Dear Friends,
Yesterday was the annual viewing of my favorite nativity movie, "The Nativity Story." No matter how often I see this beautiful offering, I am so moved by this part--the old, shaky shepherd, reaching out to touch the baby Jesus; so, from last year...
"There the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel."
Isaiah 7:14
Last night I had my annual viewing of the movie, "The Nativity Story." It is my favorite because of how beautiful and real it is. Each year I seem to glean a little more gold from it and last night was no exception! There is a scene when Mary and Joseph are nearing Bethlehem and an old shepherd invites them to warm by his fire. Mary thanks him for his kindness and the shepherd tells her that his father used to say that everyone is given a gift. Hers is the child she carries in her womb. "What is your gift?" Mary asks the shepherd. He tells her he is still waiting to find it. After the birth of Jesus, the shepherds begin to come to the cave to see what the angels have proclaimed to them and the old shepherd is among them. Mary sees him and he tenderly, yet hesitantly, reaches out to touch the tiny baby in her arms. His hand is dirty and shaky as he reaches out for the baby. Just when you think Mary would pull the new baby closer to her, away from the dirty hand, Mary extends the baby toward the shepherd and says "He is for all people...Everyone is given a gift." It reminded me of Jesus' ministry, extending himself to the poor and the lowly, just as his mother extended him for the poor shepherd to touch with his shaking, dirty hand. It makes me tear up just typing this, Friends. Our God came as one of us to reach out to the poor...let's ponder that today. Love, heidi
Monday, December 18, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Holding our hand...
"I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"
Isaiah 41:13
This scripture was a huge help to me many years ago and, instead of just thinking about then, when it comes around, it has new meaning for me now. Each day, as we inch along in our lives, we have need for God to grasp our hands, don't we? Each day is brand, new territory for us to navigate. Each day we may feel we are plowing sagebrush. Just because we may be doing the same things we were doing yesterday, each day holds the promise of something new--it may be a good new or a difficult new, but each day holds a promise and invitation for us to grow. I find, the older I get, even the familiar may hold challenges! Even what I've done for years has changed and evolved and I need to hurry to catch up with it. Today, let's spend some time thinking and praying with this incredible passage. Think about God holding your hand and even give your hand a squeeze a time or two through the day. Remind yourself that every minute is a new possibility for a God-encounter that may surprise us. And each and every minute of our day, God is there with us, holding our hand, as we encounter it. Love, heidi
Isaiah 41:13
This scripture was a huge help to me many years ago and, instead of just thinking about then, when it comes around, it has new meaning for me now. Each day, as we inch along in our lives, we have need for God to grasp our hands, don't we? Each day is brand, new territory for us to navigate. Each day we may feel we are plowing sagebrush. Just because we may be doing the same things we were doing yesterday, each day holds the promise of something new--it may be a good new or a difficult new, but each day holds a promise and invitation for us to grow. I find, the older I get, even the familiar may hold challenges! Even what I've done for years has changed and evolved and I need to hurry to catch up with it. Today, let's spend some time thinking and praying with this incredible passage. Think about God holding your hand and even give your hand a squeeze a time or two through the day. Remind yourself that every minute is a new possibility for a God-encounter that may surprise us. And each and every minute of our day, God is there with us, holding our hand, as we encounter it. Love, heidi
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Pray for us!
"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her."
Luke 1:47
We may think the most difficult part of this reading is Mary's "Yes!" But, after reading "Jesus--A Pilgrimage," the first time and re-reading parts of it many times, I can appreciate the hardest part is the last line, "Then the angel departed from her." Mary was left on her own, with her tremendous faith, in this monumental mission. In another time, 1531, in another place, Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego on a hillside. The image, however, didn't depart at all, but is still present and visible on the tilma of Juan Diego, hanging in the Basilica. Our Lady left behind her image on the 16th century cloak for all to see and millions go to see it each year. It's as if Mary understood even as the angel left her, a physical image is very nice to have, to hang onto, once the vision is gone. So today we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of the Americas. Please, Mother, pray for all of your children from the southern point of South America to the very tip top of Canada. We are all in need of your prayers, especially for the poor, for peace, and for justice for all...Love, heidi
Luke 1:47
We may think the most difficult part of this reading is Mary's "Yes!" But, after reading "Jesus--A Pilgrimage," the first time and re-reading parts of it many times, I can appreciate the hardest part is the last line, "Then the angel departed from her." Mary was left on her own, with her tremendous faith, in this monumental mission. In another time, 1531, in another place, Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego on a hillside. The image, however, didn't depart at all, but is still present and visible on the tilma of Juan Diego, hanging in the Basilica. Our Lady left behind her image on the 16th century cloak for all to see and millions go to see it each year. It's as if Mary understood even as the angel left her, a physical image is very nice to have, to hang onto, once the vision is gone. So today we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of the Americas. Please, Mother, pray for all of your children from the southern point of South America to the very tip top of Canada. We are all in need of your prayers, especially for the poor, for peace, and for justice for all...Love, heidi
Monday, December 11, 2017
Fear Not!
"Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God..."
