The Advent Adventure

Experiencing the Touch of God
Christmas Day, December 25, 2017
Some thoughts from a wonderful lady who is now in heaven who speaks from her heart, has touched mine, and I send them to you this wonderful day.

          “My wish for you--
 
                   Love to fill your hearts, magical memories, hope for all the good to come, health to enjoy all the goodness of life.
 
                   Wisdom to separate good from evil and a deep, profound love of God and His universe.
 
                   The joy in your eyes from the birth of a child.
 
                   Choirs of Angels with their hymns heard on high.”
  
Thank you for walking with me through this Advent Season.  Let us continue to pray for each other and to pray for peace in our hearts and in our country and in                    our world.
 
            God Bless.                                                                  
            Fr. Bob
 

Touching the Holy, Knowing the Heart of God
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24, 2017
“May it be done to me according to your word.”  (Luke 1:38)

            Sometimes when I work with the adults who are preparing to come into the Church at Easter, I talk about how the Scriptures have certain central themes:  we are loved, we are saved, we are on a journey and in process, and heaven awaits us.  This reading from Luke’s Gospel shouts out these themes.  
 
            I want us just to focus on the thought that we are on a journey and in process.  Mary is not called to change her life but to be in transition.  She still will be Joseph’s wife; they will continue to live in Nazareth.  It is just that now, the child that they are to welcome will be the Son of God.  Maybe this is change, but for Mary and Joseph whom I am sure were planning on children anyway, this just moves the timetable up.  God is  asking Mary to let go of her expectations and wait to receive even more from God. 
 
            This is not an easy journey because we are asked to let go and let the newborn baby take up residence in our hearts.  And if we become that stable for Jesus, we have to let go of the expectations, the behaviors, the attitudes we are comfortable with, and allow God to bring us to “more.”  
 
            What is this “more.”  That requires us to listen and ponder these things in our hearts as Mary did.  God will speak to us and show us where we need to move along on our journey.  Not a journey for the fearful or the faint hearted.  It is a journey though that bring us to an eternal, meaningful end.
 
            Are you ready for Bethlehem to come to you?
 
            God Bless.                                                                             
​            Fr. Bob
 

Experiencing the Touch of God
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent, December 23, 2017
“Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.”  (Ps 33) 

            Music and singing fascinates me.  Now you need to understand I have zero confidence in my singing ability.  However, I love to sing in the shower.  I love to sing in the car (People I am sure think I am nuts).  I love to sing with a group of people if they are singing louder than I am.  
 
            Now, secondly, I think this insecurity exists among the people in the pews.  Many of them seem to have a hard time singing along with the choir.  The best of times is when we sing a patriotic song or an old time religion song like “Amazing Grace.”  
 
            It is interesting to note, at a School Christmas program, the younger the grade the freer they are to sing out.  Some of the little ones even raise their arms in praise and dance to their song.  It is wonderful to see the freedom of children  .  The older the grade, all too often, the less free they seem to be.  
 
            Now what’s my point.  I don’t really know.  We love music.  We love to sing along.  Some of us I bet even fantasize about getting up on stage with our favorite artist and singing with them – or in place of them.  I know you wanna-be opera fans would love to make it the “Four Tenors.”  
 
            In the Scriptures, there is so much about singing, about shouting a new song, about constantly raising our voices in songs of praise.  St. Augustine said, “The person who sings, prays twice.”  Yet we’re so reluctant at times in Church.  And I can appreciate that.  However, how about letting our hearts open, even if our voices won’t and let a song spring from the quiet of our heart to God.  Pick out a favorite hymn, or sing along with a Christian song on the radio, and let God have it.  Nobody else has to hear it but God.  I believe it was St. Augustine also who said, “God gave you your voice, so this is your opportunity to get even with him.”  
 
            God Bless.                                                                             
​            Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
Friday of the Third Week of Advent, December 22, 2017
“For nothing will be impossible for God.”  (Luke 1)

​            This is the response of the angel Gabriel as he announces to Mary that she will be the mother of the Son of God because Mary is unsure how this could be.  This statement is a powerful statement that is pretty all encompassing.  Also, it is a statement that has caused many people to question their own faith, their prayer life, and even their relationship with God.   
 
