Welcome to St. Joseph!

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

December 20th, 2010
"The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Recently I was speaking to our seminarians about what makes a good pastor. It was a blessed, energizing time for me. Lots of grace up there on the hill at Mt. Angel Seminary and Abbey. I loved talking to the seminarians when we had breaks from our presentations. They were very affirming and said things like, "I really appreciate how present you were to me when we were speaking." Or, "I really like what you said when you pointed out to us that the ears are much more important than the mouth in terms of preaching." Or, "Thanks for your vulnerability and being authentic."

I appreciated that they did not just tell me that I was with them but they shared with me HOW I was with them. They pointed out the details, fleshed it out, concretized it or however you want to describe the fact that they told me HOW I was with them. One way of putting what they were doing is naming the grace.

Yes, name the grace. Grace is infinite, brothers and sisters, so we've got a lot of naming to do!

It takes slowing down, observing, noticing, prayer, the perception of the spirit to name the grace that is in and through and for all of us. But it is there, all the time. Call it out and your only response will be to Praise God!

Yes, I know Jesus is Emmanuel, "God with us". But how is he with us? Name the grace. Do this with your family and friends and every chance you get. The more we name, the deeper we will find ourselves in union with others praising Our Eternal God.

Let us pray: "Jesus, you are in and through and for all things. Help me to name every detail of it all. Let me not miss one thing you are doing. Lead me into the praise of heaven, forever praising and blessing your Name. Amen."

Wait in Trust (WIT),
+Fr. John

Fr. John on Prayer

Some thoughts on prayer. Many people just want to be entertained in our media-blitzed society. Laugh, relieve some stress, but don't get really involved with what is being presented. Maybe that is the mindset we can come to church and prayer with. What good feelings are in it for me but don't really make me get involved with Jesus. The whole point of being a Christian, though, is to be involved in what Jesus is doing through prayer and church. Union with Christ is the goal of prayer. How exciting is that- union with Christ! Just stop for a while and reflect on what Jesus Christ is doing- all the time. Jesus, in the Eucharist, is the source and summit of our lives. As source, he alone is the one who gives us each and every ounce of love that we share in this world. As the summit of our lives together, life cannot be better than when we are in union with him who loves you and me and all that is forever, without end, amen! Think of the eternal goodness and beauty and mercy of Jesus who heals the lame, makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the sinner set free and the dead rise to new life! Ponder how he created beautiful you out of nothing, gave you a soul and has invited you to dine at his banquet forever in heaven. And we are seeking union with all of that!

But prayer, i.e. seeking union with Christ, is gonna cost. We are going to have to change, grow, renounce, sacrifice, stop indulging in sin, and seek to become holy. That is the GIG (Grow in God). Remember, at the most fundamental level in seeking union with Christ, there are two people- Christ and you. One needs to change and one does not. Guess who does not need to change? You and I need to change in so many ways. And it is only through the teaching and grace of Jesus that we can change and become like him. So, the question begs, are you willing to change? Are you ready to give up doing things according to your will and way and conform to the will and way of Christ? Whether it is pride, gossip, cheating, judging, hoarding, lying, not praying, foolish priorities, using and not loving people, unforgiveness/bitterness, etc. are you willing to confess that and, with the grace of Christ, live in a new way?

In true prayer, Christ will show you changes you need to make and empower you to make them. Again, ARE YOU WILLING TO CHANGE?

The battle is to pray or not. If you do not even realize you are in a battle, then you are losing the war. What kind of union do you have with Christ? The Devil is the Destroyer of Unity. Really, there is only one thing that the Devil does not want you to do in your lifetime-to become united with Jesus in prayer.

The word "Devil" comes from "Diablo" which means to divide or separate. The Devil wants to divide us from being united in God's love. Just look at divorce-that is one of the main tactics that the Devil is using to keep us from being in union with Jesus. Prayer is what keeps marriages together and makes them flourish. One study showed that one in two marriages, on average, end in divorce. One in five end in divorce where the family goes to church together regularly and 1 in 1,000 where the family went to church together regularly and prayed together regularly. See how important prayer is for love to last and bloom and grow. We know that "A family that prays together, stays together." But a family that prays together also flourishes because Jesus is infinitely flourishing in love and life and mercy- all the time.

Dear fellow Christian, as a follower of Jesus above all else, you are called to pray each day. You are called to be holy and full of love (Eph. 1:4) just like Mother Theresa and Pope Benedict. No excuses for you not giving your total response.

How do I pray, you ask? You learn to pray by praying. There is no set way or duration that works for all people. There are many types of prayer. The key launching point is to have a prayer time each day.

How do I go about having a prayer time each day?

