November 30, 2014 - 1st Sunday of Advent

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/113014.cfm

Happy New Year!   Time flies, doesn't it?

We begin a new year - Waiting!  Waiting for Jesus' Birth!  Waiting for Jesus' 2nd Coming!

Yet, most of us are not sitting patiently waiting, but buzzing around shopping, decorating, cooking, parties, kids activities, church celebrations....not much peace or time for reflection -

But we must take this important time to prepare our hearts to make room for Jesus!  Not just for Christmas - but for everyday!  For our lives!

Our lives are a pilgrimage - we journey towards heaven...

I don't know about you...but I miss out on the beautiful scenery around me - when I am rushing from point A to B.  I miss out on enjoying and savoring my life - instead of just  "living" life!  When I am in a hurry, I miss out on smelling the flowers and the coffee!  I miss out on taking time to enjoy the people in my life and my God!  I miss opportunities to be a better me.

Advent gives us this time - if we take advantage of it!

We can make that decision if it is important to us - not just because of "me", but because it is also good for those around me!

The next four weeks give us time to slow down, to take notice of what is really important in our lives.

The first reading begins with a great statement...

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?   

I know God gives us free will.  I know He has great plans for us - further in the reading it tells us so.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.

Yet we sin!  We turn away from God.  We find "things" more important than God....but today,the beginning of Advent we can begin ANEW!

Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

We can say to God - shape me the way You want me!  I surrender to your hand!
We beg Him to do that very thing in the responsorial psalm 
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Paul is encouraging and hopeful when He prays for us:
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

He reminds us that we are enriched with all discourse and all knowledge - We know what is the TRUTH!  We just need to keep firm to the end!  IRREPROACHABLE!   
God is faithful - and He has called us to fellowship with his Son, Jesus!  This is GOOD NEWS!  This is really GREAT NEWS!  I must remain the clay in God's Hands - so that He can continue to guide me and shape me into the person He designed from the beginning of time!!!

And Jesus tells us to be WATCHFUL!  ALERT!  WE don't know when Christ is coming back....don't be caught with your eyes on the World - when nothing is more important than our eyes on GOD!!!

Even if we just spend the first minutes of every day - before we get out of bed - giving our day to God, asking Him to help us keep our eyes on Him!  Then spend this Advent giving God our first priority - as if today was our last day on earth!  

Have a blessed and peaceful Advent!

Nancy

November 23, 2014 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112314.cfm

This is one of my favorite days!  Christ is our King!  It is so right that we Worship Him! and Him alone!

The readings today remind us of the kind of King we have ruling us!
The kind of King who came as an innocent, defenseless baby!
One who grew up in a poor family - not in a rich family! (not that there is anything wrong with money)...but God in His great wisdom was showing us that Money and Power mean nothing to Him!

Jesus was allowed to minister for only 3 years.  He walked from town to town (sometimes He took a boat!).  He couldn't reach everyone.  He couldn't minister to everyone.  He couldn't heal everyone!  He was fully human - and fully God.   I still can't even fathom what that must have been like!  Did he know He was fully God?  He sure didn't act like it!

He was humble, full of love - like a shepherd!    Taking care of the lost!  Taking care of the poor!  Taking care of those who were neglected and abandoned!

The Lord is my Shepherd is a perfect Psalm for this day!  Our King didn't come with swords and might!  But with love and forgiveness.

He let the very people He came with love to serve and teach - take Him to the cross.  He did it willingly.  I love to meditate on the fact that He embraced His cross and we are called to embrace our crosses as well.

The Gospel brings us to the point of His life - and the point of ours - to love those
who are  hungry - in body and spirit - 
I was thirsty for water and for love and acceptance
a stranger and you welcomed me - not caring about where you are from or what you have been through
naked and you clothed me - not just naked in clothing - but naked in our hurts and wounds and needs...
ill and you cared for me - all kinds of illnesses - whether we can do anything for them or not, we can at least hold their hands and be there with them.
in prison and you visited me - there are so many prisons - prisons of our minds - prisons of spirit - prisons in abuse...prisons of growing up - being different....We cannot be afraid because people block us out...but come and tell them they are loved!

Christ is our King!  He came for all of us and calls us to reach out to all in unconditional love!  I am called - how honored am I to follow my King!  

Have a blessed week!
Nancy

November 16, 2014 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111614.cfm

You can find the readings for this Sunday at the above link!

My reflections on these readings:
The first reading from Proverbs is about what a good wife is!
Although I always wanted to be a homemaker (I actually got the chance for 2 years, then life's circumstances changed and I was back to being a working mom and wife!)....the lines that meant the most to me - and can touch homemakers and working moms both is this:

"Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised"

If we are putting God first - no matter what our circumstance, we will be GREAT wives and GREAT MOM's, because God is leading us!  Keeping our eyes on God helps us to love better and to be thankful in all circumstances!!!  

Again the Responsorial Psalm talks about Fearing the Lord.  Fear in this context is not "being afraid" of God...but being in AWE of God!  He is the creator of the Universe!  He created us!  He is to be reverenced and if we again, put Him first - in His rightful place - as our creator - and we His creation - then we will be fruitful - in our homes, in our works in our lives.  Because I strive to put God first in my life - I am seeking His will for my life!   In Jeremiah 29:11 God promises that He has great plans for me- plans for my welfare, I need to trust Him...and I do!  

