Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2023

 Here we are at the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!  Praise God and thank Him for His Immaculate Mother!  I was just recalling, in preparation for this big day in the Church, how Our Lady revealed herself under this title in Lourdes, to St. Bernadette Soubirous.  The beautiful lady in white came, asking the young shepherdess, to pray for the conversion of sinners.  

During this Advent Season, I hope we will consider the need to continually repent and to pray for each other.  Our Lady will help us, and lead us to her Son.

I'm Back!

 Welcome back to "In the Presence of God-A Scratch Off the Surface"!  I am also welcoming myself back while I feel more comfortable with the excitement (and unpredictability) of having a baby.  :). Sometimes writing is easier than going through the process of filming, editing, and publishing on the YouTube channel, 'A Catholic Presence.'  So here we go!

Advent is once again almost upon us, and we are beginning a new year in the Church.  I always liked new beginnings because it gives me a fresh "restart".  My car actually needed a new battery recently, and it gave me and my husband a chance to attend to it, giving it a new start in its life.  

Jesus is calling us to begin again, in preparing the way for Him in our hearts.  I hope that all of us are able to take the time to go to confession during this new season, and to "restart" our own lives with new, spiritual resolution.  Do not be afraid to go to Him- yes, run to Him!  

Know of my prayers for you this week and always.  Remember always live "In the Presence of God!"  And now to check on the baby!  

Another John the Baptist

 Welcome back!
I still like to reflect on how I - and we all can- be like John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord.  And as it said in this past Sunday's 1st Reading from Isaiah, "I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."  

So my question for us this week is this: how can I make that difference in people's lives?  It may be in a bold, literal sense; or it can be simply of saying hello to the passerby.  How can we make the world a little brighter, a little more closer to Jesus?  

This is my prayer and my hope, that we will have the courage to follow Jesus and be another John the Baptist.

God be Praised!

"Behold!"

I would like to bring us back to the daily Readings spoken earlier this week, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday (January 3rd and 4th).  I have become very interested in John the Baptist's role in preparing the way for Jesus.  And now, leading to Our Lord's baptism, here is John recognizing him!  "Behold, the Lamb of God."

Behold.  The Baptist has prepared the way, and now he shows us that He is here!

Behold.  What a single word can point out, the way to Jesus!  

Behold.  God with us.  Emmanuel.

Here is our Savior.  Behold!

Come to Jesus.  He continues to wait for us to approach Him.  See what marvels He does, God standing as a human, and yet still divine.  He comes for every one of us.  Loving us, showing us the Way.  "Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"

Behold!

Feast of the Holy Family

 Merry Christmas and Happy Feast of the Holy Family! (though I think my blog posts usually post the day after.)

It is a beautiful time of year, as we continue through the Christmas Octave, and prepare our resolutions for the New Year.  There is something awe-striking but also mysterious, as we meditate on the life of the holy family.  What was it like to be the mother/father of Jesus Christ Himself?  We can pray to Our Lady "Blessed are you among women!" as we ponder her motherhood.  To Joseph, to pray that our fathers may be good, holy fathers.  We hear so little from either parent in the Bible, yet their example rings out during those first days of Our Lord's life on earth.  

I pray that all families may be blessed with the wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Family, who always sought out God's will and perfect charity.

Second Week of Advent

 Here we are, entering into the Second Week of Advent!  I like to meditate on this Sunday's gospel, with the appearance of John the Baptist in the wilderness.  What does he say?  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  St Matthew (the writer of this gospel account) also quotes the prophet Isaiah in exclaiming: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.  

Advent is definitely a time of preparation.  And John the Baptist wants to prepare everyone for something new: the Messiah is coming, as foretold!  We may have decorated our houses for Christmas, but have we prepared our hearts afresh for the entering of something- Someone - new?  The Hebrew people have been eagerly awaiting Our Lord, but did not know how to look for Him.  So John makes his proclamation to be ready!  

Are we ready?

Reminders

 As we approach Holy Week, I have become more intentional in pausing before images of Our Lord that my husband and I have on display throughout the house: a crucifix, a divine mercy image, etc.  I slow down from chores and rushing to get ready for work.  Jesus is waiting to be noticed.  Do I stop and acknowledge His Presence?  Do I reflect on the rays coming from His Hands in the divine mercy image?  Do I whisper, "Jesus, I trust in You."  

I have especially found meaning behind seeing Jesus in the crucifix.  Do I realize the pain, the agony, that He goes through for us?  He is literally hanging there, but also loving me.  It reminds me to go beyond the comfortable.  And the choosing to forgive when I might not "feel" like forgiving.  Or doing an extra act of love because I want to save souls.  Jesus teaches me what it means to suffer and to love.

Our Lord waits for me to notice Him not only during my set prayer times, but throughout the day.  So I remember to slow down and acknowledge, love, and lean on Him; because He is the great I AM.

This is only "A Scratch Off the Surface" in living "In The Presence of God."