A MOTHER WITH AN OPEN HEART

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 46-49

Daily Reading for Dec. 4: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 46-49

Reflection by Fr. Donald Calloway

     In reading paragraphs 46-49 of Evangelii Gaudium, paragraphs that describe the Church as “A Mother with an Open Heart,” we can’t help but think about Our Lady since today is December 8th.  Though the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception has been transferred to Monday (December 9th) this year because December 8th falls on a Sunday, nonetheless, the love of Our Lady’s heart helps shed light on these particular paragraphs of Evangelii Gaudium.  

     As popes and saints have noted over the centuries, Mary is truly the pattern, model and blueprint of the maternal Church. In light of this, it can be said that the Church, as mother, gains her maternal qualities – especially, an open heart – from, and after the example, of the motherhood of Mary. In other words, since Mary is the Mother of the Church, the Church herself learns how to be a mother with an open heart from the maternal example of Mary.  I believe that when we look at these particular paragraphs of Evangelii Gaudium through the prism of Our Lady, we are able to fully understand and unpack the wisdom of Pope Francis when he exhorts the Church to have an open heart for everyone.  After all, Pope Francis is proving himself to be a very Marian Pope.  

      In stressing that the Church is called to be a “mother with an open heart,” Pope Francis is implicitly directing us to see the Marian dimension of what that openness entails, and what it should look like.  Think about it: if the Church is called to imitate the maternal love of Mary, do we not believe that Our Lady always has an “open heart” for all of her children?  She is always available for all her children because a mother’s heart always has room for her children, both those who are strong and those who are weak, those who are healthy and those who are sick, those who are good and those who are bad.  In fact, it was the immaculate heart of our spiritual mother that was pierced (opened) for us because a mother’s love knows no limits.  And in these paragraphs it is this definition of “openness” that Pope Francis wants to see more of in the Church.  Not an openness that allows anything and everything to happen in our Father’s house (the Church), but an openness that imitates the openness of a mother’s heart and the love she has for all of her children. And, in particular, as we all know from ordinary family life, a mother often pays particular attention to the child that needs more attention and affection.  The hurting child gets the most kisses, in other words.   

    This is why in these particular paragraphs Pope Francis reminds the Church that we need to “go forth” with a “missionary impulse” and seek to take care of all of God’s children.  Just as a mother is not closed in on herself, but loves all of her children, seeking to love each one individually and always leaving the door open for them should they go astray or find themselves lost, so it must be with the Church as mother.  The Church, after the example of Our Lady, is at the service of the Gospel; she exists to bring her children to Jesus and the healing power of the sacraments, and as a good mother she has a particular concern for those who are hurting and poor. The Church is the mother of the poor, the broken, and the lost.  

     This Advent, as members of a loving Church, let’s do our part with the Holy Father to try and imitate Our Lady and have an open heart!

Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, is the Vicar Provincial for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.  He is a well-known conference speaker on Divine Mercy and the Blessed Virgin Mary. He speaks passionately about these topics in his moving conversion story. In addition, he is the editor of the books The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body and The Immaculate Conception in the Life of the Church.  He is also the author of three books: Purest of All Lilies: The Virgin Mary in the Spirituality of St. Faustina, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy, and Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest. 

 To find out more about Fr. Calloway, please visit his website:  www.fathercalloway.com

A HAT TRICK FOR CHRISTMAS!

Growing up in Minnesota, there were two seasons; road construction and hockey. Now, I’ll admit, I totally don’t understand road construction —I am forever stumped as to why a sea of orange cones block off an entire lane backing up traffic for miles and yet driving by the area “under construction” seldom reveals construction being done. But hockey, well now, that’s a different story. I get hockey.

Though I never played, I have spent many hours being dragged to my brother’s hockey games (and confession time here folks.... in the 8th grade I was a hockey cheerleader.) Eventually, hockey seeped into my blood and I became an avid hockey fan. So, I understand the game of hockey. I understand the rules and the purpose they serve. I get it and I like watching and being part of the game.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but upon my college graduation, which completed my 16 year quest for knowledge at three different Catholic schools, I knew more about hockey than I did my Catholic faith. (Something tells me I’m not alone here.) 

Over the last decade I have learned more and more about my faith and in doing so, I have learned the beauty of the Catholic Church and why she does what she does, and in those past ten years I have shared the joy I find living and learning about my rich faith. Many times I share my love of Christ and the Church he founded by relating through stories. Well, my job of evangelizing just got easier in the great state of Minnesota and Canada, eh? Truth be told, it got easier to explain the Catholic Church to anyone with this great comparison between a much loved icy sport and the Catholic Church.

In her debut book, THE CATECHISM OF HOCKEY, Alyssa Bormes shows readers that hockey, among many sports, is really a metaphor to understanding and believing what the Catholic Church teaches.
 
Why does hockey have so many rules? Why do Catholics? Do we still need to have penalty boxes? Why do we have to go to Confession? Can’t we get rid of offside? What’s the need for a Sacrament? And why is practice so important? Do we really need to go to Mass every week? What’s the big deal with the Commissioner? And coaches? And referees? Why do we need priests, and what’s the big deal with the Pope? Why can’t they just let us play? Anyone involved in hockey – players, parents, fans – would never take any of those hockey questions seriously. Without the rules, there would be no hockey. And without the drills there would be no thrills.
 
And yet Catholics ask similar questions about the Church all the time.
 
Bormes offers a fun and enlightening playbook with the ultimate goal of explaining the richness and beauty of the Catholic faith through comparisons to hockey. 

So, I got the book and read it in almost as long as it takes to play a hockey game! It truly is a game changer for evangelizing and had me laughing out loud on various occasions. Then,  I had the idea to do something that would help me share the beauty of my faith with someone who is one of the most important people for me to share it with, my son.

One night, for his 20 minutes of reading, I decided to have him read The Catechism of Hockey to me. SCORE! It opened up an exciting world of conversation on a topic that to an average 11 year-old boy (and let's face it, many of us)  can seem rather dull —Church teaching. The result was a Win-Win without a shootout! He got his 20 minutes of reading in and we learned how cool the Church was by comparing it to hockey.

Coming from a hockey family, I believe this Christmas I have scored big time. In fact, I think I have a Christmas Hat Trick! I have a son reading about the Catholic faith and loving it; a family discussing hockey and the teachings of the Church at the dinner table; and best of all, I have the perfect gift for my entire family this year! My shopping is done! (Mom, Dad, Jim, Becky, Jake, Ben, Sally, Sam.... if you're reading this, just look really surprised when you open your book this Christmas Eve!)

