Happy New Year

As 2009 winds down, the familiar and optimistic greeting and wish, HAPPY NEW year trips glibly off our lips. Yes, we do wish for a year better than the one we're leaving, it always seems.
What happens when the realities that unfold do not meet our expectations? We keep on going, don't we? We know that winter will be cold and summer, hot. There will be successes and disappointments. The "resolutions" we make with great sincerity, will melt before the month of January is over. Our tires spin on ice or in the mud, and progress seems miniscule. We've lived long enough to realize that we don't change that much, that life, even with its unexpected surprises and occasional victories, leaves us longing for some future and permanent satisfaction.
Here's where the light, the message of Christmas fits in. God's promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, he who can save us from our sins and give us hope for a new and better life, as God intended it from the beginning. God became one of us, and like leaven in the loaf, has raised us to be more than we ever imagined. Our progress, as invisible as it sometimes seems, is assured. "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans of fullness, not of harm, to give you a future, and a hope." (Jer. 29:11) Confidence in this promise of the Lord, gives us every reason, every right to expect and experience a Happy New Year.
I will not be able to post a daily portion until January 3. Let us all take some time to look back and look ahead, give thanks, place our lives in the hands of God, and go with his plan.
Bro. Rene

A Light of Revelation

Our reflections on Christmas continue to focus on light and darkness. When Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple to consecrate him to the Lord, Simeon, an old priest who had been promised he would not die until he saw the Messiah, took him into his arms and declared that he could now go in peace for he had seen the Promised One, "a light to reveal you [God] to the nations." (Lk. 2: 32). St. John, who loves to play with the images of light and darkness, writes that "the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining." (1 Jn. 2: 8) He sees this light as the love that should exist between us. If that love is not there, then darkness prevails. "Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 Jn. 2: 9) "And who is my brother?" asked a young scholar of Jesus, who related the parable of the Good Samaritan in reply. The question and answer remain valid for us as well, especially if we want to be "a light to reveal God" to others.
"This little light of mine/ I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
Bro. Rene

The Holy Innocents

Violence against children, as abhorrent as it is, has a long history. Herod, who ordered the slaughter of two-year old boys in Bethlehem was not the first "bully", nor the last. A look at our world where brutal child labor, slavery, physical and emotional child abuse, and abortion run rampant, shows us that we have not made much progress from the appalling murders in Bethlehem. The innocent, who have no means of defending themselves, are easy prey to greed, power, and selfishness. Some children are being destroyed as well in other ways: ignorance of the faith, tolerance of immoral behavior, the wrong foods, lack of discipline, a false sense of entitlement. These are extremes, and thankfully there are Josephs and Marys who have not caved into today's mores. What can we do to preserve the innocence of our own children, of the world's children? Joseph, ever the protector of his family, took Mary and Jesus through the desert to safety in Egypt. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us what we can do.
Bro. Rene

The Holy Family

Liturgically, we leap ahead from the birth of Jesus, celebrated just two days ago, to his trip to the Temple as a 12 year old, but the focus is really on the Holy Family: how they handled a "crisis" and what they teach us about family. We see the loving concern of Mary and Joseph for each other and their decision to leave the caravan and return to Jerusalem, no doubt each chiding himself or herself for not "checking" on Jesus to see where he was before leaving Jerusalem, as most couples would do. Perhaps they had "cut him too much slack", allowing him to choose to walk either with the men or the women among relatives and friends. Always that dilemma parents face: when to relinquish control, when to continue to be the overseers. However, they discovered him astounding the teachers in the temple, giving them a preview of what he would do during the course of his public life. This "loss" had a purpose. Yet, at this phase, he returns with them to Nazareth where "he was obedient to them." Again we read of Mary's contemplative side, as she "kept all these things in her heart". We can assume that Joseph maintained his leadership role as protector, guide, teacher, bread-winner, and man of faith. In turn, "Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man." (Lk. 2:52).
Thus, the model of family life the Church presents to us today. Simple formula, nothing extraordinary: faith, prayerfulness, sensitivity, attentiveness, respect for roles and gifts, willingness to sacrifice, obedience, and above all, love. The readings from Sirach (3: 2-7, 12-14) and St. Paul (Col. 3:12-17) offer food for further reflection on family, and the opening prayer can easily become our own prayer:
"Teach us the sanctitiy of human love,
show us the value of family life,
and help us to live in peace with all
that we may share your life forever."
May the Holy Family help all families appreciate the GIFT of FAMILY and show the way to make it grow.
Bro. Rene

