Beatitudes in Luke 6

 

ESV Luke 6:20-24  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.  

Lectio Divina, Magnificat, February 2025, p. 247 "Everyone desires to be happy," teaches Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Here, Jesus lays out his program for happiness, as indicated by the recurring word makarios, which is Greek for "blessed" or simply "happy." (Strong's Greek: 3107. μακάριος (makarios) -- Blessed, happy, fortunate)  Yet the picture Jesus paints appears rather grotesque at first glance.  He endorses everything our instincts tell us to avoid at all costs:  poverty, hunger, tears, rejection.  Why? 

Is it because money, wealth, merriment, and esteem are bad in themselves? No: on the contrary, these are good things.  At the same time, there is a danger that we might become so distracted by the gifts that we forget the Giver.  Saint Gregory the Great warns that if the prosperous are not careful, they may "love their pilgrimage more than their homeland and . . . transform the supplies for their journey into an impediment for their arrival." Sufferings borne well, on the other hand, can increase our desire for heaven and help prepare us to receive the joy that is to come.

Saint John Paul II points out that the Beatitudes "are a sort of self-portrait of Christ and for this very reason are invitations to discipleship and to communion of life with Christ." In other words, Jesus practices what he preaches--or better, he preaches what he practices.  . . 

As Christians, we say that we want to follow Jesus and to be like him, but are we ready to embrace the difficult truth that imitating Christ means being acquainted with suffering?

If you are a Christian (or even a non-Christian) who wants to poke the hornet's nest of differences between the Luke version and Matthew's, there are many sermons and writings on that, although not the topic of Lectio Divina for this Sunday, The Beatitudes in Luke and Matthew | Psephizo

Catholic answers suggests two possibilities: Why Are There Eight Beatitudes in Matthew and Only Four in Luke? - Catholic Answers, Inc

St. Augustine provides two possible explanations for these differences. My preference is the second. 

Jesus gave 2 sermons.  My favorite verse is Psalm 37:3, and it essentially says the same thing in 7 words.

"One possibility is that although only one sermon was delivered, its location was described under different aspects by Matthew and St. Luke. For it is possible that the place was a level spot along the slope of the mountain, which at once was part of the mountain and might also be described as a plain in relation to the peak of the same mountain. According to this account, the sermon as related by Matthew included a number of our Lord’s words that Luke omitted and omitted some of the words that Luke included.

A second solution is that Jesus actually gave two sermons that were closely related: for his purpose was to promulgate the New Law, yet not all were prepared to receive that law in its most perfect form. Therefore, since the first promulgation was given only to his close disciples on the mountaintop, it was lengthier and more proportioned to the spiritual-minded; and since the second was given to the multitudes on the plain, it was shorter and more proportioned to the carnal-minded."

St. Turibius, protector of Indians

It's the first day of October and the cover of Magnificat, the monthly magazine I use for morning devotions, shows an angel and a small child. Except it's not like anything I've seen before. So here's the story:

"In 1580, Saint Turibius became Archbishop of Lima (Peru), at that time the largest archdiocese in history, extending from Nicaragua to Tierra del Fuego. First he set out to reform the clergy; then, equipped by the king of Spain, Philip II, with the title and full powers of “Protector of the Indians,” he liberated them from the mercantile trafficking that victimized them, and created for their benefit an effective system of social security. Furthermore he did not hesitate to order that the property of those suspected of having accumulated wealth at their expense be seized and redistributed to the Indians. To console those who had been expropriated by his zeal, he told them: “You will thank me in the next world, because the poor Indians are banks; through their intervention your treasures are now capital invested for you in heaven.”