  • Make a specific time for prayer. It is the most important appointment you write down in your book each day and you keep it. Set the time and be there. Maybe start small (5-10 min) and grow from there. Mornings are best. Give God time when you will be most attentive to his words for you. I pray from 6:30-8:00am each morning. If we want love, unity and meaning in our lives, our greatest passion each day should be to pray. Jesus rose early and went to a solitary place to pray-(see Mark 1:35-37). If the very tired Savior of the world, after feeding and teaching and healing the multitudes, could get up early and make that sacrifice, can you?
  • Make a holy place for prayer. No distractions, computers, phones and clutter allowed. Maybe have a holy altar with a cross/candle/rosary/bible etc. book.

    • Types of Prayer

  • Praise-Just praise and thank God for his infinite goodness to us. We who are weak are invited to live in the life of the all–powerful God. When we praise God, our pithy selves stop being the center of our minds and Jesus takes center-stage. His view is much better than ours. This allows for his healing and will to take place in us. Praise him in joyful songs, words and writing. Write down his goodness to you each day in your journal.
  • Listen-Who is the only person who has the words of eternal life? (See John 6:68) Go there! It is, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" not, "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking." Especially, come before the Scriptures and Blessed Sacrament and ask the Holy Spirit to bring them to life for you. Uncover the infinite mystery of God in the Bible!
  • Surrender-From the moment of our conception, we count on Jesus for life and love and forgiveness and salvation. We, who are nothing, surrender ourselves to our ever-loving and good God in prayer and he allows us to become perfected in his love.
  • Repent and know Forgiveness-Repent means to "turn back to God" for all the ways you have turned from his ways. In prayer, relationships and in the confessional, turn back to God and others for the ways you have not acted according to his grace. Jesus forgives you for any sin-no matter how big you think it is. Go to confession and learn you are FORGIVEN. And then forgive those you harbor a grudge or even hate towards. Forgiveness and becoming united with God and each other is the heart of all that we are doing here on earth.
  • Pray for others needs (yours too!)-Jesus asks us to pray for all our needs-so it is not selfish to ask for your specific needs. God answers prayers- sometimes it is, "No."

    • --It is my experience that we are heavy on praying for others and light on praising God and listening. That puts us/our problems at the center of our prayers and that can be awfully depressing. Let us pull out of our funk and put God in the center through praising him and listening to him.

    PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

    + Fr. John

    Read More From Fr. John

    Lent 2010

    +Monday, March 2th 2010
    +Passion/Palm Sunday, March 28th 2010
    +Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 27th 2010
    +Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 26th 2010
    +Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 25th 2010
    +Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 24th 2010
    +Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 23rd 2010
    +Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 22nd 2010
    +The Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 21st 2010
    +Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 20th 2010
    +Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 19th 2010
    +Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 18th 2010
    +Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 17th 2010
    +Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 16th 2010
    +Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 15th 2010
    +Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 14th 2010
    +Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, March 13th 2010
    +Friday of the Third Week of Lent, March 12th 2010
    +Thursday of the Third Week of Lent, March 11th 2010
    +Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent, March 10th 2010
    +Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent, March 9th 2010
    +Monday of the Third Week of Lent, March 8th 2010
    +Sunday the Third Week of Lent, March 7th 2010
    +Saturday of the Second Week of Lent, March 6th 2010
    +Friday of the Second Week of Lent, March 5th 2010
    +Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, March 3rd 2010
    +Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent, March 3rd 2010
    +Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent, March 2nd 2010
    +Monday of the Second Week of Lent, March 1st, 2010
    +Second Sunday of Lent, February 28th, 2010
    +Saturday of the First Week of Lent, February 27th, 2010
    +Friday of the First Week of Lent, February 26th, 2010
    +Thursday of the First Week of Lent, February 25th, 2010
    +Wednesday of the First Week of Lent, February 24th, 2010
    +Tuesday of the First Week of Lent, February 23rd, 2010
    +Monday of the First Week of Lent, February 22nd, 2010
    +Sunday of the First Week of Lent, February 21st, 2010
    +Saturday after Ash Wednesday, February 20th, 2010
    +Friday after Ash Wednesday, February 19th, 2010
    +Thursday after Ash Wednesday, February 18th, 2010
    +Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

