The Way of Mary: Radiance!

 Good Saturday morning, good Advent pilgrims on The Way of Mary. The snow has finally stopped and it is sunny but C.O.L.D. here in Bawston (presently 26 degrees). The local news is reporting that there are 70 delays and 80 cancellations at Logan Airport, but my airline is reporting my flight "on time".

(Please, Jesus or St. Peter, or Pinocchio or Tinkerbell or whoever is in charge of the cosmos today, may that to be so.)

I'm scheduled to preach tomorrow so, taking every precaution, I've sent my sermon to Ms. Conroy and I've written the Canon and the Sr. Warden of the church about the possibility (please, not probability but possibility) of a delay or (gasp!) cancellation.

We have a Plan B and Plan C approved and in place, but hopefully (fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eyes crossed) I'll make it home on time or close to it and be there with those good people in Milton at 9:30 AM for a 10:00 AM mass.

In the Northern Hemisphere, today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the longest night. It's officially the first day of winter and one of the oldest-known holidays in human history.

Anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back at least 30,000 years before humans even began farming on a large scale. Many of the most ancient stone structures made by human beings were designed to pinpoint the precise date of the solstice. The stone circles of Stonehenge were arranged to receive the first rays of the midwinter sun.

Some ancient peoples believed that because daylight was waning, it might go away forever, so they lit huge bonfires to tempt the sun to come back. The tradition of decorating our houses and our trees with lights at this time of year is passed down from those ancient bonfires.

In ancient Egypt and Syria, people celebrated the winter solstice as the sun's birthday. In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated with the festival of Saturnalia, during which all business transactions and even wars were suspended, and slaves were waited upon by their masters.

Today is also Day V of the O Antiphons. The Meditative Word for today is Radiance.

"O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." (Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12, Habakkuk 3:4; Wisdom 7:26; Hebrews 1:3, Malachi 4:2)

It is good to say this O Antiphon before and after saying The Magnificat (which we'll hear in church tomorrow)

THE MAGNIFICAT:
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid:
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath shown might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed for ever.
Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever, Amen.

Here's a little meditation and prayer from Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB

"The celebration of the God of Growth in our lives—those moments of insight in which life comes newly alive in me—helps us to recognize those moments of insight in which life comes newly alive and I begin to see differently, to live differently, to function differently. A new friend, a new work, or a new idea are all "radiant dawns" in life that can enable me to become more than I ever dreamed I could."

And, here's a wee prayer, just for today: O Dayspring, Sun of Justice, bright eternal light, one who shows the way, the one who sets us free even in darkness and death. Come, disperse the gloomy clouds of night.

Off we go, then, into this first day of Winter.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia!

The Way of Mary: Keys

Good Friday morning, good Advent pilgrims who walk The Way of Mary. I'm in Boston for the day. Well, I arrived last night and will leave Saturday afternoon.

It's snowing. It's cold. I had forgotten what it was like to wake up to snow. It's great to look out the window and see it blowing 'round. It's supposed to Really snow between 3-8 PM and then settle down so driving to Logan will be easy peasy and no flight delays. At least, that's my mantra.

Today is the fourth day of the O Antiphons - O Key of David
(O Clavis David)

O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Sr. Joan as a wonderful meditation on this Antiphon. She writes:
"We are called to the kind of Christian commitment that opens doors and breaks down barriers between people, that brings unity to a divided world. Try to unlock one door that is keeping someone locked out of your heart."

She prays: "O Key of David, rod and staff of the house of Israel, one who opens and no one closes, the one who closes and no one opens. Come lead prisoners caught in darkness."

Today also begins the journey to the longest night of the year. On the 21st, the earth will begin to rotate differently on its axis, and the days will begin to get longer. Scientists have lots of explanations and theories that sound really impressive, but no one knows how this happens exactly. It just does, at the same time every year.

And so begins our journey deeper into the mystery that is at the center of the universe which we call "The Incarnation."

Many churches will be holding lovely, quiet services tonight that are called "Longest Night" or "Blue Christmas". Maybe your church has already had such a service.

