Thursday December 9, 2021 Jesse Tree- Joshua Isaiah 41:13-20 and Matt 11:11-15 Isaiah assures us that God will grasp us by the hand to help us. We are not to fear. Jesus says that John the Baptizer is the greatest person ever born, but everyone is even greater than he in God’s Kingdom. Our Jesse Tree […]
Thursday Week Two of Advent Read More »
Wednesday December 8, 2021 Jesse Tree-Moses Ephesians1:6, 11-12 Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. God chose her before all time to bring his promise into the world, Jesus Christ. She was special, having been immaculate from the time of her conception. Today we hang an ornament symbolizing Moses on our Jesse Tree. Moses
Wednesday 2nd Week of Advent Read More »
I must say that grief is an animal I’ve never really had to deal with before. And now I am finding that I am not too well prepared to grapple with it. Sometimes it wins. I must tell you all that the day my mom died, I took my rosary and walked along the windy
Dealing with Grief Read More »
Tuesday December 7, 2021 Jesse Tree- Passover and Exodus Isaiah 40:1-11 The prophet Isaiah promises us that our guilt, our slavery to sin, is washed away and God will shepherd us over a newly made highway to a rich land. Our Jewish ancestors were also led from the land of slavery to a land of ‘milk
Tuesday Week Two of Advent Read More »
Monday December 6, 2021 Jesse Tree-Joseph Isaiah 35:1-10 and Psalm 85 Today is the Feast of St Nicholas, a favorite of children. Our Jesse Tree addition is a favorite child, Joseph. The passage from Isaiah and the chosen verses of Psalm 85 sing of peace. Joseph did not know much peace in his life. He was
Monday Week Two of Advent Read More »
Sunday December 5, 2021 Jesse Tree- Judah Luke 3:1-6 The Evangelist, Luke, sets the stage for us today, by giving us a specific point of historical reference. He sets the political stage. This time was not a major moment in the history of the Roman Empire, nor was Tiberius a particularly noteworthy Emperor. It is into
Sunday Week Two of Advent Read More »
Saturday December 4, 2021 Jesse Tree-Leah Isaiah 30:19-21 The prophet Isaiah promises that as soon as God hears your cry, he will answer, and you will be given all you need. Not necessarily what you want, but what you need. Leah, today’s Jesse Tree addition, Jacob’s unloved wife, found that to be true. She cried out
Saturday Week 1 of Advent Read More »
I feel as though I am having a crisis of faith. Why is there so much ugliness in the world? Why won’t politicians act in the interest of the whole nation? Why won’t people get vaccinated? Why are guns everywhere and another school shooting no longer shocks us? I’m looking for sense in all of
Friday December 3, 2021 Jesse Tree-Jacob Isaiah 29:17-24 God refers to himself as the “God of the House of Jacob.” That should make us feel pretty good because Jacob, our ornament for today, was not the best person. He cheated his brother, Esau, out of Isaac’s blessing. He carried a grudge and finally got even with
Friday 1st Week of Advent Read More »
Thursday December 2, 2021 Jesse Tree-Isaac Matt 7:24-27 Jesus tells us to build our lives on a firm foundation—himself. We cannot be swept away in the tumult of the day if we cling firmly to our foundation of faith. Today we hang an ornament for Isaac. Isaac faced a monumental trial—death at the hand of his
Thursday 1st Week of Advent Read More »