Inspired by Scholastica

A new year always looks so fresh and clean. An empty slate to be written on as the days go by. What will happen? What plans will we make? What issues will we confront? What dreams will we accomplish? It has a lot of questions marks and always many surprises. When we are young, it is exciting to explore new adventures and further our careers. As we age, it becomes more hope for healing of illnesses and avoiding falls and accidents. In between, we are busy with raising a family and making friends. And then there are the perennial new year resolutions that most often go by the wayside. During this Jubilee Year of Mercy perhaps we can consider a resolution of practicing mercy in all our actions. When we are tempted to give an angry retort, when we feel resentful of another’s response, when we uncover old prejudices, when we want to hang on to grudges, when we see injustices, when others ignore us, may we dig deep for mercy and forgiveness. Perhaps we could keep a journal and enter a ...

In the silence of night a star shone bright where shepherds grazed their sheep. An angel announced the good news of a Savior born in a humble stable. In awe they came to worship him, amazed at the Babe lying in a manger. One of the shepherds said, “You must come to my house where it is warm and clean. This is no place for a tiny baby.” Joseph smiled at him gratefully – they followed him to a nearby hut, and Mary laid Jesus in a tiny crib that had belonged to the shepherd’s son when he was a baby. But soon the couple had to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s slaughter. Then the shepherd laughed  as he told  all his neighbors how  he had housed  the new-born Savior  and had held  the Child in his arms. 

When I look over the past year I am amazed at how much the world has changed. The mass shootings, the terrorism deaths, the ISIS threats have made people feel less safe.  The political campaigns have become more like vicious attacks than a serious outlay of positions and beliefs. Police brutality seems more prevalent, especially toward minorities. Colleges are now considering having students carry guns to protect themselves. Climate change is becoming more evident in the melting of ice caps, the extinction of species, the turbulence of weather patterns, the air pollution in cities. As Pope Francis has said, “This is not an era of changes but a change of era.” One could become very pessimistic about the evils that surround us. Yet like Anne Frank and Etty Hillesum, both victims of the Holocaust, we must focus on the good in people around us:  the generous benefactor, the patient waiter, the loving grandmother, the hardworking father, the kind neighbor, the thoughtful child...

Waiting on tiptoe, filled with anticipation, aglow with the mystery of Christmas. We pray for a fuller coming of Jesus into our lives, piercing our darkness, flooding us with light and gladness, eager to welcome choirs of angels singing "Glory in Excelsis Deo." Like shepherds grazing their sheep, we stand in the ordinariness of our days, unadorned and weighed down with cares, amazed that our God would come as a poor babe, no regal robes or crowns. Like Mary we ponder such extravagant love, that knows no bounds, makes no demands, freely given, desire of all ages past, hope for the outcast, the stranger, the imprisoned, the homeless, the poor.

Children associate Christmas with presents , the more the better. As we grow older, the gift of presence becomes more important. Older people still like gifts, but to see someone they love takes priority, especially if they live alone or are home-bound or ill. The Christmas season can be lonely or depressing for those who have recently lost a close relative or are separated from their family by miles or alienation. If you are at a loss for what to give an older person, spend some time with them, listen to their stories, let them know you care. It might be harder to do than sending them a plant or buying them a warm sweater or scarf, but it will mean more. Of course it's a busy time and there are many things to get done. But it will be worth it to see the smile on their face and perhaps a tear in their eye. Mary is a good example for us. Although she was pregnant with the Savior, she knew that her cousin Elizabeth was also with child in her old age and would appreciate help. It...

I recently attended a workshop called "Crucial Conversations." It was a two-day process presented by four trainers. The presenters provided case studies and “tools for talking when stakes are high.” They taught us how to handle disagreements, anger, misunderstandings, broken relationships, and other difficult issues.  It was quite revealing to see the roadblocks people set up in family and working situations and how to overcome the obstacles in order to have a meaningful dialogue. We looked at motives, safety issues, stress responses, listening skills, and word games. We saw videos of actual situations and what made them fail or what made them work. I learned that if both sides feel safe, they can talk about almost anything.  It require s taking risks and being willing to change.  I also found out that it takes a lot of practice because sometimes emotions get in the way and we don’t respond with our best selves. It’s no wonder that the book Crucial Conversations has sol...

It’s that time of year again for Christmas letters boasting of children’s achievements, fun trips, and photos around the glittering tree. Time to max out credit cards on gifts nobody needs or wants and will use for white elephants. Time to bake fancy decorated cookies, breads, and cakes that put on pounds we will spend the next year shedding. Time to attend elaborate parties, indulge in drinking and eating too much, and feeling miserable the rest of the time. So different from the first Christmas spent in a drafty stable with smelly animals, a homeless family and scruffy shepherds, surrounded by angels singing, “Peace on earth, good will to all.”

Pope Francis has declared the new church year beginning this December as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. He issued a new papal document about his ideas on what this means for Catholics. Jesus' message was certainly one of mercy rather than strict adherence to the law. This is the central theme of the New Testament. John 3:16 is a favorite verse of many: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Jesus told many parables about the mercy of God in the New Testament. Probably the best-known is the parable of the Prodigal Son. The image of the father waiting at the window for his vagrant son's return and then running to meet him is one of the most tender portrayals of mercy. Another is the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the 99 in search of the one sheep that is lost. Probably the least popular is the story of the vineyard workers (Matt. 20:1-16). When the owner gave the ...