"6 Ways to Know You're Divine" by Ellen Devenport/ Pathos

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/debenport/6-ways-to-know-youre-divine/?utm_source=[!]%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL%20Spirituality%20&utm_content=2996

He lived in full awareness of his oneness with the power and presence he called “the Father.” He spoke of himself as a door, a gate, a path to God because he was showing us what is possible for human beings when they are fully aligned with divine consciousness.

He said we could do anything he could do. (John 14:12)

Wouldn’t it feel good to live the way he did?

• Unafraid to honor the people around you, no matter how they have been labeled.
• Willing to overlook transgressions to remember the divine nature of each being.
• Understanding of the struggles most people are experiencing.
• Allowing divine energy to flow through you to touch others.
• Spotting the spiritual fakes and confronting those who deliberately exploit others.
• Knowing your own divinity and that of every person, always aware of the possibility for good and for growth.

Those are divine qualities that were born in you, just they were born in Jesus. That’s what we celebrate at Christmas.

New! Advent Appeal to Pope Francis and Cardinals on Women's Ordination by John Shea O.S. A. and Letter from Augustinian Priest and Theologian John Shea to Cardinal Malley Challenging Ban on Women's Ordination

"Unfortunately, however, there is not now, nor has there been, any fearless—let alone gender inclusive—dialogue on the ordination of women, although this is arguably the most crucial issue in the church."
Advent appeal to Pope Francis on Women's Ordination, from John J. Shea, O.S.A.

https://womensordinationworldwide.squarespace.com/articles/2016/12/16/advent-appeal-to-pope-francis-on-womens-ordination-from-john-j-shea-osa

Advent appeal to Cardinals on Women's Ordination, from John J. Shea, O.S.A.

https://womensordinationworldwide.squarespace.com/articles/2016/12/16/advent-appeal-to-cardinals-on-womens-ordination-from-john-j-shea-osa

This article bears repeating in light of Pope Francis' recent statement that the Roman Catholic Church cannot ordain women because of Pope John Paul11's teaching.

Fr. Shea argues that the  Catholic Church's prohibition on  women's ordination is heretical. The teaching that "women are not fully in the likeness of Jesus”—qualifying, as it does, as a theological explanation —is utterly and demonstrably heretical. "

The Beginning of Lent, 2014

I am writing to you and to all the ordinaries of the dioceses in the United States to ask you and your fellow bishops in your role as teachers to provide a clear and credible theological explanation of why women are not being ordained to the priesthood in the Catholic Church. I write not to challenge the teaching of Ordinatio Sacerdotalis on women’s ordination. Rather, my concern is the theological explanation of this teaching— theology being, as Anselm said, “faith seeking understanding.”

Two years ago, I wrote to all of you with the same request. At that time, I was I teaching in the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. The teaching on women’s ordination was extremely important for many of the students—women, of course, but men as well—and a num ber of them were simply leaving the church because the theological ex- planation that was offered made no sense to them. Before my letter, I had already stepped aside from active ministry as a priest until women are ordained. After my letter, Jesuit-run Boston College terminated me as a professor. My provincial, with the urging of several archbishops, has giv- en me two “canonical warnings” threatening me with being “punished with a just penalty” for voicing my concerns.

In case you are wondering who is writing to you, I am an Augustin- ian priest, solemnly professed for over 50 years. Before serving at Boston College (2003-2012), as Professor of the Practice of Pastoral Care and Counseling and Dual Degree Director (MA/MA and MA/MSW), I taught in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham University (1981-2002). My areas of expertise are in pastoral care and counseling (Fellow, American Association of Pastoral Counselors) and the psychology of religious development (Ph.D., Psychology of Religion), areas that today would be considered practical theology. I also have graduate degrees in theology, philosophy, pastoral counseling, and social work.

I mention this background because as a practical theologian I too have questions about the theological explanation of why women are not ordained. In all of my study, in all of my training, in all of my counseling experience, and in all of my years of teaching I have not come across a single credible thinker who holds that women are not fully able to provide pastoral care. Likewise, I have not come across a single credible thinker who holds that women are deficient in religious development or maturity. From the perspective of practical theology— a theology of the living church, a theology that takes experience seriously—I find absolutely nothing that does not support the ordination of women to priesthood.

