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Epiphany Sunday |  | |
As we celebrate Epiphany Sunday January 8th.Let us remember the significance of the Three Kings who came a great distance to give homage to the Christ Child
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JOIN US WITH OTHERS
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The Monastery Liturgical Calendar for January 2012 | 
Sunday Jan 01
Solemnity of Mary The Mother of God
Theotokos
Tuesday Jan 03
Most Holy Name of Jesus
Wednesday Jan 04
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Thursday Jan 05
St. John Neumann
Saturday Jan 07
In Honor of The Immaculate Heart of Mary
1st Saturday of the Month Devotion
First Saturday Mass to
remember all our benefactors,
friends and members intentions
Sunday Jan 08
Epiphany of The Lord
Feast of the Three Kings
Monday Jan 09
The Baptism of Our Lord
Thursday Jan 12
St. Bernard of
Corlleone
Tuesday Jan 17
St. Anthony
Saturday Jan 21
St. Agnes, Virgin
and Martyr
Monday Jan 23
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the
Unborn Children
Tuesday Jan 24
St. Francis de Sales
Wednesday Jan 25
The Conversion of
St. Paul
Saturday Jan 28
St.Thomas Aquinas
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| Wishing all many Blessings, good health and prosperity for the New Year ! |
Dear Friends In Christ:
Every man and woman should still seek the One the Magi sought and, like them, surrender all to Him. That is the path to true freedom.
The Three Kings of this Sunday's gospel narrative are men who are left unsatisfied by their possessions of wealth, fame and power, and search for the only one who can satisfy the deepest aspirations of the human heart. They longed to find the very meaning of their existence. Every human person will find meaning in life by being open to God. The Solemnity of the Epiphany is not only about three wise men that visited the manger. Instead, this Biblical event speaks to us about the plan of God for the entire human race. "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."
Let each of us find our meaning in life as we journey together to Christ. Like the Magi , they came searching for that King and we certainly continue the search in a world that has become soaked with secularism and apathy. Lord let us find you within our very hearts as we begin this new year.
The Monks of the Community of St. Benedict |
| Preparing Room/(c) 2012 Matt Oprendek | 
While we were out of town for Thanksgiving, some close friends were coming to stay in our New York City apartment since it would save them the cost of a hotel. I realized shortly before leaving town that there was absolutely no empty closet space in the apartment, so I quickly pulled some coats out of the hall closet and put them into another storage closet, where I could mash them together. As I looked at newly exposed 8 inches of closet pole in the hallway, I thought to myself, "Well, it's not much, but at least they have somewhere to put their hanging clothes and coats."
The image of making some room in my closet came to mind a few weeks later as we all joyfully sang at the top of our lungs, "Let every heart/prepare him room." Hmmmm. I wondered, "In what ways I was actually prepared to make some room for Jesus in my heart?" Are there some things in my heart and mind that maybe take up a lot of space? Perhaps the way I ruminate about how so-and-so didn't treat me well, or my ongoing obsession with feeling like everyone has to like me -- maybe these thoughts are taking up more room than they need to.
While my thoughts may have some healthy elements (the need to have meaningful boundaries, the need to get along with others), my thoughts, left unchecked, can also become a cancerous growth, threatening my spiritual and emotional health. "Preparing room" means shrinking those kinds of obsessions down to size and putting them in a more appropriate place. When I'm treated disrespectfully, I can acknowledge the painfulness of that experience AND at the same time, I can make room for Jesus in my heart by offering forgiveness, knowing that God will ultimately set things right. It's not up to me to fix or correct that person. When I move out the bitterness, that makes more room in my heart for the Spirit of God. When I find I'm worrying too much about other's opinions about me, I can make room in my heart by remembering that I am infinitely loved by my Creator and Redeemer, and nothing can separate me from that love. Instead of expecting others to love me at all times (or trying to get them to love me) in the way that only God can love me, I can make room for Jesus by letting go of those expectations.
Once I've made room for Christ to move in, I've seen how his blessings begin to flow into my life. I realize I am free to love others without expectations. I am less exhausted by my futile efforts to do what only God can do: redeem and transform. By loving others in this way (freely and without expectation), I allow Christ to rule in my heart, and my own joy with other people increases. It's like we all seem to enjoy the wonders of his love! All from just preparing some room in my heart for Jesus. Well, that seems like a new year's resolution worth keeping! Happy New Year!
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