Chosing Joy

At this time of year I'm always amazed how at fall seems to be forcefully meshed  into winter with the over secularized and over commercialization of the upcoming holidays.  I'm use to seeing Christmas things during the week of thanksgiving, but this year it seems like many many stores felt the need to start putting Christmas stuff up shortly after Halloween...It's no wonder lots of people want to hear no more Christmas music come December 26th. I mean I understand the business side of early preparation - the economy being bad it probably isn't a bad idea (business wise) to push the Christmas shopping up as much as possible.  Still, whatever the reason, it liturgically can be somewhat frustrating because there are so many wonderful blessings that come with November that are seemingly missed by many Catholics.  Lets start with All Saints Day & All Souls Day - two beautiful celebrations that remind us of the amazing community we are surrounded with...even if it isn't physically.  Then near the end of November you always have the celebration of Christ the King - such an awesome day to celebrate Christ as King !!! Then a week later is start the new liturgical year which means Advent. Then after four weeks of Advent then the Christmas season begins...but wait lets back this up.

Advent...what a blessed time.  Often times the over commercialization can cause us to seemingly miss this time of spiritual preparation all together.  We, as Americans, can find ourselves spiritually lacking because to often we may be focusing on shopping for that perfect gift or (as I've often experienced) cramming for those final exams.  Grades and gifts come and go but spiritual malnutrition can have some serious repercussions, so I think it is time to step up and strive to make this Advent the best ever.  One way to prepare ourselves is to not lose sight of what the season of Advent is all about - preparation for the birth of our Savior !!! 

Churches around the world prepare their nativity sets and often times place the Christ child in the manger at midnight Mass.  With this in mind, the past few years Advent, for me, has meant preparing my heart, like the manger, for Baby Jesus.  It may sound silly, but I find that in trying to resemble something so simplistic I find myself being more simplistic and in turn truly investing in the hope & joy that come with the Advent & Christmas season. Think about it - the manger wasn't meant for the Savior of the world, it was a basic feeding trough for animals, but God chose something ordinary to be the means in which He would be revealed to the world.  I'm just an "ordinary" Catholic, but in God's eyes no Catholic is just ordinary they are extraordinary and a means by which He hopes to be revealed to the world. Yes, in saying yes to bringing Christ to the world I will face my fair share of "crosses", but I will not live in fear of suffering rather I will try my best to joyfully embrace it knowing that it is another way to bring Him to those in the world that go without Him.

I Spell Community = EUCHARIST

It's been three months now since I moved to Texas and it has been anything but slow.  From the time I rise until the time my head hits the pillow at night, it is usually a high pace day with a lot that should/could get done.  In the midst all this busyness I find myself still having plenty of time to think...something that I've constantly been aware of and thinking about is the lack of community that I grew so accustom to in my years in college.  The apparent lack of community is possibly the the toughest BLESSING I've been given since I arrived.  How so?  Well, simply put, I am now more aware of the community and consolation that Christ gives us and I am also more aware of the community we partake in during Mass.

Humanly speaking it is sometimes hard to grasp how exactly we can be so connected by such a SEEMINGLY simple event.  The truth is the mystery of the Mass is much deeper than we can grasp!  Humanity has been able to produce phones that allow video chat and social networks that continually keep us continually connected to the rest of the world.  With this in mind, I believe it is fairly evident and logical to infer that the One who created those who produced these devices has even more power to unite His creation then creation itself.

Anyone who has taken five minutes of philosophy could have deduced what I just said, but that's not the point. Even if I could master all the philosophical concepts in the world it would mean nothing if I didn't have faith! Faith without reason is like life without ANY of the senses ...yes you can still live but you aren't fully experiencing what it truly means to be alive.  I think most would agree that the sites, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches of everyday life greatly influence the majority of our experiences and by removing these one is left with with only a fragment of what ones body was originally created to do.  As I stated earlier, I believe it is similar with the spiritual life...you can live a life without faith, but it is greatly restricted because your not experiencing it as we were created to. 

Anyways, that's just my two cents about community even when it seems like there is none...

The Crazy Life

As a college student I only thought I knew what it meant to be busy. However, as I begin working at a parish that has more than 2,500 families and is minimally staffed I now know, to a new extent, what it means to be busy.  In the midst of all the chaos that comes with moving to a new location one thing I continually committed myself to was maintaining my prayer life. Only by the grace of God  have I been able to do so consistently.  As the days between my first and my fiftieth seemingly run together I am now even more aware of the fact that I cannot give what  I do not have.  So, it is only by constantly renewing my YES to Christ and to His will for me that I am truly able to serve the youth of the Church.  

In the midst of two very hectic months there have been many highlights and I want to share them; however, I cannot always write ten different letters or make ten different phone calls every time I want to share something. Keeping this in mind one reason I've decided to start a blog is so I can share some of the things God is doing here and in my life.  Another reason I decided to start a blog is simply so I have a place to share my thoughts and ideas with other.  Whether you visit this blog because you simply want an update on how things are going or because you find what I have to say at least somewhat interesting I want to welcome you and I hope you enjoy.

One way to stay up to date: Saint Edward Youth

More still to come...when time allows.