It seems that Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, the document on the ordination of women that the Vatican and the bishops keep pointing to, is actually an historical explanation of the issue. 

It looks back at what it we think Jesus was doing in appointing the 12 Apostles. An historical explanation, however, raises a number of questions. 

Was commissioning the 12 a unique event? 

Did Jesus mean to ordain the way we understand ordination today? 

Was it the intent of Jesus to inaugurate ministry only males could carry out? Did he ever say this? 

Was Jesus only doing what he thought would work best in the patriarchal culture of his day? 

What was it about the religious role of the scribes and the Pharisees—all of whom were male—that so incensed Jesus? 
Was Jesus patriarchal? 

Did he see women as inferior to men?
 Did Jesus envision women in ministry?

Finally, what about the history of ordination in the last two thousand years, an amazingly checkered history that clearly includes women?

The problem with historical explanations is that they suffer from an incomplete logic. They cannot complete the circle. On their own, they cannot say that “what was” also “had to be.” On their own, they cannot say that this particular event must have this particular meaning. History necessarily involves interpretation. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, for example, gives a paradigmatic meaning to the commissioning of the 12 Apostles. 

Could not another perfectly logical interpretation of the meaning of that event be that a number of patriarchal men—then and now—were and are dead set against women having any authority over them?

If history is not a good proof, it does have many valid uses. A very brief look at the history of slavery, the history of racism/religious intoler- ance, and the history of women’s inferiority in the church is helpful in challenging our tendencies to absolutize as well as in chastening some our hallowed self-evaluations. Each of these three issues is about what makes us equal and fully human. Each is the cause of incredible 
violence—often in the name of God—violence that is beyond all telling.

                    Slavery—That men, women, and children would become slaves ei- ther by conquest, retribution, or inferiority was seen as something almost “natural.” Strangely, Jesus and St. Paul did not seem to have had a lot of problems with it. For centuries the permissibility of slavery was seen as part of “the ordinary infallible teaching” of the church. Over time, however, and in conjunction with racism and religious intolerance, the thinking in the church changed dra-

matically. Now, the inherent evil of slavery is part of “the ordinary infallible teaching” of the church.

• 
  
•  Racism/Religious Intolerance—Jews came to be seen as “perfidious” and were severely persecuted. Muslims were “infidels” and had cru- sades led against them by the popes. It is fair to say that for centu- ries the inferiority of Jews and Muslims was part of “the ordinary infallible teaching” of the church. Later, with the colonization of the Americas and then of Africa, the question was whether or not these native peoples were really human beings with souls like those of European males. It took a long time with immense suffering, but eventually the utter abhorrence of racism and religious intolerance became part of “the ordinary infallible teaching” of the church.
  
• 
  
•   The Inferiority of Women—Women’s inferiority was seen as “natural” by the cultures that cradled Christianity. In our history, this inferiority was generously reinforced by the teachings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. These two wonderful theologians— arguably the two most influential in the West—not only questioned whether women had valid souls, but they outdid each other in describing women in the most vile and profoundly dehumanizing ways. No thinking in the church is more virulent and intractable than the patriarchal strain that so disrespects women. When the Vatican reasoned in the 1970s and 1980s that women could not be ordained because “they are not fully in the likeness of Jesus,” it was affirming an “ordinary infallible teaching” with roots incredibly deep in the substrate of our church. 
• 
  A theological explanation weighs any issue against the core of the Christian message. It obviously takes historical events and their interpretations into account, but the focus is on those understandings of the Christian faith so central that our Christian identity and the very mean- ing of the faith are at stake. In their ordinary infallible teaching that women cannot be ordained in the church because “they are not fully in the likeness of Jesus,” the Vatican and the bishops were offering a much- needed theological explanation of the issue. It was an explanation meant to complete the circle, an explanation meant to settle the question of women’s ordination in terms of Christian identity. 
• 
  Unfortunately, this teaching that “women are not fully in the like- ness of Jesus”—qualifying, as it does, as a theological explanation —is utterly and demonstrably heretical. This teaching says that women are not fully redeemed by Jesus. This teaching says that women are not made whole by the saving favor of our God. This teaching says that the “catholic” church is only truly “catholic” for males. In time, many Vatican officials and bishops rejected the ordinary infallible teaching they had just affirmed. Now they say: “Of course, women are fully in the likeness of Jesus in the church.” Respectful words to be sure, but are they real?
• 
  

We revere Jesus as priest, as prophet, and as ruler.
 If “women are fully in the likeness of Jesus” in our church, they fully share in the priesthood of Jesus—but in fact women are completely excluded from the priesthood of Jesus. 