His great work, however, would be to promote, again for the benefit of the Indians, the establishment of little autonomous Christian republics in which the citizens would be able to live under the direct protection of the royal crown. Governed by democratically elected Indian chiefs and organized by the Franciscans, then also by the Jesuits, these republics—later called Reducciones (“organizations”)—were centered on a group of institutional buildings: a church, a school, a hospital, a residence for the elderly, and several centers for professional and artistic training. [by this point in my reading I'm beginning to think it sounds like, "Northwest Ordinance" which preceded our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights]. The native Incas showed little aptitude for commerce and industry, but a real genius for arts and crafts, and so priority was given to developing those talents. Hence the founding of admirable schools of art, such as Cusco’s school for painting. Music, dance, and the liturgy flourished, too, giving rise to a festive civilization that expressed its genius and joy of living on every Christian feast day.

The painting that adorns the cover of this issue of Magnificat bears witness to the final lights of this Christian epic in which, in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat, the humble were blessed to be so. For unfortunately, in the 18th century, in the name of “Enlightenment” philosophy, the “enlightened despots” who were reigning in Spain and Portugal abolished the Reducciones and left their citizens at the mercy of ruthless men who looted and profaned their institutions; then, these were exploited, and irreparable sufferings were inflicted on these native populations of South America."
And there's more at the website: https://us.magnificat.net/magnificat_content/angel-of-god-my-guardian-dear/

That's what I like about Magnificat. Because it's outside my church experience (Anabaptist, UCC which is a merger of many protestant groups, Lutheran), and my public school education. I learn so many things about history, art and philosophy.

Prayers for June 23 from Magnificat magazine

 

Matthew 25

Matthew 25 has always been a favorite of mine. Recently, I read a wonderful reflection on Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa carried the Gospel in her hand without a book. Sometimes when asked to describe the Gospel message, she would take her listener's hand and pinch each finger, saying, "You. Did. It. To. Me." You did it to me. This five-finger gospel, taken from Matthew 25:40, summed up for Mother Teresa the truth about the body of Christ and showed her the way to love the God she could not see in the brother or sister she could see.

Father Jonah Teller, Magnificat, June 2023, p. 245

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini (d. 1905) slightly reformated

Jesus Christ is the light of the world (Jn 8:12).

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6).

He is the bond of union,
the kiss of peace between heaven and earth,
between God and man (Eph 2:14).

Jesus is our Redeemer,
our Teacher,
our Advocate,
our Exemplar,
our Doctor,
our Head,
our Companion,
our Brother,
our Friend,
our Comfort,
our Refuge,
our Glory,
our Joy, and
our Greatness.

He is the High Priest of the new covenant,
the eternal Priest,
the Mediator between God and man,
the victim for our sins,
our true and only happiness.

He is the door we must enter to reach his kingdom,
the Cornerstone and
Foundation on which the spiritual edifice must be built.

He is the Bread of our souls,
the Author and Perfecter of our faith,
our Reward,
our Crown,
our Life, and our All.

To Jesus we owe the grace and friendship of the Father,
the confidence and freedom of the sons and daughters of God.
To Jesus we owe all the gifts of nature, grace, and glory that we receive from God.

To Jesus we owe it if God preserves us,
sustains us, and
defends us;
if he does not punish us as we deserve;
if he continues to bear with us and wait for us.

From Jesus we get all wisdom and prudence,
all inspirations and good thoughts,
all pious desires.

From Jesus comes courage in time of danger,
strength in time of temptation, 
long-suffering in time of pain,
patience in time of adversity, and
perseverance in doing good:

"In Christ you have become rich in all things" (I Cor I).

Yes, we have everything in Jesus,
we can do everything in Jesus,
we can hope everything and
obtain everything from Jesus,
since it was Jesus who wanted to humiliate himself for us,
sacrifice himself for us, and
become all things for us (I Cor 1).

