Merry Christmas from TeamOPCarm!

Merry Christmas

DS: I went to the Christmas Vigil Mass tonite, and I was struck by the fact that the same flesh and blood that lay in a manger 2,000 years ago was presented to us on the altar, in the hands of the priest at Consecration... Jesus, Our Savior comes to us every day at Mass... how blessed we are!

Father Brian spoke in his homily of a man who didn't believe, and so, instead of going to Christmas vigil Mass with his family, he stayed home... as he sat in his comfy chair by the fire, he was startled by the banging of birds into the window... puzzled, he got dressed and went outside and tried to find ways to dissuade the little critters from hurting themselves. First, he tried to put seed on the ground to keep them from the window. But to his surprise, this did not work. Then he tried to shoo them into the barn... again, no dice. Finally, he thought, "if only I could become one of them, then I could show them the way...."

...and he stopped in his tracks....

This is exactly what Jesus did!!! Jesus, GOD, became man to save us from harm and show us the way!!! That night when this man's family came home, they found their father filled with joy.. the joy of BELIEF in JESUS as HIS SAVIOR...

VEE: Thank you Jesus, for the gift of yourself to us who are so unworthy. Party til Epiphany woo hoo!!

Happy Feast of St John of the Cross!!

VEE: Aaaah Juanito. From other people's opinions of him Id thought he was too lofty, cold and only for dark nights. He introduced himself to me though on my first visit to a Carmel. God was spoiling me rotten there and on my bookshelf in my room in the guesthouse were books by or about Therese <_< or John. I was reluctant to pick up John's books because of his supposed loftyness. I didnt want to read Therese though so Juanito it was. The book I picked up was The Living Flame of Love which is fairly understandable without reading much of the commentary, so it was in that that John explained God's love to me. He put into words some of the experience I was having. Id later find that all his works, The Dark Night, The Ascent of Mt Carmel, the Spiritual Canticle would all explain what was going on. All I ask of John is that as I carry my cross and pathetically ascend Mt Carmel that he stay with me, guide me, and help me even though I dont deserve him.