Blog Archives
Entrances
I was recently watching reels of extravagant entrances to weddings, sweet sixteens and other parties. In one the groom arrived riding on an elephant, another had a bride arriving in a Cinderella style carriage with six white horses, and a sweet sixteener had her entourage carry her in on an elaborate golden chair. With all of it there was lots of pomp and circumstance including music to accompany the entrance. All the people who awaited their arrival were dressed beautifully and excitedly clapped at their arrival. Now that the entrance had happened the real fun could start. It was definitely something to behold. While I was watching all of it, I could not help but contrast the quietness of Christ’s arrival.
The king of all creation arrives and there is no big hoopla. Scripture lets us know a few details. It occurred in the quiet of the night, during a busy time (a census), in a small village. Mary and Joseph found no space at an inn and in the humble abode of a manger (a cave used for baby lambs or a barn) Jesus arrives. No kings, no dignitaries were present, no friends, no family. Just a young holy virgin and her righteous husband. But heaven doesn’t let this go by in full silence. Angels excited at the new arrival- go and sing- not to the king or the rich tucked away in comfy inns surrounded by their wealth. They go to the fields – to the shepherds – the ones sleeping under the stars. They are the ones who get to see the angles light up the sky, sing and proclaim “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests. (Luke 2 10-14)
Some biblical scholars think that the reason Satan didn’t know if Jesus was indeed the Christ is because of His humble entrance. Satan, who is the father of pride, would expect an entrance worthy of God. Not poverty, indifference and darkness. In a world full of noise where we strive to be seen and heard, how are we missing God’s daily coming into our lives?
Take the following interaction between Elijah and God
Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19 11-13)
Here in the silence is where Elijah can hear God speak to him.
We have come to believe that big entrances, opulence, and lots of noise equal important things. I remember a failing restaurant that put a bouncer and a stanchion outside and instantly became popular. Don’t get me wrong- I am not putting down the people described above and their entrances. What I did want to point out is that sometimes we miss God because He comes in simple ways. No grand entrances. And sometimes God misses us because we feel like we have to be something more before we can come to Him.
God is not calling for us to make big entrances, He is just asking us to be present. To allow ourselves to notice Him throughout the day and acknowledge Him in both His greatness and in the little things. Because He is indeed the creator of all good things – He will be found in all.
Why am I sharing this right before Lent and not during Advent? Because my dear friend, God wants to be found. As we approach the desert let us remember what He told Jeremiah “When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me” Jerimiah 12-14. So, this lent, come to God in your littleness. Walk into the desert as you are because “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). And if your heart is just as messy as a manger- don’t worry He has been there before and knows how to make it a home.
Have a blessed Lent!
All Hollows
Every October I start to cringe. It seems our world starts to display its fascination with death. Goblins, ghouls, zombies, and spiders abound. The scary and ugly part of what the secular world displays is a far cry from the beauty of what our Catholic faith teaches us.
And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 1 Cor 15:54-55
So, what is the beauty of death? Did you know that you are part of the universal church? When we proudly proclaim we are all one body- it is because the church divided into 3 parts that celebrate together. The Church Triumphant (those in heaven), the Church Suffering (those in purgatory) and the Church Militant (that’s us! Struggling everyday in this valley of tears) Our goal as Catholics is to recognize that we are part of this one body- and one day we will rejoice with the saints in heaven and enjoy the beatific vision.
When I look at the lives of the saints I am filled with hope. I see saints like Padre Pio, St Catherine of Sienna, and others who’s lives on earth were so exemplary that after death God does not show us a rotting corpse, but an incorruptible body, some who hundreds of years later still are intact and emit a beautiful scent. This is a small foreshadowing of what awaits us all, when Jesus comes again, our mortal bodies will once again be joined to our souls not in the thoughtless meanderings of a zombie but in grateful contemplation of the Divine.
Death is not an end- I once heard someone say one day when you read my obituary it will say I died, but don’t believe a word of it- I will be fully alive more alive than I have been in my physical life. I will be in heaven rejoicing. That is the goal to know that we will spend eternity with the one who loves us best. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. John 14 2-3. When my kids come home to visit, I spend so much time making things perfect for them- preparing a place for them that they will enjoy and feel loved in. If I in my human frailty can do this, can you imagine what God is preparing for you?
So let October come, let the world clothe itself in the scary and spooky. I will keep my eyes focused on heaven where my help comes from, and my hope is made real.
When I was a teenager and got my first job, I went SHOPPING! At any point you could go through my closet and see labels that were common to most teenagers of that time; Jordache, Levi’s, Lacoste and Nike. But if you took time to peruse my abundance of clothing you would also find a few treasured pieces that had no labels. They were made by my mom. I remember looking through magazines and pointing to a top and saying can you please make me that. We would go pick out the fabric and I would have a custom piece in no time. Those were always my favorite pieces. A few years ago, I went to NYC to see a play and remember stopping somewhere in Time Square and just gazing at all the lights. There were so many names in lights! The bigger the company the bigger the lights. I felt as if everywhere I went, someone wanted to catch my attention and visually shout – Sony, Samsung, Disney… I thought to myself of how we walked around surrounding ourselves with names and logos. This building shouts I belong to… another shouts I belong to… I remembered my mother’s beautiful creations and how they did not have a tag with a fancy name. The best things usually do not have fancy labels or need to shout. I kept thinking to myself that I also have an invisible tag with a beautiful name.
Made with love by God.
How would our lives be different if we acknowledged that each of us carries this invisible tag? The other day I was speaking to my Confirmation students about how we can sometimes physically see and feel the presence of God. A big one for me was when each of my kids were born. I was so blown away and humbled to know that I helped create this tiny person. I thought of how much I loved them and how much joy I felt at just holding them and knowing them. Then I heard that small voice inside my heart say- “that’s how I felt when I created you.” I got choked up just thinking that God also felt love, pride, and immense joy when He created me.
How could my life be different if I remembered daily that I was MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD? Would I doubt myself at every turn? Would I be impatient with my weakness? Would it be easier for me to always trust Him? How would I treat others if I could see their label; MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD? Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta was known to bow before a person upon greeting them. When asked why she did this – her simple answer was; I do not bow to the person but to God I know is in each one of us. I acknowledge the dignity of each person. She always saw the invisible label.
During this busy Advent Season I pray that we can refocus our hearts and remember that we are MADE WITH LOVE BY GOD.
Finding God In The Everyday 