            People have wondered if their faith wasn’t strong enough since it didn’t seem that their prayers are being answered.   They seemingly were asking (praying) the impossible of God, and it didn’t happen.  So their faith that God would help them must have been weak.  In the same vein, if they have not built a strong relationship with God, then they say that is why the impossible couldn’t happen for me.  God doesn’t listen to those who only call upon Him when they need Him.  And some people, in the opposite vein, are angry with God because they have done everything “right”, and the impossible hasn’t happened for them.
 
            First of all, we must remember that the “mind” of God is so much bigger than us, we cannot begin to fathom the plan that God has in store of us, our world, the universe.  We have no idea how everything/everyone works together.  We are amazed when we see through the wonders of creation the magnificent power of God.  We can’t figure God out with our limited minds and eyes and hearts.  Secondly, we must trust that God is doing the impossible for us even when we don’t see or feel it.  In God’s plan, everything/everyone has a purpose, and we are called to remain faithful to our God and recognize one day, we will see the whole picture.  Or as I often hear, “Do I have a lot of questions for God when I get up there.”     
 
           Mary’s situation was “impossible” that her pregnancy placed her in.  Disaster could have been the result.  In some people’s eyes, it was as Jesus hung on the Cross.  However, she believed, walked her faith daily in her life, and left the rest to God.  Difficult for us to do, but something we can ponder.
 
          God Bless.                                                                 
          Fr. Bob   

Experiencing the Touch of God
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, December 21, 2017
”And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he 
will be great in the sight of the Lord”  (Luke 1)

            Undoubtedly some of the purest joy I have experienced is being with a couple when a baby is born.  It is so wonderful to just see the inner glow in both the Mom’s and Dad’s faces as this newly little one is shown off to the world for the first time.  This passage is the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth will finally have a baby after waiting so long, and they will name him John.  The joy and gladness they must have felt is the same as new parents still feel today.  
 
            Also, too, as the angel tells Zechariah, others will rejoice at the birth.  That’s also so wonderful to see:  proud brothers and sisters, proud grandparents, and the stream of other family and friends who come in great excitement to celebrate the new birth.  Some things just don’t change.
 
            Finally, this Scripture makes me realize that all babies are great in the sight of the Lord.  And that means all of us continue to be, too.  God’s love for us does not change from the moment of our birth.  God’s excitement over us does not wane over the years.  God’s love for us is consistent and forever.  We sometimes forget that in our fickle world of human beings.   These days of preparation are to allow God to fill us again with the joy and gladness of the birth of a baby.  To allow us to touch back to when we experienced the birth of our own children or of a family member or a friend.  The joy which abounded.  Then for us to remember, God’s joy over us is the same as the day we were born.  Maybe that’s why the term “born again” is a good term, because it brings us back to those pure feelings of love from our God.
 
God Bless.                                                                             
​ Fr. Bob 
 

Experiencing the Touch of God 
3rd Wednesday of Advent, December 20, 2017 
​“. . .And they shall name him Emmanuel which means ‘God is with us.’”  (Matt 1)

            Not much needs to be said today.  Just take some time on this one line.  700 years before Christ was born, the prophet proclaimed this line that Matthew quotes from.  Over 2000 years ago this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.  Then Jesus proclaims towards the end of Matthew’s Gospel, “I will be with you until the end of time.”  Emmanuel, “ “God is with us”, is still with us every step of everyday.   If we can come to a deeper belief of these words of Jesus, what a comfort they are to us whether we’re on the mountaintop because everything is running smoothly, or whether we’re in the midst of a valley sloshing our way through, or things are just on a ho-hum pace.  Emmanuel is with us.
 
            That’s why this Season is so important to us because it reminds us that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy which we celebrate at Christmas.  However, this Season also reminds us that our Savior is here with us through one another, through prayer, through countless miracles we are not even aware of; and, finally, this Season reminds us that our Savior will come again, at the end of our time, to bring us into the eternal joy of the Kingdom of heaven.  
 
            Emmanuel, “God is with us,”  -- reflect quietly on this name and seek a deeper understanding of what Emmanuel means to you.
 
            God Bless.                                                                             
​            Fr. Bob
 

​​Experiencing the Touch of God 
3rd Tuesday of Advent, December 19, 2017 
​“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the
son of Abraham.”  (Matthew 1:1)

               The other day I was reading an article about who is an American and our interest in our cultural heritage.  One lady of Asian ancestry said that when she is asked, “Where are you from?”, she immediately says, “The United States.” Even though she has born, raised, educated in the United States, people are not satisfied with her response because of her facial features,  and they press, “No.  Where are you from.”  This goes back to the question of the other day, “Who are you?”  
 
