2015
Strength in the Darkness
Written by Colleen McClain on Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Advent often feels like a “wake-up call” of the most intimate sort. I imagine a hushed, excited voice calling out to me: Prepare! Awake! Arise!
But as on many frosty mornings, it takes me a moment to get up. Even at the end of this third week of Advent, my heart longing for Christ, I lie in the dark and pause.
Am I really ready?
It’s in this pause—breath before speech; darkness before light; silence before rising—that God waits for me. The pause is quietly beautiful and piercingly difficult. With all my walls and comfort zones stripped away, leaving just my heart and His presence, do I quiver from excited restlessness? Or is that fear?
I imagine it’s a bit of both, and that Joseph’s reaction upon waking wasn’t all that different. We hear of his dream in today’s Gospel. The angel of the Lord appears in the dark of night and reassures him: Do not be afraid.
I’m reminded that even in the darkness, I’m far from the first to feel this way—nor the first to be rescued and embraced. Tidings of comfort and joy, indeed.
So I continue, one cautious foot in front of the other, God with me. A pilgrimage sometimes easy and sometimes excruciating; some steps blocked by my remaining, most stubborn of thorns; but all of them toward a wellspring of mercy and the radiance of Christ.
And there, in the darkness with all else stripped away, comes strength. Perhaps my prayer is as song—the pause not just a rest, a breath between moments or measures, but a lift propelling me forward to a stronger voice.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
-O Antiphons, December 18
Suggestion for Prayer/ Questions for Reflection:
Spend some time in the silence this week.
Where does the coming light of Christ touch you?
What does it illuminate?
What needs to be stripped away for you to receive His light?
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Colleen McClain
Colleen is a PhD student in the Michigan Program in Survey Methodology at the Institute for Social Research (ISR). When not at ISR, she can still usually be found on Thompson Street—serving with the Grad/YP and Small Church Community leadership teams or the noon choir at St. Mary Student Parish—or taking up residence at a coffeeshop a few blocks away.
Email: colleen.a.mcclain@gmail.com
2015
Family Trees and the Paschal Mystery
Written by Michael Miller on Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Each Christmas vacation, I have to travel a long way to see my family. While on the road, I anticipate a number of things: freshly baked molasses cookies, being in a (slightly) warmer climate and lots of laughter. I am related to some genuinely hilarious people and, soon after arrival, I can expect my cheeks to be hurting after hours of jokes and funny stories.
I hear about the latest antics of my nieces and nephews. We tell the stories that get told every year about that one time you-know-who did you-know-what. Although it’s been told so many times we know it by heart, we still laugh as if it was the first time we ever heard it.
While I love to share in this joy and laughter, I await other kinds of stories. These are the stories of suffering and struggle that are hard to hear. I’ll learn about the cousin who is having a hard time in school or the uncle who had to have an emergency open heart surgery.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew gives us the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This places Jesus in the context of salvation history and connects him to key figures like Abraham and King David. At first glance, it is simply a list of names – many of which are too difficult for me to pronounce and don’t seem to mean anything. But, if I look a little closer, I see the names of many of our foremothers and forefathers, each of whom has a lifetime of stories. The community Matthew was writing for would know their names and know their stories. Each person on Jesus’ family tree would have fun hilarious stories as well as stories of heartbreak and sorrow.
I hear these stories as an invitation to enter into the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ life, suffering, death and resurrection. It is our hope, that, as followers of Christ, we share not only in His joy and suffering of life, but also in His resurrection. Our stories can serve as a reminder to fully enter into the Paschal Mystery.
Suggestion for Prayer/ Question for Reflection:
Listen for all the stories shared at your next family gathering.
How do these stories connect you with the Paschal Mystery?
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Michael Miller, Jr.
Michael is a husband, father and Regional Chief Mission Officer for Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. He’s studied philosophy, theology and bioethics, but wishes he would have paid more attention in that computer science class during the spring semester of ‘96. You can follow him on twitter @michaelmillerjr.
Email: michaelmillerjr@gmail.com
2015
Suffering: the Pathway to Growth and Joy
Written by Bill Sbordon on Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Emmanuel means, “God with us”. We need to remember in our times of trial that God sent us Jesus as a new light for love and hope, and that he is always with us as we prepare for his birth this Advent.
