reflect the joy of the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~

Pierced Heart

~~~ Feast of the Presentation of the Lord ~~~

~~~ Malachi 3:1-4 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ 

~~~ Hebrews 2:14-18 ~~~ Luke 2:22-40 ~~~

—and you yourself a sword will pierce—

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Simeon and Anna were present when Mary and Joseph

fulfilled the law by presenting Jesus in the temple.

Imagine being told that a sword would pierce your heart

 as you were caressing your son. 

Mary and Joseph were filled with joy 

at the birth of their son.

Every parent can relate to some degree

 what it means to have your heart pierced.

We do not live in a perfect world.

There are so many situations that pierce

 the heart of a mother and a father.

We tend to think of this from a negative view point.

Mary must have had her heart pierced 

with times of joy, happiness, and surprise.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;

and the favor of God was upon him.

Parents take great pleasure 

watching their children grow and develop.

Each small accomplishment is cause 

for your heart to be pierced with joy.

Just as a seedling pierces through 

the hard darkness of the seed coating,

joy can pierce our heart.

Mary had so much joy that she was able to bear

 the sorrow of watching her son,

 Jesus, suffer and die for us.

It was the depth of her joy

 that kept Mary from crumbling at the sight 

of the pain Jesus endured.

The favor of God was with Jesus.

The favor of God was with Mary.

The favor of God is with you too.

It is his love that allows your heart to be pierced.

The seed pierces the soil bringing forth new life.

Mary's heart was pierced, just as Jesus 

was dying to give us eternal life.

Sometimes it is necessary for our heart to be pierced.

Out of the puncture wound goodness is possible.

Blessings in the piercings of the heart.

~~~Peace~~~

Mary, Mother of God

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

the Mother of God

~~~ Numbers 6:22-27 ~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ Galatians 4:4-7 ~~~ 

~~~ Luke 2:16-21 ~~~

We begin this new year with one of the most beautiful 

Old Testament blessings...

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and

give you peace!

The Blessed Mother was Blessed with motherhood.

She was Blessed to be the Mother of God.

God keeps Mary forever close to himself...

She is the handmaid of the Lord.

God shed the grace from his face shining upon her...

that she is forever called Blessed.

The peace of God is also the peace Mary has to offer us.

God became one of us so that we can share in his divinity.

Jesus came so that we might be one with him

 just as he was one with Mary.

The closest we can be to Jesus is in receiving the Holy Eucharist.

Mary carried Jesus within her womb.

We can carry him into every cell of our body

 by consuming the consecrated bread and wine.

We receive Jesus, soul and divinity.

He has claimed us to be his own.

We are his in life and in death.

God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts...

As a mother does so often,

Mary kept in her heart all that had been revealed to her.

The heart of Mary holds our prayers 

silently within ready to intercede on our behalf.

May the Lord Bless you and keep you

as we begin another new year...

May 2016 be a year filled with kindness, mercy,

peace, and above all love.

Jesus became one of us.

JOY

to the World!

