Advent Devotional for Monday, December 22, 2008
Week 4: PEACE
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s Magnificat says so much. I’d like to ask you to read it again (and maybe even three times): certainly one reading is insufficient. Even after half a dozen readings, I find it difficult to move past the wondrous opening line: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” What more do we need, especially at this hopeful time, than to allow our souls to do that for which they were made?
Mary’s prayer reminds me of the great (and difficult) Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, “As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame.” Hopkins was a 19th-century English Jesuit and is a favorite poet of mine. In this sonnet Hopkins develops a theme similar to that of Mary’s prayer. Here it is:
AS kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.
I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is—
Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
My prayer today is that we can hear and follow Mary’s magnificent lead. Let our souls proclaim God’s greatness in everything that we do today. And let us, as Hopkins suggests, see Christ in “ten thousand places.”
By Adam Musser, Theology Teacher/Campus Ministry
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Scholastic Art Awards - Congratulations Shantasia Creer
Congratulations to Saint Martin sophomore Shantasia Creer for winning a Silver Key Award in the regional Scholastic Art Awards! She and other regional high school artists will be honored at an awards ceremony Jan.18. The Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition is open January 18 –February 1 at the Cleveland Institute of Art (Reinberger Galleries). Gallery Hours are 10am-6pm Tues.-Sat., and 12pm-6pm Sundays, Closed Mondays.
Philippians 4:4-7 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 18, 2008
Week 3: JOY
One of the etymological roots of the word “rejoice” is “rejoir” meaning “to welcome.” The first line in this passage of Paul’s message to the Philippians can, therefore, be read as a reminder to welcome the Lord always.
What do we do when we prepare to welcome a friend into our home? We might need to vacuum or do some mopping. More than likely, we’ll need to make a trip to the store to pick up our guests’ favorite food or drink. Then, we might prepare a meal or some snacks to share with our guest.
It can be a lot of work to welcome a guest, but that work is richly rewarded when we relive shared memories, listen to good music, and enjoy some good food. This time spent with a dear friend is not about accomplishing anything other than just being together, but it is time very well spent because we are given the great gift of peace through these visits. We are comforted because we are with someone whose company we enjoy and who loves and appreciates us.
This calls to mind Antoine de Saint-Exupery who reminded us in The Little Prince that the time we “waste” for our friends is what makes them so important. Other things may seem more important or may be the source of greater stress, but we must make time with friends a priority. We must be intentional about making time for our friends.
Our friends have also made time for us and have provided us with a sense of peace. It is important, then, that we also express our gratitude to them. (Thank you for sharing this time with me. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for who you are.)
This “thanksgiving” is important for a friend to hear, but it may be even more important as an act of humility on our part. Our expression of gratitude allows us to admit that we need others. This acknowledgement might also serve as a helpful reminder to make time for our friend again soon.
***
We do not need to get out the vacuum or the mop in order to welcome the Lord, so in some respects welcoming Christ should be easier than welcoming a guest to our home. But how often are we guilty of not devoting time to spend with Jesus? We simply have too much to do to “waste” time; we have important work to do! Are we really too busy for 20-30 minutes a day?
Think of how rewarding it could be to spend time daily with our dear friend and Lord. This time could be used to celebrate our many blessings - our friends and family, a great meal, or a warm smile. This time could also be used to ask for assistance as we try to grow to become a better friend, husband, wife, son, daughter, neighbor, or co-worker. Time spent with our friend, Christ Jesus, would also make us more mindful of His presence as we celebrate life’s blessings and endure its struggles, as we fall short and as we succeed.
We must simply slow down a little bit - step away from the computer, turn off the TV, take off the headphones, and take a break from texting. We must make an intentional effort to welcome Christ and be glad in His presence. It is through this welcoming, Paul reminds us, that our hearts and minds become “guarded” from the unhelpful anxieties that so often trouble us. Paul’s simple formula is this: Humbly welcome the Lord and set your heart and mind at peace.
Rejoice and be glad! Welcome the Lord always!
By Keith Laschinger, Director of Admissions
Zechariah 9:9-12 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Week 3: JOY
Zechariah 9:9-12
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”
The month of October was always a tough one for me in college. Midterms were hitting, I hadn’t been home since I left for school the last week of August and my birthday was approaching. I would have down days when I felt like I just needed something that was missing from my life.
My friends decided that, for my 22nd birthday, I needed a pet. This was completely their idea—I had no idea that they were even planning to give me a present let alone a pet! On October 27, 1992 they surprised me with a trip to the local park where I met my birthday present.
Kiri (sounds like Keary) was a rescue dog. She had been abused, abandoned and rehabilitated. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to keep her, but later that evening she rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. That was it—I was now her mom.