Hated by All

What? So startling a contrast to the Good News of the Birth of the Savior just yesterday! The Martyrdom of St. Stephen, purposefully celebrated today, is a stark reminder that Christ came not to remain a helpless child, but to become a man who would suffer opposition, misunderstanding, hatred and death in order to fulfill his mission. So too are we reminded by the stoning of St. Stephen that followers of Jesus must follow the same road, and if not to actual physical martyrdom, then at least to the martyrdom of exclusion, unpopularity and hatred. Christians cannot FIT into the values of the world, for the teachings and values left to us by Jesus are opposed to them. He foretold that we would be called to task, called to defend faith and way of life, and hated for our values and beliefs. St. Stephen's blood and the blood of martyrs through the centuries attest to this. Jesus also promised that he would be with us through his Spirit, who would give us what we need to stand firm in our convictions. (cf. Jn. 15: 18-16:15). Today in the "recovery period" after Christmas...perhaps further family visiting, bargain hunting at post Christmas sales, or just total collapse...the example of St. Stephen and the promise of Jesus keep the mystery of Christmas, the Incarnation, balanced, providing us with further cause for deep joy, for Emmanuel, God is with us through all of this. Let us not miss the point as we scurry through this day.
Bro. Rene

Good News of Great Joy

Amid the flurry of Christmas Mass, presents, family gatherings, a table filled with traditional specialties, there remains the ground-breaking, time changing truth as announced by the angel: "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." (Lk. 2: 10-11, 13-14). A Byzantine prayer looks as this event as the reversal of the Exile from the Garden of Paradise:
"Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us proclaim the present mystery by which the parition has been broken and the flaming sword witheld. Now the Cheubim shall let us all come to the Tree of Life. As for me, I am returning to the bliss of Paradise from which I had been banished by disobedience. Behold! The image of the Father and his unchangeable eternity has taken the form of a servant. Without suffering He has come forth to us from an all-pure Virgin, and yet He has remained unchanged. He is true God as He was before, and He has taken on himself what He had not been, becomng man out of his love for all. Therefore, let us raise our voices in hymns, singing: O God born of the Virgin, have mercy on us." (Vespers in The Festal Menaion, Sisters of Saint Basil, Uniontown, PA).
Merry Christmas.
Bro Rene

Our God Comes

"The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.

"O brighter than that glorious morn
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, out King, in beauty comes,
And we his face shall see"

So we sing about the reality that we anticipate tomorrow, but which has already happened over
two thousand years ago. We have one last day to prepare for the Great Day, for some it will be work as usual, for others, frantic last-minute shopping, cooking or decorating, for others, especially those in monastic or contemplative settings, quiet reflection and prayer. God has become human, God knows what's in our hearts. Let us not fret but do what we must, and do it joyfully, and lovingly. Let us see the beauty in the music, the decorations, in the love that motivates our giving, and above all, in God's plan for our salvation. Let holy Mass tonight be the focus of our Christmas, for there in a most special way, Jesus is present and in communion becomes one with us. May our Christmas Communion bring together all the thought, reflection and prayer of our Advent journey and enable us to receive Jesus with more understanding and love than usual. Our God comes to our sanctified hearts to perform wonders among us. (cf. Jos. 3:5). Let us rejoice, be glad, and never cease to give thanks.
Bro. Rene

O Emmanuel

"O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God!" This last of the seven "O Antiphons", which are paraphrased in the popular Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, indicates that the birth of the Lord is very near. Emmanuel means God is with us in Hebrew. We read in Revelation 21: 3, "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself wll allways be with them [as their God].'" St. John states it this way: "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us." "Et verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis." (Jn. 1: 14). Another translation has God pitching his tent among us, giving us a more visual image of "living among us." How worthy for our pondering today is this great mystery of the Incarnation, the great expression of God's love for us, the point of all that we have been reflecting on these weeks of Advent, the real reason why we will be celebrating with such festivity on December 25th. It is too vast for this one day celebration so the Church will extend it for a week in what is called the Octave of Christmas. This antiphon calls us to start NOW! Christmas is near, God is near, God is with us. Let us simply repeat the word Emmanuel over and over again during the day as a means of more deeply appreciating this gift.
Bro. Rene

