Inspired by Scholastica

God stoops down to embrace our humanness, our fragile, broken frame of bones and sinews limping, stumbling along, holding our aches and pains that cry out for relief, the yearnings imbedded deep within our hearts, even the sins festering in our souls. He bends low to scoop us up into his arms like a mother cherishing her nursing child, feeding us with the milk of mercy, cuddling us with tenderness and a warm embrace God takes on our flesh, becomes one with us in all the sweat and tears of life, the loneliness, weariness, rejection, doubts, failures, and humiliations. Was there ever a God as humble as ours?

" For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  —Romans 8:38-39 Christmas is associated with love, especially the love of a God whose fullness we have all received. Paul assures us that we are bound to God in Christ Jesus and nothing can separate us. This unity is the real gift of Christmas. Other gifts are nice, but ultimately unsatisfying. Of course, most of us don't know this. We keep searching for the perfect gift unaware that we already have it. Only in contemplative prayer can we experience this fullness of love that is poured into us. And as Richard Rohr says, " Love is One, and this Love is either shared and passed on or it is not the Great Love at all."  Christmas is a time of sharing and passing on God's love to our fami

When Christmas decorations and songs begin even before Thanksgiving, it is hard to observe the Advent season of waiting and preparing. How do we block out the hoopla and hear the beautiful Advent readings and hymns of longing for the coming of the Savior of the world. Yes, he has already come, but he wants to come more fully into our lives. Mary was pregnant for nine months preparing for Jesus' birth. We too are pregnant with the possibilities of birthing Jesus into a world torn apart by divisions, antipathies, and wars. What can we do to bring healing and peace in our families, cities, and country? How can we reach out to refugees, immigrants, the homeless, and the forgotten?  How can we share our abundance with those in need? That should be our concern, our focus, during this holy season. As we decorate our trees and write our Christmas cards, may we pray and reach out to those who won't have a tree or receive a card. Pope Francis has urged us to open our hearts to th

Have you ever heard of the pickle ornament? According to German tradition, the pickle brings good luck. On Christmas morning the first child to find the pickle received an extra little gift left by St. Nicholas. This was supposed to encourage children to appreciate all the ornaments on the tree instead of rushing to open their gifts. Or what about the peanut ornament? Another tradition says that the peanut is a symbol of mystery and anticipation of the Christmas season. Just as when you open the shell, you find the peanut inside, the Christmas season unfolds with many delightful surprises. In past times, families would make handmade decorations with peanuts and other gilded nuts to adorn the Christmas tree. These traditions sound quaint to us now, but Christmas traditions are very important in many homes. Some families used to string popcorn or make ornaments out of colored paper or tin foil. Others leave seeds and tidbits for birds and other animals outside. Some read the stor

I cannot imagine what it would be like to spend Christmas in prison without family or friends or gifts. It sounds unbearably lonely and inhumane. Pope Francis visits prisoners. I write to a prisoner who is spending his life in prison for a crime committed in his youth. He has spent most of this life behind bars. Yet he always begins his letters with “Another God-given day!” and ends with “God bless you and all the sisters.”  My prisoner friend, who is in his 60s, has no family left. He has run out of appeals so he has no hope of release. I send him jokes, poems, stationery, and stamps, and he is always grateful. There are restrictions on what he can receive. I’m sure he can identify with the Christchild born in a stable with little comfort or warmth. But Jesus at least had his parents surrounding him with love. At the end, of course, Jesus was abandoned on the cross and died a shameful death. During this Christmas season, perhaps we can say an extra prayer for all t

The Standing Rock Indians are protesting an oil pipeline near their reservation on  the Missouri River in North Dakota. They are peacefully resisting the  pipeline because it encroaches on sacred lands and burial grounds and would likely pollute the Missouri River which provides the tribe's drinking water. These "water protectors" have been joined by over 200 tribes, and thousands of religious leaders and representatives who have endured water hoses in freezing temperatures and rubber bullets. The Sioux Indian Nation has filed a lawsuit againt the Army Corps of Engineers and also pleaded with President Obama to intervene for them. In spite of the huge show of support, the media has largely ignored these protests which have gone on for months. Actually, if oil leaks into the Missouri River it will affect not only the Sioux Indians, but all those who depend on this river for their water supply from North Dakota to Louisiana. This oil fracking could also cause earthq