Kiri taught me more lessons than I can ever list. She relied on me for everything, which is a good lesson for anyone who will ever have children! She taught me responsibility and unconditional love. I learned to prioritize as I had to put her needs above my own. I learned to take a deep breath and exhale right before I went to sleep. I found out that the funny face a dog makes when riding in the backseat of a car can mean that they are about to throw up. Valuable lessons.
Kiri died 6 months after my first child was born. It was 3 years ago but I sometime still cry when I think about her. She really trained me to be a parent by demanding my time, my attention and my love. Sometimes it takes a great, public leader—religious, political or other—to save us. However you must be open to finding your own salvation in the quieter and smaller places. I found mine in a park on a sunny October afternoon in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I am eternally grateful that I did.
By Susan Hren, College Counselor
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The affect that college students can have on the community
Yesterday we were blessed to have 15 of our alumni visit Saint Martin. It was great to catch up with all of them and hear how well they were doing at schools such as Akron, John Carroll, Kent State, Morehouse, and Ohio U!
We also had seven eighth grade students visiting Saint Martin yesterday. One of these young people met an alumnus of ours, Christian. Christian (Chris) is a Saint Martin graduate, Class of 2008, and a first year student at Morehouse College in Atlanta. The young visitor saw Chris and asked him if he was a professional athlete. Chris's response was outstanding: “My profession is academics.”
Christian went on to tell the young man that he should not choose Saint Martin, or any other high school, for its sports program. Chris told the young man that he should choose Saint Martin for overall guidance, college counseling, and because the culture of the school calls students to strive to be their best. Chris said the idea of attending college was hammered into him daily at Saint Martin and the more he heard it, the more it became his focus and goal. Chris proudly stated, “Today, I’m at the college that I wanted to attend. I’m at Morehouse."
How many other young people has Christian impacted in a similar way? Our other alums? This is how urban America will be transformed!!!
We also had seven eighth grade students visiting Saint Martin yesterday. One of these young people met an alumnus of ours, Christian. Christian (Chris) is a Saint Martin graduate, Class of 2008, and a first year student at Morehouse College in Atlanta. The young visitor saw Chris and asked him if he was a professional athlete. Chris's response was outstanding: “My profession is academics.”
Christian went on to tell the young man that he should not choose Saint Martin, or any other high school, for its sports program. Chris told the young man that he should choose Saint Martin for overall guidance, college counseling, and because the culture of the school calls students to strive to be their best. Chris said the idea of attending college was hammered into him daily at Saint Martin and the more he heard it, the more it became his focus and goal. Chris proudly stated, “Today, I’m at the college that I wanted to attend. I’m at Morehouse."
How many other young people has Christian impacted in a similar way? Our other alums? This is how urban America will be transformed!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Micah 6:8 Advent Devotional
Editor's Note - This devotional was published internally at Saint Martin December 4 and was not included on the blog until now inadvertently.
Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 4, 2008
Week 1: PREPARE
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
- Micah 6:8
Life can be really painful at times. If anyone knew this it was the prophet Micah. A member of the lower class Micah suffered not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as he watched the nation he loved turn away from God. I’m sure we’ve all suffered this past year whether it’s been emotional or otherwise. We simply can’t avoid pain in this life no matter how hard we try. The cold reality is, the only common experience of humanity is that we all experience pain in one form or another. But that fact may point us deeper into the mystery of why Jesus chose the cross. With open arms and every fiber of his being he said with a resounding cry, ‘I am with you.’
As we prepare this advent season for the coming of our Lord again into our lives maybe we should take a step back, take a deep breath, and allow the Lord to tell us, ‘I am with you.’
Maybe then with the spirit of understanding that Christ is with us will we be able to work for a Kingdom of justice that Micah envisioned: one in which “all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees” (4:4). Maybe then will we again love kindness and treat the person who pours our coffee or hands us our groceries with the same love that Christ showed us. Maybe then will we this advent season hand over all our problems to Christ who asks us to (Mt. 11:28) and humbly realize that without Christ our own vines and fig trees will produce nothing (Jn. 15:5).
We will fail, certainly for as Micah reminds us, we are mortal, but this advent season is time to begin anew with that timeless Christian hope in a better world. It’s true, we will die and we can’t escape that pain that comes with this life. But if Christ has shown us anything it’s not to run away from pain. By accepting the pain, by entering into it to we come closer to the Jesus who accepted the vulnerability of what it means to be human and the Jesus who accepted the fragility of being born in a manger. All of which brings us joyously closer to the resurrected Christ who has conquered death and reconciled us with our God: our God whom through Jesus tells us “I am with you always” (Mt. 28:20).
By Pete Range, Theology Teacher
Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 4, 2008
Week 1: PREPARE
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
- Micah 6:8
Life can be really painful at times. If anyone knew this it was the prophet Micah. A member of the lower class Micah suffered not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as he watched the nation he loved turn away from God. I’m sure we’ve all suffered this past year whether it’s been emotional or otherwise. We simply can’t avoid pain in this life no matter how hard we try. The cold reality is, the only common experience of humanity is that we all experience pain in one form or another. But that fact may point us deeper into the mystery of why Jesus chose the cross. With open arms and every fiber of his being he said with a resounding cry, ‘I am with you.’
