Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad/Jouex Noel

Greetings from hot and humid Africa! I arrived safely the night of December 23^rd.  The trip was long and arduous.  We took a short flight from St. Louis to Detroit, and then changed planes for a longer flight from Detroit to Paris.  I was able to sleep a little with the help of a sleep aid.  We landed in Paris and waited about 2 hours for our next flight.  The flight from Paris to Abidjan was about 6 ½ hours.  When I boarded the plane, much to my chagrin, I found out that I was in a middle seat! If you know me, you can imagine that I did not have the face of a “happy camper” for 6 ½ hours!!! Once in Abidjan we made it through immigration with little trouble but then waited over an hour for our luggage.  We were late in arriving, so I think a few flights came in at the same time.  Surrounding the carousel was a sea of humanity, and “personal space” is not really recognized in Ivory Coast! After clearing customs without a hitch one of our brothers was there to pick us up at the airport.  His English was limited (Ivory Coast is part of French speaking Africa) but we were able to speak a little with him on the way to the place where the program was being held.  The trip lasted about 45 minutes.   As we were approaching our destination, there were workers working on paving the road, so we had to take an “alternate route”.  Well, once again, I felt like I was in a movie about two Americans who were kidnapped by bandits by African rebels.  We went the “back way” on a dirt road where there was no lighting and I could hardly see the road in front of us.  Hail Mary, full of grace…… Luckily, we made it to our destination without being accosted.  We ate a little something and then were shown to our rooms at our Novitiate.  The room is simple, but has a bathroom, shower and air-conditioning (circa 1990), so I was happy!

The next day we began with Morning Prayer at 6:30am followed by Mass and breakfast.  My body clock was, and still is, so out of whack.  The day was spent going to sessions, meeting the brothers, eating meals, prayer, and a siesta.  The internet access is touch and go, and so I am actually writing this with the hopes of being able to copy-paste-publish while the going is good! We attended Christmas Eve Mass at a local parish.  We were fortunate enough to have some spots reserved for us (there are about 45 people in the group) because the Church was brimming over with people.  I was feeling a little “homesick”, even for Mexico, because celebrating Christmas in a language I do not understand just seemed sad to me.  Well, once the choir began singing, all the sadness disappeared.  They wore bright yellow outfits and the women all wore headdresses that would put any Baptist “hat lady” to shame! The choir was amazing!  During the offertory I started to tear up because even though I had no idea what they were singing, the joy was evident to me.  I was surprised that at only 1 ½ hours we were almost finished with Mass.  Until…..a young man came up after Communion to speak to the people.   He had the people saying, “Amen” and laughing.  Then he said something about not receiving enough at the collection.  The pastor got up, took the microphone and told the people they needed to give more! The ushers came to the front of the Church, the choir started singing and then the people processed with money in hand, dancing, and singing while they made their offering.  We continued dancing, singing for almost 30 minutes.  Now that’s a way to collect money!  I think we need to do this in the US….the people were happy to give and the handkerchiefs were waving in the air and we had some Church on Christmas Eve!  After the Mass we all went back to our place, the brothers put on some music, the beer, wine, and whisky came out and we proceeded to have our own dance party.  All in all, it was a very enjoyable night….different from any other Christmas Eve that I celebrated, but a fun, holy, and uplifting night for this American!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!  Thank you for your prayers, your comments, your concerns and your support my friends!

Mary: Multiple Celebrations!

Greetings good friends! I am now trying to catch up from all the celebrations, meetings in the US and visiting with friends.  So, most of the post will be old news, but thought I should share some thoughts anyway.

In December we have two very important feast days in the Church, the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12).  I was blessed to be able to celebrate both of these feasts in Mexico.  On Dec 8th, the community celebrated with a BBQ outside (yes, it was warm enough that day for one!).  We ate a traditional Chilean meal which the Brothers learned how to cook when some of the attended the Novitiate in Chile.  We had meat, chorizo, veggies, potatoes, wine, bread and tequila!!!! It was a great afternoon, chatting, listening to Mexican music, and enjoying the tequila! That night we had Mass in the Church and the place was packed. 

