Well, we made it through another COVID year. We’re all still confused as hell about this malignant pandemic. The division in families has made for interesting polarization during the holidays, but we survived that as well. What we have learned about this COVID  is that it has superseded the discussions about the common cold or flu.  So I quietly sit on the fence, waiting for some sensible resolution. There are many like myself who want nothing more than to comply and do what is right but, the mass confusion is the factor that keeps us in our fighting corners. I have long grown tired of all the paid ads our government is spending on putting the word out about the vaccines. Yes, I get it! But no one can force an American citizen to accept vaccines they do not trust. I’ve started to wear a mask in church again and when I go shopping; I continue wiping down the shopping carts and washing my hands more than ever. I still have not figured out if I am doing this out of fear or out of compliance.  I know that there are many who  are overly cautious because of real underlying health issues, I empathize because I understand that their intentions are just.  But it’s the radical, political side that throws us all off balance. They have the ear of the ever delusional media pounding fear that can be heard around the world. Real facts are distorted to make room for half-truths. I know about 20 persons who are COVID-positive, but out of these only one has been hospitalized.

“But by the same token I am against forcing people to be vaccinated,” Musk said. “You know, I think this is just not something we should do in America. I think we should encourage people to be vaccinated, strongly try to convince them to be vaccinated, but not force them to be vaccinated, or for example, for them to get vaccinated or get fired.” Elon Musk

I agree with the above statements of Elon Musk.

We who choose not to get the jab will suffer the consequences. I did. This was my choice because I do not want to relive the outcome of what was caused by the flu shot. After two and a half years, I still suffer from this autoimmune disorder.

Children and COVID

One subject that is being distorted by the news media is the misrepresentation of the facts about children and COVID. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, The number of COVID cases for children Is extremely high and increasing; but the article also states that severe illness due to COVID is uncommon among children.

Included in this report are these facts:

• Among states reporting, children ranged from 1.8%-4.1% of their total cumulated hospitalizations, and 0.1%-1.8% of all their child COVID-19 cases resulted in hospitalization
• Among states reporting, children were 0.00%-0.27% of all COVID-19 deaths, and 5 states reported zero child deaths
• ​In states reporting, 0.00%-0.03% of all child COVID-19 cases resulted in death

The real purpose of  these highly exaggerated news reports is to put the fear of COVID in parents so that they will run to get their kids vaccinated. I pray that we get the correct information to better equip us to fight COVID.

The Salvation Army

A couple of years ago when Target decided not to allow the Salvation Army’s Red kettles outside their stores, it really upset me. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles are a staple around Christmas time, and I have always supported their efforts by donating. Sadly, due to a few executives catching the “Woke” fever, their revenue suffered a great impact. These “woke-crazed’ executives thought that it would be a great idea to add “Let’s Talk About Racism” to their global agenda. These new guidelines were written to white privileged members of the Salvation Army, stating that  white Christians should repent and offer a sincere apology to African-Americans. Why would an organization that depends on the donations of good-hearted people jump on the Critical Race Theory wagon? As bad as I felt, I stopped giving them donations. The irony is that by the narrow-minded decisions of a few weak executives, many organization stopped donating. I learned about this behavior in a business management class in college; it’s called  “Group Think.”

Group Think

It’s almost as if all these Critical Race Theory believers have fallen into this “Group Think.”  Group think is a phenomenon where people comply because they are frequently under the leadership of someone who is unwilling to accept alternative ideas. They cannot receive or listen to others because they reject any opposing information that does not support what they already believe. Whether they are liberal or conservative, they have the same mindset, no plan “B.”   The practice of this thinking is dangerous because it does not allow for individual creativity. These decisions are the result of irrational or dysfunctional thinking.  The Salvation Army and all other organizations are examples that have complied with “Woke” and their unrealistic spreading of these socialist beliefs. Group Think encompasses both the right and left.

Having The Mind of Christ

As Christians we use this term as a guide to live by the Word of God. I get angry, I pray, and that produces peace. I dismantled my soap box because no one wants to hear what we as Christian stand for. An example of this is how Christian are being mischaracterized  because of our positions on controversial issues that are fully accepted by the world.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, in this year of Our  Lord 2022 bring healing from this pandemic. I pray for all who have been affected by this illness.  Please heal them! To those who are in the valley of decision, appear to them in a dream and manifest Your real existence to them. Allow those who question Your existence to experience Your Holiness. Father, I continue to pray for all those who crowd my prayer list for healing of body, mind and soul. Amen!

Happy New Year!

