Befriend Your Enemies

December 5, 2010

Befriend Your Enemies
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.- Is 11:6

Advent is a time of preparation… a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. How do we prepare ourselves? We need to clean out all those cobwebs that may be holding our hearts back from truly uniting with our Lord’s heart and spirit.

Please take a moment now and think about all the people you know and think about how many you have had quarrels with or feel they have done you an injustice. Are there unresolved feelings? Do you hold grudges? OR…Do you befriend your enemies and pray for them? Preparing the way for the Lord to enter your heart means you also have to clean out your hearts and minds of things that could put up a road block to receiving the Lord.

In today’s reading from Isaiah, the wolf lies down in peace with the lamb. Are you the wolf or the lamb? It truly does not matter whether you are a wolf or a lamb… you have the chance TODAY to be friends with all you have had disagreements with. TODAY pray for patience to deal with those who trouble you and tomorrow reach out to someone in your past or present with whom you wish to forgive or ask for forgiveness. Hate, holding grudges, animosity saps the energy you could be using for love. This Advent make it a point to reach out to someone before Christmas… Clear out your hearts from all who trouble you and make room for the love of the Lord.
God Bless, Holly Clark

O Come Emmanuel

O Come Emmanuel... Come...

Just before Thanksgiving I tried to do some Christmas shopping and found myself wandering the stores and asking myself “Where is God amidst all of this chaos?” As I looked around me I found very little that advertised the coming of Jesus. I saw fruitcakes, gaudy holiday sweaters, mountains of electronics that said “Buy Me!” I kept wandering around the store feeling empty inside. I left buying nothing for Christmas. I kept thinking about the reason for the season, our Savior’s coming.

The next time I went out shopping I started thinking of all the “stuff” being pushed on us as the creches and manger decor gets shoved aside... history seems to repeat itself. Mary and Joseph went from inn to inn only to find “no vacancy” signs posted everywhere. Jesus was about to come and there was no room for Him then either! I decided then to start looking for Jesus in the wilderness we call the “mall.”

As I entered the shopping mecca I hummed to myself the song “O Come Emmanuel.” The name Emmanuel means “God is with us.” So as I walked around I kept thinking God is here... He is not in all the material items we see and buy, nor in stuff we receive but He is present in each the faces we see and in the hearts of all we meet. We don’t always see Jesus easily and sometimes He even seems hidden from our sight, but He is always with us. We need open our eyes to His awesome works, open our ears to hear His Word, and open our hearts to His endless love for us.
I invite you to look for Jesus in the mall, in the people you see, and in your own hearts. This Christmas, as you receive Christmas cards and before you put them away, take the time to gaze at each one and pray for the sender and ask what aspect of the Christmas story does this card emphasize ? Perhaps it is peace, joy, or love. Or maybe it is Mary’s youth, Joseph’s strength or the light of baby Jesus. Please take the time today and throughout the Christmas season to ponder the true meaning of Christmas. Hug your loved ones and open your hearts to God. -- God bless you all -- Holly Clark

Be Calm!

1st Sunday of Advent

Be Calm!
Be calm in your waiting; Let your hearts be strong: Because the coming of the Lord is near. – James 5:8

I can just see your faces now as you read this… Calm? How can we be calm? There is too much to do to prepare for the holidays… cooking, cleaning, shopping, cards to write, people to visit, to-do lists galore. How can we remain calm? And even when we try to be calm all around us chaos abounds!

How do you prepare for Christmas? Do you use the season of Advent to prepare spiritually for our Lord’s second coming? It is difficult to remain calm with the over commercialization of Christmas. A frenzy comes over us as we get caught up in the storm of to-do lists and expectations of others. Don’t you wish you could just find a place to get away and hide out for a bit?

Today is a perfect day to begin a new attitude towards holiday preparations. Today we light a candle to commemorate the First Sunday of Advent. As we light the candle today and gaze into its flame let us be reminded that the burning light of Jesus will pierce the darkness we find ourselves in. Gaze into the fire and pray for all those who are in darkness. Take the time to reflect upon your own spiritual darkness and try to think of ways to spiritually prepare for our Lord’s coming. Let us try to remain calm and find times and places where we can just simply be with our Lord. Remember in prayer all those who remain in darkness and pray that we will all be ready to receive Jesus when he comes.

Have a Blessed Advent, Holly Clark

Who are You Thankful For?

November 21

Giving Thanks
Who are you thankful for? Take a moment, right now, close your eyes and picture the people in your lives who have made a difference in your life. Who is coming to mind? Mom? Dad? Teacher? Friend or relative? The stranger who smiled at you when you most needed a smile? There are so, so many people we meet and are grateful for. Some are with us, others moved away, others are in the arms of Jesus, and still others are complete strangers to us.

