2015

St. Joseph

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Today is the feast day of St. Joseph, husband of Mary and father of Jesus. He was thrown a curve when he found out Mary was pregnant, and after the visit from an angel, he accepted his role in this Holy Family. All across the world fathers do what they do, working and caring for their families, their children, their parents, and more often than not without getting or expecting a thank you.

This would be a good day to do that; to show your appreciation for all they are to you, and all they do for you.

My husband is a son and a father. He talks to his mother all throughout the week. Every day after work, he spends time with his kids, walking, reading, snow-playing and play-shoveling. While he’s working, though, he’s also doing laundry, washing dishes, going up and down the stairs all day long getting things done.

It is a thankless job.

He’s always available to drive them or take a special trip to the ice cream shop. Sledding at the park. Putting out the compost. Taking out the trash and recycling. Going to the comic store and picking up the comics. Getting the groceries and cooking dinner. Getting the kids out the door in the morning and on the bus.

All the time busy, taking care of his family, unspoken gratitude hovering nearby.

Traditional Catholic Prayer to Saint Brigid

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Saint Brigid.
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.

Amen.

(From: http://saintbrigids.org/reflections/prayers/)

A St. Patrick’s Day Memory

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I’ve always been drawn to the Irish, all Celts really. The Irish captured my heart throughout childhood and college until my spirit finally fled to Wales. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, though and because of that, I will tell you one or two of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day college stories:

I went to college in a college town. Small semi-rural community with two colleges, fifty-two bars and no curfew.

One year, as usual I was underage (they raised it on my birthday), so I became the designated driver. We went to Murphy’s on the other side of town. You actually needed a car to get there; the buses didn’t run that far. We sat, they drank, and as the designated driver, I got free Cokes. At some point I was asked for my driver’s license, which I gave to the cute bartender.

He looked at it three times and exclaimed rather loudly, “Why did you give me this?! I can’t serve you!”

“But I’m not drinking!”

I had to leave and the bartender was pretty upset that I took my four friends, who were paying for their drinks, with me.

Green beer was a big thing at my college, but not in the capital where four of us were student teaching. My friend Mike and I whined (and whined) about green beer until the other two piled us into the car and drove us the 72 miles to our college town for green beer, and then back in the wee hours of the morning, but still in time for us to student teach.

We were warmed over yuck but we were there as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we could manage. All of us that is except for Mike, who had the day off and presumably was still in bed.

🙂

Faith?

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“So if you’re down they push you down, fella, they push you down .” – Calvin Crabill, The Dust Bowl documentary, 2013

This is how I feel with my financial troubles. I know that we’re responsible for our mistakes. I accept that. But when you’re lied to and misinformed add deliberately deceived, how can you escape that? How can you get back up from that?

As for me, I trust in the Lord. Let me be glad and rejoice in your mercy, for you have seen my affliction. Cf. Ps 31 (30):7-8

Laetare Sunday

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Accuracy to this Wikipedia entry, Laetare Sunday is “a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigours; a day of hope with Easter being at last within sight.”

Weddings can be held today, and in Catholic and Anglican traditions, servants were released for the day to return to their mother churches and/or to see their mothers. It became known as Mothering Sunday.

This is also the day of the Second Scrutiny, the blind man who is given sight (John 9:1-41). The Gospel itself reads, “He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”” (John 9:25).

It’s hard for me to hear this verse without hearing the tune of Amazing Grace in my head. That’s always been one of my favorite songs, and I realize now how despite the blind man’s physical blindness, we all have moments of blindness, moments where our eyes “are opened”, where we can suddenly see clearly. This Scrutiny is the one that I can most identify with. Jesus was always right in front of me, but I couldn’t (or didn’t want to) see Him. When He knew I was ready, he took my blinders off, and now I see.

Pope Francis, Year Two

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Today is the second anniversary of Pope Francis’ election as the 266th Pope. When he was elected, I had already been attending Mass for just about one year. I knew by then that in a few months I’d start the weekly classes that would teach me all about the rituals and history of the Catholic Church; all the things I’d need to know; all the things I’d need to learn; all the little things I’d need to do.

I was calm and confident in my new direction. I remember one of the things that I was saying two years ago was how excited and happy I was to be joining the church under this new Pope. It was like we were comrades, joining at the same time. Of course he wasn’t joining; he was moving into a new role, but it still felt like we were connected somehow. I didn’t know anything about him and Papal politics was the one political party I didn’t follow, but upon his election I started hearing some things about him.

He sounded wonderful and in the two years of his leadership and guidance the church is coming back to its roots of following in the footsteps of Jesus, leading by doing, reminding people of his message – to help the poor, to care for the sick, to forgive your enemies; to love your neighbor.

I Do Believe. Help my Unbelief

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“The identity of Jesus. Imagine him looking to me and asking, “Who do you say that I am?” To which I respond…”
– from The Little Black Book, Wed, Mar 11, 2015.
(Ref: Luke 22:66-70)

Growing up as a child and even as a young adult, I really did not know who Jesus was. I knew that most of my friends celebrated Christmas and Easter and some went to church on Sunday, but we (and they) never talked about it.

My open mind wondered if he was the Son of G-d, if He was the Messiah. I questioned, having been told that peace would come with the Messiah. No peace, no Messiah. If I was wrong, He would forgive me right?

It seemed simple enough.

That was one of my problems.

It wasn’t simple; not really. But for those who have faith, who truly believe, it really is that simple.

I always believed in G-d; in the Bible stories I learned as a kid. I didn’t walk into my church seeking G-d; or his son. Even on my many of my first visits He was hidden from me.

Until one day he wasn’t.

I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t been there. Empty church. Silent. Lights out but outside light streaming in. And then a bright light, that came closer and got brighter. I was crying and then I stopped. I was sad and then I wasn’t. I was suddenly full of knowing.

Jesus was…..

everything.

I knew and I believed; it was all there in my heart.

“Who do you say that I am?”

You’re who saved me and I’ll follow you where you’ll take me.

It really was that simple.