As we prepare this advent season for the coming of our Lord again into our lives maybe we should take a step back, take a deep breath, and allow the Lord to tell us, ‘I am with you.’
Maybe then with the spirit of understanding that Christ is with us will we be able to work for a Kingdom of justice that Micah envisioned: one in which “all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees” (4:4). Maybe then will we again love kindness and treat the person who pours our coffee or hands us our groceries with the same love that Christ showed us. Maybe then will we this advent season hand over all our problems to Christ who asks us to (Mt. 11:28) and humbly realize that without Christ our own vines and fig trees will produce nothing (Jn. 15:5).
We will fail, certainly for as Micah reminds us, we are mortal, but this advent season is time to begin anew with that timeless Christian hope in a better world. It’s true, we will die and we can’t escape that pain that comes with this life. But if Christ has shown us anything it’s not to run away from pain. By accepting the pain, by entering into it to we come closer to the Jesus who accepted the vulnerability of what it means to be human and the Jesus who accepted the fragility of being born in a manger. All of which brings us joyously closer to the resurrected Christ who has conquered death and reconciled us with our God: our God whom through Jesus tells us “I am with you always” (Mt. 28:20).
By Pete Range, Theology Teacher
Isaiah 61:1-3
Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Week 3: JOY
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
As I was reading Isaiah I was thinking how much we need these words today. When I look at the daily paper or turn on the World News I see a world that seems broken. Constant fighting, acts of terror, starvation, ethnic cleansing, the list goes on. Many families will not be able to share the holidays with loved ones, and many will spend it in a home they may lose soon. The news is not good.
Isaiah brings us words of hope and comfort. He tells us the Good News that there will eventually be a time of rebuilding the things which have been destroyed. A voice that still echoes through the ages, “The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings.” In Isaiah’s messianic prophecy he is awaiting this day with great joy, the joy that we need so much in our world today.
Are you poor? He will make you rich. Are you brokenhearted? He will heal you. Are you a captive? He will set you free. He will take away the ashes and make you beautiful. These are the words we cling to as we search our hearts in these times of trials and cling to the promise that God will not abandon us.
As we await this promise and look both back on the birth of Christ and forward to the Christ to come let the words of Isaiah envelope us with the profound hope of the unchanging loving nature of God.
Merry Christmas!
By Terri Rawlings, Admissions department
Week 3: JOY
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
As I was reading Isaiah I was thinking how much we need these words today. When I look at the daily paper or turn on the World News I see a world that seems broken. Constant fighting, acts of terror, starvation, ethnic cleansing, the list goes on. Many families will not be able to share the holidays with loved ones, and many will spend it in a home they may lose soon. The news is not good.
Isaiah brings us words of hope and comfort. He tells us the Good News that there will eventually be a time of rebuilding the things which have been destroyed. A voice that still echoes through the ages, “The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings.” In Isaiah’s messianic prophecy he is awaiting this day with great joy, the joy that we need so much in our world today.
Are you poor? He will make you rich. Are you brokenhearted? He will heal you. Are you a captive? He will set you free. He will take away the ashes and make you beautiful. These are the words we cling to as we search our hearts in these times of trials and cling to the promise that God will not abandon us.
As we await this promise and look both back on the birth of Christ and forward to the Christ to come let the words of Isaiah envelope us with the profound hope of the unchanging loving nature of God.
Merry Christmas!
By Terri Rawlings, Admissions department
Monday, December 15, 2008
Leadership Cleveland Visit
On Thursday, December 11, Saint Martin had the honor of welcoming Leadership Cleveland, a civic program designed to give present and future leaders a broader understanding of how our city works. These civic leaders also visited several other schools Thursday. This reflects our strong belief that the business community can and should partner with innovative schools to provide opportunity for the young men and women of Cleveland.
Duane Bishop, Forest City Enterprises
Kim Bixenstine, University Hospitals Health System
Mitch Blair, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Perry Braun, Medical Mutual
Matthew Embrescia, Second Generation Ltd.
Johnathan Holifield, Cleveland Urban League
Rob Huxtable, Socius Executive Search
Tom Kedrowski, PolyOne
Bobbie Laurie, Visiting Nurse Association
Joseph Mattioli, Ritz-Carlton Cleveland
Bob Niehoff, SJ, John Carroll University
Lisa Oliver, Key Bank
John Osberg, US Bank
Mike Petrone, Plan C Publishing
Radhika Reddy, Ariel Ventures LLC
Debra Adams Simmons, The Plain Dealer
Keith Sutton, Sutton Builders
Paul Voinovich, Vocon, Inc.
