Star

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Star

Eastern     Radiant

Magi    Epiphany    Promise

The Mystery Made Known

Coheirs

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the bounty of God's grace that was given to me for your assistance.

The mystery was shared with me through revelation.

People in other generations did not receive it.

It has now been revealed to his faithful apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit.

The Gentiles are coheirs, joined in the same body, and copartners in the covenant in Christ Jesus through the good news.

Reflection

In our passage from Ephesians Paul is talking about the grace that he has received. His conversion was an amazing example of Jesus communicating directly with him. That experience stayed with Paul and shaped his ministry. Paul knew that it was impossible to limit God's grace and God's call.

That grace and call have been extended to the Gentiles. This led to a big controversy in the early Church. There were many who thought that the Gentile converts had to become Jewish first. 

Because of his experience, Paul felt differently.

It is always a temptation to limit the grace and the direction that flows from the Holy Spirit. 

The story of the Magi which we celebrate on the Feast of the Epiphany shows how God leads.

God sends a star to guide the Magi.

They come seeking from a foreign land.

They were most likely from a different religious tradition.

They experienced what Paul experienced: the bounty of God's grace.

The Body of Christ is much bigger than we thought.

There are more coheirs than we realize.

The Good News is being proclaimed in more places than we know. 

God is amazing and the grace of God cannot be limited.

Paul knew that well! So did the Magi!

Do we?

1. Why do we as humans try to limit God's grace?

2. Why do you think the Magi followed the star?

3. What stars have you been following lately?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Message

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Message

Angels     Shepherds

Proclaiming     Glorifying     Praising

Behold Your Savior Comes

Peace

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 2:15 to 20

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see exactly what has taken place, which the Lord has revealed to us."

So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 

When they saw this, they shared the good news that they had found out about this child. 

All who heard about this special message from the shepherds were touched deeply.

Mary remembered all these things and thought about them in her heart.

Then the shepherds went back and gave praise to God for the amazing things that they had heard and witnessed---just as the angels had told them! 

Reflection

Luke tells us about the message that the shepherds received. I can just imagine being one of those shepherds and wondering exactly what is going on!

There you are taking care of your sheep at night and all of a sudden some angels pay you a visit. Is it a dream? Is it real?

The angels must have been convincing! The shepherds head for Bethlehem right away and are able to find Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

What a remarkable sight! Imagine hearing the angels and then discovering exactly what was described---a child in a manger. Such an unusual sight.

I'm sure the shepherds are thinking that those angels knew what they were talking about. Their trust in the words of the angels paid off for them. They were privileged to encounter one of the most amazing sights of all time---God in our midst!

This had to be equally amazing for Joseph and Mary. They are rejoicing in the gift of new life and then some shepherds show up!

I'm sure they knew Jesus was going to be a special child but this is a wonderful confirmation for them. It gave Mary and Joseph a lot to reflect on.

What should we do with this message? We can follow the example of the shepherds and share the message with our words and deeds so that we can spread the Good News!

Our Savior comes with Peace. Jesus wants us to treat everyone as our sisters and brothers. We are all part of the family of God. 

Kathy's photo this week is from a manger set that was made in Kenya. The message continues to go out far and wide. The angels are still singing and proclaiming!

Enjoy the Good News!

1. Can you relate to the shepherds?

2. Do you find it hard to trust messages from the angels that visit you?

3. How can you spread the Good News? 

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)  

Advent

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Advent

Angels     Announcement

Leaping     Birthing     Fulfilling

He Shall Be Peace

Emmanuel

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: Micah 5:1 to 4a

Thus says the Lord: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the tribes of Judah, from you shall be born for Me one who will lead Israel: whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.

Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has delivered, and the rest of his family shall return to the children of Israel.

He shall stand solid and watch over his flock by the power of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain.

For now his greatness shall spread to the ends of the earth.

He shall be peace.

Reflection

The prophet Micah tells us where the leader of the people will be born. The tiny village of Bethlehem will have that honor.

This was the home of the great King David. The Messiah was to come from the line of David.

It is amazing that such a great leader would come from such an insignificant town. You might predict that the Messiah might come from Jerusalem or some other large town.

God has a different plan. Many times we see God choosing a person or place that the rest of us would overlook.

Micah indicates that this child will help people to return to the family of Israel. The role of this young child is one of unity.

We all strive to achieve this unity and to bring all people together. So many people are upset when they see bitterness and hatred between different groups in our society. We know instinctively that we need to be better.

This leader from Bethlehem shall watch over the flock. You sense the caring and the concern of this leader. 

These are the types of leaders that we need for our families, our Church, and our society. They are called to serve others and not themselves.

Micah points out that they "stand solid" as they tend the flock. They do not abandon anyone because they are fueled by the power of the Lord. 

