You Can't Out-Give God

When I got home last night, I was elated and I wrote here of the Christmas Party I threw for the Lord.  And I was still in high spirits this morning when I walked into the local 7-11 --- and heard screams.

I give away books for Christmas.  Of the many I books I read each year, I pick the best and give them to friends at Christmas.  I know of only one person who reads as much as I do (perhaps), and so the books I offer my friends are ones I think would provide value to those who read less.  “If you are going to read anything, read this” is my thought.  And yet, I am aware that there are some people who rarely read a book, and still I would like to remember them at Christmas.  And so I offer the clerks I see nearly every day at the 7-11 and Panera’s greetings and a gift card (this year to Target).

But when I went into the 7-11 yesterday morning for my usual cup of coffee, there was a new clerk behind the counter.  As I handed my long-time friend there (also behind the counter) her Target gift card, I felt a little funny not having anything to offer to the new person.  So I put a bill on the counter and said:  “Pick me out some winning scratch-off lottery tickets.”  And a bit nervously she began tearing off lottery tickets and putting them on the counter:  “People like this one” she said, and “this one seems to be winning a lot lately.”  She was being diligent in her first day on the job.  And when she finished picking out the tickets she took my money --- and I pushed the tickets back to her: “Merry Christmas.  I hope you picked out lucky ones,” I said.  And I left.

As I entered the store this morning, the screams were hers.  She saw me arrive at the store and ran over and --- to my surprise --- hugged me.  “I took the tickets you bought me home yesterday and had my son scratch them off.  ‘Mom!  You won $50’ he told me.  I just came into the store to cash in the winning ticket, but it wasn’t a $50 winner, it was $75.”  Hence, I gathered, the scream of delight as I walked in.  “This,” she said holding up the money, “will help me with my airline ticket to Boston.  Dad died this summer, and I don’t want mom to be alone at Christmas.  Thank you so much!”

My arrival just then was great timing --- on God’s part.

Last night I threw God a party, and this morning He arranged to give me a gift --- and a hug.  You can’t out-give God.

- - - - - - - - - -

Well, even if I can’t out-give Him, I can still give.  Tomorrow I’ll take that beautiful huge poinsettia plant a friend sent me to church.  It will become part of the decorations on the altar on Christmas Day.

I hope Jesus likes it as much as I did when I received it --- and I hope He doesn’t think of it as a “re-gifting.”  : - )

A Very Special Christmas Party

This Advent has been a great blessing for me.  I feel God has been with me in so many, many ways during these days.  And so I guess it shouldn’t be strange that I felt a desire to throw Him a Christmas party, but it was something I had never done before.

When I went to the adoration chapel late this night, I began my Evening Prayers with the Rosary, as I usually do.  I prayed the Joyful Mysteries tonight, and quickly felt at home saying them --- they were right for this time of year, and I resolved to remember to pray them each night this week up to Christmas Day.  Using the Joyful Mystery meditations I wrote a few years back (you can find them somewhere on this blog), there was a very rich conversation between Jesus, Mary, and I.  The adorers from the previous adoration hour bid their farewells after a bit, and we exchanged Christmas wishes, and then I was alone with Jesus, and I prayed the Rosary aloud.  I looked forward to my next plans for the night, when the lock of the chapel doors clicked open, and a young man walked in and knelt down.  This was most unusual for 1AM, and in my heart I was a bit disappointed.  Not only did I stop saying the Rosary aloud, but his presence would disrupt my private plans for the rest of the evening.  But even this, well, this might be the will of God, and so I silently assented to whatever He wished.  But the young man only stayed a few minutes, and I completed the Rosary telling Jesus all the things I wanted to thank Him for, for the events surrounding His birth.

After the Rosary, the party began.  I had brought my CD player to the chapel, and so Jesus and I, alone, listened to the beautiful Christmas singing of Andrea Bocelli.  His Christmas album is like no other; it was glorious.  From White Christmas to The Christmas Song to Adeste Fideles, the chapel rang with the words of his glorious praise of God.  And as Bocelli sang, I opened and read the Christmas cards I had received and brought to the chapel, reading each greeting, each letter, while often looking up at Jesus on the altar.  And I gave Him thanks for these beautiful people who He has put in my life.  I am so blessed.