O King of Nations

"O King of Nations and their Desired, their Cornerstone who makes all one: come and save our race, whom you formed out of clay." How much division continues to fragment people, nations, religions, communities, families and even withing ourselves? When we think of it, we all had a common beginning in the clay of the earth. Deep down there is a longing for that simple union, that original cohesiveness. The Divider's tools are selfishness, self-centeredness, sin, the results of rebellion against the Original Order of creation and against its Creator. The King of Glory has come to re-glue the pieces together, to evaporate exclusivity and restore total inclusiveness. We can help by making our prayer today and our behaviors comply as much as we can with the Desire of the One who makes us one. "That they be one" Ut unum sint. (Jn. 17:21)
Bro. Rene

O Dayspring

"O Dayspring, brightness of eternal Light and Sun of Justice; come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
The first rays of the morning sun which slowly spill over the edge of the horizon like blinding swords of fire, brighter even than the glowing reds, oranges and purples of dawn's dramatic backdrop, cannot but cause wonder and give hope and promise for a bright and good day. Such is the Dayspring's promise to us as we draw closer to the day for which we have been preparing. In that context and in the framework of a South Dakota sunrise (totally unobstructed by trees and buildings) the words of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah lift us out of the gloom of our anxieties, doubts, fears, and sadnesses: "Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,/ when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,/ And the day that is coming will set them on fire,/leaving them neither root nor branch,/says the Lord of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise/ the sun of justice with its healing rays." (Mal. 3: 19-20). "On that day,/ The branch of the Lord will be luster and glory." (Is. 4:2) Sit quietely for a moment and ponder these fiery and hopefilled words as if you were awaiting the sunrise, the coming of the dayspring from on high. May their light and warmth be with you through the day.
Bro. Rene

O Key of David

"O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel: you open and no one shuts: you shut and no one opens. Come and lead forth from his prison the captive sitting in darkenss and in the shadow of death." Key: a reminder of the keys of the kingdom given to Peter (cf. Matt 16:19), the power to forgive sins, the spiritual power given to the Church to open the door to the Kingdom of God though the sacrament of Baptism and through the nourishing graces of the other sacraments and her teaching. Also, a reminder of Jesus knocking at the door whose only doorknob is on the inside, awaiting our "permission" to enter (cf. Rev. 3:20). We pray that the door separating darkness from light, enslavement to bad habits and sin from goodness and kind deeds, death from eternal life, might be opened.
Today's Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Visitation story, shows the power of action and word...a simple visit, the meeting of two women in precarious and vulnerable situations, recognizing the gifts each was bearing and blessing God. We in our own weakness and precarious circimstances and be similar instruments and blessing and keys to doors that separate. May this final week of advent see us open as many doors as we can.
Bro. Rene

O Root of Jesse

"O root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not." This "mysterious" O Antiphon reminds us clearly of Jesus' role as king and messiah, which might be somewhat overshadowed by the image of a baby in a manger. Yet even the nativity scenario contains strong references to his kingship: The angel proclaims: "The Savior--yes, the Messiah,--the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David." (Lk. 2: 11). The Magi come to worship the newborn king. But who is this Jesse and what, who is this root?
Jesse was the father of David and allusion to the root, or stump of Jesse is made in Isaiah as he describes the coming of the Messiah: "Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will be upon him. In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, for the land where he lives will be a glorious place. He will raise a flag among the nations for Israel to rally around. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth." (Is. 11: 1, 10, 12) In Revelation 22 we read: "I Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source (root) of David and the heir to his throne, I am the bright morning star." (Rev. 22:16)
The Messiah will rally all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, and instead of an earthly kingdom, he will transform David's kingdom into a spiritual kingdom, the church, and ultimately the kingdom of God at the end of time. More than just the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus, Christmas is very much about the birth of a new life of the Spirit, of intimacy and union with God. We pray, "come to deliver us and delay not, so that with the angels we can sing in thanksgiving and praise: "Glory to God in the Highest."
Bro. Rene