It's a time for those for whom Christmas is decidedly not "the most wonderful time of the year." They've lost someone. Or, perhaps, are losing someone. Or, they've lost a job or a home or a friend or a marriage. Even if the loss was for a good reason, and something better is about to happen, it may not feel so good "right this very minute".

Change is change. A loss is a loss. Grief is grief. Even the Israelites, newly freed from bondage in Egypt, longed for the pomegranates in their liberation.

Dealing with loss is hard anytime but especially this time of year of anticipation and expectation. It's hard to find the energy for that when you're grieving.

And, the thing about grief is that it can break your heart, shattering it into little pieces, following an event that everyone knows and there are people in your life who care.

It can also feel like death by a thousand paper cuts. You are aware that something is off - your energy level, your ability to focus and pay attention, your enthusiasm - and then, a memory will surface and you just can't anymore.

We have a saying in Hospice: "Pain touches pain." And, when that happens, the pain is amplified.

If that's where you are, fear not. You are not alone. And, there is a strange but very real kind of solace in that.

I love the quote from Ted Lasso: "I promise you there is something worse out there than being sad, and that's being alone and being sad."

If you find yourself feeling sad, even if you can't think of a good reason to be sad, give yourself a present and call a friend. Call someone you haven't spoken with in a long time. Call your mother. Call her anyway.

Oh, you'll get through "The Longest Night" alone. It would be so much better if you made the effort to me with someone. Who knows, that someone may need you more than you need them.

I'm off to explore Back Bay, Boston in the snow. I've got on my Uggs, my sweater, my Iona shawl, my gloves, my Scottish tweed hat, and my long Eddie Bauer down coat. It's been a long while but you don't ever forget a cold, New England day.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

The Way of Mary: Roots

Good Thursday morning, good Advent pilgrims on the Way of Mary. Today is December 19th, the third day of the glorious O Antiphons: O Radix Jesse or The Tree of Jesse

"O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid." (Isaiah 11:1-4; 45:23; 52:13; Luke 1:32-33)

When I was a child, I remember being told a legend of the poinsettia by an Italian neighbor that she had learned in her home country as a young girl. Legend has it that a girl named Sophia was sad because she was too poor to buy any flowers to present to baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. But as she walked sadly to the church that night, an angel appeared and told her to pick some of the weeds by the side of the road. When Sophia brought her weeds into the church and placed them by the manger, they were changed into beautiful scarlet flowers—poinsettias, to be exact.

She said that a poinsettia was a symbol of The Root of Jesse and the way God blesses our simple acts of generosity - to do whatever we can do to praise God - from generation to generation. And, that's why there are always lots of poinsettias around the Nativity Scene at Christmas.

I'm sure she made that up - or someone in her family did - but I can't look at a poinsettia without thinking of Sophia and Jesse.

That's not a bad thing, actually. But I was thinking about that as I considered Sr. Joan Chittister's meditation for today:

"It takes generations to build the Christ vision in the world, just as it took generations after Jesse to prepare for the coming of the Christ. It is our task to root ideas now that will bring the next generation to wholeness."

And then, this story from my own "family tree" came back to haunt me:

I was driving our youngest daughter home from Jr. high school. I was tired and crabby and the last thing I wanted was to go home and cook supper. So, I tried to get some ideas from her, a fool’s errand if there ever was one.

“So, I’ve had a really tough day, sweetheart. I’m really exhausted. What would you like for supper? Chinese? Italian? McDonalds? Wendy’s? KFC?”

“I don’t know, Mom,” she said in her bored teen way, “Whatever.”

“So, there’s a KFC up ahead. We could do fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and . .. “

“Ewwww,” she said, “it’s so greasy.”

“Okaaaay . . . how about McDonalds?”

“No, I had McDonalds last Tuesday.”

“Wendy’s, then?”

“Same stuff, different package.”

If any of you have had a teen you know where this conversation is headed.