The next day, we took a community trip to San Miguel Allende, which is a small city about 90 minutes from where we live.  The place is important because it was close to there where the first talks about Mexican Independence began to surface.  Also, the place has become home to many retired Americans.  The weather is good, and I guess the dollar goes very far there, so over the past 25 years Americans have been purchasing homes and living out retirement in Mexico. 

Church built in the early 1700s

 

Christmas tree in the square

 

An Advent Wreath with Mary in the middle, she is pregnant here.... like all of us pregnant with hope during Advent.  Interesting!

OK, this is a picture of the Trinity! I found this very fascinating because God the Father is in the Center, Jesus, the Lamb on the left, and the Holy Spirit on the right.  They are all a reflection of the Father....I like that theology!

So, did you know that the piñata was used as a catechetical devise?  It has 7 points which refer to the 7 deadly sins.  When you hit it (confess your sins) it breaks open and wonderful sweets are found! So, when you break away the exterior of sin, on the inside is goodness and sweetness!

 

Hidalgo was the forerunner of the Independence Movement... and he was a priest!

For the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the community was very busy.  We had a Mass on Dec 11th at 11pm.  The Mass was held outside of the Church under a tent.  There were probably close to 500 people at the Mass.  The Mass was led by a Mariachi Band and then after the Mass we sang Mananitas , or Songs to the Virgin.  We finished around 1am.  The next day, the Brothers were very busy all day long visiting local companies and offering Communion Services at the places of business.  It is a tradition here in Mexico.  Fr. Raymundo and I celebrated First Communion Mass at 12pm (which did not start until 12:25pm!).  There were 100 children receiving First Communion.  In Mexico, they also have godparents for First Communion.... so do the math, 100 children, 100 stats of godparents, 100 sets of parents, and family and friends and yes you could say the place was packed! Later that evening, we had the parish celebration of the Solemnity at 7pm.  There were fewer people at this celebration, but the crowd still numbered about 300 people.  After the Mass, a hearty Mexican soup called pezole was served.  All of this, and we still had Sunday to worry about!  I presided at the 8:30am and the 9:30am Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent.  I think the community was "Churched out" as the crowds were not as big as they normally were for a Sunday morning.  I went home after Mass, finished my packing and boarded my plane to the US.  I arrived fine and finished my Provincial Council meetings.  Now I am just visiting people and going to Christmas parties and awaiting my departure for the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.  I did celebrate the morning Mass at the parish on Wednesday and I also have the Sunday morning Mass at 10:30am.  So, its good to be here and good to celebrate with friends!

Not sure what happened here, but just wanted to give you an idea of all the flowers and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe that were present for the Mass

The Mariachi Band before Mass

 

Third Sunday of Advent Homily

 

Morning Church! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!  Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, and the Church in her wisdom calls this Sunday Gaudete Sunday, which means rejoice in Latin.  As we all know, sometimes the discipline of the spiritual life can become tiresome, and so the Church reminds us during this Advent season that now is the time to rejoice! We are at the midpoint of our Advent journey and we are reminded that our Advent journey is almost coming to an end.  Today is a reminder to reflect on our lives, make the necessary changes we need to make, and be filled with joy so that we can prepare for the coming of Christ born again in our hearts on Christmas Day.  So, are you ready to rejoice?  Turn to the person next to you and say, “Rejoice in the Lord always”.  Now this time a little louder! Great!

 The prophet Zephaniah tells us to “Shout for joy”, “be not discouraged”, and “the Lord your God is in your midst”.  While these words may be comforting, we must all acknowledge that there has been bad news expressed to us in our world during this past week.  Conflicts between countries, drug trafficking, corruption among political leaders, shootings of innocent people, displacement of refugees, and thousands of people going hungry and without shelter each day are the items that fill our modern news each week.  This bad news is not so different from the bad news that was announced during the time of the prophet Zephaniah.  The prophet spoke thousands of years ago to a people who were filled with despair to have some hope because God did not forget them.  The prophet speaks these same words to us today.  Do not despair, because God did not forget you…for God will “renew you in his love.”  I experienced this renewal in love yesterday here in the Chapel.  Over 100 children received First Communion.  The sight of the little one’s receiving Jesus for the first time was a sign of hope for me.  The joy and pride in the eyes of their parents was a sign of hope and expectation.  At the end of the Mass we could not help but, “Shout for joy” because God was in our midst- in the gathering of the faithful and in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.  The young are always a sign of hope….today the prophet invites us to be “young in heart” so that we might be Good News for our world.  When we are a visible sign of Good News, God then will “sing joyfully because of you.”  When you think of your life, what song do you think God will sing because of you?  Will it be a song of rejoicing?  God wants to sing a song of joy for you.  Do you believe it?

