STORY OF THE DAY - PRETEND VISITOR

We stood out on the porch before we
went inside & she told me her secret.
Pretend you're just visiting, she said.
That way you'll forget that they're
family.

From StoryPeople.

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT - GAUDETE SUNDAY

Notes from Ann Fontaine's sermon for III Advent at What the Tide Brings In:

John the Baptist is in jail – and soon to lose his head, it is the low point in his life. Since he first leaped in the womb of his mother Elizabeth at the approach of Mary pregnant with Jesus- the gospels tells us that he has spent his life pointing to the one who was to come. From the high point of the baptism in the river Jordan when it all seemed to be coming true to now—seems like one of the saddest moments in our readings. He had been so sure – now – he sits in prison and wonders.

How many times in your life have you devoted yourself entirely to something or someone only to be disappointed in the outcome? Perhaps you worked hard in a job and still did not get the promotion you dreamed of? Perhaps there was a boyfriend or girlfriend or even your spouse to whom you placed your hopes and dreams and yet they left in the end? Or did not live up to your expectations. Perhaps it was a civic project to which you gave your time and energy but it was dashed to pieces in the politics or finances of the time? And then you wonder – like John the Baptist - was it all for nothing? Was it worth all that I gave it – will there be any good result.

Please read the rest of the notes from which Ann will preach tomorrow. She quotes the wonderful words of Roman Catholic Archbishop Óscar Romero, who died a martyr's death by assassination:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

As I said in a comment over there, "...the words of Oscar Romero are heartening in times of discouragement. I've read them before, but they never get old." I'd add that San Romero's words also address our moments of self-doubt when we wonder whether any of what we do does any good at all.

Although San Romero is not yet included in the canon of saints by the Roman Catholic Church, he has a place in the calendar of the saints of the Episcopal Church and is considered by many to be the patron saint of the Americas and El Salvador.

San Romero, ruega por nosotros.

HE'S ON HIS WAY

From ClickLiverpool:

A Christian churches Christmas ad campaign that shows Jesus as a foetus with a halo in Mary's womb has sparked a controversy.

The sonograph image is part of a Christian campaign to promote the message that the meaning of the Nativity as the birth of Jesus Christ.

Drawn up by charity Churchads.net, the "Ultrasound Jesus" campaign is backed by a number of Christian organisations including the Church of England, the Baptist Union, the United Reformed Church, the Anglican and the Methodist churches.

But the National Secular Society has criticised the ad saying it achieves the opposite and carries an anti-abortion message.

Terry Sanderson, director of the NSS, said: "The image of this poster is very similar to the ones used by the anti-abortion lobby - in fact when I first saw it that's what I thought it was.

"It may not have been the church's intention to give a political message with this campaign but for many people - particularly women who have had abortions it risks evoking painful memories.

"The church have made a mistake and won't attract more people to church over Christmas.

"It's more likely to put them off." (My emphasis)

Well then, Terry Sanderson, you should be cheering the ad, shouldn't you? If the ad will put people off Christmas, then perhaps it may increase the membership in your society, which would be all to the good from your point of view.

Some people will use any excuse to get their knickers in a wad.

Watch the video ad.




Thanks to Ann V. for the link.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS ABLOOM

My Christmas cactus bloomed beautifully this year. Last year, the plant produced only two anemic flowers, but it had been recently transplanted. The plant was a gift from my former and wonderful cleaning lady, along with orders that I was not to tend to the cactus - that she would do what needed to be done every two weeks when she came. Alas, she is now gone, so the care and feeding are left up to me, and I don't seem to have done badly by the little dear.

I included my pine needle baskets in the photo, because I believe they are lovely. The two covered baskets came from the World's Fair in in New Orleans in 1984 and were made by Native Americans, but I don't know which tribe.

The basket with the contrasting light and dark colors was woven by a Coushatta Indian tribesperson, but I don't have the weaver's name. The tray under the coffee table is especially beautiful, with its lacy design, and I know it was made by an African-American woman from this area, but I have no name. I wish now that I had more information on the baskets.

The baskets and tray are quite sturdy, as they have survived intact, despite handling and mishandling over the years by my grandchildren.

THE NUN & THE CABBIE

A cabbie picks up a Nun. She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her.

She asks him why he is staring. He replies: "I have a question to ask, but I don't want to offend you."

She answers, " My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."

"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."

She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic."

The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"

"OK" the nun says. "Pull into the next alley."

The nun fulfills his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.

But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.

"My dear child," said the nun, "Why are you crying?"

"Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess; I'm married and I'm Jewish."

The nun says, "That's OK. My name is Kevin and I'm going to a costume party."

Don't blame me. Blame Doug, but I can't blame him too much, because I burst out laughing when I read the joke. Perhaps the joke is an oldie that's been around the internet more than a few times, but I'd never heard it before. What treasures the intertubes offer!