This appeared in 2 paragraphs on p. 58-59 of the February 2023 issue of Magnificat. I found it online at Scalabrini a living voice, excerpt from his writings, 1987. http://www.intratext.com/ixt/ENG2000/_P4.HTM

Blessed Gabriele Allegra, 1907 - 1976, translator of the Bible into Chinese

At 18 I transferred from Manchester College to the University of Illinois. A private dorm, McKinley Hall, was recommended to me by a high school friend who was living in a sorority house. (Details are important in serendipity that changes your life.) The housemother knew I was taking Spanish, but didn't know that Brazilians spoke Portuguese, so she matched me with a young woman from Brazil as a roommate.  That's how I met my Chinese roommate, Dora Lee.  Her family had fled mainline China when the Communists took over and moved to Brazil.  Most of her many siblings had since relocated to the U.S. for college and jobs. And since 1958, I've always enjoyed learning about Chinese language, culture and history.

So, this morning I read about Blessed Gabriele Allegra in the March issue of Magnificat, and it piqued my curiosity. While he was in seminary he learned about a 14th century bishop who had begun a translation of the Bible into Chinese, and from that day he decided that was his calling. By 1937, he had a first draft, but it was lost due to the Chinese civil war, so he started over and a full Chinese Bible was published in 1968. In addition, he was a scholar in other areas, and helped and served the poor and diseased (particularly lepers).

Most of my life as a Lutheran I've heard about Martin Luther's achievement of translating the Latin Vulgate into the vernacular German, however he had at least 18 other translations, some predating his achievement by 100 years plus much scholarship to aid his efforts.  It looks like Giovanni Allegra first had to learn Chinese and then how to translate it (I don't know which dialect).

The cause for his canonization was started in 1984 by Bishop John Wu in Hong Kong, 8 years after his death. He was declared venerable by the Holy See in 1994 and his decree of beatification was promulgated in 2002. He was the only scripture scholar to be beatified by Pope John Paul II.

https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Gabriele_Allegra

Saint Who? Magnificat, v. 24, no. 13, p, 207 https://youtu.be/8A5yeVHf5A8

For Dora's bio and a peek at her fabulous fiber art: DORA HSIUNG — gallery twist

St. Lorenzo Ruiz Feast Day

 One of the advantages of using a Catholic publication (Magnificat) for my morning meditation time is the history and fine art that I learn.  As a protestant, my exposure to Christian history, after the death of the disciple John, was whatever happened after 1708 (Church of the Brethren) or later when we joined Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, the dispersion and scattering of Christians into thousands of denominations after Martin Luther (German) and John Calvin (French) in the 16th century. 

On the Catholic calendar today is the feast day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, and he was born around 1600 and canonized by John Paul II in 1987.  Although some U.S. Christians deny that Christians today are martyred or persecuted for their faith (the largest number by Communists), that's not what the statistics show.  Just because we have the First Amendment to our Constitution in the U.S. and do not feel personally persecuted doesn't mean it isn't happening in Asia and Africa where the growth is the strongest. 

"[He] and his 15 companion martyrs, all members and associates of the Dominican Order, were slain in Japan between 1633 and 1637.  Persecutions stemmed from a 1603 edict by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu banning Christianity.  From 1623, suspected Christians were forced to tread on images of Mary and Jesus. Those who refused were executed.  The tortures from his period were designed to force the victims to renounce their Faith.  Some Christians did apostasize.  The men and women honored today spent their last excruciating hours with their hearts raised in prayer and hymns of praise." (Magnificat, vol. 24, no. 7, p. 388-389).  

So of course, I had to turn to the internet for more information since my personal library is not much help. His death is just too gruesome to repeat, I don't even recommend that you look it up, but I was struck by the fact he was sort of an accidental martyr.  Although a devout Christian, he really hadn't intended to be a missionary to the Japanese, and got there by accident fleeing his homeland on a homicide charge. He arrived in the middle of a terrible persecution, but his faith and early training held up and endured the most terrible torture. 

