A New Year's Blessing for all who visit here...

 
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Happy New Year!

I hope and pray that the New Year we have just entered will be filled with peace for you and those you love. 

I pray that the New Year will unite us in the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus. 

And I pray that 2012 will find us growing together in holiness, health and happiness!

Happy New Year!



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The new year comes just one day at a time...

H/T to FB friend, JMcG, for posting this quote from a wise man:

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."

~ Abraham Lincoln

Since the healthiest way to live is to live one day at a time, Lincoln's words are, indeed, good advice!

And it's something worth keeping in our minds and hearts as we look toward a new year stretching ahead of us.

Remember: 2011 is only going to come to us one day at a time...

Or, as Jesus put it:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'

All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

-Matthew 6:25-34

 
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Just in time for making New Year's resolutions!

H/T to Deacon Greg at his Bench for linking to James Martin's piece at the Huffington Post. Lots of wisdom here whether you're planning on making New Year's resolutions or not.

For a lark yesterday, on my 50th birthday, I Tweeted 12 things that I wish I had known at 25. Or more accurately, 12 things that, had I put them into action, would have made my life a lot easier. Some are bits of advice that wisdom figures have told me and took years to sink in. Others are the result of some hard knocks. A few are insights from the great spiritual masters that I've adapted for my own life. Maybe a few will help someone you know who's 25. Maybe one or two will help you.

1. First up: Stop worrying so much! It's useless. (I.e. Jesus was right.)

2. Being a saint means being yourself. Stop trying to be someone else and just be your best self. Saves you heartache.

3. There's no right way to pray, any more than there's a right way to be a friend. What's "best" is what works best for you.

4. Remember three things and save yourself lots of unneeded heartache: You're not God. This ain't heaven. Don't act like a jerk.

5. Your deepest, most heartfelt desires are God's desires for you. And vice versa. Listen. And follow them.

6. Within you is the idea of your best self. Act as if you were that person and you will become that person, with God's grace.

7. Don't worry too much about the worst that can happen. Even if it happens, God is with you, and you can handle it. Really.

8. You can't force people to approve of you, agree with you, be impressed with you, love you or even like you. Stop trying.

9. When we compare, we are usually imagining someone else's life falsely. So our real-life loses out. I.e. Compare and despair.

10. Even when you finally realized the right thing, or the Christian thing, to do, it can still be hard to do. Do it anyway.

11. Seven things to say frequently: I love you. Thank you. Thank you, God. Forgive me. I'm so happy for you! Why not? Yes.

12. Peace and joy come after asking God to free you -- from anything that keeps you from being loving and compassionate.

 
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As one year ends, another begins... in prayer

As we approach the end of the calendar year, I offer you this prayer
with the hope these words might help us walk gracefully into 2011...

Good Lord,
it is the last day of 2010...

Only a few hours left in this old year
which seemed so new,
oh, not-so-long ago...

Where has the old year gone, Lord?
How did it go?

And how did I go with you, Lord,
these past twelve months?

I remember the times
we walked and talked together,
you and I...

And I remember the times
when I forgot, somehow,
that you were right there by my side...

I remember the times when you took delight
in my words and my work
and I remember the times I ignored and forgot you
- and still you loved me
and forgave me...

Nothing I have done, Lord,
merits all you have given me:
your love is grace and pure gift...

In return I offer so little
and I have so little to offer...

But there comes a new year, Lord,
and with it my prayer
to live a life more worthy
of all you so freely give me...

In this new year, Lord,
make strong my resolve to be faithful,
make deep my trust in your presence
and make sure my hope in your promise,
for without your help
I will fail...

Lord, you offer me only
what is true and pure,
good and just, strong and graced...

In this new year, help me to recognize
what is false, cheap and sham...
 
Help me to settle for nothing less
than what comes from your heart and hand...

Nourish me, Lord:
give me a hunger for what is genuine,
a thirst for what is holy,
a wisdom for discerning your gifts...

It is the last night of the old year, Lord...

Shake from my heart what has no place there
and wake my heart
to the gift of your grace
at the dawn of a new beginning...

Amen.



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New Year's resolutions

Although my Morning Offering for Monday of this week was ready to go, I forgot, in the Christmas rush, to hit "publish" and get it up on the page here!

H/T to JD for pointing out its absence to me on Monday afternoon!