For me… I am thankful for my parents who have taught me love; and perseverance in the face of adversity; for my brother who taught me to just “go for it” and reach out to my dreams; for my grandparents who taught me all about tradition and family history; for my friends who support me when I need encouragement and a hug; for my co-workers who support me in my ministry and keep me sane; for strangers I don’t know who happen to be in the right place and at the right time to help me in life; and thankful for all of you in the pews- for just being you! I am thankful for so many people, even thankful to those who provide me with the “irritants” in life for they are God’s people too and they teach me patience!

Go back now and picture again in your mind someone special to you, someone you want to hug. Remember them in a special way this week. If the person is nearby, don’t be shy, give a big bear hug! If the person is far away write a letter of appreciation or give a phone call- again don’t be shy! If the person you are remembering has passed away, imagine he or she is sitting beside you at Thanksgiving Dinner and imagine them loving you always from heaven and then ask Jesus to hug them for you.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, Holly Clark

Praying for Our Religious Women

November 14

A Moment of Thanks
for a Lifetime of Service
This week I received a request from a sister I know to include this letter in our bulletin about the lifetime service of our retired religious. As I read the following my thoughts went to the nuns I knew in my youth who worked tirelessly for the sake of our religious formation. These women work for almost nothing and when they retire they are expected to live on almost nothing. Please, today, take a moment to remember our religious sisters and say a prayer for them. They will thank you for whatever you can give in prayer and donations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the peace of Christ be with you! On the weekend of November 20 – 21, 2010, I ask your support for the special collection for Sisters, now retired, who have served the Archdiocese of Boston. This collection acknowledges the dedication of the Sisters who have been a significant part of our Archdiocesan schools, hospitals and social service ministries for many years.

The rising costs of health care are well documented. Because Sisters were not able to join Social Security until 1972, their retirement benefits are significantly less. Retired Sisters receive less than $4,500/year from Social Security.

Our retired Sisters are wonderful examples of aging with grace, dignity, and faith in God. After living very active lives, they continue in retirement to bring encouragement to others in a variety of ministries in our parishes, schools and hospitals. They pray for the intentions of the Church of Boston and for all who have been part of their lives.

Join me in acknowledging the dedication of our retired Sisters on the weekend of November 20 – 21 as the Archdiocese of Boston offers: A Moment of Thanks for a Lifetime of Service.

Asking God to bless you and with an assurance of a remembrance in my prayers, I am,

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Sister Marian Batho, CSJ
Delegate for Religious

God Bless all our Religious, Holly Clark

Have You Lost Someone?

November 7

Have You Lost Someone?
They can no longer die, for they are like angels;and they are the children of God.Lk 20:36

Today at the 11 o’clock Mass in Middleborough, and the 9 o’clock Mass in Rochester, we celebrate our annual Mass of Remembrance. At this Mass we remember all those who have gone before us, in particular persons who have passed away this past year. Coming together to remember loved ones can have a healing effect on those who mourn.

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells His disciples that people no longer die for they are like angels and are like the children of God. Very often at Mass we hear of “Jesus’ victory over death” and of “life everlasting.” Death has no more power over us. When we pass from this life we are welcomed into Jesus’ loving arms in Heaven. It is difficult for those left behind to ever think life could be the same again… and it won’t be. But we need to find a new connection with our loved one in a spiritual sense. Our loved one has joined the communion of saints and we can still pray with them, talk to them and feel their energy.

Last August, I lost my dad. Life would not, could not ever be the same again. But I found the strength to grieve what was lost. My Dad was someone who was always happy and would try to brighten the day of everyone he came in contact with. I can feel his presence still. With Jesus, help, he is still at my side, giving me encouragement to not be sad, to pursue my studies in ministry and to be the person I was meant to be. It was work to get through the pain, but I managed to find a way to have Dad with me spiritually all of the time. Just as we converse and connect with the famous saints we can connect with our departed loved ones. Death has no power over us.

