Whispers From The Hill

March 5, 2017

READINGS: Genesis2: 7-9, 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4: 1-11

Any Jewish or Christian person with a basic knowledge of the Scriptures is well familiar with this Sunday’s First Reading from Genesis.

Have you ever noticed that no matter how many times we hear this story of the creation, the blessing, and ultimately the sin of Adam and Eve, we tend to almost always be fascinated, captivated, and drawn into it? I have a suspicion that at some level we are aware that we are listening to an often repeated chapter of our own life story.

As Catholic Christians, our baptism has made us a new creation in Christ. The Holy Spirit has breathed the very life of God into our souls. We have been empowered to confidently live our lives as a beloved daughter or son of God. Furthermore our baptism has called us into a unique partnership with God, to continue his work of using, sharing and improving the gift of all creation. There are no limits to this work, this sharing, this partnership, as long as we remember from whom the power comes. Yet this is exactly what our first parents, and WE forget.

In the midst of our delighting in the beauty, the knowledge, the limitless possibilities that the created world, indeed the entire universe, offers to us, we lose sight of our Source, the Lord of Creation. Losing sight of the Real Source invites us to entertain the notion to eat the forbidden fruit, so that we too, can be like God. Adam and Eve, and each one of us have gone to that forbidden place, and have eaten the forbidden fruit. Like our first parents who made loincloths to cover their naked, vulnerable selves, we fashion an ego centered persona to cover our real , fragile, broken selves.

But how amazing is God’s grace, God’s love, God’s forgiveness!
When we become aware of God’s grace, and choose to accept it, we in one form or another voice the words of today’s responsorial psalm ” Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned”
Can we begin this Lent with one heart, and joined hands, and reach back to all humanity, indeed even to Adam and Eve, and humbly and joyfully pray the last two verses of today’s psalm:

“A clean heart create for me O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.
Open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.”

Have a delightful Lent!
Sr. Gerrie Contento, M.P.F.

Readings: Is: 60: 1-6
Eph: 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Matt: 2: 1-12

Today’s readings fill us with hope…the waiting is over…a star has appeared…a Light has shone in the darkness. God has manifested himself to us by sending his only begotten son.

The shepherds in the fields were inspired by the angels to follow the star to the stable. As they approached, they saw this tiny, unassuming child lying in the manger.

They fell to their knees in unexpected homage for they felt the sacredness in this humble setting.

Unlike the poor shepherds, the Magi persevered in traveling a great distance from the East on their way to Bethlehem. It was a journey of wonder and anticipation as they followed the star, in search of the child who has been born king of the Jews. When the star stopped over the stable they were astonished at what they saw, yet overwhelmed with joy. They bowed down , and like the shepherds , worshipped him. The gifts they brought were an expression of their faith and trust, realizing who this simple, little child was. They brought gold for a king; frankincense for someone divine ,and myrrh for anointing at his burial. These wise men from the East looked for nothing in return but received the awesome gift of an encounter with the divine.

Can we, like the magi, keep our eyes fixed on the star so as to recognize our Lord and Savior even when we encounter him in unexpected people and in the simple wonders of everyday life?

Expect to be surprised with an overabundance of God’s gifts in 2017.

Sister Josita DiVita, F.D.C.

December 25, 2016
Readings from the Mass at Dawn
First Reading:      Isaiah 62: 11- 12
Second Reading:  Paul to Titus: 3:4 – 7
Gospel:                  Luke 2: 15 – 20

The Mystery of the Incarnation, like the other mysteries of our faith, are often captured in the lyrics of a hymn. The well known carol, “ What Child is This” touches our hearts and spirits with the reality, that the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of the Universe, manifests his presence in the  simplicity of a Babe resting in his mother’s arms.

“ What Child is this, who laid to rest
On Mary’s lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping.
Haste, haste, to bring him laud,
the Babe, the Son of Mary .”

St. Augustine, in his Sermons, 189,3, deepens our understanding and the challenging implications of the Mystery of the Incarnation.

“His Mother carried him in her womb, may we carry him in our hearts;
the Virgin became pregnant with the Incarnation of Christ, may our hearts become
pregnant with faith in Christ; she brought forth the Savior, may our souls bring forth
salvation and praise.
May our souls be not sterile, but fertile for God.”

May we all become pregnant with the true Love, Joy and Peace of Christmas, and share HIM our whole life long!

Enjoy a Holy, Healthy, Merry Christmas !!!

Sr. Gerrie Contento, M.P.F.

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