Don't Lose the Wonder If you don't have special times in your life that are liminal, that put the ordinary into eclipse, then you are condemned to a dull life of facts and predictability. You have no enchantment, and without the charm of the liminal your soul goes to sleep and you become like a robot. Your very humanity depends on the interplay of the ordinary and the wondrous. We all know that children are especially susceptible to the thin veil of Christmas, but in our own way we adults could be more open to its impact. You don't have to "believe" in Santa Claus to get into the spirit of the season or to be uplifted by its special charm, but you have to be aware of your need for light and have some hope and vision that light will be there. —from the book The Soul of Christmas | †Quote
"To use this life well is the pathway through death to everlasting life."
— St. John Almond MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Even if you do not confess, God is not ignorant of the deed, since he knew it before it was committed. Why then do you not speak of it? Does the transgression become heavier by the confession? No, it becomes lighter and less troublesome. And this is why he wants you to confess: not that you should be punished, but that you should be forgiven; not that he may learn your sin—how could that be, since he has seen it?—but that you may learn what favor he bestows. He wishes you to learn the greatness of his grace, so that you may praise him perfectly, that you may be slower to sin, that you may be quicker to virtue. And if you do not confess the greatness of the need, you will not understand the enormous magnitude of his grace."
— St. John Chrysostom, p. 255
AN EXCERPT FROM
A Year with Church Fathers VERSE OF THE DAY
"Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18 |  click to read more | | ST. NICHOLAS St. Nicholas of Myra (270 - 343 A.D.) was the only child of a wealthy Greek Christian couple living in what is today the country of Turkey. He was a pious child, and upon the death of his parents Nicholas was raised by an uncle who was a bishop. St. Nicholas grew in holiness, was ordained to the priesthood, and eventually consecrated a bishop. He was famous for generosity to the poor, protection of the wronged, zeal against heresy, and performance of miracles. Many famous legends are told of him. When a poverty-stricken man was to be forced to sell his daughters into slavery, St. Nicholas secretly tossed bags of coins into their home to serve as the girls' dowry, thus enabling them to marry and be provided for. The money was said to have landed in their stockings drying by the fireplace, which is the origin of gifts in children's stockings and shoes at Christmastime. At the Council of Nicea, Nicholas prevailed against the heretic bishop Arius; he was also instrumental in defending the doctrine of Jesus' divinity and formulating the Nicene Creed. His relics are still preserved in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Italy. On his feast day they emit a miraculous myrrh, which is distributed around the world. Many countries have the custom of making him the secret giver of gifts to children on his feast day. In the United States, for example, he is celebrated as "Santa Claus," who distributes gifts to children on Christmas Eve. St. Nicholas of Myra is the patron saint of many causes, professions, cities, and countries; but he is most notably the patron of children, sailors, prisoners, and maidens seeking to marry. His feast day is December 6th. | Thursday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you." Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor. Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. Alleluia Is 55:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 7:21, 24-27 Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
| Meditation: Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
Saint Nicholas, Bishop (Optional Memorial) We bless you from the house of the Lord. (Psalm 118:26) For many children, today is a special day. On the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, they put their shoes outside their bedroom door before they go to bed, and in the morning they find treats inside them. St. Nick has made a visit! The real St. Nicholas was born in 270 of wealthy parents who died in an epidemic while he was young. Raised by an uncle who was a monk, Nicholas was eventually ordained a priest. He spent years as a pilgrim in the Holy Land, and when he returned, he was consecrated the bishop of Myra, a city in southwestern Turkey. A bold defender of the divinity of Christ during the Council of Nicaea, Nicholas died on December 6, 343. Countless stories have come down through the centuries of Nicholas' remarkable generosity. According to one famous story, Nicholas helped a poor man who had no money for a dowry for his three daughters. Without a dowry, they would remain unmarried and possibly end up having to support themselves as prostitutes. So Nicholas threw a bag of gold into the man's window one night, and did it again as each of the other two daughters came of age. (Thus began the tradition of St. Nick