The artist Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” This is especially true in the realm of the spiritual life. To develop a relationship with God means that we have to take the time to do so, and this includes pausing to notice His presence in the little things in our daily lives. God is present at all times; it is in our life of prayer that we learn to recognize how He uniquely reveals Himself in our hearts as well as in the wider world. Another way to put this is that our growth in relationship with God is a series of little epiphanies, those ‘aha’ moments in which we gain a little more clarity about who He is, who we are, and who we are in relationship with Him. In keeping with the theme of keeping Epiphany as a season,* let us reflect upon our growth in the spiritual life as a series of moments offered by God which enable us to see something as if for the first time. And let us realize that it is also a choice we make to accept what God offers so that our awareness might be heightened to recognize more of the tiny miracles in our midst. To see a flower, to experience God in our friendships, takes time for growth and development. But if we do not first see, there is nothing to nurture and nothing to develop. To experience an epiphany we need to be seeking, just as the Magi were seekers who wisely learned to see more deeply.

Interestingly, in our current technologically-oriented society we hear a lot of talk about ‘virtual reality’ and ‘augmented reality.’ We accept these notions without hesitating, and yet when we hear the word ‘miracle’ (or other faith language) we may be tempted to scoff or think about it as something that would never happen to us ‘even if miracles did happen.’ Of course, we know that virtual reality is mostly fantasy; however, it can lend itself to reality, such as in the case of medical teams who may use it to aid in surgical skill. But for most people who use it, the point is to enter a reality which augments the one we are in, or which is alternate to what is truly real, such as in a game. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, so long as we do not become addicted to it or use it as a substitute for what is real: if unchecked, virtual reality could become a substitute for actual living and authentic relationships, or it could become an escape from that which we do not want to engage in. If we use it as a tool, or simply for fun, it can help us to see things differently, but there would be danger in lumping all situations of faith and believing in what is unseen, (or not as easily seen), into the same realm along with it.

With this in mind, however, it is important (if not a bit ironic) to note that the entire ministry of Jesus was about augmenting reality, or rather, our perception of it. In fact, the very nature of revelation is to disclose or add to that which we do not readily see; it is about God opening our eyes to the depths of His love. I must repeat the essential distinction: Jesus was not trying to deceive with a false notion of truth, but instead He was opening our eyes to things that we have either lost sight of, or have failed to see in the first place. Everything Jesus said and did was to augment the way we perceive life with God and to help us to see with His eyes of mercy and compassion. The miracles He performed were a way to change the reality of those who were suffering, not simply for alleviation of pain, but so that they would continue to grow in the way they saw God’s hand in their lives and then take that epiphany into the world to affect the lives of others. An example of this was when Jesus encountered a paralytic, a man clearly desiring physical healing; to show that the state of our soul is more important than our physical bodies He said to the man, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Upon saying this, He was challenged by onlookers for daring to forgive sins; Jesus then healed the man physically, adding to the healing of soul He had previously given. (Matthew 9:2-7) Let us be clear: Jesus intended to heal this man from the start, but as in everything He did, He was also making a point. Surely the healed man had a clearer sense of God’s action in his life. Another example is when Jesus took His closest friends up Mt. Tabor and transfigured before them, allowing them to see Him in an augmented way, (revealing His divinity). Even being mystified at the time by what had happened, they were able to gradually grow in understanding of this event, never seeing Jesus the same way again. And after the His death and resurrection, their eyes were opened in a deeper way, their reality was augmented so that they could look upon others with the eyes of Jesus: everything became a miracle. This new seeing is evident when early in Peter’s ministry he said to a crippled beggar, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you,” healing the man in the name of Jesus. (Acts 3:1-10) Peter clearly understood that faith and love transform our relationships. If we take this to heart, we too can open ourselves to the same gift, transforming our relationship with God and with those we meet. Our love can be healing, changing many lives, including our own.

Rather than to only focus on miracles, (such as those claimed at Lourdes for example), ** our concentration today should be on learning to see the things we sometimes fail to see. There is much beauty in our midst, but because we are not looking for it, or because we are too busy or pre-occupied to notice, we miss the amazing things God does daily. We shouldn’t feel guilty if this is the case; rather we can be as those who experienced the first Epiphany, learning to see a star or a tiny baby as revelations of the love and mercy of God to a world hungering for His presence. And from them, we can learn to be patient with the process, discovering that to truly learn to see, as well as to discern, takes time. But we will also discover that it can become a wondrous experience to learn to see the hand of God in something as simple as a flower and even better, in a friend, (including the stranger, who is simply a friend we have not yet gotten to know.)

Opening ourselves to an epiphany is about letting God transform our hearts and minds to see and hear differently. It is about allowing our awareness to be heightened, or rather, to be transfigured, accepting that it is a process; subtle changes will take place in our vision, so that in an entirely new way we begin to recognize God’s presence within, as well as in others. This process transforms the way we perceive the world, not in a way which denies sin and the suffering which is present, but the temptation to be defeated by that very suffering is diminished, whether it is our own suffering or that which is in the world. Therefore, if we desire to continue our journey in light of Epiphany, we need to make it a daily habit to take the opportunity to see a flower or something seemingly ordinary and let it be transformed by the light of God. We need to allow ourselves the time to nurture our friendships, not simply waiting for the other to do all the work, but to make it a priority to take some time to enjoy the presence of the other, to listen and savor the moments spent together, and to see the presence of God at the heart of the relationship.  

As Georgia O’Keeffe implied, we must make it a priority to take the time to develop the ability to see and appreciate the small things, to allow relationships to grow and to flourish, especially the one we have with God. If we are to nurture relationships through our love, we need to develop the eyes to see beauty, even if it is only raw potential, and thus to see others the way Jesus sees. We will find that if we do, our hearts will not only be filled with joy, but also with gratitude for such small, yet priceless, gifts. This is the vision of the ‘season’ of Epiphany, to learn to see with His eyes, to love with His heart, and to welcome with His embrace. We can learn to see, if we but ask.

May we continue to seek whatever epiphany the Lord is offering! May we make it a habit to spend time with the Lord in order to learn to recognize His presence more clearly! May we allow Jesus to open our eyes, to augment our perception of the reality of His love! May we learn to see the presence of God in the beauty of creation, and especially in the heart of a friend! May the Lord help us to overcome the temptation to be defeated by suffering and the effects of sin, that we might become stronger in our faith and perseverance in times of trouble! And may we see with the eyes of Jesus, expanding our reach outward to others in mercy and love! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                                               ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post, February 25.

A sad irony is that O’Keeffe’s eyesight failed later in her life. Perhaps the loss enhanced her deep valuing of the gift of seeing. The opening quote is found at https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/georgia_okeeffe_134583

For more on Georgia O’Keeffe go to: https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/about-georgia-okeeffe/

* See my last two blog entries to understand what I mean here. You can find them in the Archives located in the right margin of this page.

** This post was inspired by the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes which is celebrated on February 11. For more on Our Lady of Lourdes, go to https://marypages.com/lourdes-(frankrijk)/

Images:
1. This is a painting by Georgia O'Keeffe called Pansy. It made sense to pick one of her paintings of a flower for the first image. And (full disclosure) my favorite flower is the pansy, so there was no way I was going to lead with anything else! But know that she has many magnificent paintings of landscapes and other subjects, too. You can find more by doing a Google search for Georgia O'Keeffe and then clicking on images on the top of the page.

2. I took this photo while in Ireland a number of years ago. It was taken on the west coast. I chose it because when one is at the seacoast, there is so much to see that glorifies God.

3. This is a painting by James Tissot called The Transfiguration. (1886-96) I chose this particular depiction of the Transfiguration because it captures the apostles as overwhelmed by what they were experiencing. It underscores the idea that it takes time for more complete understanding, whether what we see is 'big' or is something which at first seems not to be extraordinary at all. You can find a bit more at https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4516

4. I took this photo when on pilgrimage at Lourdes, in France. This is the grotto: the statue was placed at the spot where St. Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary. 

5. Another of my photos, taken in Rockport, Texas: this bird was in a wooded area which is part of a wildlife preserve. I chose this because of the detail one can see in this close up. I had to be very still to get the photo. 

6. The Starry Night is one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous paintings. (1889) I chose this to be in keeping with the theme of the Epiphany. First, the magi followed a star, so symbolically this connects. But I also think that truly seeing stars is something we rarely afford ourselves. It is an easy pleasure to partake in, weather permitting. Go look at some stars! To aid in my last statement, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA54NBtPKdI&fbclid=IwAR2iSjl3kGrt-Sz2E8mxSROimP11jnj5jcnC8YT_vPfr_5ZIFTQjX9PP2r0www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA54NBtPKdI&fbclid=IwAR2iSjl3kGrt-Sz2E8mxSROimP11jnj5jcnC8YT_vPfr_5ZIFTQjX9PP2r0

Heartfelt thanks to a friend, Joe OHaire, for sharing this video with me and then encouraging me to share it in this piece. 

​NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

The time between the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Lent can feel a bit awkward. Ordinary Time began with the Baptism of Jesus, but we know it will be interrupted by a rather lengthy set of seasons, not resuming again until well into June. It would be a mistake to approach these weeks as simply a connector between seasons. Instead let’s consider this time as an extension of Epiphany, as in times of old when Epiphany was actually considered a season. In that light, we can reflect upon the leadership of the Magi and the symbolism of the gifts they gave which coincide with the three facets of our baptismal covenant, a reminder of our call: we are baptized as priest (frankincense), prophet (myrrh), and king (gold). To be priest refers to our membership in the common priesthood and so it is about being witnesses to our faith through prayer and service. We have looked at prophetic living in depth this past year, but suffice it to say that it is about humbly, yet boldly proclaiming the faith even if it is contrary to popular culture. To be king refers to our leadership as just and merciful in our use of whatever power we have; we set an example by living what we profess. Truly, our kingly role is one we do not often consider since kingship is a foreign concept to us. But if we look to the Scriptures we can see that there are many kinds of kings, not all involving a crown. Jesus taught that true kingship is wrapped in love, not as mere sentimentality, but as the foundation of everything we do. This bold love is our call as His disciples: leading through service.

The Old Testament is replete with stories of kings. There are two sets of books which are totally dedicated to their reigns: the aptly named 1 and 2 Kings, and also 1 and 2 Chronicles. The saga of kings in Israel actually begins with Saul in 1 Samuel and ends with the Exile hundreds of years later. Additional insights into some of the kings permeate the prophetic books as well. As expected, there were good kings and some horrifically evil ones. The greatest of these men, albeit not perfect by any means, was King David. At the end of his life David spoke of what God said to him about his kingship, and thus of God’s description of good leadership: “Of me the rock of Israel said: He that rules over men in justice, that rules with the fear of God, is like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.” (2 Samuel 23:3-4; ‘Greensward’ is the green, grassy turf.)* In other words, a kingly leader is a person whose heart is filled with justice, but always in context of the deepest respect and relationship with God. This leader is a person of prayer; and it the result of that prayer, of coming to know and love God better, of disposing oneself wholly to God in humility and love, that this person is of great beauty to God. This is a person who stands out from among the rest. 