The Holy Family

~~~ The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~~~

~~~ Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 ~~~ Psalm 128 ~~~ Colossians 3:12-21 ~~~
~~~ Luke 2:41-52 ~~~

God chose to send Jesus into a family.
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus give us a beautiful family model.
Mary was young, vibrant, healthy and eager
 to do the will of God.
She was a woman of prayer.

Joseph was already in love with Mary
so he was able to find within himself
the strength to take his part in God's plan.

Together they created the perfect environment
for God's plan to be revealed.
God sent the life of Jesus to flourish
until birth within Mary.

...kindness to a father will not be forgotten...

Mary was certainly the birth mother of Jesus,
but Joseph was not his birth father.

Joseph was equivalent to the adoptive father of Jesus.
Legally Joseph was the father of Jesus.
The angel, sent by God, prepared the mind
and heart for Joseph to be a willing participant in this plan.

This unique family arrangement has far reaching
meaning even for today's families.

Jesus was obedient to both Mary and Joseph.
Jesus honored his parents.
At the same time Jesus acted like a typical young boy.
He left his parents without telling them he was off to the temple.

The holy family unit is a beautiful model for our world today.
What makes a family holy?
Is it because Jesus was their son?
Perhaps this title was bestowed upon them
 because of their son, Jesus.

But any family can be a 'holy' family.

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, 
if one has a grievance against 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.

Recently Pope Francis gave us three vital components
for a 'holy' family ...Prayer, faith, and joy.

Families should pray together.
We have many opportunities to pray in a family.
It is important that we pray for one another.
It is important that we acknowledge that we need God in our family.

Keeping the faith alive in our family;
it part of how we interact with those outside of our family.
How we treat others is a reflection of our faith.
We should practice and foster our faith within the family unit.

Is there joy in your family?
If you do not have joy then it is difficult
to recognize the joy within your family.

The joy of a holy family is deeply connected to God.

In joy we can put on holiness, compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
In joy we can find ways to forgive one another...
to extend unconditional love to one another.

May you find peace and blessings
as you strive to create a greater sense
of holiness in your family.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
pray for us!
Help us to be more loving and our families will be 'holy'.

~~~Peace~~~
Joy
to the World!

O Clavis, O Key of David

~~~ Fourth Sunday of Advent ~~~

~~~ Micah 5:1-4A ~~~ Psalm 80 ~~~ 

~~~ Hebrews 10:5-10 ~~~ Luke 1:39-45 ~~~ 

O Key of David

"I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; 

he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, 

and no one shall open." Isaiah 22:22

After the angels visit both Elizabeth and Mary,

both women come to embrace their role in God's plan.

Blessed are you among women, 

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me, 

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

This is a beautiful picture because

Elizabeth represents those who are not in their prime of life.

She represents those who appear to have little to offer.

Then we see the young vibrant woman, Mary.

She represents all that youth has to offer.

She is enthusiastic, eager, energetic,

full of life.

God worked both of these chosen women into his salvation plan.

Their is a place for you in God's plan too.

No matter our age or gender we have a part in God's plan.

Elizabeth and Mary both had many reasons to doubt

 what the angels were saying to them.

Nevertheless they were willing to believe

 in the miracle of possibilities.

Are you willing to believe in the possibility 

of miracles in your life?

We each have a unique place in God's plan for our life.

No one else could have taken the place of Elizabeth or Mary.

God chose them to be vital participants in our salvation.

Young or old;

you are a vital part of the living Body of Christ.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word.

May the Lord Bless you

through the miracles in your life.

We eagerly wait for the coming of the 

Key of David.

~~~Peace~~~

JOY

to the World!

Be Passionate

~~~ Jonah 3:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 130 ~~~ Luke 10:38-42 ~~~

Blessed are those who hear the word of God

and observe it.

Jonah was resistant, but God does not give up on anyone.

God had a job for Jonah. 

A job that he was chosen for...hand picked.

Jonah had to be plunged into darkness and isolation

 in the belly of a large fish before God could get his attention.

How difficult is it for God to get your attention?

Do you also resist?

Are you stubborn 

with sticking to your own agenda?

Jonah heard God the first time,

but like our children he applied his selective hearing.

Hearing the word of God is hardly adequate,

especially when he has a task for you.

The gospel today gives us the familiar story of Martha and Mary.

Jesus is their friend. It is a safe and relaxing 

time for him to visit in their home.

Martha, as you know, is busy with the details 

of serving their special guest.

Mary, on the other hand, is mesmerized by the presence of Jesus.

She does not want to leave him alone.

She wants to be as close to Jesus as she can be;

so she sits at his feet.

Absorbing every word he speaks

 so that she can hold it near to her heart.

She does not want to miss hearing his message.

Mary is willing to hear and observe

all that Jesus has to share.

How often, if ever, are you in that same state of mind?

When are you that passionate about 

your relationship with Jesus?

There is need of only one thing. 

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.

There is only one thing that matters...

your relationship with Jesus...

everything else will fall into place.

If you are anxious about your life

the missing piece may be

a deeper closer relationship with God.

Jonah was in darkness. 

He was experiencing sensory deprivation

but God was with him.

Mary chose to isolate herself from stress and anxiety.

Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus.

When you are that close to Jesus

no one nor anything can harm you.

There is need of only one thing...

God blesses you with his presence.

