Today’s Thoughts: Before I begin my reflection today, I just want to apologize for not posting the last three days. Over the weekend I traveled to St. Louis for the baptism of my newest grandniece, and I decided once I got there that I would unplug in order to just enjoy family time. So, in case you were wondering what happened to my reflections, prayers and blessings the last few days this is the reason. I traveled back home yesterday, so here I am back. I hope your fourth weekend of Advent went well and that you find yourself in the home stretch of Advent ready for the celebration of Christmas! I have to say I enjoyed my unplugged weekend, but it is nice to be back with you once again!
In these last days until Christmas, we are reminded repeatedly how the Christmas story came to be. Yesterday we heard about Zechariah's encounter with the Lord and Elizabeth's conception after years of being barren and today we hear about Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. Each story is a snapshot of the greater story of God’s human presence in the world. In today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) we are reminded that Mary was truly a believer. Even though she did not know the full extent of her “yes” she proclaimed it anyway. She trusted in God. She had faith and she staked her life in the promise of God something Ahaz, in our first reading (Isaiah 7:10-14) was unwilling to do. Not having a clear vision of the road ahead is not always an easy way to live. It demands trust, it demands faith, and it demands a sense of hope in all that one does. Mary certain defines this way of living. She did not know the implications of her “yes”, but she had trust, faith and lived by an unrelenting hope. There is a quote by Calvin Miller that I have often used. It is from his book The Christ of Christmas: Readings for Advent. I find it a wonderful way to think of the gift of Mary in our life and so I share it with you again today – “We must look to Mary's example to know how to deal with the glorious impossibilities of God. Look how she turned the world upside down by making one simple statement.” Mary’s one simple statement was “yes” to God. Today we remember another moment from the Christmas story. It is a moment that reminds us that if we trust, if we believe, if we live by hope we will encounter God most often when we least expect it but always when we are most in need! Have a great Tuesday everyone!
2 Comments
12/20/2022 04:24:31 am
Try using a calendar app or a planner to help keep your schedule organized, or you can draw your own calendar by hand if you’d like.
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12/20/2022 04:26:23 am
You can make one big schedule to cover your whole holiday, or you can do a weekly or daily list, if you prefer.
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Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P. "Preacher on the Run"Just a few thoughts to help you on your journey through life...let me know from time to time what you think... Archives
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