I thought it might be helpful to publish it again, closer to New Year's Day, for those who might be considering making resolutions.

Good morning, good God!

New Year's Eve comes this week

and it's time to make some resolutions...

No one knows better than you, Lord,

how my track record

for keeping resolutions I’ve made in the past,

at New Year’s and on Ash Wednesdays

and all those other times

when I resolved to do this or that,

or to stop doing such and such

- and then just a few days later…

You know how that usually goes, Lord,

so this morning I offer,

I place the new year

all in your hands...

I offer you this new year, Lord,

trusting that you plan on adding

another year to my life…

I offer you my heart for this year ahead

and pray that you soften my heart where it's stony,

that you smooth its rough edges

and heal its brokenness –

not so much for my sake –

but for those who will count on my heart

and its love

in 2011...

I offer you my mind and my will in this new year, Lord,

and pray that you help me sort through

my doubts and my questions,

my confusion and lack of trust...

I ask that you hone my mind with your truth,

that you expand my thinking where it narrows

and open me to learn what I need to know...

I offer you my body in this year ahead, Lord:

help me respect and care for the flesh and bone

that give form to my soul:

get me out of bed, off the couch and up from the chair

and move, shake, walk and strengthen

me and my mortal frame

for the work you give me to do…

And I offer you my spirit, Lord, my soul:

give me the courage and perseverance I need

to walk each day with you, my hand in yours,

your arm 'round my shoulder, guiding my way...

I offer you my time in 2011, Lord:

teach me not to waste this precious gift:

fill my days with energy

and the will to live by your word

and work for your glory;

fill my nights with deep and restful sleep

and prepare me for what you would make of my life

in the next twelve months...

I offer you my imagination in the new year, Lord:

make my thoughts pure, my dreams sweet,

my intentions just, my ideas honest, my plans firm,

my goals true, my hopes rooted in your promises…

In the new year, Lord,

I lift up to you those you’ve entrusted to my heart:

anyone who looks to me and leans on me

for support and care and hope...

Make me faithful to those who depend on me, Lord,

but not so strong

that I fail to depend and lean on others

who offer me support and strength…

I offer you my bounty in the year ahead, Lord:

help me know the difference

between what I desire and what I truly need;

teach me to share what I have,

especially when I have more than I need;

teach me to see others’ needs before my own

and to care for them before I care for myself…

I offer you, Lord, the challenges of the year ahead:

give me the wisdom and strength I'll need

to face and work through them...

And I offer you the burdens and sorrows

the new year will bring:

give me strength to carry them

and consolation as I bear with them...

I offer you the joys of the new year, Lord:

let me not miss one of them,

let me delight in each of them

and let me share them with others...

I offer you the year ahead, Lord,

with its months as 12 new chapters

in the book of my life:

help me see the story of your love

in the days of each month;

show me the clues that resolve the mysteries

that confuse and baffle me;

let me see how these new chapters

follow from what has been

and lead to what is yet to come...

Be the Author of the chapters of my life, Lord,

and let your words and your story

shape the person you created me to be…

I offer you the new year, Lord,

and pray that I will come to its end

in your peace

and in the embrace of your arms…

Amen.

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January 1 on the Church calendar

This icon by Aidan Hart is titled, The Mother of God and Savior. Notice that although Jesus is imaged as as a child, his muscularity and strength are beyond his years. At the same time, Mary is rendered as great, indeed "large enough" to be the Mother of God. A similar shift in proportion is at work in the familiar Pieta where the figure of Mary is much larger than the Christ she holds in her lap. (Click on the image for a larger version.)

January 1 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God on the liturgical calendar. On the civil calendar it is New Year's Day. It is also the World Day of Peace and the 2011 edition of the pope's annual message for this occasion can be found here.

The scriptures for this day are, I believe, the shortest lections of the whole liturgical year. You can find them here.

Neil, a regular contributor to Todd's blog, Catholic Sensibility, has a fine post on the gospel for January 1.

 
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Posts preparing for Epiphany

I've published a short series of posts titled, Preparing for Epiphany and you'll find them gathered here.

As you ponder and make resolutions for the New Year, consider resolving to prepare for Sunday Mass by taking some time in the week before by reading, studying and praying over the scriptures we'll hear proclaimed.

Every week this page publishes a link to the readings and commentary on them, a brief overview of the coming Sunday's scriptures and a link for helping children prepare to hear the Word at Mass.