​In the New Testament we see that leadership is completely bound in mercy, compassion, and love, but that the love Jesus preached was incredibly challenging. He said: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) Jesus wanted us to love the way He loves, something that seems daunting since we know He is God and therefore He loves perfectly; we are imperfect and cannot love in this way. However, Jesus is not expecting perfection from us, but rather that our intentions are always formed from the perspective of the best interests of the other. Love is about action and heroism, and it is about humility and selflessness; love is about living in imitation of Jesus, leading others to God for the sheer joy of sharing what we have received. The love Jesus teaches is a thing of beauty, “like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning making the greensward sparkle after rain.”

An example of a good leader was St. John Bosco (1815-88) whose feast day is January 31. He was from a poor family, and unfortunately his father died when he was a small boy. While his mother was saintly, one of his older brothers cruelly beat John when he discussed his desire to become a priest, not wanting him to leave the family. After much prayer, John ran away and after a short time was able to enter a seminary with the help of a priest he had met. John eventually devoted his life to helping boys who did not have fathers, especially after he saw how many were imprisoned for crimes committed due to lack of guidance. As a result John set up schools for poor and fatherless boys, offering education and guidance so that they could lead productive, Godly lives. He also began a religious congregation, the Salesians, so that others could aid in the ministry of teaching, role modeling, and service. St. John Bosco was a great leader, living his vocation as priest, (in the ministerial priesthood) prophet (going against the culture to bring the gospels to those who might never have heard it), and as king, (leading with justice, mercy, and love).

​The kind of love Jesus asks of us clearly involves great effort, but it bears fruit because it is steeped in love. From the way Jesus lived we see that kingly love is about forgiveness, not retaliation. Love is about selflessness; to really love means to set our own ego aside, seeing the other person as equal to ourselves in dignity. Therefore a kingly person never ‘lords it over’ anyone, but sees the other as sharing the same humanity, even if we are vastly different in how we dress, what we look like, how we speak, where we are from, or what our customs and preferences might be. A loving leader is one who does not condone everything the other says or does, however: to be kingly means we model kindness and respect, but we also know when to challenge. From experience we know that leaders, good or bad, influence the accepted behaviors of the people they lead. If we look to Scripture, it was the sinful behaviors of the evil kings which led the people astray because the people began to think, even if unconsciously, “If it is good enough for the king, it must be okay for us, too.” And similarly, when a good king was aligned with the love of God, acting justly, the people responded by living with similar dedication to God. (Of course, I am speaking generally: there are always faithful people in times of sinful leadership, and vice versa. But it cannot be denied that the behavior of a leader does affect the behavior of the populace.)

​If we desire to live up to our baptismal role as kingly, we do not have to become the next political ‘wunderkind,’ spiritual guru, or voice of the people. What we do need is be an example of Christian love and charity in our daily activities. Like Jesus, we are called to truly listen to one another, being present to the one we are with. We are called to discern rather than to jump to conclusions based on what we think we see. A good rule of thumb (based on what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount) is that if we are going to assume anything, it is that things are not always what they seem. Only God knows all that there is to know about a person; there are always hidden circumstances of which we know nothing. Therefore, a kingly leader knows not to judge another based on what they see or hear. As a result, a kingly leader is one who is filled with the joy of accepting God’s wisdom, and is filled with gratitude.  

Living our call to be kingly does not mean we will be impervious to suffering, but rather it means that we turn to God to help us to be the best witness we can be in all of the circumstances of our life. It also means that we become continually more aware of our own sinfulness and shortcomings, such that we learn to have a compassionate heart, realizing that we are no different in our imperfection than those we serve. True to our kingly role, we ‘rule’ only insofar as we become the servant of others, just as Jesus taught His disciples on the night before He died. (John 13:14-15) Thus, our witness will glorify God and lead others to Him. Then perhaps God can say of us, as of David, “[They are] like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.”

​May we live in conformity with our baptismal call to be priest, prophet, and king! May we continue to grow in understanding of what it means to be kingly, imitating Jesus, the true King! May we grow in our Epiphany journey, having our own moments of revelation as to God’s desire for us! May we seek the intercession of St. John Bosco that we might open our hearts to others, especially the poor! May our Christian leadership be a thing of beauty, “like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning making the greensward sparkle after rain!” And may we imitate Jesus, making an effort to find quiet time for reflection upon our relationship with the Father as well as the grace to live our call to love! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace! 

                                                 ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post will be February 11.

* I like this translation, the NAB, for its poetry. NAB stands for New American Bible and it is the translation before the recent revision. (The newest one is the NABRE.)

Images: 
1. This image was titled Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, found at the site below. It is a mosaic and is probably in a Greek Orthodox Church. I chose it because it is one of the few images that shows all three magi with their gifts in their hands. If you look closely at most images of the magi, one of them is empty handed, presumably already having delivered his gift. Trust me, I looked at many! http://www.greeknewsonline.com/gold-frankincense-and-myrrh-the-gifts-of-magi-to-christ/

2. This is one of my photos, and while it does not show a green, grassy turf, it does capture the beauty of the dew as after rain. It was taken while on a hike in Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas.

3. Once again, while this does not depict a cloudless morning at sunrise, it does show the contrast of the sunlight bursting through the clouds after the rain. It was an incredible sight. This was taken at the harbor on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.

4. This a photo I took of a mosaic of St. John Bosco at the Salesian church in Turin, Italy, where he ministered and where the school still is thriving. I cropped the original photo to get more of a close up. Here he is seen with a young boy on the viewer's left, and a young man on the viewer's right. The boy is representative of the boys to whom St. John Bosco ministered. The young man, however was a model representing the fine men St. John's pupils grew into. But the fun part is that this model is himself on the road to canonization. That's Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! 

5. This painting is Jesus Healing a Blind Man by Duccio di Buoninsegno. I chose it to represent the compassion of Jesus. He never judged the people to whom He ministered, but rather, offered mercy and love.

6. This is an icon by Fr. William Hart McNichols called Christ the King the Bridegroom. I chose it because it features Jesus as a suffering servant king.
It can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/christ-the-king-the-bridegroom-066-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 
​

January is generally a time when people make resolutions for the new calendar year. However, it almost seems as if there is an expectation that many of us will not be able to keep them. It is sort of a ‘cultural inside joke’ that by the end of January not only will we have been unsuccessful in keeping our resolutions, but that we may have even forgotten we made resolutions in the first place! To truly resolve to do something means that we sincerely desire to improve an aspect of our lives or to gain better habits. In spiritual terms, it means a conversion, a change in behavior which comes about through a bit of hard work on our part, while relying on God’s grace to help us achieve the goal. But in order to know what we could deepen or change, we must first do some reflection, perhaps pondering in a similar way as to that of the Virgin Mary when she held many things in her heart. Although we have come to the end of the Christmas season, it would serve us well to spend some time reflecting upon what we gleaned from it. It would make no sense to have celebrated such a rich season if we were to walk away unchanged and without any new insights into what it means to be disciples of Jesus, members of the family we call the Body of Christ. If that was the case, we will have missed a wonderful opportunity for growth “in wisdom and age and favor before God and others.” (Luke 2:52)

We might wish we could be like Mary and Joseph, pondering everything which happens and then applying to our lives the insights and wisdom we have gained, something we mistakenly think came easily to them. Their lives were actually no quieter than ours, but being totally in love with God, they could not imagine a day without spending time with the One they loved. Indeed, it does take time: even Jesus had to spend many years “growing in wisdom” as we observed on the Feast of the Holy Family. We also heard at the Epiphany that the Magi needed the time spent journeying in order to discern the events which unfolded in Bethlehem, sidestepping the evil desires of Herod while they came to pay homage to the Child. In these feasts a common thread is pondering, waiting, discerning, and then applying what God has revealed in order for growth in "wisdom, age, and favor" (that is, holiness) to take place. Therefore, if we desire to make a change or to grow in holiness, our resolution should be to dedicate ourselves to more prayer time for discerning what we are called to do and how we might go about it; if resolutions are going to be kept, we need to ask God for the graces and insights needed to reach our goal. It always takes a while: wisdom cannot be rushed.

But before we can resolve to grow in this way, we need to be aware of our relationship to Jesus. If we do not know what that is, there is little way we can grow in any kind of wisdom. My suggestion, then, is to make it our top priority to truly be His: if this is the only resolution we make, we are well on the road to growth. Remember that at His baptism (celebrated this past weekend), Jesus went into the river as an unknown figure in Israel. He had lived in obscurity for 30 years as a seemingly ordinary young man, a carpenter from Nazareth. Then He traveled to the Jordan River to be baptized, though He did not need to be cleansed of sin. Rather, He was inaugurating His ministry and teaching us about the relationship we are invited to have with God. No sooner than He emerged from the River, than the voice of the Father was heard saying that He was pleased with Him. Another way to look at this is to see God as a proud Father saying: “This is Jesus: He is mine and I love Him!” Therefore, when we came up from our baptismal waters, we can be sure that the Father said the same thing of us: “This is my beloved: she (he) is mine and I love her (him)!” God has claimed us as His. And so we need to resolve to truly claim Him as ours, too. 

​As we enter into Ordinary Time it is important to be aware of whose we are, but also to keep in mind that each of us belongs to the wider family of the Body of Christ. Therefore, it might be good to devote some of our daily prayer to focusing on others, discerning who we need to pray for, (and then act upon it); simultaneously, we can also pray to grow personally, in some specific way, as a member of this family. We might pray to be more welcoming or to accept the welcome and assistance of another member of the Body of Christ extended to us; or perhaps we might need to accept a specific responsibility, or to reach out to someone in our own sphere of relatives, friends, and acquaintances. It could be that we need to grow in generosity, (inspired by the Magi), or to grow in welcoming the stranger, (inspired by the Holy Family who were not welcomed and consequently had to find a stable for Jesus’ birth). Or it might be to find wonder and awe in simple beauty, such as a flock of sheep, the stars of night, or a tiny baby. Whatever it is, in order to come to new insights or wisdom, spending time in prayer with the insights of the Christmas season can help us to keep alive the spirit of love and welcome which seem to come more easily during the holidays.

If we belong to God and truly acknowledge this, we can see more clearly that He expresses His love in many ways, not the least of which is through our communities, specifically our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus chose 12 apostles along with other men and women, (including His own mother, Mary), who were true disciples. These committed people kept the mission alive and thriving after His death and resurrection. And after they were gone, many other holy ones devoted their lives to the spreading of the kingdom, continuing the work of building up the community of the faithful. These holy women and men continue to teach the lesson that it takes a family, the Christian family, to make this mission effective. Therefore, it is important to ask the Spirit’s help in discerning the call of the Lord to Whom we belong and Who belongs to us, that we might put our prayer into action with our brothers and sisters and for our brothers and sisters.

​If we desire to grow in holiness, and if we want to grow in relationship to Jesus, it is important to enter more fully into the mysteries of our faith through prayer and an effort to study, perhaps by immersing ourselves in a chapter of the gospels each day, some spiritual reading, or by listening to a podcast about the faith.* We can do as the secular world implies, but in a spiritual way; that is, we can ‘lose weight’ by letting go of the stuff that we drag along with us daily, the baggage of unforgiveness and old wounds which keep us from reaching out to others in love and mercy. Perhaps ‘losing weight’ also means sharing our goods, letting go of the ‘bloat’ of things we have accumulated which we do not use and do not need. We can resolve to put our reflection into action, taking to heart the example of the Holy Family and the figures of the Christmas season, all of whom needed one another to bring Jesus into the world and then to keep Jesus safe when He was young and vulnerable. We can align our efforts with the gospels, something that does not require any special gifts, by teaching it to our children through our example as well as our words. We could get involved in a parish ministry, and we could dedicate ourselves to reaching out to others in small ways as opportunities to do so arise. 