For more information or to purchase your copies of The Catechism of Hockey for Christmas this year, visit: AlyssaBormes.com

A MISSION EMBODIED WITHIN HUMAN LIMITS

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 40-45

Daily Reading for Dec. 7: Evangelii Gaudium 40 - 45

Reflection by Sarah Damm

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis reminds us—the People of God, the Church—that first and foremost we are missionaries called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to whatever corner of the world we live in. This calling is not just for priests and religious, college professors and Bible scholars. This calling is not just for those selected to literally go to the ends of the earth. This calling is for all of us—moms and dads, business professionals, retirees and everyone in between. Each of us is invited to be part of something ever-new and always exciting!

And this, my friends, is incredible!

And at the same time, this can be challenging. (And maybe even a little scary, too.)

Such a good thing can appear challenging and scary, because as ordinary, everyday lay Catholics, we may feel inadequate and unversed. We may wonder how our simple, normal lives can possibly be missionary and evangelistic. But they can be ... and they are! Because God is calling each and every one of us to partake in a mission that is “above and beyond [our] faults and failings” (44).

As a stay-at-home mom of six children, my primary goal is to love my husband, and together help our children enter Heaven someday. “It is in the bosom of the family that parents are ‘by word and example ... the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children’” (CCC 2204; LG 11). Right there in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I am given my mission field: my family.

As a mom, I do many different tasks. I cook, clean, read aloud, snuggle, nurse the sick, wipe away tears, and make hot chocolate. The most important things I do involve passing on the Catholic Faith to my children—by attending Mass, frequenting the sacraments, teaching them to pray, introducing them to the saints, and celebrating feast days and holy seasons within our domestic church.

Some of my tasks I do quite well, and others ... not so much. In my mission, I am faced with my own limitations more often than I’d like to admit. But in all the trial and error, triumphs and failures, God allows my “shoes [to] get soiled by the mud of the street” more than once, so that I can realize that “perfection is not possible” (45).

What is possible is love and joy and faith. What is possible is taking “a small step, in the midst of great human limitations, [which] can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties” (44). No matter what our calling—whether priest, scholar, business man or homemaker—God is inviting us to step out in faith, to proclaim the Good News to our corner of the world. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it doesn’t have to be deep. In fact, “variety serves to bring out and develop different facets of the inexhaustible riches of the Gospel” (40). All it has to be is you. You, “expressing unchanging truths in a language which brings out ... abiding newness” (41).

With “the expression of truth [taking] different forms” (42), I bet Pope Francis would encourage us to make sure of one thing: keeping it simple. “The precepts which Christ and the apostles gave to the people of God ‘are very few’ ... ‘so as not to burden the lives of the faithful’” (43). I think this is a wonderful concept to ponder, as we close this first week of Advent. Within our vocation, within our own call to evangelize, Pope Francis is reminding us of very few precepts, small steps and limits. How merciful and gentle is our God!

What small step can you make to embrace your role as missionary in your corner of the world?

What few things are you doing, either alone or with your family, to keep Advent simple this year?

Sarah Damm is a Catholic wife and mother to six children, ages 3 to 11, living in Minnesota. She spends her days like many moms do—driving kids around, running errands, cooking meals and helping with homework. And in the thick of it, she and her husband strive to weave the Catholic faith, in all its rich beauty and tradition, into their daily lives as well as into how they celebrate holidays and holy days. Sarah enjoys knitting, reading and a good cup of coffee with a friend. She blogs at morethanenough7.blogspot.com.

FROM THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 34-39

Daily Reading for Dec. 6: Evangelii Guadium paragraphs 34-39

Reflection by Jeff Cavins

Be “Frank” with the Message

Summary

Our missionary style must always carry with it the heart of Christ’s message. Secondary aspects to the Gospel can become primary in the hearer’s ears if we don’t include the primary message of Christ’s love and mercy.

Reflection

When sharing the Gospel message we can confuse others if we pick and choose particular doctrines and lift them from the context of the complete story of salvation history. Our message becomes a “disjointed transmission” rather than an attractive story to join. The problem is that many have lost their story, a message that I have said for over thirty years. Coming to a life transforming understanding of the gospel will not generally happen in “disjointed” statements that have been separated from the full picture of God’s family plan.

Take Away

The axiom is true when it comes to sharing Christ with others, “less is more” or we could say, “simple is more.” The doorway to the secondary issues of the Gospel message is the primary message of mercy, which all people need to understand. One of the takeaways for me that I think is a very important point is that when it comes to the hierarchy of truths, we should not rank the truths “against” each other but “with” each other. Pope Francis says, “Each truth is better understood when related to the harmonious totality of the Christian message; in this context all of the truths are important and illumine one another.”

When it comes to communicating the Gospel message, I love what the Holy Father says, it’s important to give “direct expression to the heart of the Gospel.” As you talk to people about the message of Christ, pause and ask yourself, “What does this person need to hear from the heart of the gospel? How can I convey the message in a simple, understandable way? Am I insistently imposing my favorite doctrines in the conversation at the price of them not hearing the heart of the Gospel? Am I willing to diminish what I think is important and accept what they need to hear?” 

Commit yourself to learn the story of salvation history, the Bible. Don’t learn bits and pieces of either the Catechism or the Bible, learn them as a whole: understand the big picture of each and really understand the heart of the message, Christ’s life changing mercy! 

Remember this document and remember when sharing Christ, be “Frank.”

Jeff Cavins is the creator of the Great Adventure Bible Study series and Director of

Jeff is the founding host of the EWTN program Life on the Rock and Relevant Radio’s Morning Air. He is author of several books, including the best-selling My Life on the Rock: A Rebel Returns to the Catholic Faith and I’m Not Being Fed: The Food That Satisfies the Soul. He is also co-editor of the Amazing Grace series. His newest book, Walking with God: A Journey Through the Bible, co-authored with Dr. Tim Gray, provides an insightful overview of the Bible.

PASTORAL ACTIVITY AND CONVERSION

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 25-33

Daily Reading for Dec. 5: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 25-33

Reflection by Dr. Carol Younger

Aware that writing, books, and printed material are not as effective today as other media, Pope Francis encourages us to see the pastoral (read “parish”) as significant and having real consequences.  Parishes should not be about the administration of specific programs and activities.  Rather, the Christian Community needs renewal of the person and of programs to see itself as the loved bride of the Savior Who comes to unite Himself to His bride. 

Find out what programs are there in your parish.  Decide to investigate one where you can contribute your joy of the gospel. This means finding a way to communicate your encounter with Jesus, the JOY of the Faith. 