Can's say we don't provide the tools to work with!

 
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Amazing new take on - PANTS!

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Preparing for Epiphany: The Word of the Lord!

Three Kings by He Qi

Of course, far more important than the poetry and song in the preceding posts is the Word of the Lord to be proclaimed on the Solemnity of the Epiphany this weekend!

You'll find the readings and commentary of them here.  (I offer this link every week and encourage you to follow it but this feast, especially, has scriptural and calendar background that you'll find not only helpful but interesting.)

The first reading, from Isaiah, proclaims how the faith of those who worship in Jerusalem will draw all peoples, the Chosen and the Gentiles, to itself.  You'll easily see the influence of this text on the Gospel from Matthew, the only evangelist to give us the story of the Magi.  Paul, writing to the Ephesians, echoes the same message.

If you're bringing children to Mass this weekend, take a look here for hints on helping our younger brothers and sisters prepare to hear the Word.

While pondering the scriptures you might enjoy listening to the Robert Shaw Chorale rendition of the hymn so long associated with this feast: We Three Kings.




 
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Preparing for Epiphany: The Queens Came Late

Epiphany by Janet McKenzie - Bridge Building Icons

We don't know much about the Magi in Matthew's gospel but we know that following them to the Christ Child is a long line of wise women and men who seek the One who saves us. 

The interpretation of Epiphany (above) portrays women from around the world gathered with their sister, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  Janet McKenzie's painting has been praised for its "powerful, protective and tender manifestation of a mother and child, embraced and nurtured by a loving community... a global inclusiveness proclaiming again and anew: Christ for all people. God's favor extends to all!"

I've taken delight for many years in sharing this poem at Epiphany and I'm pleased to do so again in preparation for Sunday's feast...

The Queens Came Late

The Queens came late, but the Queens were there
With gifts in their hands and crowns in their hair.
They'd come, these three, like the Kings, from far,
Following, yes, that guiding star.
They'd left their ladles, linens, looms,
Their children playing in nursery rooms,
And told their sitters:
"Take charge! For this
Is a marvelous sight we must not miss!"
The Queens came late, but not too late
To see the animals small and great,
Feathered and furred, domestic and wild,
Gathered to gaze at a mother and child.
And rather than frankincense and myrrh
And gold for the babe, they brought for her
Who held him, a homespun gown of blue,
And chicken soup--with noodles, too-
And a lingering, lasting, cradle-song.
The Queens came late and stayed not long,
For their thoughts already were straining far-
Past manger and mother and guiding star
And a child aglow as a morning sun-
Toward home and children and chores undone.

-Norma Farber in When It Snowed That Night



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Preparing for Epiphany: Overheard in the caravan...

Magi 1 by Della Conroy

I've posted two samples of Epiphany verse: a poem by T.S. Eliot and a song by James Taylor.  

Here's my own contribution:

Overheard in the caravan,
going home by another way...

With myrrh, frankincense and gold we set out,
now empty-handed we're homeward bound.

Empty saddlebags on the camels
and our hearts full of questions…

Did we leave the presents
with the right king?

One king in a palace, warm, fine and plush;
the other in a barn, all muck and hay  – and oh, the smell!

But did we leave the presents
with the right king?

Oh, I think so!
Remember Herod’s eyes, envy-green?

But ah, the innocence of the child
who but cried and nursed and slept…

I think I saw him smile once!
And clearly, his parents needed the help.

No newborn’s parents would have turned down the gold,
but they were honest folk…

You could see it in her face
and in the way he cared for her and for the child.

They’ll save our gifts for when they need them
and mark my words: they will need them…

But did we find the one we sought?
Was it his star?  What if we were wrong?

His star it was, indeed: a star of mystery
beyond the wisdom of us all.

We may not understand but we know:
it was his star…

What next, then? What to tell the folks at home
of what we saw - and did not see?

And what will they think of us and our tale
of a manger throne in a barn of a palace?

They’ll likely think us fools and I wonder, still, myself
if we found anything or everything - or even more than all…

A trip we won’t forget, that’s sure,
nor him we found nor those we met along the way…

And the angel in the dream
with warning – just in time!

