Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

This advent season a young woman told me she loved Christmas because it is all about Jesus and people are nice, giving and willing to share with others and even strangers.  There is hope in the world despite the hardships and struggles.  She wished Christmas could be all year long. As we approach the end of the Advent season, often it is forgotten or lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, gifts and parties.  Advent is a time to slow down, stop, wait, hope, take inventory of our life and ask the question, where is Jesus in our life, do we need to make changes or let of go of things …….for Christmas is about Jesus with us. As we wait in hope, anticipation and expectancy of Christmas, of Emmanuel “God with us…” let us prepare these last days of Advent.  And I ask, why could we not live as if Christmas was all year long, extending the love, hope, joy and peace of Jesus to all…for Jesus is with us. What do you need to surre...

As we join our hearts and prayers with the families in Newton, Connecticut, there are no words, no quick fixes and no answers.  Only questions!  We realize that our Advent waiting takes us into the deepest and most mysterious of all places.  We cling to whatever is left.  We search for even a fragment of hope.  We ask to be willing to learn how to walk with another in their grief.  We pray to find the slivers of goodness in the midst of devastating tragedy.   Jesus, as the one who comes to accompany, be with our brothers and sisters of Newtown in this troubled hour …and with all of us. Let there be peace on earth and good will towards all…and let it begin with me. Peggy Ryan, OP Whitefish Bay, WI