Pope Francis tells us that “Jesus summons [us] to friendship with himself (27)”.  Parish programs invite others into its community, encourage a faithful following of Jesus in joy.  The Community of the parish invites all to return to the Father.  

Find out about Catholics Come Home.  Make an appointment with your pastor.  Bring this opportunity for evangelizing those already baptized back to active practice with the parish to the attention of your pastor.  Offer to lead this mission.  

Each parish must call others to ongoing conversion.   The community of the parish is a “people who wish to share their joy!”  The kind of evangelical conversion this engenders is an outward reaching to others, both by the model of the individual’s life and example, and by the invitation to the community in which the parish lives its faith.

Suggest to the Parish Council members an advertising campaign for the beginning of Lent in the local papers.  Suggest a “mission” on the part of the pastor and the deacons: a Catholic Family Reunion of dessert and coffee with a “meet the Pastor and Priests of the Parish” right at the beginning of Lent, on Sunday when penances and mortifications are not required.  Have information available on the various programs in the parish for family and for children and teens.  Offer to write the ad or to pay for part of it.  

The most important aspect of conversion is prayer and focus of the heart on Jesus. Prayer with others, our fellow Christians and parishioners, and prayer for our bishops, priests, deacons, and religious worldwide is of great importance in the New Evangelization.

Make it your intention of prayer and try this morning prayer – write it on a post-a-note to put on the bathroom mirror to be seen each day: O my Jesus, come and live in our parish and our hearts.  Help our Bishop and Priests to be Fathers to our Faith in You now and always. Amen.

Dr. Carol Younger, Senior Fellow of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, is a teacher, counselor and education administrator, who has served as an adult religious education director and catechist, as a trainer of parish ministers, and as a pilgrimage leader.

Dr. Younger is on the Academic Advisory Board for The Great Adventure Bible Studies, and has written study guides for Dr. Scott Hahn’s Bible study programs on the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation and is the author of the 33 Days to Morning Glorty Retreat Companion, which is part the Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs for the New Evangelization from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. 

THE CHURCH’S MISSIONARY TRANSFORMATION

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 19-24

Daily Reading for Dec. 4: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 19-24

Reflection by Lisa Hendey

Having read yesterday in EG about the pervasive scope and nature of the New Evangelization, today's reflection opens with a reminder that evangelization isn't optional for us if we are to call ourselves disciples of Christ. "Evangelization takes place in obedience to the missionary mandate of Jesus," opens Pope Francis. He reminds us that Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel "every time and in every place".

For us, this mandate continues, spreading our faith in Christ in new and evolving ways, but with no less a sense of urgency. The first disciples may have traveled on foot and written with quills, while we share our faith while driving our minivans or on Facebook. But the reason for our mission is the same - we are a Church which "goes forth":

In our day Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” echoes in the changing scenarios and ever new challenges to the Church’s mission of evangelization, and all of us are called to take part in this new missionary “going forth”. Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the “peripheries” in need of the light of the Gospel.

Seriously, Pope Francis? You're calling me to venture out of my comfort zone?

The answer is "Yes". If we're to call ourselves Church, then we are meant to share in the work of discipleship. Blessedly, in paragraph 21 of EG Pope Francis reminds us why we do what we do, underscoring the "missionary joy" that enlivens disciples.

This joy is a sign that the Gospel has been proclaimed and is bearing fruit. Yet the drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves, to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed, remains ever present.

But how? In the face of such a crazy world, so many personal responsibilities and such spiritual confusion in our society, how can we even begin to scratch the surface of the calling?

The answer to this quandary lies in part in the final paragraphs (23 and 24) of today's section of EG. We are reminded that "communion and mission are profoundly interconnected". The Gospel is meant to be proclaimed to all, by all believers, without hesitation, reluctance or fear. We're to concern ourselves with the endgame, the "fruit" of our mission -- souls won for Jesus Christ.

Will this be pretty, comfortable and convenient?

Not likely!

In paragraph 24 we're exhorted that "Evangelizers must take on the 'smell of the sheep'". As disciples, we must be ready to put our "whole life on the line, even to accepting martyrdom, in bearing witness to Jesus Christ." A tall order no doubt, and yet we are reminded once again to continually rejoice, to "celebrate every small victory, every step forward in the work of evangelization."

Pause for a moment and take all that in: evangelize always, smelling like one of the sheep, and be joyful about it, recognizing the grace in each small victory of bringing another soul closer to Christ. Does that sound like something that just simply happens for us when it's convenient, on our time schedule? Not exactly. Yet that, my friends, is our life's greatest mission.

For many of us, the mission field is our homes, our workplaces, and our immediate circle of friends. In reading today's portion of EG, I'm reminded that for my non-Catholic friends, I am the Church. I may be the only Catholic they ever encounter. When I share my faith in a manner which is bold, understanding, passionate, and -- yes -- filled with joy, I stand a much greater chance of being a light of Christ to those who matter most to me.

Today, let's get busy taking on the "smell of the sheep". And let's do it with infectious joy.

Jesus, Good Shepherd, help me today and always to draw souls closer to you with the truth of your Word. May I follow your light, and in turn share my love for you with everyone I met, even when circumstances challenge me beyond my comfort zone. I love you Lord. Amen

Lisa Hendey, Catholic wife and mom, is the founder and webmaster of CatholicMom.com and the author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body and Soul and The Handbook for Catholic Moms: Nurturing Your Heart, Mind, Body and Soul. Lisa writes for several online and print publications, enjoys speaking around the country and hosts the weekly Catholic Moments Podcast.

Follow Lisa's daily posts on Evangelli Gaudium at Patheos

THE NEW EVANGELIZATION FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THE FAITH

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 14-18

Daily Reading for Dec. 3: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 14-18

Reflection by Thomas Smith

Parish life at St. Joseph's in Rosemount, MN

Summary

In this final section of the introduction (para. 14-18), Pope Francis identifies the three audiences/settings of the New Evangelization and the seven themes that shape his vision of our particular chapter in the ongoing story of salvation.  

These seven themes, and each of the three audiences/settings, will be explored in more detail as the document unfolds.  Even though this section is a “nuts and bolts” summary of what Pope Francis will be proposing in Evangelii Gaudium, it isn’t lacking in material that both challenges us and invites reflection. While I am tempted to explore each of the three audiences here, they will be unwrapped as the document unfolds, so I will focus on the first one, as it gives us plenty to “sip” on for a daily meditation.