~~~Peace~~~

A Mother's Heart

~~~ 1 Samuel 1:24-28 ~~~ 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD ~~~ 

~~~ Luke 1:46-56 ~~~

Hannah prayed for a child.

God blessed her with a son, Samuel.

Out of gratitude for Samuel she presented him in the temple.

She dedicated him back to the Lord and left him there.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 

Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;

as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”

She left Samuel there.

This must have been a great sacrifice

 for Hannah;

to give up her son.

It must have been equally 

as difficult for young Samuel to understand.

Why would his mother leave him in the temple?

The Gospel brings us to Mary as she visits with Elizabeth.

A young expectant mother with an aging expectant mother...both 

equally in awe of the power of God.

These three mothers receive the grace to bear their sons

 to fulfill the word of the Lord.

Samuel served Eli faithfully for many years to come.

John served God until his beheading,

 ordered by Herod.

Jesus serves all who come to him to be saved.

Jesus came to die for those whom his father loved.

Three mothers whose sons accomplished great 

things under the direction of God.

We may not be asked to dedicate our son to the Lord,

but we are asked to make sacrifices for God.

We are asked to dedicate ourselves to back to the Lord

 in thanksgiving for his wondrous deeds.

Hannah and Mary express their prayer using similar words...

Hannah prays...

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Mary prays...

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord...

The time is now for us to align our prayer with these holy women.

How has God manifest wonders for you this Advent?

What causes your heart and soul to proclaim his greatness?

The Blessings of the Lord

come to us so that we too may exult in the Lord.

Come, Jesus, Come!

...Hold On to What is Good...

~~~ Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~~~

~~~Zephaniah 3:14-18A or Romans 12:9-16 ~~~

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

~~~ Luke 1:39-56 ~~~

The story of Mary rushing to visit Elizabeth celebrates

 the love and friendship between two women.

Mary has just experienced a profound life changing event.

 Shes goes right away to the woman carrying the one

 who will make the way for Jesus, John.

I have written about this visit in other entries on this blog

just click on the tag Visitation.

Perhaps we have these readings today

 because they highlight the workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives

 of these two devoted women...Mary and Elizabeth.

The Holy Spirit draws these women together;

one giving testimony to the other even before they utter a single word.

Nothing is impossible with/for God,

but when he 'tosses' in the Holy Spirit something fantastic happens.

Young, old, wed, virgin;

no objections are too great for the Holy Spirit.

Paul's letter to the Romans is most lovely.

He uses words like...

Let love be sincere;

hate what is evil,

hold on to what is good;

love one another with mutual affection;

anticipate one another in showing honor.

Do not grow slack in zeal,

be fervent in spirit,

serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope,

endure in affliction,

persevere in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,

exercise hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you,

bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice,

weep with those who weep.

Have the same regard for one another;

do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;

do not be wise in your own estimation.

I have included the full reading here, so that you also may

cherish his words.

Whether or not he was thinking of Mary as he was writing;

it is easy for us to place her on our hearts as we read and reflect on it today.

Every verse offers something for us to magnify in our own life.

Which verse speaks most to you?

...hold on to what is good?

I think in our world today it is difficult to hold on to what is good.

First, we must identify the good, which may cause

 us to shift our primary focus.

Where is the good? What is really good today?

How do we define good in our personal life?

I believe, if we look for the good we will find the good.

Do not grow slack in zeal...

Zeal...

a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm

 that makes someone very eager or determined to do something.

May our zeal for the message of love and mercy

inspire us to have greater regard for others.

Mary visited Elizabeth and together 

they rejoiced in what the Spirit of God had done with their lives.

May we share in their Visitation joy.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Swaddled by Her Hair

~~~ Isaiah 42:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ John 12:1-11 ~~~

Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 

Mary held nothing back for later.