            .   The point of Matthew’s genealogy is that he needed to prove that Jesus was in the line of the great King David.    Now, we can define ourselves in all sorts of ways:  citizenship, culture, careers, education, etc.  And all of those “bloodlines” do not make a difference to Jesus.  In fact, all of those “bloodlines” are going to pass away and mean nothing in heaven.  The only “link” that is important to Jesus Christ is the depth of the love of our heart for Jesus.  And this passion is to spill over into our everyday lives so that we see all people as our brothers and sisters in Christ.  God created us all in His image.  Therefore, regardless of skin color, language, background, we must always remember the big picture:  we are a universal people loved and created by God and challenged to love as our God loves us.
 
              Tough challenge, but Jesus never said it was going to be easy.  Reach out to someone this week you would not normally even be aware of.
 
              God Bless.                                                                 
              Fr. Bob.   
 

​​Experiencing the Touch of God 
3rd Monday of Advent, December 18, 2017
 “Teach me your ways, O Lord.”  (Psalm 25)

            ​ Do we realize how dangerous this prayer of the Psalmist is?  We are asking God to teach us God’s way.  Many images in the New Testament tells us about God’s ways:  narrow doors, easier through an eye of a needle, a straight and narrow path – I am sure you could come up with your own.  So when we pray Psalm 25, we are, first of all, turning our ways entirely over to God.  We are asking God to teach us God’s ways.  In other words, maybe to be humble when our pride wishes us to respond in one way; maybe to offer a smile and forgiveness, when we have been injured;  to respond in peace instead of anger.  The list is endless.  Secondly, we are asking God to teach us those ways.  Now that could mean being confronted with situations that we don’t want to be aware of and being challenged in our Spirit to choose God’s ways instead of our ways.  Maybe it’s seeing a person at Church we just don’t like or in some way has hurt us, and the Spirit may say to pray for that person.  We can or we can ignore.  But if we pray, “Teach me your ways, O Lord,” then God will move in our lives even more because we have opened ourselves up to God.  
 
            Yes, this is dangerous, but it is truly what we want deep in our souls.  We want to be a Godly people in all ways and all times.  We want to walk in the Spirit.  Yes, our humanness fights it, but we know how good we feel when we’ve done what is right, even though that is sometimes the hardest choice.
 
            Join me this week in daily praying simply, “Teach me your ways, O Lord” and go to work --  together.  
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
​            Fr. Bob

​Experiencing the Touch of God 
3rd Sunday of Advent, December 17, 2017
“When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, ‘Who
are you?’”  (John 1)

​            This Scripture is talking about John the Baptist.  They are trying to figure out who he is.  This quote, for some reason, really struck me as I prepared for writing this reflection.  “Who are you?”  Think of the different ways to ask this:  “WHO are you?”  “Who ARE you?”  “Who are YOU?”  When you reflect upon it for awhile, you maybe see a subtle difference between each.  
 
            To me, the first one with the emphasis on the “Who” is more generalized as you could respond in many ways:  a man, a woman, a husband, a wife, a lawyer, doctor, etc.  The emphasis on the word “Are” leads me to look on my “doing.”  What is my state of being:  playing, running, speaking.  And finally, the word “You” zeroes in on me and what constitutes my character.  This reminds me of Jesus’ question to the disciples:  “Who do you say that I am?”  Jesus didn’t want them to recognize him for his label, he didn’t want them to just look at his deeds, he wanted them to see him as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, who would bring them salvation.  And the fact he was born in a cave in Bethlehem, was a carpenter from Nazareth, with good folks like Mary and Joseph, they couldn’t make the connection and see past the exterior to who Jesus really is.
 
            Anyway, it’s a good time, I think, for us to ask ourselves the question, “Who are you?”  Get past the first two, and spend the time reflecting on the “You.”  Start with the fact that this little baby who awaits us in Bethlehem came for You.  Then ask this Messiah, to tell you who he says you are.  And wait for his wonderful words to wash over you.  You’re the reason he came for this Season.
 
