relationship with God

Catholic Girl Journey

Would you follow a star?

Would you follow a star? What if it meant going to another country where you have never been? In the Gospel of Matthew, the story of the astrologers, or the three wise men as they often have been named, begins when they arrive in Jerusalem. They were looking for the newborn King of the Jews, and where else should they look but in the palace of the capital city?

While there are many theories and stories about the men and what could have been their journey, the gospel presents us with just enough information for us to ponder what that means for our own lives. These were men who were knowledgeable; they were able to interpret nature to understand that a king was newly born, and not just any king, but one special enough to warrant their attention and gifts. They were also men who either could, or chose to put their life on hold to make such journey. They were also open enough to be directed by a dream that instructed them to go back home via a different route.

When we look at nature what do we see? Leaves strewn on the ground that need to be raked. A sun shining so brightly we need to wear sunglasses. Snow falling so quickly that we can barely keep up shoveling out our cars and walkways. Instead of looking at nature for signs of God, it often seems that nature is just a nuisance to be tolerated. What if we looked at nature as messengers? Would we be able to correctly interpret the signs like those astrologers? Would we be able to put our lives aside to follow their revelation? Or do we need an unmistakable sign from God like the shepherds received, with a host of angels praising God and telling them where to find the newborn?

The narrative of Christmas involves being on a journey: Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the shepherds to see the newborn and the astrologers to see the king. Each journey is a faith journey and is different based on the person and God’s plan for them. As we begin a New Year, how can we take these Christmas stories and bring them to life in our own faith journey?

Ten fingers and ten toes

“You made the world before I was born. Here I am holding you in my arms tonight.” Those lines from Francesca Battistelli’s Christmas song, “You’re Here” caught my attention. It made me wonder what Mary thought right after the birth of Jesus.

I’ve heard mention that new parents often count the fingers and toes of their newborns, just to make sure they are all there. Did Mary count Jesus’ fingers and toes? I wonder if he cried much, especially being in a rustic stable and laid on pinching hay. As a blessed newborn, how much did Mary and Joseph hold Him? Did they imagine what His life would be like? Did they wonder how He would save the world? Or were their thoughts more about their current circumstances of being registered and when they could return to Nazareth?

If you were to hold the infant Jesus, what would be your thoughts? Being over 2,000 years after Christ’s birth, knowing all the events that have taken place, would you thank Him for all that He would do? Would you ask Him for specific blessings or help? What if you put yourself in the role of Mary or Joseph, not knowing what the future would bring? Would you cuddle Him in your arms, make Him as comfortable as possible and just marvel that God would allow you to hold Him? Or would you talk softly to Him, making silly noises to get Him to smile and laugh?

God does smile and laugh. He has ten fingers and toes. He looks to us to help and care for Him — in every person we meet. We don’t know what the future will bring for those who touch our lives. Let’s take the wonder and awe of that first Christmas and pass it on to everyone we meet.

Catholic Girl Journey

Best

“That first Christmas, God gave us His best.” This is on the front of the Christmas card my parents sent me this year. I read that simple line and tears started down my cheeks.  It may be simple, but it’s very profound.

God’s generosity cannot be outdone. God the Father gave us a bit of Himself through His Son to save us. Jesus did not magically appear and claim that all was forgiven and that we’re now sons and daughters of God. As Saint Paul reminds us, “Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate…” (Phil 2:7). God’s best was born just like the rest of us. He lived, working as a carpenter until he began his public ministry. He was like you and me, and yet so much more. He knows our challenges and successes, because He dwelt in the midst of people just like you and me. He is our role model in being a child of God.

During the course of a year it’s hard to bring out best to everything. But at Christmas, we all want it to be the best it can be …. or do we want it to be perfect as we imagine perfection to be?  We want to give our friends and family the best we have. When Jesus came, God’s messengers announced the good news to the working shepherds of the day, humble and poor men. Do we give our best to those who are in need, those we don’t know? As we celebrate the birthday of Jesus, do we give Him our best? I know I never seem to have enough time to get the things I “have” to get done in order to celebrate Christmas. But time is a precious gift that God gives us; do we spend some of that time with Him (and without thinking about the long checklist of items yet to be completed)?

Every year the youth group of my parish put on a Living Nativity the Sunday before Christmas. They always do their best. It may not be perfect, but it’s done with love and serves as a great reminder of the events that occurred over 2000 years ago, and how God’s best continues to truly be a gift that keeps giving.

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Catholic Girl Journey

Fullness of time

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.” (Gal 4:4). These words from Paul have been read at Mass numerous times. This last week of advent, they seem to take on even more meaning.

I love the beginning phrase of that sentence, “the fullness of time.” If I were going to illustrate that, it would be a strawberry at its peak of ripeness, all red, juicy and sweet; a feast for all the senses. God sends His promise when the time is ripe for mankind to receive it. If He sent His Son right after the fall of Adam and Eve, it would not have the same impact. God spent centuries teaching fallen man how to reconnect with Him. He created a people by seeking out individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Moses and David, to help their fellow man have a relationship with God the Father. In the Christmas Eve vigil gospel, we hear the careful preparation of man in the lineage from which Jesus is born.

