By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Sister Stefanie’s Advent Scripture Study continues today. Read the readings and ponder them. Feel free to comment here, or – if you’d rather have a private conversation – email her at smacdonald@smmsisters.org. She’ll get back to you right away!

I love this line: A voice cries out in the desert: Prepare the way of the LORD! (Isaiah 40) Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

My  joy at seeing last weekend’s bright, sunny Saturday was dampened as I read the local newspaper’s huge headline:  “A shopper  comments on Black Friday, ‘THE HAPPIEST DAY IN MY LIFE!’”

The media repeats the shoppers’ mania: “ONLY 26 days left for Christmas shopping.” Continue Reading

Sister Anne Newcomer, OSB stocks peanut butter at a food pantry.

By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Sister Stefanie’s Advent Scripture Study begins today. Read the readings and ponder them. Feel free to comment here, or – if you’d rather have a private conversation – email her at smacdonald@smmsisters.org. She’ll get back to you right away!

Are we mindful of God??? This line from today’s first reading makes me wonder. Do we – do I – put God first? Or do we put our false idols first? Do we even know? Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

The meaning of the words in the title of this reflection, “Be Watchful,” fills my heart with caution and trepidation this season. I have a personal reason.

Recently having just returned from a walk with my sister, Audrey, who has Alzheimer’s, I turned away to hang up our coats. In the instant my back was turned, I heard screams and thump, thump, thump. Audrey had started down the stairs and fell, bouncing on three steps before we could rescue her.  Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

Buzz words about Advent pop into our minds when we reflect on the season.  “Prepare, Wait,  Be Ready, Stay Awake.”

As Matthew asserts, “You must be prepared for at an hour you do not expect, the son of Man will come.”

My reflections this season have focused on this. My own Sister sister, my sister-in-law, Sisters dear to me here in the monastery have all faced God in ways that I have not (yet).

How do we stay alert and awake for the Lord’s undeniable coming? Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

ADVENT 3rd Sunday, 2013: 1st reading Is 35:1-6a, 10; 2nd reading James 5:7-10; Gospel Mt 11:2-11

I was visiting my friend, a Benedictine Sister, who was being cared for on our Health Care Floor. Just the day before, she had tacked a note to our bulletin board telling us a Hospice nurse would be coming to the monastery to care for her.

While I had known she was seriously ill, she never indicated how bad it was and I did not ask.

The news caught me off guard.  Continue Reading

By Sister Stefanie MacDonald, OSB

Advent is a time of wonder. We hear in the readings about going from darkness into light. We hear about waiting in joyful hope. We hear about the coming of something new.

We also hear about how Christmas is starting earlier and earlier and how we are losing Advent. Bah. Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

ADVENT 2nd Sunday, 2013: 1st reading Is 11:1-10; 2nd reading Rom 15:4-9; Gospel Mt 3:1-12

John the Baptist makes striking appearance wearing camel’s hair, a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey.

But his words are more than striking. They are shocking: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare the way of the Lord. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire!

Again we hear what we heard last Sunday. BE PREPARED. Continue Reading

By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

ADVENT 1st Sunday, 2013: Ist Reading –Is. – 7:10-14; 2nd Reading – Rom 1:1-7; Gospel – Mt 1:18-24

Along with our wonderful health care nurses, I assist my younger sister, who has Alzheimer’s.

To me, Audrey is charming and precious and loving despite the ravishing diagnosis.

She is the personification of Emmanuel, “God with us.” Continue Reading

By Prioress Sister Sandra Brunenn, OSB

“Mary set out, traveled to the hill country … entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.”  So begins Sunday’s Gospel, the beautifully intimate encounter of these two women both holding within themselves fulfillment of longing and promise of blessing.

The fulfillment? For Elizabeth, an old barren woman, is finally with child. For Mary carries within her womb the fulfillment of ages of longing of the Jewish people.

And the Promise! Elizabeth, will bear John who will be great in the sight of the Lord. Mary will bear Jesus, who will be called the Prince of Peace! Continue Reading