The best is yet to come

In Preparation

This week is the last week of the liturgical year. Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Christ the King. We are preparing for the coming of Jesus and the upcoming Advent and Christmas season. Advent starts next Sunday, and it's a time for preparation for Jesus' birth and a very special, holy and joyful time of the year. It also starts the beginning of  a new liturgical year.

It's kind of crazy to think that this year of 2018 is also slowly drawing to a close with only a month or so left. With thanksgiving recently happening, I'm trying to reflect upon all that has happened and all that I am grateful for this year. It can seem like a lot and maybe even a little overwhelming, but I see it as a good challenge to think and see all that God has done for me, specifically this year.

I'm also wanting to reflect on all that I have learned, gained and grown in spiritually this liturgical year. As the priest said at Mass today, we are reliving Jesus' life throughout the liturgical year and it is the only way to live. All ways of living and cultures will die and fade away, but Jesus' way, the Christian way will live on. I really like that message, to remember that all throughout the year we are journeying on Jesus' life and growing and experiencing our faith with Jesus close by.

I remember I went to a Young Adult Christmas dance last year. It was the eve of the liturgical year, and it felt like a New Year's Eve party liturgically because Advent was soon approaching. I took a break from dancing and reflected upon the year and looking forward to the next, with the upcoming Advent and Christmas season. This year, I want to create that excitement in me again. To prepare for Jesus' birth, to grow deeper in prayer and set time for reflection and solitude. It is a busy time of year, with the commercialization of Christmas and the push and pull of shopping and running around town, slipping into the necessity of buying and buying some more. I think we can get caught up in how things are supposed to be this time of year and to reach a certain level of holiday cheer. The real meaning and value is preparing for something bigger and greater. It's something of peace and gentleness and full of love. Jesus reigns and has won the battle for us by being nailed on the cross and dying.

"With true humility, he, God, stooped down to our humanity in suffering and shame, and conquered pride and worldly pleasure and prestige. And with his wisdom he conquered the malice of the devil. So with unarmed hand, nailed fast to the cross, he defeated the prince of the world, with the holy cross as his mount." (The Magnificat).

Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Arabic

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Sacrificing Blood

The Gospel reading today focused on giving away all that you have even if it doesn't make sense. The woman who was poor gave away all that she had for her livelihood and it was seen as pleasing in God's eyes. The second reading pertained to Jesus' sacrifice for us all and giving up his body and blood to save us from sin. "Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his won; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice" (Letter to the Hebrews).

Jesus giving away his body and blood for our well-being and new life symbolizes the role of a woman when she is pregnant. The woman is creating space and is essentially giving away her body for her baby, her nutrients, her blood, and ultimately sacrificing for the new life in her. I have seen this with my sisters and sister-in-law who are all experiencing pregnancy at the same time. Just yesterday, my dear sister gave birth to her precious son. She had a complicated procedure after unforeseen circumstances, and throughout this process she was just like Jesus suffering on the cross and submitting His Father's will before His own, giving away His body and blood for a new creation of life and enduring pain and openness at the same time.

Blood is an essential life source. Giving it away is a sacrifice as well as a severe threat to health and life. I was planning on giving blood yesterday and although I was nervous and ready to challenge myself through the slight discomfort, I wanted to help someone or a few who needed blood to carry them through whatever their situation was. It turned out that everything was okay for me to give except there was pain and discomfort from the needle in my right arm that lead to a bruise and a weak arm for a few hours. Although I didn't give my blood and it didn't turn out the way I planned, I give myself credit for trying and an effort to helping those in need. I think God looks at our efforts rather than our successes.

In Arabic, there are some interesting phrases pertaining to blood. Far dammi literally means my blood boils and has to do with feeling so angry. Khafeef dam means light blood or blood flowing and has to do with having a sense of humor. T'eel dam means heavy blood and has to do with not being very funny.

In sum, I see a woman who is pregnant beautiful, powerful, self-sacrificing, lovely, strong and courageous. Every time I pray in my backyard while facing Our Lady of Grace Mary statue, there are so many words to describe her. She is pregnant and has Jesus inside her. She is radiant and has strength because Jesus is with her. Her hands are faced open showing grace to the world on which she is standing. The globe isn't void of evil though, Satan in the from of a serpent roams the earth but Mary has a strong hold on her right foot smashing the serpent's head.

I am excited to meet my soon to be born neices/nephews. I am very proud of my beautiful sister, God is close to her and her baby, and Mary will comfort her.

Layers of the Heart

The message of today's readings and Gospel were powerful, beautiful and relevant. This is not to say that other daily readings or Gospel messages are not powerful, beautiful or even relevant to today. Today's message revolves around the temple of God and being God's building, His dwelling place. When I think of being a temple of God it can be daunting or surreal. I think it should mostly show in our actions, the way we present ourselves and where our hearts lie. In all, we are called to be holy..."For the temple of God, which you are, is holy" (St. Paul to the Corinthians). Buildings and structures relates to the catastrophe of the fires burning in Northern California, and the fact that many have lost their resting place and homes due to this natural disaster.

The Gospel reading for today was about Jesus becoming angry with people selling merchandise and earning money outside His father's house. "He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money- changers and overturned their tables and to those who sold doves he said, 'Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace' " (Gospel of John).

It would be easy to believe that only these things happened during Jesus' time. However, our own times has its own issues and occurrences of this. The priest at Mass today mentioned 'distractions like the tablet or phone that sucks us in and draws our focus further away from God'. He stated that 'God is begging for our attention now more than ever due to the distractions that we face in our world'. Where are our hearts leading us is a question we all need to ask ourselves. God is more focused on our hearts and what is there rather than what is on our screen. He is seeking and desiring our full attention despite all the noise in the world.

I admit it can be difficult to skew away from this noise and various distractions. Recently, I took a step back and reflected on why I follow the people that I do on social media. What's the meaning or purpose behind it since they are not in my life directly and do not know them personally either. It was a good reflection and to ask myself the qualities that I like in them or the content they bring out. I noticed the time away from the screen and Instagram posts alike. I felt liberated, free and refreshed, closer to prayer, and more intentional and simple. I think its good to step away from these everyday routines and social media platforms but I also think it's okay and healthy to have a balance and still use it but in strict moderation, at least speaking for myself. 

Though there may not be vendors and others selling secular goods right outside God's house, our hearts and time may be feeding into that more than necessary. While I was in Rio de Janerio for a study abroad program back in 2016, I wasn't able to go to Mass on a Sunday due to schedule conflicts and the safety and proximity of getting to a Catholic Church. On one of these Sundays, most people in my group and I went to a 'hippie fair' and it was just as the Gospel described, many vendors selling merchandise that was appealing to the eye for tourists such as t-shirts, magnets, jewelry, clothing, paintings, ect... I couldn't get to Mass on one of these Sundays and I felt the emptiness inside in not receiving the Eucharist and the Sacrament of the Word. Luckily, I was able to attend and figured out a Mass time and place the following Sunday. :)

Furthermore, the only concert that I have gone to with a 'friend' was at a then sanctuary or Church and became to be used as a concert hall or for other events. It was fine overall, but deep in my heart it was personal because this place of worship was now a place of worship for worldly things and attractions that were beyond and far from the peace and joy of the heart for many.

Lastly, one of my favorite songs from Audrey Assad is 'The House your Building'. It speaks to the heart of what God has planned for our lives, and how we can submit and will that plan for our lives as well. "A homeless stranger/ I've been wandering/ All my life you've been calling me/ To a home you know I've been needing. I'm a broken stone /So lay me in the house you're building. "