O Adonai

"O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and with an outstretched arm, redeem us." Simple but evoking the powerful theme of THE COVENANT between God and Israel (us!). Adonai is a substitute for the unutterable Hebrew name of I AM given to Moses at the fllaming bush. Moses was commissioned to free the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt and with an "outstretched arm", parted the Red Sea and led them to the desert and eventually to the foot of Mount Sinai where he gave them the Ten Commandments and made an agreement (Covenant) with them that he would be their God and they, his people. This was the beginning of a relationship that would conclude with the ultimate Covenant, the union of God and us humans in the Person of Jesus, through whom has come our redemption. See how God, our Leader, always takes the initiative, makes the overture, calls, offers, through the events of history and the events of our lives. God, ever faithful to this convenant, works through the human condition.

On a personal note, this has become evident to me in the death yesterday of my oldest brother, (mon grand frere, a major and distinct role as I learned in Rwanda and now appreciate so much more) R. Paul Roy, '48. As our BIG BROTHER, he set the example for us three younger brothers and was held up as a model for us to follow. His role as "leader" was natural to him in and outside the family, in the Navy, and with his own family. When my own father died, Paul assumed the "patriarchal status" as the family leader. Now losing him, the feeling of again being orphaned tugs at my innards. On one hand, his redemption is complete, we trust; the Covenant between him and God, fulfilled: a cause for joyful celebration. But on the other hand, the pain of loss, of separation, is real and evokes sorrow. Death is so much more about us it seems. The deceased is relieved of all pain and suffering and enters into eternal rest. WE, the living, the waiting, are left with pain and emptiness. It helps to remember that Adonai is present in both hands, and with "outstretched arm" continues to lead us to our redemption.
Bro. Rene

O Wisdom

Today begins an intensive nine day preparation for Christmas, highlighted by seven antiphons (refrains) commonly called the "O Antiphons" which appear before the recitation of Mary's Magnificat during Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, or as the Alleluia Verse before the Gospel of the weekday Mass. When sung to Gregorian Chant in Latin, they provide an eloquent and hope-filled meditation for this final stretch of Advent and lead us to a deeper understanding of the significance of Christmas.
"O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!" Wisdom is another name for the Holy Spirit...surely one of the gifts of the spirit is wisdom...the ability to discern right from wrong, and especially to discern the will of the Father. With gentle power and unconditional love, the Spirit guides, teaches us, the best way to live. In our moments of recalling God's presence today, let us focus on the power of the Spirit and open our hearts to the will of the Father, as was Mary when she agreed to the message of the Archangel Gabriel and all that followed from that gift of herself to God.
Bro. Rene

Are You the One?"

"Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait or another?" So asked the disciples of John the Baptist at his request after hearing all that Jesus had been doing. Even John was no sure if Jesus was " the one", that is the Messiah. Jesus replied in terms of what he had been doing: curing, driving out evil spirits, and preaching the good news. It seems obvious to us from our perspective, that Jesus was the Messiah. But sometimes the obvious is overlooked, or is simply not seen. For example, we were taught that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament, and we take for granted that every Catholic believes this. It is disconcerting to learn that many do not, for one reason or another. How this happened, I do not know. Beyond this, do we see, do we fully appreciate that when we receive Jesus, we are become a sacred vessel carrying the Body of Christ? And the folks next to us, do we see them as bearers of Christ? Do we treat them as such, or do we miss the obvious? Something for our Advent ponderings, for our Advent change of heart, our growing awareness, for our gift to the Son of God at Christmas: new eyes, new appreciation for HIS presence in our hearts and in the hearts of his people and a consequential change in our behavior. "Are you the one or should we look for another?"
Bro. Rene