God Bless.                                                                             
​Fr. Bob

​Experiencing the Touch of God 
2nd Saturday of Advent, December 16, 2017
“In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah. . .”  (Sir 48:1)

            We have some incredible figures that show up during the Season’s readings.  Today we have Elijah.  We also have heard and will hear some more from John the Baptist.  Of course, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary are at the center of our story.  So many things in common, but I would like to suggest one main purpose all of them share:  in some way, they all are bringing fire and light to the world..  Elijah, the great Old Testament prophet, announced, with “words as a flaming furnace”, the Lord’s word.  In fact, Elijah’s life ended by being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses.  John the Baptist was no shrinking violet either.  He called the Pharisees a brood of vipers.  He challenged the people to repent, to turn away from their sinful ways.  Cost him his head.  Zechariah and Elizabeth brought the fiery John into the world – though Zechariah had to be silenced because he couldn’t believe this could happen to him and his aged wife Elizabeth.    Mary and Joseph were instruments of bringing the Light of the World into our presence who said that he would bring fire to the world.
 
            Light and fire.  Both of these images throughout the Scriptures are especially attributed to people destined to be messengers of Jesus.  They either burned with the fire of love or through them the Light emanated to all the world.  Is the light less dim today?  Is the fire cooler?  
 
I hope not -- for we’re the messengers!  We’re the Elijah’s, the Baptist’s, the loving couples who reflect God’s Light.  And if anything in our world of electricity and artificial light glaring at us, our own inner Light has to shine brighter for ours is the authentic Light.  Ours is the Light that comes from within our soul that touches others and make them wonder what makes us so different.  Elijah was different.  So was John the Baptist, and the two couples.  They we’re different because they burned with the fire of the Lord’s love.  We have to ask ourselves are we?  Are we ready to let the birthday of Jesus – that awesome message of love – turn up the fire within us?  
 
Check your brightness?  Try it out on someone.  Let them see and feel the light of God’s love within you.  Be that fiery furnace today to a world often gone cold.
 
God Bless.                                                                 
​Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Friday of Advent, December 15, 2017
“Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy 
dwelling.”  (Zechariah 2:17)

             The prophets are so passionate in their words.  Here Zechariah commands the people to be silent for the Lord is stirring.  I don’t believe we’re very good at silence.  I know for me it sometimes takes a conscious effort to remain silent and not turn on the radio or put on a CD as background music.  Yet, Zechariah here commands us to be silent and allow the Lord to stir within us.  
 
            My other thought is how are we going to respond when we come into the presence of the Lord when we enter heaven.  A  No. 1 Christian Song is one called, “I Can Only Imagine.”  It’s a beautiful song about how we can only imagine being in the presence of the Lord.  The refrain goes, “Will I dance for you Jesus?  Or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing, ‘Alleluia?’  Will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine.”   Wow!  Have you ever thought about what your reaction will be?  Zechariah would probably say we may be dumbstruck.  
 
            Now how about imagining approaching the stable in and to be a silent observer that first Christmas night?   Someone asked me yesterday, “How does the imagery of the stable help you find your path and purpose?”  Whoa!  Made me ask myself if I’ve even found the path to the stable or is it full of the Season’s obstacles?  
 
            Silence.  Stable.  Imagine.  Let’s put all three together and take some time over these next few days to find some silence in our noisy world and see if we can find our path to the stable and imagine what it would be like to sit in the presence of the Lord.  We should get use to it for we, hopefully, will be in His presence forever.
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
            Fr. Bob
 

​Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Thursday of Advent, December 14, 2017
“Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy
dwelling.”  (Zechariah 2:17)

             The prophets are so passionate in their words.  Here Zechariah commands the people to be silent for the Lord is stirring.  I don’t believe we’re very good at silence.  I know for me it sometimes takes a conscious effort to remain silent and not turn on the radio or put on a CD as background music.  Yet, Zechariah here commands us to be silent and allow the Lord to stir within us.  
 
            My other thought is how are we going to respond when we come into the presence of the Lord when we enter heaven.  A  No. 1 Christian Song is one called, “I Can Only Imagine.”  It’s a beautiful song about how we can only imagine being in the presence of the Lord.  The refrain goes, “Will I dance for you Jesus?  Or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing, ‘Alleluia?’  Will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine.”   Wow!  Have you ever thought about what your reaction will be?  Zechariah would probably say we may be dumbstruck.  
 
            Now how about imagining approaching the stable in and to be a silent observer that first Christmas night?   Someone asked me yesterday, “How does the imagery of the stable help you find your path and purpose?”  Whoa!  Made me ask myself if I’ve even found the path to the stable or is it full of the Season’s obstacles?  
 