If “women are fully in the likeness of Jesus” in our church, they speak for God as Jesus did—but women are completely without voice in the church; as if they were children they cannot read the Gospel at the liturgy and are forbidden to preach the Word. 

If “women are fully in the likeness of Jesus” in our church, then they fully share in the formal authority of our church—but women, solely because they are women, are completely barred from church authority.

As a bishop, how long will you champion the inferiority of women in the church? How long will your teaching on women be an obvious and eye-popping contradiction? How long will your demeaning patriarchal stance violate women’s human and religious equality in God’s name?

Two more years have come and gone. The priests are voiceless. The academic theologians are nice and safe. The bishops make statements but do nothing that would be recognized as engaged teaching. The adults—desperate for something that respects their intelligence—leave the church in droves. How many serious people, young and old, have 
given up on ever finding a theological explanation of women barred from priesthood—an explanation not hopelessly patriarchal and sexist, not serving inequality and subservience, not aiding and abetting violence?

Again, it is the beginning of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, a time of for all of us in the church to be mindful of how we are in our caring and in our justice. Cardinal O'Malley, is providing a credible, non-heretical theological explanation of why women are not ordained in the church something you can do as part of your teaching responsibility as a bishop, as part of your caring and your justice?

Sincerely,
John J. Shea, O.S.A. 

Celebration of Birthing the God Within Who Am I When I Come to the Stable? Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community at Sun City Center, Florida

December 15 2016

Readings:

First Reading

Mary is...an outsider brought in to the center of the story by the power of

God, the unexpected "non-person" who brought the messiah to life. In this

context, the conception of Jesus as presented in Matthew is, at the most

profound theological level, an insight into the strange patterns of history:

God working to bring about salvation through people and circumstances that

secure and self-satisfied human beings tend to ignore or disparage.

Narrative remembrance of this Mary(author's emphasis) rearranges one's

vision of what is possible despite hardened historical "givens" and turns

"outsiders" toward action on behalf of their own dignity. This too is the

Word of God ALL Thanks be to God. (Elizabeth Johnson, "Reconstructing a

Theology of Mary," p82)

Psalm Response: Men recite bold, women respond.

Come o Wisdom, Sophia's Child and Mary's too

Bring us back to you.

Come O Adonai, Child of Ancient Israel

Set us free of fear, despair, and misogyny.

Come O of Flower of Jesse's tree, uproot our hatreds.

Wash us clean in just-reign waters

Plant us deep in thee.

Come O Key of David, Open heaven's gate.

Unlock, unblock, this captive Church

Too long enthralled with (power).

Come O Radiant Dawn, dispel death's dark shadow.

Light the way of all who long

To preach, to teach, to consecrate Heavenly Hosts

Of God's indwelling.

Come O Emmanuel, God's gladsome "with us" news,

Strengthen weary arms, steady trembling knees.

Bring surcease of sorrow.

Come O Advent Light, (All respond:) pierce December gloom,

Quicken our waiting world with life's fresh blessed tomorrow.

Bring joyful tidings of God's new birth.

Come through the labor of a woman, borne

So all know well Emmanuel. Amen

(Chris Schenk csj 10/98 based on the O Antiphons)

Second Reading:

"Advent is always a new beginning. It is actually a beginning and an ending.

We are beginning a new life with Christ at the center, a life that is full

with Christ. We are leaving and ending an old life. This must be so. There

must be this movement...We need to relinquish and empty ourselves, so that

the newness Christ brings can enter and have a place to stay. We as Advent

pilgrims on the way to the manger---to the great newness that the child

brings-must allow ourselves to pass through the desert where John is

preaching. This too is the Word of God. All: Thanks be to God. (Paul

Harkness, "Our Journey to the Cradle.")

Gospel: Luke 2:1-19

In those days, Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a consensus of

the whole Roman World. This first census took place while Quirinius was

governor of Syria. All the people were instructed to go back to the towns of

their birth to register. And so Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in

Galilee to the city of David-Bethlehem, in Judea, because Joseph was of the

house and lineage of David; he went to register with Mary, his espoused

wife, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her delivery. Mary gave birth to

her firstborn, a son; she put him in a simple cloth wrapped like a receiving

blanket, and laid him in a feeding trough for cattle, because there was no

room for them at the inn.