Duane Bishop, Forest City Enterprises
Kim Bixenstine, University Hospitals Health System
Mitch Blair, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Perry Braun, Medical Mutual
Matthew Embrescia, Second Generation Ltd.
Johnathan Holifield, Cleveland Urban League
Rob Huxtable, Socius Executive Search
Tom Kedrowski, PolyOne
Bobbie Laurie, Visiting Nurse Association
Joseph Mattioli, Ritz-Carlton Cleveland
Bob Niehoff, SJ, John Carroll University
Lisa Oliver, Key Bank
John Osberg, US Bank
Mike Petrone, Plan C Publishing
Radhika Reddy, Ariel Ventures LLC
Debra Adams Simmons, The Plain Dealer
Keith Sutton, Sutton Builders
Paul Voinovich, Vocon, Inc.
Urban Education Revolution
Rich Clark, founding president of Saint Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland, has created a blog to help him think through the challenge of urban education and to participate in a larger discussion on this vitally important topic. Click the "Urban Education Revolution" link to become a part of this discussion!
Oberlin College Acceptance!
Our school community just got word that Elena Sanchez was accepted to Oberlin College. Congratulations, Elena!
Galatians 5:22-23 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Monday, December 15, 2008
Week 3: JOY
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5: 22-23
It can be so difficult to find joy in this season of joy. Everyone is telling you to be merry, to be happy, and sometimes that’s just too hard. I was 13 the first year I realized I had no Christmas spirit. Sometimes watching a particular Christmas special on TV would do it, but even that didn’t work this time. I was in such a funk. I didn’t know what to do. The more I thought about it, the worse it got.
Since then, I have found the perfect remedy for this pathetic winter disease! The cure was handed to me by a dear neighbor. Mrs. Gregg organized a caroling party. She gathered us all at her house and we went up and down the street stopping to sing at each house. (We were even careful to sing “Jingle Bells” at the home of our only Jewish neighbors.) Then we went back to the Greggs’ house for red velvet cake and cookies and cocoa. I felt so much better! My problem was paying too much attention to me, to my feelings. I needed to think about what I could do to bring Christmas to someone else.
And then there was the hard part: taking that home. But somehow it was easier to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle and in control of myself after spending the evening with my neighbors, reaching out to them with joy.
Lord, help me to remember that this is your party and I am an invited guest. Help me to remember to reach out in joy to these others you also love. Remind me that joy is a beautiful virus that needs to be spread far and wide!
By Ann Klonowski, Theology Teacher
Week 3: JOY
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5: 22-23
It can be so difficult to find joy in this season of joy. Everyone is telling you to be merry, to be happy, and sometimes that’s just too hard. I was 13 the first year I realized I had no Christmas spirit. Sometimes watching a particular Christmas special on TV would do it, but even that didn’t work this time. I was in such a funk. I didn’t know what to do. The more I thought about it, the worse it got.
Since then, I have found the perfect remedy for this pathetic winter disease! The cure was handed to me by a dear neighbor. Mrs. Gregg organized a caroling party. She gathered us all at her house and we went up and down the street stopping to sing at each house. (We were even careful to sing “Jingle Bells” at the home of our only Jewish neighbors.) Then we went back to the Greggs’ house for red velvet cake and cookies and cocoa. I felt so much better! My problem was paying too much attention to me, to my feelings. I needed to think about what I could do to bring Christmas to someone else.
And then there was the hard part: taking that home. But somehow it was easier to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle and in control of myself after spending the evening with my neighbors, reaching out to them with joy.
Lord, help me to remember that this is your party and I am an invited guest. Help me to remember to reach out in joy to these others you also love. Remind me that joy is a beautiful virus that needs to be spread far and wide!
By Ann Klonowski, Theology Teacher
Friday, December 12, 2008
Colleges and Universities
Follow the above "Colleges and Universities" link to see a list of the schools which have accepted Saint Martin students over the last two years.
College Acceptances!!!
Thirty-six members of the Class of 2009 have already been accepted into at least one college or university:
Alejandra Arteaga
Teaire Baker-Harrison
Stephanie Barnes
Brianna Buckhalter
Leaha Clemence
Brittany Cuevas
Isabel DeRoberts
Sabrina Jackson
April Frazier
Ricky Henry
Tyler Hughley
Una Ilisinovic
Sh'Nae Johnson
Kylie Kelly
Bianca King
Paula Kurtz
Jasmyne Lewis
Charlene Marshall
Nicole Mazzola
Santino Montanez
Chelsea Murray
Lucretia Payne
Deja Pearson
Aaron Reynolds
Kevhonna Roberts
Stephanie Rodriguez
Jalicia Ruffin
Adele Schumann
Jamil Shelton
Jjay Sims
Christina Smith
Devonte Smith
Valentine Volk
Lyla Wakut
Sunni Wenson
Tim Young
Forty-three more names will be added to this list by June 2009! Congratulations!
