by Liz | Feb 8, 2010 | main
Yesterday’s readings (5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Isaiah 6:1-2.3-8, First Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11) reinforced for me the understanding that God takes the first step. Fr. Jack wandered into the memories, for Cradle Catholics, of confession as a child: 7 year old knew they were sinners – Sister told them so. I didn’t have this experience – but as a child in calvinist protestant tradition, I certainly got the message that if you did something wrong, God would get you. It has taken me a whole lot of growth to understand that it is entirely possible to look at someone who is a total mess, who has made a real hash of life, and still feel in the bottom of my heart – ” I love you!” and offer the words, hug and smile to make that understood.
As I listened to the readings, and the homily, I just kept hearing that the characters (Isaiah, Paul, Peter and his buddies) only really understood how far off the mark they were until God/Jesus reached out and touched them first. Especially Isaiah and Paul were fine until they found themselves face to face with the Ultimate Reality. Both pull back — stay away! I’m not good enough! and God says – “I love you. Now, go out and tell the world!”
Br. David Steindl-Rast (Gratefulness.org) would prefer to use the terms “belonging” and “separation” instead of “salvation” and “sin.” I quite agree. When we see perfection, we realize our imperfections – and our separation. Sinfulness. Then, and maybe only then, can we be drawn into belonging and wholeness. It’s a bit like a Twelve Step program: before you even get to step 1, you have to somehow be aware that there is a different way to live.
It’s not enough to stop with the realization that life can be different. It’s easy to be paralyzed by that, true. But, God calls me to accept the Love and myself, and move on – set out on the road – get on with a mission. Use it or lose it!
by Liz | Jan 19, 2009 | main
So, I open Today’s Readings in gmail and notice that all of the ads are for Bridesmaid gifts and wedding books, etc. It’s a hint – today’s gospel contains the quote from Jesus “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day…”
How many times to we only pick up on certain words and not get the entire meaning? I do hope to have a better algorithm for understanding than google/gmail…
by Liz | Dec 28, 2008 | main
No day could possibly live up the expectations that so many of us put onto Christmas Day. We simply ask too much of a single day. Therefore, I have been blessed this year to celebrate at least 3 days of Christmas.
Day One: Christmas Day — mass, John and Daniel frying a turkey out back, gifts, trucking the turkey and meat dressing to my sister’s house for Christmas dinner (this is the first year my Mom has been living down here with us, and hence the first year my brother came south for Christmas instead of going north.) A very delightful Christmas.
Day Two: The next day, Marie (daughter) and Kevin (SIL) arrive… Dan’s girlfriend Shawn had made it in the evening before. Another round of gifts, sharing, and another complete Christmas dinner – this time at our house (another fried turkey). Marie and Kevin stayed until about 5 and headed back. A very delightful Christmas (again);
Day Three: My [step]brother had arrived late in the afternoon of day 2 with wife and daughter. I went and sat with them over dinner after Marie and Kevin left. But Christmas 3 was family brunch at my sister’s house on Saturday, before Stew and Co. had to head home. More food. More fellowship. More cheer. A very delightful Christmas (again).
And so, I am blessed – blessed to remember the birth of the Christchild at mass; blessed to see Christ brought to life so vividly 3 days in a row. Blessed to have the knowledge that this is a lifestyle, not just a day. Blessed with all those around me to help me see and respond to Christ in each and every one of my brothers and sisters. And blessed to be heading off to mass for the Feast of the Holy Family.
by Liz | Nov 2, 2008 | main
“Offer it up” is one of those concepts that constantly escapes me. So it didn’t surprise me to find it as the “question of the week” on the back of the Sunday bulletin. I know I’m not alone in wrestling with this idea.
I read the answer, which included a quote from Pope Benedict XVI — something about making things, events, etc meaningful. OK. That’s fine.
But what finally gave me something to reflect on and possibly practice was the second part of the answer. The part where the author got past offering a situation, or a time of suffering to Jesus and turned that idea inside out a bit. When I’m dealing with daily trials — annoyances, frustrating times that seems so useless, or even pain, I need to let Jesus into the situation with me. “Offer it up” as a space for being with Jesus. Let him walk with me through it and give it a meaning. I have trouble with offering my annoyances or suffering for the good of others – that equation makes no sense. But, I can understand accepting my frustrations and suffering and allowing them to become meaningful times for connecting with God. I can sit with the situation and offer it to God to make whatever good of it that can be made. That is the offering I can make and make sense of.
Now, if only I can remember this the next time I’m sitting in traffic fuming over lost time and lost gasoline, or when I’m in the throws of a raging headache. That will be the test of whether I can learn to “offer it up.”
by Liz | Aug 25, 2008 | main
*The university shut down at 11 am today (tornadoes, rugged weather – the remnants of Fay). Nice day to reflect on all that I am grateful for.
- For my youngest child’s graduation from college
- For the same son getting a job almost immediately, doing something it seems he will really like working at
- For the fact that Ella (granddaughter) arrived ahead of Tropical Storm Fay
- That my son (Ella’s daddy) and his family survived Fay without damage or flooding (they live in Melbourne, where Fay camped for days
- That my daughter and her husband sold their house (and are in the process of buying one in a new town)
- For rain! Rain that can help the Southeast move past drought conditions. Keep raining!
- For safety from nearby tornados
- For Fr. Alex who filled in for our pastor for the past 3 weeks
- For good friends
- For my sisters in Christ (and their funny emails)
Unusual for me – I could go on and on.
Amen.