​To bring Christ into the world and to make His message known takes a family, and we, the Body of Christ, are that family. The best way we can grow in ‘wisdom and favor before God,’ (holiness), is to first understand our identity as belonging to the Father who loves us in the same way as He loves His Son. Then we can work together to bring the peace, mercy, and love of God into the world, offering this same understanding to those who do not yet know of it. If the joy, goodwill, and wonder of the Christmas season did not move us in some way, then perhaps now is the time to return to the mysteries, pondering with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, so that we might live as members of the Holy Family, in unity with one another, and in gratitude and love for God. 

May we be inspired by Mary and Joseph to the prayer of reflection, savoring and pondering the insights received during the Christmas season! May we have the patience and courage of the Holy Family and the Magi to stay with that which is beyond our understanding and then to trust God’s prompting! May we recognize in the words of the Father at Jesus' baptism, that we, too, are His beloved! May we join with our brothers and sisters as one family in Christ working together to build the Kingdom! And may we truly carry the faith, good will, and joy we experienced at the coming of Jesus into the rest of the year! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

​Notes: The next post will be January 28.

​* A suggestion is Word on Fire. Bishop Robert Barron has many podcasts that one can choose from. There are a few others who are also excellent who are also part of the Word on Fire team. http://wordonfireshow.com/ You can also look up some videos they have on YouTube. Here is the home website: https://www.wordonfire.org/

I would also suggest an article I read recently. The author suggests we think of Epiphany as a season, the way it was many years ago. I really like that idea, and it inspired some of my reflections in this post. https://aleteia.org/2019/01/08/the-forgotten-season-of-epiphany/?utm_campaign=NL_en&utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=NL_en

Images:
1.This painting is called The Road in Front of St. Simeon Farm in Winter, by Claude Monet. (1867). I chose it because it seemed an apt January scene, symbolic of the beginning of the year, but it also is a peaceful, reflective scene which can be pondered.

2. This is an inset from a work of Bl. Fra Angelico called Adoration of the Magi (1440-60). I chose this because it is hard to tell if the adorer is a shepherd or one of the Magi. That it 'blurs' the class distinction, is wonderful!

3. One of my photos, the Jordan River, Israel: I felt that this nondescript bend in the River, said to be 'the spot' where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, was appropriate. However, even if this was in fact the actual spot, the water is now brown, polluted, and overgrown with reeds; in short it is not very appealing. Yet there were many men and women being immersed here for actual baptism when we were visiting. The faith of those folks, allowing immersion into that now dirty water, was truly amazing!

4. I chose this photo of stars, taken through the Hubble telescope, because it is awe inducing! Perhaps we can resolve to see the beauty around us in some way on a daily basis. The challenge is on! (It is not that difficult once you let yourself really see.)

5. I took this photo of a stained glass window while in Le Mans, France, a number of years ago. I chose it because I love how St Joseph was depicted along with a more modern family. Personally, (though I do not know for sure) I think it is the Martins, a family which contained three saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, her mother St. Zelie Martin, and her father St. Louis Martin. If you think it could not be the Martins' because you see two boys along with the five girls, that's because there were two boys in their family, but they died as infants; the artist most likely included them because they truly were members of that holy family. 

6. This icon is called Mary, Mother of Mercy - Dedicated to Pope Francis in the Year of Mercy, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I chose it because I love the playful child Jesus, who seems to be almost dancing on the globe while blessing the viewer and perhaps the entire world. I see joy in this icon: the child Jesus and Mary seem to be sharing a wonderful moment. You can obtain a copy of this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mary-mother-of-mercy-dedicated-to-pope-francis-in-this-year-of-mercy-289-william-hart-mcnichols.html

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.

​The Feast of the Holy Family is a beautiful celebration, but I must confess that when I was young the choice of the gospel for this day was a bit confusing to me. We celebrate the Nativity of Jesus only days before, beginning the season of Christmas with the baby Jesus finally making an entrance into our crèche displays and celebrations. And then surprisingly, inside of seven days the gospel turns to a twelve year old Jesus! It had not occurred to me that the reason the gospel moves so quickly to the boy Jesus is not because of history or chronology, but it is because it gives us an insight into the relationship between Jesus and His parents, emphasizing the theme of obedience. I daresay that for most of us this theme is not very appealing. On the one hand we enjoy our peaceful scenes with the baby Jesus, and on the other, the word ‘obedience’ makes us cringe: it is not attractive to our culture at all! Our distaste for the concept really is a shame, because obedience stems from love, not from subservience. It is a misplaced focus on self which misleads us. Obedience understood as subservience is about ‘me;’ obedience understood as rooted in love is about the other, in this case, God. Therefore, the Feast of the Holy Family offers a wonderful opportunity to re-direct our understanding about what it means to be obedient to God and to put our focus back where it belongs. As it was with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, we come to see that obedience brings incredible graces, particularly love, deep peace, and joy.

The biblical concept of obedience is the one which will help us to understand the choices of the Holy Family in response to God. Historically, obedience had been completely understood as keeping the covenant, and keeping the covenant meant accepting the love of God implicitly and then returning it as best as humanly possible. For them, (as for us), this meant that the response was bound to be flawed because humans are imperfect. However, they learned that the best response that can be given is sincerity, and this was what counted most with God: that one’s intention arises from love for Him. The covenant, then, was rightly interpreted as a monumental act of love on God’s part because through it He offered the people guidelines to keep them safe. If we look to Exodus and the Law, we see that the Israelites who accepted it were overcome with joy when it was given. (In Exodus 24:3 the people accepted the covenant and to ratify it, Moses made a sacrifice to God.)* Clearly, the people understood that the Law was meant as an act of love on God’s part because they recognized and accepted that His wisdom was beyond theirs and that His statutes and commandments were ways God was protecting them from all manner of harm. As a result, they viewed the law not as constricting, but rather as freeing. In this light, obedience and wisdom are inextricably connected: the obedient one is the wise one. Another way of putting this is that the obedient one is the holy one.

​Mary is a model of this loving obedience. Her holiness sprang from a love of God so deep that she could not conceive (pun unintended) of doing anything contrary to that love; she knew she was created from Love for Love. So when an angel unexpectedly appeared and told her what God desired in terms of her participation, she agreed humbly. Remember, because true obedience stems from love, one is free at all times and so her free response of utter and complete trust, “May it be done to me according to your word,” was an obedient acquiescence steeped in “love beyond all telling.” (Advent Eucharistic prayer) Furthermore, Mary trusted so completely that she was able to go to the hill country to tend to her pregnant, but aged cousin on nothing more than the angel’s word. Upon her return, she continued to obey by entrusting news of her pregnancy to her betrothed, Joseph, a message that he perceived as coming from an infidelity on her part. Mary’s obedience was such that she was willing to risk Joseph’s understandable rejection of her which would mean she would have been an unwed mother, a crime under the Law. But her obedience, and hence her holiness, meant God’s obedience, too: He adhered to His promise that all would be as He had said.

Joseph was also a man of obedience and love. Remember that from his vantage point, his soon-to-be-wife Mary had left town for about three months, and when she came home she revealed that she was pregnant. He was going to adhere to the Law, but God sent the angel Gabriel back to Nazareth to tell Joseph that Mary’s story was true, and so instead of blindly obeying the Law, he obeyed the Love of God. He took Mary in, quietly married her, and was content to be in the background for the rest of his life.** Joseph’s love for God and for Mary was so great that even when he did not understand, he trusted God’s plan. Nor did he resign himself to obscurity with a shrug and a sigh: rather, he embraced it for the sake of his beloved God, his beloved wife, and his beloved son, Jesus. He understood obedience correctly: it is about the other and not about self.

The gospel for this Feast also contains the theme of obedience as an act of love. At twelve Jesus was still considered a child and as such He was deeply bound to his parents’ instruction and discipline. What we learn is that Jesus, still growing in wisdom and knowledge, thought that in teaching the scholars in the Temple, He was obeying His Father in Heaven. But in staying behind He had caused concern to the ones to whom He had been entrusted, even if His actions were well-intentioned. Remarkably, when Mary told Jesus that He needed to come home, implying that His time for teaching had not yet come, He obeyed her. *** The last two lines of the passage are the most important: “He went down with them…and was obedient to them…. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Luke 2:51-52) Jesus, though fully divine, was also fully human: therefore, growing in wisdom, He recognized the love of His parents as God’s love. 

​We learn from this important feast that obedience is about love and that it brings peace and joy. We learn that when we are obedient to God, we grow in wisdom and therefore, in holiness. Obedience also teaches us that the only way to be with another in love is to be open and listening. That means we must first take this posture with God, something we can develop by spending time with Him in prayer. All we need is a heart which intends to be open and the desire to make a response as we can. It means we develop trust in God, accepting that sometimes obedience means we will not understand what is asked of us. Just as what God asked Mary and Joseph to do was beyond their ability to understand, we will have times when even stretching our farthest will not be enough to comprehend the way of God or the outcome of a situation. But if we desire to grow in obedience we can ask Mary and Joseph to help us so that our response is as sincere and grounded in the love of God as theirs was. Once we become grounded in that love and love becomes our motivation, and once we focus on God and not on self, we will desire to have it no other way. 

On this Feast of the Holy Family we are invited into a deeper love, a deeper holiness, and hence, a deeper peace and joy. As we gather around the crèche let us pray that it is a time of getting inside the experience of Mary and Joseph so that we see the value of obedience as flowing from love and not from subservience or oppression. And if we catch even the smallest glimpse of this truth, we can take it from the crèche out into the world. If we can understand that obedience is of love, and hence it is free, we can offer the freedom of being loved by God to others, too. In our kindness in the face of ugliness, in our mercy in the face of neglect, in our compassion in the face of unforgiveness, and in our selfless acts for others which are sometimes met by ingratitude and selfishness, let us consider that this is how we bring Jesus to others. Our world does not like the concept of obedience because it sees it as oppressive and values a misguided freedom, which at its heart is about license to act however one wants and thus is self-centered. Instead, the message of the Holy Family is that true obedience is about the freedom which comes from the wisdom of God, a free gift of love to which we respond freely. In our offering of self to Jesus this Christmas, we offer a paltry, unrefined, flawed gift, but one which He values more than all the gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the universe. 

May we open our hearts to the wisdom of true obedience! May we find the peace and joy which come from trusting God in the way of Mary and Joseph! May we be filled with the joy of belonging to the Holy Family as members of the Body of Christ! May we be unafraid to offer ourselves as gift to Jesus during this Christmas season! And may we find joy and blessing in our humble worship, as one people around the manger with Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, and all manner of wise folk! Peace!

​                                          ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post on January 14, 2019.
 
* See Deuteronomy 4:32-40 to read about God’s love for His people from the beginning; Deuteronomy 7:12-15 and following also.

** Remember to regard the gospel passages together, as a whole, to get a more complete description from the birth narratives: Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-7.