Alejandra Arteaga
Teaire Baker-Harrison
Stephanie Barnes
Brianna Buckhalter
Leaha Clemence
Brittany Cuevas
Isabel DeRoberts
Sabrina Jackson
April Frazier
Ricky Henry
Tyler Hughley
Una Ilisinovic
Sh'Nae Johnson
Kylie Kelly
Bianca King
Paula Kurtz
Jasmyne Lewis
Charlene Marshall
Nicole Mazzola
Santino Montanez
Chelsea Murray
Lucretia Payne
Deja Pearson
Aaron Reynolds
Kevhonna Roberts
Stephanie Rodriguez
Jalicia Ruffin
Adele Schumann
Jamil Shelton
Jjay Sims
Christina Smith
Devonte Smith
Valentine Volk
Lyla Wakut
Sunni Wenson
Tim Young
Forty-three more names will be added to this list by June 2009! Congratulations!
Matthew 17:10-13 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Friday, December 12, 2008
Week 2: HOPE
After the transfiguration, as Jesus and the disciples were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah already came, and did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that Jesus was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Mt. 17:10-13
One summer I rode up Mt. Washington hoping for a glimpse of the state of New Hampshire. When I reached the top I was in a bank of clouds and could not see anything. I saw New Hampshire as I drove along the highways and met people, not on top of a mountain. Hope is like that. We hope for peace in our hearts, families, nation and world but all we see are clouds of division. We are “muddled.”
Advent is a time of hope; a time of waiting. The strange thing about hope is that what we long for is already here but not recognizable except through faith; just like the valley below Mt. Washington. God sent Jesus to save us; to give us hope. He is our brother who guides us on the right path.
What is this path on which we must walk? John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ lives give us some insight: love God and love your neighbor. If we want to know, love and serve God, we must get to know, love and serve our neighbor, even those whom we dislike. Both Jesus and John the Baptist were murdered because they preached and lived love of God and neighbor.
During this time of Advent:
· Choose someone whom you dislike and do something nice and/or pray for that person.
· Reflect on how he or she reacted and how doing the good deed made you feel. Did your act of kindness, prayer bring that person and/or you hope?
By Madeline Muller, HM, Information/Data Coordinator
Week 2: HOPE
After the transfiguration, as Jesus and the disciples were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah already came, and did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that Jesus was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Mt. 17:10-13
One summer I rode up Mt. Washington hoping for a glimpse of the state of New Hampshire. When I reached the top I was in a bank of clouds and could not see anything. I saw New Hampshire as I drove along the highways and met people, not on top of a mountain. Hope is like that. We hope for peace in our hearts, families, nation and world but all we see are clouds of division. We are “muddled.”
Advent is a time of hope; a time of waiting. The strange thing about hope is that what we long for is already here but not recognizable except through faith; just like the valley below Mt. Washington. God sent Jesus to save us; to give us hope. He is our brother who guides us on the right path.
What is this path on which we must walk? John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ lives give us some insight: love God and love your neighbor. If we want to know, love and serve God, we must get to know, love and serve our neighbor, even those whom we dislike. Both Jesus and John the Baptist were murdered because they preached and lived love of God and neighbor.
During this time of Advent:
· Choose someone whom you dislike and do something nice and/or pray for that person.
· Reflect on how he or she reacted and how doing the good deed made you feel. Did your act of kindness, prayer bring that person and/or you hope?
By Madeline Muller, HM, Information/Data Coordinator
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Hebrews 11: 1-13 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 11, 2008
Week 2: HOPE
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible. By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's. Through this he was attested to be righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through this, though dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and "he was found no more because God had taken him." Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen, with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth.
Hebrews 11: 1-13
One of my most inquisitive and persistent students, Brittney, was bemoaning again the fact that she “had no faith.” She said she wished she had faith. She wanted faith just like everyone else. Why was she the one person in this school without faith? (It seemed to me, however, that if she truly lacked faith, she wouldn’t have cared so much; nor would it have been such a source of distress. So somewhere inside, she actually DID have faith.)
On this particular day another teacher working in the faculty office overheard us having the “faith conversation” for the millionth time; and on this occasion, Ms. T. turned to Brittney and said, “You’re confusing faith and belief, dear. Faith is a stance.” And then she turned back around and continued her work.
I’m not quite sure the statement had the desired effect on my student (as a matter of fact, I know it did not, because the “faith conversation” goes on and on ‘til this day) but the words went straight to my heart.
Faith is not so much about what you think or what you believe in your head, faith is the whole way you approach your life. It’s the place where what you think and believe become realized in how you live and eventually in who you are. It prescribes the way you get up in the morning, how you greet everyone you meet during the day, the way you spend your time and resources, and how you end your day – and everything in between.
