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December 18, 2016:
First Reading: Isaiah 7: 10 – 14
Second Reading: Romans 1: 1 – 7
Gospel: Matthew: 1: 18 – 24

Angels, apparitions, annunciations, life changing messages embedded in dreams!!!

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about” Matt. 1:10

How could this be possible ?

A young Jewish Virgin – Mary, a just Jewish man – Joseph, had learned from many of their ancestors to notice, pay attention to, and savor the subtle promptings of the Spirit of God.

Like Noah, his wife and family, like Abraham and Sarah, like Moses and his sister, Miriam, and countless others, Mary and Joseph listened to, and took a faith filled leap into the unknown, and seemingly impossible promises made to them by God. Their decision, their choice, their Yes, prepared a way for God to be God, so that His love would give all humanity the Gift of Jesus, Savior of the world.

What about us? We are the men and women of good will now living in this world of distractions and complications. But, we too, have inherited the wisdom and good example from a long line of faith filled people. Are we awake to the promptings of the Spirit? Do we trust in the Living God of our Judeo-Christian heritage? Can we make the life changing, life giving choices even when they are difficult and counter cultural?

Do we surrender to the Living, Loving God who longs to show the world over and over again that “With God, all things are possible.”

Perhaps we can use this prayer, written by Thomas Merton, during the remainder of Advent, as a reminder that Emmanuel is still with us, and that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in every moment of our lives.

“God of surprises, let us be your Christ bearer, your servant, your deacon in this world grown too distracting and complicated. Make us ready for the gifts that you give, the grace that you impart, the opportunities that you make available to help us grow in holiness. Grant that our eyes may be open to see, our ears to listen, our hearts to love, and our mouths to laugh with delight and joy when our awareness of your presence informs any moment of our lives. Amen.”

Let us continue to wait and watch with joy filled anticipation for the coming of the Lord!

Sr. Gerrie Contento, M.P.F.

December 11, 2016:
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1- 6a, 10
Second Reading: James 5: 7-10
Gospel: Matt. 11: 2-11

This Sunday’s readings are filled with joyful anticipation. No wonder it used to be called in Latin “Gaudete” Sunday…”Rejoice”. The priest sometimes wears rose colored vestments instead of the more subdued purple and the third advent wreath candle is pink to enhance the feeling of joy as we draw more closely to the time of the coming of our savior.

But this is a season of waiting and waiting can bring either a sense of annoyance or dread or of excitement.

Waiting on line, for instance, in the post office or grocery store (especially if we are in a hurry) can cause us to be frustrated or irritated and not very friendly to the people around us. Waiting for a call about a terminally ill relative or friend seems like an eternity.

But also think of the times we have waited for a baby to be born, or a faraway friend to come to visit or a seed to blossom into a beautiful flower. How anxiously we await the wonderful event and how eager we are to share this good news with others.

It is in this second way that we wait in hope and joy for the coming of Christmas, the coming of Christ. Hope is coming, love is coming, peace is coming. Actually, what we joyfully wait and hope for is already here….Jesus is with us, God’s kingdom is within each of us. Matthew 11 tells us John prepared the way for Jesus, and sends his disciples to ask ” : Are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another?” Jesus replies “The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” What wonderful news that is and we, too, are sent to prepare the way of the Lord and proclaim the good news that God is present in our lives. If we open our eyes to those around us, perhaps we can be his eyes, his ears and his hands of compassion, and find Jesus in a neighbor who needs help or a tired cashier who appreciates a kind word, a lonely person in a hospital or nursing home who would love a visit.

Maybe we’ll find him in the eyes of a puppy begging for a treat or in the awesome beauty of a spectacular sunrise! As Melannie Svoboda SND said, ” you might even find Jesus when you look in the mirror”! 

If we truly believe this, the joyful anticipation we have for Christ’s birth will be more meaningful because we know that the kingdom of Christ is already here, born in the heart of each of us.

May this Advent bring us peace and joy as we celebrate the presence of Christ already in our lives.

Sister Josita DiVita, F.D.C.

December 4, 2016 First Reading: Isaiah: 11: 1 – 10
Second Reading: Romans 15: 4 – 9
Gospel: Matthew: 3: 1 – 12

November 27, 2016: First Reading: Isaiah2: 1 – 5
Second Reading: Romans 13: 11 – 14
Gospel: Matthew: 24: 37 – 44

It would be quite dramatic if this Sunday’s second reading were accompanied by the blare of trumpets, the roll of drums, and streaks of lightning and thunder in the sky. That would surely wake us up from sleep!

Advent does have the power to awaken us to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that turned the Blessed Virgin’s life upside down, is the same Spirit that calls us to be surprised that “our salvation is nearer” to us than we realize. Each Advent we are moved to emerge from the dark night of sin and approach with hope the coming of the Light of Dawn. We are challenged to toss aside our self absorbed way of life, and hold fast to the Gospel mandate – love and care for one another. We are further prompted to stand in that Light and really see the needy, the suffering, the poor, the sick, and the goodness, the hopes, and the desires within their hearts.

In short we will wake up to the presence of Jesus within them. And, at some God Graced moment , we will hear the trumpets, drums, thunder, and the lightning will reveal to us the presence of Jesus within us.

And together, all God’s people will witness once again the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Have a happy and blessed Advent!

You may wish to use this blessing at your table on Thanksgiving Day:

God, source and giver of all things,
we give you thanks on this Thanksgiving Day
for the beauty of the whole of creation.

We give you thanks for the blessings of family
and friends: both those gathered around this table
and those who are present in our hearts.

We give you thanks for this food, prepared by
loving hands, and for the graces you provide
to nourish our bodies, minds and hearts so that
we might better serve you.

Amen.

Sister Josita is back with some words of inspiration to awaken and nurture your spiritual life during this season of giving.

“Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than abundance itself” Rumi

“Everything is a gift . . . The degree to which we are awake to this truth is a measure of our gratefulness.” Br. D. Steindl – Rast

“Give thanks. not just on Thanksgiving Day, but everyday of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have” Catherine Pulsiver

“When eating a piece of fruit, thank the person who planted the tree” Vietnamese Proverb

Look for new posts for Whispers from the Hill throughout the fall season.