Advent Reflections – December 6, 2015

Published on December 6, 2015November 18, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Open to Life: In Church Tradition

A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying. – John Paul II

The Catholic Church has an actually very simple philosophy on life. Life is to be respected, valued and protected from conception until natural death. Each life, regardless of who that life is, where they live, what they do, is sacred. And yet, often the simplest things in life are also the most complicated and challenging.

It is easy to be open to the life that we desire. It is easy to be open to the planned child, the neighbor who offers to watch our dog while we are out of town, the parent who ages gracefully, the person who holds the door open at the grocery store. Openness to life on our terms is easy.

The Church, however, isn’t calling us to be open to only the easy life. Jesus did not say “Blessed are those who loved the lovely, the gentle, the kind and forgiving.” Instead, he challenged that only those who saw Him hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison and sick, and did something about it, those few will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25:31-46).

The Church’s understanding of being open to life is an outward motion. It’s about hands extended, reaching out to those in need to offer comfort, warmth, acceptance and mercy, even when we find it difficult to do so.

Mother Teresa was famous for her “Five Finger Prayer.” Holding up each finger on one hand, slowly say the words “You did it for Me.” How does this prayer, coupled with your understanding of “openness to life” challenge you to be more open to those you encounter today?

Advent Reflections – December 5, 2015

Published on December 5, 2015November 18, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Open to Life: Mary in Scripture

Mary is the perfect example of what it means to be open to life. She was a young girl, recently engaged, when she is visited by the angel Gabriel. We say that so casually – “she was visited by an angel” – like it was a normal occurrence. “She was visited by a friend, her father, her sister, etc.” To say that the experience would have been shocking is an understatement. Mary was not only visited by a being that lives on an entirely different plane of existence from us, she also interacted with it, talked with it, questioned it. The angel’s opening greeting (if you can call this admonishment a greeting) is “Don’t be afraid.” You don’t say something like that unless there is reason for fear. You don’t tell someone “don’t be afraid” when presenting them an ice cream cone or asking if they would like to sit with you at lunch (at least I hope you don’t have to). No, Mary would have startled at best, perhaps panicked, certainly stopped in her tracks.

Mary’s willing submission to the angel’s proposal is the culmination, rather than the start, of her openness to life. Mary already had a relationship with God, she was a prayerful person, she, who was immaculately conceived, had perfectly aligned her will with God’s throughout her whole life. Mary’s “yes”, her fiat, to carry Jesus within her demonstrates what it means to welcome life wherever and whomever it comes from.

How am I inspired by Mary’s “yes” in my own life? How can I say my yes to God today?

Happy Birthday to my brother Michael!

Advent Reflections – December 4, 2015

Published on December 4, 2015November 16, 2015 by KateLeave a comment

Open to Life: The Reality of Motherhood

The reality of motherhood is very simple. A woman is a mother in the physical sense when she conceives and bears a child. If we were to leave our definition of motherhood at this fact, our understanding would be very narrow indeed. Just because someone bears a child does not necessarily give them the monopoly on the title “mother.” A grandmother or grandfather who takes care of their grandchildren because the mother is absent. An aunt or uncle who adopt their niece or nephew because their mother has passed away. A friend who cares for her friend’s children while she is deployed. The two best friends that raise their families next door to one another, sharing their parenthood across their backyards. The older couple at church that quietly and gently mentors young couples in their relationships with each other and with God.

Motherhood is more than physically bearing a child. It is recognizing that a life outside of our own requires our time, attention, compassion and nurturing. When we are open and welcoming to the life that is around us, especially the life that is in need, we participate in our own motherhood, whatever that may look like.

Think of one person who you have been like a mother too (if you are a mother, try to think of someone who is not your physical child). How were you open to welcoming their life into your own?