Advent is a time for us to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus at his birth. The Church gives us four Sundays to prepare. It seems that once we get to the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Christmas cannot come fast enough, especially when Christmas falls on a Sunday, a whole 7 days to wait! Christmas comes in the fullness of God’s time, not ours. It’s very easy to get caught up in planning for and anticipating the Christmas celebration, that we don’t experience each day that leads up to Christmas. If Christmas came tomorrow, we would not be ready, yet our anticipation can often lead us to wish it would come immediately.

God does not delay; He delivers His promise at the time He chooses that will be of the greatest blessing to us. In the last week of Advent, let’s practice preparing to receive His blessing by patiently enduring the wait.

Catholic Girl Journey

Sounds of the season

How many holidays do you know that have songs about them that are played in public places?

There are many songs about love that can be played for St. Valentine’s day and number of patriotic songs that can be played for Independence Day, but most holidays don’t have songs that are played on the radio or in television shows and commericals. Christmas is different. As Thanksgiving is the traditional “start” of the season, songs about Christmas begin to play in the days leading up to that holiday.

No matter what genre of music you like, there are holiday songs made for you. From the silly “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer” to the traditional “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” many artists have their own renditions of what the songs should sound like. There are plenty of songs that are secular in nature or that don’t even mention the holiday at all, but are still considered holdiay songs, like “Let it Snow” and “Marshmallow World” (one of my favorites). In this era of political correctness, many events are changing their names to replace ‘Christmas’ with ‘Holiday’ and there are enough songs out there to do that.

“Silent Night,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” are all Christ-centered songs. When I hear them in public locations, like the LA airport or a travel agency office, it is a delightful surprise. I notice when songs like these are played, even as background music in commericals and television programs. I rejoice hearing them, as those songs contain the true message of what Christmas is all about.

No matter how many times I hear them during the month of December, when it comes to Christmas Mass, I am overcome with emotion at the meaning of the words. It’s the realization of the moment that we have been waiting for has finally arrived. Every word of each song bursts forth in celebration. It’s both humbling and exhalting to sing of God’s glory and love, as we join our earthly voices to the heavenly chorus of saints and angels.

Catholic Girl Journey

Color the season

Purple, green and red are the colors of the Christmas season. Each one reminds us of a different aspect of the celebration.

“Purple?” you may ask. Yes, purple is the color of Advent, the preparation time prior to Christmas. The advent wreath candles are purple; the priest wears purple vestments at Mass. It is also a penitential color, signifying the opportunity we have to properly prepare for Christ’s coming. While the Church does not require us to fast or abstain from meat, voluntarily making such sacrifices along with others, could help us in our preparation.

The Church does remind us of the need to prepare with the words of the prophets Isaiah and John the Baptist, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” (Mark 1:3). In order to receive the Lord, we need to smooth out the bumps and hills that sin causes in our lives. A thoughtful and heartfelt confession will also prepare us for the upcoming celebration.

Green, the color in the boughs of the advent wreath, signifies our hope for a new beginning. The evergreen trees we decorate, ones that stay green even when other trees go bare and slip into winter hibernation, remind us that God is the source of our life. We should not despair when we sin, but rather acknowledge our transgressions and ask God’s forgiveness, so that we can be renewed in our life in Christ. Green in the season is the hope for eternal life with God.

The red berries nestled in the green holly leaves are the color that reminds us that God became man and shed His blood to offer Himself in reparation for the sins of mankind.  But first, He was conceived in the womb of Mary and was born nine months later, just like the rest of us. This is the miracle that we celebrate at Christmas.  Assuming human nature, He lived as one of us moment-by-moment, day-by-day. He understands what it means to be human and shows us the path to a relationship with God.

Therefore, when we see the colors of the season, let them be a reminder that we are preparing the way for someone. Let that someone be Jesus coming into our hearts and lives.

Catholic Girl Journey

Shine

Plunged into darkness is the way I describe changing the clock to standard time. It’s dark when I get up in the morning and dark before I leave work in the evening. If I didn’t sit near a window, I wouldn’t know the sun even comes out except for the weekends. But it’s being in this inky darkness that reminds me that I have to be a light.

As we begin Advent, we light a single candle on the advent wreath. It’s amazing what one candle can do to darkness. It might not make the room as bright as a modern lamp, but a single candle can light up what’s around us, and help us to see where things are in a room to avoid tripping over them. It’s what our faith can do for us. It makes us a light and helps us to see what’s around us and guide us to God.

Each week of Advent brings another candle to brighten the light even more. This preparation for Christmas is a time to reflect on how much light we give to others. With each act of charity and mercy, our light becomes stronger because we welcome God into our lives. We share the love of God with others, becoming His hands and feet on earth. In doing so, we reflect the light of the Trinity out to others, magnifying our own brightness.

It’s only a short four weeks until Christmas which may be packed with activities and parties, but we need time to prepare for Christmas in our hearts as well as among our family and friends. If we take time each day to reflect the what and the why of our celebration, we can enjoy the festivities with a greater appreciation of the gifts God has given to us. We can shine in the darkness and give light to others on their faith journey.  