Now this way home,
another way…

A new way now,
the way of dreams…

So mind the star,
it’s still above…

But fading fast,
so keep the pace…


 
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Preparing for Epiphany: T.S. Eliot and James Taylor

Journey of the Magi by James Tissot

Journey of the Magi

'A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
and running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arriving at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you might say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

- T.S. Eliot

A more contemporary poet, James Taylor, comes at the same topic in his song, Home By Another Way. The lyrics are just below the widget with the audio:




Home By Another Way

Those magic men the Magi
Some people call them wise
Or Oriental, even kings
Well anyway, those guys
They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme
They went home by another way

Yes they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys too
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He'll comb your camel's fur
Until his boys announce they've found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh

Time to go home by another way
Home by another way
You have to figure the Gods saying play the odds
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Home is where they want you now
You can more or less assume that you'll be welcome in the end
Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so
Or fantasize his features when you're looking at a friend

Well it pleasures me to be here
And to sing this song tonight
They tell me that life is a miracle
And I figured that they're right
But Herod's always out there
He's got our cards on file
It's a lead pipe cinch, if we give an inch
Old Herod likes to take a mile

It's best to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

- James Taylor



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Preparing for Epiphany: It's all in the eyes!

Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Mantegna

It's all in the eyes!

(Be sure to click on the image for a larger, more detailed version)

The magi offer the Christ Child their gifts, but they still gaze up and off into the distance. Perhaps they are inquiring of the star: "Is this really the One to whom you have drawn us?"

And Joseph... Joseph keeps his eye on these wealthy visitors... "How came they knocking on my door?" he must wonder. 'Their gifts are extravagant! What will I need to provide for my wife and the child? What do these strangers want?"

Not surprisingly, Mother Mary simply keeps her eye on the child of her womb. Might she see in this unexpected visit the twists and turns her child's life will take? But see, too, how she offers the child, holding him forth, already aware that she will, in the end, need to give him away to all who come looking for him...

The Infant's eyes and visage tell us clearly that he has no need of these fine offerings... He wants something from each of us but what he desires comes in neither coffer nor cup ... What he desires comes only in our hearts...

Child of Mary's womb,
apple of Joseph's eye,
welcome us when we come to you:
to visit, to pray,
simply to draw near...

Set our gaze on only that star
whose light leads us
along the path of your truth...

Teach us to make of our hearts
the finest gift we have to offer
to you and to others...

When we wonder if we have found you
- or lost you -
deepen our faith
in your faithful pursuit
of us, our lives and our love...

Shine, appear and reveal
the beauty of your face to us
that we might never fail to see you
in all we meet and know...

Guide us, Lord Jesus, by your perfect light...




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Drive for 5 or 6 seconds with your eyes closed?

H/T to the Deacon's Bench


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Snow and silence...

The Anchoress has two fine posts on snow and silence, here and here, with a resolution for cultivating a love for silence in the New Year.

Thank you, Elizabeth: these reflections are very much worth our consideration!


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Preparing for Epiphany: Blessing your home!

It's an old custom to bless homes on Epiphany which is celebrated this year on this coming Sunday, January 2, 2011.

Some parishes provide blessed chalk for marking the front door as part of this house blessing.  If not, you may use your own chalk.

The Blessing of a House on the Feast of the Epiphany

All gather at the front door and one person is chosen as the Leader of prayer.

Leader:

In the name of the Father 
and of the Son 
and of the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

Peace be with this house and with all who live here.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever.

During these days of the Christmas season,

we keep this feast of Epiphany,

celebrating the manifestation of Christ to the Magi.

Today Christ is manifest to us!

Today this home is a holy place. 

The lintel above the door is marked.  If a number of people are present, individuals might be invited to mark the several elements of the inscription as found below. 

The traditional marking of the doorway commemorates the three magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) and gives the calendar year already recently begun. The markings for this year are:

20 + C + M + B + 11

One person is chosen to read the gospel:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father's only Son,

full of grace and truth.

All who are present proceed from one room to the next,

asking God’s blessing on all that takes place in that room:

Lord, bless this room 
and bless those who dwell here
with faith, hope and love.

Coming finally to the dining room or kitchen table,

all join in praying the Lord’s Prayer…

after which the Leader prays:

Lord God of Heaven and earth,

You revealed your only begotten Son to every nation

by the guidance of a star.

Bless this house and all who live here.

Fill them with the light of Christ,

that their concern for others may reflect your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

All join in singing a Christmas hymn 
(Silent Night or O Come All Ye Faithful or We Three Kings) 
and perhaps enjoy some refreshments.

