As Yourself

Friends, I know I always want to complicate things and find the depth and the why behind all that I say and do and I spend lots of time throughout the day pondering and crafting creative ways to tell stories that capture the essence of things, and sometimes it can be exhausting! Today, Jesus gives us two things that summarize it all: Love God with your whole being and love each other as yourself. It’s so not complicated and so not about religious stuff or anything calculated. We are to love. The “as yourself” part is what hit me this morning. When we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength we become love. I’ve heard it said like this, “Your shadow will always release whatever overshadows you.” (Bill Johnson) Therefore, when we get the loving God part down, then the others part will happen automatically “as yourself” becomes love. “Your shadow will always release whatever overshadows you.” Love is one of those things that is only activated when given away. It cannot sit inside and thrive, it must be expressed, it must be acted out, it must be given freely, and this is where the non-complicated becomes difficult. I know for me I fear rejection. But when I love in the order that Jesus lays out for us today, God first, there is no rejection, no betrayal, no divorce, no abuse, and no fear, because perfect love casts out all these things. When I love God first, that love becomes my very essence and I don’t even have to do anything except be that love. Love is a verb and God is the mover. I think it just struck me that loving God with my whole being is really first and foremost letting God love me with His whole being. From that overflow, I overflow as love itself, and everyone I encounter becomes the activation of that verb of mercy, peace, joy, and kindness that first chose me. OK, see how I did that? Complicated it all!!! 

Friends! Let’s love today. As we sit in God’s love for us, our hearts, souls, minds, and strength will become love itself, which is a verb and which moves freely when we cooperate with His Spirit. God wants His perfect love to overshadow you today, so that your shadow will release that love to everyone. In this overshadowing, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God”, in fact, you are the Kingdom of God, as yourself. Forgive me for the meandering through this reflection today. I hope it makes some sort of sense. Friends, let’s love today. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 HOS 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, 'Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
"I am like a verdant cypress tree"– 
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17

R. (see 11 and 9a)  I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
 nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel MK 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 
with all your soul, 
with all your mind, 
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding, 
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The Finger Of God

Even if you have never seen the Sistine Chapel in person, I’m sure you can picture the centerpiece that features God and Adam reaching their fingers toward one another, longing for that ultimate connection, that intimate touch that unites man and the divine. It is that reaching for our Beloved that sings us awake everyday, and cradles us as we dream every night. There is that iconic scene in the movie E.T. when Elliot cuts himself and E.T. reaches his glowing finger toward Elliot’s wound, touching it tenderly, simply saying, “Ouch”, and the bleeding stops immediately. God is constantly reaching toward us with his light to touch our ouches, to heal us, and to be with us. 

In today’s gospel Jesus was in the process of driving out a demon from a man that was mute. I wonder what this healing looked like. Perhaps he touched his finger to the lips of the mute man and maybe just maybe light accompanied it like in E.T. When the mute man spoke to the crowd, I wonder if his voice sounded groggy or clear, loud or soft, low or high, with an accent or not? These kinds of miracles were so spectacular to the ancient Jews and that is precisely why they stirred up doubt and suspicion. It says that the crowds were amazed, but then they thought it must be by the hand of Satan because who else could be in command of demons. They were constantly seeking signs from heaven and not looking at the miraculous directly in front of them. Raise your hand if you’ve missed a significant moment because of doubt and suspicion. One of Satan’s strategies is to divide people and Jesus makes that clear in the story, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?” The statement “too good to be true” might have been at the forefront of their minds and quite honestly if you and I were witnesses to such a spectacular event, we might also think the same. Let’s replace that with “too good, it has to be true.”

We have a hard time accepting the miraculous and try to explain such things with scientific reasons, or circumstance, or luck, or coincidence, yet Jesus tells us plainly, “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Jesus is the manifestation of that centerpiece of the Sistine Chapel and the finger of God becomes the finger of the Son of Man. That finger is the one that touched the mute man, drove out the demon, and restored his voice. That same finger pokes our ribs and tickles the joy out of us, wipes the tear from our cheek when we are sad, interlocks with our own fingers when we need companionship, embraces us when we need to be held, touches our lips when we need to sing, washes our feet when we feel the most sinful, pulls the scales away from our eyes when we can’t see, and that same finger drives out our own demons one by one as he points and calls their name. 

