Changing Injury to Compassion

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us.  [2Corinthians 4:7]


Once again, I am drawn to Jesus' first miracle.  He changed the water, which was in clay jars, into wine.  Clay jars - earthen vessels.  We are earthen vessels.  We  are comprised of 70% water.

When we suffer hurt and injury at the hands of another,  Jesus can change the water of that hurt into the wine of forgiveness.  Let us each present our own earthen vessel to Him and ask Him to transform us from within.

It is there, in fact, "in the depths of the heart," that everything is bound and loosed.  It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.  
[CCC 2843]

Joy Spoken

Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God!  Behold, your sons are coming, whom you sent away; they are coming, gathered from east and west, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.

The sheer joy of these words!  The joy of having a child return home!  Even on this side of the veil, we have glimpses of heaven.

Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.  [Baruch 4:36-5:1]

A Christmas List for Jesus

The St. Andrew Christmas Novena, a.k.a the Christmas Anticipation Prayer.   Never heard of it until two years ago.  The tradition begins on the feast day of St. Andrew, November 30.

Choose one thing for which to ask the Lord.  Pray the prayer 15 times daily along with your request, up until Christmas.   Last year, I balked at the 15 times - feeling like it suggested superstition.  So, I just prayed it once per day, and still found it deeply beautiful.  But this year, I not only am saying it 15 times, but afterwards I say a request for each person in my family.  I am asking for  a list of seven things!

 Sometimes I feel like a little child sitting on Santa's lap saying, "I want this and this and this..."  And yet, isn't that what Christ wants?  He wants us to come to Him like children and promises not to withhold good things from those who ask.

Best of all is the joy and hope which pervades my soul in prayer.  The moment in which the Son of God was born...  Think of it, the very moment when Jesus entered this world!

The "O" Antiphons

O Day-Spring, Brightness of the Light Everlasting, and Sun of Righteousness, come and enlighten him that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death. [Luke 1:78.79; Malachi 4:2]

Once again, I am humbled by the beauty of an ancient Church tradition just discovered by yours truly for the very first time.  This tradition: The "O" Antiphons!

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eight century.  They are part of Evening Prayer for December 17-23.  They use ancient Biblical imagery drawn from the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of old Messianic hopes, but present ones as well.  They embody the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. [usccb.org]

The word antiphon means a psalm, anthem or verse sung responsively.  Or, it is a verse that accompanies a canticle or psalm during the liturgy. (www.merriam-webster.com)

 Here, again, is today's antiphon in another version:

O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light,
Sun of justice, 
Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness 
and in the shadow of death.

Living in a Fallen World

The following is an excerpt of a letter I received recently from my elderly prayer partner. She has been virtually blind for more than 30 years and now is almost entirely lame due to osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.  Nonetheless, she shines with the joy of the Lord, provides much wisdom and offers many prayers on behalf of me and my family.  

We need strong men to complete our spirituality as a Christian community.  The married couples with children are the image of the Holy Family in the world.  It's important to strengthen that image because everything in our modern institutions conspire to eradicate it.  

 When I was in school, I was downcast about something which I no longer remember but it might've been the death of a young man in the neighborhood who was an excellent swimmer.  As a child, he had polio but had made a good recovery.  He wasn't a close friend, but everyone liked him, and he spent a great deal of time outdoors.  I told my mother that it wasn't fair.  Her answer has stayed with me my entire life: "People lose their children, and children lose their parents every day.  Do you think that God loves them less?  The ways of God are unfathomable, we are too small to understand Him.  We know that we live in a fallen world which He has saved, but it's up to us to make it better because not everyone accepts the sacrifice of His Son.  Pray the 91st Psalm every day, visit the Blessed Sacrament often and keep an attitude of a prayerful interior.  It will serve you and the world well."  

Understanding the Trinity

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.   Genesis 1:27

There are three parts of me:  

1. My  physical body
2. My spiritual soul
3. My emotional spirit 

There are three parts of God:
1.  The physical Jesus
2.  The spiritual God the Father
3.  The comforting Holy Spirit

I can connect with God daily by:
1.  Physically uniting with Jesus through Communion, and through Adoration
2.  Praying to God the Father from my soul
3.  Listening for the still, quiet voice of the Holy Spirit within me.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Miracle Takes Place within a Clay Jar

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. [2 Corinthins 4:7]

Jesus chose a wedding as the place for his first public miracle.  He had shown himself capable of such wonders, or Mary wouldn't have directed the servants to "do whatever he tells you."

Think about this first miracle:

~ He directs human beings pour water into earthen vessels.
~ He changes the water within the jars into wine. 
~ The miracle wine gets poured out, from the jars, for the guests to drink.
~ The miracle wine is of the finest quality.

Now think about this miracle, as experienced in Holy Communion:

~ He has human beings pour wine into our earthen vessels.
~ He changes the wine within us into His blood.
~ His blood gets "poured out" to those around us through acts of love and service.
~ These acts of love and service are of a rare quality that cause one to note their origin.

We may be the only Bible that some people ever read.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. [2 Corinthins 4:7]