 

Rejoice in the Lord always….again I say rejoice! Saint Paul tells the Philippians to have no anxiety at all.  Over and over again we are reminded to not have anxiety, to be not afraid.  If we are people of faith, we should not be afraid, Amen? What if we woke up every morning, looked at ourselves in the mirror and said, “Do not be afraid” Think of all the great things that we could accomplish.  I know in my own life, fear has a way of holding me back.  Right now I am still struggling with Spanish.  Every day is an act of humility for me.  I think I am a good priest in English and in my own culture.  I love to speak to people, I love to preach, I love to celebrate the Mass, I love to celebrate confession, I love to listen and help people with their problems, but in Spanish it is so difficult for me.  I have to be honest, that at times I am afraid…afraid that I will not understand, that I will offend, that I will not do a good job, that people will get tired of repeating themselves because I do not understand them the first time.  This fear can keep me in my room where it is safe.  But real life happens when our lives intersect with others.  The anxiety that I sometimes feel does not help me to live freely in the Lord.  So, right now in my life my anxiety, my fears have to do with speaking Spanish.  What are your fears?  Where do you have anxiety in your life?  What would happen if you heard the Lord say to you, “Do not be afraid” What could you accomplish if you let go of your fear? What would your life look like if you let go of your anxiety and really lived your life? I think we all would rejoice a bit more….Amen?

Rejoice in the Lord always….again I say rejoice!  Once again we encounter the person of John the Baptist in the Gospel of Saint Luke.  People are coming to him because they want to change their lives.  They ask him practically what they should do in order to repent.  John tells each person what they need to do that is personal and specific to their own situation.  I like that.  While it is important to have general guidelines, we are all different, Amen?  We all have something in our lives that we need to change, and it may be different from the person sitting next to you.  So the change may have to do with being less selfish and sharing food and clothes with others, or being honest in business transactions, or not being a bully in relationships.  As we each prepare the way for the Lord in our lives, we all need to make a change, Amen? My change is not your change, but change we must! Turn to the person next to you and say, “I need to make a change in my life.”  Turn to the other person on the other side of you and say, “My change is not your change.” So just think, if every person in this Church today made one change in their life, think of what a Church this would be!  Repeat after me, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!”

So here we are on Gaudete Sunday.  Today is about putting aside our fears, letting God sing a song about us, rejoicing in the Lord and making a change in our lives.  Once again, through the person of John the Baptist we have the example of taking a good look at each of our lives and knowing our place in the world as John knew his place in relationship to Jesus.  He pointed the way, he was not the way.  Let us point the way to Jesus in our lives.  When we live without anxiety, when we rejoice, and when we make changes so that our hearts can be pure and free, we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.  This is Good News, Amen?

So Church, in the words of Saint Paul, we say together with joyful hearts, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” Amen!

 

Buenos días Iglesia! Alégrense  siempre en el Señor; se lo repito Alégrense! Hoy celebramos el tercer domingo de Adviento, y la Iglesia en su sabiduría llama este domingo Gaudete domingo, lo que significa que se regocijan en América. Como todos sabemos, a veces la disciplina de la vida espiritual puede llegar a ser tedioso, por lo que la Iglesia nos recuerda durante este tiempo de Adviento que ahora es el momento para alegrarse! Estamos en el punto medio de nuestro camino de Adviento y nos recuerda que nuestro camino de Adviento está casi llegando a su fin. Hoy en día es un recordatorio para reflexionar sobre nuestras vidas, hacer los cambios necesarios que necesitamos hacer, y estar lleno de alegría para que podamos prepararnos para la venida de Cristo nacido de nuevo en nuestros corazones en el día de Navidad. Así que, ¿estás listo para alegrarse? Gire a la persona a tu lado y decir: "Alégrense siempre en el Señor". Ahora esta vez un poco más fuerte! ¡Excelente!

