Harmony of Paradise

"We've got to get ourselves back to the garden."  The description of wild and domestic animals and human beings living together in harmony (Isaiah 11:6-9) is the prophet's dream of returning to Paradise, in its origins a Persian word meaning garden.  We cannot get ourselves back to the garden, but with God's help we can work for harmony with friends and family and the whole human race.

Non-Essentials

In one of the commentaries on Romans 15:4-9, which is the 2nd reading for Second Sunday of Advent, the author mentions that he was shocked when he went to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and found no kneelers there.  He thought thought that they were required in Catholic churches.  On a day of abstinence he ate in a monastery in Germany and was pleased that the pea soup had ham in it.  He suggested reading Romans 14 and 15 with  those examples in mind. Good advice for us divided Catholics today.

Pharisee?

Even before the adult Jesus shows up, Matthew introduces us to a group that throughout his Gospel  will be opposed to Jesus.  The Pharisees were a Jewish group active in Palestine 200 years before Christ to 100 years after him.  They put the observance of religious laws and rules over all other moral obligations.  They were like serious religious people who have gotten their priorities confused.  As we meet them throughout Matthew's Gospel this year, instead of condemning their way of being religious, we might make sure that we don't mirror the Pharisees. 

Advent Right Now

"I'll wager at the very end a body realizes the Lord has already shown Himself.  That things as they are, just what they've always seen, was seeing Him.  As for me, I could leave the world with today in my eyes."
(A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote)

A Grateful Universe

Love Who love us, thank You!

Best Way to Thank

Celebrating a Thanksgiving Mass with some school children, I asked, "If I gave you a bag of candy, what do you think would be the best way for you to thank me?" 
One child said, "By just saying 'Thank you.'" 
"That's a good way," I said, "But what might be a better way?" 
A very tiny boy from the kindergarten almost whispered, "By sharing."

The Gospel of Mercy

Looking back on Luke's Gospel which we have been reading in weekend liturgies this year we can appreciate why it is often called "The Gospel of Mercy."  Only Luke has Jesus on the cross praying, "Father, forgive them; they don't understand what they are doing." and to the criminal beside him promising, "This day you will be with me in Paradise." Only in Luke do we hear the parables of the father's mercy for his prodigal son and the Good Samaritan's mercy on an injured enemy.  Only in Luke do we hear of Jesus' compassionate mercy on the tax collector Zacchaeus.
Jesus expects all of us together to be "The Gospel of Mercy" for our time.