 
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Word for the Weekend: January 2 - Epiphany!

Three Kings by James Christiansen

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. You'll find the readings and commentary of them here.  (I offer this link every week and encourage you to follow it but this feast, especially, has scriptural and calendar background that you'll find not only helpful but interesting.)

The first reading, from Isaiah, proclaims how the faith of those who worship in Jerusalem will draw all peoples, the Chosen and the Gentiles, to itself.  You'll easily see the influence of this text on the Gospel from Matthew, the only evangelist to give us the story of the Magi.  Paul, writing to the Ephesians, echoes the same message.

If you're bringing children to Mass this weekend, take a look here for hints on helping our younger brothers and sisters prepare to hear the Word.

While pondering the scriptures you might enjoy listening to the Robert Shaw Chorale rendition of the hymn so long associated with this feast: We Three Kings.



 
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Maria lactans: Mary nursing

Maria Lactans by Leonardo da Vinci

This fine essay speaks to an image of Mary we seldom see in contemporary art: Maria lactans (Mary nursing). Earlier artists were less reluctant to paint and sculpt the Madonna and Child in this way. Here's a link to a gallery of paintings on the same theme.

As we contemplate Mary and her newborn son, the image of him nursing at her breasts offers us an intimate epiphany of Mary as the Mother of God.

These words from St. Ephrem's hymn on the Nativity delight in this natural and maternal nourishment:

Mary bore a mute Babe
though in him were hidden all our tongues.
Joseph carried him,
yet hidden in him was a silent nature older than everything.
The Lofty One became like a little child,
yet hidden in him was a treasure of Wisdom that suffices for all.
He was lofty
but he sucked Mary's milk,
and from his blessings all creation sucks.
He is the Living Breast of living breath;
by his life the dead were suckled, and they revived.
Without the breath of air no one can live;
without the power of the Son no one can rise.
Upon the living breath of the One who vivifies all
depend the living beings above and below.
As indeed he sucked Mary's milk,
he has given suck -- life to the universe.
As again he dwelt in his mother's womb,
in his womb dwells all creation.
Mute he was as a babe,
yet he gave to all creation all his commands.
For without the First-Born no one is able to approach Being,
for he alone is capable of it.

-St. Ephrem



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Tidings of great joy!

Pastors, preachers and ministers of word, sacrament, music and environment: rejoice and praise God from whom all blessings flow!

In 2011, Christmas Day is on a Sunday!

The not-so-good news is that this won't happen again for a while:

Christmas in 2012 is on Tuesday, December 25
Christmas in 2013 is on Wednesday, December 25
Christmas in 2014 is on Thursday, December 25
Christmas in 2015 is on Friday, December 25
Christmas in 2016 is on Sunday, December 25
Christmas in 2017 is on Monday, December 25

 
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Monday Morning Offering - 125

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza


Good morning, good God!

New Year's Eve comes this week
and it's time to make some resolutions...

No one knows better than you, Lord,
how my track record
for keeping resolutions I’ve made in the past,
at New Year’s and on Ash Wednesdays
and all those other times
when I resolved to do this or that,
or to stop doing such and such
- and then just a few days later…

You know how that usually goes, Lord,
so this morning I offer,
I place the new year
all in your hands...

I offer you this new year, Lord,
trusting that you plan on adding
another year to my life…

I offer you my heart for this year ahead
and pray that you soften my heart where it's stony,
that you smooth its rough edges
and heal its brokenness –
not so much for my sake –
but for those who will count on my heart
and its love
in 2011...

I offer you my mind and my will in this new year, Lord,
and pray that you help me sort through
my doubts and my questions,
my confusion and lack of trust...

I ask that you hone my mind with your truth,
that you expand my thinking where it narrows
and open me to learn what I need to know...

I offer you my body in this year ahead, Lord:
help me respect and care for the flesh and bone
that give form to my soul:
get me out of bed, off the couch and up from the chair
and move, shake, walk and strengthen
me and my mortal frame
for the work you give me to do…

And I offer you my spirit, Lord, my soul:
give me the courage and perseverance I need
to walk each day with you, my hand in yours,
your arm 'round my shoulder, guiding my way...

