Whispers From The Hill

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.

Scriptures of the Day
Acts 10: 34a, 37 – 43
Colossians 3: 1 – 4
John 20: 1 – 9

HE LIVES !!! HE SPEAKS !!! “Why do you look for the living among the dead ?”

“I have risen and I am still with you.”

“Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.”

We feebly try to respond with profundity to the mystery of the Resurrection, but we cannot quite capture its essence. We probably would do better if we used the arts( poetry, music, art, dance) to express the wonder, the awe, the ongoing effect the Resurrection has on all humanity.

And so, I offer for reflection, not my words, but the words of Pope Benedict XVI.

“Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being: the cry for unending life which is a part of the person is indeed answered. Through Jesus we do know the room where exiled love lays down its victory. He himself is this place, and he calls us to be with him and in dependence on him. He calls us to keep this place open within the world so that he, the exiled love, may reappear over and over in the world . . . God exists: that is the real message of Easter. Anyone who even begins to grasp what this means also knows what it means to be redeemed.”

Have a blessed Easter!

by Sr. Gerrie Contento, M.P.F

Scriptures of the Day
Isaiah 50: 4 – 7
Philippians 2; 6 – 11
Luke 22: 14 – 23:56

This Sunday begins the most solemn, most holy of weeks, of the entire Church Year – HOLY WEEK.

Beginning with Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, we are invited to journey with Jesus as he gloriously enters Jerusalem, on to the beauty and tragedy of Holy Thursday, then to the ungodly horror of Good Friday. Holy Saturday is a pivotal day. We find ourselves drained by the events of Holy Thursday, and Good Friday, and somewhat relieved that the intensity of these two days is over. Yet as Saturday unfolds we begin to notice a glimmer of hope. Hope in the mystery that we are about to experience and celebrate – the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ !

This week-its events, the tragedy, the suffering, the death of Jesus, his love and forgiveness for us through it all, and His glorious Resurrection, evoke one major response from us. FAITH !

Faith in Life! Faith in our God who brings good out of everything! Faith in our Savior, who showed us how to be faithful to the will of the Father! Faith that the God who loves us will raise us up from death, and bring us to live with Him forever!

Scriptures of the Day:
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:8-14
John 8:1-11

Throughout the Lenten Season we have been experiencing the tremendous love and mercy of God. It speaks to us loudly and clearly in today’s gospel about the woman caught in adultery. She was brought to Christ crying, embarrassed, full of shame and guilt, carrying the burden of her sin.  I can only imagine how fearful she must have been, not knowing what was going to happen to her.  She was humiliated in front of all the people who had gathered around Jesus to hear him teach. It always amazes me that only the woman is condemned to death, why not the man who was obviously with her? Wasn’t he just as guilty? What does this tell us about the status of women at that time and even today? Are we willing to arouse awareness and try to help put an end to injustices in society such as human trafficking, abortion, inequality in pay and positions, physical and emotional abuse, etc. etc.?

However, in this gospel, it is interesting to note that the Pharisees and Scribes were really not so interested in condemning this woman.  The law could have been carried out anywhere else, but they dragged this poor woman and threw her at the feet of Jesus just to test him. But, as she looked up at him, she saw the love and compassion in his eyes, and knew everything was going to be alright.

Then, Jesus began to write in the sand…..what he was writing, scripture does not tell us. Whatever it was, shocked everyone–the crowd, the woman and the  accusers. They never expected that reaction from Jesus, they didn’t think he would have the courage to defend her but he didn’t give them the satisfaction of giving into their trickery.

Jesus then raises his head and says: ”Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her”. The tables were turned.  Now the crowd has been humiliated, and their hypocrisy exposed, so they hang their heads in shame, drop the stones they were ready to cast, and one by one began to walk away.

Jesus compassionately talks to the woman and tells her that he will not condemn her either.  He forgives her but tells her to sin no more.  He does not condemn her, but condemns her sin, and she will be forever changed by God’s gift of mercy and forgiveness.

We, too, cannot judge, hurling stones at those whom we think are sinners, for just as Jesus shows mercy, we too must do the same. We are all sinners waiting to be embraced and forgiven by our merciful God.