Advent Reflections: Week Two, Wednesday

Dad says in this reflection, "God will not grow weary but will reach to pick us up again."  In every foil and fumble in my life God has been there in the midst of it carrying me through. Someone told me once to lay all your sorrows, all your joy, all your pain, etc. -- lay everything before the Lord.  For me, I have a tendency to feel like I am burdening the Lord, or He is kind of getting sick of me struggling with the same thing.  Or I think, this is such an impossible thing to put before Him in prayer that why even bother -- but I have to catch myself during those moments and recognize that they are lies straight from the pit of hell.  That instead of growing weary the Lord is actually DELIGHTING in us going to Him, relaying on Him, putting our own pride aside to let Him carry us.  

Wednesday, December13, 2000  

 Isaiah 40:25-31 ~ Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10 ~ Matthew 11:28-30

“The Lord is the eternal God, creator of heaven and earth. He does not faint nor grow weary.” Isaiah 40:28

A friend with whom I worked closely could see something was wrong. “You look tired,” she said. “That’s not it,” I replied. “I’ve been tired before – from long hours, from all the work. But with a little rest I’m ready to go again.” “Then, you must be tired of the work. You’re weary and you want to pack it in.” As soon as she said it I knew she was right. It took a long time to recover from the weariness. God never tires from loving us; God’s love is always full and fresh. And, even more wonderfully, God never grows weary of loving us. God never wants to pack it in. Even after God has repeatedly picked us up we may stumble many more times. God will not grow weary but will reach to pick us up again.

Eternal God, renew me in your endless strength.

Advent Reflections, Monday, Second Week of Advent

Okay, so yes, these were Monday's readings and yes it is Tuesday.  Man, I was on such a roll too. Will try to get back on putting them out everyday. 

Another thing besides this being Monday's readings there are some quirks about re-posting Dad's stuff from 2000. Today would have been the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and because of that the readings don't match up.  I am going to save it for next week and share it then. But, because of this there is are no reflections for today. Tomorrow I should be back on track! 

On a more reflective note, to answer Dad's question (one that I know he was asking himself as well when he wrote this) is yes, there are a few mountains, and feeling quite parched, yes the going is rough -- mostly because we are all missing Dad more than words could ever describe.  But the reverse would bring Dad back and well, that can't happen but there is  GREAT reverse going on or another word I would use is redemption! I have mentioned this before but everyday I believe God is redeeming Dad's death for HIS GLORY alone.  And well, that is probably one of the greatest reverses ever! 

Monday, December 11, 2000

Isaiah 35:1-10 ~ Psalm 85:9-14 ~ Luke 5:17-26

 “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom.” Isaiah 35:1

Advent is a time full of great promises and great hope. When we consider the words of Isaiah today and from chapter 41 in a few days, we realize that these can be days of God’s mighty reverses. There will be streams in the desert and rivers on the steppe. Valleys will be filled in and mountains made low. Eyes and ears will be opened. The voiceless will sing out to God. The rough country will become a broad valley and the rugged land will be made into a plain. I hear God’s declaration in a personal way: “If I can do all these things, I can work in your life. Do you have mountains and valleys in your life? Are you parched and feeling lifeless? Is the going rough? What needs reversing in your life?”

Lord of all reversals, I give my desert and steppe, my mountains and valleys to you.

Advent Reflections, Week One Friday

The gift of ourselves is the greatest gift -- filling our boxes with generosity, kindness, and love this Advent is a wonderful gift to offer Jesus.  This notion was instilled for us kids at an early age with the tradition of making Advent boxes.  We would decorate old shoe boxes with Christmas wrap and cut a slit in the top.  Then we would cut out last years old Christmas cards and paste images on the box.  Then every time we did something "good" we would write it down and put it in our box. Then on Christmas the hope I believe my parents had is that would be filled to the brim with goodness as a special gift just for Jesus! I will admit some years were filled up more than others.  This memory alone is a gift and one I now pass along to my children

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 ~ Psalm 147:1-6 ~ Matthew 9:35 ­10:1, 6-8

 “The gift you have received, give as a gift.” Matthew 10:8

Giving gifts and getting gifts is on everyone’s minds these days. My children have always had at least one “I-have-to-have-this-or-I-will-just-die” gift on any list. As we think of this year’s gifts, we can turn our attention to the gifts that the Lord has already given us. All are important but as we reflect on them some one or another of these gifts plays a greater part in each of our lives. For some it is the Bible. For others, the daily Eucharist. Or Mary. Or service to the poor. If that gift was not part of our spiritual life in the special way that it is, we can imagine being much less alive. The Lord has given it to you so that we can give others who may “just die” without the life it brings.

Thank you, Giver of all good gifts, for the abundance of your love that has given me life, especially for…

Advent Reflections, Week One, Thursday

"It is not enough to hear the truth; one must live the truth." Thank you Dad. It is as if we were having a conversation right now.  You sitting at the end of the table and me talking about some lofty idea and Dad grounding me (as always) with these words.  

Thursday, December 7, 2000 

Isaiah 26:1-6 ~ Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27 ~ Matthew 7:21, 24-27

“Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock."” Matthew 7:24

These words from the last section of the Sermon on the Mount are a fitting conclusion to all that Jesus preached. The Sermon on the Mount, found almost immediately after Jesus calls the first disciples, clearly explains what following Jesus will mean. Lest we think that discipleship will be easy or only a matter of mastering the right teaching, the Sermon on the Mount is a call to – sometimes very difficult – action. It’s not enough to hear the truth; one must live the truth. Jesus calls his followers to bring alive his words by their actions. Only in that way will they be able to sink their lives more firmly into Jesus who is the Word ever-active. We all know what the house looks like because we’ve heard the words. Now it’s time to build.