I offer you my time in 2011, Lord:
teach me not to waste this precious gift:
fill my days with energy
and the will to live by your word
and work for your glory;
fill my nights with deep and restful sleep
and prepare me for what you would make of my life
in the next twelve months...

I offer you my imagination in the new year, Lord:
make my thoughts pure, my dreams sweet,
my intentions just, my ideas honest, my plans firm,
my goals true, my hopes rooted in your promises…

In the new year, Lord,
I lift up to you those you’ve entrusted to my heart:
anyone who looks to me and leans on me
for support and care and hope...

Make me faithful to those who depend on me, Lord,
but not so strong
that I fail to depend and lean on others
who offer me support and strength…

I offer you my bounty in the year ahead, Lord:
help me know the difference
between what I desire and what I truly need;
teach me to share what I have,
especially when I have more than I need;
teach me to see others’ needs before my own
and to care for them before I care for myself…

I offer you, Lord, the challenges of the year ahead:
give me the wisdom and strength I'll need
to face and work through them...

And I offer you the burdens and sorrows
the new year will bring:
give me strength to carry them
and consolation as I bear with them...

I offer you the joys of the new year, Lord:
let me not miss one of them,
let me delight in each of them
and let me share them with others...

I offer you the year ahead, Lord,
with its months as 12 new chapters
in the book of my life:
help me see the story of your love
in the days of each month;
show me the clues that resolve the mysteries
that confuse and baffle me;
let me see how these new chapters
follow from what has been
and lead to what is yet to come...

Be the Author of the chapters of my life, Lord,
and let your words and your story
shape the person you created me to be…

I offer you the new year, Lord,
and pray that I will come to its end
in your peace
and in the embrace of your arms…



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Evening Prayer on a Snowy Day

Photo: Jeff Holmes

Good evening, good God!

So busy are we
about so many trivial things...
Perhaps that's why
you spent the late afternoon
blanketing us with snow,
slowing our steps,
hitting our pause button
and grinding the traffic of our business
to a halt.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I needed that, Lord.
I needed to be inconvenienced,
interrupted, slowed down
- stopped -
by the pure, soft beauty
of your presence,
settling gently, flake by flake;
dressing me and my world
in a garment of pure grace...

Let your snow fall upon my upturned face, Lord:
as a child catches snow flakes on the tongue
let me taste the sweetness of your advent...

Am I too old, Lord,
for making angels in the snow?
Then send a snowy angel
to make of me
what you will...

Even as the snow chills my limbs
let your touch melt my heart
and draw me inside
to where the fire of your love
burns for me always,
crackling, bright and warm...

Remind me, Lord,
of those who are burdened by the weather
and empty my purse and pockets
in support of those who serve and shelter them...

Later, Lord,
the snow will slow and stop
and our pace will quicken once again...


Even then, keep us mindful of these moments
when the blanket of your presence
stills and warms our hearts
close to you.

Amen.

 
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Holy Family Sunday

A Quiet Moment by Timothy P. Schmalz

Because Christmas Day was a Saturday, we did not celebrate our usual 5:00 liturgy yesterday. This morning, the preaching duties were carried out by a visiting priest and two of my deacons, so I have no Holy Family homily to post.

Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz has a number of Holy Family pieces including the one above, a few more below and more here.

Adoring Him by Timothy P. Schmalz

Tranquility by Timothy P. Schmalz

 
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Oh, Christmas Tree!

Photo: CP

From my home to yours: Merry Christmas!


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Is there room in the inn tonight?

Image: Dowrummel

Homily for Christmas 2010

(Scriptures for Mass at Midnight)

The first Mass on the Christmas schedule, 4:00 p.m. in my parish, always draws the largest of all our large Christmas assemblies. It’s not unusual for us to begin this 4:00 liturgy as much as 10 minutes early because at that point the church has already overflowed its confines and, well, there’s no more room in the inn!

Given the number of young families with children who come to this first Christmas liturgy, it’s been my practice for years to prepare one homily for this Mass and another for the rest of the Christmas schedule - as I did this week. 

This year I followed my usual practice but realized after the 4:00 that I preferred that homily to the other one tucked in my drawer in the sacristy. So I preached the 4:00 homily at the 6:30 p.m. and the Midnight Masses, too.

Although I almost always preach from a text, at this 4:00 Mass I went “textless.” As a result, I have only the audio below to offer you.

Merry Christmas!


Audio for homily



 
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