  We ought to be thankful every day, but a special day of thanks is a good reminder that everything we have is a gift from a loving God who never tires of giving. We are called to be imitators of God’s generosity to all whom we encounter and those we hold in our hearts. Gratitude should be an essential part of our lives. We need to be grateful for the air we breathe, the clean water at our disposal, the food most of us have in abundance, the health care we receive, families and friends who love us, employment that provides for our needs and contributes to the community. An attitude of gratitude is also good for your health. Recent research shows it can "improve sleep and self-esteem, reduce pain, alleviate anxiety and depression, and increase your overall satisfaction with life." ( Prevention , Nov. 2016)  We often take our freedoms and blessings for granted. We have never had to experience war on  our soil. Most of us have never gone hungry, homeless, or suffere

While I was walking outside the other day, I saw a dead leaf hanging by a thread from a branch twirling in the breeze.  It was attached by such a fragile filament, yet dancing around and around as if it were not ready to die just yet. It reminded me of our current situation in the U.S. Some of us are like that leaf, holding on for dear life after the recent election. We may not feel like dancing, but the winds of change around us are putting us in motion. We are not ready to give up yet. We are praying, resisting, signing petitions, speaking out against injustices, especially against Trump’s immigration decree. His decision to deport about three million  undocumented immigrants, to split up families, to oust students from their schools, is deplorable. These are not just numbers, these are human beings, many of whom have fled violence, drug lords, and extreme poverty to seek freedom. They could not wait years before they would be eligible to be admitted.   The U.S. Catholic

"The source of spiritual wisdom is to hold questions and contradictions patiently, much more than to find quick certitudes, to rush to closure or judgment, as the ego and dualistic mind want to do."                                                                                                                       —  Richard Rohr After this 2016 election, I was full of questions and contradictions. I was quick to judge that this was a catastrophe for our country. How could voters choose a man so unfit and so xenophobic to be our president.  So I prayed for insight and understanding. I am trying to be patient and not look for “quick certitudes” as I try to live with the reality of a president-elect who seems so far from what I hoped for and opposite of what I believe in. Maybe I need to take time to feel more of the pain that the unemployed, the rejected, and the marginalized experience daily. Maybe I need to ponder the plight of those who have not achieved the

Last night I saw the movie "Iron-Jawed Angels" which portrayed the women's suffragist movement in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. I was inspired by these women who protested for their right to vote in front of the White House and were jailed for obstructing traffic.They suffered police brutality, imprisonment and hunger strikes to demand justice. They were willing to die for their belief in equal rights. The 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote was passed on August 18, 1920. Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony was one of the women who fought for this right. When she voted illegally in 1876, she  was imprisoned. She did not live to see the 19th Amendment passed. This month some women are putting "I voted" stickers on her tombstone to pay tribute to her. I wonder if people today appreciate how long and hard these women fought for that right. We take it for granted and many will not vote for one reason or another. We ough

Whenever I see clothes hanging outdoors, I think of my mother. She loved laundry days and the smell of fresh sheets and towels. She also admired other people’s laundry on clotheslines. You don’t see wash on clotheslines much anymore now that most people have driers. My mom didn’t like to have clothes battered around in a machine because to her wash was a living thing that required gentle care. I know that sounds silly to today’s busy homemakers, who have no time to spend a whole day drying clothes outside. Yet it’s true our linens and clothes lasted a lot longer with her tender loving care. She also mended clothes at their first sign of wear.  She would never hold things together with safety pins or let her children wear anything with holes. Her example edified me, but did not carry over to her offspring.  I enjoy the convenience of driers  and would much prefer to use my time on other things like reading, games, exercise, or TV.  I am not as frugal as my mother in men

My mom My mother rarely sat at the dinner table. Instead she waited on us, dishing out  food onto our plates, relishing our compliments, encouraging us to have more, often eating what we left behind. She always had fresh-baked cake or cookies or pie for dessert,  never store-bought always made from scratch.    I never realized how lucky we were to have a mother that loved to cook and lavish us with delicious meals, serving us tirelessly as if she had not spent hours peeling potatoes, cooking vegetables, mixing ingredients. I think she learned to be a servant when she worked for a Jewish family in Germany. Always in an apron   working in the kitchen, never taking time for her own needs or resting, never even expecting a tip.