            Silence.  Stable.  Imagine.  Let’s put all three together and take some time over these next few days to find some silence in our noisy world and see if we can find our path to the stable and imagine what it would be like to sit in the presence of the Lord.  We should get use to it for we, hopefully, will be in His presence forever.
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
​            Fr. Bob

​Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Wednesday of Advent, December 13, 2017
“ O bless the Lord, my soul!”  (Psalm 103)

            Here’s another verse out of Scripture that should give us pause.  Psalm 103 begins with commanding us to bless the Lord with our souls and with our entire being.  We are to bless the Lord.  Now does that add anything to our God who is the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier?  God is perfect and complete.  God is the Unmoved Mover, the Great Mystery.  What can our blessing God do for God?  Blessings are what we beseech our God to give us.  Bless us in our need; bless us constantly with faith, hope and love.  
 
            However, if we continue with the Psalm, our blessings bring us back to remember what God has done for us.  Obviously the writer is making sure the people remember God’s saving power.  “He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills.  He redeems your life from destruction; he crowns you with kindness and compassion. . .Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.”  Our response to these incredible gifts of God are to return blessing God for his goodness.  Think about it as a typical human response.  When someone does something for us, sometimes we say, “Bless you for your kindness.” We humble ourselves.  That’s what the challenge the psalmist give us.  Humble ourselves before our God and remember God’s goodness to us by seeking a blessing upon God.  Wow!  Blessings to our God are really for our sakes to keep us humble and reminded of the source of all blessings.
 
Name 10 people or happenings that you have been blessed with.  Take a moment and let your soul – your whole being – bless the Lord for them.  
 
God Bless.                                                                             
​Fr. Bob.  

​Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Tuesday of Advent, December 12, 2017
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘What is your opinion?’”  (Matthew 18:12)

            From here, Jesus goes on to tell the story of the man who has a hundred sheep and leaves them to go after the one who has strayed.  Now we never know the opinions of the disciples.  Seems like Jesus sets them up with a question so that He can then teach them about the love of the Father.  
 
            However, let’s ponder Jesus’ question.  What do you think of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep.  The shepherd leaves 99 sheep in the hills and goes off searching for the stray.  And the shepherd is so excited about finding the one lost..  Just reflect on this and relate it to your own situation whether that be at work or at home.  Would you leave the “flock” as it were unattended and go after the one lost?  Would you risk it?  Think about the emotional, material, physical jeopardy that could happen.
 
            I believe Jesus often used this extreme situations that border on the absurd for us to try to help us get a grasp on how absurd God’s love is for us.  God is relentless in His searching for us.
 
            Now then let’s bring that home.  If God is relentless in His pursuit and forgiveness and love of us when we stray, is there someone in our lives who we might need to extend a hand to, but maybe haven’t because he or she has strayed.  It would be inconvenient to us to go out and “search”.  However, if we can just feel for a moment the depth of God’s love for each of us – it’s absurd – couldn’t we extend that love to someone in a special way this Season especially if they feel lost or outcast?
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
​            Fr. Bob
 

Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Monday of Advent, December 11, 2017
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him”  (Ephesians 1:3)​

            There’s that “without blemish” again.  There must have been something about those New Testament writers that they liked this image.  Of course, when we think about “blemish,” we might think of a “blemish” on our clothes.  A stain that seems to draw everyone’s attention you meet.  Usually someone will point on the spot on your shirt or blouse or even try to “scrape” it off.  We don’t like blemishes on a nice, beautiful background.  Maybe that’s why the writer of Ephesians uses the image as did Peter.  They worked hard to get their clothes clean.  They didn’t stick them in the Maytag but went to the nearest pool of water.  And it was physical work.  So maybe it bothered them if a “blemish” showed up because someone either didn’t do their job well or they knew how much work it was going to be to get it out.  Food for thought.
 
            The wonderful thing is that our blemishes, as apparent as they may be, are continually being washed away by the grace and the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  That’s why he humbled Himself to be one like us so we would know what blemishes were like.  Jesus knows our temptations and our struggles and our blemishes.  He just waits for us to “come to the water” and let Him remove them.  We open our hearts; He does the rest
 
            You know the Christmas ditty that says, “He’s making a list; he’s checking it twice.”  Jesus doesn’t do that.  He asks us to do it and then bring our list of blemishes to Him so He can bless us with every spiritual gift again and again and again.
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
​            Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
2nd Sunday of Advent, December 10, 2017​
“Therefore, beloved, since you await these things [new heavens and a new earth], be
eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.”  (2 Peter 3:15)

             As I read about the winter storms hitting the eastern part of our country, I hope the promises of new life – the promises of Advent – pierce the coldness of winter the people there are experiencing.  Maybe not seasonally, but all of us at some time or another have lived through the midst of a winter storm in our lives.  Maybe it’s been through the agony of physical suffering; maybe it’s been through conflict and division; maybe it been just feeling alone and isolated.  Advent reminds us that the voice of God keeps crying out in the wilderness of our lives.  God’s relentless Advent cry will pierce the darkness of our winter as long as we have pains that need to be eased, wrongs that need to be corrected, relationships that need to be repaired, and crooked paths that need straightened.   
 