Reflection

There’s a real danger of imagining that the Gospel call and the New Evangelization is about “those people out there.”  And yet, for Pope Francis, the first setting of the New Evangelization is the local parish and it’s first audience is most of the people reading this series - it’s us!  By us, I am presuming you are an “intentional disciple” (1) whose life is marked by “full, active and conscious” participation in the Mass (2) while flourishing in and sharing your particular charisms with the Body of Christ (3).  That’s a tall order, I know, but that should be ordinary Christian living.  

Even when we are doing all that, we are still the object of the New Evangelization. Conversion is an ongoing process, an organic growth that we have to constantly cultivate and engage.  As Pope Benedict remarked a few years ago, if we are not advancing in the spiritual life, we are, by default, regressing.  If the Gospel is at it’s heart a relationship with a Person, Jesus Christ, then it naturally has to be engaged daily like a healthy marriage. The central place that relationship is strengthened and nourished is the parish setting where we meet Christ in Word, Sacrament, and in each another.  By the way, this was the topic of Pope Francis’s first Sunday of Advent homily for a suburban Roman parish (see http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/christian-life-is-a-path-of-encountering-jesus-preaches-pope/ )   

Response

With this in mind, take a few moments today to make a clear-eyed assessment of your engagement with your local parish community.  Are you welcoming Christ fully in Word and Sacrament so you are continually growing in the exercise of your gifts and your confidence and joy while sharing the Gospel?  Consider some simple changes like arriving at Mass early so you can recollect your heart to receive all the graces the Mass offers.  Take a few minutes in Lectio Divina on the scriptural readings of the day “to prime the pump” of your heart for their proclamation and exposition by our clergy (the Pope is counting on our clergy being “animated by the fire of the Spirit, so as to inflame the hearts of the faithful” (para. 15). If you find your mind wandering in the liturgy, establish a “wakeup” word or phrase that draws your heart back into the moments of the Mass.  I use very simple ones like “Jesus” or “I love you, Lord help me to love you more.”

Have you discovered and deployed your particular charisms?  This is one of the most important ways we can take up Pope Francis’s invitation here to “grow spiritually so that [we] can respond to God’s love even more fully in [our] lives (para.15).  If you don’t know what your charisms are, seriously consider discerning, discovering and deploying them. Your particular parish desperately needs them, and you were given them for that community.  You owe it to your brothers and sisters to do this. My life was transformed when I discovered and started living in my charisms.  A great place to start is www.siena.org

Pope Francis reminds us we must be vigilant and continually open to the Gospel, even as seasoned disciples.  The daily prayer that Pope Francis offered in para. 3 is one of my morning renewal prayers now, like Kelly, to also help me be attentive to that.  When we do this, we are equipped to faithfully and fruitfully share the Gospel to the other two audiences (the baptized but not evangelized, and those who don’t yet have the gift of faith).  

(1) What in the world is an “intentional disciple”? See Sherry Weddell’s Forming Intentional Disciples.  This should be on every Catholic bookshelf.

(2) Sacrosanctum Concilium. para. 14.

(3) Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nos. 798-801.

Catholic speaker and presenter, Thomas Smith, was a Protestant minister who was received into the Catholic Church in 1996. Bringing a wealth of experience and insight on the Word of God to audiences across the U.S., Thomas is a repeat guest on EWTN and Catholic radio as well as a sought after parish mission and conference speaker. To follow Thomas' insightful blog or contact him visit: Gen215.org

THE DELIGHTFUL & COMFORTING JOY OF EVANGELIZING!

REFLECTION ON EVANGELII GAUDIUM 9-13

Daily Reading for Dec. 2: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 9-13

Reflection by Martha Fernandez-Sardina

Pope Francis is calling the Church to carry out The Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World with a renewed commitment to and appreciation for the delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing so that we and others may experience the joy that fills heaven and must fill earth when what is lost is found and what is dead is brought back to life. 

Is it worth the effort – and can we evangelize any other way?

Yes… and no… to use the same expository style used by Pope Francis in this Apostolic Exhortation on a love that evangelizes or an evangelizing love as I am fond of saying when speaking, writing, and training others for the new evangelization.

Yes, it is worth it! 

• Few joys this side of heaven surpass the delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing! 
• Few things compare to the joy of making Christ and His plan of salvation known. 
• Few things demonstrate greater love for our neighbor and for the God who wishes everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 4: 2). 

No, we should not evangelize in any other way.

• We evangelize with joy because “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” Both the evangelizer and the evangelized “who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.” (Evangelii Gaudium, No. 1)
• We cannot effectively evangelize if we are “Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter.” (No. 6)
• We can experience daily the delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing because we have first encountered Love Incarnate: Jesus Christ: “Thanks solely to this encounter – or renewed encounter – with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being. Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?” (No. 8; cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 24)
• We, the evangelizer, “must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” Rather, “Let us recover and deepen our enthusiasm, that ‘delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing, even when it is in tears that we must sow… And may the world of our time, which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news not from evangelizers who are dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious, but from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervor, who have first received the joy of Christ.’” (No. 10; Evangelii Nuntiandi, 80)

We can. We must. Evangelize with joy! 

Download Martha's in-depth reflection on this section: Evangelii Gaudium Nos. 9-13

About the Author

Martha Fernández-Sardina is an international, bilingual speaker, and consultant touching thousands through radio, TV, articles, training seminars, talks, and new evangelization outreach projects, including Remember You Are Loved™, N.E.T.S.-New Evangelization Training School™, Prepare The Way™, the Hispanic Festival of Faith and the Month of Hispanic Evangelization. Her programs educate, enthuse, and equip Catholics for a new evangelization. Find, friend, and follow Martha and her Mission of Love at RememberYouAreLoved.com, Facebook.com/MFernandezSardina, Twitter.com/iEvangelize, iEvangelize.wordpress.com, and Vimeo.com/MarthaFernandezSardina. For a speaking engagement or a consultation, email her at iEvangelize1@gmail.com.

A JOY EVER NEW, A JOY WHICH IS SHARED

Reflection on Evangelii Gaudium 2-8

Daily Reading for Dec. 1: Evangelii Gaudium paragraphs 2-8

Reflection by Kelly Wahlquist

A RENEWED PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

How ironic that as the world begins its preparation for Christmas on a day named after darkness and the void of light, Black Friday, the Holy Father invites all Christians, everywhere, to begin their preparation for Christmas with a renewed encounter with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ!

We are invited to prepare for a greater joy than any Black Friday sale can provide. We are invited to a joy ever new, and that joy is found in a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. And that invitation is for ALL. No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord!