  In St. Benedict’s Holy Rule he says the younger monks should respect the elders and the elder monks should love the younger.  He also commands that guests were to be received as Christ and special consideration should be given to the less fortunate. I’m sure he would be horrified at the way this year’s presidential campaign has been conducted.  The candidates have referred to each other as unfit, lying, evil, and worse in some instances.  Common courtesy is mostly absent and hateful slurs and innuendos are rampant. So I really liked the last question from a man in the audience at the second debate: What is one good thing you could say about your opponent? Hilary Clinton said she thought Donald Trump’s children were exemplary young people so he must be a good father, and Donald Trump said Secretary Clinton had perseverance and determination and never gave up.  It was a relief that they found something to admire about the other in spite of all the negativity they displayed

Father Jacques Hamel, French priest When ISIS terrorists killed a Catholic priest in France last July, many expected increased violence against Muslims. But President Francois Hollande brought together religious representatives from Christian churches as well as Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish leaders and interfaith services were held to express unity. Instead of the attack inciting a war on religion, it showed a common bond of friendship between the major faiths. In fact, the priest, Rev. Jacques Hamel, was a good friend of the local Muslim leader according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor..  Too much attention has been given to the violence of past religious history and not enough to their peaceful coexistence for centuries, says historian Zachary Karabeli in a book called Peace Be Upon You.  " Each of the faiths teaches its followers to greet friends and strangers with the warm open arms of acceptance," he says. "Peace comes first and last ."  Th

Some people find solace in poetry, in words wrenched from the depths  of despair or the heights of ecstasy  symbolic  imagery that takes one to other worlds where dolphins speak and roads lead to exotic places, where darkness holds secrets hidden under layers of commonplace things. Poets have a way of turning life upside down and inside out, nothing is as it seems. Their eyes behold sights that exceed the superficial, they penetrate deep-down to break open the ordinary and find a freshness, a beauty, a brilliance unseen by those who live on the surface of life. Their vision provides bread for those who hunger for nourishment beyond humdrum routine and dull conversations, who yearn for rhapsodies that nurture their soul.

My faith sharing group recently discussed authenticity and what a challenge it is to be who we really are without any pretense or facade. According to Brene Brown, a psychologist, authenticity means having the courage to be imperfect, exercising compassion for ourselves and nurturing the sense of belonging that only occurs when we believe we are good enough. Practicing authenticity during our daily struggles is the way to have joy and gratitude in our lives, she says. Since our culture tells us how to look, how to act, what to say, it's hard not to worry about what others think or whether we will be accepted. This is especially challenging for young adults who strive to be like everyone else. Whether it's pierced noses, spiked hair, or torn jeans, they want to fit in with the crowd. But it's not just teens. How many of us have the courage to voice our opinion when it's different from our peers? Or wear short hair when everyone else's is long? Or own our mist

Our country always seemed safe and protected from international attack until September 11, 2001. Since then, terrorism has spread to our shores, and Homeland Security has greatly increased its safety inspections and investigations. We no longer take our safety for granted on planes, buildings, or any place where crowds are gathered. The new 9/11 memorial in New York is a reminder of the nearly 3,000 people who died when the World Trade Center was demolished by two suicide plane attacks. It was a crushing blow to our country, one we will never forget. It is good to remember especially those who gave their lives trying to save others, firefighters, police, medical personnel, and co-workers. Jesus tells us several times in the gospel, "Do not be afraid." He tells us to trust him and to pray for our enemies. That is a real challenge in these times of radical Islamic and other terrorist attacks.We must pray that their hearts may be changed and cherish our freedom. We must live b

Mother Teresa with Sister Kathleen Egan, OSB, and Father Pat Tobin. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis on Sept. 4. Everyone knows about her work with the poor and forgotten of the world. But during the canonization process, letters revealing her darkness were published and some people were scandalized.  It was a little disconcerting to realize that she suffered from depression and doubts during her life. She always seemed to be so dedicated and holy. After seeing a movie about her life recently, I learned that she struggled with her “call within a call” to serve the poor instead of teaching wealthy Indian girls. When she started her ministry to the poor in Calcutta, she encountered suspicion by some of the Hindus who thought she was trying to convert their children. Her religious order was also reluctant to heed her request for exclaustration. Also, Church officials were slow in approving her request to begin a new religious order to serve the dy