The 2nd reading is an encouragement (I hate to call it a warning!), to keep alert and sober; to keep following God.   I do admit that when things are going well, I am less inclined to call on God - as I am when my life is crashing in around me - this must be common - because in this reading - We are being reminded that  even when things in the world seem to be going well we need to stay alert and sober - keep our eyes on God - keep living the faith - keep walking the Walk -
Which - if I love God, why would I turn away?

The Gospel is about using our talents!  What talents do I have that I can use to build up the kingdom of God?  Everything about each of us is designed by God to use to share His love with others!
Can you think of the things that you notice about yourself that encourages others?  Helps them to keep going when they are down?  It might be a smile, it might be just an encouraging note or word.
It might be bringing someone food when they are sick.  It might be praying for them - when you know they are struggling!
So many things we can do to bring praise to God.  Going to mass on Sundays and smiling at our neighbors.  Singing (even if we don't think we can sing - God gave us our voice - so it must bring Joy to Him!!).   Praying with your family.  Blessing your children.  So many opportunities to love during each and every day.  Keeping our eyes on the needs of others - instead of our own challenges!

I cannot wait to hear God say to me when I get to the pearly Gates: Well done, my good and faithful servant.  - Welcome Home!"    I am keeping my eyes Fixed on God and walking with faith on the road He sends me!

Have a blessed week!
Nancy Longo

Nov 9 - Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

BACKGROUND:
Today the liturgy celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called “mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.” In fact, this basilica was the first to be built after Emperor Constantine’s edict, in 313, granted Christians freedom to practice their religion.

The emperor himself gave Pope Miltiades the ancient palace of the Laterani family, and the basilica, the baptistery, and the patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome’s residence — where the Popes lived until the Avignon period — were all built there. The basilica’s dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324 and was named Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist added, and now is typically denominated by these latter.

Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches of the Roman rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of expressing love and veneration for the Roman Church, which, as St. Ignatius of Antioch says, “presides in charity” over the whole Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans, 1:1).

Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this observance also reminds us of the importance of the material buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every community therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred buildings, which are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she help us to become, like her, the “house of God,” living temple of his love.

— Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, November 9, 2008

Reading 1   - Ezekial 47:1-2, 8-9, 112

The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
He said to me,
“This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Where the water flows - every sort of living creature that can multiply shall life, fruit tress of every kind shall grow and bear fruit which will serve for food and their leaves for medicine....

Just imagine....We the living Church - filled by living Water (Jesus) - will bear fruit to those in our midst!  How beautiful an image is that!  We can do nothing without the living water of Christ!  Our roots will continue to grow deep - while sitting by the river, fed by this Living Water......  I just love this image!

Responsorial Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6-, 8-9

R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth. 
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

God is our REFUGE and our Strength!  We fear NOT!  The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.    What have we to fear????  The waters of the river gladden the city of God - If we stay where we can be filled with this Living Water....What have we to fear???  Nothing!  We will be refreshed and renewed and ready to produce fruit!  We need water for life...  We know that, especially here in California - as we face drought and rationing of water....it becomes even more precious for us!  Think of life without God!  I cannot even imagine what emptiness and despair that would bring.  I want to sit by that River and be filled with Living Water!

2nd Reading   1 Corinthians 3:9C-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:
You are God’s building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Gospel John 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said,
“Take these out of here,  and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
“What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews said,
“This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?”
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture  and the word Jesus had spoken.

Zeal for your house will consume me.   Zeal for our faith.  How zealous are we for our faith?  I think about this in terms of the 2nd reading and my body, a temple of God and my life and all that I am involved in - how I represent God in who I am and what I do.  

As I grow older (and wiser???) it seems easier to do....but still - it is so easy to fall into laziness and comforts of this world instead of Zeal for God's house and God's people.  Living Water is the answer....More of Jesus, my living water....My prayer: Lord, God!  Help me be filled with your Living Water so that I have Zeal for your House!  

Amen!  

Have a blessed week!

Nancy

Nov 2 - The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Reading 1 - Wisdom 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

Reflection: 

We are truly blessed - those of us who are Catholics and believe in the Resurrection and Live Everlasting!

When our loved ones die (and when we die) - those left behind are indeed sad, but even though we are sad for us - we are happy for our loved ones to passed on to God!  

Our HOPE is in our TRUST in the LORD!  Our Trust in His great mercy and Love.

The lines which jumped out at me today are these:

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

And then to follow this reading with Psalm 23!  What beautiful reassurance of God's great love and care for us!  Not only while here on earth, but in the life to come.  

Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

I am counting on DWELLING in the house of the Lord for years to come!  I want to hear "Good and faithful servant, welcome home!"  I know I may be spending some time in purgatory...but my goal is heaven!  To be face to face with my greatest Love!  My God! My Jesus!  The Holy Spirit!  To be living eternity in Praise and Glory of God!  I cannot image anything better!!!

2nd Reading:  Romans 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

And continuing this great hope I have for the everafter:  HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!  God has already made a way for me to be with him forever!  Christ already took on our sins and  made a way for us!  This is such GREAT NEWS (not just Good NEWS!)  So, we don't fear death!  We have had the father look out for us - make a way for us through the Son and with the help of the Holy Spirit - have spent our lives here on earth - learning how to love!

Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Gospel:  John 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

This Scripture makes me feel so loved - "I will not reject anyone who comes to me!"  No matter our sin, no matter  our struggle - If we love God with all our imperfect hearts - He has made a way for us to come home after we leave our earthly home!   Praise be to God!  I pray for those who have gone before me!  I can only imagine what it will be like to stand face to face!   We have no fear in death because our Father walks with us and guides us Home to be with Him!  Praise God!  

Have a blessed week!  

Nancy