She did not just pour the expensive oil on the feet of Jesus;

she broke the jar.

She broke the with not hope or intention of saving any for later.

She gave it all completely to Jesus.

Recently I had the experience of following a path 

to reach an unfamiliar prayer space.

While small signs and candles marked the way 

what led me most was what I could smell.

The fragrance of the scented candles

 burning in the prayer space guided me the closer I came.

Imagine one quart of perfumed oil spilling in your home.

The fragrance would permeate the entire house.

You would be able to smell the perfume days or weeks later.

Now we have devices that plug into the wall

 to continuously send a pleasing fragrance into the air space.

We are not told why Mary had such a large 

amount of this expensive oil.

Had it been in her family for years?

Was it kept especially for burial rites?

Whatever the reason she took this beautiful jar 

of expensive oil and broke it 

allowing the oil to freely spread all around 

the legs and feet of Jesus.

At that moment her intent was to anoint Jesus.

This was not typical anointing where the oil 

was poured over the head.

The oil instead was poured on his feet.

She takes her long hair and wraps it around his feet.

She is kneeling at the feet of Jesus as she had done before.

Before she was focused intently on listening to his every word.

Now no words were necessary from Jesus or from Mary.

Judas breaks the moment with his harsh accusation...

he was thinking about the material value of the oil.

Mary valued the presence of Jesus much more 

than the money she could earn by selling the oil.

Dare I say that Jesus and Mary had a very intimate moment that day.

She humbled herself at his feet.

She took her hair, a source of beauty for a woman,

and swaddled his feet.

I invite you to fill your home with your favorite fragrance today.

Allow yourself to attend to this smell for a moment.

Reflect on how you can give yourself more fully to God.

Pour out all of your fears, joys, and sorrows.

Empty yourself at his feet.

This lingering fragrance like peace and joy 

will permeate your soul.

Blessed to broken and poured out at his feet.

May the peace of Christ 

be the fragrance you leave with others.

Wisdom...Age and Grace

~~~ 1 John 2:12-17 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Luke 2:36-40

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

The joy of the Lord can surprise you at any age.

Whether you are young or old like Anna you can experience joy.

Perhaps when one has wrinkles and grey hair 

the joy is appreciated to a greater degree.

When we get older we may not expect

 there to be anything left in the joyful column.

Too many times I have seen older people

 become bitter and cantankerous rather than joyful.

Today we meet Anna, advanced in age.

She was a eighty four and had been a widow for several years.

It was not easy for a woman to survive without her husband.

After the death of a woman's husband 

she was left at the mercy of others to help her.

Anna is the only female prophetess mentioned in the New Testament.

Anna turned to God in complete devotion in her later years.

She was the one who foretold of the pain that would pierce the heart of Mary.

The Presentation in the temple was the joining together 

of the old and the new.

Wisdom of age and the hope of youth 

come together in support of one another.

Anna, with her acquired wisdom and grace, meets Mary.

Mary with her youth and new life brings hope for the future. 

One nearing the final days of her life

 the other at the beginning of her life.

Anna was given the insight to recognize this baby as the Messiah.

Elizabeth recognized Jesus as her Lord when Mary greets her.

Anna recognizes Jesus as the Messiah as she looks upon his precious face.

The meeting of these two women validate the old and the new.

The Messiah brings new life while allowing the old to remain as well.

Jesus did not come to abolish the old, 

but rather to fulfill and make perfect the old.

Today we live in a world self absorbed with all that glitters.

May we be blessed with the grace to recognize our Lord.

Whether we are of advanced age like Anna

or young like Mary there is more 

than enough joy for all of us to experience.

Keep watch for every bit of Joy.

May it be scattered over your life like the morning dew.

Martha Tries the Guilt Card

 

~~~ Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

 

~~Genesis 18:1-10a~~Psalm15~~Colossians 1:24-28~~Luke 10:38-42~~

 

Martha and Mary are typical sisters...each one has her own agenda.

