Beginning Again

When I think of Advent, I rush ahead to the Nativity stories in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Nativity is refreshing in that we are reminded that we get to begin again. Born anew is the opportunity to say yes to God’s will. The stories of Christ’s beginnings are less about God and more about us and our acceptance of God into our lives. When we hear about Gabriel coming to Zechariah and Mary, we imagine Gabriel coming to us telling us that our prayer has been answered or asking us to allow God to grow within us. Will you question the answer to your prayer or will you say yes?

Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves for Christ’s Birth in our hearts. Little by little as each candle is lit, we learn again how to let Christ’s Light shine within us. Rush ahead with me to the Nativity Stories. Read the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke and allow God’s Star to lead you to Christ. Let the chorus of angels proclaim Christ’s birth, not in some far off place of yesterday, but right here and now, in YOU.

Peacefulness

Down to the Wire

Today is the second to last day to complete my talks for +National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry Youth Conference.  #NCYC2013 and @ntlccc

I'm down to the wire and it's finally coming together. I was worried for a minute, then I had to remind myself who I work for. Yes Jesus it's You!! Hallelujah!!! Amen.

My excitement about attending the nation's largest Catholic gathering of teens and young adults keeps getting in the way of writing. But my unwillingness to embarrass  myself has me finishing the writing TODAY. Can you say last minute? What about procrastinator? Yeah, Yeah, that's me. And here I am taking a break to write this.

Click on NCYC 2013  for live streaming of Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

Peacefulness

The Flying of Time

Am I the only one who thinks that time moves too quickly a great deal of the time? Have you sat at your computer to start a task, deciding that you'll check Facebook first and discover that an hour has passed and you haven't even begun your task?
When I know I must get some writing done, I don't log on to Facebook, twitter, or even my email. That way I'm able to focus on the task at hand.

They say that "time flies when you're having fun." Time also flies when you're "wasting" it. Time. Time is the topic of so many of us that sometimes we become preoccupied with time and forget what is happening while time is passing.

Several weeks ago I sat in my home chatting with a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses. Our discussion of course began with the 'last days." As if zombie movies aren't enough, we had to begin our bible reflection on what will be left of the earth at the end time. I asked a question after politely listening for a few minutes, "Why the constant focus on the end time? the final judgment of God?" The answer? "We speak on the end times because now is so bad. Humans are in a destructive state of mind. We must talk about how important it is to get to the end as one of the chosen." My challenge to that answer was to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ NOW. People need help now. The gospel is not just for end times, it's for now, for time is flying.