The ancients described in the Hebrews reading for today exemplify just such an understanding of faith. They are not remembered and honored for the orthodoxy of their beliefs or the loftiness of their thoughts. They are held up as models of faith because their living testified to the faithfulness of God. They lived “as if” every promise made and every Word spoken were as real and unshakeable as a mountain.
One of my favorite quotes is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times; and, if necessary, use words.”
This preaching Good News with our lives is the essence of faith to me. The Word becomes flesh in everything we do, and in the people we are. Could there possibly be any other Advent practice so meaningful or any Christmas gift so complete?
By Virginia Malloy, Campus Minister
Week 2: HOPE
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible. By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's. Through this he was attested to be righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through this, though dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and "he was found no more because God had taken him." Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen, with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth.
Hebrews 11: 1-13
One of my most inquisitive and persistent students, Brittney, was bemoaning again the fact that she “had no faith.” She said she wished she had faith. She wanted faith just like everyone else. Why was she the one person in this school without faith? (It seemed to me, however, that if she truly lacked faith, she wouldn’t have cared so much; nor would it have been such a source of distress. So somewhere inside, she actually DID have faith.)
On this particular day another teacher working in the faculty office overheard us having the “faith conversation” for the millionth time; and on this occasion, Ms. T. turned to Brittney and said, “You’re confusing faith and belief, dear. Faith is a stance.” And then she turned back around and continued her work.
I’m not quite sure the statement had the desired effect on my student (as a matter of fact, I know it did not, because the “faith conversation” goes on and on ‘til this day) but the words went straight to my heart.
Faith is not so much about what you think or what you believe in your head, faith is the whole way you approach your life. It’s the place where what you think and believe become realized in how you live and eventually in who you are. It prescribes the way you get up in the morning, how you greet everyone you meet during the day, the way you spend your time and resources, and how you end your day – and everything in between.
The ancients described in the Hebrews reading for today exemplify just such an understanding of faith. They are not remembered and honored for the orthodoxy of their beliefs or the loftiness of their thoughts. They are held up as models of faith because their living testified to the faithfulness of God. They lived “as if” every promise made and every Word spoken were as real and unshakeable as a mountain.
One of my favorite quotes is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times; and, if necessary, use words.”
This preaching Good News with our lives is the essence of faith to me. The Word becomes flesh in everything we do, and in the people we are. Could there possibly be any other Advent practice so meaningful or any Christmas gift so complete?
By Virginia Malloy, Campus Minister
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Romans 8:22-25 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Week 2: HOPE
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
Romans 8:22-25
July 2, 1996 came and went. The phone rang incessantly. “Is the baby here yet?” “No, not yet.” It was hot, I was swollen, and my ankles were stuffed sausages ready to burst open. Didn’t this baby know that I lived by a calendar? Didn’t he know that I intentionally set the birth date to be such that I would maximize my summer off of work? Didn’t this baby know that I had to be ready to go back to work when school started in the fall? I was tired of being huge. I was tired of being swollen. And I was tired of being pregnant.
If normal wombs are the Holiday Inn for babies, mine was the Ritz Carlton. This child did NOT want to come out. My obstetrician said (on the day AFTER my due date, mind you), “there is nothing going on.” AAAAHHHH!!!! On top of it all, my doctor was from an older generation that didn’t believe in inducing me too soon. Therefore, I had to wait until I was two weeks over due before I would be induced. Joy. As Romans 8:22 states, “we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Believe you me, I was groaning alright.
Be patient. Yeah, right! I am not a patient person by nature. I am a planner. I am a doer. I am not good at sitting around waiting for things to happen to me. I like to make things happen! This baby was teaching me a huge lesson. I had to be patient. I had to let God decide when this baby was coming. And boy was I getting a huge lesson in patience. We were blessed that we did not have to wait long to get pregnant. We hoped to get pregnant, and boom! there we were. The hope that we had for this baby was immense. We waited. Patiently. Camden Michael was born two weeks past his due date. He was beautiful. “But if we hope for what we do not have yet, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25. I can imagine Mary looking at her own beautiful son with the hope of the world on his shoulders. What do you hope for? Are you willing to wait for it? For in this hope we are saved.
By Nicki Stacey, Director of Counseling
Week 2: HOPE
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
Romans 8:22-25
July 2, 1996 came and went. The phone rang incessantly. “Is the baby here yet?” “No, not yet.” It was hot, I was swollen, and my ankles were stuffed sausages ready to burst open. Didn’t this baby know that I lived by a calendar? Didn’t he know that I intentionally set the birth date to be such that I would maximize my summer off of work? Didn’t this baby know that I had to be ready to go back to work when school started in the fall? I was tired of being huge. I was tired of being swollen. And I was tired of being pregnant.
If normal wombs are the Holiday Inn for babies, mine was the Ritz Carlton. This child did NOT want to come out. My obstetrician said (on the day AFTER my due date, mind you), “there is nothing going on.” AAAAHHHH!!!! On top of it all, my doctor was from an older generation that didn’t believe in inducing me too soon. Therefore, I had to wait until I was two weeks over due before I would be induced. Joy. As Romans 8:22 states, “we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Believe you me, I was groaning alright.