Often times they are not the same.

Certainly they love each other, but one, Martha,

 has expectations to what the other should be doing.

Martha wants to have everything perfect for Jesus' visit.

She wins the hospitality award...oops...

I don't think Jesus is concerned about the appearance of their house.

He is not anxiously awaiting their finest dish placed upon the table.

 

He is there to visit with them...to share with them...

to show his affection for his friends.

 

Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”

 

These two devout women interact with Jesus in very different ways.

 

Martha is concerned about herself. Martha is complaining to Jesus.

Martha stands above Jesus as he sits. Jesus must look up

into the face of Martha.

Martha is focused on the external...how things appear.

Martha does the talking to Jesus. Martha tries to tell Jesus how to act.

Martha actually tries to make Jesus feel guilty...

This is almost comical for her to play the guilt card with Jesus.

 

 

Mary wants to be as close as she can get to Jesus.

She sits in a lowly place at his feet.

Mary sits humbly on the ground.

She does not worry herself about the dirt on his feet.

Mary gazes up into the face of her dear friend.

Mary wants to listen

to every word he has to say.

Mary wants to know about his travels, about his power to heal. 

Mary allows Jesus to do the talking...she recognizes him as the teacher. 

 

 Jesus wastes no time responding to Martha...

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

If Martha had truly been listening to Jesus

she would have let go of her need for perfection.

She would have quickly joined her sister at his feet. 

 

Mary has chosen the better part...

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is the better part.

Opening your heart to hear his words is the better part.

Quietly being present to him is the better part.

 

Martha and Mary each attempt to show their love for Jesus.

He is very clear about which is better.

 

There is only need of one thing...

Blessings come sitting at the feet of Jesus...

being near to him.

The Visit of Grace

 

Feast of the Visitation: Mary visits Elizabeth

 

~~~ Zephaniah 3:14-18a ~~~ Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 ~~~Luke 1:39-56 ~~~

 

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst...

 

Mary was eager to share her joy with her cousin Elizabeth.

Both women were pregnant with special children.

Neither woman anticipated being pregnant

at that moment in time.

Mary was only betrothed to Joseph

and Elizabeth was past the usual child bearing age.

God surprised and blessed them both.

 

They were two women filled with the joy of new life.

They were allowing God to use their bodies for his glory.

 

Mary stayed with Elizabeth during her first trimester.

Typically the first three months are the most difficult time of the pregnancy.

The woman's body is adjusting to nourishing another human being.

The babies are growing rapidly.

 

Elizabeth could be a source of comfort and counsel for Mary.

I like to contemplate the joy on the faces of each of these holy women.

So often when you see a mother to be they appear to be glowing.

 

 

They probably spent hours just talking about how unworthy they felt

that God had chosen them as his vessels.

 

God blesses us at every age, in many varied ways.

All things are possible with God.

He gave both of these holy women the courage and strength

 they needed to accept their situation.

 

When we find ourselves in unpredictable situations

we should remember to trust that God is there with us.

It can be helpful to seek the company of someone whom you trust;

someone whom you can confide is.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months.

When she headed back home she was more at peace.

Her body, mind, and heart were joined together as never before.

 

And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

Mary's visit that day confirmed God had indeed chosen her for his own...

he had chosen her to be the earthly mother for his only son, Jesus.

 

For many reasons the Visitation is very dear to my heart.

Two woman bonding and sharing their joys and fears with each other.

Women need the companionship of women of all ages.

In the presence of other women we are blessed with wisdom and grace.

The Fragrance of Love

 

Isaiah 42:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ John 12:1-11~~~

 

The tension is building, but Jesus finds comfort and safety

sharing a meal with his friends.

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are present.

 Some of the apostles accompany Jesus also.

Imagine the preparations for this special visit from Jesus.

Mary has been praying for days in preparation

for what she has planned for Jesus.

Jesus too must appreciate the planning and cooking

 that has taken place before he arrives.

 

He knows that his days are numbered

and this may be the last chance he has

to share in loving fellowship in their home.

 

Even Lazarus' life is in danger

 because of his close association with Jesus.

Word soon spread about Jesus raising him back to life 

 three days after his death.

 

'...the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.'

 

Judas is present. He is a witness to how much Jesus is loved.

Is he jealous? Does he long for a similar kind of love?

 

Soon there is a strong fragrance filling the whole house.

It is not a smell commonly associated with food cooking

or even bread baking.

It is instead the unmistakably sweet smell of perfume.

A fragrance used typically in their burial rituals.

A costly perfume reserved for the death of a loved one.

A perfume used sparingly, difficult to replace.

 

Mary brought this gift...the most valuable possession she had,

and gave it all to anoint her beloved friend, Jesus.

She gave her finest and she gave it lavishly.

She gave all of it the entire liter.

She humbly knelt at the feet of Jesus and anointed his feet.

She used her long hair to wipe the excess from his feet.

 

Judas, in particular,

 was appalled at such extravagant wastefulness.

  “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages
and given to the poor?”

 

Judas is so misguided with his loyalties.

Is it the almighty money pouch or the Almighty Messiah?

Jesus quietly and calmly responds...

 “Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The day is getting closer when Jesus will no longer be with them.

 

 

We are presented with two opposing concepts today.

...In Mary, one of total self giving...

 in Judas, one of total selfishness.

Mary pours out her love for Jesus by giving him the best she has to offer.

Judas is unable to think of anyone but himself, even as he pretends

to be concerned for the poor.

 

Mary is transparent, open, and honest about her feelings for Jesus.

Mary truly loves Jesus.

Judas is dark and deceitful about his feelings for Jesus.

Judas truly loves himself.

Jesus accepts both where they are,

 even as Judas criticizes the action of Mary.

 

Are you giving Jesus the very best you have?

Are you giving him the most precious gift of yourself?

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance

everywhere that I go.

A line taken from a beautiful song called the

Fragrance Prayer.

The Obedient Child