            While we celebrate another Advent in the midst of winter, Peter reminds us of the new heavens and new earth that await us.  However, there is the challenge that we are to be found without spot or blemish.  Is God calling us in any way to ease the pain of anyone?  Is God calling us to right a wrong?  Is God calling us to repair a relationship that is strained or needs renewed?  Is God calling us to straighten out a crooked path in our own lives?
 
            God’s calling?  Are we answering?
 
            God Bless.                                                                                         
​            Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Saturday of Advent, December 9, 2017​
 “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”  (Mt 10:8)

             These are two extremely challenging statements by Jesus for us to reflect upon as we end this first week of Advent.  First of all, pause for a moment and remember these statements are the words of Jesus!  Jesus is telling us the gift of salvation, the gift of His very own life, the gift of the Cross has been given to us without a cost to us.  Jesus didn’t ask for an admission fee to be a witness or recipient of the amazing Resurrection.  He rose and said here’s the proof of the pudding.  I am alive and so can you be glorified for eternity with me.  How?  He said, “This is the cup of my blood which will be shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”  He said, “I did not come to condemn the world but to save it.”  We receive this gift by accepting and embracing Jesus’ forgiveness and His salvation.  Jesus Christ, Son of God, Prince of Peace told us to receive this gift without cost to us.
 
            Now the second part is as, if not, more challenging:  “Without cost you are to give.”  Now I am going to go out on a limb here and say that some time or another, we have all either whined or complained about having to give in terms of our faith.  Do I have to go to Church today?  Another Church activity that needs my help?  Maybe we have  rationalized our lack of response to our faith.  I just don’t have time; I am too busy.  God will understand.  I can talk to God while I am doing my work.  Jesus reminds us that without cost we have received; so now without cost we are to give.
 
            And that is so tough 24/7 every day and every week.  However, Advent is a time when we are called to pause and reflect on God’s providence and plan in our lives.  To see that God keeps right on giving in spite of where we may be at.  2017 may have been tough for some, but we’re here, breathing, vertical and living in a country that does allow us the freedom to express our faith.  Maybe we each could send a goal to do anonymously 3 kind or “saving” acts for 3 different people over Advent.  Maybe that’s a simple way for us to make sure, without cost we have given a little.
 
God Bless.                                                                             
​Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Friday of Advent, December 8, 2017
“On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and 
darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.”  (Isaiah 29)

            Both readings of the day, Isaiah, and Matthew, focus on being blind or deaf.  Matthew 9 is one of the Gospel stories about Jesus healing the blind.  I know you may have thought before about having the physical impairment of blindness or deafness.  Maybe you’ve even “played” being blind or deaf.  Maybe you do have a hearing or sight impairment now, and the readings may touch you in a different way. 
 
            Regardless, since so much of Advent is to wait and watch with all of our senses attuned.  The readings today reflect our need to make sure our “eye sight” is as sharp as ever and our ears are cleaned out.  Metaphorically, both Scriptures are challenging us to make sure the eyes and ears of our heart are in sync with the Season.  In the special lights that abound during these days, are we reminded that we’re waiting for the Light of the World to come again?  In our clear, cold nights here in Portland, are we eagerly watching the stars as the Magi must have been doing 2000+ years ago?   Are we seeing the evergreen trees in a new light since all the other leafy trees are now barren?  The evergreen tree is always there to remind us of God’s evergreen love for us.  Are the sounds of the season from the Salvation Army bell to the Christmas carols on the radio warming our heart with the specialness of these days?  Are we appreciating the sounds of our loved ones with renewed sharpness? Above all, are we hearing the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts asking us to walk more slowly to Christmas Day.  
 
            Blindness and deafness comes in many forms.  We may have physically healthy ears and eyes.  However, we still may be missing the miracles that abound this season in many special ways and add to our journey to the manger.  We use to use as a kid something called Eye-Mo to wash out eyes, and we always had to “swab” out our ears every day.   Let’s wash and swab and commit to really seeing and hearing this weekend.
 