Because this group of Christians who were killed in the 17th century were in Nagasaki, one of the bombed cities at the end of WWII, I continued looking through historical material on the internet.  I found out a remnant of the Christians survived, and even had a thriving community in the 1940s.  That area of Nagasaki where they lived was at the center of the destruction and was destroyed.  One Christian survivor of the A-bomb  believes "the war ended because of our sacrifice.” https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2015/10/08/nagasakis-hidden-christians-survive-persecution-and-the-atomic-bomb/

Christian Persecution in the 21st Century - Good News Christian NewsGood News Christian News (goodnewsfl.org)

A message from the Great Depression years

 Every morning I read the daily readings for Catholics from Magnificat, a small magazine which usually includes, several hymns, one or two passages from the Psalms (one responsive), an Old Testament history reading, the Gospel and usually an Epistle, a story about a saint, and perhaps a reading from the writings of a saint, not necessarily the same person, because some saints were not literate or are known only through the writings of others. Sample copy: Magnificat Request a sample copy There is some comfort (actually a lot) knowing that Catholics all over the world are using the same passages, and that they are also being read and commented on during daily mass.  When I attend mass at St. Andrew I will hear from the pulpit the same passages I read with my morning coffee (actually, my hot chocolate since I don't drink much coffee anymore). If I tune into one of the EWTN radio selections for that day, I may hear another meditation on one of those passages. It is marvelous to see how all these fit together when read that way. (Hear it, see it, say it, do it is the best way for us to learn, particularly elders and small children)

However, as I've mentioned before, this summer I picked up a "like new" book from a Little Library on the Psalms, Meditations in the Book of Psalms, by Erling C. Olsen, (3rd. ed 1952) c. 1967, 4th printing.  New these are about $20, but Little Library is take one, leave one, or take and read and put it back. It's the "best deal" I got all summer. The author's preface and the cover explain the evolution of this 1,050 page book.  It began on February 18, 1934 as radio broadcasts of the Psalms, originally with only the most well known, and then he went back and added in the rest, ending finally on November 27, 1938. Then he edited his scripts and did more research to make sure all the scripture passages and quotes from scholars, listeners and friends were correct. This must have been a Herculean effort--240 radio messages, 68 hours of broadcasting, 1000+ hours of research.  The first edition of "Meditations" was published in 1939 in 2 volumes, 2nd in 1941, 3rd in 1952 (in one volume), the copyright was renewed in 1952, and the 4th printing of that was 1967. And all that explanation, particularly the dates of the broadcasts, is to bring us to Psalm 127, the reading from "Magnificat" for December 17, 2020. In most broadcasts, Olsen comments on something contemporary, but doesn't mention dates, although dates may have been in earlier editions. I'm sometimes caught up short when I am reminded there is nothing new under the sun, and that God has rescued our nation before from the bad decisions of his people. That said, I've read elsewhere that Olsen may have been a dispensationalist, and thought the ending was nigh.

One thing on our minds (at least of patriotic, conservative Americans) is the packing of the Supreme Court, if the Republicans in Georgia don't win the run-off this coming January. This attempt has only happened one other time, if my knowledge of U.S. history is correct.  President Roosevelt tried it during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In order to get all he wanted in the "New Deal," FDR needed to get rid of, or lessen the influence of certain members of the Supreme Court.  They were old and in my opinion, wiser than FDR, considering the things they struck down that he wanted.  The average American retires around mid-60s, but even today SCOTUS members may serve well beyond that (Ruth Bader Ginsberg was 87, and had been in ill health for some time). Roosevelt wanted to appoint up to 6 additional justices for every justice older than 70.5 years who had served 10 years or more which would lessen the influence of those on the court (to decide cases according to FDR's demands). FDR's response to the world wide economic crisis was to lessen capitalism and strengthen socialism. (Sounds like 2020, doesn't it?)  He wasn't successful, but more members of the court did eventually swing his direction.

Which brings us  to Olsen's comments about Psalm 127. He comments that the first verse applies in every sphere "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" and "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." was particularly about the U.S. Now here I'm assuming this broadcast was in 1937 when FDR was up to all sorts of mischief.

"Take the problem now up for discussion in our own land: the matter of the Supreme Court.  Some of us have been urged to petition our representatives.  No one can take exception to that.  Our representatives should know what we desire if they are to represent us properly.  There is only one way through which they can accurately determine our wishes, and that is from our own expression.  However, while a petition is desirable, prayer is infinitely more powerful.  I repeat what I said on another occasion; I believe that our difficulties would soon be past if the godly people of this country would earnestly pray. . ."