El profeta Sofonías nos dice: "Da gritos de júbilo", "No se desalienten", y "el Señor tu Dios está en medio de ti". Si bien estas palabras pueden ser reconfortante, todos debemos reconocer que ha habido una mala noticia expresó a nosotros en nuestro mundo durante la semana pasada. Los conflictos entre los países, el narcotráfico, la corrupción entre los líderes políticos, tiroteos de personas inocentes, de desplazamiento de los refugiados, y miles de personas que pasan hambre y sin refugio cada día son los artículos que llenan nuestras noticias moderna cada semana. Esta mala noticia no es tan diferente de las malas noticias que se anunció durante el tiempo del profeta Sofonías. El profeta habló hace miles de años a un pueblo que estaban llenos de desesperación a tener un poco de esperanza, porque Dios no se olvidó de ellos. El profeta habla las mismas palabras para nosotros hoy. No se desespere, porque Dios no se olvidó... por Dios "te renovará con su amor." Experimenté esta renovación en el amor de ayer aquí en la Capilla. Más de 100 niños recibieron la Primera Comunión. La vista de la pequeña de un cierto Jesús receptor por primera vez era un signo de esperanza para mí. La alegría y el orgullo en los ojos de sus padres era un signo de esperanza y expectativa. Al final de la Misa no podíamos dejar de "gritos de júbilo ", porque Dios estaba en medio de nosotros - en el recogimiento de los fieles y en el pan y el vino de la Eucaristía. Los jóvenes son siempre un signo de esperanza... .HOY el profeta nos invita a ser "jóvenes de corazón" para que podamos ser una buena noticia para nuestro mundo. Cuando somos un signo visible de la Buena Nueva, Dios entonces se "cantan con alegría gracias a ti." Cuando piensas en tu vida, ¿qué canción crees que Dios va a cantar por tu culpa? ¿Será una canción de regocijo? Dios quiere cantar una canción de alegría para ti. ¿Tú lo crees?

 Alégrense  siempre en el Señor; se lo repito: Alégrense.   San Pablo dice a los Filipenses a tener ninguna ansiedad en absoluto. Una y otra vez nos recuerda que no tiene ansiedad, a no tener miedo. Si somos personas de fe, no debemos tener miedo, Amén? ¿Y si nos despertamos cada mañana, mirado en el espejo y dijo: "No temas" Piensa en todas las grandes cosas que podríamos lograr. Sé que en mi propia vida, el miedo tiene una manera de celebrar mi espalda. En este momento yo todavía estoy luchando con el español. Cada día es un acto de humildad para mí. Creo que soy un buen sacerdote en inglés y en mi propia cultura. Me encanta hablar con la gente, me encanta predicar, me encanta celebrar la misa, me encanta celebrar la confesión, me encanta escuchar y ayudar a la gente con sus problemas, pero en español es tan difícil para mí. Tengo que ser honesto, que a veces tengo miedo... miedo de que no voy a entender, que voy a ofender, que no voy a hacer un buen trabajo, que la gente se cansa de repetir a sí mismos porque no entiendo la primera vez. Este miedo me puede tener en mi habitación donde es seguro. Pero la vida real ocurre cuando nuestras vidas se cruzan con los demás. La ansiedad que a veces me siento no me ayuda a vivir libremente en el Señor. Por lo tanto, en este momento en mi vida mi ansiedad, mis miedos tienen que ver con hablar español. ¿Cuáles son sus temores? ¿Dónde tiene la ansiedad en su vida? ¿Qué pasaría si usted oyó el Señor te dice: "No tengas miedo".  Qué podría lograr si se suelta de su miedo? ¿Cómo sería tu vida si dejas de su ansiedad y realmente vivió su vida? Creo que a todos nos alegrará un poco más ... .Amen?

