Merry Christmas!

 

And the Word was made flesh...

 and dwelt among us...

  

And we have seen his glory.

 

Merry Christmas!

One of Us

Kissing the Face of God

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...

We've heard this so many times that I think we have become immune to what this means.  It means God could now experience hunger, fatigue, emotions, temptations, etc. For he was "like us in all things but sin." Amazing!

Let us rejoice this Advent and Christmas season that the eternal Word "leapt down from heaven." From the bliss of heaven to become man (while remaining completely God: mystery indeed!), to know what it is like to be human—to show us what it means to be human for "Man revealed man to himself" (Lumen Gentium 43) and to save us. Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!

Our King, Our Shepherd

The liturgical year closes with the Solemnity of Christ the King. The readings use images of Christ the Good Shepherd to describe his reign. What kind of a king would compare himself with a shepherd? Only one whose power is so great that he has no fear of losing it and can thus humble himself greatly. In Ezekiel God describes how he tends his sheep: "I will rescue...I will pasture...I will heal, I will look after and tend my sheep." Compare that with the religious leaders of Ezekiels' time who "pastured themselves" and not their sheep.

As God shepherds us, so he asks us to do for others. In the Gospel parable, Christ the King comes at the end of time to judge. He separates the goats from the rams or those who "...gave me food, gave me drink, welcomed me, clothed me, visited me." For whatever you do for the least, you do for the Shepherd. May Christ our King teach us such compassion.

Burning Lamps

"The Wise Virgins" by James Tissot.

Recently I read the Gospel parable of the ten virgins awaiting the Bridegroom with burning lamps. Something struck me: the five wise virgins also fell asleep. Whenever I hear this parable I always hope that I shall be one of the wise virgins who had enough oil to keep their lamps burning.  But what does that mean? I know what it doesn't mean—perfection.

We seem to think the saints were perfect, but they were far from it! They too, like the five wise virgins, fell asleep at times.  This All Saints Day is a day to realize that there are more saints than those canonized by Mother Church. They are the ones who had enough oil—love of God and neighbor—to keep their lamp burning until the Bridegroom came at their death. They are friends, family members, and even people who we could never get along with!

We are all imperfect and that is alright. God alone is perfect. He does not desire that from us but only fidelity and a constant striving to be ever more faithful to Him in our vocation (whatever it may be) as a Christian.  Happy All Saints Day! May we be counted among them one day.

Knocking at the Door

I have a holy card in one of my books that shows Jesus standing outside of a closed door, knocking on it.  There is no doorknob; it must be opened by the person inside.  The image comes from the Book of Revelation (3:20): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and dine with him and he with me."
It's a beautiful image with deep meaning.  The Lord will not force himself on anyone; he is waiting to enter our hearts but only if we invite him in.  He respects our free will.  It is up to us to get up and open the door.

But what about those who are trapped in addictions, paralyzed by despair? Those whose wounds keep them chained in pain?  We've all been in a dark place ourselves, mired in our own sins or the consequences of the sins of others.  In our shame and confusion, we hardly dare lift our eyes to heaven, let alone open our doors and expose our misery.  What does Jesus do then?  Does he still stand outside, knocking, waiting for us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and find the courage to open the door?

There's another image in the Gospel of John (the same author as Revelation).  Imagine the Apostles in the Upper Room on Easter Night.  They are huddled behind a closed door, and this one not only has no doorknob on the outside, it is chained, barred, and bolted from within.  Maybe there is even some heavy furniture pushed in front of it.  No one is going to be coming through that door! The Apostles are gathered together in fear, doubt, and confusion.  Imagine their pain: not only are they afraid for their lives, but the very one in whom they have put their entire hope is now dead, shamefully tortured.

Luckily for them,  Jesus does not stand outside knocking, waiting for an invitation to enter.  A closed door is no obstacle for our God, not even a barred and bolted one.  "Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:26)

Discernment Day

Are you considering a vocation to the cloistered life?
Would you like to learn more about us?

Vocation Discernment Day

October 15, 2011
for young women ages 17 to 35

Schedule:
Begins at 9:00am
Holy Mass at 11:00am
Fr. Chris Martin, Director of Vocations for Archdiocese of St. Louis
Lunch provided
Evening Prayer with Benediction at 5:00pm
Conclusion

Accommodations are available.
Please RSVP by October 2
(314) 381-2654


Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters
Mount Grace Convent
St. Louis, Missouri

Prayer to Mary

Dearest Mother Mary,

my Queen,

Help me to give myself

entirely today to Jesus,

thy Son, through thy

Immaculate Heart.

Pray that I might

recognize my cross today

and receive it with joy

and love.  Call me in these

moments of trial to unite

with the Holy Spirit and

ask for direction and peace.

I am thine, Blessed Mary,

keep me and guard me

this day as thy possession.

Amen.