Joy

In our prayerful ponderings during Advent, in the quiet gray days, or even in the hectic, event-filled days, we inevitably will enounter the living God, and the joy which ensues from this meeting. We often don't even realize that we are experiencing joy, because we equate it with happiness. Samuel Gordon writes that "joy is a distinctly Christian word and a Christian experience. It is the reverse of happiness, which is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its spring deep down inside, and that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross." Deep beneath our frustrations, our anxieties, our fatigue, joy abides as long as we remain connected in prayer with Jesus. Mary shows us the way: in tune with God, focused on her Son, and willing bride of the Holy Spirit. The long road to Bethlehem, and further to Egypt, the return, the quiet uneventful days at Nazareth, the itinerant years of Jesus, his passion, death and resurrection, none of these could dislodge her joy, her union with God. "Mary, help me to find true joy in your Son."
Bro. Rene

The Dark Night

It is not just coincidence that as we approach the shortest day of the year, Decemer 21, we should be celebrating the memorial of St. John of the Cross, famous for his book, THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL. The inner recesses of our soul is where we confront our shadows, our woes, our vulnerability. There as well, we meet our Lord and Savior, the Light of the World, who alone can rescue us from this darkness; it is where love and trust become real. We have nothing, but what God offers us: Love.
A young Italian Marist student wrote about love: "To love...I was always told it was easy to love, well...not quite easy at all! Loving is not easy, it is pleasant, rewarding, but it requires a great sacrifice, and this sacrifice is called love; it means to be ready to give oneself for others, even one's own life. By loving we avoid feuds, the explotiation of others (especially the weak and the defenseless), wars... Let's love, love is beautiful, and remember: the heart is great than the entire universe." As St. John put it: "Where there is no love, put love and there you will find love." Let us not curse the darkness of these short days, nor of our souls, but use it to find and share this quality of love.
Bro. Rene

Rejoice

"Rejoice in the Lord always". "Gaudete in Domino semper." (Phillipians 4: 4) Often referred to as "Gaudete Sunday" from the Latin, Gaudete, Rejoice, or "Rose Sunday" because of the rose- colored vestments which move a bit away from Advent Violet toward Christmas White, the Third Sunday of Advent marks the half-way point in Advent and anticipates the joy of Christmas. Paul tells us to "have no anxiety, let our kindness be known to all, in prayer, and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that suprasses all understandnhg will guard your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4: 5-7). Indeed the advice of John the Baptist for "behavioral modification" is simple, practical and within reach. (See Luke 3: 10-15). It is the blueprint for the Kingdom of God, upon which Jesus would later elaborate. No wonder his followers were "filled with expectation." Such guidance had to be heavenly inspired, the words of a likely Messiah. But no, John points them to Another.
Let us hear John speak to us, take Paul's advice as well, to rejoice, and truly turn our behavior, our focus, our hearts to that "Other", Jesus the Lord. Then "the peace which surpasses all understanding" be ours to enjoy and share.
Bro. Rene

Our Lady of Guadalupe

"My dear Juanito, let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Am I not here as your Mother.....I want to show my loving clemency and compassion to thse who call upon me in their sorrows." So Mary, the Mother of God, reassured the humble man of simplicity and faith, Juan Diego, when she appeared to him on this day in 1531 on a hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, told him to tell the Bishop to build a church on that hill, and as a sign of her presence, asked Juan to pick roses (not usually blooming in December) and take them to him. When Juan let the roses drop from his tilma in front of the Bishop, he knelt in wonder and awe, not at the roses, but at the magnificent image of the Holy Mother which was painted on Juan's tilma. To this day, no one can explain how the image of the prayerful young Indian woman came to be on the coarse material, nor how it retains its original color 478 years later. The little original church was replaced by a magnificent edifice, which in the late 20th century was declared unsafe and was replaced by another huge church. Millions of pilgrims have found their mother, her compassion and solace, and her gift of healing in this holy place. Their faith has brought them there. Their faith has saved them.
It is so easy to become encrusted in cynicism and look upon such events as merely fantasy, but time and time again, Mary has tried to make it known that she is our loving mother, and as such knows our needs and is right here with us to remove our burdens. She asks only that we believe. How fitting a message as we proceed in these days of Advent toward the miraculous and saving birth of the Son of God as one of us. Let us pray for an increase of faith, let us heed the comforting words of Mary to Juan Diego as addressed to us as well, and be assured that truly, God is Emmanuel, God is with us!
Bro. Rene

