Celebrating Advent with St. Joseph
Advent is a good time to reflect on St. Joseph. Although many things can be said about him, I have chosen to focus on three.
First, Joseph takes a back seat in the gospels. John’s gospel doesn’t mention him at all. Mark refers to him only obliquely, calling Jesus “the carpenter’s son.” Luke’s focus is on Mary. Only in Matthew’s Gospel is Joseph given any real attention.
This means that Joseph did not have to be center stage. He was content to play a supporting role in the great drama of salvation. Being where God wanted him to be was more important to him than being where he wanted to be. Being faithful was more important than being powerful or popular.
Secondly, Joseph allowed God to enter his world as an earthquake. The Annunciation turned Mary’s life upside down. It also turned Joseph’s life upside down. Mary’s pregnancy caused him great anguish, an anguish eased only by some kind of a nocturnal heavenly visitor. He said his “yes” to marrying this young pregnant woman and raising her child as his own. What generosity! What faith!
Thirdly, Joseph had to navigate the trials of life just as we must do. His life was no walk in the park. The journey to Bethlehem was an arduous trek through inhospitable lands with a wife nine months pregnant with her first child. Later, the flight into Egypt had to be traumatic. We catch a glimpse of what this upheaval must have meant for Joseph when, in today’s news, we see the weary and terror stricken faces of our contemporary refugees.
Joseph bore his trials with considerable grace. Through the ups and downs of daily living, he clung to what really mattered: his faith in a God who was powerful, loving, and good. He was a man of humility and personal integrity despite the greed and corruption of some of the religious and political leaders of his day. In one way, Joseph lived a very ordinary life, but he lived it in an extraordinary way, working hard to support his family, drawing strength from his religious faith and traditions, and pouring out his love on his wife, son, and the community beyond his door.
Let us pray: St. Joseph, walk with me this Advent as I once again prepare for God’s continual entry into my life. May I welcome God’s coming in whatever form that coming may take–from a gentle breeze to a turbulent earthquake. Give me courage to face the challenges life sets before me. When life is rough, may I, like you, cling to my faith in a God who is powerful, loving, and good. May I strive to be a person of personal integrity, no matter what. May I pour my love out on my family, my friends, and the communities of which I am a part. And finally, I thank you, St. Joseph, for being such an example of humility, faith, prayerfulness, courage, and love. Amen.
What qualities in Joseph are you attracted to the most?
If you could ask one gift from St. Joseph (for yourself or for our world today), what would you ask for?
This Christmas song is from Joseph’s perspective. It’s called “A Strange Way to Save the World” and is sung by 4Him. To me it captures some of Joseph’s thoughts and feelings about the wonder and mystery of the birth of Jesus.
I invite you to respond below to anything in this reflection or to add your own thoughts about St. Joseph and/or Advent.
Quotations on Gratitude and Thanksgiving
This week, as we in the United States celebrate our national holiday called Thanksgiving, I went into my quotation file and pulled out some quotes to mark this beautiful day. I suggest you read them slowly and prayerfully.
1. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but also the mother of all others. (Cicero)
2. No one can be grateful and unhappy. (Anthony de Mello, SJ)
3. When we practice counting our blessings, our blessings multiply. The very act of saying “thank you” opens the heart another notch in receptivity. (Julia Cameron)
4. When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree. (Vietnamese proverb)
5. If I bewail the times in which I live, I’m throwing God’s blessings back into God’s face. (St. John Henry Newman)
6. Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank. (Christina Rossetti)
7. Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. (Karl Barth)
8. Gratitude is an engine of generosity. (Frank Cunningham)
9. The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see. (Mary Davis)
10. God gave you the gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “Thank you”? (Wm. A. Ward)
11. When I am grateful, I am neither rushing nor slouching through my day–I’m dancing. (Bro. David Steindl-Rast)
12. Dorothy Day wanted only two words on her gravestone: Deo gratias (Thank God).
13. The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it. (Richard Bach)
14. Gratitude turns what we have into enough. (Anonymous)
15. Normal Day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. (Mary Jean Iron)
16. Say “thank you” a hundred times today and you will discover you are a millionaire. (Edwards Hays)
17. Praise incessantly, hold high expectations, laugh, sing out loud, celebrate without ceasing the good luck of getting set down here on a lively earth. (Barbara Kingsolver)
18. If the only prayer you say in your whole life is “thank you,” that would suffice. (Meister Eckhart)
Did any of these quotes stand out for you today? If so, which one(s)? Why?
What does Thanksgiving Day mean to you personally?
Do you have any quotations on gratitude and thanksgiving that you would like to share with us?