           God Bless.                                                                 
​           Fr. Bob
 

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Thursday of Advent, December 7, 2017
“A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.”  (Isaiah 26)

             What is our nation’s firm purpose?  I suppose if I asked you for a reply, I’d receive multiple opinions.  If I asked you how to bring about peace in our nation, I’d also receive the same number of different opinions.  I do believe that almost all of us would agree on one thing:  we want peace in our nation and in our world; the lasting peace that is promised in the Scriptures.      
 
            Now I personally believe violence begets violence as Scripture tells us.  I believe that vengeance needs to be left to God.  I believe that Jesus’ call for peace is found in the way He submitted to the Cross and that faith in Him still flourishes because it was founded on Calvary with the firm purpose of peace.
 
            Now do I expect all of you to agree with me that a complete non-violent approach to peace is the way?  No.  Jesus surrounded Himself with all sorts of people.  Simon, one of the 12, was a zealot who believed in the terrorist overthrow of the Roman government.  James and John wanted to send fire down from the heavens on those who disagreed with Jesus.  Peter cut off the ear of the slave who was with the group who came to arrest Jesus. Judas who sat at table with Him many times, betrayed Him which brought both to a violent death.  Yet amidst these men He loved them and called them His friends, He kept to His firm purpose of peace.     
 
            I'm sure many will have the opinion that if I were Christian, I could support only the way of non-violence.  That wasn’t the purpose of yesterday's and today's message:  the purpose is, we all want peace.  Let’s join together and pray for our leaders who have within their decision making to bring about a peaceful solution through God’s will.  And, my opinion is, God’s will is found in Jesus.  
 
            My daily messages are my own opinion; not the view of any particular group.  My daily message is purely to spread the Good News, and, maybe in that, to help you on your journey of faith and to realize even more, God’s love for you.  These are just ramblings in the late evening or early morning of another person, like you, on the Advent-ure of our lifetime.  Please receive them with an open heart, and if they touch you, “Wonderful”; if they don’t, hit “Delete.”  
 
            God Bless You.                                                          
​            Fr. Bob
 

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Wednesday of Advent, December 6, 2017
“They picked up the fragments left over – seven baskets full.”  (Mt 15:37) 

             We have all heard this story many times:  the multiplication of the loaves and fish.  But what hit me as I read it this time was the number “7”.  Seven loaves were used and seven full baskets were left over.  Seven, of course, in Jewish numerology is a number signifying fullness.  So, Jesus not only fed a huge crowd (one Gospel says 5000 men alone), but an abundance was left over.
 
               Do we ever think Jesus doesn’t have time for us?  I have heard people say, “Jesus doesn’t have time to be bothered with my small worries.”  Or, “Other people have far greater problems than me, so I don’t need to seek God on mine.”  No!  Jesus has an abundance of love for us.  Jesus has an abundance of healing mercy and forgiveness.  Jesus never runs out.  Now, we in our humanness, sometimes get ourselves into compartmentalizing Jesus.  We start thinking for Him, and, in turn, limiting Him.  STOP!  
 
            We just need to reflect on what Jesus did for each of us?  He left heaven.  He left His divine place in heaven next to the Father, and came down to be human like us.  And he didn’t come into the skyscraper in Jerusalem with room service, but He came in a cave-like stable in Bethlehem.  He gave up abundance in heaven to be with us.  So would Jesus limit his love for us now after going through everything He did?  I don’t think so.  The seven full baskets of His abundance love and mercy never empty!
 
            Reflect on that with a “divine” mind for a few minutes today.  Jesus didn’t reject anyone brought to Him.  And that was when He was with us flesh and blood.   He wouldn’t reject us now in all His glory.  He wants to hear from us from the smallest problem to earth shattering ones.  He is limitless!  
 
            God Bless.                                                                             
​            Fr. Bob
 

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Tuesday of Advent, December 5, 2017
“Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. . .”  (Luke 10:21)

             What does “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” look like?   We’ve all experienced it, but maybe not identified it as “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit."  This whole Advent Season is full of stories of people who “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit,”  who must have shouted out, “Yea, God” and were filled with unbelievable wonder.  Take Zechariah, father of John the Baptist.  He had to have looked to the heavens and cried out when he found out his wife Elizabeth, a woman well beyond her years of childbearing, was going to finally have a son they had prayed for years.  Mary, at the opposite end, too young to bear a child and unmarried, must have yelled, “Oh, my God!” when it finally sunk in that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.  Remember the shepherds and the Magi and their reaction to the Good News.  
 