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“…affliction produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” – Romans, 5:3-5
When I was young, I’d often go to the lake with my family in the summer. My favorite toy to bring to the beach was a boogie-board. While out in the water, one of the games my sister and I created was to see who could stand on the board the longest when it was underwater. No matter how long we tried to stay on, the force that pushed up on the boogie-board would always drive it up to the surface, and leave it floating on the water.
It’s difficult to staying floating when everything around you tries to keep you submerged. Every person goes through a period of suffering in his/her life. You may feel lonely; you may feel like your trial will never end. It will – it always does. In our vulnerability during this time, our relationship with God will grow so much deeper than it already is. We’ll gain endurance, character, and most importantly, hope. God fills us with his love in our hope. He’s always there for you. He wants you to become the person you can be.
In the end, suffering is a pathway to growth and joy. Our suffering produces a greater love with God. He’s the force that pushes you out of your hard times and into a new, joyous person. Like the boogie-board, you won’t stay submerged forever. You’ll fly out of the depths and into a new light.
Questions for Reflection:
How do I stay afloat in troubled times? How has God helped me in my suffering?
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Bill Sbordon
Bill is a young professional and part of the Grad Student/Young Professionals group at St. Mary’s. He graduated from the University of Michigan as an industrial engineer in 2012 and has been a part of St. Mary Student Parish since 2014.
Email: bsbordon89@gmail.com
2015
Change your Minds
Written by Rita Zyber on Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
It’s pink candle week, the time in Advent when we focus on the joy that awaits us – simply because of God’s great love for us and the super-abundance of gifts he showers on us.
Today’s readings certainly give us cause for joy. Jesus shows us (despite the tricky questions) that we always have a chance to repent – to change our minds and believe.
I am honored to have the job of coordinating our RCIA sessions, which help people to learn and grow in the Catholic faith. We focus a lot on conversion, though we rarely use that word. In reality, our candidates are the ones who show us about true conversion. Somehow, somewhere, they’ve heard God calling. They have responded and are working hard toward greater belief. Their unique stories feed my own faith every year.
St. Paul reminds us that conversion happens when we are able to think and act so much like Christ that we literally “clothe ourselves” in Christ (Galatians 3: 27) and become a new creation. So conversion is about turning away from the distractions of life – from anything that’s an obstacle to God. It’s about slowly shifting our minds – and hearts – so that they are in alignment with God, like a flower that bends toward the sun.
Of course, that’s not always easy. Jesus reminds us that there’s a lot of work to do in the vineyard. In all of our human-ness, we don’t always run willingly to do that work. Conversion is an ongoing process for all of us. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don’t. But what joy we have in knowing that we can always try again. It’s simple, Jesus says, “change your minds and believe.”
Questions for Reflection:
Have I failed to follow through on an action that might help someone else?
What distraction can I turn away from today in order to turn closer to God?
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Rita Zyber
Rita joined the staff in June of 2014 to assist with RCIA sessions. Rita has previous staff experience at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, as well as years of volunteer service in religious education, stewardship, music ministry and RCIA. She is also a freelance writer. She and her husband, Frank, have two college-age daughters, Claire and Lauren.
Email: rzyber@smspnewman.org
2015
Surrender to the Truth
Written by Toni Morales on the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross
Has someone ever asked you a question you were reluctant to answer honestly? The honest answer might have risked your reputation, weakened your position in an argument, or disclosed your dishonesty. So what do we do instead? We squirm. We tell half-truths (which some wise person once told me, is a whole lie), or offer something that’s provocative yet tangential to the original question. Or we might just lie and say we don’t know the answer. The simplest route–honesty–is somehow out of the question. We cannot let go of protecting the ego we have carefully constructed.
The Pharisees in today’s gospel find themselves in this predicament. They initially ask Jesus a question about his authority, and he tells them he’ll be honest with them if they are honest with him. They weigh the consequences of the two possible answers they could give him, with one revealing their dishonesty, and the other incurring potential wrath from the Jewish community, and finally decide to say, “We don’t know.” Their response fails to get them what they had wanted–destroying Jesus’ authority–and instead undercuts their own authority in the community.