That’s an exhilarating idea, to think that no matter what, I am invited to a renewed personal relationship with Jesus Christ... but then a thought enters my mind: “How do I really do that? How can I have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ?”

Pope Francis gives us beautiful ways to do that in these first 8 paragraphs of Evangelii Gaudium. Simply put we are to: Ask, Seek, Rejoice and Persevere in Faith.

We are to ask and be open at all times to an encounter with the one who loves us perfectly. We are to seek Him knowing that “whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.” We are to rejoice in His Divine Mercy, “radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross” and we are to persevere in our faith, trusting in God’s love, surrendering completely to the love of the Father such that we allow Him "to attain the fullest truth of our being" and we find true joy.

Here are some simple ways to follow Pope Francis' words of wisdom to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ:

Ask 

Begin each day this Advent with the simple prayer: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.

I have a copy of the prayer on the cupboard that holds my coffee cup, it guarantees each day begins with asking for a renewed personal encounter with Jesus. Perhaps write the prayer on a card and keep it next to your bed to say morning and night, or tape it to your bathroom mirror.

Seek

Seek time with to be with Jesus. A renewed relationship requires spending time together. 

Make time to go to Adoration each week during Advent. If an adoration hour is already part of your routine, take one of the Scriptures referenced in the daily readings of Evangelii Gaudium and meditate on it. 

Begin Advent with the Sacrament of Confession. “God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy” (Evangelii Gaudium 3).

Rejoice

Find joy in God’s presence in your life: “Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment.” 

Find ways throughout the Advent Season to enter into the “great stream of joy.” Perhaps keep your favorite praise & worship CD in your car and when days get trying, blast the music and sing for joy at the top of your lungs. 

Persevere in Faith

Grow in your faith by simplifying your life and detaching from “things” that consume you.

Let go of meaningless time spent on social media or watching t.v. this Advent and spend that time getting to know Jesus Christ. Making time each day to read and reflect on Evangelii Gaudium is a great start.

Download Evangelii Gaudium from Vatican website

WHAT IS AN APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION ANYWAY?

Tomorrow we begin our daily reading of Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. Now, while apostolic exhortations have been around for hundreds of years and although Pope Francis seems to speak... well... frankly, words such as "apostolic exhortation" aren't very mainstream words. In fact, most of us are left scratching our heads saying, "Apostolic Exhort-what-tion?" So, let's begin our journey through this document knowing what it is and why is is important to every Christian.

Catholic speaker and presenter, Thomas Smith, explains what an apostolic exhortation is and how it is pertinent for our lives today as he helps us prepare our hearts this Advent in this wonderful to-the-point 4 minute video.

LET THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL FILL YOUR HEART

"THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come" (Evangelii Gaudium, 1).

I am excited to have you join us —yes, us; for I have a few friends joining me in the journey through the "Joy of the Gospel" this Advent and I am thrilled that they will be contributing to our daily reading, reflection and response to the words of Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. Some of the contributors to our daily reflections are Catholic writers or speakers, some are catechist or leaders of apostolates, some are moms or homemakers, some are religious, some are laity, some are podcasters, some authors and some are bloggers, but ALL of them are passionate about bringing the JOY of the Gospel to the hearts of many.

So let's cut to the chase and get to the why and what we are doing. My life is busy and I'll be honest, sometimes that means my prayer life and quest for knowledge get pushed to the backseat with many a forgotten french fry and art project; but that said, I really yearn to know and understand my faith, because I know that understanding and wisdom will lead me deeper into my relationship with the Lord, and I need a deeper relationship with the Lord! 

With that in mind, I decided (as I do every year) that this Advent, I really want to prepare my heart for Christ to enter ever deeper. This Advent is going to be different. This Advent I am going to stick to my plan... but this Advent there seems to be more to it than just my own personal preparation.

Upon reflecting on Advent and the coming of the Lord, it hit me that Advent is not just about preparing my heart to be a dwelling place for Christ, it's also about going in haste to bring Jesus to others, like Mary did when she was told she was to be the one that would prepare Jesus to enter the world as a baby and become man. 

Advent isn't just about my relationship with Jesus, it's about relationships in the grand sense of the word. It's about my relationship with others and my willingness to introduce them to a relationship with Jesus. It is what Mary did when she heard the first good news proclaimed by the angel. She went in haste to meet Elizabeth where Elizabeth was on her journey and she literally brought Jesus to Elizabeth. And what was the result? Upon hearing Mary's voice and knowing Jesus, "My Lord", was near, John leapt in the womb of his mother. Now get this! What does Mary do? She is so overcome with joy that she breaks out into song, and her heart magnifies the Lord! 

This Advent I want to do that. I want to walk in Mary's footsteps and prepare my heart to receive Christ. I want to meditate on the Word of God. I want to go in haste to bring Jesus to others, and I want to be overcome with the Joy of the Gospel! I want to “Shout aloud and sing for joy!” (Though I guarantee you do not want me to break out in song!) But, here's the catch... every Advent I start out with the goal of setting time aside each day to prepare for Jesus and somehow, at sometime along the journey, I get distracted. So, how am I going to stay focused this year? Simple, I'm doing two little things. First, I'm going to set time aside for prayer each day. I've already posted the prayer from Evangelii Gaudium (see below) on the cupboard that holds my coffee cup, so it's a gimme that I will begin each day with that prayer. Second, I'm going to grow in my understanding of the faith this Advent by reading and reflecting on the words of the Holy Father in his first apostolic exhortation, the Joy of the Gospel.

Ok, I admit, reading an apostolic exhortation sounds intimidating to many. Reading 224 pages of Church talk sounds intimidating to many. Reading 288 paragraphs of papal writing sounds intimidating to many, and reading 48,000 words sounds intimidating to all! BUT, when presented in small doses with some food for thought and a little strong coffee, the apostolic exhortation mountain top appears more accessible. So, that's what we are going to do here for the next 25 days. We are going to take little bites of Evangelii Gaudium and I invite you to join us! 

Each day will have a reflection, challenge or perhaps practical ideas for how to live the aspect of the Gospel that day's words speak to. We will for sure post the 288 paragraphs such that by Christmas we (and hopefully other busy people) will have read and meditated on some 48,000 words, but in small sips. 

So join us for our daily reading and go in haste to invite your friends to do so also. Who knows, perhaps this daily digesting will help us bring about a “revolution of tenderness” by opening our hearts each day to God’s unfailing love and forgiveness.

Daily Prayer from Evangelii Gaudium:

“Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.

