the touch

December 27, 2012 2:10 pm

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim… (1John 1:1)

He’s done everything so that you might touch Him, like St John did.

He knew that as a newborn baby needs the touch – you’ll have the same basic need, too. For some reasons He was not afraid of your scratches, wounds or dirt. You may touch Him whenever you want. You may touch Him in His Word – you can feel it under your fingertips when you tap the relevant app on your portable device, if you prefer it over the paperback or hardcover.

You may touch Him in the Eucharist, you may – as St John – rest on His Heart, where all the torment finds relief. You may – like a child – get entangled in His robe, get lost in it completely. You may let Him grip your hand firmly when the world around you seems to be collapsing.

No matter if you experienced in your life the “bad touch” or not enough of touch – you can touch Him and let Him touch you without fear. That’s why He came to this world. To tell you about the proximity you don’t have to be afraid of.

M

Bucolics for Christmas

December 26, 2012 11:18 am

There’s so much life, history, joy and fun in them! About the Saviour of the world with joy, about human weaknesses with a tongue in cheek, about the holiest things in such a human fashion.

Sometimes I’d like to preach a sermon like a Christmas carol, but in everyday life I’d like to speak in the language of bucolics. To speak about God humanly, to people. Those who are normally very busy in everyday life and are not at all less pious because of that. As these shepherds who had to leave their ewes and leave their rams to honour Babe Jesus.

Let’s sing a lot because who sings prays twice. And if we can smile, Heaven smiles as well:)).

xj

Home

December 25, 2012 8:22 pm

An extraordinary place.

I’ve seen so much of them over so many years of service. They are so different. Ranging from less than 20 to several hundred square metres. I remember this tiny flat where kitchen was arranged on the bathtube and then dismantled for the bath of the little son and later –  of the parents. I remember those small flats where parents and children could only be squeezed in thanks to bunk beds. Those different houses and villas where there was space for a small or bigger room for everyone. Today they all open for a special Guest. And I think to myself that if they opened so beautifully to an ordinary priest, it will be much more so for Him.
I’d like to give special thanks today to all those who have hosted me in such a wonderful way  and to ask Little Jesus to bring even more grace and love into your houses when visiting them, so that it radiates at everyone around. Thank you.

xj

Hurry

December 24, 2012 7:44 pm
Nothing should be done in a hurry except catching fleas, as the saying goes. And still this word is used several times in the Holy Scripture. Mary hurried and the shepherds went in a hurry. So there are moments when harry is needed. It is always so when we are about to meet Someone.

In our world we so often love things and use people. When need to understand anew the true meaning of the terms: person – thing. Perhaps that is why the Saviour comes almost completely deprived of things that should accompany birth: instead of a house – a shed, instead of a cradle – a manger, instead of down – hay. But soon He is surrounded by persons. Their meaning grows whereas the meaning is things falls. Christmas presents make sense when they are an expression of love. that is why even the smallest ones are so valuable.

xj

Coming soon

December 23, 2012 2:07 pm

I’m so much looking forward to seeing you and telling you how much I love you. Even if you ask about it thousand times, I shall never get tired of telling you about my love.

And you will never be lonely again. That is why I have come to the earth – to take away the course of loneliness and self-sufficiency.

I shall come soon – wait for me without fear that I shall pass your door as too humble.

I can’t wait to meet you at our supper.

Jesus

Cherry Tree Carol

December 22, 2012 11:15 pm

There’s a 15th-century English carol which tells about the journey of the Holy Family – pregnant Mary and St Joseph – to the census in Bethlehem. In that story Mary asks Joseph to pick some cherries for her, as they’re passing by a chery tree. And then Joseph speaks to Mary with very little politness: “Go and ask the father of the baby to pick the cherries for you”. At that moment the cherry tree lowers its branches down to the ground for Mary to pick the cherries for herself. Joseph speaks the words of profound repentence.