I have to imagine that this is an uncomfortable moment for the Pharisees. What is the alternative? If we look to our first reading today from the Book of Numbers, we might have a clue. The oracle, Balaam, describes himself as “a man whose eye is true…who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows…one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.” Balaam has managed to get himself out of the way in order to convey God’s message of love and hope to His people, Israel. Balaam places no impediment to the word of God speaking through him, even though speaking the truth enrages Balak, the King of the Moabites who had engaged Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites.
Speaking the truth can make us vulnerable. Yet in disarming ourselves we turn to God in trust, believing that God will use the opening we have made with our honesty to enter into our chaotic and anxious situations. Thus vulnerable, we make space for Jesus to be born in our daily lives.
Questions for Reflection:
What do you do when faced with difficult questions?
Do you play out which answer will result in the most beneficial outcome, or are you just honest?
How has God acted in your honesty?
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Toni Morales
Toni is a long-time parishioner at St. Mary’s. She works for UM in helping liberal arts undergraduates manage their academic careers, discern their direction, and achieve their goals. A lifetime Michigander, she lives in Ann Arbor with her sweet husband and currently no furry friends–for now.
Email: weena@umich.edu
2015
Bulletin for December 13, 2015
The Year of Mercy began this week! See page 2 of the bulletin for a reflection on what this means and how we can each embrace mercy in our own lives.
Graduate students and young professionals are invited to our first annual Grad/YP Holiday Party! Put on your tackiest holiday sweater and join us at Arbor Brewing Company on Monday, December 14th at 7 pm!
2015
Towards the Light
Written by Bill Alt on the Third Sunday of Advent
She just wanted to play soccer, a little girl with blond hair and smiles. She just wanted to run on a field with friends and kick a ball, laughing, with no worries and her life laying out ahead of her. Her mom was there on the sidelines, so proud of her daughter, so much in love. As they walked to their car at the end of practice, did they talk about school and what Emma liked about her teacher? Did Emma ask to stop for a special treat before heading home and did her Mom say no, it’s getting late and it’s a school night? Did her Mom ask what Emma thought Santa might bring her for Christmas and what she would like to give Grandma and Grandpa? In an instant, all the questions, all the silly, simple, beautiful, and wonderful moments of loving a seven year-old were stopped forever when a family friend with a legally purchased firearm shot and killed little Emma, critically wounded her mom, and then turned the gun on himself.
My son is seven years old and every night before I go to bed, I give him a blessing as he sleeps. I make the sign of the cross on his forehead and I say, “I love you, my little prince. May God bless you and keep you safe all night long.” I don’t think- I can’t think- that he could ever be taken from me. It is too painful and scary to think about, but someone will be next. Some mom and dad will be broken beyond repair, some holiday party will host mass murderers, some young black man will not come home tonight, and some refugees will be turned back by hatred and fear. I weep and my heart is filled with anguish as I cry out, “Why? Why is it into this world that Christ is born?”
Yes, I believe Christ is born into our deepest darkness. I believe Christ weeps with us there but also points us towards the light. Christ shows that death, suffering, and evil will not have the last word. Love, forgiveness, peace, goodness, and mercy will prevail. It will prevail because God asks us to bear Christ to the world; Christ is born into our world when we show kindness, when we give thanks in all things, and when we roll down justice. This is the joy I rejoice in. I want the Prince of Peace to be born now, no more delays, into this troubled and bruised world so that little girls and little boys can come home safe from soccer practice. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95itEHED8Hk
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Bill Alt
Bill is St. Mary’s Campus Minister for Social Justice. He lives in Ypsilanti with his wife, Angie, and two sons, Jacob and Patrick. They have worshiped at St. Mary Student Parish since 2012. They miss the mountains of West Virginia but have found a home in Michigan.
Email: walt@smspnewman.org
2015
Going Outside the Church… (Walls)
Written by Jessica Montgomery on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
When I first began working in Hispanic Ministry, I was extremely nervous. I wasn’t nervous about my ability to speak Spanish, but about being an outsider in this community. Despite being able to hold a conversation, I worried my accent would be a barrier. In addition to that, my pale white skin made it obvious that I’m not Hispanic. I was afraid that my status as an outsider would prevent me from serving the community.