Alégrense siempre en el Señor; se lo repito; Alégrense. Una vez más nos encontramos con la persona de Juan el Bautista en el Evangelio de San Lucas. La gente está viniendo a él porque quieren cambiar sus vidas. Le preguntan prácticamente lo que deben hacer para arrepentirse. Juan le dice a cada persona lo que tienen que hacer es personal y específico de su propia situación. Me gusta eso. Si bien es importante contar con directrices generales, todos somos diferentes, Amén? Todos tenemos algo en nuestra vida que tenemos que cambiar, y puede ser diferente de la persona sentada a tu lado. Así que el cambio puede tener que ver con ser menos egoístas y compartir la comida y la ropa con los demás, o ser honesto en las transacciones comerciales, o no ser un matón en las relaciones. Como cada uno de nosotros preparamos el camino para el Señor en nuestras vidas, todos tenemos que hacer un cambio, Amén? Mi cambio no es su cambio, pero el cambio que debe! Giro a la persona a tu lado y decir: "Tengo que hacer un cambio en mi vida." A su vez a la otra persona en el otro lado de ustedes y decir: "Mi cambio no es su cambio." Así que pensar, si cada persona en esta Iglesia, hizo hoy un cambio en su vida, piensa en lo que es una Iglesia que sería! Repite conmigo: "Alégrense  siempre en el Señor; se lo repito, Alégrense

Así que aquí estamos en Gaudete domingo. Hoy en día se trata de poner a un lado nuestros miedos, dejar que Dios cantar una canción sobre nosotros, regocijándose en el Señor y hacer un cambio en nuestras vidas. Una vez más, a través de la persona de Juan el Bautista tenemos el ejemplo de tomar un buen vistazo a cada una de nuestras vidas y conocer nuestro lugar en el mundo como Juan sabía que su lugar en relación con Jesús. Él señaló el camino, él no era el camino. Señalemos el camino a Jesús en nuestras vidas. Cuando vivimos sin ansiedad cuando nos regocijamos, y cuando hacemos cambios para que nuestros corazones podemos ser pura y libre, preparamos el camino para la venida del Señor. Estas son buenas noticias, Amén?
Así que la Iglesia, en las palabras de San Pablo, decimos juntos con corazones alegres, "Alégrense siempre en el Señor, se lo repito; Alégrense! ,¡Amén

 



Second Sunday of Advent

Buenos tardes mi gente!


Well the weather is starting to turn here.... and in a place that does not have any insulation, 50 degrees is cold in the morning!!!! I've had to use an electric heater over the weekend just to get the chill off.  Today, the sun finally came out, so it is warming up a bit.  I hope to take a walk after I finish this post. 

So, we are gearing up here for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec 12th.  There will be a great deal of  activity and many Masses and Prayer Services on the 11th and the 12th.  The members of the community are accustomed to all of this I will let you know how I survive it all! I will head to the US on the 13th and will be in Saint Louis for meetings and then I will stay there until the 22nd.  On the 22nd I will go with my Provincial to the Ivory Coast to give a presentation to our brothers from west and eastern Africa, India, and Korea.  I'm excited about this trip.  I was supposed to go to India right after that, but once again I was denied a Visa, so I will head back to the US earlier than expected.  I'm just glad that I will be able to experience the first part of the trip.  I'll keep you all posted!