*** Interestingly, it would be Mary who would indicate later when the time had in fact come for Jesus to begin His ministry. (John 2)

Final Note: The other readings of the Feast of the Holy Family also provide examples of biblical obedience. The 1st reading is about Hannah. The passage is excised from a rich, almost humorous, story: a previously barren Hannah wisely obeys the instruction of the High Priest and is able to bring forth Samuel, a son destined for greatness. (I encourage reading the entire passage: 1 Samuel 1-19.) In the 2nd reading, St. Paul also extols the wisdom of obedience. He writes: “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts….Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….” (Colossians 3:15, 16) He reminds us that obedience to the Law of Love means that we try to act as Jesus taught. It is not that Paul was unaware that our response would be flawed, but rather that we would try to re-focus our response on God rather than to focus upon ourselves. This obedience once again, is about love, not blind adherence to rules.

Images:
1. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I chose this image of the Holy Family for its simplicity so that it speaks for itself. If you are interested in purchasing a copy in one of many mediums, you can find this image at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-034-william-hart-mcnichols.html.

​2. One of my photos, taken in New Zealand at Larnach Castle in Dunedin (South Island):  I chose this because the leaves seem to be obedient to the laws of nature, stretching toward Heaven in a gesture of praise to God for the very laws which govern them.

3. A painting by Bl. Fra Angelico which depicts the Visitation: I chose this one because I love the presence of the other two women who are witnessing the obedient love and service of Mary to her elder cousin, Elizabeth. (I especially like the one peering around the doorway.)

4. An icon called St. Joseph and the Holy Child by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I liked that this particular icon shows Jesus as an older child, not an infant, and also that part of Joseph's face is obscured, but so too is the face of Jesus. It is as if Jesus is 'absorbing' some of the obscurity of Joseph and making it His for 30 years. (Remember, Jesus was totally hidden until he was 30 years of age.) You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-joseph-and-the-holy-child-239-william-hart-mcnichols.html.
​
5. The Child Jesus in the Temple by Duccio di Buoninsegna, (1255/60-1315). One can clearly see Mary and Joseph imploring Him to come home. He is obviously attentive to them, and so He obeyed.

6. I took this photo while hiking down Gornergrat, a mountain just outside Zermatt, Switzerland. Our guide pointed out this chamois, a creature that is a mix of deer and mountain goat. They have horrible eyesight, but they can hear and smell with incredible sensitivity. It is clear that it caught our scent and it can be seen at attention, listening for our movement. I got this quick photo, and therefore could not be picky about the weed in the middle of it since the chamois darted off almost immediately after the shot. As in the text, it stretched to its furthest to get the information it needed and responded immediately.

7. Stained glass of the Holy Family: What is especially attractive in this amazing artwork is how the magi, seen on the right of the piece, are depicted. They do not look at all regal, and in fact, they look rather ordinary, and therefore, more humble than we usually see them portrayed. In fact, they do not look very different from the shepherds on the left side, but given that they are offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they are indeed the magi seen as examples of obedient, humble love.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

When we think about the characteristics which define the season of Advent the first word that perhaps comes to mind is ‘waiting.’ Indeed, it is a time of reflection and patient waiting for the time of fulfillment to be at hand, to paraphrase the evangelist Luke. Unfortunately we live in a culture which does not like to wait for anything, and with all the distractions which abound it can be difficult to be patient until the moment when Christmas arrives. It is actually beneficial for us to enter into the struggle of waiting, sitting in the tension between the pressure to hurry up and the contrasting spiritual virtue of being patient, because in this we can discover insights into the experience of Mary and Joseph who had to wait the normal nine months for their child to be born; or that of the nation which had been waiting for centuries for the Messiah to come. In that light, how difficult can four weeks be? Of course, in the spiritual life, (as in the whole of our lives), we know that we are constantly waiting, and it is in the waiting that we find God. But another important virtue which accompanies the patient waiting of Advent is the humility it takes to do so. To wait is among the most humble things a person can do because it means we are acknowledging that time and eternity are not in our control. Thus Advent becomes a humble season, not just because of the holy ones we contemplate, but it is humble because we are being invited to enter into their ranks. When we wait, we acknowledge our powerlessness and our inability to do anything without the gift of God.

Throughout Advent we hear Scriptures which highlight the process of waiting and which encourage us to be ready for fulfilment at a time we do not know. The prophets express the benefits of waiting as well as the glory of God which will be revealed. It is not just the difficult messages which they bear, but they tell us that God is ready to bring healing, peace, and joy as He comes into the world through His great love. A prophet who always has a large presence throughout Advent is Isaiah. With eloquent prose he describes the Prince of Peace who will come. In his day Isaiah was a powerful figure, a prophet of great renown, and as such he had followers which sometimes included the current king. Therefore, it is his contemporary, and very probably such a follower, to whom we turn as our final guide in prophetic living: the prophet Micah. We know little about this man, except that he came from an obscure, humble village in the foothills of Judea.

​The passage we hear on the fourth Sunday of Advent when our waiting is at its height, is the ultimate description of the humility of this season: “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from old….” (Micah 5:1) God chose an insignificant town, so small that the people of Judea could barely identify it, to bring forth the fulfillment of His promise. Bethlehem was the place of origin of David the great king, yet it had become so obscure and his clan so small that no one expected another leader to come forth from that place. Many people in this area were poor, the area was one of the humblest places in the land. Micah, also from an obscure village, truly understood the profound depth of this reality: God, who is supremely glorious, would come to the humblest place among the lowliest people, to make His entry into the world. Micah emphasized this to teach something profound about God: He comes to a humble place because God is humble! Micah must have learned this truth from Isaiah who taught that we are not the only ones who wait. “Yet the Lord is waiting to show you favor, and He rises to pity you; for the Lord is a God of justice: blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18) The Almighty humbly waits for our readiness and forces nothing upon us. He waited to send His Son; He waited to show the people His mercy and love; He waited to bring them justice from oppression. And so He humbly waits for us.

Micah gave us an important insight when he showed us that greatness and humility are not opposites. Rather, we learn that to be holy means we recognize that greatness is found in humility. He wrote that the Messiah would be like a shepherd and that His greatness would extend to the end of the earth (Micah 5:3). This seems like a contradiction in terms, but Micah knew that it takes a tremendous strength to remain humble when one has power. Power can corrupt unless the mighty one is grounded in a relationship of accountability, trust, and humility. Jesus, though divine, was accountable to the promise made by the Father; in His humanness He had to trust in that same promise, and in humility and vulnerability He came to fulfill it. God the Almighty came as a tiny baby, to an obscure couple in a ‘forgotten’ village. And Micah, reminiscent of the words of Isaiah, tells us: “He shall be peace.” (Micah 5:4)

From Micah, then, we learn an important lesson in prophetic living. We learn that patience and peacefulness, kindness and humility are what make us strong. We learn that to live prophetically we draw our strength from the Humble One, Jesus the Lord for whom we wait. Just as Mary humbly gave herself to the service of the Lord, saying to the angel Gabriel: “May it be it done to me according to your word,” and just as Joseph followed the instructions of the same angel in so much humility that he acquiesced to becoming one of the most obscure saints of all (and thus one of the greatest); just as John the Baptist was able to announce that one was coming who was mightier than himself; just as the shepherds were out in the fields watching their flocks, the humblest of all and yet most open to God; and just as Micah was in the shadow of the great prophet Isaiah, so too are we called to humility, ‘quiet’ service, and peace.

Advent is the humblest time of the year. It is not mere symbolism or even sentimentality which calls us to contemplate the crèches we have in our homes and churches. It is not an exercise in ‘good psychology’ or a giving in to being so tired that we are helpless to do much else other than stare at the scene, (though if that is what it takes, so be it.) Advent teaches us to be like Micah, one who hears the word and speaks it verbatim,* a message of hope, of peace, and of openness to the flow of God’s time. He teaches us to embrace our powerlessness over God’s timing, something which offers grace, not ineffectiveness. He teaches us that to live prophetically we have to slow down, let the silence open our hearts and minds to God’s Word. Prophetic living springs forth from the listening, the discerning, the laying down of our need to do things our way and in our time, and therefore, enables us to allow God to come in His way, at His time, and in the way that is most needed. There is strength in that humility, and thus there is glory: God’s glory. As Micah tells us, “His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth: He shall be peace.” But it is Jesus' disciples, you and I, who will bring His greatness to the world through the strength we have learned from the prophets and from His heeded message. 

Finally, Micah tells us that God requires (only) one thing from us, which is “to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) Perhaps that is the most important message we can receive concerning how to live prophetically. It implies that we are kind, just, willing to serve, and humble. In other words, we are to bear peace when we live prophetically, emptying ourselves completely to the time and desires of God, who is Himself humble because He waits for us to offer ourselves completely to Him. Once we make such an offer, we will be able to see the goodness of Justice and Mercy, even though we may not understand. To be humble is to trust God and to accept that we are powerless to comprehend many things and that much is out of our control; it is to trust that He carries us under the shadow of His wing, ready to come again, so that we might be with Him forever. Therefore let us embrace this humble season, let us join with Mary and Joseph in the empty stable, let us work for justice with John the Baptist, and with Micah let us learn to walk humbly with our God. 

May we continue to open our hearts to the beauty of the humble season of Advent! May we find serenity in our contemplation of our Nativity scenes and thus discover blessing in the waiting! May we recognize that humility is our strength and that kindness is our call in the midst of a culture filled with the message of self-aggrandizement! May we learn through the example and words of Micah that our holiness lies in our lowliness! May we learn to do the right, love goodness, and walk humbly with our God! And in humility, may we join Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds and kings in adoration, wonder, awe, and gratitude at the coming of our Lord Jesus into our world! Peace! Maranatha! Come, Emmanuel, come!

                ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: Next post December 31. (Joyous Christmas to all!)

​* See Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3. They are identical.

Images:
1. This painting is part of a triptych painted by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This one is called Study for Winter Trees of Life. I chose it because it is a humble scene which seems to heighten a sense of waiting. I love the candle in the left corner, beneath the tree, which appears to speak of hope and comfort: the Light of the World, perhaps. You can find this image at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/study-for-winter-trees-of-life-299-william-hart-mcnichols.html
The triptych is found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tree-triptych-for-rivera-funeral-home-220-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. This is an icon of the prophet Micah found in the iconostasis of Transfiguration Church in Kizhi Monastery in Karelia, Russia. I found it on a Wikipedia page, admittedly, but I liked it because I believe the scroll he is holding has the words of Micah 6:8 quoted later in this post. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet)

3. This map is of ancient Judea, to which I have highlighted in yellow the two obscure, small towns mentioned in the post. The one on the far left, west, near the Mediterranean Sea is actually Gath, which was a large city. But Micah's hometown, Moresheth, was not far from Gath. His town was too small to be on any map! The other highlighted town is Bethlehem-Ephrathah. For those with good eyes, you will see Jerusalem just north and a bit east of Bethlehem. I chose the map to give a sense of perspective of the area and how humble those towns mentioned really were. I found the map at https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-maps/en/map_of_ancient_roman_judea.htm

4. This painting is called Bluebell Wood by Nicholas Hely Hutchinson. I chose it because it seemed to resonate with the passage: "He shall be peace." This wood seems peaceful, somewhere I would love to walk.

