Monday, December 29, 2014

Mary, Mother of God and The Epiphany of the Lord

My Companions pray with me: Lord, my we bring You glory as we venerate Mary at the start of this new year and turn to her for our example of faithful, loving response to Your gift of love. Forgive our failures to appreciate all Your Mystery among us by our acts or our failures to act. Thank You for all Your gifts, especially the gift of hope. Please care for all those most in need of Your love, especially my Aunt Dorothy.

Companion Events: Bithdays: Alan Kobza (1/1), Sue Ross (1/1), Madelaine DeVan (1/3), Rebecca Muniz (1/3). In memoriam: Baby Elizabeth Lay (1/2/1992), Helen (Kilday) Low (1/2/1975).

Keeping In-touch: Our grown children and our grandchildren began arriving on Tuesday and we have enjoyed "wonderful craziness" ever since. Everyone gathered for Christmas Dinner and Alan and Connie shared in the feast and gifts. We took a trip to Casa Bonita and many will test the snowy slopes in our Colorado Mountains this week

Decision Point: Decision Point:pt 1
Decision Point pt2

The Readings: Mary, Mother of God       
                   and  The Epiphany of the Lord

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
This week I plan to meditate on the wonder and beauty of our Mother Mary. I will turn to her and ask for a greater love and appreciation for her Son, Our Lord. May I be filled with joy in this prayer.

Comments, Reflections, Insights... 






Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas and the feast of The Holy Family

My Companions pray with me: Lord,

Companion Events: Bithdays: Julie (Lay) Schnitzer (12/22), Judi (Lay) Cole (12/22), Marie (Lay) Weingart (12/22), Jeff King (12/24), Jesus of Nazareth (12/25), Lindsey Ross (12/27).

Keeping In-touch: Our Breakfast Tennis League concluded our season and celebrated the end of a grand time. Marge took advantage of an Advent Evening Retreat. And I met with my "personal board" to find advice and direction for my The Emmaus Institute work; they blessed me, richly. I spent a good amount of time on the thorntontennis.org website. Nathan kept us busy one afternoon.

Decision Point: Decision Point:

The Readings: Christmas Masses       

                   and  The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
We took a ride one evening to look at the way people have decorated their homes this Christmas season. We figured that less than 5% of the decorated houses featured the Nativity. This seemed shallow but, at least, festive. Jesus came that we might live life abundantly. Many of us want to life life to its fullest. We may need to take more time to find that in quiet reflection on the Nativity...and on the holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Yard Nativity at 495 Dover Ct, Broomfield, CO. Merry Christmas to all. Be filled with joy.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Fourth Sunday of Advent

My Companions pray with me: Lord, when we contemplate Your Glory and Majesty we tremble; may we praise You with all our being. Please forgive the times we have turned from You and failed to love You, our sisters and brothers, or our very selves. Thank You for all Your gifts, especially these companions who pray with us and support us in serving You and one another on our road to You. Please bless and comfort all of us in need, our ancestors, our poor, our sick and those most in need of Your comfort and care, especially our son-in-law's recovery from his bicycle/car accident (Jason) and for Cara Lou Ross and all her family and friends.


Companion Events: Bithdays: Danielle Lay (12/16), Pope Francis (12/17), Theresa Lynn Lay (Tessa) (12/18), Lily Koman (12/20), Chuck Olson (12/21). Anniversary: Christy and Josh Parise (12/17/2004). In memoriam: Curt Farrell (12/16/2002).
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Keeping In-touch:  I played tennis four days out of seven; what wonderful weather we enjoyed last week, but the snow fell yesterday to remind us that this is December! The warmer temperatures also made outdoor decorating for the celebration of the Lord's Incarnation a more pleasant experience. We enjoyed Fr. Ed's choral Christmas concert. The beautiful music and bell-ringers challenged some of my "grouch" attitude. We have our last Tennis Breakfast League gathering for the year and have lost our indoor opportunities :(    We're anxiously anticipating the arrival of the Iowa and California Kids for Christmas. 

Decision Point: Decision Point:

The Readings: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments:  

Even as a 6th grade kid the person and limited story we have of St. Joseph impressed me so much that I chose him as my Confirmation Patron. In some ways I must have known of my calling to be a father. And today I want to follow his example of love and care for Mary and Jesus. I don't think I want angels showing-up to explain things to me. That might scare the daylights out of me. But, at times, I do tend to my dreams and try to listen to the Lord's call to me from my deeper self. When it seems that the Lord's throwing me curve-balls, I think of St. Joseph and know that I'm playing in the minor leagues. Still, I call on him to help me hit-one-outta-the-park for The Lord!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Third Sunday of Advent

My Companions pray with me: Lord, may we praise You by bringing good news to the poor, by releasing those who live in political oppression, by attending to those in physical pain and suffering, and by helping those with physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual addictions. Have mercy on all our selfishness and sin. We thank You for all Your blessings. And we come to You with all our needs.


Companion Events: Bithdays: Whitney Ross (12/10), Isablel Grace Parise (12/12), Lina Hettermann (12/13). Anniversary: Nick and Katie Johnson (12/11/2010). In memoriam: Eddie Hogan (12/9/1999).
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Keeping In-touch:  The week was filled with good moments of preparation and prayer this Advent: decorating, prayer groups, the Symphony with my friend, Esuatce, and, of course, tennis.

Decision Point: Decision Point:: Second Chances

The Readings: Third Sunday of Advent

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments:  

If people approached me like they approached John the Baptist and asked me, "Who are you, cyber-evangelist?" I would say: "I'm just a man."
"No!" I would say, "I am a man! A man call to radiate life"
Be holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy. Holy means life-giving.
"But, I'm a sinful man. I don't care for the poor, imprisoned, oppressed, or the sick as much as I should. I don't always accept Jesus' love which will heal my poverty, my imprisonment, my addictions, and my illnesses.
But I'm filled with hope that Jesus will continue to enter my life each day, work at transforming me, and invite me to His Second Coming.
I am a very blessed man called to use my talents for God's Kingdom. This is exciting!!"


Comments, Reflections, Insights...

Monday, December 1, 2014

Second Sunday of Advent

My Companions pray with me: Lord, we can only from a distance appreciate Your Beauty, Your Truth, Your Life; we call from the roof-tops the Glory of Our Lord! Please forgive all the road-blocks we put in the way of Your love. We work to forgive those who have hurt us. Thank You for all Your wonderful Gifts, especially Your coming as Messiah and Your promise to return in all Your Glory. Please provide for all we need, for those in need of healing on our list, those who have gone before us, and those in most need of Your life this day.


Companion Events: Bithdays: Caleb Foresman (12/3), Kathy DePriest (12/3). In memoriam: Edward T. Oakes, SJ (12/6/2013).
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Keeping In-touch:  The Thanksgiving Holiday kept us on our toes last week. We enjoyed mild weather (thus tennis) and we had more time with family.

Decision Point: Decision Point:: Jesus was a Radical

The Readings: Second Sunday of Advent

Some Commentary: Fr. John Foley, S. J.

My comments and an invitation for your comments: 
More than ever, I've begun to reflect on Christ present in my life. I've always known He's here in His Holy Spirit. I'm just becoming more aware. And the anticipation of living in the fullness of Christ's glory makes my hope a living hope. Advent is a special time for this.


Comments, Reflections, Insights...