Trying not to show my exasperation, and aware that I was going to have to downshift my VW Bug because a stoplight was coming up pretty fast, I said, “So, just tell me.”

At that point, I was in a long line at the stoplight. I could see a panhandler weaving his way from car to car, asking for spare change. He was filthy and disheveled and clearly in an altered state of conscience.

I could feel my grip on the steering wheel tightening as he got closer to my car. He tried to make eye contact with me but I stared straight ahead. Mercifully, he walked right by.

After I had taken my foot off the brake and slowly shifted my foot to the gas pedal and shifted my car into gear, our youngest daughter said, “So, Mom, why didn’t you give that many some spare change?”

“Well, because I don’t have any,” I said.

She reached into the shelf under my radio and dug out four quarters. “Here’s a dollar right here that you didn’t even know you had. So, if you gave it to him, you wouldn’t even have noticed that it was gone.”

Now, I was annoyed. “Did you see him? The man was drunk. Clearly. Intoxicated. If I gave him that money, he’d just spend it on booze.”

“Oh,” she said, “so I guess it turns out that the real difference between us and them is that we get to choose how to spend our money. We can choose to spend it on good, home-cooked food or we can spend it on junk fast food.”

“But,” she continued her sermon, feeding me words she had heard me preach, “If the poor want to spend their money on something we don’t think they should, they don’t get out money, but they do get our judgment.”

What was it Sr. Joan said? Something about: "It takes generations to build the Christ vision in the world."

From one generation to the next, by story and symbol, by word and deed, one act of random generosity at a time.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia

You can hear the sisters chant the O Antiphon of the day here https://www.eriebenedictines.org/...
 

The Way of Mary: Adonai

 

Good Wednesday morning, good Advent pilgrims of The Way of Mary. Today is the second day of the O Antiphons and the word is O Adonai. The words of the antiphon are:

"O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms." (Exodus 3:1-8; 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 26:5-9)

Sr. Joan Chittister, who is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA, has a brief but lovely meditation on that antiphon:

"When we build a vision of life it is necessary to realize that Jesus must be the center of it—not our institutions, good as they may be; not our plans or personal talents, necessary as they are."

Her sisters suggest that saying The Lord's Prayer is a good way to meditate on the Second O Antiphon.

Here's another: Light a candle and read the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3, to remind you of the way God was revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the way Moses was given the Ten Commandments, “in cloud and majesty and awe”. When and how does God appear to us today? When have you felt the nearer presence of God?

Today also happens to be the birthday of Charles Wesley, the Anglican priest who wanted to reform the Church of England to be centered more in justice but whose work (“method”), instead, started a movement today known as the denomination called Methodism.

Wesley published more than a staggering 4,400 hymns during his lifetime and left behind several thousand more. His hymns include "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and "Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown."

"Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown" was originally published as "Wrestling Jacob," and is often considered Wesley's masterpiece. Wesley wrote:

Come, O Thou Traveler unknown,
Whom still I hold but cannot see;
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with Thee;
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

Personally? I think that's a great meditation on The Second Antiphon. Here it is, set to a familiar tune: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/560

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

The Way of Mary: Wisdom

Good Tuesday morning, good Advent people who walk The Way of Mary. You would not believe the excitement in our house right now. Today . .. this very day . . .being the 17th day of the 12th and last month of December, is . . .. wait for it, wait for it . . . the first day of the O Antiphons.

I can't tell you how Ms. Conroy looks forward to this day, when the antiphons, said or sung at vespers, count down the last seven days before Christmas.

So, of course, the word for the day is: O Sapientia. O Wisdom.

I want to tell you about something I learned from a news article posted by my dear Facebook friend Janet Vetter, which shows that Mother Earth has wisdom and healing that we are just beginning to discover.

It's about the Black Fungus that is healing Chornobyl, Ukraine. (Note Chernobyl is the Russian spelling of that city. Chornobyl is the way the Ukrainians spell it and say it. Sort of like the Kyiv is Ukraninan and Kive is Russian. We say "Kyiv.")