God is constantly reaching toward us with his light to touch our ouches, to heal us, and to be with us. Pay attention to his touch today and perhaps reach your own finger back to him so that interlocked with his grace, you may shine, you may burn bright, and your ouches can be covered in light. It is well with my soul.

Reading 1 JER 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD: 
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel LK 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, 
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

Rap Battle: The Law And The Prophets!

As a theatre person, people often ask me, “What was your favorite show that you were in?” and they always seem a little surprised when my response is Fiddler On The Roof. Fiddler is not your typical epic tap dance number with spectacular costumes, or a show stopping song, or a Rodgers and Hammerstein feel good kind of musical, but it was MY very first musical and the one that captured my entire being that pulled me in hook, line, and sinker to the world of theatre. My life has been forever changed by that one experience when I was bit by the theatre bug, but also by a love for devout Judaism. 

The story opens with a poignant monologue by the main character, Tevye, setting the stage like this: 

“A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!”

The opening song, “Tradition”, proudly introduces this small Jewish village to the audience with each group singing about their daily life according to their Jewish customs. It is powerful and the composition of the song along with its rich lyrics immediately invites the audience in and the message is clear: Jews honor tradition with every fiber of their being, in every minute of the day, and there is no room for those that are lukewarm in their religious practice. 

Tevye might actually be my favorite character of all time because he is feisty and hot headed, proud and obstinate, witty and hyperbolic, but on the inside he is just a big teddy bear, soft and cuddly, sweet and sensitive, struggling to grow, wanting what is right, and just so darn vulnerable. His teenage daughters start to challenge some of the Jewish customs, as teenagers often do, and the play is really a glimpse into Tevye’s grappling with progress vs. tradition, and understanding the why behind the laws. Tevye’s journey is not an easy one and he has many a lively conversation with God about the changing world. His heart is torn between the old and the new. Today’s gospel has these same undertones. 

In the Torah there are a total of 623 laws that the Jews must learn and follow. There are three entire books dedicated to teach these laws (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and they literally cover everything including which hand to wipe your booty with. The law was established to instill the importance of obedienc in people, and of course to address issues that needed to be addressed, very similar to our own laws like driving the speed limit and not stealing, etc. Laws are very important and they became everything to the Jewish people (insert the song “Tradition” from Fiddlerhere). Holy Days and Feast Days were the anchor and Judaism’s rich customs and liturgies helped every Jew get back to their center and focus on God’s faithfulness in their lives. 

When the Israelites lost sight of the why behind their laws and began to practice them out of habit or routine, God sent them the prophets to remind them of the reason, which is of course to soften their hearts to be as close to God as possible. Discipline puts God in control and allows us to surrender our will to His will. It was the prophets that introduced the coming of the Messiah that would save them all from oppression and despair. The law and the prophets were the center of the Jewish faith, tradition, and daily lives. Every Jew was trained extensively in knowledge of them, however, the law and the prophets both only existed to point the way to Jesus…belief and acceptance of Messiah was their primordial purpose!

Like Tevye, the Jews in today’s gospel, thought their traditions were being threatened by this rogue whippersnapper named Jesus and they were doing their own rendition of the song “Tradition” (today I’m picturing an ancient rap battle Hamilton-style: “The Papas! The Mamas! The Sons! The Daughters! TRADITION y’all!!) Jesus is saying simmer down friends, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Don’t you get it? I’m the one your traditions have prepared you to receive, so follow all of those traditions and they will GPS you right to me. Everything will be accomplished at some point in time (2^ndcoming) and then we will be able to say, “it is finished”, but until then: “Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!” 

How do the Jewish law and the prophets translate to us? The gospels! Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all that the law and the prophets mean and were made for, so if you follow him and adhere to what he teaches in the gospels, then you are on the right track. I know that I need constant reminders to be able to stay on that path, to not be consumed with the meaningless things of this world, and to keep my eyes fixed on him. Obedience to love is key. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 DT 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said:
"Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land 
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?

"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children's children."

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Verse Before The Gospel SEE JN 6:63C, 68C

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel MT 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."