PREPARING YOUR HEART, ONE SIP AT A TIME

READ EVANGELII GAUDIUM THIS ADVENT WITH ME...

IN SMALL SIPS

Prepare your heart this Advent over a cup of coffee and little "sips" of the "Joy of the Gospel" with us! Each day we are going to read & reflect on sections of Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. Fear not, if you don't know what an apostolic exhortation is, fellow co-worker in the vineyard, Jimmy Akin has a great explanation over on his blog www.JimmyAkin.com.

Here’s a little taste of his post:

2) What is an apostolic exhortation?

It’s a papal document that, as the name suggests, exhorts people to implement a particular aspect of the Church’s life and teaching.

Its purpose is not to teach new doctrine, but to suggest how Church teachings and practices can be profitably applied today.

Some apostolic exhortations are devoted to the pastoral challenges faced in particular parts of the world (Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas). Others are devoted to particular themes.

Previous apostolic exhortations include:

    Paul VI’s Evangelii Nuntiandi (on evangelization today)

    John Paul II’s Christifideles Laici (on the role of the laity)

    John Paul II’s Redemptoris Custos (on St. Joseph)

    Benedict XVI’s Sacramentum Caritatis (on the Eucharist)

    Benedict XVI’s Verbum Domini (on the Word of God)

Here's our schedule for Advent. We'll post the paragraphs and perhaps a little reflection each day to go with your coffee:

Dec. 1     2-8 (Joy)

Dec. 2    9-13 (Joy of Evangelizing)

Dec. 3    14-18 (Scope of exhortation)

Dec. 4    19-24 (Church's missionary transformation)

Dec. 5    25-33 (Pastoral Activity & Conversion)

Dec. 6    34-39 (Heart of the Gospel) 

Dec. 7    40-45 (Human Limits)

Dec. 8    46-49 (Mary)

Dec. 9    50-58 (Amid Crisis: idolatry of money)

Dec. 10   59-75 (Cultural Challenges)

Dec. 11    76-92 (Temptations of pastoral workers & Relationship in Christ)

Dec. 12    93-109 (No to spiritual worldliness)

Dec. 13    110-126 (People of God proclaim the Gospel)

Dec. 14    127-134 (Person to Person, Charisms, Culture) 

Dec. 15    135-144 (The Homily) 

Dec. 16    145-159 (Preparing to Preach)

Dec. 17    160-175 (Kerygma)

Dec. 18    176-185 (Social dimensions of evangelization)

Dec. 19    186-216 (Inclusion of the poor in society)

Dec. 20    217-237 (Common Good and Peace in Society)

Dec. 21    238-258 (Social dialogue as contribution to peace)

Dec. 22    259-274 (Spirit-filled evangelizers)

Dec. 23    275-283 (Personal encounter with Christ) 

Dec. 24    284-288 (Mary)

FINDING JOY IN THE GOSPEL THIS ADVENT!

READ EVANGELII GAUDIUM THIS ADVENT WITH ME...

IN SMALL SIPS

Today the Holy Father, Pope Francis, gave us the perfect Advent gift, the perfect guide to help us on this journey as we prepare for the coming of Christ. He gave us his first Apostolic Exhortation: Evangelii Gaudium, or for us non-Latin speaking folk, The Joy of the Gospel. So, being the Catholic geek that I am, I poured my coffee into my already 1/2 full cup of Pumpkin Spice creamer and sat down to joyfully read an Apostolic Exhortation at 6:00 am! (I PROMISE, if you knew me in college this scene would shock you! All of it... the early wake up, the coffee chosen over the Diet Coke and above all, the fact that I found excitement in an Apostolic Exhortation, much less knew what it was!) 

The document turned out to be richer than my Nestle's Coffee Mate drenched coffee and I soon came to the conclusion that I could not digest it all in this one sitting. So, I thought... small sips... and I came up with the idea to read a section of Evangelii Gaudium each morning over my coffee during Advent. Then I thought, there's no way I can do this alone! I won't grasp the fullness of the message, and let's be honest, I'd probably quit by day 8 without someone to prod me on (that's what happens with my workout schedule anyway.) Thus, I'd like to invite you to join me. 

Throughout Advent I am going to post sections of Evangelii Gaudium and hopefully a reflection or some practical things I'm going to try to do to live the message of that section with renewed conviction, with confidence and with hope. Again, I invite you to join me. Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or Diet Coke or whatever wakes you up) and join me in reading this rich Apostolic Exhortation in small sips. Join me by sharing your reflections and by offering ways we can live the Joy in the Gospel. We begin this Sunday! You in?

Here's our Schedule for our small sips of Evangelii Gaudium for Advent

Dec. 1        2-8 (Joy)

Dec. 2        9-13 (Joy of Evangelizing)

Dec. 3        14-18 (Scope of exhortation)

Dec. 4        19-24 (Church's missionary transformation)

Dec. 5        25-33 (Pastoral Activity & Conversion)

Dec. 6        34-39 (Heart of the Gospel) 

Dec. 7        40-45 (Human Limits)

Dec. 8        46-49 (Mary)

Dec. 9        50-58 (Amid Crisis: idolatry of money)

Dec. 10    59-75 (Cultural Challenges)

Dec. 11    76-92 (Temptations of pastoral workers & Relationship in Christ)

Dec. 12    93-109 (No to spiritual worldliness)

Dec. 13    110-126 (People of God proclaim the Gospel)

Dec. 14    127-134 (Person to Person, Charisms, Culture) 

Dec. 15    135-144 (The Homily) 

Dec. 16    145-159 (Preparing to Preach)

Dec. 17    160-175 (Kerygma)

Dec. 18    176-185 (Social dimensions of evangelization)

Dec. 19    186-216 (Inclusion of the poor in society)

Dec. 20    217-237 (Common Good and Peace in Society)

Dec. 21    238-258 (Social dialogue as contribution to peace)

Dec. 22    259-274 (Spirit-filled evangelizers)

Dec. 23    275-283 (Personal encounter with Christ) 

Dec. 24    284-288 (Mary)

Do As I Do

There has to be a top ten list of the dumbest things parents can say to their kids. I don’t want to Google it, because I am certain it will only prove that I have uttered each phase numerous times. So, I will refrain from my Internet research and remain blissful in my ignorance. However, I am certain that if I found such a list, at the very top —above “If everyone else jumped off a bridge...” and, “Because I said so”, and even before, “Money doesn’t grow on trees”—one would find the phrase: “Do as I say, not as I do.” This truly is a dumb statement. Children learn through imitation. No matter what, they are going to do as you do.