Remember Chornobyl? The explosion of Reactor No. 4 at the Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, on April 26, 1986, stands as the worst nuclear disaster in history. The catastrophe created a 30-kilometer exclusion zone—a desolate area still unsafe for human habitation due to lingering high radiation levels decades later.

Shortly after the explosion, scientists discovered a black fungus growing on the walls inside Reactor No. 4. Inside the reactor. These fungi were actually flourishing where the radiation was most intense.

The fungi appear to “feed” on radiation, using it as an energy source much like plants use sunlight through photosynthesis. And now, almost 50 years later, the fungi are still growing, still thriving, eating up the radiation and turning it into energy.

The Black Fungus is healing the earth.

Just let that sink in for just a moment. The earth is healing itself from a deep wound that happened almost fifty years ago, inflicted upon it by its human creatures.

One of the definitions of the word 'Wisdom' is "the ability to see the world as God sees it."

Sr. Joan Chittister offers a very brief meditation for today's O Antiphon - a way to find a path to wisdom. She says this:

"Try reading the newspaper today through the eyes of a God who was born in a stable, counted to be of no account, hounded by society from one place to another."

As I read this account of the Black Fungus of Chornobyl, I see God's wisdom in the world, healing the damage done by Her children who, even after left The Garden more than a few millennia ago, have not yet learned how to use the gift of wisdom.

I suppose it takes more than one bite of the Fruit of Knowledge to gain Wisdom.

Here's another way to meditate on the word wisdom: Try to recall the best and worst decisions you ever made. While we all like the way our best decisions work out, we probably gain the most wisdom from our biggest mistakes. Spend some time trying to understand how God has given you wisdom through your decisions - even the mistakes you've made.

You might want to add this prayer as part of your devotions today — O Wisdom, O Holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. (Isaiah 11:2-3; Wisdom 8:1; Proverbs 9:1)

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

OPS&BTW, here's that article: https://scienceadvance.com/this-black-fungus-might-be-healing-chernobyl/

The Way of Mary: Hospitality

 

Good Monday morning, good Advent pilgrims on The Way of Mary. The word that came to me during my morning meditation is 'hospitality'.

Yes, it is central to our understanding of The Way of Jesus, not as in "the hospitality industry" but as a theological concept of welcoming the stranger. Although, you sure wouldn't know it by the way some Christians want to treat those who immigrate to this country the way their ancestors did.

According to the Birth Narratives of Jesus, 'hospitality' was not afforded to Mary and Joseph as they searched for a place where they could lodge in Bethlehem. Every child who has ever acted in a "Christmas Pageant" knows the line of the Narrator, "Because there was no room for them at the Inn."

Today begins the Hispanic tradition of "Las Posadas" - The Inns" - a nine-day celebration from December 16-24, which reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and their search for an inn. The holiday is celebrated in Mexico, parts of the United States - especially in areas where there are heavy concentrations of Hispanic people like Michigan - and other Latin American countries.

The nine-day celebration is important, as I understand it, because it is symbolic of the nine-month pregnancy of Mary.

It is painfully ironic - and I can't believe the irony is lost on many Hispanic people - that even while they are reenacting the inhospitable nature of those who denied shelter to Mary and Joseph, they are being threatened with "mass deportation".

And, the people for whom those violent, inhospitable words are hot on their lips, have already put up nativity scenes in their own homes and yards, including the figures of two brown-skinned Palestinian Jewish refugees, one of whom has just delivered a child she conceived out of wedlock, as well as three brown-skinned men from Persia, Arabia, and India.

Once Project 2025 is activated on January 20th by some of these same Christians, "DEI" - Diversity Equality and Inclusion - will be struck from all policies in all government agencies.

The irony is so painful it takes my breath away when it doesn't give me a pounding headache. I feel like John the Baptist screaming, "You brood of vipers!"

Never mind. There's nothing to be done but push back and protest when we can and remind "the powers that be" that, in fact, they did not win the popular vote with an "unprecedented and powerful mandate" but rather by 1.62 percent, the smallest in 24 years, when Bush won with 0.51 percent.