 But before I knew it I heard the click on the chapel door locks again --- my replacement adorers arrived, interrupting my revere, and my tears.  I begged: “I’d like to hear the end of this, please,” and they silently nodded their assent --- as Andrea sang Silent Night. 

And they were crying too.

In all my life I don’t think I’ve been to a Christmas Party which gave me such joy, and I believe it gave Jesus joy also.  It was a very special Christmas Party, honoring “the Birthday Boy.”   It was a great privilege for me to be there.

Doing Great Things

I asked Fr. Paul Tarabay if I could post his homily from mass this morning.  He graciously assented:

In our today gospel Mary, by her visitation to Elizabeth, teaches us how to think immediately of the needs of someone else. Mary travels immediately to assist her Aunt during her final months. She also teaches us how to approach others to know Jesus, and to be loyal to our commitment as a disciple of her Son.

Mary by her example wants to help us to obey her Son as our savior and to take him as the ruler of our life.

We have to call on the Holy Spirit always to teach us how to follow the way of the Lord, and worship him because he is the real joy and the true happiness of our life

Amen.

Fr. Paul’s words were simple, but I never noticed things that way before.  Mary gets the message from the angel; it will cause all sorts of problems in her life, and so what does Mary think to do about that?  She immediately goes to help Elizabeth, putting her own problems on hold.  That focus of Mary’s life is a great lesson to be remembered:  We are called to be followers of Jesus, and at times that seems a daunting task.  But Mary gave us an example of how to follow Him: by prioritizing the love of our neighbor.

And then we can say with Mary:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord …”

We proclaim His greatness in the love we have for our neighbor. 

Finding True Happiness

The Advent Gospel was on the genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:1-17).  Fr. Ed explained the reason for the group of 14 names, repeated three times --- numbers were thought to have significant meaning in the Jewish faith.  He also commented on some of the women mentioned, like Bathsheba the wife of Uriah, whom David really “took” as his wife.  It reminds us that Jesus’ family tree was not perfect.  Neither is mine.

The day this Gospel was read, I was led to think on our family tree.  Both my parents were one of seven children; I have over 50 cousins.  Although I know where few are these days, I know of none who chose a life dedicated to God.  While my sister and I both once considered a religious vocation --- I think the influence of our Catholic elementary schools --- neither of us strongly pursued those thoughts, and our parents discouraged the choice of a religious life; I don’t know why.  Perhaps that was all part of God’s plan but, at least in my case, I still wonder and sometimes have regrets.

But my past, like everyone’s, is past.  I cannot change history, only the future.  As I hear the genealogy of Jesus and His fractured ancestors, I pause and wonder:  will God ever bless our family with a priest or sister somewhere down our family tree?  Or is our family going down and away from Him --- it seems so many families are.  Or does He still call to us and our children: “I love you; will you love Me?”  And is there not even one of our kin whom we raised righteously enough who would answer:  “Speak Lord, your servant is listening?  I want a happy life, with You.”  I know of one family in my parish where five sons are priests; they are one of the most joyous families I know.  They have no fancy home, no ritzy cars, but they know true happiness.    

Why don’t families encourage their children to become priests or sisters?  Don’t they want happiness for their kids?  Look at the world our children now live in:  drugs, “you-choose” marriage, sex-is-everything Godless lifestyles.  Is happiness more likely to be found in that culture, or in a religious lifestyle which might help change that culture?  “But I raise my children right,” you might say; “they can resist that culture’s pull”.  Well, I pray daily with many friends who “raised their children right”, and those children now laugh at their parents and their faith. 

Why would anyone these days tell their children they should focus on earthly happiness, not heavenly happiness?  Are we that confused, that far away from God ourselves, that we think the things of this earth are more important than heaven?

Is our family now the innkeeper who says: “I’m sorry, there’s no room for You here?”

I know I have priests and sisters regularly praying for me.  The next time they ask, I think I shall ask them to pray for my family, that we might be blessed with religious vocations.  Our children and the world need more true happiness

Christmas Cards Received

I think it was last year (but perhaps it was the year before) that I reflected on why I send out Christmas cards, and especially why I continue to send them to people I have not seen or spoken to in many, many years.  This year, however, it was some cards received that have given me pause, and so I shall write here the thoughts they triggered in me --- even though I feel there is more reflection to be done (and more prayers said) on these matters.