I want to thank each one of you for reading my little blog, “Sunflower Seeds.” I never take your readership for granted. Today, in a special way, I thank God for every one of you! I also ask God’s blessings on you and your loved ones!
I opted for a traditional Thanksgiving song today, “Now Thank We All Our God,” with choir and full organ. The language might be a little “old fashioned” in spots, but the message still rings true.
Please share your thoughts with us! We all love hearing from you!
"The Flowing Grace of Now" by Macrina Wiederkehr
Sister Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB, has written a new book. Those familiar with her writing will be excited by this news, for it has been almost ten years since she blessed us with a book.
Although I have never met Macrina in person, she and I have exchanged some emails and notes over the years. I consider her a friend. As she once said to me, “We writers have to stick together!” So, in today’s blog, I’d like to treat you to some excerpts from her new book, The Flowing Grace of Now: Encountering Wisdom through the Weeks of the Year (Ave Maria Press.)
The book has essentially 52 reflections, one for each week of the year. Every reflection is a meditation on a “spiritual teacher” in our life. Some teachers are actual people like Jesus (of course!), St. Paul, the Canaanite woman in scripture, a particular spiritual writer, etc. Other teachers include the following: the four seasons, silence, simplicity, light, darkness, your desire for God, those who have encouraged you, your need for healing, someone who needs you, your sins and weaknesses, the reality of your death.
Each reflection begins with a scripture text that leads you into the spirit of the week. Next is a brief meditation written in Macrina’s simple yet lovely style. There is a closing prayer (my favorite part!) and a final quotation from a spiritual writer such as Joyce Rupp, Max Lucado, St. Teresa of Avila, Pope Francis, Abraham Lincoln, Joan Chittister, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Thich Nhat Hanh, Henri Nouwen, and many others. I appreciated the variety!
Now for a sample from her book. Week 28 focuses on God as refuge and shield. Here is the lovely prayer she wrote:
O God beyond all names, I want to encounter the unfathomable poem that you are. O Holy One, you have pitched a tent in my heart. You are my shelter, my tree of life. You are my cave, my haven, my abode. You are the sanctuary where I dwell. I am the sanctuary where you dwell. I do not ask you to free me from the storms of life that assist my growth. I ask only that you protect me and help me make wise choices. O let it be!
Macrina concludes that reflection with these words from Joyce Rupp: “Cave of refuge, provide a sanctuary of solace as I wait for the unrecognizable future to reveal itself. Do not let my troubles steal my joy.”
At the end of the book are two helpful guides: a subject index and a scripture index. Macrina is a popular author and retreat facilitator who makes her home with the monastic community of St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. (I’m giving a retreat there in May so I’ll get to meet Macrina for the first time!) If you’re looking for a worthwhile gift for a friend–or for yourself!–you might want to check out The Flowing Grace of Now.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Did anything stand out for you in today’s reflection?
Have you read any other books by Macrina that you would recommend for us?
PS: A big thank you for your prayers for last weekend’s retreat on hope at Villa Maria, PA. And a big thank you to the wonderful 35 participants. I was inspired by their attentiveness, goodness, sense of fun, and their eagerness to grow in their faith! Special thanks also to Sister Jane Marie, our hostess, for all she did to make our stay at the Villa such a beautiful experience.
Psalm 62 says, “God is my rock and salvation… my refuge.” This song, written by John Michael Talbot, is sung here by Wendy and Mary. This version of Ps. 62 has been a favorite of mine for many years. I hope you like it too.
I invited you to respond to this reflection and/or video below.
“The Flowing Grace of Now” by Macrina Wiederkehr
Sister Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB, has written a new book. Those familiar with her writing will be excited by this news, for it has been almost ten years since she blessed us with a book.
Although I have never met Macrina in person, she and I have exchanged some emails and notes over the years. I consider her a friend. As she once said to me, “We writers have to stick together!” So, in today’s blog, I’d like to treat you to some excerpts from her new book, The Flowing Grace of Now: Encountering Wisdom through the Weeks of the Year (Ave Maria Press.)
The book has essentially 52 reflections, one for each week of the year. Every reflection is a meditation on a “spiritual teacher” in our life. Some teachers are actual people like Jesus (of course!), St. Paul, the Canaanite woman in scripture, a particular spiritual writer, etc. Other teachers include the following: the four seasons, silence, simplicity, light, darkness, your desire for God, those who have encouraged you, your need for healing, someone who needs you, your sins and weaknesses, the reality of your death.
Each reflection begins with a scripture text that leads you into the spirit of the week. Next is a brief meditation written in Macrina’s simple yet lovely style. There is a closing prayer (my favorite part!) and a final quotation from a spiritual writer such as Joyce Rupp, Max Lucado, St. Teresa of Avila, Pope Francis, Abraham Lincoln, Joan Chittister, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Thich Nhat Hanh, Henri Nouwen, and many others. I appreciated the variety!