~~~ Feast of the Holy Family ~~~

 

~~~Sirach 3:2-6,12-14~~~Psalm 128~~~Colossians 3:12-21~~~Luke 2:41-52~~~

 

 

Jesus stays behind in the temple without telling Mary and Joseph.

Jesus is acting like a typical child.

He knew he was okay so why would his parents need to be worried.

Obviously at age twelve Mary and Joseph trusted him to be more responsible.

They were actually shocked that he had not told them.

They did not have cell phones or 'gps' to track him.

 

'...After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers...'

 

It is common in large families to think your child is safely

with another family member when in fact they are not.

This is exactly what happens to the Holy Family.

Today the authorities can issue as amber alert, but in the time of Jesus

the parents had to retrace their steps looking for their child.

 

Family dynamics have not changed much in all of history.

Parents still have expectations of their responsiblity for their children.

Children still want to test their independence.

 

Jesus accepted Mary and Joseph's concern for him.

He did not argue even though he did give them a reason for his behavior.

He left the temple and returned home with them.

 

"Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

 

 

Saint Paul gives us the best qualities for every family to strive toward...

Brothers and sisters:
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,
if one has a grievance against 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.

 

If we can treat all members of our family with compassion, kindness,

forgiveness, and love we would all have better

a relationship with one another.

 

Jesus was obedient to Mary and Joseph just as he was

obedient to the Father who sent him to be one of us.

 

Mary and Joseph did not yell and scream at Jesus;

they did ask him for an explanation for his behavior after finding

that he was safe.

 

During the holidays families can become very stressed.

Before you over react take a deep breath and recall

the Holy Family.

Above all else love your family.

Remain in the Light

~~~ 1 John 2:3-11 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Luke 2: 22-35 ~~~

 

...The Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

five golden rings....

 

The prophecy of Simeon in the temple was hardly a golden ring.

Simeon was aging; he felt the presence of the Lord

when the Child Jesus was brought

into the sacred space.

 

Simeon was open to the promises of the spirit of the Lord

 just as Mary was when the annunciation was made to her.