Be patient. Yeah, right! I am not a patient person by nature. I am a planner. I am a doer. I am not good at sitting around waiting for things to happen to me. I like to make things happen! This baby was teaching me a huge lesson. I had to be patient. I had to let God decide when this baby was coming. And boy was I getting a huge lesson in patience. We were blessed that we did not have to wait long to get pregnant. We hoped to get pregnant, and boom! there we were. The hope that we had for this baby was immense. We waited. Patiently. Camden Michael was born two weeks past his due date. He was beautiful. “But if we hope for what we do not have yet, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25. I can imagine Mary looking at her own beautiful son with the hope of the world on his shoulders. What do you hope for? Are you willing to wait for it? For in this hope we are saved.
By Nicki Stacey, Director of Counseling
Charles R. Drew Saturday Academy at The Cleveland Clinic
Congratulations to Saint Martin students Shirley Jordan, Heiry Perez, Charlene Williams, and Tiana Wilson on their acceptance into the Charles R. Drew Saturday Academy at The Cleveland Clinic. This selective program is intended to help talented African American and Latino high school students prepare for the future practice of medicine.
Psalm 46 Advent Devotional
Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Week 1: PREPARE
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.
Though nations rage and kingdoms totter, God’s voice thunders and the earth trembles.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come and see the works of the Lord, who had done fearsome deeds on earth;
Who stops wars to the ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire,
Who says: “Be still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Psalm 46
Every day, the media announces even more distressing economic news: “The stock market is plummeting.” “The bailout of the banking sector is costing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.” “Thousands of people are being laid off or losing their jobs.” “Senior citizens are seeing their retirement accounts disappear overnight.” “The number of people frequenting local food pantries is on the rise.” Doesn’t this seem to reflect what the psalmist describes as the “earth being shaken, the mountains quaking to the depths of the sea, the sea raging and foaming and the mountains totters at the surging of the sea?” Indeed, the solid foundations on which so many placed their economic hopes and their very lives are crumbling. The earth is being shaken; the mountains are quaking to the depths of the sea.
Many can rightfully claim, where is our loving God? Has God utterly abandoned us? If one feels abandoned, the temptation is to be paralyzed by unhealthy worry and frightful anxiety. If one is not paralyzed by worry, one can fall into hectic, even frenetic activity thinking, “I have to do something, do anything for doing something is better than nothing.” Yet, the psalmist advises, “Do not fear; God is our refuge and our strength!” Is the psalmist calling us to passivism, to naïveté? Is the psalmist calling us to ignore the crisis all around us? Is the psalmist trying to lull us into a drug like stupor?
In this present situation or in other turbulent times, it takes courage to “Be still and confess that I am God.” The simple act of prayer and trust in God requires a great act of faith. It takes great courage to even maintain one’s faith in God in the face of others’ criticism. This courage comes from the promise that “The Lord of hosts is with us…” This expression is very similar to the one that Isaiah uses in predicting the birth of Jesus. He says that Jesus is Emmanuel, that is, God is with us. And it is this constant presence of God with us that gives us courage. God is at our side in the midst of whatever difficulty we have: financial, medical, familial… God does not wave a magic wand that takes away the struggles, the worry and the anxiety. But, God will be there with us in the midst of our struggles each and every minute of every day, loving us, supporting us, inspiring us to navigate the obstacles in our path.
As we prepare for Christmas, let us courageously “Be still” in order to recognize the presence of “Emmanuel, God with us” in our midst. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can break out of our paralysis. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can set aside frenetic unfocused activity. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can recognize opportunities to solve problems.
By Steve Suding, Vice President of Mission
Week 1: PREPARE
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day.
Though nations rage and kingdoms totter, God’s voice thunders and the earth trembles.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come and see the works of the Lord, who had done fearsome deeds on earth;
Who stops wars to the ends of the earth, breaks the bow, splinters the spear, and burns the shields with fire,
Who says: “Be still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Psalm 46
Every day, the media announces even more distressing economic news: “The stock market is plummeting.” “The bailout of the banking sector is costing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.” “Thousands of people are being laid off or losing their jobs.” “Senior citizens are seeing their retirement accounts disappear overnight.” “The number of people frequenting local food pantries is on the rise.” Doesn’t this seem to reflect what the psalmist describes as the “earth being shaken, the mountains quaking to the depths of the sea, the sea raging and foaming and the mountains totters at the surging of the sea?” Indeed, the solid foundations on which so many placed their economic hopes and their very lives are crumbling. The earth is being shaken; the mountains are quaking to the depths of the sea.