“Cherry Tree Carol” – belongs of course to the apocryphal tradition. The fact that Mary has a “longing” – as pregnant women do – is very moving, but St Joseph has to forgive the authors sketching him in such an unfavourable manner. But even that folk ballad tells a lot about Holy Mary and the marriage itself. In our non-holy lives – if we were Her – we would have a perfect material for at least a minor argument. At least a quick and sharp retort. Or even the shortest litany of unfulfilled expectations.

And here – the folk wisdom says that when you do not try to prove the other person wrong – God may act and bring in a surprise of His grace.

And this is how we might avoid a “pre-Christmas argument”. For which I pray especially – for me and for you – to the Holy Family wandering to Bethlehem these days. 🙂

M

“Cherry Tree Carol” by Sting –  HERE.

perfect Christmas

December 21, 2012 1:18 pm

I’m preparing a list of ideas for “perfect Christmas” for my student of English. I find dozens of ideas in the world wide web “counselling service”. So you can’t do without hand-made home decorations, the Christmas cookbook which will make your dreams come true if you follow the recipes carefully enough – at the end the opus magnum is crowned with the cake topping designed by a celebrity. And you shouldn’t forget about the presents up to $50 and above $50, paying speciall attention to the ideas for gifts for senior memmers of your family.

The shop display reminds me of the necessity of buying dried apples and confectioned fruit – and the shop assistants explain to each other that the shopkeeper raised the prices by 60 % this morning.

In the heat of the queue my make up melts together with the hope of attaining any degree of perfection. And then I wonder if the humanity might do just with a campfire in the woods, roasting bread on it, as they did during the war. And I remember that all the snow of Alaska won’t make a “white Christmas” if we do not share a piece of our hearts and blessing.*

Let there be enough love to decorate Christmas. 🙂

Małgosia

*Bing Crosby

Cardio-workout

December 20, 2012 2:07 pm

If only we could have one day, or perhaps half a day, without problems. Impossible. Probably we had in in the paradise, which we have lost. More and more I understand that  that’s what life is all about. About the constant struggle. At making new afforts to overcome difficulties. The time to rest will come later.

When our hearts beat and our breasts move in respiration, it means that the body is still alive. Problems and difficulties show, on the other hand, that we have a next opportunity for our love to grow more mature. And the next. And the following.

When our heart and respiration stop, we will have only one worry left: that we cannot retrieve those moments that were given us to overcome our weakness. Therefore recently, when I feel overwhelmed by the following day, I cling to the hope that I will manage, even though I have no more strength left, and I thank for the new opportunity to grow.

Michał

 

 

Cardio workout

December 20, 2012 10:17 am
If only we could have one day, or perhaps half a day, without problems. Impossible. Probably we had in in the paradise, which we have lost. More and more I understand that  that’s what life is all about. About the constant struggle. At making new efforts to overcome difficulties. The time to rest will come later.
When our hearts beat and our breasts move in respiration, it means that the body is still alive. Problems and difficulties show, on the other hand, that we have a next opportunity for our love to grow more mature. And the next one. And the following.

When our heart and respiration stop, we will have only one worry left: that we cannot retrieve those moments that were given us to overcome our weakness. Therefore recently, when I feel overwhelmed by the following day, I cling to the hope that I will manage, even though I have no more strength left, and I thank for the new opportunity to grow.

The magic od Christmas or AMDG?

December 19, 2012 1:59 pm

I know what this famous magic of Christmas is all about!

It is about feeling in a shop the force of marketing and losing control over the contents of one’s wallet (that are increasingly more modest, oops).

Luckily, yesterday Saint Ignatius of Loyola, presented to chidren during the Rorate mass, helped me. He encourages to do everything  AMDG (ad maiorem Dei gloriam łac. – for the greater glory of God)!

And to concentrate our preperations for Christmas on this aspect, so as not to lose in our shopping and cooking (all the things that have to be cooked) what is most important. So that we have enough faith, like Zacharias (Luke 1: 5-25) in who we are waiting for!

„I will praise you, Lord” (Psalm 71) in all I do. Also in the preparations for Christmas.

And I wish the same to you today and in the coming days. 😉

Dosia