Easter: Alleluia, Alleluia!

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Now, what?*

* I've started a Pinterest board to help me explore this question.

Classy Magi

In addition to baby gifts, 

the Magi decided to bring 

a little something for Mary and Joseph.

Schlep of the Magi Begins Again (2011)

The Magi begin their journey

by lining up votes for gift options.

Already, someone is not Winning.

1st Sunday in Advent (2011)

Psst . . . Miriam . . .

Prepared for Advent?

Haven't seen my Magi since before my wedding on November 5. I'm verklempt about finding Sarum blue candles for my advent wreath at this late date.

Autumnal decor must be loaded back into their bins and Advent decor brought out. (Of course I have Advent-specific decor and Advent-specific music and Advent-specific books!) I'm coming down the homestretch of writing a book and just agreed to a December 9 deadline for three chapters of the next. These are, by the way, all very high class problems and I'm grateful to have them.

I was making myself crazy(er) by thinking about how totally unprepared I am for Advent until I had this mini-revelation: Advent is all about preparation...watchful waiting...being open to wondrous mystery which cannot be planned in advance.

This is me, smacking the heel of my hand upside my own forehead. Turns out I really am prepared for Advent. Superbly prepared. How about you?

Pentecost 2011

I'm ready already, 

how about you?

Anticipating Easter

Over at dotMagis (the blog of Ignatian Spirituality), I have a few choice words to say about not liking Lent. My angst is offset by seeing the promise of resurrection fulfilled in what's happening up the block from my apartment.

Image of Peace Cross Memorial in Baltimore, Maryland: Dan Webster

And I'd Like to Thank the Liturgical Calendar . . .

For this (sort-of) harmonic convergence 

on (Ash) Wednesday, March 9, 2011:

and

My Christmas Cactus...in March!

My Christmas Cactus 
blooms in time for Lent.

Is anyone surprised?

Matthew 5: 13-16...Short Version

&

The Magi Arrive! (2011)

The Magi didn't expect the Holy Family to be
so much larger than life. Quite the Epiphany!
And the trip was such a schlep,
they decided to head home another way.

My Homage to Alfred Hitchcock (Nativity Version)

In this performance,

the role of The Blessed Virgin Mother

is played by

Miss Tippi Hedren

No animals were harmed during this photo shoot. Alas, Baby Jesus isn't doing well.

Magi Getting Closer

The Magi felt quite welcomed. . .

at the wrong manger.

Approaching the 4th Sunday of Advent . . .

Two Magi

listened to the Holy Spirit.

One, sidetracked by a caterpillar,*

swiftly experienced consequences.

*For those who need help with this literary reference, click here. And yes, this will be on the Final.

Gaudete Sunday (Advent 2010)

It's the 3rd week of Advent
and the Magi finally have a clue.

Schlep of the Magi Begins Again (2010)

The Magi begin their journey

with a lively round of paper, scissors, rock

to determine who will take the lead.

Some-Not-All About Me Announcements!

Much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. If you read this blog, you can probably recite my gratitude list which, in alpha order, begins with Almighty God. Baltimore comes next, along with the Brendae. (I now have two fabulous gal pals named Brenda.)Baltimore double dips as Charm City because it is all that for realz, hon.

No, I won't drag you through my gratitude list, but will mention that the Virtual Abbey (@Virtual_Abbey) has captured the "V" spot as a segue to these announcements for the season we now enter.

* Please visit The Virtual Abbey blog and check out our Thanksgiving Day post, wherein we offer links to hunger-relief charitable organizations. While you're at it, clicking on this badge will lead you to where you can make help make a difference:

* No News (for some people) Announcement: The liturgical season of Advent begins this Sunday. I'll finish Striking the Set of Ordinary Time on Saturday and invite you to: 1) do the same; and 2) resist all secular temptation to start with the Christmas stuff before Christmas Vigil.

If you have a Twitter account, I invite you to add the #Advent2010 twibbon to your avatar and keep it there until December 24. Designed by yours truly, the twibbon features a violet ribbon plus a pink star to represent the 3rd Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday).

* Shameless Self-Promotion: At a loss as to what to do for Advent beyond lighting special candles in a special wreath and marching your Magi toward the manger? If so (and even if not), please help me march toward earning royalties by ordering The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days, and Every Day (Doubleday). Despite the title, the tips in this book will help anyone in a "high" church tradition celebrate the liturgical year.

Not quite ready for 5771

"Holy crap!" is probably not the expression such news should prompt, but that's what zipped through my head and out of my mouth when I discovered how early Rosh Hashanah would be this year.

The Jewish new year, 5771, begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 8. I am so not ready for this, a sentiment that's guaranteed to generate predictable comments like, "What do you care, aren't you Roman Catholic now?"

These types of remarks used to cheese me off and still do, except I've learned to use them as opportunities to flog my book, Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar: Jewish Roots of Christian Worship...kind of like I just did.

I've also started suggesting a visit to Jewcy: What Matter Now might be instructive. A tour through that fabulous site reveals variations of self-definition among contemporary Jews. After decades of inter-everything marriage, it's looking to me like self-definition trumps the rulebook written during antiquity. Not to mention that identity and faith and religion do not necessarily overlap; certainly not neatly.

In fact, I do care that Rosh Hashanah is sooner rather than later. It doesn't matter how long I've been baptized or in what Christian church I hold open my hands and lift them to receive the host, the rhythm of the Jewish liturgical calendar still has the power to shape my daily life.

During the High Holy Days I'm invited to contemplate the year just finished and how I might discover and live according to God's will in the year ahead. Not sure I'm ready, willing or able to do this in a few short weeks. And of course I'll contemplate all this yet again when the Christian liturgical year begins at Advent ─ which also seems to be arriving very early this year.

On Trinity Sunday, once again...

Please remember this:

So that we may become more like this:

And by the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
be united in our faith to realize this:

When Liturgical Calendars Sort of Collide: The 6-7 of Sivan 5770 & May 22-23, 2010

Images: Shavuot by Moskowitz: Mexican icon