Inspired by Scholastica

Flight into Egypt The Holy Family’s flight into Egypt shortly after Jesus’ birth made me think about the refugee families today fleeing their homelands. Herod’s decree to kill all boy infants in and around Bethlehem  must have been terrifying for Mary and Joseph, forced to flee in the dark of night to protect their child. We do not know if they encountered barriers, but apparently they found safety in Egypt. The refugee families today fleeing violence and drug cartels in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, are also fearful. When border patrol separates parents from their children, the parents do not know if they will ever see them again. At a time when children need warm relationships, special care, and nutritious food, they are being treated inhumanely. What will happen to their newly forming brains and bodies? They may experience trauma that can affect or follow them for years to come. Some people can easily say these families are here illegally a...

I used to like to walk in fluffy snow, to hear the crunch of packed mounds of white under my boots, to taste icy flakes on my tongue, to see my breath make foggy clouds, to make angels in the powdery flakes. Now I’m no longer excited at a forecast of six to eight inches of white precipitation, no longer thrilled at a possible free day. It just means hours of shoveling or plowing streets and sidewalks. I guess that's what happens when age creeps up on you, and you worry about slipping on slick paths and keeping warm as you clean off the car or search for the hidden newspaper. I try not to be too irritated when I see gleeful children sliding down hills in makeshift sleds, or throwing icy balls at random. I just hope they don’t cross my path and knock me down. So don’t expect me to jump for joy when the next flurries appear. I’m ready for greening sprouts and forsythia gold, for gentle rains and soft breezes. Enough ...

“We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.”  -Thomas Merton I have a friend who is always ready to help others. She sees a need and automatically responds. I admire her ability to be so aware and so concerned about others. Those of us who are more wrapped up in our own needs have to work harder to be aware of the needs of others. Yet s ometimes people who give themselves so completely to others, fail to take care of their own needs.  We know people who think the world revolves around them. Sometimes we want to tell them, "It's not all about you." Others prefer to stay in the background due to humility or shyness. They may need to extend themselves more.  Merton says that it's all about loving ourselves properly while also loving others. Sometimes we find it hard to love ourselves when we look at our weaknesses, our imperfections, our fa...

The candles of the Advent wreath remind us that Christ the light of the world is coming. The candles signify that Christ breaks through the darkness to bring light to our broken, war-torn world. Jesus said to his apostles, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We are called to be people of  Light. There are certainly many dark places in our world to brighten. We have homeless people who need the light of kindness and warmth. There are people carrying the cross of sickness and pain who need the light of caring and compassion. Those imprisoned could use the light of companionship through letters and visits. Those who are unemployed or underemployed need the light of food pantries and/or soup kitchens to survive. We also have immigrants seeking asylum who need the light of justice and humane treatment. In order to be light-bearers we have to nourish light in ourselves. We have to be filled with peace, joy...