Yesterday I received three Christmas cards from friends (no, I haven’t sent mine yet --- but soon!!).  I write now what I read and thought as I opened each card.  First, however, to keep things in perspective I must document some words I read in this morning’s Office of Readings:

You are good at excusing and justifying your own deeds,
and yet you will not listen to the excuses of others.
It would be more just to accuse yourself and to
excuse your brother.

If you wish others to put up with you,
first put up with them.

-- The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a’Kempis

The first card I opened yesterday was a simple card, as were the handwritten words from my relatives:  “We’re still here.”  They don’t speak of events in their lives, but from their return address I know they still live in the home near where I grew up, and still attend the same church, near the Catholic elementary school which long ago I attended.  While most of my cousins live in places around the world (of those I am aware), these two stayed in the old neighborhood, where they raised their children, and likely will die.  I felt a calm reading their simple greeting; they are leading a good life.

The second Christmas card I opened yesterday was from a former co-worker and his wife.  At one point I was in their will, promising to raise their kids in their Jewish faith, if necessary.  Their Christmas greeting had pictures of their kids, grandkids, and the Arlington cemetery headstone, where mom this year joined dad in rest.  Their letter detailed their extensive travels around the world, the many countries and sites they visited --- and the many more they plan to visit next year!  Their retirement is so unlike my cousins’, and yet I see a goodness and joy in their family photos, and I feel happy for them.  I know of the sacrifices they made to get to this stage of their lives.  I smiled at what I read, and what I saw, and I remembered when so long ago we were close friends together.

The last card I opened yesterday was from Sister Margaret Mary, Sr. Peg.  I met her many years ago, when she helped care for developmentally disabled young girls in a facility run by her order.  The facility long since closed, but Sr. Peg and I have kept in contact, and we always remember each other (at least) at Christmas.  Her words on the Christmas card were personal, but this year (for the first time) she included a general letter to all her friends.

“If you are reading this note you have been blessed with another year of life : ),” she begins.  And she goes on to tell how she visited the doctor in October for an angiogram, and had a heart attack there.  Her heart was shocked; she was put on life support, and her Sisters called --- and the doctors said that if she “made it through this (night) it was NOTHING that they as doctors did.”  Her Sisters stayed with her day and night, praying.

“WOW!!!!” she wrote.  “The power of prayer!  Needless to say I WOKE UP and said: ‘WHAT HAPPENED?’”

“I know I shouldn’t have gone in for that test!”

Ah, that’s the Sr. Peg I know and love.  She then writes: “I am grateful to God to be able to thank Him each day for LIFE and to thank Him for the gift of our friendship … Trust in Him always and He WILL take care of you.”  Sister Peg now serves the senior citizens in her area of Rhode Island.  “God is indeed good and I love Him more and more each day!”  She still exudes the joy I have always loved in her.

So what do I make of these friends and their information and greetings?  I think I was initially inclined to compare and judge --- until I read those words (above) of Thomas a’Kempis.  But it is not for me to judge, and as Sr. Peg reminded me, it is only for me to thank and trust Him, each day, for LIFE, for my life.

At one time, all of these friends and I were “on the same page,” if you will.  We were at the same stage of life and had similar priorities.  Now years later we are in differing places, with differing priorities.  Is one of us more “right” than another?  Certainly I cannot know about these three --- but you know I often question the “rightness” of my own actions.  What then should I make of these three friends and their Christmas greetings?

I will praise God for the lives of these, my friends, and all those whom He brings into my life.  I will thank Him for the blessing of knowing them, and how they influenced my life, making me who I am today.  And I will go forth living my life, loving those He brings into it, that perhaps one day they too may look back on our times together, and be able to give thanks, that together we made them who they will turn out to be.

God is indeed good, and I love Him
more and more each day!

Oh, one final thought:  That facility which cared for developmentally disabled young girls, where I first met Sr. Peg --- a number of those girls are now women in the facilities of the organization I joined this year.  Now it’s my turn to take care of them.  When I do finally get around to sending my Christmas cards this year, I’ll put in a note telling Peg that’s what I am now doing.  I think she’ll be glad.