Wonders continue

Yes....myriad wonders, but I do not always take note as I am "stuck" with being grateful for the "wonders" of our temps....it is absolutely unbelievable that our December is bringing us such beautiful temps. The weekend, they say, will be in the 40's.  Thank you, God!
Appreciate this...for it shall not last.

And, of course, it is my favorite liturgical season as well: advent....season of watching and waiting and slowing down and quiet...as we prepare to celebrate a special birthday...our Saviour's.

In our preparation, we listen to John the Baptist "proclaiming a baptism of repentance."  To share Janet Schaeffler's thoughts: "Perhaps before looking into the manger (or to the commercials, decorations, gift-buying, etc.) we need to listen to John... (who) emphatically tells us to repent...a simple "about face".  We turn away and turn toward something new.

John's message, the message of Advent, invites us to ask ourselves: Have I gone deep enough?  Am I just living on the surface?  Does the busyness of Christmas preparations disrupt time for prayer, for deepening my relationship with Jesus?  Is my pre-Christmas calendar so full that there is no time for the people in my life, no time for caring for those who are hurting?"

Lots to look at, reflect, take in...and act.

ADVENT BLESSINS..

Looking for God

Beginning our "Be watchful.  Be ready....for you know not when the Son of Man is coming"  from one of our Advent songs. We sang it on Sunday and it has been resonating in my head since.  Not a bad resonating, I guess.

I'm using Janet Schaeffler, O.P.'s  advent reflection booklet "The Marvels and Mysteries of Advent" for reflection.  I find it really good.

In her introduction she notes that we are bombarded with unending messages....especially during the Advent-Christmas season.  She notes that the " main message of Advent-Christmas proclaims the reality of who we are and of all that we have been given: Emmanuel, God is with us, every day within our 24/7 lives....we are comforted and challenged with numerous additional messages: unquenchable hope, profound joy, serene peace, generous compassion, patient waiting, and open-handed service.  These messages tell us much about who our God is, who we are, and whose we are...may the messages of loving mysteries and wondrous marvels touch each of your days."

What wondrous words!  Much to reflect on.  I especially like the "additional messages"...wonderful qualities....wonderful blessings......I wish you these!

ADVENT BLESSINGS..........

My favorite liturgical season....

You guessed it: Advent.  It's only four weeks (not like our Lenten 8). 

A season of waiting and watching, of expectation, of the soft, quiet snowfall emphasizing the quiet of Advent, of vigilance, of preparing....to celebrate a special, a famous birth....to prepare for how Jesus comes in, oh, so many ways into each of or lives. Advent gets us into that habit...to be vigilant for Jesus' daily comings.

I wish you a prayerful, quiet, peaceful Advent

BE WATCHFUL!  BE VIGILANT!  He will come in the most unexpected ways!

Wonders....

Hope you had a wonderful day Thursday....not only enjoying the MUCH with which we are blessed, but taking time to recall and give thanks for all the ways you have been blessed: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually....AND...let's make each day a THANKS GIVING day....to take a few minutes each day....perhaps en route to work, if you do not take time for prayer in the morning...to just reflect how you were blessed the day before....or at the end of the day, while you are falling asleep...look at how your were blessed during the day...or be creative, find your own best time.

My title for this "blog"....wonders....and my "wonders" is the beautiful day today....it is actually nice out there, temps are beautiful....just what I like for.....I do not like the cold.  SO...another thing for which to say "GRACIAS!"    

And my favorite liturgical season begins this weekend: ADVENT....the season to take time for quiet, to be vigilant...to await, to prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Saviour....to prepare for his second coming.

I wish you an Advent season of peace, quiet, and vigilance.

GRACIAS...DANKE....GRAZIE....MERCI....

Yes, it's that time when we are reminded of the importance of GRATITUDE.  Thanksgiving Day...as if we ought to give thanks ONCE A YEAR.  I'm sure we all give thanks lots more than once a year.  Thanks to the "GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS" as our Eucharistic prayer says.  And, of course, we know that EUCHARIST means THANKSGIVING....so every time we participate in Mass, we are actually GIVING THANKS....I do not always remember, unfortunately.

And, of course, this feast reminds us of expressing our thanks...in our family, our work and parish community.  When was the last time you thanked your pastor and members of your parish team?  We just so take it all for granted.  I think we are all SOOOO busy about many things that these "thanks" fall through the cracks.  It's not that we are not thankful, it's just that we forget, and so it appears that we are not appreciative.

Perhaps taking some reflection time, some quiet time to list, yes, on paper, all your blessings---all the persons, the events, the abilities, and, of course, the "stuff"---with which we are blessed...and be grateful, not only to our generous God, but to these people.

And let us keep up our "THANK YOU SO MUCH"....

I wish you a grateful Thanksgiving....and thank you for reading my blog...

Brrrrr

Yes...you guessed it!  We have been freezing here in WI....for me specifically the Milwaukee area.  We do have cold winters, but this just came too early and too much....yet I hear that we in the US are all suffering together, but none like NY.  We need to send them the warmth of our prayers, absolutely.

In spite of the cold we had our Local Community meeting. It's always great to get together and catch up with what is happening with our sisters. And we celebrated two of our sisters' LIFE day....we never even asked how old????

And we continue to keep informed about Human Trafficking and join in whatever ways we can to liberate and protect the victims.  So horrific....and we understand our area is quite guilty.  Lord, forgive us...and do protect and liberate the victims.

I encourage you to learn about human trafficking and do your part as you are able.  Your help is sorely needed.

Keep warm...share the warmth of your faith, of your spirituality.

WARM BLESSINGS......  

Another wonderful "quickie"

I just discovered this site....I hope you can access it and subscribe to it.  It is just what the dr. ordered!

3MinuteRetreat@LoyolaPress.com.

Enjoy...be blessed....and I hope those 3 minutes each day do marvels in your life.