5. This icon is called Mother of God Waiting in Adoration by Fr. William Hart McNichols. As I said in the last entry, I can hardly imagine an Advent reflection without an image of Mary. She is in prayer, but in a posture of humility. Although she is already pregnant in this icon, it seems as if she is saying yet again to the Lord: "May it be it done to me according to your word." You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-waiting-in-adoration-248-william-hart-mcnichols.html

6. This is one of my photos taken in the Tirolean Alps in Austria. We had stopped by the side of the road for a stretch break and this was the view. It is true that mountains are humbling in their majesty. The way the sun was emerging from behind the peaks gave me a sense of the glory of God.

7. I took this photo of part of my crèche scene at home. It may seem silly that Mary and Joseph are looking adoringly at an empty crib, but I do this every year as a way to highlight their anticipation and joy, and hence my own. They are reflecting upon what is to come and Who is to come. 

8. Since this post is the last one of Advent and the next entry will not come until after Christmas, it seemed fitting to end with the four candles of the Advent wreath lit.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

Advent has begun, and though our intentions may be good, when the season comes to a close we could find that it came and went without our ever having delved into its richness and beauty, but that instead we spent the time trying to ‘beat the clock’ to Christmas. It is true that for some this time can be stressful rather than filled with the joy which is truly at the heart of the season. But these four weeks do offer us an opportunity to deepen our lives of faith as we await the coming of Jesus; there is a way to keep a healthy balance between our ‘secular’ activities and spiritual life. If we look to the Scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent (and better yet, if we pray with the readings for each day of the season) and reflect upon their message throughout the week which follows, we can immerse ourselves in Advent themes. It does take discipline to keep Jesus as our focus when things get busy, but we do not have to avoid the various activities and festivities which present themselves. In fact, we can sanctify every aspect of these next weeks by consciously doing everything with our heart centered on the coming of Christ.

Advent begins with a sense of anticipation for all that is to come throughout the season, culminating at Christmas. So when we hear the opening words of the first (Sunday) reading of Advent, we can begin to direct every aspect of our December journey toward becoming infused with the sacred: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15)* With these words we are reminded that no matter what happens in the next four weeks, the most important thing is to remember that God fulfills His promises because of His great love, always within the context of mercy and justice. As we prepare for Christmas and desire to participate in the season of Advent without losing its richness, we can look to all of our encounters as opportunities for offering mercy and being just; that is, to act with respect for the dignity of others. Not only will Advent become a time of great depth, but we will grow in holiness, preparing for the return of the Lord in due course.

The Old Testament readings for the Sundays of the first two weeks of Advent, respectively from the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Baruch, are a good place to begin, and a little background will help in understanding the connection between the two men. Jeremiah was a major prophet and Baruch was Jeremiah’s scribe, recording his prophecies. Thus, the prophecies and letters in the Book of Jeremiah, the Book of Lamentations, and the Book of Baruch are all the words of Jeremiah as recorded by Baruch. They were friends, and to Baruch’s credit, he was one of the few who stuck with Jeremiah when all others turned against him. But Baruch was not a prophet! Despite this fact, Baruch teaches us a profound lesson: we can live prophetically without having to be a prophet!

​There is an important distinction about what it meant to be a prophet in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word which is translated to ‘prophet’ is ‘nabi,’ which means “God’s mouthpiece.” Prophets did not foretell the future; rather, they confronted the people when God was displeased with their behavior, (breaking the covenant), and then tried to encourage a return to God lest calamity would befall them. God did give the prophet knowledge of what could happen if the people persisted in their sinfulness, but the prophet had no way of knowing if it would actually happen or how it would happen because they did not know how the people would respond. The prophet was a messenger and therefore he (or she)** was not a judge of the people: judging was God’s job. Thus, Jeremiah was a ‘mouthpiece’ for God, speaking His word consistently for many years. Since Baruch was the man who recorded Jeremiah’s words, we could say he was ‘the mouthpiece for the mouthpiece.’ Or we could say that he learned to live prophetically by literally following in the footsteps of Jeremiah, going where he went, assisting him, and even risking his own life by rescuing him from prison as Jerusalem fell. Baruch made sure the words of Jeremiah found their audience, often doing so quite heroically and at great risk to his own safety.

In the Old Testament reading for the First Sunday of Advent, Jeremiah proclaims the fulfillment of God’s promise through the coming of the Messiah (Jeremiah 33:14-16). And on the Second Sunday we hear: “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning… put on the splendor of glory from God forever,” and that "God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.” (Baruch 5:1-9) In this, Baruch emphasizes another lesson in living prophetically: to live with hope. While the gospels for these same weeks are seemingly in stark contrast, and one describes the coming of Christ on a day that will “assault them” (Luke 21:35), we need to remember that the message there is intended for those who are not prepared for Jesus to return because they have rejected God outright or have neglected any kind of relationship with Him. For them, the coming of Jesus will be difficult: His judgment, even though accompanied by mercy, will be sudden and severe. But for those who have heeded the message of Jeremiah, as revealed by Baruch, hope lies in being prepared through the sincerity of our love, (not in our perfection): for the faithful, mercy will be the mainstay, and judgment will find them worthy and ready. These readings are a strong lesson in prophetic living, which is that we live with hope and that our hope should be shared.

Thus, Baruch teaches us that to live prophetically is to have the hope which prepares us at every moment for the Messiah to come into our midst. He teaches us that to be heroic in our hope we need to make sure the message is shared. He teaches us to seek mercy and to give it, and he teaches us to be just in order to work toward greater justice in the world. Finally, Baruch teaches us that we must learn to listen and discern. To have aligned with Jeremiah who was treated as a pariah, and to have spent his life writing and distributing his words meant that Baruch had to pray about what he heard and to recognize whether the message was consistent with what God had revealed in the past. Therefore, he had to truly hear the message, pray over it, and then act upon it.

​In order to enter into Advent more fully we need to act as a messenger in the way in which Baruch did. That means we listen to the Lord in our prayer and we reflect over the words of the Advent Scripture readings, letting them take root in our hearts. It only takes a few minutes each day to do this. And like Baruch, we must be willing to act a bit heroically with kindness, peace, and love. We do this by offering respect and dignity (through our time, talent, and/or treasure) to the poor, the lonely, the downtrodden, the depressed, the ill, the marginalized, and the outcast, welcoming them into our friendship. We need to let mercy and justice be our company, bringing love to those who are without it, forgiving those who have wronged us, and working for a more just world through our actions. We must break down the walls of prejudice and hatred by being open to the alien and welcoming to the stranger. We must be an example of mercy and compassion to those who are not merciful and compassionate. In doing so, we will be living the message of the One for whom we wait: Jesus.

This way of living is not only prophetic living, it is Advent living. It is inviting the Word into our world anew, preparing a place for Jesus in our heart so His love can transform our seasonal activities: all our celebrations with friends and families, our dinner preparations, gift choosing and giving, our singing and decorating, become the secular made sacred. Letting everything in our lives become sanctified is what the spiritual life is about. Therefore, we look to the day of Jesus’ coming with joy knowing that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:6) As we ready the stable for His arrival, and as we ready our hearts to greet Him, let us rejoice that when Jesus comes, He will have mercy and justice for company.

​May we welcome the season of Advent! May we have the discipline to spend quality time with the Scriptures of Advent every day! May we recognize the presence of God who comes with mercy and justice for company! May we be inspired by the friendship of Jeremiah and Baruch, that we might be filled with gratitude for the friends who accompany us! May we be like Baruch, willing to spread God’s message in word and deed! And may we find comfort in all the holy ones who come to us during Advent, John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel, Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who teach us how to wait in reflection and joyful expectation, and then to act on what we learn! Let us meet in our prayer, awaiting the birth of our Lord, Jesus! Maranatha! Come, Emmanuel, come!

                                                    ©Michele L. Catanese

* The translation I am using for all the Scripture passages is the New American Bible.
** By the definition I have used, Deborah, (Book of Judges) was considered a prophet.
 
​Note: Next post will be December 17.

Images:
1. This is a photo I took on a rare snow day in Houston a few years back. The lemon on the tree, and all the plants, were 'surprised' by snow in December that year. I chose this picture for the opening of the entry because it seemed like winter, and obviously Advent, was in a hurry to come that year. There is a lesson in readiness here.

2. This incredible painting is called The Appearance of Christ Before the People, by Russian artist Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov. (1837-57) I love this because it shows Jesus coming over a hill into the scene as John the Baptizer points to Him declaring: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The future apostles Peter, Andrew, John, and Nathaniel are there, as well as the rich young man who would have an encounter with Jesus later on. I found this on a website which is worth a look at, (Aletieia) along with other artistic works, and that is where I obtained the explanation as well. https://aleteia.org/slideshow/slideshow-russian-art-goes-to-the-vatican 
​
3. This is an icon of Jeremiah and Baruch which is housed in the Heritage Museum in Amsterdam. It was one of the few icons I could find which depicted both men.

4. I took this photo of Mont Blanc in the French Alps during a recent trip to Europe. I thought it would be appropriate here because it speaks of the glory and splendor of God.

5. Since I emphasized that prophetic living includes living with hope which we share, it only seemed right that I have this icon accompany the text. This is Mother of Holy Hope, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. It would be inappropriate, in my mind, to write an Advent blog without a pregnant Mary accompanying it. No one speaks to Advent more than Mary, the Mother of our Lord. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-holy-hope-263-william-hart-mcnichols.html

6 & 7. I chose to use the Advent wreath with one candle lit since this will be posted for the first week in Advent. But since I referred to the readings of week 1 and 2, and because I will not be posting again until week 3, it seemed like there should be both candles lit at the end of the post.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

As I get older the one thing which is increasingly certain is that every day is a gift. Life, (for better or worse), is never traveled solo and thus we are accompanied by our beloved friends and family who are with us sometimes for more and sometimes for less of the path. And of course, there is our one constant companion: God. So even as things change and our physical life becomes a bit less reliable than it once was, spiritual life can – and should – continue to grow and increase. If we exercise our faith, hope, and love, and if we pray, study the Scriptures, seek God around us and within those we meet, our spiritual life will become increasingly stronger, especially when we need it most. Every day is a gift, especially because we know that tomorrow is not guaranteed to be as it was today. In fact, it is not guaranteed at all! For people of faith this is not overly daunting: we know that though we do have to carry our cross, God offers assistance (graces) on the road and helps us to make it to our goal of life with Him forever. It is important, then, that we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit in order to learn to see and hear differently so that we come to realize that truly no day is ordinary at all. Each day provides opportunities to find Jesus in the midst of our own joys and sufferings as well as in those of the people we accompany. It takes trust and time to develop the ability to see and hear in this way, but if we are mindful of God in our midst, we can accept the gift we are given with grace and even with joy.

One such opportunity to grow is provided by the prophet Malachi. His book begins with the words: “I love you, says the Lord.” It is comforting, to say the least, especially because we know that what follows in the writings of the prophet will be confrontational. Yet even with his harsh rebukes, Malachi wraps the book in love: he begins with a reminder of God’s love and he concludes with God’s promise to actually send that love into the world, which is to say, that the Messiah would come soon. He also said that the Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner who would prepare the way before Him. The last passage says: “Now I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day.” (Malachi 3:22-23) However, when Jesus came He clarified that it was not literally Elijah who was the forerunner, but it was the one who was to act as Elijah, namely John the Baptizer. 

