My cousin Amy is a true spiritual artisan. She sees beauty and the workings of the Holy
Spirit in things that most of us would pass by.
She recently sent Mom a homemade greeting card with a picture of a rock and a very uplifting message that made Mom happy. When Mom showed it to me, I said (nonchalantly)
“Oh yeah, I see a face in that.” Mom
said “Well, if you look at it at that angle, you might see a face. But Amy sees the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the
markings.” At that, she tilted it
slightly to the left and sure enough, I too could see the shape of the Sacred
Heart. It takes a strong dose of the
Holy Spirit working within you to recognize those things at first glance. It took me a couple of trips to the "imagination
station” to get it. Amy has posted (on her Facebook page)
dozens of photos and poems and shared many thoughts that attest to her spiritual
awareness and her “catholicity”—an awareness that I admit I envy.
So I wasn’t surprised when she posted a
picture of the Advent wreath she created this week:
What gave me the topic of tonight’s blog
however was the only comment to her post—“Are those candles sticking up out of
that wreath?!”
Advent is the season so neglected -- or even unknown -- to the
secular world. Yet, what a beautiful privilege we have as Catholic Christians
to observe this time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of our
Savior's birth!
The Church calendar this month is studded with "little feast days," leading up to the big one on December 25. St. Nicholas day is December 6, the Immaculate Conception is Dec. 8, Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, St. Lucy on December 13, and of course, the four Sundays of Advent. Each day has its own "flavor" and its own customs. Each contributes in its own way to this holy season of preparation for the birth of Jesus.
It may be hard to "keep" Advent, but if we make the effort, the Lord will bless us. In the midst of what can be a hectic season, why not set aside a time of quiet just for Jesus and you? It will take some effort, but take whatever time you can manage - even 15 minutes - and it will help you to center your heart on the real "reason for the season." That "reason," of course, is Jesus!
Spend some time with Him! Come to Him in a simple, childlike way, and He will reveal to you the mysteries of heaven. As Jesus prays to His Father in today's gospel, "Although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike."
The Church calendar this month is studded with "little feast days," leading up to the big one on December 25. St. Nicholas day is December 6, the Immaculate Conception is Dec. 8, Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, St. Lucy on December 13, and of course, the four Sundays of Advent. Each day has its own "flavor" and its own customs. Each contributes in its own way to this holy season of preparation for the birth of Jesus.
It may be hard to "keep" Advent, but if we make the effort, the Lord will bless us. In the midst of what can be a hectic season, why not set aside a time of quiet just for Jesus and you? It will take some effort, but take whatever time you can manage - even 15 minutes - and it will help you to center your heart on the real "reason for the season." That "reason," of course, is Jesus!
Spend some time with Him! Come to Him in a simple, childlike way, and He will reveal to you the mysteries of heaven. As Jesus prays to His Father in today's gospel, "Although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike."
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