We are certainly on a precipice right now--socialism is bearing down on us and many Americans are asleep to the danger, or worse, suggesting open rebellion and violence to stop it.  Olsen, back in 1937, had already seen a lot, and he suggested prayer (as well as letting your representatives know your desire).

This Is How FDR Tried to Pack the Supreme Court - HISTORY

Mr. Olsen was not a pastor, he was Executive vice president of The Fitch Investors Service, in New York and in addition to the Sunday morning broadcast, he also hosted a mid-week program where he interviewed knowledgeable guests. In a brief look through the internet, I see that some of these programs are also available. 

Psalm 107—message for today from 1936

Yesterday morning the Psalm selection in Magnificat was Psalm 107—titled, "A Psalm with a message for America Today." Erling C. Olsen is so good at going back in history and explaining what was going on in Israel when the psalm was written, what its significance is for the life of Jesus, and then our lives. Except. He was speaking/writing in 1936. That was the Great Depression. The book is based on his radio broadcasts. He comments about the warnings God had given Israel--the people would taste the goodness of God, they would back slide, he would warn them, they would get in great trouble, then cry out and God would save them. He was merciful. Then it would start all over.

By 1936, when he gave this broadcast about Psalm 107 the U.S. had been in depression for 7 years, and in 1934 and 1935 there were serious droughts (the people on the east coast barely noticed because is was happening in the wheat belt and plains). The Americans blamed everybody and everything for our circumstances, he said, except our own sins. The government had ordered the farmers to plow under their fields and slay their livestock. Olsen said he didn't wish to get political but from the president on down, these were godless, wicked doings.**

"Just as God will turn a fruitful land into barrenness because of the wickedness of the people that dwell therein, so upon their repentance He will turn the wilderness into a standing water, and the dry ground into water springs so that the people may sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. . . . That kind of blessing only comes when a nation bows itself before God and repents of its wickedness. Would to God Americans would do that!"

Maybe he's waiting for the churches to open.

**Note: Olsen is referring to the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1933 (sort of like "Cash for Clunkers" under Obama) when the elitists in government decided prices were too low and the production too high, so herds were slaughtered, and food destroyed, even though people were starving. The farmers had to cooperate or they would get no aid from the government. Is this ridiculous plan beginning to sound like 2020?

Listening to Handel’s Messiah

In the Bing search window this morning I typed, "Messiah YouTube" and then had to choose one. I chose the complete work, not just the Christmas portion. From my living room window overlooking the fresh snow, I can listen for 2 1/2 hours, London Philharmonic. This is Advent, the beginning of the church year, and although Handel wrote it for Easter, it has become a custom for Advent and Christmas. Fr. Sebastian White, editor of Magnificat writes in the December issue, "The Son given unto us at Christmas is the Man of Sorrows who will suffer and die for us on Good Friday. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who rises victorious at Easter, unleashing our pent-up alleluias."

When Messiah debuted in Dublin in 1742, such a huge crowd was expected that ladies were told to wear dresses without hoops and men were asked to leave their swords at home. I wonder how they got the word out with no internet, twitter or Facebook?

In my younger years when I sang in a choir, I was a first soprano; now I'm a tenor and only have about 5 raspy notes, and they don't seem to be in a row. But I hope someday to join the heavenly choir of angels and saints who day and night sing, "Worthy is the lamb that was slain. . . "

You don’t have to go 3,000 miles to become a missionary

Apparently my subscription to Magnificat lapsed a month, and I didn’t get the August 2020 issue, so I decided to reuse the August 2019 issue.  This morning’s reading (which I don’t recall reading last summer) included a story about Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne.  I’ve always had a soft spot for him, even though I’ve only read a few items by the popular 19th century American writer.  I remember him for the 4 titles in the deck of cards “Authors” a game which my mother and grandmother encouraged for slow Sunday afternoons at Grandma’s house at her farm near Franklin Grove, Illinois.