It's been a good but busy week here in the community.  I continue to celebrate Mass in the community three times a week, and this past weekend I had two weekend Masses.  Both myself and another brother in the community, Juan, planned our community retreat that was held on Friday.  We used the theme of Advent and in the morning I used excerpts from the readings of the four weeks of Advent as fodder for our reflection.  I also provided them a series of questions to assist them in their meditation.  We had a time for sharing after an extended period of silence in the house.  In the afternoon we reflected upon the people of Advent: Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth.   We reflected upon some of their virtues and how we might be able to incorporate them into our own lives.  So the day was entitled "The Words and People of Advent".... Las Palabras y La Gente de Adviento.  All in all it was a good day and I came away with a few interesting insights, such as it is good to have hope because God is not finished with me yet! I feel that every day with my language acquisition- I don't have to have it all together right here and now.  As Advent is a time of waiting, I am waiting to be more proficient in my speaking.  Right now, I am living in the "in between times" of language acquisition- I am not a novice, but I am also not a professional.  While this is frustrating to me at times, I have to be patient and realize I am where I am right now in my life.  The other insight I had revolved around the people of Advent.  While I like each of the figures of Advent, right now the figure of Elizabeth spoke to me.  I guess it has to do with where I am in my own life right now.  Elizabeth was an older woman who recognized the presence of the Lord in Mary.  She had some life experience and was able to spend time with Mary to answer question, calm some fears, and perhaps teach her some aspects of life in general.  As I move further into mid-life I feel like now is my time to point out the giftedness of the younger members in my community, to act as a wisdom figure, to answer some questions of life and to help them in their own transitions.  For many years, I had many "Elizabeth" figures in my community.  Now it is my turn to move from the young, inexperienced person, to the person of "Elizabeth" in helping our younger members figure things out.  These are two insights that I will continue to ponder during this season of Advent. 

I hope your Advent is going well and that you are waiting with joyful hope in your own life.  Here is my homily for the Second Sunday of Advent. 

Homily Second Sunday of Advent

Change, Hope, Prepare….these are the words given to us today in the Word of God.  Change, Hope, Prepare, these are the words of Advent.  These are simple words, but difficult words to live in our daily life, Amen?

The Second Sunday of Advent introduces us to the figure of John the Baptist.  John is a very important person in the story of salvation.  John prepares the way for something new.  He is a bridge between the Old and New Testament.  John is a bridge between what was and what will be.  In many ways, Advent is also a bridge.  A bridge between what was and what will be.  A bridge between old beliefs and actions and new beliefs and actions.  Advent provides us the opportunity to change, hope and prepare.  John is the symbol of all three of these opportunities.  Like John the Baptist, we too have the opportunity to be a bridge in our families and in our Church.  To perhaps, make a road to connect the past and the future. 

So, how do we change, hope and prepare?

John invites us to change our lives, to turn away from our sins and to turn towards Jesus.  He invites us to really look deep inside of ourselves and make the changes that will allow us to live as children of God.  Everyone in this Church has something they need to change in their lives, including me! I want everyone in the Church to close your eyes.  I want you to think of that behavior or attitude that you need to change.  I want you to hear John the Baptist tell you to change…..now, ask Jesus to help you to change.  Offer this change to Jesus.  See how he smiles when you want to change.  Okay, open your eyes.  Yes, change is difficult, but we can do it with the help of Jesus, Amen? I know for myself, when I try to make changes on my own, I often fail.  I need the help of Jesus in my life to make the changes that really matter, the changes that will last not just one hour, one day, or one week, but changes that will last a life time.  These are the kinds of changes that John the Baptist invites us to consider today.  Will you try and change?

Hope is another theme for Advent and a theme in our readings today.  The prophet Baruch and Paul share with us their vision of hope for their communities and for this community.  Baruch uses the imagery of clothes to share with the community of vision of hope.  Baruch invites the community to, “take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of your glory from God forever.” In my own life, when I am not feeling well, I could wear the same clothes and not shower for a few days.  The more I wear the clothes of sickness, the sicker I feel.  When I take a shower and change my clothes, immediately my outlook changes.  When we wear the clothes of doom and gloom, then we will feel that in our life.  Baruch invites us to change our clothes, then we will change our outlook! Have you ever been around a person who is always negative? They can really make you feel bad.  Have you ever been around a person who is always positive?  Don’t’ you feel better around that person? Baruch invites us to change our outlook, even when bad things have happened to us.  Change our clothes, take a shower and face life in a new way.  God made a promise to his people, and God will fulfill his promises.  Saint Paul provides hope for the Philippians when he says, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus”.  Your life project is not complete.  There is still more work to do.  You are not finished yet.  That is Good News, Amen?  God began a good work in you.  There is hope that you have more time to complete your life project.  God gives us the time we need.  There is hope in knowing that we are not complete yet, that there is more work to do.  We do not have to feel bad about ourselves, but rejoice that there is still time to continue the work that God began in each one of us.  Turn to the person next to you and say, “God is not finished with me yet”