This month let us remember our dearly departed. Go to a comfy chair, relax, close your eyes and picture your loved one. Is there something you would like to ask them or tell them? Picture your loved one next to you on one side and Jesus on the other. Draw on their strength to get you through difficult times. They are always at your side.
God Bless, Holly Clark

Mission Possible

October 24

Mission Possible
"We're on a mission from God."
Elwood Blues*

What do you think of when you hear the word missionary? Do your thoughts go to poor third world countries where there is much suffering and death? Do you ever think of yourself being able to do missionary work? It might surprise you to know that when you were baptized you were given Christ’s mission to carry on His work… you became a Missionary on the day the water was poured over your head in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

What is your mission to be? You do not have to go to a third world country like Mother Teresa, in fact she told people when asked how they could help her in Calcutta she told them “Find your own Calcutta!” We have plenty of missionary work that can be found in our own back yards. We can be missionaries by helping those in need by donating food, clothing, medicines or by visiting the ill and the homebound or perhaps supporting our troops here and abroad. You may say “I do not have time or money to be a missionary…” or “I don’t have what it takes.” Jesus appointed 72 disciples to be missionaries and commanded them to take nothing for the journey, no sandals, no money, no baggage. He told them their needs would be provided for. (c.f. Luke 10:1-9)…Who are we to question? But… if you still do not feel up to the task, you can still PRAY! Pray for all the poor, ill, needy people of the world.

This week, let us pray for the courage and strength to become missionaries following in Christ’s footsteps. Let us allow ourselves to be open to the possibilities that lay before us in our task… Be brave! God will help us on our way and remember we are always “on a mission from God.”

God Bless, Holly Clark

*Quote from The Blues Brothers movie (1980) where Jake and Elwood Blues’ mission from God was to form a blues band to raise money to save the Catholic orphanage that they grew up in.

A Falling Leaf

October 17

A Falling Leaf…
We are so blessed to live in New England! God graces us every Autumn with His glorious paintbrush of yellows, oranges and reds. I took a drive to Sturbridge last weekend and as I drove I marveled at the colors that were just peeping through the green. I gazed at the trees and watched the leaves being gently carried away by the wind. They would fall to the ground to form a colorful carpet, waiting for the winter snows to cover them up.

Life is so much like the falling leaf in Autumn. In the spring a leaf is born and lives out it’s life throughout the summer. It brings life to the wood of the tree and shelter to those creatures that live in the tree. As the wood of the tree starts to hibernate and prepares itself for the long winter months the leaf begins to die… but not before turning brilliant colors and bringing God’s artistry to our attention. The leaf will eventually be carried to the ground by the wind. During the winter the leaf will bring nutrients to the soil thus giving new life to the forest.

This is much like our lives. Like the leaf we are born into this world. We live out our lives bringing life to our family, our friends and our community. Eventually it will be time to pass on to the next life. A dying leaf brings us brilliance and hope in new life… A dying loved one brings us closer to Jesus as He shines His light through a withering life. Our loved one may be passing from this life and we will miss the person that was… but, we must remember, in dying, a person can bring new life those left in this world.

This month look around at the fall foliage… give thanks to God for all it’s wonder. Pick up a leaf and admire its intricacies and color. Then close your eyes and reflect upon a lost loved one, and think of how he or she made the world brighter for you… and always remember through death we are given new life… life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God Bless, Holly Clark

Endless Throng?

October 10

An Endless Throng
When we take the body and blood of Christ into our own bodies, we say Amen to our relationships with our brothers and sisters: the least, the forgotten, the ones we love and the ones about whom we are ambivalent.*

A few days ago Fr. Dan Crowley gave me an article to read about all of God’s people. All those we see everyday. Some people we notice and some we do not. Who are the people we notice? The ones going to Church? The ones who are pleasant or well-dressed? Or, perhaps young children in cute outfits? Do we also take notice of the needy and poor? Unwed mothers? Others who are nasty and ill-mannered? Of these when we do take notice, is it a positive or negative experience? While we are of the body of Christ we must remember this includes all the people of the Earth… not just the ones who are so-called “acceptable” to society:

When we are born into this world, we are each born into a body that already reflects God. No matter what he looks like or the color of his skin, no matter the country of her birth or the language of the first lullaby she hears, it does not matter to God. This is a child of God, and we are called to love that child no matter when they show up in our lives. There is no way to mince the command: Love your neighbor as yourself.*

This week let us all remember that we are of the Body of Christ and let us welcome all those who may feel unwanted or unwelcome in society and show them Christ’s love…

Small things launch first steps:
Pray for those with whom you struggle. Carry their names in your wallet. Recognize your blindness. Begin the hard work of letting go of resentment and anger. Cross a boundary Sit in another place in church. Greet those around you. Go to a different Mass. Learn something about someone you avoid. Listen to a new language. Eat food of another culture. Invite someone new to din- net Listen to a new story Ask about people’s lives. Learn about an opposing view. Practice love. Recognize that all are children of God loved by the same Creator who brought us all into being.*

The body of Christ is streaming toward us all, just outside our windows.*

God Bless, Holly Clark

* “The Streaming Throng” by Denise Simeone
Celebration, October 2010