Joseph Mohr, a Catholic priest from Austria wrote the lyrics to Silent Night. The choir director of St. Nicholas Church in  Oberndorf, Austria, Franz Xaver Gruber composed the melody. Silent Night was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at St. Nicholas Church.

This past Sunday we celebrated the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Holy Family

The divine providence of God was in perfect order when He picked this family. Mary was visited by the Archangel Gabriel heralding the great news of her Immaculate Conception. Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, but when he discovered  that she was with child (by the Holy Spirit) Joseph had second thoughts. It was not until an angel appeared to him in a dream that he understood the importance of his role as the holy foster father of Jesus. He was called to protect his family from all harm. St. Joseph is mentioned in the Bible, but he was never quoted in the Word of God. He was the silent example of holiness. He listened to the messages sent from God through holy angels and departed to Egypt to save the Christ Child from the hands of King Herod.

It was through Joseph’s obedience that Jesus’ life was spared from the hands of the evil King Herod. That’s what holy fathers do; they protect their children from all harm. Joseph serves as a role model on how to be a great father. The idea that he was a foster father to the Son of God gives us an insight as to how deep the Lord wants fathers to exemplify Joseph’s fatherhood. Not only did he raise Jesus as his own, he handed down his trade of a carpenter to his Son. It is a misconception that Jesus had brothers and sisters because in the times of the New Testament close relatives were referred to as brothers and sisters. Mary was set aside to carry the Christ Child in her womb; this was her main purpose in life, and Jesus was her only begotten son.

St. Anne and St. Joachim 

Mary was born to St. Anne and St. Joachim. St. Joachim was a wealthy man who benevolently gave to the work of God. He gave  one-third to the Temple, one-third  to the poor, and kept one-third for St. Anne and himself. They were judged harshly by their Jewish community because they were elderly and they could not bear children. They both fasted and prayed for a child. St. Joachim went to the desert and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights, while his wife fasted and prayed at the Temple. An angel appeared to St. Anne first to announce that she would bear a child. St. Joachim experienced an angel apparition around the same time telling him to go back home to his wife because she was with child. When Mary was three-years-old she was consecrated to the Temple.

Jesus’ Grandparents

As parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim made the ultimate sacrifice of consecrating Mary to the Temple. They understood that Mary was a special gift from God. Their role as grandparents was to pray for the future of the Mother of God, their daughter Mary. St. Anne must have known that Mary would become the most famous woman in the world. Mothers have a God-given intuition for their children.

Mike and I have four grandchildren. Each one is different, and we have learned that we cannot treat them the same. We love them the same but our involvement as grandparents is to be available to help at any time. I will drop everything when it comes to the needs of our grandchildren. I want to teach our grandchildren to love the Lord and to be an example of serving God. All grandchildren are special because we as grandparents have a great opportunity to witness what we have experienced in life. We have grown from all of our past hurts and pains and can offer great wisdom. The many times that I have served as the taxi for our grandkids, I always have the radio on a religious station. None of them seem to mind.

Our grandchildren help us with technology; what seems impossible for me  comes so easy for them. I do not like to cook or bake, but now that has become a tradition with our grandkids. I don’t mind the mess because the time spent in the kitchen is worth all the labor of cleaning up. So as grandparents we are working at coming alongside their parents, making sure that we are part of raising good, honest citizens who will honor their parents and love God.

 We Pray As A Family

Last year we lost a dear friend. This was not COVID-related but it was an unexpected departure. The sad irony is that our friend had recently lost his oldest son as well. Our friend left behind his younger son who is suffering the lost of his beloved father and brother. My heart aches for this precious young man because he was so close to his father and brother. I have been praying for this young man for months, but when he stopped returning my text messages, I realized that he had gone deep into the mournful pain of loss. We all grieve differently, but his pain is too much for him to bear alone, and the holidays are a harsh reminder of this great void in his life. We miss our friend so much, but I cannot imagine the pain his son is going through. All that is left is prayer because we trust that God will pull him out of this deep grief.

Psalm 147:3-5   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

³ Healing the brokenhearted,
    and binding up their wounds.
⁴ He numbers the stars,
    and gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, vast in power,
    with wisdom beyond measure.

 

My Prayer

Dear Lord, we know that the Christmas season brings so much pain to those who are alone, who are suffering from illness, or are not on speaking terms with close family members. Lord, we ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to comfort them and to help them to understand that there is nothing impossible for You. You heal the broken hearted, and restore the faith in those who looks to You for help. I pray for our friend’s son, Lord.  You know his pain and every tear that he has shed for his family. Lord, comfort his broken heart and give him peace. Amen.

