Inspired by Scholastica

  Inspired by Scholastica   The Gift of Light I was not familiar with the story of the Maccabees in the Old Testament. Over 2,000 years ago the temple in Jerusalem was desecrated, and most of the Jews fled. But a small group, the Maccabees, stayed and tried to keep the oil burning in the temple lamp. There was only enough oil for perhaps a day, but it burned for another eight days. That gave them hope that it would burn until they could buy more oil. Light is very significant in the Scriptures, especially during the Christmas season. We all know the story of the Magi following a star they saw in the East. Astronomers assured them that it was an unknown star that had just appeared They believed that it indicated the birth of a new King and they got on their camels to seek him. After a long arduous journey, they found the newborn King in a stable in Bethlehem and offered their gifts. Light is also important in the Resurrection story.   As dawn was rising in the ea...

  Inspired by Scholastica   Pondering Christ’s Coming After periods of dryness, darkness, and discouragement, it is sometimes hard to believe in the message of Christmas: “God is with us.” Yet when we really listen and let go of our fears, we can grasp that truth. We can sing, ‘Come Emmanuel, come to save us.” As we behold the stars at midnight, the smiles around the Christmas tree, the warmth of togetherness, we know that God is near, that we can feel safe in the heart of Jesus. When the heavenly messenger came to Mary announcing that she would give birth to the Savior, she was stunned and hesitant to believe.   I’m sure she felt like this sounded too good to be true, and she questioned how this could come about. But she was willing to do whatever God asked of her. And poor Joseph. He loved Mary and wanted to marry her, but how could she be with child already? In a dream, he was told that this was how God chose to become human. It seemed incredible that God wou...

  Inspired by Scholastica   Slivers of Hope   Society seems hopelessly corrupt Nobody cares about God. Yet there is hope That God will set things right.                                     Ps. 53 This is the introduction to psalm 53 in my book of psalms that I reflected on today. During these Advent days, I’m trying to see signs of hope. When I passed our amaryllis plant, which is only a slight sliver now, barely visible, I knew it would eventually become an exotic four-blossomed flower. But If I did not know that, I would have thought there’s not much hope there of producing anything.   As I look around the world and listen to the news, I find only slight slivers of hope. I feel like the psalmist who said, “Society seems hopelessly corrupt. Nobody cares about God.”   ...

  Advent Musings 2024 Advent is a season of reflection and anticipation: reflection on the prophecies that foretold Jesus’ coming and anticipation of Jesus’ coming again today. The prophets spoke of a savior who would redeem the world. Now we look forward to the symbolic celebration of Jesus’ birth in our day. In these days before Christmas, we might reflect on some of the stories in the Old Testament that told of a Messiah who would bring good news and peace. Those years before Christ’s coming were not too different from our world today, filled with wars, poverty, sickness, and violence. Jesus was born in a humble stable to a virgin and a carpenter. The three magi from the East were looking for a king but found a helpless baby lying a manger. The star led them to Bethlehem, an inconspicuous town, and they knelt before the child, offering their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Today, war and poverty and all kinds of evil still exist in our world, but we try to block ou...