Rose was the daughter of two prominent, socially connected families, the Hawthornes and the Peabodys. After she married George Lathrop, also a writer, the couple converted to Catholicism. Later his alcoholism which worsened after the death of their only child Francis, caused them to separate, but she never stopped caring and praying for him.  I haven’t read enough about her life to find out what led her to care for impoverished cancer victims, but that’s the direction of the rest of her life. One article I read noted she was a friend of Emma Lazarus, the poet, who first introduced her to the horrors of 19th century poverty.  At first it was just her working along for the cancer victims, then another volunteer, and eventually, she was allowed to establish a Dominican order,  Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. 

". . . service to Christ's poor did not simply mean that this lady of culture, education, and social status would put on an apron and offer gifts from her abundance. She decided to live among the poor, to beg for them as they did for themselves, and to establish a home where they could live in dignity, cleanliness, and ease as they faced their final days on earth . . .There was to be no class system, no 'upstairs/downstairs' for her residents. She and her religious sisters would be the servants. The residents would be the object of all their care and concern."

There are 3 houses, and one is in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://georgiabulletin.org/news/2018/12/family-chaplain-speak-of-hawthorne-dominicans-life-changing-oasis/

https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/rose-hawthorne-daughter-nathaniel-becomes-candidate-catholic-saint/

https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/faith-and-character/faith-and-character/the-remarkable-rose-hawthorne.html

Positive self-talk from the 1600s

Sometimes I think positive self-talk is a fad from the pop psych of the 20th century, but today I read some advice from Saint Jane Frances de Chantel who died in 1641.  She founded the Order of the Visitation for women who did not have the stamina for the life of the traditional orders.  These women had been rejected for poor health or old age by other orders. I haven't yet looked up her writings, but found this one as "Meditation of the Day," August 12, 2019, Magnificat, vol 21, no. 6.

"No matter what happens, be gentle and patient with yourself.  Once in a while, if you feel particularly weak, without courage, without confidence, force yourself to make affirmations which are the opposite of your feelings.  Say with conviction: "My Savior, my all, despite my feelings of misery and distrust, I place all my confidence in you; you are strength for the weak, refuge for the miserable, wealth for the poor; you are indeed my Savior who has always loved sinners."

But, dearest, say these or similar words resolutely, without self-pity or tears; then turn your attention to something else. The Almighty will never let you slip from his arms, for he holds you firmly.  Don't you see how very gently he comes to your rescue?" 

Note:  I did find a video of an RCIA Initiation at St. Jane Frances de Chantel church, Sterling Heights, Michigan, which being 2020 shows the participants in masks and the pews roped off for social distancing. Two new members are baptized.  Others are being confirmed as adults. Their sponsors are standing behind them.   Usually this is done at Easter, but because of the pandemic was moved to Pentecost.  Some churches cancelled classes. Voices a little muffled. https://youtu.be/FLUUiCI8qGU

Blessed are the poor in spirit

I haven't found the exact article on line I read today in the March 2020 Magnificat written by Kimberly Shankman about the meaning of her son's suffering, “The Richness of Poverty of Spirit.”  But this one about the last normal day she had with her son in 2014 https://www.thegregorian.org/2014/johns-last-normal-day  reminded me of the last "normal" day I had with mine before his diagnosis October 1, 2019. We had lunch together the last Saturday in September at the Chef o Nette Restaurant in Tremont shopping center in the neighborhood where we began our lives together, across the street from his elementary school, the swimming pool, the ball fields he played in and the library we visited every week. That day he was impatient and edgy, but nothing unusual. We both ordered "Hangover and fries," a specialty. No outward sign of the large tumor growing in his brain.