 

Mary and Joseph had no premonition of what they

would hear that day in the temple.

They were following the prescribed rituals

 for presenting their son to God.

 

'...Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord...'

 

Just yesterday we read of the slaughter of the male infants

today we see Jesus being presented publicly in the temple.

One might think the temple represented a place of safety

since it was the house of God.

Would that be true today?

I cannot say 'yes' for sure.

 

Mary and Joseph enter the temple in joy and leave the temple

with heavy hearts. Simeon had revealed troubling news to them...

 

"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

 

Mary had to muster her courage carry her child out of the temple

and live a life of love.

She could not live in constant fear and apprehension

as to how Simeon's words would come to be.

 

We cannot live in an environment of apprehension.

It is not how we live a life of trusting in the Lord's

Divine providence.

 

'...Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall...'

 

 

 

The light has been given to us.

If we believe then we must embrace the light.

We must walk in the light...

Face the light so as not

to be in your own shadow.

 

The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.

Dedicated to the Lord

~~ 1Samuel 1:24-28 ~~~ 1Samuel 2 ~~~ Luke 1:46-56 ~~~

 

I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD."
She left Samuel there.

 

A faithful mother gives her child back to God.

Hannah returns the gift of her son Samuel dedicating him to the Lord.

Samuel did indeed grow up to serve the well.

It is interesting that this story of Samuel is paired with

Luke's gospel of Mary's proclamation...

"...My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name..."

 

 

 

Mary was herself dedicated to the Lord.

The Holy Spirit overshadowed her with the

greatest blessing of all.

 

Mary was not only dedicated herself to the Lord;

she carried and subsequently birthed the Lord himself.

 

Mary did much more than Hannah;

Mary gave her only son to all of us.

Mary gave her son back to the Father.

Mary was instrumental in developing Jesus into

 the person who wanted only to do the will of the Father.

 

Mary cooperated with the will of God every day of her life.

Mary never again doubted after the angel's visit.

Mary knew in her heart that she could not keep her son

for herself.

 

Mary made a sacrifice by allowing Jesus to go out

'on the road' to do the will of his heavenly Father.

She would have been quite happy to have him stay

around the house a few more years.

 

Mary knew he had to be about his Father's business

as early as possible.

Mary mastered loving Jesus from a distance.

She supported him with her pure love.

 

Now is a good time to consider how you have dedicated

yourself to the Lord.

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily

~~~Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a~~~ Psalm 33~~~Luke 1:39-45~~~

 

Mary was so filled with excitement, after her personal angel visit,

 that she rushed as fast as she could to be with Elizabeth.

She and Elizabeth had so much to share;

so much to be overjoyed by. They both had conceived in

uncommon circumstances.

 

I can just envision how the eyes of Mary must have been sparkling

with the joy she felt inside.

Her smile must have warmed the heart of anyone

she met on her journey.

Perhaps she was even singing her favorite hymns as she

merrily skipped along the roadside.

 

The birds may have taken their place by her side

circling high up with their wings of joy.

The sun shone down brightly warming the ground below her feet.

When you are filled with joy you seem to float slightly above the ground.

Your whole perception of reality is more detailed when you are joyful.

 

This type of scene is often depicted in fairy tale movies.

But this was not a fairy tale this was our tale of salvation.

 

The joy in the heart of Mary made her even more lovely to God.

Although this is not recorded in the scriptures I can almost

hear God saying, 'This is my beloved daughter,

in whom I am well pleased.'

You know God was well pleased with Mary.

She was prepared and chosen by him to give Jesus

his human flesh and blood.

She kept him safe, warm and nurtured within her little body.

 

When Gabriel returned to heaven with Mary's answer

all of heaven broke into joyous song.

The angels played their harps long into the night.

 

 

The heavens rejoiced just as vibrantly as the child leaped

with joy in Elizabeth's womb.

The news of Mary's yes is what continues to

stir joy within our own hearts today.

Be Joyful!

God is in our midst...

 

"...He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals."