Patience is deeply rooted within our psyche. Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus which translates to arrival. The human mind and body are constantly in a state of flux; this became clearly evident through the COVID-19 pandemic. Disease, divisiveness, and despair transformed our societal norms and challenged everyone’s patience. We all waited for the arrival of normalcy and peace. This expectation is neither sustainable or realistic. Patience is the solution.
Patience is based in impermanence and insignificance. As the Pslam clearly echos, “To you, Oh Lord, I lift my soul.” The answer to worldly suffering is an unworldly Figure. Peace is found in patience and patience is found in God. Patience does not equate to perpetual happiness. It enables a person to find a place of ease. God instills us with strength to navigate with ease. When difficult situations seem easier it’s due to increased strength, not reduced difficulty.
Spiritual transformation is difficult. During each Advent, we prepare ourselves for rebirth. Patience develops from acknowledging and relinquishing control; although, this does not mean forgoing responsibility. A metanoia, transformation of the soul, begins with intention and becomes apparent when we least expect it. St. Ignatius of Loyola is an ideal example of a transformative experience. With patience, God illuminated his path which was very different than he intended.
As we await the coming of Jesus, we must remember to practice patience. Patience allows for space within our minds and hearts; the beatific space created is where God sits and hopefully lives. Look up at the stars knowing that your Guide is always with you.
Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Tom Holtman is a life long parishioner of St. Stephen Church. He also attended St. Stephen School. Tom earned his business degrees from The University of Scranton (Catholic/Jesuit). He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council.
There has been, and will always be differences among the human race as long as we roam the earth. The Greeks vs. the Trojans, the American Revolutionaries vs. the British, the North vs. the South, the Palestinians vs. the Israelis, the Montagues and the Capulets. The list goes on, and on. Since ancient times there have been nation states, who were united by their religions, culture and myths. Individual civilizations often thought that their way of life was superior to others. These ethnocentric sentiments often led to warfare. In Isaiah 2:1-5 the message is that those who share a common faith and walk in the way of the lord will no longer have to settle disputes. Those who follow the Lord up the mountain, no matter what race, or creed will achieve salvation.
In Matthew 8:5-11 Jesus entered Capernaum and was approached by a centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus offered to travel to the centurion’s house, but the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” When Jesus hears this he reveals to his disciples that this man has the most faith out of anyone in Israel. The significance lies in that the gentile recognizes Jesus’s faith and authority, and for that he will be rewarded in heaven.
As we say the communion rite just before we are to receive, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,” I feel a sense of peace and an urge to return to the heart of what it means to be Christian. I am reminded of the supremacy of God when I admit my unworthiness to be in his presence.
The essence lies in that faith in the Lord will gain you eternal salvation. It does not matter what nation you are from, it does not matter what race you may be; what matters is your faith in Christ so remember that as you prepare for His coming during this advent season.
Blessing:
May God give you
For every storm a rainbow,
For every tear a smile,
For every care a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A Faithful Friend to share,
For every sigh a sweet song,
And an answer to every
PRAYER
Ryan Candia is a Warwick Valley HS Social Studies Teacher
and a St. Stephen’s Parishioner.
|
Advent has always been a season of hope for me. I usually look forward to this season of waiting and anticipation of Christ’s birth. This Advent season has started a little differently as my family is mourning the passing of my beloved father-in-law, James Patrick Dixon, who went to his heavenly reward right before Thanksgiving. But I am still clinging to the promises Advent provides and the anticipation of what Christ’s birth means for us. Today is the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Looking at the readings for today, I can't help but see my father-in-law in them. He was a man of great faith and had a deep devotion to Mary. When I converted to Catholicism, my father-in-law was my sponsor. He answered so many questions for me during my instruction and gave me his First Communion prayer book and a Rosary prayer book that was his. I still remember how he stood next to me at my Confirmation with his hand on my shoulder. He and I shared a special bond in our faith. We could talk about it for hours. In the first Reading for today, Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” My father-in-law emulated this in all that he did and said. He didn’t go around telling people to repent and believe, his faith was evident in the way he went about his day - how hard he worked, the way he spoke to people, and in the quiet way he prayed for others. Just as Jesus called to Andrew at the Sea of Galilee, He called to my Father-in-Law and he followed. He spent many hours helping others any way he could. I look around my home and see the work of his hands - the kitchen floor, the crown molding, the electrical work. Whenever we had a project, he was there to help. “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” My father-in-law loved Mass and enjoyed daily Mass whenever he could. This was something else we had in common - our love for daily Mass. We never got to go together but there was just something special for me about knowing we both attended Mass as often as we could. When he passed, I went to Mass for comfort and I could feel him sitting next to me. For as the Psalmist said, “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life. They are more precious than gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.” The Advent season is the perfect time to get back to Mass, if you’ve been away, or try to go more often (as time allows) and enjoy the beautiful words God has given us in the scriptures. More importantly, experience Jesus through His gift of the Eucharist. Yes, Advent is a season of anticipation and hope. Allow the season to move in you and change you, preparing you for Christ’s coming. It is the precursor and a time of preparation for eternal life. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” May we all leave our nets and follow Him just as Saint Andrew (and my father-in-law) did. Irish Blessing May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Kim Dixon and her husband, Dan have been parishioners at St. Stephen’s for over 20 years with their 2 children: Steven and Cassandra. She is the Kindergarten teacher at Saint John’s School in Goshen and a member of St Stephen’s adult choir. She is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith (with many thanks to her father-in-law.) |
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples…For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain (Isaiah 25:6,10).
If we were to look for the word “mountain” in a biblical concordance, we would see it mentioned throughout Scripture well over one hundred times. There are many reasons why this is so. Mountains display the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. Symbolically speaking, mountain tops are places for encountering God. People might hope to have a mystical meeting with God by building and/or visiting temples, shrines, and altars on high peaks. We may even consider vacations or special family celebrations “mountain top experiences.”
Let us consider several of the more familiar Bible stories that involved mountains. In Exodus 3, Moses encountered God in the Burning Bush on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. Horeb means “solitude.” Here, on this holy ground, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. Fast forward to Exodus 19. God and Moses enter into a covenant relationship on Mount Sinai, that covenant being the Ten Commandments.
In the New Testament, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain [Mount Tabor] apart by themselves [solitude]. And he was transfigured before them (Mark 9:2). In the previous chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus miraculously fed four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. There were seven baskets of fragments leftover. God cannot be outdone in generosity! Isaiah’s prophecy has come to fruition: The Lord of hosts has provided for all peoples.
Isaiah also says, On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples (Isaiah 25:7). When Jesus was crucified and died on Mount Calvary, the evangelist Matthew writes: The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The meaning of the scene may be that now, because of Jesus’ death, all people have access to the presence of God.
Although mountain climbing may be an exhilarating experience, we do not have to physically climb a mountain to encounter God. We can walk outdoors on a flat path. We can kneel in church, or sit on a chair in a corner of a room. Because God is everywhere, we can be close to him wherever we are. This is prayer, conversation with God. So let us pray with the psalmist:
[Lord God] Send your light and your fidelity that they may be my guide.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place of your dwelling (Psalm 43:3).
Joann MacDougall been a parishioner at St. Stephen’s Parish for 25 years. She is also a lector. Because she has a master’s degree in religious studies with a Scripture concentration, she has taught Scripture on the college level, and has presented Bible studies at the parish.
Today’s reading from Matthew 7:21, 24-27 tells us that if you build your house on rock, that even when troubles come, your house will stand firm... It’s one of the Gospels that we hear often and is easy to visualize. As I started thinking about what I would say, an incident came to mind that I will share.
Mom is 91, still living at home and managing pretty well. As she’s aged our roles have flipped and I am handling more of the big stuff, while she takes care of the everyday. Once a fashionista, with new outfits and styles, she’s now taken to wearing old worn-out comfy clothes. Last week, I arrived for a visit to find her wearing an especially ‘comfortable’ outfit. I immediately informed her that she couldn’t go out with that on and let’s go find something in one of her closets. Reluctantly, she joined me in her bedroom as I was rifling through her closet. In her quiet way, she said,” I don’t see what the problem is. I’m 91. I just want to be comfortable. No one cares what I wear.” It was at about that time; I came upon an old sweater with rips on the sleeve. “Do you really need this?” I demanded, “I’ve never seen you wear this!”
She looked at me, then at the sweater. Her face was kind and patient as she spoke (like addressing a child) “Well, I do like that sweater. It was your fathers and every night before going to bed, I kneel down to say my prayers. Sometimes it’s chilly in my bedroom, so I drape dad’s sweater over my shoulders. I really do like that sweater. It reminds me of dad.
I stopped. I froze in place. Here I am bulldozing through her closet thinking that somehow my taking charge of her clothes and closet would be helpful. Her house has been built on a solid foundation. She quietly goes about her days now, knowing what matters… not the clothes she wears but the relationships she’s built her life upon.
During this advent, may we also be reminded of the reason for this season and strive to build a foundation that can support us through life’s many seasons.
Lord, help me to build a strong foundation on you.
Cathy Casse and her husband, Steve, are long time parishioners of St. Stephen’s.