The Letter Exchange

   

(This Advent, we will prepare for the coming of the Christ Child through a series of fictional letters filled with hope, trust, and endless possibilities.)

My Dearest Elizabeth,

  I know I have frightened you today.  I am mute because of my own disbelief.  In my heart, I doubted God's goodness. He has prepared something wonderful for our future, and in a moment of weakness, I faltered. Do not worry, though, and keep your faith steady and joyful. Today, the Angel Gabriel appeared on the right side of the altar as I burned the incense!

  Elizabeth, I have never experienced an angel of the Lord appearing before me. I was overwhelmed with fear and awe. He came to deliver a special message to us. The angel Gabriel said, "Do not be afraid, Zachariah,  for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb."

  Elizabeth, you will bear me a son! Let us put aside our thoughts about our age and instead rejoice in the Lord's mercy and kindness!  We will be parents, and our son will do mighty deeds for the Lord!  Gabriel said, "He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah." My dearest wife, our son will be a great prophet who will prepare the people for the Lord! Our son will prepare the way for the Messiah!

  My heart is overflowing with happiness! Though you will not hear the sound of my voice for now, let us unite our hearts in prayer. We must not delay; we must prepare immediately.  Let us dedicate ourselves entirely to His plan of salvation.  Let us render our hearts to the Lord,  "for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." The day of the Lord is coming; let us be well prepared.  Let us pray that the Lord guides us with His gentle love. 

Forever yours,

Zachariah

Thank You My King

   

  This week is filled with celebration! Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, and later in the week I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family! It truly is a beautiful way to celebrate the end of a liturgical year.  With this in mind, I would like to share my Thanksgiving thoughts.

FEEL THE JOY!

 

  My four-year-old granddaughter picked up my phone and started taking pictures of everything in my house. Then she switched to videos. I saw her filming my picture of Jesus, so I asked her, "What can you tell me about Jesus?" She paused for a moment. "Who was Jesus' mother?" I asked.

  "Mary!" she responded quickly.

  "Very good!  What else do you know about Jesus?"

  "He is kind and joyful, and He loves me very much!" my granddaughter answered.

  I smiled and said, "Yes, He does!" I really loved her answer. Jesus is kind and joyful! I have to admit, I’ve never heard her use the word joyful before, and I love that she sees Jesus this way. Often, Jesus is portrayed more seriously. In fact, Jesus wasn’t even smiling in the picture she was filming. 

  I thought about this again later that day.  I wondered if someone had asked me the same question: would 'joyful' even make my top 20?  Probably not, but honestly, it should. When Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Sheep, He revealed that there is "more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." Jesus tells us that he will put that lost sheep on His shoulders with great joy and call His friends and neighbors to rejoice with Him!

  This week, I hope you will join me in imagining Jesus smiling and full of joy. I plan to focus more on smiling as well. And why not? I have a Savior who is kind and joyful and loves me very much. Jesus also said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." I feel very fortunate to have such a wise granddaughter who is willing to share her wisdom and faith with her grandma.

-Susan

  

You Can Bank On It

 

  My kids and I were sitting around the kitchen snack bar when a bank commercial came on TV. The bank's name started with the letters "JE" and ended with an "S". My son laughed and said, "Oh, I thought that said Jesus Bank." 

  We all laughed at his comment, and I replied, "I'm glad you see Jesus in everything!" Then I started thinking...what would a Jesus bank be like?  That sounds like the kind of bank I would want to belong to

  I imagine that a Jesus bank would have vast deposits of faith. This family bank has existed for thousands of centuries and is known for its loyalty. Built on the cornerstone of love, you can trust every promise made to you. Everyone's saving grace accounts would be freely given and yield a high return. Bonuses are often awarded for good works and acts of charity.  A checking account of actual grace is linked to the savings grace account for those daily situations when extra help is needed.  This bank becomes personally invested in everything you do, and its doors are open to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  No matter what stage of life you're at, the Jesus Bank is committed to being there for you always. 

  Would I bank at this bank?  Absolutely! I would bank on Jesus every day of my life, and every day in eternity!

-Susan

All Souls Day

 

  Often, while I pray the first glorious mysteries of the Rosary, I feel so grateful that I was born after Jesus' Resurrection! Jesus conquered death, and I no longer need to fear it. How immense is God's mercy! We don't have to fear the unknown because we know and follow Jesus. Choosing to trust in God instead of fearing is the deal of a lifetime!

  Loss and grief are painful experiences here on earth, but they are transformed into joy in heaven. Today, let us pray for each other and for those souls who will begin their eternal life with God in heaven. Let us never forget that we are one family praying for one another. Souls on earth long for heaven, and souls in heaven long for our hearts to grow deeply in love with God. You know what they say, "The family that prays together, stays together." Your loved ones in heaven are praying for you. Make sure you are praying for them too. Some people overlook this incredible opportunity to love, and I hope you are not one of them this November.

-Susan

All Saints Day!

 

  This is just a shout-out to my brothers and sisters who shine brightly! I want to thank you for all your inspiring words and powerful witness to the Lord!  I have learned so much from you and appreciate all your help in my moments of need. I feel so blessed to know you! Enjoy your special day, and please continue to pray for me and everyone here on earth!

-Susan

Dinner and Prayers

 

 I was surprised one day when my son told me, "My friends think it's ridiculous that I have to come to the kitchen table and eat dinner as a family."

  I was shocked.  "What do you mean? How else would we eat dinner together?"

  Well, their moms just put dinner on a counter and everyone takes what they want and eats it in their room or in front of the television."

  "Really?  I think that sounds ridiculous."  Sharing a meal with my family has always been important to me. It is a fantastic way for everyone to connect.  It offers a chance to talk about the day's events and learn about each other's upcoming plans. Sharing dinner with others goes beyond just eating nutritious food; it is an opportunity to learn from and about those at the table. So often in the Gospels, we hear about Jesus sharing a meal with others. A good meal is a great way to bring people together, and prayer is the best way to begin a meal. This got me thinking, could a meal be a great way to start a prayer?

  Most experts agree that we should all eat a well-balanced meal. And I believe most saints would agree that our prayers should also be balanced.  Our prayers should include an entree of our personal struggles and a plea for help and understanding.  We should have a side order of intercessory prayers focused on others, and a tall glass of refreshing thanksgiving. A starchy side of repentance could be topped with self-awareness, reflection, and a desire to hunger for God's Will. A sweet, tasty treat of praise for God's goodness and love would be a perfect way to end the meal.

  Just like a meal brings people together, so should our prayers. We should never be satisfied with grabbing our food and eating in silence. While eating, don't do all the talking. Listen to those around you. While praying, listen to God's responses. God has so much He wants to share with us. Good food and good company are the perfect way to be fed.

-Susan