Word of God, foundation for life, guide all my actions today that I may build your kingdom.

Advent Reflections Week One, Wednesday

God will provide.  For our family in particular these words ring true.  The gaping hole in our hearts and minds is filled this Advent with the memories we shared, making the hole less big giving us room to smile and laugh between the tears. 

Wednesday, December 6, 2000

Isaiah 25:6-10a ~ Psalm 23:1-6 ~ Matthew 15:29-37

“You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes.” Psalm 23:5

In all three Scripture passages today God delivers food in the midst of desperate circumstances.  Israel is divided: the northern kingdom has been conquered and the southern kingdom is threatened. It’s a time of tears and reproach, of death and sorrow. God promises to provide – on the very mountain under threat – “a feast of … juicy rich food and pure, choice wines.” The Good Shepherd, even when we are surrounded by foes, will care for our needs by putting on a spread for us. And, though the disciples thought it “impossible” to feed the crowds that had followed Jesus for three days, Jesus provided more than enough. Comfort from the word: in my desperate situations God will provide. Challenge, also: will I let God use me to provide for others in their desperate situations?

Thank you, Shepherd of my heart, that you give sustenance to my body and my spirit.

Advent reflections

It is hard to believe Advent is upon us.  A time for waiting and a time for reflection.  If you knew my Dad he not only reflected daily he also wrote many reflections for different groups, magazines, etc.

When I typed "Advent" into my trusty external drive I wasn't surprised when I got tons of hits.  One in particular that stood out was something simply titled Advent 2001.  I double clicked my mouse with anticipation to see what it might be and low and behold it was weekday lectionary readings from December 2000 to January 2001.  I thought, okay, this might be something I could post.  Just out of curiosity I checked to see what the readings for today were in the smallest hope that maybe this was year would be the same readings as in 2000.  I couldn't believe it because they are!  What a joy it was and another consolation from the Lord.  Another way to share my Dad's writing and his love for Jesus with all of you.  I am going to be posting his reflections daily, except for Sunday's because these reflections are just for Monday through Saturday.  If you are looking for a meditative guide through Advent for yourself, your family, or even a group at your church please feel free to print out or to share with your friends and family.  

I pray that this Advent Season for you is filled with Hope -- Hope that only a tiny little baby born in a manager could bring.

Tuesday, December 5, 2000

Isaiah 11:1-10 ~ Psalm 72:1, 7-8, 12-13, 17 ~ Luke 10:21-24

“O Father, Lord of heaven and earth … what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children.”  Luke 10:21

In Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express a boy and his sister join a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole. Chosen to receive Christmas’ first gift, he asks for one silver bell from a reindeer harness. On the ride home his joy is dashed; the pocket into which he put the bell has a hole. Christmas morning he unwraps a final box. The bell!  Immediately he shakes it. 

His parents say, “Too bad it’s broken.” But he and his sister distinctly hear the beautiful sound. Over the years all his friends, even his sister, who once heard the bell’s sweet sound no longer could hear it. Our Father in heaven rings a bell – reminding us in the wondrous prophetic words of Scripture to prepare for Jesus’ coming into our lives in this day. Do we hear it still?

Father, let me recapture a childlike eagerness to hear the sound of your word. 

David Thorp Memorial Lecture

It has been MONTHS since my last post.  This "springtime daughter" has been stuck in a bit of a winter rut these last few months.  During that time lots of blog post ideas and thoughts have been swirling around in my head and a few of them actually made it into draft form on my blog but are not complete by any means.

I realized that this level of procrastination is going to keep me from including an important event right around the corner that I wanted to tell all of you about and share with others.

There will be a "David Thorp Memorial Lecture" at Holy Family Parish in Concord, MA on Friday, November 11, 2011.  All are welcome!
I have cut and paste the description from their website, www.holyfamilyconcord.org.


Friday, November 11, 7:30 PM  David Thorp Memorial Lecture
Reverend Frank DeSiano, CSP Holy Family Church
In memory of David Thorp, who served this parish as Director of Faith Formation for a year and the larger
church for many decades, the parish is sponsoring Reverend Frank DeSiano CSP, director of Paulist
Evangelization Ministries, in a public lecture and reception. Fr. DeSiano’s talk is entitled Reconciliation In
Service To The Kingdom of God. About his talk, Father DeSiano writes: “Reconciliation, the restoration of
people with God and with each other, was at the heart of the ministry of Jesus. This gave powerful witness to the Kingdom of God. How can we, Jesus' followers, continue that powerful witness today?”

Frank DeSiano was ordained a Paulist priest in 1972.  He has served as pastor of downtown parishes in bothNew York and Chicago.  In 1990 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Boston University after
completing a thesis on parish-based evangelization.  From 1988-1992 he served Washington, DC, forming
many parish evangelization teams and also serving on the US Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization.  He also served as president of the Paulist Fathers and as first consultor.  He has written numerous books and articles on evangelization and discipleship, the latest entitled, “Mission America: Challenges and Opportunities for Catholics Today.”  He serves as President of Paulist Evangelization Ministries in Washington, DC.