PRAY FOR HAITI

From the Guardian:

Gunfire in the centre of Port-au-Prince has left at least one person dead as violent disputes over the conduct of the presidential election continue to grip Haiti.

Election officials attempted to calm the unrest, now in its fourth day, by promising a recount of the vote to settle which two of the three leading candidates go into a final round.

Supporters of Michel Martelly, a popular carnival artist, say he is being deprived of a place in the runoff through vote-rigging to favour Jude Celestin, the ruling Unity party's chosen candidate.

Several people suffered bullet wounds in the Champ de Mars, a park beside the national palace that has become a shantytown in the wake of January's devastating earthquake. Supporters of Martelly were detained (above) as police quelled the riots.

The presidential election has been widely criticised by UN, US and EU monitors for being poorly organised and riddled with fraud and intimidation of voters.

Trouble upon trouble for the people of Haiti. What next?

Meanwhile, the cholera epidemic continues to take its toll.

While containing the violence remains the Haitian authorities' priority, the cholera epidemic that has so far claimed 2,000 lives continues to sap energies and resources. New evidence emerged today that appeared to support suggestions the disease was introduced by UN peacekeeping forces from Asia.

Genetic tests carried out by a team of scientists in the US confirmed that the strain of cholera that has hit Haiti came from south Asia. It was a particularly dangerous mutation that resembled a strain found in Bangladesh.

Prayer for Haiti
By Josh Thomas at the The Daily Office.

O Father of the poor and Mother of the oppressed: Enfold in your arms the suffering people of Haiti. Comfort those in mourning; relieve those in pain; give shelter to the homeless and hope to those in despair. Feed your people, O God, with bread both earthly and divine, and give them your water and wine. Help them bury the dead, nurse the sick and wounded, and raise their faith and dignity, for they are some of your dearest children. Proclaim your truth that this vibrant, creative nation still shines as a beacon of freedom throughout the Americas. And help the people of Haiti, with the nations of the world, to rebuild their colorful land in the image of your Son Jesus Christ, who knows our suffering because he took our mortal pain into his body on the Cross, then rose again to live and reign with you and the Holy Comforter. Amen.

O God, we pray for your peace that passes understanding to fill the hearts of the people of Haiti that violence may cease, and that the people of the country may join together to work for the betterment of life for all in their country. We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

JESUS AS MOTHER

MAES, Nicolaes - "Christ Blessing the Children" - 1652-53
National Gallery, London

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

Anselm of Canterbury

From The Daily Office

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

GLASTONBURY THORN TREE VANDALIZED

From the Telegraph:

Vandals have destroyed a historic tree whose roots can be linked back to the origins of Christianity nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Holy Thorn tree on Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury, Somerset, is regarded as one of Britain’s most important symbols of Christendom, and is said to be derived from the original planted by Joseph of Arimathea.

The tree is one of several Holy Thorns located around Glastonbury but is arguably the most significant because of its placing on the spot where Joseph visited.
....

Katherine Gorbing, director of Glastonbury Abbey, said: “The vandals have struck at the heart of Christianity. Like the whole town, we are shocked and appalled.

"The tree holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph of Arimathea, coming especially to see it.

This is the most important tree in Glastonbury and is of exceptional spiritual significance.

Below is a picture of the tree before it was destroyed.



From the website of Glastonbury Abbey:

Arriving at Glastonbury, which was then a series of island hills rising from the flooded Somerset Levels, it is believed that Joseph of Arimathea climbed Wearyall Hill to plant the staff which once belonged to Jesus (which came into his possession at the time of his nephew's death - Joseph being Jesus' last surviving male relative). As the staff was pushed into the fertile soil of Wearyall Hill, it is recorded that it magically took root and sprouted branches and leaves - ecoming Glastonbury's famous Holy Thorn tree.

I love the story, as did many others. How sad that the tree is destroyed.

H/T to Nicholas Knisely at The Lead.

UPDATE: From a suggestion in the comments, I found the Celtic Tree Lore website from which I copied the following quote:

At dawn on Beltane a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year, can go bathe in the dew of the Hawthorn tree while chanting this rhyme:

"The fair maid, who on the first of May,
Goes to the fields at the break of day,
And bathes in the dew from the hawthorn tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be".

What if the lady is not beautiful at the beginning of the year? Does the dew from the hawthorn tree make her beautiful?

FOR ALL MY CRACKED POT READERS

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck..

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full...

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water...

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do ha lf of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! Send this to any or all of your Cracked Pot friends and don’t forget the Cracked Pot that sent it to you!!

Thanks to the Cracked Pot named Suzanne who sent the parable to me.

Picture from guy-sports.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to Ann for the link to Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" video. Here it is. "There is a crack - a crack in everything.. that's how the light gets in."

HALLELUJAH! IN THE FOOD COURT

Nearly every blogger I know has posted the wonderful video, so I'll take my turn. Thanks to all who sent me the link.