secretly giving children gifts.) How can we be a blessing to other people as St. Nicholas was? By being as generous as we can. By imitating Nicholas' habit of giving ourselves to other people through acts of love, compassion, and kindness. Every day, God gives us opportunities to bless people by giving of ourselves, just as he does. Every day, he invites us to share in the joy he has in pouring himself out for his children. God has been generous to you in so many ways. Today, in response to that generosity, ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you. Ask him to show you too how deeply he has blessed you. Then let your love and gratitude for these blessings flow out of you to help lift up the distressed, the poor, the lost, and the needy. As you become a blessing to others, you will be blessed as well! "Lord, show me how I can be more generous to the people around me this Advent season." Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Isaiah 26:1-6 | 2 cents :
We open up today with the Word of God: "Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith." Our Lord is the way. What does a faithful nation look like? In the book of Revelation it says "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war." What does a faithful nation look like? Peaceful? Probably not. It is one always fighting for the truth and righteousness. In God, there is one nation. Jesus is King. Make way for the King, His way. Prior to this Revelation verse it says: "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." And this is why we are baptized prophets. We are baptized into His Body. How does this work? One body. One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. We are the body, we are the nation. We are the people of God. We are called to communion. A common union. Jesus opens the gates with His life. And He invites us into His life. Gates open when hearts open wide. The Word says today: "Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places" | Let us pray: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. " I would say, that in this world, it is hard to trust anybody, and anything. There is only one we can trust in, it is the Lord. But when one does not trust in the Lord, nothing at all can be trusted, not even oneself. Yet, the inverse is true. If you can trust in the Lord, you can trust the Body of Christ. And you are incorporated to this great honor. Blessed indeed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Holy souls exist. I seen some already. Souls willing to give up their lives for God. They are strange people, walking saints. Humble and easily forgettable, but not to Jesus. And so what love matters? Jesus. Trust in His great love. | In the Holy Gospel, Jesus, the King, our Lord says ""Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." This flies directly opposite to those in the protestant world teaching that just believe and you're saved. This flies in the face of those who believe they will die and fly straight to Heaven. This flies in the face of all who have lost humility. This flies in the face of one who spends time on their knees at home and nowhere else. What does this mean? Jesus is in the world. Jesus desires His will to be done through you and through me. What is God's will? Man. I've read and searched. Why do we make His will so complex and perplexing? God's will is like this: Mary, accepting Jesus, carrying Him, caring for Him, through thick and thin, and seeing Him through to the end. It's not about me anymore. It's about Him. Less of me, more of Him. I must decrease, He must increase. ""Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. " And we just read that our Lord is an eternal rock. A rock that was rejected. The cornerstone that now stands firm forever. What is your life based on? For many, I look around, they set their lives on temporal things, shifting things, like work, family, ideals that don't last. "Everyone who listens". What is "listening"? Isn't it a constant thing to be listening? Listen to Him. Listen for Him. God speaks. I have no doubt. Daily. And He can speak through people, nature, and direct to the heart. How do you know it is Him? When you are called to holiness, the Way, His way, to be one with Him in every sense of the Word. Your eyes have been blessed for reading this, now let your heart be blessed. So, do you have the will of God? The will to go where no other goes (typically)? The way of sacrifice. I've been on a 40 day fast for our Lord's birth. It's good to hold 2 fasts for the coming of our Lord, one for Christmas and the other for Easter. Why? It is His will, isn't it? He fasted. Why? Holiness. It brings us closer to Our Father. Therefore, even prayer is more efficacious. The true spirit of Christmas is Jesus, the ultimate giver. For this we must realize His will. Humility gives it all.
He's all in.
Are you?
Am I? Lord, you are so powerfully wonderful. You are! Lord, show us your will every day, and let us take to your way. Let us prepare room like no other. Let us make you special so the whole world will see the true light...of eternal life. | |
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