Romans 8:18   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

¹⁸ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

 

 

 

When Mike and I were a young married couple we once attended Mass at St. John Eudes in Chatsworth, California. We had not been to Mass in a while. The only thing that I remembered from this experience was the feeling of joy after taking communion. I never forgot how wonderful it felt, but I was too detached from God to fully understand the profound meaning of ingesting the Body of Christ. As I slowly made my way back to living my Catholic roots, I discovered that missing the Host is what was most void in my life.

To serve as a Eucharistic Minister (EM) you must go through training. This  was a short tutorial on where to stand, what to say, and how to give communion. Simple, I thought to myself. The first time felt awkward, and I felt inadequate to do this. I also felt  that all eyes were on me, watching my every move. Then it was when a lady came up and opened her mouth with her tongue extended to receive communion. First I felt the fear of touching her tongue; then I worried that it might not make it to her mouth. Well, fear overtook me and on my first week as an EM I dropped the communion wafer on the ground. The lady quickly picked it up from the floor and ate it. I was mortified. During the training we were told to quickly pick up the Host (maybe this is where the five- second rule was established) but I could not remember what I was supposed to do with it. When it happened again, I quickly picked up the Host and tucked it into my hand while I handed out the communion to others. I took it to the priest and explained the situation. He quickly took it from me and  put it into his mouth and ate it. For five years I have been an EM, and with each day I become more confident in this sacred role. Our parish also serves as a Catholic school, so several times during the week students are required to attend a service.

About a month ago as I was raising my right hand with the Host and saying “The Body of Christ,” I noticed, as I handed the Host to a student, part of the body of Christ fell to the floor. It was not a big piece, but nonetheless, I knew it had fallen. I did not know how to handle this situation. So instead of picking up the particle of the communion wafer I waited until after Mass. My heart was beating for two reasons: First,  there were people praying at the altar, and I had to wait to not disrupt their prayer. Second, what if they stepped on it? My crazed thoughts were on overload when finally, after a few minutes, my eyes were glued to the area where I thought the particle of the Host fell. Allan, one of the sacristans came up to me and asked me what I was doing. “While I was giving communion, I saw a small piece fall to the ground,” I answered. As we both searched  the floor, I found it. I quickly placed it in my mouth, genuflected and walked away. Something was wrong! Whatever I put in my mouth was not part of anything holy. The first clue was that it did not dissolve, and it had the texture of a human finger/toenail. As I was exiting the church, I took it out of my mouth and gave a ladylike gag. I placed the foreign object into my jacket for further investigation. When I got home I gagged like a lumberjack because it was indeed someone’s discarded toenail!

Transubstantiation

Transubstantiation is the Catholic core belief that the bread and wine used for Communion become the Body and Blood of Christ. That’s why I experienced such joy when receiving Communion at St. John Eudes. It was the body and blood of Christ!

In a recent Pew survey, it was discovered that 69% of Catholics do not understand the holy concept of transubstantiation. These Catholics are under the fallacy that the Body and Blood of Christ  is merely a symbol. I am happy to report that out of the 31 % who believe in transubstantiation, I am one of them.

The Reverence 

After the last ordeal I investigated the proper protocol when you accidentally drop the Host, so that I could  be better prepared.  According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #280.

1. Priest and Eucharistic Ministers must be extremely alert during the distribution of Holy Communion, making  sure the recipients consume the whole Sacred Host and immediately retrieving it if an accident occurs.
2. When receiving Holy Communion, a recipient must put forth his tongue long enough so that the Sacred Host may be placed securely on it, or make a proper place in his or her  hands to receive it securely. The recipient should then step aside, still facing the altar, and consume the Sacred Host before returning to the pew. (I always practiced this, and this was before realizing it was part of the rules.)
3. Lastly, if a Sacred Host falls to the floor, or even a piece of it, it should be retrieved and given to the priest at an appropriate time, such as at the end of communion when the priest is preparing  to purify the vessels.

What I found interesting is that the Host that falls to the floor and is too soiled to consume is to be placed in water until the wafer is dissolved. From there the water  is discarded into a special drain that does not feed into the sewer system;  rather it dissolves into the ground.

Last Week of Advent

We are approaching the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Please remember to take time to reflect on all the blessings He has bestowed on us. To understand our calling in life is to bring the Good News of our Savior’s Birth and Resurrection. Pray without ceasing and believe God for your Christmas miracle.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, continue to shed light on our world. Bring and end to this pandemic, an may the peace of God be upon us all. May we never forget to praise You. Lord, I worship You! I ask that You bring Christmas healing miracles to Bobbie, Amy and Bruce. Amen.