There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping night

watch by turns over their flock. The angel of God appeared to them, and the

glory of God shown around them; they were very much afraid.

The angels said to them, "you have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good

news to you-news of a great joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in

David's city, a savior-the Messiah---has been born to you. Let this be a

sign to you: you'll find an infant wrapped in a simple cloth, lying in a

manger."

Suddenly; there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,

praising God and saying, "Glory to God in high heaven! And on earth, peace

to those on whom God's favor rests. "

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

"Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that God has made known

to us." They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the

manger; once they saw this, they reported what they had been told concerning

the child. All who heard about it were astonished at the report given by the

shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her

heart. The Good News of our salvation. ALL: Glory and Praise to our newborn

Prince of Peace.

Reflection "Who am I as I visit the stable of Jesus' birth at the end of

2016?" Shared homily.

Blessed and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea ARCWP Article in Spanish on Reflecting the Divine Image in our Humanity

https://evangelizadorasdelosapostoles.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/alerta-alerta-alerta-estan-matando-a-dios-nuestra-divinidad-hecha-humana/?preview_id=106753

Pope Francis Decries Turning Hospitals into a Business

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2016/12/15/1215-pope-decries-turning-hospitals-into-a-business.html#
Healing should be the primary mission, not profits and corporate greed as Pope Francis points out.
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

10 REASONS 2016 WAS A BUMMER YEAR FOR WOMEN

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2016/12/14/10-reasons-2016-was-a-bummer-year-for-women/#6bad3ffc78d2

"Preaching Christmas Eve in the Wake of New Testament Scholarship" by Rev. Dawn Hutchings

..."Since the end of the first century, some 1900 years now, the story of the nativity has been told. Lately the church has become a little embarrassed by the way in which this story has been told. All sorts of experts have weighed in to tell us that it could never have happened the way we all remember it. Biblical scholars, historians, theologians, bishops, pastors, professors even scientists have cast doubt on the details of the story of the nativity. But even though we know how impossible some of the details may be, we cling to this powerful story.  Despite the wisdom of the experts, regardless of our doubts, this story still has the power to stop us in our tracks. No other story or image is more recognizable to people the world over than the Nativity scene of the birth of Jesus...

Tonight the images of a stable in Bethlehem, with Mary and Joseph gazing fondly at the baby Jesus, while the shepherds look on and the heavenly host sing their praises, these images are crystal clear to all of us. The story is part of us; it’s in our bones. And every year this story causes our lives to shift from the routine of winter, to the marvel of this night, when families are drawn together, and strangers greet one another with kindness and from near and far the hope of peace on earth is a dream shared by us all.

Yes, we embody the wonder of Christmas in the gifts given, the meals shared, the gathering of family and loved ones. But the greater wonder is that the God who is love incarnate comes down to be among us over and over again. Christ comes to show us how to share that love with a world in desperate need of it— to a world yearning for “peace on earth, good will among all people”.           

That shalom—that peace—that unfamiliar hush is the peace on earth I’m praying for this Christmas— the shalom that doesn’t just mean the peace that comes when we’re no longer at war but the shalom that means that all human beings live together at peace with one another and with God, and in right relationship with all of the rest of God’s wondrous creation.        

Shalom, the Hebrew word for what we might describe as “turning the human race into the human family” —the peace on earth that we, are called to be about as followers of Christ, not just at Christmas but all year long.  The truth is that peace is the only way we can truly give Glory to God.

Peace is the only way to insure that every child born into this world will have an opportunity to play, to learn and to grow. To accomplish peace on earth we will all have to go out into this Christmas night and into this New Year and put our faith into action. That means prayers and protests; speaking up and stepping out; offering whenever and wherever possible the Good News of God’s shalom and realizing the truth of the angels chorus. For we are the followers of the one whose birth they herald. Howard Thurman, a fellow follower of Christ, put it best declaring that:

            When the song of the Angel is stilled,

            When the Star in the sky is gone,

            When the kings and the princes are home,

            When the shepherds are back with their flock,

            The work of Christmas begins:

            To find the lost,

            To heal the broken,

            To feed the hungry,

            To release the prisoner,

            To rebuild the nations,

            To bring peace among brothers and sisters—

            To make music in the heart.        

