Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

One would think that this extended time of sheltering in place might teach me more about patience. However, I am finding that once again my garden is teaching me about taking time. One instance of this was planting my cucumber seedlings outside too early. I was so eager to get parts of my garden in that I placed my light-grown cucumbers in the soil before they were strong enough to deal with the outdoors. Hmmm…back to planting more cucumbers beneath my grow light. I have begun to see this grow light to be like grace in my life. Aren’t we all invited to settle in and let the Light of God’s time nurture us and invite us to grow stronger in love, patience, listening? I have also discovered another value of God’s Grow Light. Rather than chide myself about my impatience, I was able to grin and know I can keep on learning and rest assured that God’s Grow Light is ever with me.   What teaches you about gently watching your patience and presence grow? What do you know about God’s Grow Ligh...

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...