Catholic Girl Journey

A single drop

Baptism is an amazing sacrament in the Catholic Church. Through it, we welcome the baptized into the family of God and mark the beginning of their faith journey.

I recently attended Mass at my Mom’s parish which included an infant baptism.  The priest reminded the congregation that some Christians do not believe in infant baptism, reasoning that the child should be able to choose their own faith.  However, we as Catholics believe that baptism is the “birth” of a person as a child of God. Just as we don’t get to pick the family into which we are born, the same can be said of our faith. In baptizing an infant child, the parents and godparents agree to instruct the child in the faith, to help keep the light of Christ burning within the child as they grow.

As I watched the priest pouring water over the baby’s head, I recalled a comment I once heard: “I don’t believe that trickle of water can do anything. You need to be plunged into the water.” At the time, I had no idea how to respond to a comment like that, but it stayed with me. After all, the Greek definition of baptism is to “plunge” or “immerse.” But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how limiting it was to believe that God could not wash away original sin and welcome a child into his family with that “trickle” of water. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “from ancient times it has [also] been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate’s head” (CCC 1239).  I would like to think that a single drop of water for each member of the Trinity, along with a serious intention of baptism, would be enough for a miracle worker like God.

I do enjoy being able to participate as a witness when a baptism occurs during Mass. Not only do we get the opportunity to meet a new member of God’s family, but we also get to share the joy of that special moment. It’s a reminder that we too were baptized into the faith and to ponder how we have nurtured that faith in ourselves and those around us.

Catholic Girl Journey

Endings and beginnings

All things must come to an end. For example, November is the month that the Church calendar ends. And like a wise mother, she uses this month to prepare us for our own life’s ending by reminding us what we are living for: heaven. 

The first day of November is the grand celebration of All Saints Day. It is the feast day for every human who is in heaven, not just the canonized saints. Someday even we, hopefully, will be among them as “God made us to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world in order to be forever happy with Him in the next.” This is what we spend our lives on earth striving for.   Now is the time to think about all the saints we can remember by name and how they have served God. Then we turn our reflections inward to discover how we can emulate them and ask what is God asking of us? The saints are in a fabulous position to help us, as they are with God; we only need to ask for their guidance and support.

The second day in November, and indeed the rest of the month, is a celebration and remembrance of all the holy souls in purgatory. These are the people whose imperfections have kept them from entering heaven upon their death. They are assured of heaven, but need to purify themselves of their temporal punishment due to sin. Referred to as the Church suffering, we pray for them, offering Mass and small deeds of charity on their behalf, asking God to hasten their welcome into heaven. These can be members of our family and friends or they could be strangers from another generation from another part of the world.

Towards the end of the month, we celebrate the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King of the Universe marking the last Sunday of the Church’s calendar.  What a grand title that evokes superlative majesty! And so it should be. Every day of the year we walk with Jesus in His life on earth with every gospel reading. We know Him as the person He was when He was on the earth. But He continues to be a person, seated next to Father God and reigns with Him as king over all creation in the universe: every moon, star, planet and galaxy.

We end the Church’s liturgical calendar recognizing that our ending is just the beginning of life everlasting. We strive to know, love and serve God today so that we can be welcomed into heaven, and have hope that our imperfections will not detain us too long in purgatory, so that we can be together with the communion of saints forever praising Jesus our King.

Catholic Girl Journey

Facing fears

I know I should not be afraid, but I am. I don’t like scary movies; I don’t like the suspense; and I don’t like being scared. October is my least favorite time of the year, as it seems like no matter where I look, there is some advertisement for a scary movie or fright-fest event.

I suppose one of the reasons I have this fear is because I see these scary things as manifestations of evil, intended or not.  I know that evil exists in the world. It can be subtle and enticing and look like a good thing; or it can be hideous and frightening. But what can it do to me? Can it hurt me? Sure. It can even test my faith. However, I know that as long as I have hope and cling to my faith in God, it can never overpower me. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and do no more.” (Lk 12:4). Yet I still do not want to see even the advertisements for these activities as they plant seeds of doubt. I wonder if my faith is strong enough?

We are all challenged daily in our faith and our trust in God. Sometimes the test is easily passed, other times it is a struggle that seems to linger. Either way, God is with us each step of the way, even if we don’t feel His presence. Even so, part of me wants to  avoid these activities because I don’t want to see these scary things, thus avoiding the struggle. But if that were the case, then I wouldn’t want to see or talk to anyone, since we’re all struggling to some degree.

I want to see the good in things. If the main intent of these various seasonal “amusements” is to scare us because they represent evil, then it’s hard to see any good in it. They block us from seeing goodness and God around us. In a Word on Fire blog, Fr. Grunow talks about exorcism and the entertainment industry’s embrace of that theme. He quotes from the novel, The Exorcist, “I think the point is to make us despair. To see ourselves as animal and ugly. To make us reject the possibility that God could love us.”

I’d like to think that my aversion for such things is a gift from God that acts as a shield from temptation and the accompanying struggle.