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  Inspired by Scholastica As Years Go By As I grow older, I am learning to let go of many things. Age takes its toll, and I am not able to do many of the activities I used to do. It took me a while to accept the fact that I am old and it’s okay for me not to be involved as much. I used to do some embroidery, but I can no longer see well enough to do the stitches. I have given up doing the daily New York Times crossword puzzles because of my eye problems. I still do some word games on my iPad. I have a small job to keep the cereal containers filled and counters cleaned in the dining room. And since I write the daily Chronicles, I try to attend meetings and activities so I can record what is happening in our monastery. Most of my time is spent in prayer and spiritual reading. I find solace in talking to God and listening as he speaks to me in community prayer, Mass, and in conversations with friends. I also enjoy nature, especially the birds and squirrels that come to our fe...
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  Inspired by Scholastica   A Noteworthy Leader Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, passed away last week at the age of 100.   He only served one term, but he was beloved by many for his kindness, honesty, and seeker of peace. After his term of office, he remained active in Habitat for Humanity, taught Sunday school, and was involved in his community. His faith was very important to him, and he preached eulogies tor statesmen and religious leaders alike. It always amazed me that a peanut farmer could become president. He brokered a peace accord between Israel and Palestine (which did not hold) and traveled widely to demonstrate the good will of the U.S. toward all. He achieved noteworthy results at times, thanks to his stature as a peacemaker, humanitarian and champion of democracy and his significant relationships with foreign leaders whether he liked them or not. He was awarded the Nobel Peace in 2002 for his decades of untiring effort to find pea...
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  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...
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  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...
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  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.”   ...
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  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...
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    Inspired by Scholastica Advent Pauses Before Advent gets swallowed up in the mad rush of Christmas shopping and decorating, I invite you to take a few moments each day to reflect on what Advent means for you personally. We know it is a season of waiting for Christ’s coming, but how does he come to us now is this world? Christ comes to us mainly in the poor who are hungry and abandoned. How can we see Christ in the starving child, the lonely elderly, the lost teenager, the drug-addicted man or woman?   How can we respond to their needs?   In a recent retreat, I heard the invitation: “Behold and Be Held.” When we really behold  the smells, the tears, the wounds of those around us, we are Be Held by God. We can also pray to the holy ones to accompany us on our Advent journey, those who had the courage to live out the invitation to love the suffering no matter what the cost. I think of Oscar Romero who spoke out about injustice and was shot while sayin...
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