God's Mercy

Which of us is not in need of mercy? A nightly examen of conscience, while revealing the good that came to us during the day, can sometimes make us cringe at our thoughts and behaviors and literaly bring us to our knees as we cry for mercy. The God who is "rich in kindness and abounding in mercy" (cf. Ps. 27) is ever present to forgive. Psalm 32 reminds us of the joy that we experience when our sins are forgiven:
Then I acknolweged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
and you forgave the guild of my sin.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance." (Ps. 32:5,7)
"Glad cries of deliverance"! A burden lifted, a heart made light. All from the admission of our faults, and our asking for forgiveness.
As Advent reaches the half-way mark, (Christmas is two weeks from today!), let me again suggest that the Sacrament of Reconciliation offers the gift of experiencing God's mercy, deliverance from our guilt, and the opportunity for another round of "glad cries of deliverance." Why not make it a point to approach the Sacrament which assures us of forgiveness and showers us with his mercy.
Bro. Rene

When God is Silent

There are times when our prayer seems to rise only to bounce off a brick wall. No response. Frozen silence. Does God sometimes choose to remain silent? Yes. Why? To stretch our faith, purify the purpose of our prayer, purify us. Are we always looking for a comforting answer? An immediate answer? We're so used to "having it MY way", that no response is interpreted as rejection, and the temptation is to resolve "not to bother with God again", thinking God doesn't care. God knows us, and is not offended by this kind of thinking or acting, but will continue to invite us to come to him with our burdens and labors, and find rest for our souls. (cf. Mt. 11:28-30).
If we look at the silence as the loving silence that exists between friends or spouses where there is such a union of souls, such a level of comfort and trust that words are not necessary, then this divine silence begins to make sense. God is there as always with total love, as present in the silence as in the comforting word. Silence becomes a stronger statement than words. It's up to us to grow into this level of relationship, which asks us to relinquish, let go of our expectations, and let God in his time give us the favor of feeling his presence or hearing his answer. Again, Advent...waiting, transformation. It all fits together.
Bro. Rene

Loving Contemplation

After Juan Diego delivered the message of the woman whose miralculous image appeared on his rough tilma, to the bishop and ultimately to the world, he spent the rest of his life as a hermit near the place of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As we can imagine, this unexpected and spectacular event was THE transforming moment of his life, and his response was to ponder it for the rest of his days.
What an example of simple contemplation: to take an experience, be it of God directly, Mary, or God's goodness evident in the life of some good person we know, and just sit with it, think about it, get lost in it, ponder it, contemplate it. We think of contemplation usually as some ecstatic, out of body experience, but it isn't just that. No, it is more accessible to us, the ordinary Joe or Jane,than we think, if we simply quiet our souls and remember. The thought process slows down to a halt, and we allow ourselved to be enwrapped in God's love. St. Marcellin's Presence of God message, is just that: an invitation to experience the overpowering love of God. It's worth an attempt right now. Stop for five minutes, allow calmness and peace, memory and feeling to lead you to a contemplative moment. It will make a difference in your day, and eventually transform you.
Bro. Rene

The Immaculate Conception

"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us." This short prayer contains the essence of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, defined as a dogma of the Church in 1854 by Pope Pius IX, but believed for centuries by Christians in the East and West. It is often misinterpreted or misunderstood as the moment when Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the action of the Holy Spirit, but it refers to the moment when Mary herself was conceived in the womb of Anne, her mother. God saw it fitting that the mother-to-be of his Son, Jesus, should be spotless and without sin from the first instance of her existence. Hence the Scriptures can extol her by accommodation in this passage from the Book of Judith: "Blessed are you, our God, who today have brought to nought the enemies of your people.:...Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth." Mary is declared blessed, but the central figure is the Lord God, her creator. She is the chosen one through whom God's plan for our salvation would be accomplished, and as such is the model exemplar and disciple of all followers of Jesus. Not without great reason is this a major feast in our Marist World. St. Marcellin acknowledged Mary's role in the plan of salvation and thus chose as our motto: All to Jesus through Mary. We join with the entire Church in singing this refrain from the Divine Office: "You are all beautiful, O Mary, and there is no stain of orignial sin in you." May we be more conscious and appreciative of our Immaculate Mother Mary throughout this special day.
Bro. Rene