    Lent 2009

    +Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2009
    +Holy Saturday, April 11th, 2009
    +Good Friday, April 10th, 2009
    +Holy Thursday, April 9th, 2009
    +Wednesday of Holy Week, April 8th, 2009
    +Tuesday of Holy Week, April 7th, 2009
    +Monday of Holy Week, April 6th, 2009
    +Palm Sunday, April 5th, 2009
    +Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent, April 4th, 2009
    +Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, April 3rd, 2009
    +Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent, April 2nd, 2009
    +Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, April 1st, 2009
    +Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 31st, 2009
    +Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, March 30th, 2009
    +Fifth Sunday Week of Lent, March 29th, 2009
    +Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 28th, 2009
    +Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 26th, 2009
    +Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 24th, 2009
    +Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 23rd, 2009
    +Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 22nd, 2009
    +Saturday of the Third Week of Lent, March 21st, 2009
    +Friday of the Third Week of Lent, March 20th, 2009
    +Thursday of the Third Week of Lent, March 19th, 2009
    +Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent, March 18th, 2009
    +Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent, March 17th, 2009
    +Monday of the Third Week of Lent, March 16th, 2009
    +Third Sunday of Lent, March 15th, 2009
    +Saturday of the Second Week of Lent, March 14th, 2009
    +Friday of the Second Week of Lent, March 13th, 2009
    +Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, March 12th, 2009
    +Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent, March 11th, 2009
    +Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent, March 10th, 2009
    +Monday of the Second Week of Lent, March 9th, 2009
    +Second Sunday of Lent, March 8th, 2009
    +Saturday of the First Week of Lent, March 7th, 2009
    +Friday of the First Week of Lent, March 6th, 2009
    +Thursday of the First Week of Lent, March 5th, 2009
    +Wednesday of the First Week of Lent, March 4th, 2009
    +Tuesday of the First Week of Lent, March 1st, 2009
    +First Monday of Lent, March 2nd, 2009
    +First Sunday of Lent, March 1st, 2009
    +Saturday After Ash Wednesday, February 28th, 2009
    +Friday after Ash Wednesday, February 27th, 2009
    +Thursday after Ash Wednesday, February 26th, 2009
    +Ash Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

    2008 Advent

    +Christmas , December 25th, 2008
    +Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent, December 23rd, 2008
    +Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent, December 22nd, 2008
    +Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21st, 2008
    +Saturday of the Third Week of Advent, December 20th, 2008
    +Friday of the Third Week of Advent, December 19th, 2008
    +Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, December 18th, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent, December 17th, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent, December 16th, 2008
    +Monday of the Third Week of Advent, December 15th, 2008
    +Sunday of the Third Week of Advent, December 14th, 2008
    +Friday of the Second Week of Advent, December 12th, 2008
    +Thursday of the Second Week of Advent, December 11th, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent, December 10th, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent, December 9th, 2008
    +Monday of the Second Week of Advent, December 8th, 2008
    +Sunday of the Second Week of Advent, December 7th, 2008
    +Saturday of the First Week of Advent, December 6th, 2008
    +Friday of the First Week of Advent, December 5th, 2008
    +Thursday of the First Week of Advent, December 4th, 2008
    +Wednesday of the First Week of Advent, December 3rd, 2008
    +Tuesday, The First Week of Advent, December 2nd, 2008
    +Monday, The First Week of Advent, December 1st, 2008

    Lent 2008

    +Easter Sunday Mar 23, 2008
    +Holy Saturday Mar 22, 2008
    +Good Friday Mar 21, 2008
    +Holy Thursday Mar 20, 2008
    +Wednesday of Holy Week Mar 19, 2008
    +Tuesday of Holy Week Mar 18, 2008
    +Monday of Holy Week Mar 17, 2008
    +Palm Sunday Mar 16, 2008
    +Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 15, 2008
    +Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 14, 2008
    +Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 13, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 12, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 11, 2008
    +Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent Mar 10, 2008
    +Fifth Sunday of Lent Mar 9, 2008
    +Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 8, 2008
    +Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 7, 2008
    +Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 6, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 5, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 4, 2008
    +Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent Mar 3, 2008
    +Fourth Sunday of Lent Mar 2, 2008
    +Saturday of the Third Week of Lent Mar. 1, 2008
    +Thursday of the Third Week of Lent Feb. 28, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Feb. 27, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent Feb. 26, 2008
    +Monday of the Third Week of Lent Feb. 25, 2008
    +Third Sunday of Lent Feb. 24, 2008
    +Saturday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 23, 2008
    +Friday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 22, 2008
    +Thursday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 21, 2008
    +Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 20, 2008
    +Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 19, 2008
    +Monday of the Second Week of Lent Feb. 18, 2008
    +Second Sunday of Lent Feb. 17, 2008
    +Saturday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 16, 2008
    +Friday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 15, 2008
    +Thursday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 14, 2008
    +Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 13, 2008
    +Tuesday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 11, 2008
    +Monday of the First Week of Lent Feb. 11, 2008
    +First Sunday of Lent Feb. 10, 2008
    +Fourth Day of Lent Feb. 9, 2008
    +Third Day of Lent Feb. 8, 2008
    +Second Day of Lent Feb. 7, 2008
    +Ash Wed. Feb. 6, 2008

    +Blessed

    Advent 2007

    +1st Sunday of Advent 2007
    +Monday 1st Week of Advent
    +Tuesday 1st Week of Advent
    +Wednesday 1st Week of Advent
    +Thursday 1st Week of Advent
    +Friday 1st Week of Advent
    +Saturday 1st Week of Advent
    +Second Sunday of Advent
    +Monday 2nd Week of Advent
    +Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent +Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
    +Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
    +Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent
    +Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent
    +Sunday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent
    +Sunday of the 4th Week of Advent
    +Christmas Eve
    +Christmas

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