The Book of Malachi is interesting because of its position as the last book of the Old Testament. The Old Testament books are not presented in chronological order, (except the texts within the Historical Books.) The four sections are presented like this: the Pentateuch (Law), the Historical Books, the Wisdom books (historically written last, closest to the time of Christ), and the Prophetic Books with Malachi at the end of that section. One would expect the books written closest to the time of Jesus to be found at the end of the Old Testament, but the Prophets were placed last because of the final words of Malachi’s message: the forerunner is coming to prepare the way of the Lord, the Messiah. Therefore when we ‘turn the page’ we are at the New Testament, starting with the Gospel of Matthew which begins with the genealogy of “Jesus the Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matt 1:1) Hence, because Malachi began his book with a reminder of God’s love and ended it with the promise of the coming Messiah, it directly connects us to the Good News of the culmination of that love, namely Jesus Christ. 

What comes between that first and last passage in the Book of Malachi is not as easy to hear because Malachi did what all true prophets do: he shook up the status quo with some rather sharp accusations. We know little of who Malachi was except that he wrote in 455 BC and was concerned about the impact his words would have. To protect himself he wrote anonymously by creating the pseudonym ‘Malachi’ which came from putting together two Hebrew words that translate to ‘My Messenger.’ Thus, all we really know about this prophet is that he understood his role as a messenger of God and that it meant he was to deliver a warning to the Jewish people who had been freed from a terrible exile about 100 years earlier and were slip-sliding down a dangerous path again. This time idolatry was not the issue at the heart of it, but rather that  God was displeased with their practice of intermarriage with pagans as well as the insincerity and abuses in worship which were being perpetuated by the priestly class. (The Covenant forbade marrying foreigners because the fear was that pagan practices would take root, driving the people further from God.) 

Malachi made it clear that God was ‘weary’ from the people’s perversion of the Law into what they wanted it to mean rather than what God intended. They would ask “Where is the just God?” as if to rationalize their views rather than accept the truth of the Laws which had always guided them and were given them by God as a sign of His love. Malachi prophesied that there would be judgment upon those who abused their spouses, were deceitful, deprived laborers of just wages, oppressed widows and orphans, and turned aside resident aliens without regard for God’s love and mercy. God’s message went on to say that He does not change, (His love does not diminish), inviting the people to return to Him lest they fall too far away.

​For the Book of Malachi to be meaningful, particularly at this time of year, we should spend time in reflection and in examination of our conscience in order to look at how we are preparing our own path for the coming of Christ at the end of our life and for His triumphal return at the end of time. We are invited to let the words  “I love you” spoken by the Lord be the ones which echo in our hearts and minds as we enter into each new day, desiring to see and hear the evidence of His love in whatever circumstances we might presently be experiencing. Therefore, in the spirit of Malachi, we might want to examine how we live our baptismal covenant with God with questions such as these:

• How am I living as priest, prophet, and king?
• How am I utilizing the gifts of faith, hope, and love?
• How am I preparing the way for others by “going forth to baptize the nations?” (paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20)
• How am I living as a member of the Body of Christ?
• How am I seeking God on a daily basis, in order to see and hear more clearly?’

This process also encourages us to approach God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to seek God’s mercy in order to become better at passing it on. It is how we grow in holiness.

The message of Malachi to ‘clean up our act’ is something we need continually, not because we should focus on our sinfulness, but because we want to present something wonderful to the Lord when He comes. We should be grateful for Malachi’s willingness to risk the anger of his people in order to get the message of God’s love to them. And we should be grateful that as Malachi prophesied, Jesus did come simply because God loves us so much that Heaven could no longer ‘contain’ so great a love. Thus, we are reminded that to live prophetically means that we are to be ‘other Malachis,’ to become God’s messengers, intending our actions and words to announce: “I love you, says the Lord.”

Living prophetically means that we open our hearts to transformation by Christ, allowing each day to reveal the opportunities to see and hear God in new ways. Prophetic living means we are called to be a messenger of God’s love and mercy to all the people we encounter (loved ones, the poor, widowed, orphaned, resident alien, sick, lonely, and marginalized), and that we direct our efforts to preparing for the Coming of Jesus at the end of time. No day is ordinary if God is part of it. We are not ordinary if God is in our hearts and minds. And no love is ordinary if it is given by God and then shared with others. Readiness is essential for this to happen, so let us accept the opportunity and gift of these weeks at the end of the liturgical year. Indeed as implied by Malachi, the day of the coming of the Forerunner, John the Baptist, was not ordinary: no day ever is.

​May the end of the liturgical year be rich with God’s graces of mercy and love! May we be inspired to live prophetically like Malachi: unafraid to speak and act as a disciple of Jesus Christ! May we be God’s messenger as one who lives authentically according to our faith! May our lives convey the love and mercy of Jesus to everyone we meet, courageously reaching out to people who are especially unlike ourselves! May we appreciate the opportunity to see that no day is ordinary if it is directed toward God! And may we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ again in glory! Peace!

                                               ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: Next post will be December 3.

Images:
1. I took this photo in the town of Ticonderoga, NY. I chose to use it for the opening image because it stood out. This tree did not seem ordinary, but rather it was ablaze with beauty. Many people, like me, do not get to see beautiful autumn colors very often, and so this truly was a gift. But for those who do see colors often, it is important not to take the gift for granted.

2. I took this photo in Lausanne, Switzerland. This statue is on the facade of the Lausanne Cathedral in the Old City section. Of course, it is Malachi the prophet. That he seems to be peeking out almost surreptitiously spoke to me as a symbol of his desire for anonymity. He holds the text of his writings.

3. This is another of my photos. It is the top of Lower Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, NY. I chose the top of the falls because of the reference to "slip-sliding" in the wrong direction by the Jewish people in the 5th century BC. If one leaves the path at the top of a waterfall, one is in danger! (To be clear, I was on the path when I took this photo!)

4. This is the work of Fr. William Hart McNichols called Retablo de San Jose Obrero. I chose it because Jesus is in a pose of total vulnerability and loving trust, asleep in the arms of St. Joseph. There is so much love in this image! For a full explanation of this work, and also to understand what a retablo is, go to the artist's site: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/retablo-de-san-jose-obrero-301-william-hart-mcnichols.html
While you are there you can order a copy of it or peruse the site for any other icons and images you like which can be purchased in many mediums. It is getting to be the holiday season and you might like to order some cards or a gift. (Again, I get nothing from my endorsement of Fr. Bill's work except the joy of sharing!)

5. This may seem like an odd choice: it is a painting by Henri Matisse called O Dalisque a la Culotte Rouge. (1925). I chose it, however, because the reclining woman can be viewed as being in prayerful reflection, perhaps doing an examination of conscience. But I also chose it because of something Matisse once said: "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." There are flowers throughout this painting, on the table behind the woman, and in the wallpaper. What Matisse said is exactly the point of this post: If we learn to see and hear differently, we will see God's presence in our midst.

6. This is an icon called St. John the Forerunner Also the Baptist, an icon from the work of Fr. William Hart McNichols. It seemed fitting to end with John the Forerunner since Malachi ends his writing with the prophecy of his coming. You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-john-the-forerunner-also-the-baptist-082-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

When we hear preaching which rambles or which seems to ‘do nothing for us’, there is no doubt about it: it is a turn-off. No one can hit a home run every time they are at bat and so it is bound to happen from time to time. Ironically, it was just such a homily which served as the inspiration for this reflection. I do not want to seem snobby or hypocritical, especially as a writer who may give others the same impression, but trust me on this one; it was pretty egregious. I will not repeat the Scriptural ‘miscues’ which I heard, but suffice it to say that the repeated reference to the two brother-apostles as “Jimmy and John,” is evidence enough of the quality of the preaching in question. Although the homilist's remarks were unlike anything I have ever heard in my forty years of studying Scripture, as I was struggling to stay attentive, an unexpected insight came. A comment led me to think about the encouragement and the often necessary challenge from others which helps us on the road to vocational discovery such as that which the brothers James and John received from Jesus. (Mark 10:35-45) What they experienced was essential to their vocational development as apostles. (You see, even a ‘poor’ homily can bear fruit if we are open to the working of the Holy Spirit!) 

​November 4-10 is National Vocation Awareness Week, the focus of which is on priesthood and religious life. In directing our attention to religious vocations, the emphasis is on the need for ‘laborers in the field.’ As Jesus put it, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” (Luke 10:2). Indeed, we do need to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life, but we also need to actively invite men and women, especially those who are young, to serve in the church. Many priests have said that either their parents fostered their vocation by acting as faithful witnesses (by living faithfully and openly as Catholics, and raising them as such), or that someone approached them and asked if they had ever thought of becoming a priest. Others were influenced by a priest or Religious whose joy in serving God drew them into seeing that they, too, were called in the same way. There is in fact a shortage of priests because the older ones are retiring or dying at a greater rate than the younger ones are being ordained. Our parishes depend on these men because they are the ones who are empowered through their ordination to bring us the Sacraments. *

We need laborers of all kinds, especially those with a ‘fish story.’ To understand what this means, and in keeping with our “Prophetic Living” series, we now turn to the Book of Jonah. This short book was intended as a parable by its writer, an anonymous prophet, and so Jonah is actually a fictional character. In the story, Jonah was called by God to prophesy to the pagan Assyrians who were regarded as enemies. Jonah objected, and heading in the opposite direction, ended up being thrown off the ship upon which he was fleeing. He then was swallowed by a large fish, spending three days in its bowels until he was ‘released’ after praying to God for help. Therefore, the ‘fish story’ refers to the necessity for Jonah to experience God’s mercy and love in order to understand the need to share the message with the Assyrians. (It is also a prophetic reference to Jesus’ dying and rising.) God saved Jonah even though he had disobeyed, and so he had experienced mercy first-hand. Jonah proceeded to go to Nineveh and preached to his enemies as directed. Lo and behold, they listened, believed, and repented! But instead of feeling good about his success, Jonah angrily stomped off into the desert, still unable to connect God’s mercy to everyone; it was okay when God showed him mercy, but he was unable to extend it to those he perceived to be unworthy of it. The point the author was trying to make through this parable was as critical then as it is for us today: God’s mercy is for everyone and is not just for the ones we deem as worthy of it. He implies that we must be credible witnesses by offering ministry and a welcome to those who are in need. 

From the Book of Jonah we can apply many things to finding one's vocation in ministry. First, it is not uncommon for those who experience a calling to priesthood to be frightened by the enormity of it; or perhaps they could feel unworthy, or that they simply would not be happy in that life. As a result they become like Jonah, running in the opposite direction, doing all they can to avoid having to face the call which is persistent and almost annoying to them. This is actually not a bad thing, just as it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jonah when he ended up in the belly of the fish. In those three days, he learned a fair amount, even if he did not fully comprehend the lesson. This is true of those who are being called to the priesthood as well: just as God knew Jonah was not perfect and that his understanding was not perfect, nor was he anything other than a work-in-progress, the priest is not expected to be perfect either. As in all vocations, the ministry of priesthood is a continual lesson in God’s mercy and grace. Often someone will run from it because no one has helped him to see that this is so and that he is not expected to go it alone, but will continually have the support of the Holy Spirit and of the community. Thus we need to help give that support to them.