In the meantime, it is imperative for those of us who walk The Way of Mary to practice hospitality in every way we are able, small and large. It starts with recognizing the other and making a personal connection with them. Don't pass a stranger without looking them in the eye and saying "Hello," or "Good morning".

In the meantime, offer to volunteer a few hours a week in places that offer hospitality to the stranger and those in need: community shelters and soup kitchens, and community thrift shops - or donate food, clothing, bedding, personal hygiene supplies and/or money.

In the meantime, pay attention. Look around you. Smile. Be kind. Pick up trash that has been thoughtlessly thrown on the ground. Put away some of the shopping carts that are blocking parking spaces. Stop and help someone who needs a little help crossing the sidewalk or reaching that top shelf in the market.

And, yes, if someone is hustling money at the traffic light, give him or her a dollar bill. Yes, they might use it to score drugs or buy some cheap booze, but maybe they'll use it to buy a hot cup of coffee and something at Mickey Ds. Have you not ever wasted money on something frivolous or stupid? Allow them to exercise their autonomy and yes, have the freedom to make a few bad choices.

I mean, isn't that what God did with Adam and Eve in The Garden? God forgave us for that transgression over 2,000 years ago. Maybe if we could forgive ourselves, we might be able to forgive each other?

Forgiveness as an extension of hospitality. Just a thought.

Practice hospitality in however many ways - big or small - as a way of celebrating "Las Posadas". Hospitality is not only The Way of Jesus, it's part of The Way of Mary.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

The Way of Mary: Diva

 

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Good Sunday morning, good Advent pilgrims on The Way of Mary. It’s the Third Sunday of Advent, AKA Gaudete Sunday. AKA Rose Sunday. AKA Stir Up Sunday.

In the collect prayer, we'll be asking God to "Stir up your might and come among us." We'll also be wearing rose/pink vestments in church and lighting the rose/pink candle.

Just for the occasion, I'm wearing my rose (pink) sweater and my necklace with the large silver rose. I am so sad that I can't find my rose earrings to match but they'll show up. Eventually. Probably next Sunday when I can't wear them again.

Rose or Gaudete Sunday is when we'll be celebrating that soon The Light of the World will be here. And, on December 21st, we'll observe the Ancient Solstice, when the world tips on its axis just a teeny tiny bit and, in fact, the world will be getting a little lighter.

As Wendell Berry says, Advent is the season when things get “darker and darker and darker and then, Jesus is born!”

We’re getting closer.

But the word for today is not "gaudete" or rejoice or rose or even "stir up". The word that came to me today is "Diva".

Let me explain.

In Indian culture, messengers of God are known "as points of light". And, that word? In ancient Sanskrit, the word is “diva” meaning "that which shines". Today, being a “diva” or a “little diva” is just a bit of a slam. It means that you’re spoiled and/or demanding and/or requiring lots of attention.

Today, this third Sunday in Advent, we rejoice (Gaudete!) even as John the Baptist seems to be said 'diva" and has himself a little hissy fit and yells at the crowd, "You brood of vipers!"

Today, John is the messenger of God - a diva in the most ancient meaning of that word in Sanskrit. The light of the Birth Narrative is shining on him and his message but The Light of the World, sent from God, is on His way.

Today is a good day to consider how it is that we bring a little light into the world, which seems these days to be an especially dark and broken place.

I don't know about you, but when I listen to the news or read yet another news article about "the peaceful transition of power" I am very tempted to borrow the words of John the Baptist and scream, "You brood of vipers!"

Which is one way to be a diva and bring a message of God. Personally? I don't think that's particularly helpful.

I'm wondering how I might bring a spark of light into some really dark times. How is it that I might find the courage to stand up and say "No," when that's important but to say "Yes," unless it's absolutely necessary to say "No."

I think that's how hope is made incarnate. God said, "Yes, I made a mistake back in the Garden and now I've got to fix it and send the deepest part of myself to be with those I created."

