“Blind Man” Pastel: Ronald Raab, CSC

Gospel Mt 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

– – –

I was interviewed today about my Advent book, The Unsheltered Heart: An At-Home Retreat. Cycle A. Listen to On Call with Wendy Wiese from Relevant Radio, Parkridge, IL. I am in the second half-hour.

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“Saint Andrew” Oil Pastel: Ronald Raab,CSC

Gospel Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

“The Servant” Matthew 8:5-11 Drawing: Ronald Raab, CSC

Monday of the First Week in Advent
MT 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.”

The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.”

When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.”

“Stay Awake” Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC (Bulletin cover, 11-27-16)

Our parish bulletin is now in full color. My painting here is the first cover. This is my column for this weekend. 

Dear Believers in the Awaited Christ,

Welcome to this New Year of Grace, 2017! We begin the liturgical cycle again. We start with profound longing for Christ as the gospel settles into our ears and expectations that God will set us free and bring peace to his people.

Matthew’s Gospel (24:37-44) begins this season with a wake-up call. “Therefore, stay awake!” We need to take this plea seriously. However, what are we to wake up to? Or to whom do we wake up? We wake up to the person of Jesus.

In these dark days of Advent in the northern hemisphere, we set our focus on the Light of Christ. This focus is so difficult in our complicated world. We live in a 24-hour world with many things competing to get our attention even in the night. We are bombarded with news events, stock market results, and decisions from world and political leaders all night long. We are never far from the Internet to rouse compulsion and addiction. We are always close to being disturbed by constant noise of battles, brutalities and bad choices. The gospel tells us to be careful about our attachments, even our marriages and our sobriety. Everything can be taken from us. Jesus will come when we least expect. Listen cautiously. Do not be distracted. Let go of your hardened heart. Learn to pray anew.

Notice that Advent begins with yanking us out of our daily concerns and not setting us up for the coming of the Christ Child. We are not waiting for the baby in Advent. Christ is here already; salvation has come, not only the birth of Christ but in his passion, death and resurrection.

Advent is a fleeting time given cultural expectations of how we are to live in these days before Christmas. Decorations are hung before Halloween. Presents are wrapped be even before Labor Day. Cookies are baked and meals are planned. However, what about your spiritual life? How is your heart prepared again for Christ? I cringe at most of the cultural Christmas stuff. It is not that I am a curmudgeon, but that I know how much disappointment and loss also settles into this season. I want us to focus on the children whose parents’ divorced this year; to see the old woman in the fetal position in the nursing home whose family lives out of state; to be with the widower in the parish who just needs a kind ear; to reflect on the true gifts of your family, the real presence of love and faith. Live differently in Advent and don’t worry about staying home with your kids during the office party. Don’t take stock what you purchase for your children when they really need is you. Wake up! Stay alert to the real stuff.

Use the Advent night to pray, to cuddle with your children or call your adult children in a different time zone. Pray for a lasting peace for immigrants, foster children, people addicted to selfishness, and offer your life to the adult Christ who wants to live in your heart and the lives of those you love. “Therefore, wake up!”

Advent blessings,

Fr. Ron

On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR

First Sunday of Advent

November 27, 2016

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On this First Sunday of Advent, we listen to Jesus tell us to wake up, to open our hearts to God’s presence. This season wakens us to our hearts desire. We seek the face of God in our midst.

Pastel: Ronald Raab, CSC

Gospel Lk 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”

Prayer: (Raab)

Lord God, open our hearts to rest in your Kingdom love. Establish here on earth a revolution of tenderness and peace. May hatred melt into helping others. May violence be transformed into hope for daily work and food to sustain our families. Help the voiceless give praise to you. Give us courage to not blame others for their poverty, their illnesses or diseases. Encourage us to work for your Kingdom when we capture a glimpse of your presence in the Eucharist. Bring us into communion with your fidelity and peace and help us all be grateful.  Amen