Immaculate Conception of Mary

 

I finally got to see "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." I have been looking forward to its release for awhile now.

I was not disappointed. 

Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Pastor from the "Confessing Church" who realized before most people in the church that Hitler was not someone to be followed. He was strong in his defiance of Hitler and risked his own life to stand against him.

He really makes you wonder if you would even recognize a bad leader; would you be among those courageously speaking out, or would you follow a maniacal controller? Would you even realize you were being duped?

Too many people just did not see it until it was too late.

Bonhoeffer became unafraid of the consequences of standing up for the good of his country and people. Forgoing his personal safety, he courageously ran towards what he needed to do. 

God, he felt, would be with him as he pursued a path against evil.

This all reminds me of the story about the frog sitting in a pot of water. As the water is slowly heated, the frog doesn't realize what is coming, since his death is coming on so slowly.

You might say that is sort of what happened in the time of Hitler, and, I suppose, some people may see a relationship to what is happening today. 

As antisemitism is on the rise, nationalism and the exclusion of others  promoted, not to mention the popularization of hate speech being embraced, we need our Mother Mary, more than ever.

Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the virgin, conceived without sin in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. (This is not the conception of Jesus.)

Mary, the JEWISH mother of the SAVIOR of the World, JESUS, is the perfect person in whom we can seek peace. She remains the Patron Saint of the United States.

Let us turn to our Mother, who lovingly cares for ALL of us, as we strive to reject anything that opposes the way of her Son.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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It's beginning . . .

  

 

As we begin to settle into Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) and the beginning of the new liturgical year, let us make a commitment to center our lives around the church seasons, rather than the season of commerce.

Advent is the perfect time to teach your children the importance of slowing down and focusing on something (someone) important. 

Advent recalls the coming of Jesus, through Mary; his presence today in the Eucharist; and it raises our awareness of the coming of Jesus at the end of time.

We love this time of year. We set out our Advent candle wreath on the dining room table and light it, centering ourselves in song, prayer and scripture. The wreath is our constant reminder that this is no ordinary time of year. Jesus is the Light of the World, penetrating the darkness.

We look forward to celebrating the Christmas Season, which begins on December 25th.

One thing you will notice as you take up centering your life around the Church's seasons, is that you will mostly be out of sync with everything else going on. Trust me, this is a good thing.

Truly celebrating Advent will make your Christmas all the better. The only drawback is that you will arrive ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus, only to find the rest of the world has gone dark on December 26th, as Christmas trees come down and Christmas lights go dark.

Like I said, you will be out of sync with the rest of the world, but you will discover what real joy is, as you find yourself free from the stress and (self-imposed) idea that the most important thing when getting ready for Christmas is to find the perfect gift.  

Jesus is the perfect gift to mankind. 

Let this be the beginning of your growth in holiness.

Happy Advent!

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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Just Give me Easy

 

 

In Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship," he writes about sorrow as he reflects on the Beatitudes.

He says that disciples do not need to go out of their way "to look for suffering . . ." Disciples, "simply bear the suffering which comes their way as they try to follow Jesus Christ, and bear it for "his" sake."

Bonhoeffer says that "Sorrow cannot tire them [disciples] or wear them down, it cannot embitter them or cause them to break down under the strain; far from it, for they bear their sorrow in the strength of him who bears them up, who bore the whole suffering of the world upon the cross."

For anyone who has grown tired of their physical pain, mental stress or exhaustion, it really isn't a very far walk to "breaking down under the strain." Many people, I think, are right on the edge.

If we are being honest, we just want easy, don't we? Give us peace. Let us be free from all of the struggles. Make it all just go away.

But when you read this reflection by Bonhoeffer, you quickly realize that if you are looking for "easy" you are in the wrong "club." 

Discipleship is never easy.

It does make it a little easier when we know that our journey is shared with Christ. While it may be difficult to live the life of a disciple, ultimately we must learn to embrace the suffering and sorrow as a cross that we bear. Joy is being able to offer it up for others, remembering that Christ offered himself up for us.

If you are ready to "break down under the strain," draw on the strength of Jesus to help you get through.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
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