Giving

Shopping for gifts has become as much of a reality during Advent as hearing the prophets Isaiah or John the Baptist describe the coming of the Messiah. This year in particular, shopping is perhaps taking more than its usual amount of time and energy as we husband our dollars or search for the greatest bargain. Behind all this, there must first of all be be a giving on a higher plane: a universal giving...to ALL...of our prayers, our time, ourselves, our love, our thoughts. No cost here, just the effort. If we recall, this is how God gives, as the sun shines on the good and the bad. Freely have we received, freely then should we give, especially to those most in need, the ones that God brings to us. Dozens of people cross our paths daily, some we are close to, some just acquaintances; let there be no borders, no limits to govern our giving. Give to ALL. Everyone has some need. Some ask for prayers; some, by their actions show they need affirmation. All of us need love. Let us make a conscious effort today not only to be Givers, but GREAT GIVERS and thus more closely resemble our Father in Heaven.
And yes, I can't end without a reference to the 68th anniversary of the infamous attack on Peral Harbor. Let us remember those whose lives were lost, those who were maimed, and those who GAVE so much, loved ones, lives, huge sacrifices in the ensuing years to protect our country and the world. May our daily giving, our little acts of love help bring the peace that still eludes us.
Bro. Rene

Santa Claus

The focus of the Church is on the Second Sunday of Advent, and thus St. Nicholas, whose feast day it also is, takes a back seat. However, since so much emphasis is placed on Santa Claus in today's world, a word about him and his significance is not out of place. Indeed, in the Byzantine Rite, the Feast of St. Nicholas, patron of Russia, Greece, and Sicily, is a major event.

St. Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, a city in what is now Southwestern Turkey. He is noteworthy for his piety and zeal. Legend has it that he rescued three young girls from being sold into protitution by tossing three bags of gold through the window of their home to dissuade their father from making the sale. Hence, St. Nicholas is also the patron of pawn brokers, whose symbol of three gold balls is derived from the three bags of gold, and of prostitutes.
We owe the devotion of the Dutch for blending a Scandinavian legend of a magician who gave presents to good children and punished bad children (coal in their stockings!) with St. Nicholas. From the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam (New York) comes the transfiguration of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus whose profile has now expanded to include a home at the North Pole, a wife, elves, reindeer with names, led by a red-nosed invention popularized by Gene Autry. In the eyes of children, Santa has become a more significant symbol of Christmas than Jesus Christ, whose very title, CHRIST (Messiah) is embodied in the name of the Feast. Presents have overshadowed the real Present, the Gift of the Son of God to us to save us from our sins and demonstrate beyond doubt God's love for us.
Perhaps we can put Santa in perspective in this way. God uses tangible signs to relay to us a deeper meaning. The appeal of a jolly gift giver can been used as a sign of the deeper reality that the Prince of Peace came to show us that happiness and generosity go hand in hand and are the way to live. Despite the frenzy that has evolved in our celebration of Christmas, the day is usually one of joy and extraordinary generosity. Witness the efforts being made to insure that everyone has a Merry Christmas. Can we then imagine a world without Santa, as journalist Frank P. Church asked over a hundred years ago? No, this spirit must live generation after generation, it comes from God, it is God's gift; Santa is its colorful embodiment. Thank you, God, thank you Santa!
Bro. Rene

Healing

Illness of all sorts is a fixed part of our human lot. The desire for healing is equally embedded in our nature. Clinics abound, never at a loss for patients. Indeed the clamor over health insurance and health care clearly attest to this innate desire for good health and wholeness. A large part of the ministry of Jesus was "curing every disease and illness" (cf. Matthew 9:35), and commissioned the Twelve to do the same. "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons." (Mt. 10: 5a). Just reflect on your own efforts to stay healthy: time spent reading about the right foods, exercise; time spent in waiting rooms; money spent on prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines. We're all emeshed in this quest.