I'm not where Mrs. Shankman is yet on the meaning of suffering. She was reflecting on the Beatitudes in the article I read. She wrote that now she understands "poor in spirit" whereas before she didn't. "All the money in the world couldn't buy what I needed. What could save us--what did save us--was the recognition of my utter, total, abject poverty (of spirit). All I could do was beg God every day to show us his path on this rocky road. And he has responded with breathtaking generosity, showering blessings on us directly and through those he surrounds us with. The love of friends, support of neighbors and caring of strangers answer our prayers and bring us profound peace."

I might be over-Bibled

 

This morning I was looking at week 3 of Women of the Word study of Romans; Good News that changes everything by Melissa Spoelstra, Abingdon Women, 2019.  It comes with a DVD with teaching and discussion led by Spoelstra. That group meets on Saturday morning. There are 4 different times during the week this is offered, but I do Saturday 9:15 even though I'm retired because generally there is a core group. And I like the leader, Mary Jo.

On Sunday I'm in the adult Sunday School class at 10:15 at Lytham and we're studying the book of Hebrews using the book Hebrews by Richard E. Lauersdorf, Northwestern Publishing House, 1986. This group is led by a lawyer, Charlie, who is always well prepared. He's an excellent teacher who manages to be patient even with a group of well educated and studied adults, with some big talkers.

On Thursday morning I meet with the retirees and we've just started the book of Luke with Pastor Jeff Morlock.  Once a month this group has a lunch after the study and a guest speaker.  During Advent and Lent we also have a lunch after class and before mid-week worship, open to the whole church.

Our Sunday sermon schedule is a race through the Bible, called Open Book.  We began with Genesis in September and last Sunday the topic was Jesus Heals on the Sabbath and the Gospel reading was Mark 3:1-6.  The pastors rotate.

Our SALT group (Sharing and Learning Together) which is 9 people who are members of UALC (all 9 o'clock service at Lytham Road) who meet together has been reading Making sense of the Bible; rediscovering the power of scripture today, by Adam Hamilton, Harper One, 2014 we meet approximately once a month, but with holidays and illnesses, it's more like 7 times a year.

In the fall the senior pastor Steve Turnbull began an evening study of Ephesians at our Mill Run campus.  I attended that one evening, but it was dark and raining, and I decided I didn't want to attend under those conditions. It will start up again in the spring, but I just don't like going out at night.

About a week ago, someone who's in a group with my husband sent home with him, Finding Jesus in the Old Testament by David Limbaugh, Regnery Publishing, 2017 pb. In hardcover it was titled, The Emmaus Code, 2015. I've only looked at the table of contents, but I enjoy this type of research.

Several years ago I received as a Christmas gift Tried by Fire; the story of Christianiiy's first thousand years by William J. Bennett, Nelson Books, 2016. And I've recently been reading it while on the exercycle, however, it's a fat book and not conducive to cycling and I'm only on p. 19.

And then yesterday, two books arrived that I'd agreed to review and at the time it sounded like a good idea. The beautiful book by Steven Green, Zondervan, 2019, and one which isn't exactly Bible, but issues dealing with the election, God, Trump and the 2020 election, by Stephen E. Strange, Front Line (Charisma House), 2019.

During the week for my daily devotions I use the Catholic serial, Magnificat--just finished January 202, Vol. 21, no. 11. It follows the liturgical calendar for daily mass so there is a theme, a biography of a saint, a meditation on the observation of special days, Old Testament reading, Psalm, Gospel and Epistle, plus hymns and responsive readings.  Not being familiar with the tradition of saints, I read a lot of history. Saints featured in January were those who worked for unity in the church, and the February saints are saints who suffered serious illness, like Blessed Amadeus of Savoy, who suffered attacks of epilepsy (d. 1472).