            Maybe that’s the way we need to look at having “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit.”  A time when we had a very strong emotional and even physical reaction to Good News.  A time when we looked up to heavens, raised our arms in jubilation, and were in awe of what just occurred and burst forth with an acclamation of pure joy.  Now, it doesn’t mean that having “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” has to cause a reaction.  Some of us may have been moved to silence like Zechariah – a loss of words.  Maybe we were so moved that words were impossible to express what we experienced.
 
            Regardless, the point is that we must watch for these moments of Good News all the day long.  They are constantly happening.  God is continually speaking to us in countless ways.  God has to because so much of the time we’re so busy we don’t listen.  So many constant bombardments some may get through.  Those of you who are parents, just reflect on the wonder of your children.  I often reflect of how fast time has gone when I see a baby I baptized now a young independent child.  Wow!  God is good.  
 
            Take some time today to listen attentively – to reflect – on the miracles of the moment and allow yourself, like Jesus, to rejoice in the Holy Spirit.
 
            God Bless.                                                                 
​            Fr. Bob

​Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Monday of Advent, December 4, 2017
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks;
​One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (Is 2)

​            No matter which side of the political fence you are on during this time when our Nation seems so fractured, this vision of the new Jerusalem, restored from exile,  from Isaiah has to bring all of us hope of one day living in complete peace.  In the Old Testament, the prophecy of the Messiah proclaims he will be the Prince of Peace.  After Jesus is raised from the dead, every time He appears to His disciples, His greeting is, “Peace be with you.”  
 
            Christmas is a season where many of our Christmas carols sing of peace.  Christmas is the season where many of the Christmas cards we send proclaim “Peace on Earth, Good Will towards All.”  This is a season of peace.
 
            So, regardless of our political views, all of us this season need to make a concerted effort to pray to God for our leaders:  to pray for them to seek the wisdom of God; to pray for them to seek the Holy Spirit to help them discern the best possible decisions for the people of the world; to pray for them to seek the courage they need to follow God’s will.   And in our prayer, we all must pray for Peace on Earth for 2018 each and every day for the sake of all our children as well as ourselves.
 
            Take a few moments today by yourself or as a family to beg God to bring Isaiah’s vision to the here and now.
 
            God bless.                                                                  
​            Fr. Bob

Experiencing the Touch of God
1st Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2017
“No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him.”  (Isaiah 63)

           Are you someone like me who becomes impatient in the waiting?  Some situations I just do not like to wait.  For example, I do not like to wait to get my hair cut.  I’ll come back another day.   I am not really excited to wait in a long line at the grocery store.  Usually I am upset with myself because I always choose the wrong line.   But yet as we begin Advent, we are told to wait as well as to be ready.  Often when I do have to wait, I find myself drifting off in thoughts and not paying attention.  But the Scriptures today tell us not only to wait, but Jesus himself tells us to be watchful and alert.  What are we waiting for?  What are we to be watchful for?    
 
            The season of Advent asks us to quit looking around and even down, but to lift our minds, eyes, and hearts to the heavens; to focus on the promise that Christmas reminds and renews in us.  Jesus Christ will come again and bring us to a Kingdom that “No ear has heard, no eye ever seen.”  Are we ready as Isaiah prays to God: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you?” 
 
            Are we waiting with full of anticipation and ready heart for the coming of our Savior again?  Do we have the strength to grow in love as we wait in readiness for our Savior?  As we grow in love, we grow in a deeper awareness of what this Kingdom will be like that awaits us.  And the more we grow in love, the more we long for Christ our Savior to come. 
 
            However, do we get impatient with the waiting.  Do we become apathetic about our faith and become weakened by the distractions of the world – the non-eternals and the non-essentials to eternal life?  Advent is our time to reawaken ourselves and to go on alert.  Is our faith in God stronger than it was a year ago?  Is our hope in the promise of eternal life deeper than a year ago?  Is our love of God all consuming and our love of neighbor has ourselves even more visible to the world? 
 
            Or are we tired of waiting?  Shake off the cobwebs and wipe the sleep from our eyes.  It’s a new beginning and one we cannot afford to delay.
 
            God Bless.                                                                              
​            Fr. Bob