Isaiah 35:4
We seem to be hearing that often during Advent--Fear Not! The angel told Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary..." (Luke 1:30) and so often Jesus told those around him, "Do not be afraid..." What is it about human creatures that we constantly need to be reassured not to fear? I was re-reading the chapter on the Annunciation in "Jesus--A Pilgrimage" yesterday. In it, Fr. James Martin says that fear is a very common and reasonable response when we experience the Divine. God knows us so well that God is constantly reassuring us not to be afraid. What are we not to fear in our little human lives this day? Do we have new challenges in our day today? Are we facing a scary doctor visit or trying to figure out how we can possibly afford the winter? In our troubled world, in our uneasy country, how can we not fear? There's a lot of scary out there, but God tells us not to be afraid. Our lives are in God's care; we are living in God and God is living within us. God needs us to rise above our own fears and get out there and help in this world. God will strengthen our weary hands and bolster us up to do God's work. We just need to be like Mary and say, "Yes!" Love, heidi
Isaiah 35:4
We seem to be hearing that often during Advent--Fear Not! The angel told Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary..." (Luke 1:30) and so often Jesus told those around him, "Do not be afraid..." What is it about human creatures that we constantly need to be reassured not to fear? I was re-reading the chapter on the Annunciation in "Jesus--A Pilgrimage" yesterday. In it, Fr. James Martin says that fear is a very common and reasonable response when we experience the Divine. God knows us so well that God is constantly reassuring us not to be afraid. What are we not to fear in our little human lives this day? Do we have new challenges in our day today? Are we facing a scary doctor visit or trying to figure out how we can possibly afford the winter? In our troubled world, in our uneasy country, how can we not fear? There's a lot of scary out there, but God tells us not to be afraid. Our lives are in God's care; we are living in God and God is living within us. God needs us to rise above our own fears and get out there and help in this world. God will strengthen our weary hands and bolster us up to do God's work. We just need to be like Mary and say, "Yes!" Love, heidi
Friday, December 8, 2017
Young and trusting...
"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.'"
Luke 1:38
And just like that, Mary's Yes, rings out through the universe and the world changes forever. One thing that lately has touched me is this...we never hear that Mary went to any trusted male relative with this news. We don't read that she talked it over with her father, or rabbi, or even her husband-to-be, Joseph. This young woman didn't seek any male advice after the angel shared the startling news. We read that Mary said Yes, then went to her cousin, Elizabeth, who had some startling news of her own. Mary, a child herself, really, didn't need to consult the men in her life because she totally trusted God. Maybe she knew on some level that the men wouldn't get it. But she also knew Elizabeth would. On Pray-As-You-Go this morning, we were invited to picture Mary there with the angel Gabriel. What does she look like? What is the expression on her face? As I prayed and pictured her, I thought she looked so young, but also I saw a wise, trusting look on her face. She knew all would be OK and she didn't need to consult anyone to know that this was so. Today, as we go through our Advent Friday, let's pray for the trust in God and God's plan that Mary shows in her visit with Gabriel. Love, heidi
Luke 1:38
And just like that, Mary's Yes, rings out through the universe and the world changes forever. One thing that lately has touched me is this...we never hear that Mary went to any trusted male relative with this news. We don't read that she talked it over with her father, or rabbi, or even her husband-to-be, Joseph. This young woman didn't seek any male advice after the angel shared the startling news. We read that Mary said Yes, then went to her cousin, Elizabeth, who had some startling news of her own. Mary, a child herself, really, didn't need to consult the men in her life because she totally trusted God. Maybe she knew on some level that the men wouldn't get it. But she also knew Elizabeth would. On Pray-As-You-Go this morning, we were invited to picture Mary there with the angel Gabriel. What does she look like? What is the expression on her face? As I prayed and pictured her, I thought she looked so young, but also I saw a wise, trusting look on her face. She knew all would be OK and she didn't need to consult anyone to know that this was so. Today, as we go through our Advent Friday, let's pray for the trust in God and God's plan that Mary shows in her visit with Gabriel. Love, heidi
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Help us help...
"He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor."
Isaiah 26:106
This reminds me of the feeling we get when we see a movie where the good guy wins in the end--the bad guy is defeated and the good guy wins. Which is all great until we read this and recognize ourselves as among the lofty coming down. Yikes, that! We think of the rich and powerful, the people careless with the needs of the poor, as the lofty ones, but we are all pretty comfy in our heated homes and heavily-laden dinner tables. Today, let's be especially aware of the comforts in our own lives and ask God for guidance in how to share our bounty. Gracious God of the poor, please help us help you. Help us to make good use of our resources to your service. Humble our hearts. Help us to recognize those in need--they may not just be those poor in material wealth, but they may be the lonely, disengaged, those feeling left out. Help us to help. Love, heidi
Isaiah 26:106
This reminds me of the feeling we get when we see a movie where the good guy wins in the end--the bad guy is defeated and the good guy wins. Which is all great until we read this and recognize ourselves as among the lofty coming down. Yikes, that! We think of the rich and powerful, the people careless with the needs of the poor, as the lofty ones, but we are all pretty comfy in our heated homes and heavily-laden dinner tables. Today, let's be especially aware of the comforts in our own lives and ask God for guidance in how to share our bounty. Gracious God of the poor, please help us help you. Help us to make good use of our resources to your service. Humble our hearts. Help us to recognize those in need--they may not just be those poor in material wealth, but they may be the lonely, disengaged, those feeling left out. Help us to help. Love, heidi
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