December 2016 – Page 5

Daily Advent Prayer Experiences for 2016 by DailyGraces.net

December 14, 2016 – A Precious Gift

Published on December 13, 2016December 12, 2016 by KateLeave a comment

Yesterday we talked about shifting our perspective when we invite Jesus into our lives on a daily basis. We can see how our relationship with creation can shift from manager to co-worker. Today and the days following we are going to look more closely at our relationships with some basic human needs to see how our invitation to Jesus could improve them.

Let’s start with water. I know it is Advent, but one of the key phrases of Lent, another liturgical season full of opportunities for active anticipation, is Jesus’ words from the cross “I thirst.” Many saints, including the recently canonized St. Mother Teresa, emphasize the importance of these words and dedicated their lives to satiating Jesus’ thirst for for the conversion of souls. This is indeed a right and true interpretation of these words. However, it is also important to see the other side, the literal side. Mother Teresa did this well. She recognized that in order for souls to be saved, the body should also to be nourished.

Jesus did as well. Before explaining about the Bread of Life, Jesus fed the crowd. Before forgiving sins He typically healed the individual’s body. His very first miracle was to refill everyone’s wine glasses at a wedding. Jesus was definitely concerned about the spiritual state of the Jewish people, but he was also very much in tune with their physical needs.

42,000 people each year die from poor water quality and the absence of adequate sanitation
2.6 billion people are without proper sanitation facilities
Each year, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene contribute to the deaths of 1.5 million children (statistics from World Hunger and Dehydration)

These are big statistics but important ones. While many of us in the United States may be shielded from the harsh realities of what it means to go without water, there is clearly a large portion of the world that lacks this basic necessity. Not only are we shielded, many of us are picky about our water. Bottled vs. tap. Flavored vs. natural. We invest in filtration systems, infusers and and specific brands. With so many without water, one has to wonder:

“Is clean water a basic human right or a product for sale?” (Horan, Daniel. God is Not Fair. (2016). pg 26.

That is the question I would like to leave you with for today. But before you ponder it and what implications your answer could have, be sure to say the Sign of the Cross and invite Jesus into your conversation.

***How did your list writing go yesterday? Are you seeing your relationship with creation in a new way? Please feel free to share your experience, thoughts and offer support to one another in the comments, on Twitter with the #DailyGraces or on the Facebook page.

December 13, 2016 – Perspective on Creation

Published on December 12, 2016December 12, 2016 by KateLeave a comment

What did it feel like to take the time to intentionally ask Jesus into your heart and day yesterday? For me at least, I know that this is something I can gloss over. I believe in Jesus, I love Jesus, Jesus is a part of my life. But taking the time to say the words, especially saying them out loud, carries impact. This impact can, has and I’m sure will continue to influence who I am and how I perceive the world.

Presently I am reading an excellent book called God is Not Fair And Other Reasons for Gratitude by Daniel P. Horan, OFM (look for the book review post-Advent). Horan’s book covers a wide range of topics that all link to why we should be grateful for God’s overabundant love, generosity and mercy. One of the key themes that I can see arising from this book is how we look at the world differently when we see it through our relationship with Jesus.

Horan has one chapter that discusses our relationship with creation. He challenges the more standard stewardship model that many Christians operate on: “Rather than think about the whole of nonhuman creation as entrusted to us, which makes us cosmic landlords or property managers for God, we should consider our inherent kinship with the rest of creation” (32). When we view the created world through Jesus’ eyes, what will we see? Will we be looking at a world created for our benevolent (and often not so benevolent) stewardship, a property to be managed that is separate from our own destiny? Or, would we see how when we speak of this thing called “creation” we are necessarily speaking just as much of ourselves as we are the plants and animals residing alongside of us. Are we managers or co-workers in creation?

Do you see how the difference in perspective changes the way we should be operating in the world? Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si is a challenging call for this shift in perspective. Pope Francis says:

I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges. Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity. As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.” All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents (14). – Bold mine.

So what are we to do about it? Today, take your 3 minutes to list 5 ways you impact creation around you. Then, list 5 ways that creation impacts you. Finally, come up with 2 things you can do today that will improve your relationship with creation (some ideas might be being more conscious about your water usage, taking care not to throw food away or if you do need to finding a way to compost it rather than add to a landfill, placing a birdfeeder, talking with your children about the beauty and necessity of winter as part of the seasonal cycle, etc.).

***Does inviting Jesus into your heart allow you to see the world more clearly through His eyes? How does this make you feel? Uncomfortable, challenged, motivated, passionate?Please feel free to share your experience, thoughts and offer support to one another in the comments, on Twitter with the #DailyGraces or on the Facebook page.

December 12, 2016 – Invitation

Published on December 11, 2016December 9, 2016 by KateLeave a comment

Pope Francis continues to encourage and challenge Christians everywhere to announce the Good and joyful News of Jesus Christ with their daily lives. There is no greater joy to be found than in the joy of the Resurrection. This truly is the key to understanding how a person can act with joy even in the midst of sorrow or suffering.

Advent is a wonderful time to consider how the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ should fundamentally change our outlook on life. What would be different about you if Jesus had not been born? What would be different in our world if Jesus had not died and then rose from the dead? Why is it important to have a relationship with Jesus? How does this relationship affect my actions and reactions? These are some big questions that we can spend a lifetime reflecting on.

What is incredible about Pope Francis is how he breaks down these big questions and hones in on how we can concretely start to understand them.For Pope Francis, and for our 3 minute reflection today, our relationship with Jesus hinges on an invitation. The following is from the opening passages of the Joy of the Gospel apostolic exhortation:

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day (3).

Advent brings us many opportunities for considering inviting Jesus into our lives. Even though there wasn’t much room in Bethlehem, someone invited Mary and Joseph and by extension, Jesus, to use their stable. The shepherds received an invitation from the angels to go find Jesus. The three kings or wise men understood the star to be an invitation to find a new king.

Again, today take your 3 minutes to intentionally open yourself to Jesus. Invite Him into your heart. Ask Him how your day should be shaped now that He is intimately a part of it.

***What do you have hanging on your front door? Is it time to swap out the decor for something more joyful? Please feel free to share your experience, thoughts and offer support to one another in the comments, on Twitter with the #DailyGraces or on the Facebook page.