Wednesday, December 21, 2022

A New Year--A Fresh Start


Dear Friends,

In the untouched freshness of this day, I wish you:

Holiness, unexpected but welcome in you.
Ample time to think things through.
Patience with your family in difficult moments.
Perseverance in important things.
Yesterday in perspective.

New ideas for making the world a more positive place.
Energy to meet the day, along with enduring commitments.
Wonder at all God has done and is doing in our midst.

Yearning for goodness, compassion, and kindness to flood the world.
Empathy with suffering people everywhere.
A heart that reaches out to the most vulnerable, as Jesus did.
Restlessness until you rest in God.

2 eyes that see more clearly the things that are worth seeing.
0 degrees of departure from the truth, that is to say: never.
2 ways of looking at a question, or even more.
3 new friends this year who will warm your heart.

And to be sure that all of this is true, real, and possible in a world of so many seeming impossibilities, keep in your mind and heart the blessing in today’s first reading:
        The Lord bless you and keep you,
        The Lord make his face shine upon you
        And be gracious to you.
        The Lord lift up his countenance is upon you
        and gives you peace. (Numbers 6.24-26)

~Sister Joan Sobala

He is Here--Merry Christmas!


Dear Friends,

We have waited and now, He is here. Jesus, the long-expected savior. He is here. Today. Now. He is here.

        In the face of hatred and wars that pepper our world, no atrocity is too terrible to stop Him,
        No Herod strong enough,
        No pain deep enough,
        No curse shocking enough,
        No disaster shattering enough.

        For someone on earth this day sees the star
        Someone hears the angels voices,
        Some have instinctively run to Bethlehem to see for themselves
        And their hearts know peace and goodwill.
        They shout out. Do we listen?
        Christ is born. He is here.    (adapted, source unknown)

With Howard Thurman, we announce:
        I will light Candles this Christmas;
        Candles of joy despite all sadness,
        Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
        Candles of courage for fears ever present,
                    Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
                    Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens
                    Candles of love to inspire all my living,
                    Candles that will burn all year long.

From Pope Francis to us:
“God’s ways are astonishing, for it seems impossible that he should forsake his glory to become a man like us. To our astonishment, we see God acting exactly as we do: He sleeps, takes milk from His mother, cries, and plays like every other child! As always, God baffles us. He is unpredictable, constantly doing what we least expect. The nativity scene shows God as he came into our world, but it also makes us reflect on how our life is part of God’s own life. It invites us to become His disciples if we want to attain ultimate meaning in life.”

Last week I was in the locker room of the Bay View YMCA after a swim. A woman was talking about her mother, who has suffered from dementia for the last five years. “What is the best thing you can say about her life these days?” I asked. Her answer was prompt. “She’s happy. She laughs a lot. She can still see the humor in things.” Laughter is one of God’s unique gifts to people. Let’s use it on Christmas day. In the tiredness that comes on Christmas after dinner and all the family rituals are done, here are a few jokes to enjoy:

“Dear Santa, This year please give me a big, fat bank account and a slim body. Please don’t mix the two of them up as you did last year.”

“Never forget. Once you stop believing in Santa Claus, you get underwear as gifts.”

“What’s every parent’s favorite Christmas Carol? Silent Night.”

“What does Santa suffer if he gets caught in the chimney? Claustrophobia.”

“Prisoner before the judge. J: What are you charged with? P: Doing my Christmas shopping early. J: That’s not a crime. How early were you shopping? P: Before the store opened.”

Christmas awe and delight to you and all you love from our Sisters and staff.

~Sister Joan Sobala