This is a lesson every parent learns early on: your child will imitate you. Usually, the imitation comes out loud and clear in a large group of people and leaves the parent a wee bit red in the face and asking the child, “Where ever did you learn that?” Or sometimes, it leaves the parent smiling in delight as their two-year-old son correctly begins a sentence with the word “actually” or they see their three-year-old holding her pretend phone to her ear with her shoulder as she makes an imaginary cake in her little kitchen. (Just a note here from a parent of teen-agers: This imitation doesn’t end in pre-school. It continues on for life, so be aware of what you do.)

This realization hit me hard the other day with my eighteen-year-old daughter. Recently, I have changed my attitude about those I see on the streets holding signs that say, “Homeless, please help” or “Will work for food.” Not that my attitude toward them was ever really bad, it was more one of feeling sorry for them and offering a prayer for them, but I never gave them what they asked for, some money to help them in their situation. I was kind of lukewarm in my Christian attitude. I am ashamed to admit, but I sometimes fell into this lukewarm mindset as a result of believing the reports on television that talk about people, who have nice homes and plenty of money, panhandling for a living and getting rich off the generosity of others. Keeping that in mind, I think I choose not to give to anyone, lest one person take advantage of my kindness. 

A while back, I was talking with my friend and colleague, Jeff Cavins, about this very issue and he said, “I always think of what Mother Teresa said when asked about how she felt knowing that some of those to whom she gave would use the money for alcohol or that some actually had money and were taking advantage of her. She said she wouldn’t ever want to take the chance that she missed caring for Jesus. To her, each one of them was Jesus in disguise.” That concept changed me, and since that day I have kept money in my car to give to those who stand on the corner asking for help, and I don’t care if they are taking advantage of my kindness. I still offer a prayer for them, and can probably count on one hand the number of times the homeless person receiving the money didn’t say to me, “God bless you.” And I can’t think of a time that I didn’t hear, “Thank you.”

About three weeks ago, my oldest daughter and I were heading to the Mall of America to get her a new outfit for her senior pictures. Since she began driving, we are rarely in the same car together, so she probably had never seen me give money to someone asking for help. As we came up to a red light there was a man, about thirty-years-old, holding a sign saying he was out of work, had children and that diapers were expensive. (Having had three kids, I knew his pain. The cost of diapers is almost right up there with the cost of their college education these days!) I rolled down the window and handed him five dollars. He said, “God bless you” and thanked me and we drove on to our destination. We continued our conversation and never once spoke about giving money to the man. Life went on, so I didn’t think anything of the exchange until yesterday.

Last night, my daughter came home from her swim meet and said, “Mom, I got to tell you the most amazing story!” Then she went on to tell me that she was driving to get something to eat with her team before their swim meet and for some reason, she was singing a song from Mary Poppins, called Feed the Birds. My daughter is an excellent singer and sang this song years ago in a competition, so I was not surprised when she said, “I was really getting into it and was singing at the top of my lungs when I came to the part: ‘All around the cathedral the saints and apostles look down as she sells her wares. Although you can’t see it, you know that she smiles, each time someone show that he cares.’ And right then I came to a stop light and looked up, and there was a homeless woman with a sign that read: Show that you care. So, I rolled down the window and gave her the only money I had, my ten dollars for food before the swim meet. I had to. It was like God was speaking right to me and telling me to help this woman.”

Now, I know God speaks to us in various ways, through Scripture, through prayer, through the Sacraments, through nature, through people who come into our lives, etc... and I know that God was speaking to my daughter through a song that was put on her heart, but I can’t help but wonder if she would have missed seeing the homeless woman right in front of her had she not witnessed her mom give money to a man holding a sign three weeks earlier. 

How often do we see them, the least of our brothers, on the side of the road and not even read their signs? How often do we see them, the least of our brothers, on the side of the road and not give to them in their need? In the past, I have felt sorry for them and prayed for them, and I can certainly see myself saying, “Lord, when did I not see you?” And the Lord would answer me, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

As a mom, I know I will probably hear myself say, “Because I said so” another kajillion times in my life, and I will probably cringe when I hear it; but, I will take some comfort knowing that my child imitated me and actually did what I did... and in doing so, who knows, the King just may put her at His right hand and someday say to her: “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;  for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Mt 25:34-36).

Sometimes Evangelization is Messy!

Our ways are not the Lords ways... thank God! Because God’s ways are so far beyond ours, and let’s face it, they are much neater. We can plan all we want, but when it comes down to it, the Lord always finds a way to not only appreciate our “loaves & fishes” efforts, but He multiplies them.

Take today—a simple day in the liturgical year, the 22nd Sunday of ordinary time; but not ordinary by any means. Today is the day we recognize the Blessed Mother’s birthday. With that little bit of knowledge in mind, and knowing I would be traveling to the west coast, my friends and I thought, “Hey, why not have a birthday party for Our Lady?” So my friend Rita ran with the idea. 

Rita planned a little birthday party for 4,500 families for the Mother of God, not a small undertaking. For the record, when you talk about charisms, Rita oozes the gift of hospitality. So much so, she invited everyone to be a part of the party. Not sure if that was her gift of hospitality shining, or the way Catholics rope in people to volunteer! Either way, it worked, and many gifts came together to create a marvelous celebration for the Queen of Heaven.

In her planning, Rita met with the various parish committees to make the day special. With the Liturgy Committee she decided the recessional song would be “Immaculate Mary” and that once the priest walked up the aisle, the congregation would sing Happy Birthday to the Blessed Mother. With the Knights of Columbus she planned to swap out the weekly donuts and coffee and have them sponsor blue cupcakes and punch. The Spanish Liturgy Committee was in charge of the decorations, and the Hearts Afire, Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Perpetual Help ministries hosted the cupcake soiree after each Mass. Rita made throwing this party a wonderful collaborative endeavor for the members of St. Clare’s in Roseville, California.

All of this was impressive enough, but when the Lord saw Rita’s impressive efforts, guess what, He multiplied them. He took her beautiful efforts to bring an awareness to the importance of recognizing the birth a woman whose “yes” to God’s will would change the world, and He made sure thousands were “fed”, and He did it in ways that we didn’t even think of.

Though we never saw picking up cupcakes at Sam’s Club as an opportunity to evangelize, the Lord did. Three times on the cupcake pick-up excursion Rita was asked if the 500 cupcakes were for a wedding, and she joyfully responded, “No, they are for the Blessed Mother’s Birthday.” You can imagine the looks exchanged and the great conversations started at the sound of those words. 