            And to radiate the Light of Christ,

            every day, in every way,

            in all that we do and in all that we say.

            The work of Christmas lies before us.

So, dear friends, rejoice and be glad, for unto us a child has been born, a child who is Christ our Saviour. May Christ lead each of us as we go forth to make peace on earth and good will to all.   Amen."

More Carols for Justice and Peace by Jann Aldredge Clanton

http://jannaldredgeclanton.com/blog/?p=5217&utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

Come to our world, O Christ-Sophia, Wisdom;

our hearts are longing for Your peaceful way.

Lead us from fear and bondage into freedom;

with You we labor to bring Your new day.

 

Transform our world, O Christ-Sophia, Wisdom;

the poor and wounded await healing days.

Give us the power to sound Your call to freedom;

as equal partners, we show Your new way.

 

Led by Your Truth and Life within us growing,

we follow You on Your pathways of peace.

Filled with Your grace, Your loving kindness showing,

we share our gifts and our visions release.

 

REFRAIN:

 

Our weary world still longs for new creation,

for peace and justice coming to the earth.

Hope springs anew; we sing in celebration;

O Christ-Sophia, blessed be Your birth;

O Christ-Sophia, blessed be Your birth.

 

Words  © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberation, Peace, and Justice (Eakin Press, 2011).

“Christ-Sophia” is a biblical symbol of the Divine, making equal connections between male and female, black and white, Jewish and Christian traditions, thus providing a foundation for communities based on partnership instead of domination. Sophia, the Greek word for Wisdom, is a biblical female divine image that opens new possibilities for justice, liberation, and new life. New Testament writers link Christ to Wisdom, a feminine symbol of God in the Hebrew Scriptures. Wisdom (Hokmah in Hebrew) symbolizes creative, redemptive, and healing power. In their efforts to describe this same power in Christ, the apostle Paul and other New Testament writers draw from the picture of Wisdom. The apostle Paul refers to Christ as the “power of God and the Wisdom (Sophia) of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24), and states that Christ “became for us Wisdom (Sophia) from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The book of Proverbs describes Wisdom as the “way,” the “life,” and the “path” (4:11,22,26).  The Gospel of John refers to Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Bringing this biblical connection of Christ and Sophia to our worship can inspire partnerships that contribute to peace and justice in our world. Christ-Sophia inspires continual new birth.  Christ-Sophia empowers us to make the vision of the new creation a reality. Celebrate the birth of Christ-Sophia!

Devi Vaani sings “Our Mother Within Us” (to a familiar carol tune). This is another one of the songs on the Christmas album “Sing of Peace.”

Our Mother within us so holy and blessed,

You nurture our spirits with comfort and rest.

O give us your wisdom and strength for each day,

and fill us with love for all people we pray.

 

Our Mother within us, so many your names,

revealing our power, you help us to claim

our voices of courage to speak against wrong,

and joy overflowing to sing a new song.

 

O Mother within us, forever abide,

with blessings unfolding and arms open wide;

You give us new visions of life full and fair;

Your angels surround us with tenderest care.

 

Words  © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006).

Although many churches limit God to male names and images, Scripture does not limit God to maleness. The Bible gives a multiplicity of divine names and images, including female divine names and images. Maternal divine names and imagery occur throughout the Bible. The prophet Isaiah pictures Deity as a comforting Mother: “As a Mother comforts Her children, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). Biblical maternal images also include a “Nursing Woman” (Isaiah 49:15), “Mother Eagle” (Deuteronomy 32:11-12), and “Mother Hen” (Matthew 23:37).

“Our Mother Within Us” also refers to the biblical call to sing to a “new song” (Psalm 96:1; 144:9).This new song, “Our Mother Within Us,” comes with the hope and prayer that singing new songs that include female names and images of the Divine will contribute to a new story of love, peace, and justice in the world.

Homily for Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Fourth Sunday of Advent A, Dec. 18th, Beverly Bingle RCWP

Here's the context for our first reading:

Ahaz is king of Judah, the southern kingdom,

with Jerusalem as its capital.

An alliance between Syria and the northern kingdom of Israel

has laid siege to Jerusalem.