Forget About It

There are so many beautiful lessons that I’ve learned from my Memory Care friends, but I think the most beautiful, the most pure, the most holy, the most lovely lesson they have taught me is the main thing of today’s gospel. They have forgotten any and every debt owed them. They live completely without offense, have no recollection of sins committed against them, and they do not hold any grudge. Working in the presence of this kind of purity really begins to penetrate those very places in my own soul. Beginning with them, I take zero offense when they say and do things that are difficult or challenging. Their pureness of heart removes the question mark of whether or not they are trying to offend me. They are simply doing the best they can and I am completely able to recognize that, forgive them for they know not what they do, and FORGET about it. I practice practice practice this daily and things just don’t offend me as much as they used to. In a world where taking offense has become one of our civil duties and responsibilities, I get to step out of that ugliness and into a world where we do just live in harmony. I know not everyone views a memory care unit this way and I do not ever want to diminish or make light of the challenges that come with having a family member in memory care (my 98-year-old Grandmother is in advanced stages of dementia), but I do find amazing beauty in loving them as they are, and knowing that even if their mind is compromised, their soul still sings, still loves, still needs to be loved, and still has God’s kiss imprinted on it for all time. 

So about today’s gospel…”Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.” He released him and took away the debt, meaning it no longer existed, it was forgotten! This is the model Jesus gives us for how we are to forgive one another. Our culture preaches forgiveness with words like, “Forgive to set your self free, not the other person,” or “Forgive, but never forget.” Friends, I want God to forgive me so that I can be free, and I really really really want God to forget my sins. Guess what? That means that I must forgive people to set THEM free, and I must FORGET what they did. Ugh!! How difficult is this to do, BUT how noble, pure, excellent, and true is this to do? My freedom will indeed come when I have set them free by forgetting. I know it goes against what our culture has ingrained in us, but today’s gospel says, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” The number seven means perfect, and seventy-seven would mean perfectly perfect, meaning 100% and all of the time. Remembering is not a thing in this kind of forgiveness. I know you’re all mad at me right now, and believe me I get it, we think that remembering will prevent us from getting burned again in the future, or that we need to have it as a big “healthy” boundary around us, and I tell you the grace that comes from forgiving the way God forgives far outweighs the false notion that remembering can and will protect us. Grace is what we need for freedom, for not getting burned again, for healing from trauma and woundedness, for setting those necessary boundaries, for not taking offense, for setting others free, for loving without borders. When we forgive and forget, grace comes in a double portion. I’m just going to say that one more time…when we forgive and forget, grace comes in a double portion. 

This is tough stuff, but it’s so important, friends. I pray that today’s reflection is received in love and light, because one thing I know is that Jesus really really really wants us to get this piece so we can get His peace. What would a world be like if we forgot all our offenses? Well in memory care today, we are going to sing and dance, and simply be who God created us to be. Now that is seventy-seven times seven portions of lovely! It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 DN 3:25, 34-43

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:

"For your name's sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord."

Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9

R. (6a)  Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart;
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel MT 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

Best Proposal Story Ever

If you really knew me you would know that I love a good proposal story. I love them all, the elaborate ones with rose petals on a beach, to the spontaneous ones with a blade of grass for an engagement ring. I love proposal stories because it marks the beginning of a covenant and it engages (pun intended) two hearts with one question and one answer that will change them both for good. Today’s gospel is a special sort of proposal. 

“’Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.’ But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” But Mary was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Ah, she pondered, which means that she thought carefully about it before making a decision. Mary was greatly troubled even before there was any mention of a baby. When God steps into our lives, it should trouble us, because it hopefully has disrupted our usual lives so that we pay closer attention. Trouble or a certain restlessness is the starting point of discipleship and we see that clearly from Mary’s reaction. If we stop and look at our lives, we will notice all kinds of Angel Gabriel moments won’t we? God with us….EMMANUEL….will trouble us and praise God for the trouble.

“Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’” And there’s the proposal! I wonder if Gabriel got down on one knee (I hope he did!!). I never really noticed it before but this proposal was NOT in the form of a question, “Hail Mary, full of grace, will you marry me?” There was no “I don’t know what’s on your to do list for today, but how about becoming an unmarried teen mom? Or have you ever thought about, you know, being the mother of God?  NO, it was, “you WILL conceive in your womb and bear a son.” Even though God did not present this announcement in the form of a question, Mary still had a yes or no option, and we always have a yes or not option to God’s grace. He will never force us into relationship with him. But we learn another thing about Mary’s character in this particular exchange. So the angel, who obviously looked and sounded frightening based on Mary being greatly troubled by him, tells her that she has been chosen by God to give birth to his son, thus turning her whole life upside down, and in this great moment of tremendous fear, Mary has the courage to be able to ask a question, “How can this be?” Is that not an example of true prayer? Dialogue between us and our troublemaker, I mean Beloved?  Mary felt close enough to God to ask Him how. I want to be THAT close to God. Mary’s courage and authenticity shines forth in this moment when she questions God. There is dignity in our questions because when we question we are not saying no, we are saying that we are open to the possibility but we would like a little more information. Questions are a proactive response to the call and Mary teaches us to pray authentically whenever we are pondering something in our heart. Mary teaches us how to pray. 

“And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived^*a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;for nothing will be impossible for God.’”

The next part of the scene is my favorite part to imagine. Mary asked how, Gabe tells her sort of, because who really knows what the heck “the Holy Spirit will overshadow you” means, right, and then the ball is back in Mary’s court. Poets and painters have tried to capture this moment through art, and I’ve heard it described that the entire universe paused, and all the heavens and the earth stood still in the silence waiting for her soul to reply. Can you picture it like a movie…where everything on the screen freezes and there is an extreme close up on Mary’s face as she contemplates, as she ponders in her heart a decision that would save the entire world…It was as pregnant a pause as there ever was. Visualize all the angels and saints peering down from the heavens, and time standing still just waiting for her yes or no. She had a choice because God never forces us into relationship with him. And finally after the universe held is breath, she delivers the six words that would forever change each and every one of our lives…Let it be done unto me!

I am sure the champagne flowed freely in heaven, maybe cigars were passed around, mozeltoffs, high fives among the angels, party time in heaven because Jesus was officially entering the world! Best proposal story ever!!

So there is a kind of formula from this story that can be applied to each one of our annunciations or Angel Gabriel moments. 

1.     God Calls Us: Hail, favored one. Hello my beloved, Jen, it’s me.

2.     God Gifts Us: In Mary’s case, he gave her the gift of Messiah, courage, and grace, but in our case it will be different kinds of gifts for each one of us like music, or words, or kindness, or children, or time, or desire to serve, whatever. 

3.    We Respond In Prayer: Mary pondered it in her heart and then she asked how, and we too should move God’s call and His gifts into our hearts, right next to Jesus and then ask questions. Our response to the call is as important as the call. 

4.     There Is An Answer: It might not always be the answer that we want but that is why the question is so important because it opens us up to whatever possibility God has for us. 

5.     Birth or New Life: Mary brought Jesus into the world and we also bring Jesus into the world every time we share the fruit of our souls, every time we say yes to the Holy Spirit, every time we cooperate with grace, we bring new life. 

Great stuff to ponder today, friends!! I’ll leave you with a poem I wrote about the moment when the universe held its breath to hear one yes. How will you respond to your proposal today? It is well with my soul. 

Pregnant Pause

As I walk, weight and balance shift back and forth like a buoy on the water.

I'm at the mercy of rhythm and the rhythm never stops breathing 

in and out, up and down, through and through.

Breezy arms dance across my skin and tickle me 

with the oneness of creation.

I reflect on that "pregnant pause" the cosmos took when Mary pondered

yes OR no in her heart.

How long that moment must have been for the universe and 

how short that moment must have been for her.

Eternity mated with one single moment in time.

Irony, paradox, and perfection all rolled up into 

one whisper, one answer, one yes.

Do our everyday whispers, and answers, and yeses consummate?

I believe they do but I will ponder it in my heart until the day comes

when I too will say yes OR no to love.

Will the universe stand still for my pregnant pause?

I don't know but let it be one unto me.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Lectionary: 545

Reading 1 IS 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us!" 

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 11

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2 HEB 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters:
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats
take away sins.
For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in."
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will."
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this "will," we have been consecrated
through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Verse Before The Gospel JN 1:14AB

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us;
and we saw his glory.

Gospel LK 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.