Do we spend an equal amount of time and effort to guarantee our spiritual health? What is the quality of our daily prayer? Where does the Eucharist fit into our weekly schedule? Advent is a time when parishes offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, usually at a communal penance service where several priests are available for our convenience. Are the church parking lots as full at these times as they are daily at the Lahey Clinic? This disparity truly bears examination and action, for good health of body is linked to good health of soul. Why neglect such an essential? Make time for a good confession as part of your health plan. No cost, MUCH benefit.
Bro. Rene

A Light for the Nations

We usually read the words of the Prophet, Isaiah, "I have grasped you by the hand;/I have formed you, and set you/ as a convenant of the people,/ a light for the nations,/ To open the eyes of the blind,/ to bring prisoners from confinement,/ and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness" (Is. 42: 6-7) as a reference to the Messiah, Jesus, but they are also a call to US. We have received the Light of Christ at Baptism and received the commission to walks as sons and daughters of light, keeping the flame of trught alive in our hearts and illuminating the darkness of the world around us. December witnesses the shrinking of daylight as darkness has its hour. BUT,the Light of the World appears on the 25th, already the days are getting longer. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5) Bouyed up by this assurance, let us bring forth light by word and deed.

I can now post a reflection from home, so I will continue to offer a slice of daily bread on Saturday and Sunday.
Bro. Rene

Trust

What prompted people like St. Francis Xavier, whose memorial we keep today, to leave family, friends (his especially dear friend, St. Ignatius Loyola) culture, and country, or St. Marcellin Champagnat, our Founder, to spread the Word of God and to make others aware of God's great love, if not a superabundance of TRUST? Advent is a most appropriate time to reflect on the Scritpures that must have motivated them to take these great leaps of faith. In Psalm 27 we pray: "The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before who shall I shrink?

Though an army encamp against me
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me
even then would I trust. (Ps. 27: 1,3)

Further, from the Prophet Isaiah: "Trust in the Lord forever!/ For the Lord is an eternal Rock" (Is. 26: 4)

Just look at how we begin each day: a whole host of things on our agenda, the eternal question, "How will I get through this day?" And each evening, we're still alive, somethings done, most not done. And the sun rises the next morning. Somehow we've made it. Somehow?
Not really, The God of the Psalmist, of Isaiah, of St. Francis, of St. Marcellin, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been at our side the whole way.

The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts for Jesus, to focus on his coming. How about focusing on the Jesus who is right at our side NOW and trust that he will again bring us to the end of the day in one piece. TRUST! FEAR NOTHING!
Bro. Rene

God's Longing for US

We've been speaking these past few days about our longing for God, but the reverse is true as well. God has an unbounded longing for us: "Leaping the mountains, bounding the hills, our God comes to meet us". What an image! Picture it. The God of love who longs to wipe away every tear, eliminate death, mourning, wailing and pain" (Rev. 21:4), yearns intensely to protect us, to give us refuge in the shelter of his wings, to give us light and life (cf. Psalm 36 ) and desires not only that we should be true to that vision he has for us: to become the ideal person God sees in us, the person we could be, the person God would have us be, but also that we should serve one another with our whole heart and soul. Can we imagine the intensity of this longing, which moved God to send Jesus to show us this love, this vision, and which daily awaits our response? This is part of the Advent journey...the merger of our longing with God's. Be attentive to it. What is your response?
Bro. Rene

Waiting

Waiting. Something we hate to do, something we are forgetting how to do. In our high-speed world where a mere touch of a screen brings instant action, the art and benefit of waiting are fast disappearing. We want instant satisfaction, instant response, nothing less. How then, can Advent, a time of WAITING make any sense? It would seem to have lost its frame of reference, perhaps even relevance in today's world. However, it really challenges our fast-paced life and beckons us to STOP, calm down, reflect, assess, feel, and awaken to the benefits that can accrue from waiting. A small acorn takes time to rise into a magnificent oak. A marvel of slow growth, reminding us of the need for time, yes, waiting, for the fullness of maturity. So too with our spiritual lives. We are not finished yet, there is, for most of us, a long way yet to go. Reflective waiting can be creative waiting as we see our inner puzzle coming together and in wonder, give thanks for what has been, and actively commit to what can be. Advent is really a short segment of waiting in the broader picture of our lives, but an important one. Take a few moments right now and be conscious of your inner self. What is going on in your life? How can you effectively, creatively WAIT today?
Bro. Rene