A saint who came late to the party, St. Claude la Colombiere, 1641-1682, beatified 1929

"I am resolved to put no limit to my trust, and to spread it out to everything. It seems to me that I ought to make use of Our Lord as an armor which covers me all about, by means of which I shall resist every device of my enemies. You shall then be my strength, my God! You shall be my guide, my director, my counselor, my patience, my knowledge, my peace, my justice, and my prudence. I will have recourse to you in my temptations, in my dryness, in my repugnances, in my weariness, in my fears; or rather I will no longer fear either the illusions or the tricks of the demon, nor my own weakness, my indiscretions, not even my mistrust of myself. For you must be my strength in all my crosses; you promise me that this you will be in proportion to my confidence. And wonderful indeed it is, my God, that at the same time that you impose this condition, it seems to me that you give me the confidence wherewith to fulfill it. May you be eternally loved and praised by all creatures, my very loving Lord! If you were not my strength, alas! what would I do? But since you are, you assure me that you are, what shall I not do for your glory? “Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat.” [Phil 4:13] You are everywhere in me, and I in you; then in whatever situation I may find myself, in whatever peril whatever enemy may rise up against me, I have my support always with me."

St. Claude la Colombiere, Jesuit, 1641-1682, beatified 1929 https://catholicsaints.info/saints-for-sinners-blessed-claude-de-la-colombiere/

I like "lists," although I don't make them. . .

God shall be . . .

my strength,

my guide,

my director,

my counselor,

my patience,

my knowledge,

my peace,

my justice and

my prudence.

This saint didn't have the usual qualities--no miracles, no great books, no apparitions, and was sick much of his life due to imprisonment, persecutions by the Protestants and bad climate of England. But I came across this in today's devotions  (Magnificat, vol. 21, no. 11) and liked it.

Jesus is Lord even if we are mad at him and don't want Christmas

Mother's Day 2010

In the early years of the United States, many Christians didn't celebrate Christmas at all--it was just another day--because it had been spoiled by drunken parties and materialism common among the British. Sort of like today. My mom never had a Christmas present as a child, although I think there were cards exchanged at school because I have some of them. My dad did remember getting a new pair of overalls as a kid and somehow they scraped together enough money to buy candy. Ironic that they were so poor and my mom's parents had money, yet dad's family found something to celebrate and mom's made it just another day, no celebration. They did loosen up after grandchildren, and learned to enjoy the holiday.  Just the other day I bought a box of art supplies that reminded me of something they gave me when I was maybe 8 years old. I'll probably never open it, because I don't draw anymore, but it was fun to see it.

The first Christmas I remember was 1944 in Alameda, CA when Dad was in the marines in WWII. Scary times. I know I had memories earlier than that because I can remember I thought that singing carols in the fog (that smell of the Bay has stayed with me) was very different than singing carols in the snow in Illinois--I just have no specific memory of 1943 or 1942. Also we didn't have a church which seemed odd to me. We went to the school gym for a Christmas program. I suppose the military towns had grown so fast there was no thought of churches. There was death and destruction everywhere, so people probably thought God had left town.

My faith was just something passed along to me by community, family and tradition until 1974, then I believed. Lots of questions I plan to ask Jesus because things haven't always worked out. I don't know how 20th century American Christians got the idea that faith was all happy clappy touchy feely. 100 million people lost their lives in the 20th century due to socialism/communism totalitarian governments--a huge number of them where Christians. And neither God nor the U.S. military saved them. And that doesn't count the war dead--another 40 million--and then it was Christians fighting each other!

On the other hand, I've had so many blessings over the years that others have missed, I'll probably ask about that, too. Although, I sort of suspect everything will become clear without even asking. As Paul says, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood."

Things are really foggy for me now, but someday I'll know.

Today is the first day of Advent, a time we look back, to the first Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and forward to when he comes again in glory.  It's the first day of the new Christian year, a time the church gives us to start fresh.  It's true that Christ has already taken his seat at the right hand of God, but

"now he comes to be born in the narrowness of our lives to be incarnate in us, to give his love to the world through us, through our flesh and blood. . . The reason why we are where we are this Christmas, in this house, family, office, workroom, hospital, or camp, is because it is here in this place that Christ wants to be born, from here that he wants his life to begin again in the world"  (Caryll Houselander, "Lift up your hearts" 1978.) From Magnificat, December 2019