Many can rightfully claim, where is our loving God? Has God utterly abandoned us? If one feels abandoned, the temptation is to be paralyzed by unhealthy worry and frightful anxiety. If one is not paralyzed by worry, one can fall into hectic, even frenetic activity thinking, “I have to do something, do anything for doing something is better than nothing.” Yet, the psalmist advises, “Do not fear; God is our refuge and our strength!” Is the psalmist calling us to passivism, to naïveté? Is the psalmist calling us to ignore the crisis all around us? Is the psalmist trying to lull us into a drug like stupor?
In this present situation or in other turbulent times, it takes courage to “Be still and confess that I am God.” The simple act of prayer and trust in God requires a great act of faith. It takes great courage to even maintain one’s faith in God in the face of others’ criticism. This courage comes from the promise that “The Lord of hosts is with us…” This expression is very similar to the one that Isaiah uses in predicting the birth of Jesus. He says that Jesus is Emmanuel, that is, God is with us. And it is this constant presence of God with us that gives us courage. God is at our side in the midst of whatever difficulty we have: financial, medical, familial… God does not wave a magic wand that takes away the struggles, the worry and the anxiety. But, God will be there with us in the midst of our struggles each and every minute of every day, loving us, supporting us, inspiring us to navigate the obstacles in our path.
As we prepare for Christmas, let us courageously “Be still” in order to recognize the presence of “Emmanuel, God with us” in our midst. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can break out of our paralysis. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can set aside frenetic unfocused activity. It is when we can “Be still” with God that we can recognize opportunities to solve problems.
By Steve Suding, Vice President of Mission
Isaiah 43 Reflection
Advent Devotional for Friday, December 5, 2008
Week 1: PREPARE
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.
Isaiah 43
As I begin to reflect on the above scripture passage I am reminded of the passage from the Second Book of Paul when he is struck blind by God and Paul asked God what he should do. God responds by saying “"Then the Lord said to him (Paul), Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
It really does not matter what you have done in the past, it matters what God wants you to do now. You can not change the past, but you can listen for God’s word and see what it is doing. For me, and I am sure many of you as well, it is to be here at Saint Martin de Porres High School and to listen for God’s word. What we must do is not always clear to us. We must take the time to reflect and to listen and to see the overwhelming presence of Jesus Christ in our family that we call Saint Martin’s. When we do this, it becomes easier for me to see what I must do.
God is preparing something big for us. We just need to get out of the way and make room for the Holy Spirit. Do you not see that God is doing something new? He is transforming each and everyone associated with our community into what he wants the world to be. Anyone who comes to our building that takes a moment to let God in sees it.
Always remember to take the time to realize that we learn far more from our students that we can ever teach them. I am amazed and overcome with emotion every day by the commitment our students make to the community of our school.
So as we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ during this Advent season, take the time to see the great things God is doing right now. You answered his call to go into the city and you are being told what you must do. Take the time to see God creating a way in the desert and turning wasteland into rivers. Take the time to reflect on the overpowering presence of Jesus Christ each and every day at Saint Martin’s. When we take the time to do this, it makes the Advent season that much more meaningful to me.
In closing, PREPARE for the birth of Jesus with a new perspective on what we must do and to see the new things God is doing. I thank you for the opportunity to share this with you.
GOD BLESS,
By Tom Bennett, Vice President of Corporate Work Study Program
Week 1: PREPARE
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.
Isaiah 43
As I begin to reflect on the above scripture passage I am reminded of the passage from the Second Book of Paul when he is struck blind by God and Paul asked God what he should do. God responds by saying “"Then the Lord said to him (Paul), Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
It really does not matter what you have done in the past, it matters what God wants you to do now. You can not change the past, but you can listen for God’s word and see what it is doing. For me, and I am sure many of you as well, it is to be here at Saint Martin de Porres High School and to listen for God’s word. What we must do is not always clear to us. We must take the time to reflect and to listen and to see the overwhelming presence of Jesus Christ in our family that we call Saint Martin’s. When we do this, it becomes easier for me to see what I must do.
God is preparing something big for us. We just need to get out of the way and make room for the Holy Spirit. Do you not see that God is doing something new? He is transforming each and everyone associated with our community into what he wants the world to be. Anyone who comes to our building that takes a moment to let God in sees it.
Always remember to take the time to realize that we learn far more from our students that we can ever teach them. I am amazed and overcome with emotion every day by the commitment our students make to the community of our school.
So as we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ during this Advent season, take the time to see the great things God is doing right now. You answered his call to go into the city and you are being told what you must do. Take the time to see God creating a way in the desert and turning wasteland into rivers. Take the time to reflect on the overpowering presence of Jesus Christ each and every day at Saint Martin’s. When we take the time to do this, it makes the Advent season that much more meaningful to me.
In closing, PREPARE for the birth of Jesus with a new perspective on what we must do and to see the new things God is doing. I thank you for the opportunity to share this with you.
GOD BLESS,
By Tom Bennett, Vice President of Corporate Work Study Program
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