Finally, the Word of God today invites us to prepare.  We are to prepare for the coming of the Lord.  Once again, John the Baptist tells us how and why we should do this.  First of all we do this so that we can be ready to receive the Word of God and recognize the presence of Christ in our midst.  When we prepare our hearts, only then can we see with the eyes of faith.  We prepare by doing the things that Jesus did….feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirty, clothing the naked, healing the sick, visiting the abandoned, and setting captives free.  Sometimes, we do not have to go outside of our own homes in order to do this! We prepare for Jesus when we first provide for our families, and then provide for the needs of others who do not have anything.  We prepare for Jesus when we believe the impossible as spoken to us in the words of the prophet Isaiah that “every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the winding roads shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth.”  If God can do this with valleys, mountains, hills and roads, God can do the same with our lives!  God can do the impossible with our lives, Amen? When we believe that God can do all things in our life, then we prepare the way for the most impossible event that God would take on flesh and become like one of us!  For nothing is impossible with God, Amen?

So the words of Advent today, change, hope and prepare can make us ready for the great feast of Christmas.  John the Baptist teaches us the importance of being a bridge from the past into the future. So let us carry the words of Advent with us, change, hope and prepare as we bridge our past with our future and show the world that with God all things are possible.  Amen?

 

Cambiar, Esperanza, Preparar...estas son las palabras escuchamos  hoy en la Palabra de Dios. Cambiar, Esperanza, Preparar, estas son las palabras de Adviento. Estos son simples palabras, pero las palabras difíciles para vivir en nuestra vida diaria, Amén?

El segundo domingo de Adviento nos presenta a la figura de Juan el Bautista. Juan es una persona muy importante en la historia de la salvación. Juan  prepara el camino para algo nuevo. Él es un puente entre el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento. Juan es un puente entre lo que fue y lo que será. En muchos sentidos, el Adviento es también un puente. Un puente entre lo que fue y lo que será. Un puente entre las viejas creencias y acciones y nuevas creencias y acciones. El Adviento nos ofrece la oportunidad de cambiar, la esperanza y preparar. Juan es el símbolo de los tres de estas oportunidades. Como Juan el Bautista, nosotros también tenemos la oportunidad de ser un puente en nuestras familias y en nuestra Iglesia. Para tal vez, hacer un camino para conectar el pasado y el futuro.
Así que, ¿cómo podemos cambiar, tener esperanza y preparar?

Juan nos invita a cambiar nuestra vida, dar la espalda a nuestros pecados y volverse hacia Jesús. Él nos invita a mirar muy profundo dentro de nosotros mismos y hacer los cambios que nos permitan vivir como hijos de Dios. Todo el mundo en esta Iglesia tiene algo que necesitan para cambiar en sus vidas, incluyéndome a mí! Quiero que todos en la Iglesia de cerrar los ojos. Yo quiero que pienses de esa conducta o actitud que tiene que cambiar. Quiero que escuches Juan el Bautista dice que cambies... Ahorita, pida a Jesús que ayudará a cambiar. Regala cambio a Jesús. Vea cómo sonríe cuando se quiere cambiar. Bien, abre los ojos. Sí, el cambio es difícil, pero podemos hacerlo con la ayuda de Jesús, Amén? Yo sé por mí mismo, cuando trato de hacer cambios en mi propia vida, a menudo fallan. Necesito la ayuda de Jesús en mi vida para hacer los cambios que realmente importan, los cambios que va a durar, no sólo una hora, un día o una semana, pero los cambios que va a durar toda la vida. Estos son los tipos de cambios que Juan el Bautista nos invita a considerar hoy. ¿Va a tratar de cambiar?

