Family Pics

No, not from Christmas. From November but I've finally gotten around to posting them b/c I want to send some friends and family here to see them in my Christmas/New Year's notes I'm still determined to write. I've got at least 7 more days to celebrate the Octave of Christmas in the Church calendar, right?

Anyway, you can see we had a lot of fun getting these shots. The photographer has a real gift for actually enjoying the kiddos.

Celebrating the 10th Anniv. of RC SA on the Feast of OL of Guadalupe

Sat., Dec. 12, 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary of the physical home and sacred space of the SA RC Sections, Our Lady of the Hills Family Mission Center. Don't miss Mass with Fr. Thomas Salazar, LC at 9:30am on the 12th at OLH! Did I already mention it's also the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe? :)

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November Retreat Notes on the Holy Name

Fr. Thomas Salazar, LC gave us not just our meditation but also the talk at last month's retreat. His meditation was on "Evangelizing" and included basic elements of a missionary spirituality that should be the subject of a separate post later. His shorter talk related to the Lord's Prayer was taken from the phrase "Hallowed be thy name," the name of God, the holy name of Jesus. What follows are my notes:

1. A name gives intimacy. "Jesus" is the name we have for the Father incarnate on earth. His name inspires love and hatred. Not just atheists disrespect God's name. We also do so when we're not living as we should, as well as by not respecting his name in the usual ways.

Do I give honor to God's name? How?

2. We should have hope, confident trust in the name of Jesus. "Call out his name...[he'll] come running." Jesus' name is a prayer in itself.

3. Fr. read an extended quote from one of C.S. Lewis' Narnia chronicles: The Horse and His Boy. He challenged us, like the boy in the book, to learn to recognize Jesus' presence and to listen to all he wants to tells us about himself, myself, his name.

December's Monthly Retreat is less than a week away: Tues., Dec. 8 at 9:30am at OLH Family Center. That's also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. St. Bernadette, pray for us!

Meditation on Zacchaeus

This was our meditation for our Team Holy Hour in November. The text was the Gospel for that day, Luke 19: 1-10. Maybe you can use it for your personal daily meditation or your team can use it this month. Hope it serves as an aid to your prayer!


Text: Again, text was Luke 19:1-10.

Acts of faith, hope & love: Father, we believe in You and in your love. We hope in You and trust confidently in your promises. We love You and thank You for your great love that calls us to yourself, to your presence in the Eucharist, and to your Word that instructs our hearts.

Petition: Our petition is for that deeper conversion of heart that we need to be united w/ You always.

Fruit: We ask for the fruit that, by your grace, we have hearts like Zacchaeus- open to seeing You, quick to give to You, detached from all that crowds You out of our hearts and lives.

1) Zacchaeus.
The Gospel tell us he was the chief tax collector. So, not only was he a Jew working for the Romans, collecting from his own people & probably skimming off the top as was common, but he was even the head of the tax collectors w/ even more authority to lord over people and even more responsibility. How he must have needed to know You, your peace, your strength, Lord! At the same time, we see how unconditionally you love us all, Lord! From the greatest of sinners to the holiest of saints, to all those lukewarm in between. How much you love each of us.

Why does Luke tell us Zacchaeus was "short in stature?" Luke the physician naturally notices the physical details but he also notes it so that we can understand why Zacchaeus had climbed the tree.

2) The sycamore tree.
In the beginning, Zacchaeus only climbed up out of curiosity: he was "seeking to see who Jesus was." So, he climbed the tree for a better view. Even if he was not motivated by the slightest bit of faith, Zacchaeus was intellectually honest. He knew there was a reason to be curious about this man Jesus. And he didn't care what others thought about him, whether he made a spectacle of himself responding to that nudge of his intellect or conscience to figure out just a little more about You, Lord. Here Zacchaeus is an example for me to follow.

3) The Lord.
Then, You looked up at him, Jesus, and called him to yourself & gave him your very self all at the same time. That changed everything for him, Lord- one look, one call from You! How you speak with authority to our hearts b/c You are the Author of Love! I remember those moments in my life when you've done the same to me...as a young girl, when your call first penetrated my heart...all the love you've showered on me throughout my life- even in the midst of hard times, you've always been there w/ me, reminding me I'm never alone...and now as a married woman, You love me through my husband everyday in all the ways he provides for me and for our family, in all the ways he cares for me. Help me, Lord, to see your glances of love throughout my life now during this meditation and later throughout my day, when I'm tempted to feel alone or discouraged, when I'm tempted to feel overwhelmed.

4) Myself.
Above all, Lord, help me to respond to your calls like Zacchaeus did to the one call that changed his life! Help me to give back to You w/out counting the cost, to journey forward with You w/out looking back. Like You tell us: the one who looks back, who takes her hand off the plow, isn't worthy of the mission b/c the mission requires all our heart, mind, and soul. To plant lasting seeds for You- deeply, in straight rows, in well-prepared & well cared for soil- is an awesome call. It is the call of an apostle, the call of all your baptized daughters and sons.

I believe in that call and want to answer it for You, with You, Lord. Show me how I can give you my whole heart and my whole self, like Zacchaeus, Lord. Show me.