Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Reading Roberta’s reflection on Catherine’s Café (December 19) and seeing her reference to the O Antiphons, I began to reflect more deeply upon the O Antiphons of Advent.  The antiphon for today, December 21, couldn’t be more perfect as we begin to see days of lengthening light.  O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice; Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness And in the shadow of death. Not only are we seeing the physical darkness, we also observe those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.   We are experiencing so much suffering on this planet of ours.   On the evening news, we hear so many horrific stories of people’s inhumanity to their brothers and sisters.   We keep asking ourselves, “How can people do that to other people!”   How can someone drive a semi into a group of shoppers in an outdoor Christmas market in Germany?   How can …?   We desperately need some good news. We need the ra...

What difference does it make? How many times have we heard that question?  Do I admit that I think it at times even if I don't say it? These days of Advent - with the O Antiphons - are a kind of novena - a final preparation for the coming of Christ among us.  But wait - he came 2000 years ago - you might be thinking.  Yet for me every Advent is a preparation for Christ's presence in me and in the world. What difference could these closing Advent days be for you and for me?  What yet do we need to ask of the Christ child - Emmanuel - God with us?  What might we do on Christ's behalf? We need to cast away the question I used to start this blog.  The real and true and holy declaration may be (and read the first words carefully):  What a difference it makes because I know Christ is in everyone - because there is a need in the world for mercy - because God has been compassionate to me . Contemplating this declaration moves us to this que...