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—
ChrÃst—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
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