Now for a sample from her book. Week 28 focuses on God as refuge and shield. Here is the lovely prayer she wrote:
O God beyond all names, I want to encounter the unfathomable poem that you are. O Holy One, you have pitched a tent in my heart. You are my shelter, my tree of life. You are my cave, my haven, my abode. You are the sanctuary where I dwell. I am the sanctuary where you dwell. I do not ask you to free me from the storms of life that assist my growth. I ask only that you protect me and help me make wise choices. O let it be!
Macrina concludes that reflection with these words from Joyce Rupp: “Cave of refuge, provide a sanctuary of solace as I wait for the unrecognizable future to reveal itself. Do not let my troubles steal my joy.”
At the end of the book are two helpful guides: a subject index and a scripture index. Macrina is a popular author and retreat facilitator who makes her home with the monastic community of St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. (I’m giving a retreat there in May so I’ll get to meet Macrina for the first time!) If you’re looking for a worthwhile gift for a friend–or for yourself!–you might want to check out The Flowing Grace of Now.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Did anything stand out for you in today’s reflection?
Have you read any other books by Macrina that you would recommend for us?
PS: A big thank you for your prayers for last weekend’s retreat on hope at Villa Maria, PA. And a big thank you to the wonderful 35 participants. I was inspired by their attentiveness, goodness, sense of fun, and their eagerness to grow in their faith! Special thanks also to Sister Jane Marie, our hostess, for all she did to make our stay at the Villa such a beautiful experience.
Psalm 62 says, “God is my rock and salvation… my refuge.” This song, written by John Michael Talbot, is sung here by Wendy and Mary. This version of Ps. 62 has been a favorite of mine for many years. I hope you like it too.
I invited you to respond to this reflection and/or video below.
What Are You Worried About?
I worry. About many things. I bet you worry too–at least about some things. Sometimes I think we should define humans not as homo sapiens (wise one) but as homo anxietas (worried one!)
What do I worry about? Sometimes small things: Will my casserole turn out? Will I run into road construction on my drive to Cincinnati?… Will my blood pressure be good again?… Will my car behave?
Sometimes I worry about big things: The physical health of all my loved ones… the current political atmosphere… climate change… the future of the Catholic Church…. all those people who have no access to safe drinking water… human trafficking… the opioid crisis… world peace… a possible nuclear catastrophe.
How do I carry on with life against a backdrop of such worries? I could deny or minimize my worries. I could say things like, “My loved ones have access to good health care… God will take care of us… Science will save us… Our country has been divided before… We’ve had nuclear warheads for decades and there’s never been an all-out nuclear war.”
Or I could dull myself to the pain of my anxieties. Isn’t this one reason people become addicted to alcohol or other drugs? Or addicted to food, excessive work, or even the internet? Such addictions can begin as a temporary escape from our worries and anxieties–until our addiction itself becomes an even greater reality to worry about.
But I could also try to see my worry in a more positive light. Why do we humans worry? Because we care. We care about someone or something. A certain amount of worrying is pretty normal, therefore, because normal people care about things. Excessive worry, however, is not healthy. It can impede our freedom to act, to do good. Worry can also distract us from the life-giving goodness and beauty that surround us. In addition, excessive worry can drain our energy and put us in a serious funk.
And finally, we can bring our worries to God in our prayer. Rather than denying these worries, we could ask: What might my worries be urging me to do? How might I get involved in a situation or problem that I am worried about? Facing our anxieties is also an opportunity to renew our faith and trust in God. Without denying our worries, we can view them against the backdrop of God’s unending love and care for us.
On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning I hardly ever worry and 10 meaning I worry a great deal) where do you fall?
What helps you to deal with your worries or anxieties?
Has your worry ever urged you to do something or to get more involved with a person, issue, or situation?
PS: I ask your prayers for a retreat I will be facilitating this weekend at Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center in Villa Maria, PA. The theme is “Hanging onto Hope in Our Imperfect World.” Thank you very much!
I reached into the bluegrass-country music genre for this song by Alison Krauss. It’s called “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” Krauss began singing publicly at age 10. Thirty years later, at the height of her career, she stepped up to a microphone to sing, and nothing came out. She was eventually diagnosed with dysphonia, a vocal disorder. She overcame this setback and released another solo album in 2017. Her experience and this song fits perfectly with the theme of this reflection and with the season of autumn. I hope you like it.
Now it’s your turn to respond to this reflection and/or song. Don’t be shy!