Though it was planned to sing Happy Birthday to the Blessed Mother after the first verse of “Immaculate Mary” during the recessional hymn, it wasn’t planned to have it broadcast on Immaculate Heart Radio... well, at least is wasn’t planned by Rita and committee. It appears Our Lady doesn’t mind how many people know she’s another year older, because the 9:30 am Mass at St. Clare’s was aired for all to hear, birthday wishes and all. I can’t help but think of the discussions generated as people heard the congregation singing Happy Birthday to the Blessed Virgin.

As if being an outlet to share the Good News wasn’t enough, Our Lady used her birthday celebration to teach the littlest among us how to live the Gospel. As the children left the church to hear the Gospel read to them at the children’s gospel time, they had to walk past a table of beautifully decorated scrumptious looking cupcakes and not touch a one! The Gospel on Sunday was about carrying your cross. You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger cross for a wide-eyed hungry 5 year-old, than a tower of untouchable cupcakes with mountains of frosting.

After all was said and done, crosses endured became blessings as chocolate crumbs littered the floor and blue frosting stained little teeth. Various committees got to be of service to their parish family, and workers at Sam’s Club and listeners of Immaculate Heart Radio perhaps found themselves pondering the birth of the Mother of God, a thought that hopefully did what our perfect Mother always does, pointed to the greatest birth of all, the birth of Our Lord.

Happy Birthday Theotokos!

Christ Centered Chaos

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As I write this article I am sitting on my deck at the lake on a beautiful sunny, yet breezy morning, and as the gusts of wind hit the already dried-up and fallen leaves on the deck, I can’t help but think, “Really Lord? It’s only mid-August, and this is Minnesota, can’t you just stretch the summer a wee bit longer?” ... and I can’t help but notice chaos ensuing around me as leaves fly everywhere —one just hit me in the face, seriously!  Yet, amazingly through what seems to be deciduous disarray, a certain consistent order appears, leaves grouped in what appear to be random areas gather and begin swirling like mini tornadoes, and it’s actually fascinating to watch. Why do they do that? How can something that seems so random create such an incredible sight? What are they circling around? 

Watching nature’s pandemonium gets me thinking of the chaos in everyday life. There are days I feel like one of those dried-up leaves being blown from swimming practice to work emergencies to the grocery store to conference planning meetings to making a second trip back to the school I just dropped my son off because he forgot his trumpet! Many of those days, I feel like the lone leaf, the leaf that isn’t rotating in the right direction with all the other leaves, and I wonder how I can ever find order.

Three months ago I was invited to speak at a women’s evening in Clearwater, Florida. It was one of those Holy Spirit invitations. A friend asked me to speak about the role of women in the New Evangelization... and here’s where the Holy Spirit comes in, she had no plan, no location, was caring for her husband who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and wanted the evening to happen in three weeks! Her life, as she knew it, had been tossed into turmoil with the terminal diagnosis of Mark, her love of forty-seven years; yet, she had heard the voice of God telling her to gather women together at this moment in time, and years of listening to Him and speaking with Him led her to know, she best respond to His call.

What occurred next was amazing in itself. Carol, and the Holy Spirit, put together an incredible night, everything fell into place perfectly. Msgr. Toups returned from speaking to all the bishops that morning at the USCCB gathering in California to begin the evening with Mass; amazing musicians offered their time and talents; four hundred women from around the diocese came together on short notice to laugh, cry and learn of their beautiful role in evangelization; and from that evening the seed of a new and exciting ministry for women was planted. All of this was impressive enough, but what truly impressed me was what was going on behind the scenes. I can honestly say, I have NEVER seen such chaos!

Carol’s husband was in the end stages of cancer and was being cared for in their home, which now contained a hospital bed, a shelf of medications and care-givers around the clock, and yet they had graciously invited me to stay in their guest house on their property. From the moment I entered their house I could sense a certain peace, but there was also more activity than ever imaginable. 

Days before the talk for women a huge tree had fallen in their yard, barely missing the house. The night of the talk, a pipe had burst and it had caused insurmountable damage to the walls and the floor of the room where Mark lay in his hospital bed. Everything had to be moved, gutted and repaired. I have never seen so many workers go through a house in such a short period of time. It was complete chaos—no sooner would one leave than another would show up. We even joked that it would be the perfect place for a single lady to meet a man because there were so many of them stopping by!

Somehow in all that chaos, in the swirling of the door as a plumber left and the carpenter appeared, there was a noticeable peace—a calmness that comes when everything is properly ordered, and it was there because everything in Mark and Carol’s house centered on Christ. Jesus was the center around which everything in that house rotated. He was the calm in the whirlwind. 

Every person who entered their house that day encountered Christ, and I was blessed to be able to watch it. Carol spoke to workers about their lives and openly talked about Jesus. Mark’s room was adorned with objects of his faith and his eyes and voice were as gentle as one would envision the eyes and voice of Christ to be. The caregivers served with joy. Kids and grandkids came in and out. Friends stopped by unexpectedly and happily learned they arrived just in time to move Mark’s hospital bed into Carol’s office, and that night when Mark was too tired to be moved from the bed to the chair to celebrate Mass, Msgr. Toups and Fr. Malley just moved everything, and Carol’s office, which had become a makeshift bedroom just hours earlier, now became the center of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. 

I think back to that twenty-four hour period often, especially when I find my life is spinning out of control and I feel like that one lone leaf not knowing where to go or how to find peace, and I am reminded that if everything is centered on Christ, there truly is no such thing as chaos. If Jesus is at the center of all we do, then even the most tumultuous times can be overcome with tranquility.

Mark went to be with the Lord on August 17 with Carol by his side, and though I am miles from their home, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the peace of Christ is dwelling there.

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER."  2 Cor 9: 6 - 7

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"My Lord and My God"

While in the Holy Sepulchre one early morning praying in the Chapel of Golgotha, I noticed Mass beginning in the Catholic Franciscan Chapel next to me and our priest was concelebrating —a surprise even to him— with a priest from Africa and his group, so I grabbed our pilgrims and headed over to celebrate the Eucharist. 

Something happened at that Mass that has changed me forever. After the priest said the Words of Consecration, "Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my body which will be given up for you," and  elevated the body of Christ, the African group all said in awe: "My Lord and my God." And they did it again when the chalice was raised. 

To this day at every Mass when the priest, in the Person of Christ, echoes the words of Jesus himself at his Last Supper, when consecrating bread and wine and raises them, in my heart I say, "My Lord and my God!" (Sometimes I even say it in a beautiful African accent :)

Blessings to all on this wonderful feast of St. (doubting) Thomas