Also like Jonah, the one running from a call to the priesthood may be doing so because they perceive it as a call of negation: that is, they may be focusing on what they would be giving up, rather than what they will be gaining. Just as Jonah did not want to face a way of life which was different than the one he thought he preferred, so too the priest needs to be open to a different reality than the one he has previously been used to. If we were to extrapolate the end of the parable of Jonah, because he was a good man we can assume that he did finally come to see the wisdom of God showing mercy to the Assyrians. Likewise, there is no reason for the one called to priesthood to believe that God has something other than his best interests, and the best interests of His people, in mind! Therefore the focus should be on their relationship with God and how they want to express their love and trust. God certainly does not ‘conscript’ anyone into a life which would lead to unhappiness. Rather, God knows us better than anyone and so He wants to lead us to that which will give the greatest freedom and fulfillment. 

Everything which we have learned from the Book of Jonah is applicable to all three vocations: ministerial priesthood, marriage, and single life. All of us were baptized as priest, prophet and king! We all need to discern our call and then to discern the daily living of that vocation. Each of us needs to pray for the grace to bring the faith to those who do not know it or who are somehow set against us. We all must be credible witnesses in our word and deed, living our ‘fish story’ which is the arena in which we learn the mercy, forgiveness, and love of God and in turn offer it to those who we meet. Our ‘fish story’ is truth, not a fabrication. And perhaps our ‘fish’ is Christ: remember that the Greek word ichthys, the acronym used by the ancients to identify believers, translates to “fish.” Thus we must adhere to our 'fish story,' our call, our faith.**

The way we invite people to explore and then accept the vocation to which they have been called is the same way we invite people to come to know God in the wider world. We model it, we live it, and we guide others to it through our faith, hope, love, and works of mercy. We must never apologize for our faith and we must never be afraid to live it as Jesus taught. If we want to be effective in loving and serving Christ, we need to do more than simply hear that it is National Vocation Awareness Week: we need to pray, discern, invite, and act with faith and courage in living our own vocation, always relying on the Lord from whom all good gifts come. Let us embrace our call with faithfulness, encouraging others to do the same, that we might all live the ‘fish story’ which is the truth of God’s mercy and care for His people.

May we be credible witnesses to the faith we have been given! May we actively pray, work, and inspire men and women to find their vocation in the priesthood and religious life! May we come to know the mercy God has offered us continually throughout our lives and embrace this gift with gratitude! May we have the courage to offer the same mercy we have received to those who are in need of it, no matter who they are or what they have done, without exception! And may we live our own vocation in truth, relying upon the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                   ©Michele L. Catanese



Notes: Next post, November 19.

- While this week is part of the Catholic Church, no matter what church one belongs to, the need to fulfill the unique call given by God is part of everyone’s life, so we all need to pray for vocations to ministry.

* For more on National Vocation Awareness Week click here:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week.cfm

** Ichthys (ἰχθύς) is the Greek word for fish, which Christians in the early Church used as a way to identify themselves and other Christians. Each letter of the word stands for "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior." See the following link for more: https://ichthys.com/ichthys-explanation.htm

Images:
1. This is one of my photos, taken at Taughannock Creek, near Trumansburg, NY. I chose this photo because the creek was meandering just as the homily I heard was all over the place. But like this creek, it did lead somewhere, and so even in the midst of some 'strangeness' it brought me to unexpected inspiration.

2. This painting is called Sheaf-Binder by Vincent van Gogh (1889). It is a laborer at the harvest; he is alone, therefore symbolizing a dearth of laborers to help him. 

3. This acrylic on wood painting is called Jonah and the Great Fish by Luisito Magno an artist from the Philippines. I loved this the instant I saw it, so I had to include it here. Check out his work at https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Jonah-and-the-great-fish/797781/2565151/view.

4. I took this picture while aboard the ferry traveling across the Long Island Sound from New London, Connecticut to Orient Point, Long Island, NY. That is the Plum Island Lighthouse in the distance. I chose this photo exactly because the water was choppy due to some winds. It reminded me of Jonah on the boat, a beacon of safety in the distance as a symbol of the grace and mercy of God which is never far from us, and the journey through life which is beautiful, even if perilous at times.

5.I took this at the ordination to the priesthood of Fr. Richard Hinkley, a friend and a wonderful priest. I could not write a blog on vocations to the priesthood and not include a priest! Please keep Fr. Richard in your prayers while he recovers from a serious illness. Thank you!

6. This icon is called Nuestro Salvador De Las Sandias, written by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Two thoughts: First, I chose this icon because Jesus is shown in a position of offering peace and mercy, new life and grace. He is depicted in the Sandias Mountains of New Mexico, which reminds us that Jesus is present at all times and in all places. Second, the iconographer is a priest! Priests have many gifts, many ministries, many ways of serving and glorifying the Lord. You can find this icon in one of many mediums for purchase if you so desire at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/nuestro-salvador-de-las-sandias-012-william-hart-mcnichols.html. We are nearing the holiday season; if you are thinking of cards or a gift for someone, perhaps some icon from the work of Fr. Bill might interest you. https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/william-hart-mcnichols.html?tab=artworkgalleries

(Remember, I do not get commissions and I do not get any remuneration from recommending Fr. Bill's work. But what I do get is the joy of sharing beauty!)

7. This is one of my photos taken in Trumansburg NY. This is Lake Cayuga, one of the Finger Lakes in mid NY State. I chose it because it seemed to tie up the theme of the 'fish story' and the beauty which comes with our Christian journey.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.

​The most important aspect of any relationship is the trust which comes from honesty and truthfulness. Truth is the glue which holds friendships together and it is what nurtures love and growth in all relationships, including that which we have with ourselves. Being truthful, and therefore authentic, can be incredibly challenging when we are facing difficult issues, especially personal ones, and it is equally challenging if we know we need to help another person face something which they do not want to see. Jesus said the truth would set us free, but it is one of the most difficult aspects involved in loving someone; it takes courage to live in the truth. This is why many people did not like prophets in biblical times. Prophets often pointed out harsh realities, and in laying out the truth without whitewashing it, many people were ‘offended’ because they did not want to hear that they were in need of making changes. The prophet Amos was such a prophet, faced with the burden of presenting the truth in the midst of a culture that did not want to hear God’s message. His words were biting, but it was because he cared intensely about his nation and he loved God deeply; therefore he regarded truth highly and was willing to carry the burden of garnering attention in the public forum with an unpopular message. But for all Amos’ challenging words, his message ends with hope, the sign of a true prophet: if God is truly behind the words, the message will always remind us that He wants His people to be near to Him in the joy and protection of His love.

Amos was not from high society, he was not a priest, and he was not anyone particularly important in his community. He was a simple man, a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees. Because of his humility, he did not reveal his background until the seventh of the nine chapters in the book which bears his name. At the time he was being confronted by Amaziah, the priest who ultimately exiled him from Bethel, a major city in Israel. In response to the priest Amos said: “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” (Amos 7:14-15) It seems that Amos was minding his own business, working two jobs to eke out a living, when God told him to go and speak a message which was going to anger many. That God chose him in this way is not a sign that God will swoop down at any time and randomly choose a person and throw him or her into the proverbial fire. Rather it reveals to us that Amos was a person of faith, who was no doubt very disturbed at the trends in his divided nation. Israel had separated from Judah and the people were morally corrupt, vulnerable to their enemies and headed for destruction. Surely Amos prayed faithfully to God about this situation, and when God decided to choose him, he freely accepted the ministry. He revered God’s truth because his relationship with God was based upon a covenant of love and trust.

Because of the themes of his prophetic message, Amos is often referred to as the prophet of social justice. He continually reminded the people of the commandments dealing with relationship to others, and of course, their relationship with God. The astringent words he spoke were meant to shake them up as he confronted their sins head-on, the worst of which was the idolatry which consumed them. Amos even stood up to the king, Jeroboam, because he had set up shrines all over Israel in fear that the people would defect to Judah where the Temple which housed the Ark of the Covenant was located. He decried their ‘worship’ because people were not only sacrificing to false gods, but they were participating in pagan practices which included sexual immorality and lack of proper care for their dead. He condemned how the rich were grossly oppressing the poor, spending money on luxury and abusing alcohol; and he refuted their corrupt business practices, because they accepted bribes and the like. The result of their hedonistic and self-centered lifestyle was that they had no concern about the true state of affairs in their broken covenantal relationship with God or with one another. And they had their ‘heads in the sand’ in regard to the disaster their nation was facing due to their rejection of God: their enemies were already crossing their borders planning to overtake and imprison them. Destruction was brewing and they refused to acknowledge that they were in any danger.

Prophets are called to disturb our complacency, so when we read them, (and I recommend reading the Book of Amos with an eye to seeing our own times within them), we must keep in mind that the harshness of the words is because the prophet must get our attention. Prophets intend to shock their listeners because the sins they point out are indeed shocking and destructive. The lies which people had accepted in place of the truth of God’s plan had so corrupted their hearts that Amos had to confront the lies with the light of reality, a light that often is painful, but necessary. The prophet’s role was, (and still is), to unmask lies and to reveal truth; when people are in denial as to the true path of justice, mercy, kindness and love, the only way is to tell them where the false path will lead them is with stark reality. But we must not miss the underlying truth in the Book of Amos which is that ultimately God is a God of concern who cares deeply about His people. Amos would not have stepped into this role had he not believed that God truly cares.

The words of Amos are of the utmost relevance to us today. His warning is of the danger of getting trapped in self-centeredness and therefore forgetting the gospel values we are called to live, and to beware of completely missing the mark by getting caught up in that which divides instead of that which unites. The life of Amos reminds us that even ordinary folk can live prophetically; we do not need a theological background in order to get the message of God out to His people. But what we do need is the courage to live the gospel as lovers of truth, as fierce defenders of our faith through commitment to our covenant of love with God, and as those who stand against greed, oppression, immorality, and idolizing people and things rather than placing our full attention upon the God who loves us. This is what will make us prophets, even if we are simply ‘shepherds and dressers of sycamores.’ We are not necessarily called to challenge in the same way Amos was, (though there is a need for that kind of prophet, too.) Rather, we are called to do as Jesus did, which is to live the truth by our words and deeds. We are meant to be active in combating sin and falsehood, injustice and mercilessness. Simple men and women can do extraordinary things if we adhere to the gospel and ground our lives on the truth of God which comes through prayer, reflection, Scripture study, and discernment and then putting into action what we have learned.

As disciples of Jesus we are meant to live prophetically, though it takes courage and conviction to do so. But everything we need is found in God and in the grace He gives to live out our call. The Book of Amos teaches us that even shepherds and dressers of sycamores can reveal truth in the face of lies; through the witness of our love we can confront those who are on the wrong path, leading them back to God and the way of the Gospel. Of course, love and mercy are the gospel way, though sometimes love must take on the form of challenge. Even if our efforts seem to fall on deaf ears, we must remain strong in our belief and in what Amos says in the final words of his prophecy: “I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. I will plant them upon their own ground; never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the Lord, your God.” (Amos 9:14-15) There is always hope found in God’s faithfulness to us which is shown throughout the Scriptures and especially through Jesus Christ. Let us then, live prophetically as ‘shepherds and dressers of sycamores,’ humble, yet empowered by the love of our good and gracious God.