Yet as I began my work, it was clear that I should not have feared being an outsider. Now when I see people in passing, I am consistently greeted with a Hispanic hospitality that I now know and love. As I became more familiar with Hispanic spirituality, this hospitality became even more apparent to me, particularly in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Juan Diego, a poor Aztec convert to Catholicism, encountered the Virgin Mary when he was on his way to the chapel. She asked him to build a church so that the Aztec people could come to know her and God.
The most striking thing about this story is not simply that she appeared to Juan, but how she appeared to him. Instead of showing up as a white woman, similar to the images that the Spanish clergy used, she appeared as mestizo with dark skin and hair. Her appearance promoted the mestizaje (roughly translating to “mixture” in English) of the Church and showed that all people are welcome into the church, not just white westerners. Her appearance demonstrated that Juan Diego’s people belong, and that they are not outsiders, but are a part of the Catholic Church.
Our Lady of Guadalupe has showed me the importance of this mestizaje, this mixture of the Church. Her visitation stresses that as a Church, we must be welcoming and willing to meet people as they are. We cannot make positions of power out of our membership in the Church, but instead use this membership as a way to connect with people and accompany them in our shared faith journey.
Question for Reflection:
How can I share my faith journey with others in a way that is inviting?
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Jessica Montgomery
Jessica is a senior from Plymouth, Michigan majoring in Biomolecular Sciences and Spanish and is the St. Mary’s intern for the Hispanic/Latino Sacramental Preparation Program. She is also involved in the Alternative Spring Break program at St. Mary and loves volunteering at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. After graduation, she will pursue her medical degree and would love to work with Doctors Without Borders.
Email: jessannm@umich.edu
2015
Knock. Knock.
Written by Tony Moskus on Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Is it me calling out in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord? How could it be me? The winding road made straight should be paved right over me. I am a sinner. How can I even dare to look in the Lord’s direction, let alone prepare His way? Time and time again, I have proven to be unworthy. When will His patience with me expire?
The answer is never. How do I know? As with most questions about Christ’s love and mercy, I can look to the cross. There He says, “I thirst.” By saying this, He not only fulfills Scripture, but He is speaking of His desire for all of us to follow Him.
In Revelation, Jesus gives us another image of His desire for us, He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” There He stands patiently waiting for us to open the door to Him. Jesus stands on the other side knowing everything about us, even our sins, yet there He is. It is hard for me to imagine Jesus not only waiting patiently at the door for me, but longing for me, hoping to have the joy of being my savior.
In this Second Week of Advent, we wait. We wait for the joyous anniversary of Christ’s birth, and His triumphant return. However, there is another waiting. The waiting that Christ does for us to open the door to Him, giving Him what He longs for, us.
Suggestion for Prayer and Question for Reflection:
Mother Teresa says in the voice of Christ, “You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before.” Can you try to open you heart more than ever before? Before you answer, listen to this 8 minute meditation based on the teachings of Mother Teresa titled, “I Thirst for You.”
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Tony Moskus
Tony is a parishioner of St. Mary Student Parish with his wife, Penelope, and sons, Adam (15), Brian (13), and Alex (10). He is a teacher at St. Patrick Catholic School in Brighton.
Email: tmoskus@gmail.com
2015
Season of Sacred Pregnancy
Written by Sharon Diotte on Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
Jesus gestating within the belly of woman,
Christ gestating within the consciousness of all.
During Advent, excitement escalates as we anticipate Christmas morning when we will again celebrate the birth of Jesus into our world. What do we mean when we say Jesus was fully human and fully divine? It means we believe that Jesus became fully conscious of the Cosmic Christ – the template of harmony through which all is sourced and by which all is infused. He came to know that he was not separate from God. Jesus said “I and the Father are one” and he modeled what life looks like when we live each day as though the presence of God within ourselves, within all people and within all things, really matters.
Each Advent we wait expectantly for the rebirth of Christ within each of us. Advent is not a passive season. Each of us prepares ourselves through prayer, sacred readings and meditation, knowing that we are all part of the Whole evolving in Christ consciousness. The second coming of Christ is not an isolated future event. It is the ongoing evolution of Christ consciousness within every woman, man and child.
During this Advent season may we, each and all, earnestly and joyfully follow Jesus the Christ into Christ consciousness. May we remember that we are not each separate but each part of the Whole.
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Sharon Diotte
Sharon is a retired parishioner at St. Mary Student Parish.
Contact: sharondiotte@hotmail.com