Ahaz has decided to ask for help from Assyria—

a ruthless nation bordering the northern kingdom—

instead of relying on God.

Seeing the danger of that alliance with Assyria,

Isaiah challenges Ahaz to ask God for a sign

that everything will eventually turn out well for Judah

without the Assyrians,

but Ahaz has already made up his mind

and refuses Isaiah’s advice.

But Isaiah tells Ahaz about the sign anyway.

He says that “the young woman is with child and shall bear a son,

and shall name him Immanuel,” “God-with-us.”

King Ahaz knows the danger, ignores Isaiah, and goes ahead,

abandoning faithfulness to God for trust in military might.

The signs of Ahaz's time were clear,

and he understood them,

but he refused to pay attention to them.

______________________________________

Ahaz wasn't the first, and won't be the last,

to ignore the signs of the times.

We all show who we are

when we show the kind of power we put our faith in.

We expose our true selves

by the signs we choose to pay attention to.

______________________________________

In his letter to the Romans,

Paul looks back to the Hebrew Scriptures

for signs to show that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew does the same thing in his infancy narrative,

shaping the story to make Isaiah's prophecy

look like a 700-year-old prediction of Jesus' birth.

______________________________________

Looking for signs isn't something new,

and it didn't stop with Ahaz or Matthew.

Our country is looking for signs these days.

We're going to have a new President,

and the media is buzzing with stories

about what it's going to be like, basing their predictions

on whichever of the signs they pick to believe in.

Maybe the sign is in the rise and fall of the stock market,

or Donald Trump’s tweets and twitters,

the biographies of appointees for cabinet posts,

or stories of Russian hacking

and billionaire deals with foreign countries.

______________________________________

We all look for signs.

This week we've been keeping a close watch on weather reports,

with their comparisons to the past

and projections for the future,

looking for signs to help us decide

whether we'll even be going out of the house and, if we do,

how many layers of coats and hats and gloves we'll wear.

There are signs to read all over the place.

A friend of mine who had cancer

is always on the watch for signs of a recurrence.

Parents watch their children for signs

of drug use, or porn addiction, or victimization by bullies.

Shoppers look for signs that Christmas gift prices will be cut back.

And people are looking at us Christians for a sign.

They want to see if we're real... or not.

Are we just calling ourselves Christians?

Or are we really doing what Jesus said and did,

really following him?

______________________________________

It seems that I can't go anywhere these days

without someone coming up to me

and giving me an answer to that.

Last week when I stopped in at St. Anne Hospital to visit a patient,

a woman came up and asked if I'm me, and then she said,

“I heard that your church gave a big donation to Beach House.

I've been thinking of coming to Mass with you,” she told me.

At the grocery store, a nurse came up to me and said,

“One of your Holy Spirit people came in to donate blood.”

Someone else told me that one of you

regularly drives your neighbor around

since he can't see to drive any more.

And then I heard that a couple of you

have been up and down the block

shoveling snow for your older neighbors.

People will walk up to me and name one of you

and say they saw you volunteering in all kinds of ways…

at the Peace Coalition demonstrations, at Helping Hands,

with UStogether, with Feed Your Neighbor,

at Pax Christi, with the League of Women Voters.

Because of you, our Holy Spirit Community

is gaining a reputation all over town,

and it's a great reputation.

______________________________________

Some of the signs of our time are truly ominous,

but some of them are hopeful.

Each of you is a reason to celebrate.

By your actions, every day,

day in and day out,

you are living witness to what it means

to be followers of Jesus.

______________________________________

We have one more week to get ready for Christmas…

one more week to plan the food

and clean the house and wrap the gifts,

or if you're gathering somewhere with family or friends,

one more week get the car ready for the trip

and pack it with food and gifts.

No matter—you're ready in the most important way:

it's obvious from your actions,

obvious in the way you live your life.

You are the signs of the times that people are hoping for,

signs of Immanuel—

signs that, indeed, “God is with us.”

Amen!

-- 

Holy Spirit Catholic Community

Saturdays at 4:30 p.m./Sundays at 5:30 p.m.

at 3925 West Central Avenue

Toledo, OH 43606

(Washington Church)

www.holyspirittoledo.org

Rev. Dr. Bev Bingle, Pastor

Mailing address: 3156 Doyle Street, Toledo, OH 43608-2006