In many ways, Advent is, as Carter Heyward - one of God's true divas - once wrote, "The Redemption of God." Considering that theological idea - the incarnation of Jesus as the redemption of God - fills me with great hope.

We, as the Body of Christ, we who carry a divine spark within us, have this wonderful opportunity to participate in that ongoing redemption.

This Advent journey is, in great part, about finding our way back to the future in Eden. Together. By allowing ourselves to become divas. Points of Light. Messengers of God.

Off I go to church to ponder all these things in my heart.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

The Way of Mary: Fear no evil.

 

Image by ShaRonda Knott Dawson

Good Saturday morning, good Advent pilgrims on The Way of Mary. In 10 days we'll be getting ourselves ready for Christmas Eve services. Lots of churches still have their "youth" perform The Christmas Pageant - as if there isn't enough stress and anxiety in everyone's lives.

Thankfully, the rector and staff of my church have planned an Epiphany Pageant. Very smart. Very sensible. Way less stressful. Much more meaningful.

This morning, I was meditating on the 23rd Psalm, which was one of the favorites of so many of my Hospice patients. I have said it so often that I have it memorized and can say it as easily as The Lord's Prayer and better than the Nicene Creed.

No matter how often I say it, every now and again a phrase will jump out at me and catch the spiritual attention of my heart.

Today it was "Fear No Evil."

I would bet solid money that Mary recited or chated that psalm to herself at least a few times during the days of her pregnancy.

It's something I am finding brings me great comfort in these dark, chaotic times filled with ominous threats about Mass Deportation and Eliminating Social Security and Banning Flouride in Water and Childhood Immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, whopping cough, and polio. (Sweet Jesus! Polio!!)

I remembered reading something Fred Buechner wrote about this phrase in, "Secrets in the Dark".

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." The psalm does not pretend that evil and death do not exist. Terrible things happen, and they happen to good people as well as to bad people. Even the paths of righteousness lead through the valley of the shadow. Death lies ahead for all of us, saints and sinners alike, and for all the ones we love. The psalmist doesn't try to explain evil. He doesn't try to minimize evil. He simply says he will not fear evil. For all the power that evil has, it doesn't have the power to make him afraid."

And, you know, for all the bluster and testing of limits coming from the Castle de Mar-A-Largo, that's really the point: To make us afraid. Not for nothing, it is not without good cause to be afraid. If we shut down, look away, and try to ignore it, Project 2025 has a much better chance of being fulfilled

For all the power all those threats have, it does not have the power to make us afraid. I've said this before and I'll say it again: Fear and Excitement have exactly the same reaction in the body:

The heartbeat quickens and races. The body starts to perspire and may feel tingly. We may scream out and our words will be incomprehensible. Thinking can be fuzzy and unclear and difficult to focus beyond the immediate present.

It's your brain that chooses whether or not you are excited or afraid. Choose not to be afraid. Choose to consider what mighty work God has in store for us - for you - that can not be done without you. Without us working together.

In fact, I think one of the most powerful antidotes to fear is laughter. I think laughter in the face of evil is one of the greatest statements of faith. If you can laugh in the face of evil, you not only believe in God, you trust God to have ultimate power over evil. There's a reason scripture says that laughter is the best medicine. It's also good, preventative therapy.

No, I'm not suggesting that we simply laugh and walk away. That wouldn't be any better than to choose fear. I'm suggesting that we stand up, look evil straight in the eye, and laugh in its face, even as - so that we can - love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with God.

The Way of Mary is filled with obstacles and dangers. But it is also filled with challenging opportunities that will deepen our faith and strengthen our resolve to live into our baptismal promises and make this world a better place.

The time is pregnant with possibilities to take our embryonic faith and grow into the full stature of Christ. Let's use these last ten days of Advent to nurture ourselves as a fetus in the womb of Mary and allow ourselves to be filled with her blood, rich in the oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies we need to stand up to evil.

Let us draw inspiration from the Prophet Zephaniah.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.

The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;

he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.