La esperanza es otro tema para el Adviento y un tema en nuestras lecturas de hoy. El profeta Baruc y Pablo comparte con nosotros su visión de esperanza para sus comunidades y para esta comunidad. Baruc utiliza la imagen de la ropa para compartir con la comunidad de la visión de esperanza. Baruc invita a la comunidad a "despójate de sus vestidos de luto y aflicción; y vístete para siempre con el esplendor de tu gloria de Dios te da." En mi propia vida, cuando yo no me siento bien, podría usar la misma ropa y no ducharse durante unos días. Cuanto más me pongo la ropa de la enfermedad, más enfermo me siento. Cuando tomo una ducha y cambiarme de ropa, inmediatamente cambia mi perspectiva. Cuando nos ponemos la ropa de pesimismo, entonces vamos a sentir que en nuestra vida. Baruc nos invita a cambiar nuestra ropa, entonces vamos a cambiar nuestro punto de vista! ¿Alguna vez ha sido cerca de una persona que es siempre negativa? Realmente puede hacer que se sienta mal. ¿Alguna vez ha sido cerca de a una persona que siempre es positivo? ¿No te sientes mejor cerca de a esa persona? Baruc nos invita a cambiar nuestra perspectiva, incluso cuando las cosas malas han pasado a nosotros. Cambiar la ropa, tomar una ducha y enfrentar la vida de una manera nueva. Dios hizo una promesa a su pueblo, y Dios cumplirá sus promesas. San  Pablo ofrece esperanza para los Filipenses, cuando dice: "Estoy convencido de que aquel que  comenzó en ustedes esta obra, la ira perfeccionando siempre hasta el día de la venida de  Cristo Jesús". Su proyecto de vida no es completa. Todavía hay mucho trabajo por hacer. Usted no se ha terminado. Eso es una buena noticia, Amén? Dios comenzó la buena obra en ti. Hay esperanza de que usted tiene más tiempo para completar su proyecto de vida. Dios nos da el tiempo que necesitamos. Existe la esperanza de saber que no estamos todavía completa, que hay más trabajo por hacer. No tenemos que sentir mal acerca de nosotros mismos, sino regocijaos de que todavía hay tiempo para continuar la obra que Dios comenzó en cada uno de nosotros. Gire a la persona a tu lado y decir: "Dios no ha terminado conmigo todavía"

Por último, la Palabra de Dios hoy nos invita a preparar. Tenemos que prepararnos para la venida del Señor. Una vez más, Juan el Bautista nos dice cómo y por qué debemos hacer esto. En primer lugar hacemos esto para que podamos estar listos para recibir la Palabra de Dios y reconocer la presencia de Cristo en medio de nosotros. Cuando preparamos nuestro corazón, sólo entonces podemos ver con los ojos de la fe. Preparamos haciendo las cosas que Jesús hizo... .Alimentar al hambriento, dar de beber al sediento, vestir al desnudo, sanando a los enfermos, visitar a los abandonados, y el establecimiento de cautivos. A veces, no tenemos que ir fuera de nuestros hogares con el fin de hacer esto! Nos preparamos para Jesús cuando nos ofrecemos a nuestras familias, a continuación, ofrecemos a las necesidades de los otros que no tienen nada. Nos preparamos para Jesús cuando creemos que lo imposible como hablado en las palabras del profeta Isaías que "todo valle será rellenado,  todo montaña  y colina rebajada; lo tortuoso se hará derecho, los caminos ásperos serán allanados. "Si Dios puede hacer esto con valles, montañas, colinas y caminos, Dios puede hacer lo mismo con nuestras vidas! Dios puede hacer lo imposible con nuestras vidas, Amén? Cuando creemos que Dios puede hacer todas las cosas en nuestra vida, entonces preparamos el camino para el evento más imposible que Dios iba a asumir la carne y es como uno de nosotros! Para nada es imposible para Dios, Amén?

Así que las palabras de Adviento hoy, cambiar, esperanza y preparar puede hacernos listo para la gran fiesta de la Navidad. Juan el Bautista nos enseña la importancia de ser un puente desde el pasado hacia el futuro. Así que vamos a llevar las palabras de Adviento con nosotros, cambiar, esperanza y preparar  como tendemos un puente nuestro pasado con nuestro futuro y mostrar al mundo que con Dios todo es posible. ¿Amén?