This leader will not be limited to one nation or region. His love and caring will be so great that his message will spread to the ends of the earth.

It is interesting that this spreading will not be done by force or compulsion. This leader will embody Peace.

As we ponder this prophecy during Advent, we are amazed that our God loves us so much that God wants to gift us with a special person who will watch over us and lead us to true Peace.

Kathy's photo shows us the power of Light to overcome the darkness of division and hatred that can distract us and frustrate us.

There is another path to take. Emmanuel has come to help us find true Peace.

1. What is your image of Bethlehem?

2. Why does God sometimes choose such insignificant places in which important leaders are born?

3. Why is having leaders who bring unity so important for us today? 

4. How have you found true Peace?

Exultation

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Exultation

Joyful     Heartfelt

Renewing     Acclaiming     Proclaiming

What Should We Do

Pray

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:     Zephaniah 3:14 and 17

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing with JOY, O Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

The Lord, your God, is with you, a mighty savior; he will exult with you in gladness, and renew you with God's Love.

Philippians 4:4 to 7

Sisters and brothers: Rejoice in the Lord at all times. I will say it once more: rejoice! Your caring should be known by all. The Lord is close to us. Have no worries at all, but in all things, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your needs known to God. Then the peace of God that goes beyond all understanding will protect your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 3:10

The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?"

Reflection

Zephaniah is literally bursting with JOY! He is rejoicing so much that the joy comes out of him.

It is a joy that causes Zephaniah to exult with his heart. You might ask, "Why all this JOY?"

Zephaniah tells us clearly: the Lord is in our midst. God is with us. How can we not rejoice?

When we become aware of that presence, we allow God to renew us with God's Love. 

We feel the Love.

We are moved.

How can we contain that type of JOY?

In Philippians we are told to rejoice always! We look at that and say how is that possible?

We can rejoice sometimes---when things are going well, when we get good news, when our favorite sports team wins, when a child is born!

But always!

That seems like a real stretch for us!!!

Philippians gives us a key: our caring! When we truly care for each person and respect the dignity of each person, the JOY that Jesus wants to share with us can transform us.

Prayer leads us into that caring and that rejoicing. It also leads us into a deeper understanding of peace.

In Luke we hear the people in the crowd asking John the very important question: "What should we do?"

When we have that JOY, when we spread it always with our rejoicing, when we are aware that we live in the presence of God, when we know that peace that goes beyond all understanding, we know what we should do!

The formula is simple: share what we have with others, be honest, spread the Good News.

Kathy's photo shows us the power of that LIGHT: Jesus is with us! 

1. Have you ever been bursting with JOY like Zephaniah?

2. How do you feel when you become aware of the presence of God?

3. Is it really possible to rejoice always?

4. What should we do?

5. What do you feel when you contemplate Kathy's photo? 

Wrapped

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Wrapped

Cloak     Justice

Preparing     Lighting      Glorifying

Partnership With The Gospel

Word

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Baruch 5:1 and 2

Jerusalem, take off your robe of sadness and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God always: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that shows the glory of the eternal name. 

Philippians 1:4 to 6 

Sisters and brothers: I pray always with joy in each prayer for all of you, because of your partnership with the gospel from the beginning of my ministry with you until now. I am sure of this: that the one who ignited this good work in you will continue it until the day when Jesus comes again.

Luke 3:2 and 3

During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went through the whole area of the Jordan, speaking to all about a baptism that would lead to conversion away from a life of sin.

Reflection

I think of a very cold day.

It's freezing outside.

I put on a big sweater.

Get my gloves and hat.

Look for my winter coat.

Now I'm ready.

Bring on the cold!

I'm wrapped and warm.

As I reflect on these readings that is the image that comes to mind. I think about God's Love in the same way.

Yes there are obstacles in life.

Of course there will be setbacks.

I will make a ton of mistakes.

I will say some really dumb things.

I will forget to communicate other things that I should have shared.

Through all these challenges, God is wrapping me in Love and Justice. That wrapping helps me to proclaim the Glory of God in the season of Advent when we do not sing or say the Gloria during our worship.

I proclaim that Glory by acting justly, by treating others with respect, by acknowledging the dignity of each person I meet.

We are all honored to be partners with Jesus and the community in sharing the Gospel. We can spread the JOY that Jesus shares with us. We are privileged to be bearers of Good News.

A good work has been ignited in us as it was in John the Baptist. Just as he went around in the area of the Jordan River, we can go around in our own circle of friends and witness the miracle of conversion---a conversion that comes when a person feels wrapped in the Love of Jesus.

Enjoy your Advent Wrapping!

1. Have you ever felt wrapped in the Love and Justice of God?

2. How do you proclaim the Glory of God?

3. What does it mean for you to be a partner with Jesus and the community in proclaiming the Gospel?

4. Is there a conversion that you need this Advent?