May we find strength in the witness of the prophet Amos! May we have the courage to be faithful to the call of the Gospels! May we persevere in our prayer and in our efforts to discern how to respond in our world today! May we live our call to be prophetic wisely and humbly in the understanding that even if we are ordinary and lowly, all our efforts are important in building the Kingdom! May we call upon the intercession of the angels, saints, and holy ones that we might stand firm upon the power of love and mercy! And may we live in the Truth, that is, may we live in Christ, bringing His love outward in all we do!

©Michele L. Catanese

Note: Next post November 5.

​Images:
1. I took this photo of Mont Blanc, France, during a trip to the Alps recently. I chose to use it here as a symbol of the everlasting foundation we have in our covenant with God. 

2. This is an Orthodox icon of Amos the prophet. I chose it because I liked the simplicity of the depiction of Amos.

3. This painting is called Shepherd and Sheep by Camille Pissarro. (1888) It seemed to fit perfectly with the sense of the humble background of Amos. He may have spoken forcefully, but he was from Tekoa, a peaceful and simple area of Judah, which he left behind to go to Israel in response to the call of God.

4. This is one of my photos, taken in Big Bend, west Texas. I chose it because of the starkness of the desert, in counterpoint to the life which is found there. The words of a prophet might seem stark and harsh, but there is always a call to life which is within their words.

5. This icon is called El Buen Pastor, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I chose it here because it seemed quite appropriate to remember that Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John. He knocks: are we listening? If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this in one of a number of mediums, you can find it at ​​​fineartamerica.com/featured/el-buen-pastor-188-william-hart-mcnichols.html.

6. This is another of my photos. These flowers were in the beautiful gardens at Larnach Castle in Dunedin, New Zealand. They seemed to exemplify the words of God given by Amos in the quote.

7. This is also one of my photos. I took this is Switzerland as we were traveling. I chose to use it here as a symbol of the Church, the people of God, rising above that which seeks to divide us. It is intended as a sign of hope.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

Saints are anything but boring, and I love that their ranks include all sorts of people, even those we do not expect. Unfortunately, sometimes we imagine holy ones as completely charismatic, near perfect, spiritually heroic people. Some may have been as such, but if we  limit our idea as to the nature of holiness, we are apt to discontinue any effort to strive to be holy ourselves because it seems too difficult to attain. In reality, the clearest attribute of holiness is true desire to find Christ and to love and serve Him by living the life we were given, as it was given, without trying to be someone we are not called to be. The holy ones, then, are the people who are authentic in their love and in their acceptance of the path they were given, which means that they might not be obvious in their holiness until we give them a closer look. Such a one was Caryll Houselander who is often looked upon as a wonderful spiritual writer, quirky of personality, but ordinary enough in her day to day life. And what is a holy person, (sometimes recognized as a saint), but an ordinary person who possesses extraordinary faith, hope, and love? Although Caryll Houselander has not been canonized or beatified, she was a mystic and was one who saw Christ in everyone, even in the midst of her somewhat nondescript life. If we would simply be ourselves as we were made to be, we would be like Caryll: a reflection of the love of God.

Caryll Houselander was a bit of an eccentric. Born in 1901 in Bath, England, she had a tumultuous childhood, and never really got along with her parents who divorced when she was 6 years of age. Her mother was rather distant and severe with Caryll, and while not a religious person herself, did have Caryll baptized, and did provide a Catholic foundation for her. She continually sent Caryll away to boarding schools where she never quite fit in and was never really happy, although she found ways to cope with the loneliness that her ‘exile’ brought her. It was in a boarding school when she was only nine years old that she had the first of three life changing mystical experiences. Caryll had walked in on a young Bavarian nun who for the most part only spoke German and was ostracized by the other nuns as a result. The nun was crying bitterly while trying to polish some children’s shoes. When Caryll looked at her, in a kind of vision she saw the nun wearing a crown of thorns and commented to her about it, saying, “I would not cry if I was wearing the crown of thorns like you are.” The nun was startled and asked what she meant; Caryll said she did not know and simply sat down to help her polish the shoes. Through this mystical experience she identified with the burden the young nun was bearing, lonely and isolated, and in her own way, reached out as if to help her bear the burden.

Her second mystical experience took place when she was seventeen: she witnessed what appeared to be an icon of the suffering Jesus filling the sky.* However, it was the third one which defined her life the most. She was riding in a subway travelling with all sorts of people and yet she literally saw Christ in everyone on the train and around her on the streets after she exited; the episode continued for several days before fading away. This occurrence resulted in her lifelong belief that every person mysteriously carries Christ within them, and so she began to treat everyone as if she was in the presence of Christ. Caryll was also a gifted artist and writer, having been encouraged to write by her Jesuit spiritual director, Fr. Geoffrey Bliss. She wrote many poems and a few books, but was most known for a short book about Our Lady called The Reed of God which is now considered a classic in Catholic spiritual writing. She helped many to be healed of their spiritual and emotional illnesses, but her own life was relatively short, as she succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 53 on October 12, 1954.*

If we could have met Caryll, I suspect that at first we might have been surprised at the thought of calling her holy because she appeared to be relatively ordinary, though decidedly eclectic, and she smoked, drank, and was subject to fragile health, both mentally and physically. She referred to herself as a ‘singular’ person, meaning that she never fit into any group, nor did she want to. But she was known as a gifted counselor, even though she never had any formal training; because of her own experience of receiving counseling she was able to help many others who also suffered from neurosis. Additionally, she had spiritual gifts which enabled her to have insights into people and to help them to find alleviation for their suffering. In all of this, unless one came into close contact with her, Caryll might not have been someone who would stand out as a holy person. Once again, we must realize that holiness does not ‘look’ a particular way, but rather it is about living the love of God we profess.

It is in her poetry and writing that one can most truly see into the depth of Caryll’s soul. She wrote: “I feel convinced that… the laughter, the dancing, everything you do with everyone, is a real fling of the heart to God every time, and the truest prayer.”** In this she seems to understand that it is in the simplest things – and especially that which includes another person whether in the simplicity of friendship or in the efforts we put into ministry – that we offer the truest prayer if we intend it as such. Everything is done for and in God; even enjoying a simple glass of wine and a night of laughter and love with friends can be an experience of God. Building on this, her goal was to become “Christed’” that is, to become another Christ; she believed that God intends us to be as other Christs to one another. While it may be difficult to think of treating everyone as another Christ, upon reflection it seems that the key to it is respect which is related to the spiritual gift of reverence. Caryll believed that when Christ comes to each person He comes differently and uniquely in the way best for us, which means that Jesus treats us with a certain respect and reverence, too. She wrote: “… He will always come in the way that the particular soul can most easily realize and most easily respond to…. The ordinary way – and how amazing that it is the ordinary way – is in the Blessed Sacrament….” ** Jesus reverences and respects us so much that He comes to us in the way we can best recognize and welcome Him! We do not have to search high and low: He comes both in the Eucharist and in the midst of our ordinary, day to day lives.

If Caryll’s characterization that everything we do is as “a real fling of the heart to God” and “the truest prayer,” it seems to me that all of our efforts can be an offering to God if we approach them this way. If we were to respect and reverence people by seeing them as other Christs and if we were to approach every action as something we do for God, it can bring the joy we often find elusive. Instead of being burdened over the lack of virtues in the world, or focusing on what is wrong with something, it might be helpful to view our efforts positively, offered as a fling of our heart to God. It would help us to reverence ourselves in realizing that we are filled with Christ, and thus we are sacred, and so too are our efforts, small as they might be. It can transform our efforts into His work and help us to see that it is no longer ours alone. This means our focus is on God, not on self. Our work then becomes compassionate because like Caryll and the young nun, we enter into the sorrow or joy of the other, simply as we are. That is what holiness is about: it does not mean we will never sin again or that we become perfect, but it does mean we enter into our relationship with God more deeply.

Our daily prayer, simple and honest as it may be, can help us to become agents of healing for others, propelling us to offer the gifts we have been given so that we can become holy in our own ordinary way. Perhaps it is time for us to have our “fling of the heart to God,” to become our truest prayer as Caryll Houselander teaches us to do. Though we probably will not have visions, if we treat each one as if we are indeed seeing Jesus, we can reverence others in a way that may open their hearts and their minds to the love of God. Let us, then, approach others as we would Christ, never losing sight that we too are filled with His presence. It is in reverence and respect for self and for the other that we find our truest prayer and the source of all healing.

​May we offer everything we do with everyone as a fling of the heart to God! May we realize that in our own unique, ordinary way, we can offer ourselves and what we do as our truest prayer! May we seek the grace of respect and reverence and then offer it to others, and especially to Christ who is present in them! May we learn to apply the gift of respect and reverence also to ourselves! And may we find joy in the love and mercy of Jesus in our relationships with others, and especially in the gift of Eucharist! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                              ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post: October 22

​For the most part, I used two books for my information:

*Caryll Houselander: Essential Writings, Selected with Commentary by Wendy M. Wright.
**A Rocking Horse-Catholic, by Caryll Houselander. This is her autobiography.

Below are some articles from which I also drew some information, but I also highly recommend Caryll Houselander's books, such as The Reed of God. Her poetry is also exquisite. (There is a fair amount of it in the book by Wendy Wright.)
https://owlcation.com/humanities/Caryll-Houselander-Modern-Mystic
http://www.catholicauthors.com/houselander.html

​Images:
1. I took this photo a number of years ago at Crater Lake, Oregon. I used it to begin this entry because of the mirror image of the mountains and clouds which appeared on the water. It is almost difficult to see where the mountains end and the water begins. This photo made me think of how Caryll Houselander had a sense of being as Christ to others; in a holy person it might be 'difficult' to see where the person ends and Christ begins, so to speak.

2. This is the photo of Caryll Houselander which appears on the cover of the book by Wendy Wright, mentioned above: Caryll Houselander: Essential Writings.

3. This is an icon by Fr. William Hart McNichols called Mother of God After Fra Angelico. I am very fond of the work of Fra Angelico and I am very fond of Our Lady, as Caryll referred to the Mother of Jesus. Thus, using this icon of Mary in reference to Caryll's book The Reed of God made sense to me. You can find this icon, and purchase a copy if you so desire, at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-after-fra-angelico-168-william-hart-mcnichols.html.

4. This painting is one of the more famous paintings of Vincent van Gogh, called Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles France. (1888) I chose it as a representation of people having a "real fling of the heart to God" as they conversed and possibly drank some wine together. Upon researching it, however, I saw an article in which the author proposed that this painting contains a somewhat hidden reference to the Last Supper. That connection reminded me of Caryll's sense of people becoming "Christed." I am not sure about the theory, compelling as it seems, but in case you are interested: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/van-gogh-last-supper_n_6753294.html

5. I took this photo while on a boat tour of Lake Lugano, near Lugano, Switzerland. I chose to use it here as an example of a community of people, perhaps a community of 'other Christs.'

6. I took this photo in Hermann Park which is in Houston, Texas. It depicts people gathering together in the Park taking in the beauty of the day, engaging in fun and conversation with one another. Perhaps they are entering into the truest prayer, enjoying a fling of their hearts to God.  

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.