Yesterday, as I sat at my kitchen table, writing a “to do” list, I happened to look up as I was trying to think of the right word. And there by the dinette window sat a wilting plant that screamed, “Water, please!” I felt so bad. I immediately put down my pen, jumped up, and started watering the plants around my home, apologizing to them for forgetting them during the season festivities. But in the back of my mind, there was this nagging voice that kept whispering “it’s not t

Date: Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Scripture Text:   1 John 2:3-11 Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked. Beloved, I am writing no new

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. In our family, it is a special feast because it marks the anniversary of the baptism of our three oldest grandchildren. Two were baptized in 1997 at the same Mass; one was baptized two years later after Mass. So, whenever the feast rolls around, my mind returns to those happy and monumental moments. As we were preparing as a family in the basement of the church in 1997, my own son noticed my joy and excitement and asked about his own bap

Date: Feast of the Holy Family Scripture Text:   Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet migh

One of my favorite puzzles as a youth and even as a 75-year-old are the “Spot the Differences” puzzles with two pictures side by side and the challenge to find all the difference between them. Some are easy to spot, but others are more subtle. This morning as we continue to celebrate the Christmas Season, will others be able to spot the differences in us because of our recognition of the gift of the Son of God to humanity, to us? Will we be more loving? Will we be more presen

Date: Feast of St. John the Apostle Scripture Text:   1 John 1:1-4 Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life — for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with

It was cold, but those gathering slowed to greet one another on the sidewalk leading up to the church. The greetings of “Merry Christmas” filled the air. Hugs happened more than once. As I sat in the back, I looked around and every face bore joy. I’m not sure what was going on in the lives of those I saw, but somehow, they all came together, and the commonality of the moment was joy.   And I caught myself remembering Jesus’ words, “You are the salt of the earth.” And sitting

Date: Feast of St. Stephen Scripture Text:   Matthew 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your

My oldest sister, Betty, used to frequently say, “It’s not about me,” as she explained her actions or her feelings. And this morning, those words flood my mind and heart. Today is not about me. It’s all about the Christ child. It’s Christmas and we are called to remember and celebrate this day that began Christ’s transformative life among us. It’s a day of wonder as we recall Christ’s birth at the end of a difficult journey by Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It’s

Date: Christmas Scripture Text:   Luke 2:15-20 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,  “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place,  which the Lord has made known to us.” So, they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,  and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the

One of my favorite activities when I am away on adventure is checking the posted maps of the attraction that always have the marker “You are here,” usually marked with an X. And always I look around that marker to recall what has come before it and to look ahead to what else might be in store for me. I do so love an adventure! And we are on our own adventure in Advent. Our preparations for 25 days will bring us Christmas. While Christmas is key to this adventure, there is mor

Date: Wednesday of the 4 th  Week of Advent/Christmas Eve Scripture Text:   Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our f

One of the first things we do when we start to decorate for Christmas is hang our stockings – one for every person in the family. When Kenneth and I first started our family, our many homes over the first 20 years didn’t have a fireplace or mantle, so we hung our stockings on the stair banister. When we finally had a home with a fireplace mantle, we decided to stick with our earlier tradition of using the stair banister. And that’s what we are still doing – why break a good t

Date: Tuesday of the 4 th  Week of Advent Scripture Text:   Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 R. (see Luke 21:28)  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. R.  Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his

Last evening, I sat and stared at our Christmas tree and let my mind wander back to other Christmas seasons, Christmas trees, Christmas memories. This time of year is special for us as Christians because it marks our Savior’s birth. And the Christmas tree has come to be a symbol of God’s promise of life with Him which is everlasting and which began with Christ’s birth.   As I sat, my mind visited multiple eras of me as a child, of me as a parent of young children, of me as a

Date: Monday of the 4 th  Week of Advent Scripture Text:   Luke 1:46-56 Mary said: “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. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast dow

This past week, I noticed the joy on people’s faces as they held the doors open for me. I heard the joy in people’s voices as they said, “Merry Christmas.” And I found my own joy increasing. Joy is like that. It is contagious.   Watch the face of the adult in the pew behind the toddler who makes eye contact and smiles. The adult’s face lights up, too. Joy is contagious.   On our advent march to Christmas Day, we began with a week of hope, moved on to the week of peace, we jus

Date: 4 th  Sunday of Advent Scripture Text:   Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6. R. (7c and 10b)  Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. The LORD's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. R.  Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.

Yesterday, my husband was working in the basement. I heard his cell phone ring and him answer it.  A few minutes later he came upstairs beaming like a beacon. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he won the lottery. “Jacob called,” he told me, “he is putting in his kitchen backsplash, and he wondered if I was free to supervise.” Aren’t loving invitations powerful?   We have the opportunity daily to invite others to join us, to help us, to lead us.  We have the opportunit

Date: Saturday of the 3 rd  Week of Advent Scripture Text:   Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afra