Dear Ones......today's blog is a reflection on the devotional of Fr. Richard taken
from his book for the 17th of December. You are asked to skip over to that day
in his book and follow the dates rather than the days of the weeks of Advent.
This comes from a long tradition in the Roman Catholic church of beginning a
special period of preparation for the great feast of Christmas eight days prior
to the 25th. The season of Advent varies in length depending on what day of the
Fourth Week of Advent Christmas falls.......but the eight days prior to the 25th
never changes. All of the major feasts in the church have an "octave"
celebration that extends the joy and celebration of the feast. Christmas also
an "octave" preparation. So kindly turn to the 17th of December and
follow the readings for the dates leading up to Christmas for the remaining blogs.
And from me to you..........blessed preparing! Joe
The geneology of Jesus from the first chapter of Matthew begins Fr. Richard's reflection
today. He ultimately says in today's writing that "spiritually speaking,
authority comes from passing through trial and darkness and coming out the other
side even more free, happy, alive and contagious! Transformed people transform people."
Richard continues, "Where we ourselves have changed, suffered and been healed
is where we are most in a position to be an effective change agent for others.
After a while, that becomes pretty obvious."
The Question: What poverty can you find within yourself that may help you be more
open to God?
As you know if you are familiar with my work, I have been learning from Fr. Richard
for many years. And one of the many things he has said that changed me is this:
"Either you will transform your pain or you will pass it on to others."
I have done both. And I have learned from both.
Someone asked me not too long ago if it was easier for me to accept God the Father
as "my Father" because I was adopted. It is an interesting question
and I had never given it any thought. But I would say, that the reality that
I was adopted by very wise and loving people had more to do with my image of
God than the reality that I was "given up" for adoption. My parents
taught me to trust and my biological parents, by their actions, taught me fear.
There is, no doubt, inherent poverty in being adopted. It seems to center around
the question of worthiness and value. If I am good, or okay, why would my "mother"
give me away? It is a long journey from that point to where I find myself today,
working with adopted children and their parents through My TreeHouse. It is my
role in that organization to help keep communication lines open between children
and parents so that the "truth" about adoption can keep them all forgiven
and free. These are men, women and children who have decided to break the bread
of their lives with one another in an effort to transform the pain of emptiness
on both sides.
It is possible for our common humanity to create fear, doubt, pain and estrangement.
But it is also quite possible for great compassion to grow out of our pain and
loss. When I look at the faces of the adopted children I have the honor to know
and with whom I share my story, I am transformed by their courage and honesty.
It is often these children and their parents who transform my poverty so that
I can be open, one more time, to the ways God is in love with me.
I hope you have teachers who do the same for you.