Here, I thought the responsorial psalm was going to be about me…give thanks to the Lord on the harp, with the ten-stringed lyre change His praise. Sing to Him a new song. Hey, I’ve written music. I play the Organ and Piano at Church. I even have a Harp and a Harpsichord as stops on my organ. Pluck the strings…and there it is doggonit, skillfully. Hopefully, Fr. Siefert doesn’t see this today.
If I haven’t stated this before, I love my kids dearly. I hope they have the same respect for me as I have for them. My kids had to grow up with a pretty strong “constitution” because of my sense of humor and sometimes snide remarks as my wife refers to my comments. Last night was a great example. Teresa had a basketball game last night, after a week without playing competitive games due to finals. Both teams came out ready to play, but Teresa got into immediate foul trouble with two quick fouls. I looked around the stands to see if her boyfriend was there. I then began to think that maybe the record was going to fall tonight. As the half ended, she had 5 points and 4 fouls. The record remained in tact. I then thought we won’t see her until midway through the 4th quarter with 4 fouls, but when the 3rd quarter started, there she was, on the court and playing – even for just a brief period time. Not two minutes into the 3rd quarter, she picked up her 5th foul and was sent to the end of the bench. Again, I looked around for the boyfriend but didn’t see him. And again, my oldest daughter rested peacefully knowing her record still stands. If you’re curious as to what record I’m referring to, my eldest child Grace invited her boyfriend to her basketball game when she was at Gateway Academy. Grace was named after her mother, who at times was not the most “graceful” of people, tripping up stairs and down stairs – I digress. High School basketball plays an 8 minute quarter. Grace tried so hard to impress her boyfriend that night that 30 seconds into the first quarter, she had her 1st foul. 20 seconds later, her second. Coach Danzo pulled her from the game to try and settle her down a bit but put her back in with about 3 minutes to go in the first quarter. Long story short, Grace did not make it to the end of the half before fouling out. Matter of fact – she didn’t make it to the end of the 1st quarter before fouling out. That is the record we refer to. Fastest to foul out of a high school basketball game. It has held up for all these years and last night, although a valiant effort was put forth by Teresa, the record still stands.
So what does this have to with Advent and preparing for the coming of Christ? Absolutely nothing, but it allows me to share memories of my children. If you would like a tie into Today’s Readings, I see myself as that stag that springing across the mountains, leaping over the hills coming home to a family that I love so dearly. They are the reason I work so hard; they fulfill my purpose in life. And I have God to thank for all of that.
Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
Do something great for our Lord today. Relive some fun memories with your children, friends, family. There is no better day than today to do this because tomorrow may never come.
God’s will, not mine, be done.
Be not afraid; just have faith.
Jesus, I trust in You.
He must increase; I must decrease.
But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 