In his Holy Rule, St. Benedict advises his monks to keep death daily before their eyes. That sounds a bit morbid but is actually a worthy practice. Since none of us knows the day or the hour when we will breathe our last breath, it behooves us to be ready when God calls us. If we knew this day would be our last, we certainly would live it the best way we possibly could. That means we would forgive anyone who has hurt us and seek forgiveness of those we have harmed.  It would also make us contact family members and friends to tell them we love them, especially if we have not talked to them lately. Another thing we would want to do is avoid wasting time on trivial things and do what is important to us, which might mean taking a walk outside and savoring the beauty of nature, or making a loved one’s favorite meal, or visiting someone in a care center who is ill or lonely, or reading a good book we have been putting off for a while. We also might want to clean out some closets

When I read some lives of the saints, I cringe at their desire for hardship and suffering. I feel like a wimp because I try to avoid any kind of pain or distress. After all, isn’t the gospel supposed to be good news and bring joy to people? Most spiritual writers tell us that ordinary life brings enough suffering without looking for more. So I am glad for medication that reduces pain and modern conveniences that make life easier. As I grow older with less energy and more aches, I am grateful for ways to cope with my diminishment. I probably won’t be ranking among the highest order of saints who sought more intense discomfort, but surely there is a place for softer people, who keep going with a little help now and then. Why would God give humans the intelligence to discover ways of easier living if he did not want us to use them?  Can’t we pray better without pain or weariness to distract or weigh heavily on us? I’m probably just looking for ways to justify my “wimpiness,” but

    “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord;  let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) I gasped, amazed when Gabriel appeared, telling me God had chosen me to birth the Messiah. I wanted to do God’s will, but this was perplexing, disturbing. Was this angel really God’s messenger? How could I explain it to my family? What would my beloved Joseph say? “Do not fear,” the angel said, but it was hard not to tremble at such news. And then the long trip to Bethlehem on a donkey, and giving birth in a stable, surrounded by scruffy shepherds and smelly animals. Shivering, Joseph piled straw around the Babe for warmth, and covered me with his meager cloak. Was this befitting the Son of God? The flight into Egypt to escape Herod’s threat was harrowing; foreigners in a hostile land. People looked at us with suspicion, Joseph again had to find shelter, provisions and work.  I loved watching Jesus take his f

Pope Francis has appointed a group of six men and six women to study the possibility of women deacons in the Catholic Church. We know women served as deacons in the early church so there is an historical precedent. It does seem to be a step toward equal opportunity for women in the Church. We do not know what will be the outcome, but at least there is an openness to dialogue. I have one concern. For so long complementarity has been stressed as women's role in the Church, I fear that a deacon position will be one exclusively of service, not one of authority. Certainly men deacons perform service in the parish, but they also are able to preach and administer some sacraments. Hopefully, if women deacons are approved they will have comparable roles and not just train servers and oversee parish dinners. Father Thomas Reese, former editor of America , recommends that deacons be allowed to administer the anointing of the sick, a real need when a priest is not available. Women do w

When we look at statistics on religious life,  the numbers are startling. In most women's communities, there are more sisters above 90 than below 60. This has caused many to think that religious orders of women will die out in the not too distant future and that women today are no longer interested in religious life. But studies show that one in every ten never-married women born since Vatican II has seriously considered a vocation to religious life. However, there are many challenges for those who are involved in vocation or formation ministry. One is the generational challenge. Older sisters who have grown up in a very different church with different experiences of religious life have to understand and connect with younger women who are exploring a religious vocation. Another is the challenge of diversity. Those entering religious life today are more racially and ethnically diverse than they were in the mid-1950s and 60s. Other research showed that young people entering reli

God’s mercy is not measured out by spoonfuls or cupfuls or even wagonloads but overflowing, brimming over, juiciness oozing in all directions, drenching our shriveled spirits, deluging our Saharan hearts, opening the floodgates to enlarge our paltry understanding of compassion.