May your final days of Advent be wonderful and blessed and maybe your Christmas be filled the light of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us!
As for me…. taking a break from blogging (with an exception here and there). See you next year!
Stores, offices, and all kinds of places are filled with the sound of familiar and heartening Christmas carols. Some local radio stations are all Christmas music all the time with classic and modern renditions of the secular and religious carols and songs – sometimes as recorded by singing chipmunks. It becomes part of the ambiance of our Advent season; part of what readies us for the celebration of Christmas. Continue reading
There are lots of different ways to wait. Scripture has over 162 verses that describe all sorts and manners of waiting. I suspect you are familiar with a good portion of the different kinds of waiting – after all, we all wait. In the military, the common experience was to “hurry up and wait.” We all wait. It is a common experience, and yet there are differences in waiting. There is a difference between expectant, on the edge of your seat, waiting; the patient “it will happen in its own good time and there is nothing I can do about it” waiting; and the waiting of dread, tedium, and despair. I think our, “Are we ever gonna’ get there waiting,” because a flight to Europe can take 8+ hours, would fall on deaf ears for our ancestors who traveled months on boats to reach these distant shores. But things change, the world has sped up. Our culture demands fast food, fast cars, and fast answers. We are accustomed to having a world of information at our fingertips with laptops and smart phones. We expect pills that will immediately take the pain away…yesterday. We are not accustomed to waiting, and we do not like it. Continue reading
A reflection for an Advent becoming Christmas http://ow.ly/rLzcv
Fr. James Martin, SJ
The Immaculate Conception – Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, Anthony of Padua, and John Duns ScotusIt’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father; but that is the Virgin Birth. Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain—that’s what “immaculate” means: without stain. The essence of original sin consists in the deprivation of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings. Continue reading
At 6:02 am this past Monday morning, I received an email from the bishop’s office announcing, “With great joy we announce that His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Reverend Bishop Gregory L. Parkes, Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida! Bishop Parkes succeeds the retiring Bishop Robert N. Lynch, who has served as Bishop of St. Petersburg since his installation in 1996.”
Already on that same day people have called and asked, “What is the new Bishop like?” Answer: I don’t know, I have never had the privilege of meeting him. I can tell you that he is 6’8” tall – the tallest bishop in the United States! A former banker, a pastor in the Orlando Diocese, FSU graduate, canon lawyer… and did I mention he is very tall? I believe he is 54 years old (I can’t believe I am older than my bishop! Yikes!).
People have also asked, “What will this mean for the Diocese?” Specifically, I have no idea, but know this – he is not new to the episcopal leadership of a diocese or even a Florida diocese at that. I think that bodes very well for the Diocese. I am sure there will be a period when, like any new leader, he scouts out the landscape of the Diocese, meets his pastoral center staff, comes up to speed on the projects and issues, begins to meet his priests, and the parish council leaders. New Presidents are measured by the first 100 days in office, and I suspect bishops are measured on a scale of years of pastoral leadership. So, what will this mean for the Diocese? Ask me a year from now – I may not have a better answer, but I suspect we will begin to see his style of pastoral leadership emerge.
Here is what I can tell you about these changes – I am a hopeful and optimistic person about such things. Last century, I was a member in the pews of a wonderful little parish in the foothills of the eastern ridges of the Blue Ridge mountains. About a year after I began to worship there, the pastor Fr. Guy was leaving. People were not happy – “How could they do this? What will happen to us?” What happened was Fr. Scott arrived. And you know what – he was just the thing our parish needed.
The area was beginning to change as we became less a country county and more a far suburb of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. As the area dynamically grew, Fr. Scott led the charge. He got the new church built after 40 years of fund raising and with our new facilities, new ministries flourished and grew. It was a fun time to be in the parish. And, of course, one day – too soon for most – Fr. Scott announced he was being transferred. People were not happy – “How could they do this? What will happen to us?” What happened was Fr. John arrived and led a busy parish into an era of spiritual growth. Fr. Martin followed him – he was the last Franciscan pastor. Msgr. Cassidy came next, and then Fr. Steve…And every time God provided that once-little parish with the pastor they needed for the times they faced.
As I said, I am an optimist about such things. Bishop Lynch has done a great job; he did what was his to do – it is now time for him to enjoy a slower pace. Bishop Parkes will do what is his to do for the greater glory of God. Please keep them both in our prayers. And may God bless them in their new ministries.
One way of really enriching our Advent journey is to keep in mind the three comings of Jesus. Jesus was born into our past history. Jesus comes to us now in a variety of ways. Jesus promised that he will come again in glory, at the end of time. Continue reading
There have been lots of reports in the news about the choices people are making this Thanksgiving – and I am not referring to the turkey or the ham. Sadly, emotions are running so high regarding the recent elections, some families are choosing not to come together, not to invite certain family members. Others are a little more proactive, announcing there will be no political discussions allowed – and I hope that works, but I think it will still be there hanging in the air. Such is life. It is always about the choices we make. Continue reading
Imagine four persons in a room. The first is a powerful dictator who rules a country. He commands armies, directs the lives of millions, and his wishes become law and are enforced. He possesses a brutal power. Next to him sits a gifted athlete at the pinnacle of his physical prowess. This is one whose speed, strength, and endurance have few equals. His is a graceful power for which he is much admired and envied. The third person is a rock star whose music and charisma electrify sold out arenas. Her words can become the anthem for a generation. Her power is a soulfulness of the muse. The fourth person in the room is a newborn, a baby, lying in its crib, unable to clearly ask for what it needs. Continue reading
I think all of us have had the experience of walking into a store just after Labor Day and seeing the displays of merchandise for Halloween. And you say to yourself, “Really?” Needless to say, the Thanksgiving and Christmas displays and advertisements already are up. I saw a television ad the other night that wanted me to know that I could have white or orange Christmas tree lights, multicolored ones, and all the above with an optional remote control. “Really!?!” I guess I should get with it. Maybe it is good to do our own advertising for Advent! Continue reading
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