Susanne Timpani's Blog, page 4
December 25, 2016
Advent / Christmas 30 Day Retreat: Day 29
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Malcolm Davies
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ (Matthew 2:3-6)
Herod, and those who support him, are disturbed because they do not understand this baby Jesus. Herod can only understand the great events in terms of his own particular power and prestige and how that is threatened.
Jesus came to us so we could experience the fullness of life and Herod can be seen to represent all the powers of evil that would keep us from that life that God wants for us.
Jesus is not born in Rome, Athens or Jerusalem or any of the great cities of the Roman Empire, but in Bethlehem. Bethlehem means the ‘house of bread’ and Jesus himself is to be the bread of life who will feed us and therefore for us to experience eternal life through him.
The powers of evil are always seeking to attack and control the weak both in the spiritual and natural world we live in.
As disciples we can experience the protection of God and the fullness of life by putting Jesus first in our life. We do not have to be the wisest or richest people but we can be the greatest disciples when we seek to love Jesus in every part of our life.
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ (Matthew 2:3-6)
Herod, and those who support him, are disturbed because they do not understand this baby Jesus. Herod can only understand the great events in terms of his own particular power and prestige and how that is threatened.
Jesus came to us so we could experience the fullness of life and Herod can be seen to represent all the powers of evil that would keep us from that life that God wants for us.
Jesus is not born in Rome, Athens or Jerusalem or any of the great cities of the Roman Empire, but in Bethlehem. Bethlehem means the ‘house of bread’ and Jesus himself is to be the bread of life who will feed us and therefore for us to experience eternal life through him.
The powers of evil are always seeking to attack and control the weak both in the spiritual and natural world we live in.
As disciples we can experience the protection of God and the fullness of life by putting Jesus first in our life. We do not have to be the wisest or richest people but we can be the greatest disciples when we seek to love Jesus in every part of our life.
December 24, 2016
Advent / Christmas 30 Day Retreat: Day 28
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Malcolm DaviesChristmas Blessing to all readers of this Blog - and thank you for the gift of your support.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
We three kings of Orient areBearing gifts we travel afar:
The three Kings (or Magi) were royal priests who studied the stars and came from the area of modern Iran. Each of them brought a gift with a deep spiritual meaning.
Gold for the King of Kings, who has become one with us poor human beings.
Frankincense for Jesus, the Priest who will bring us back into full communion with God.
Myrrh an embalming oil, a symbol of the awful death that the innocent Jesus will endure for us to show how much God is prepared to suffer for us.
God has shown to be a God of surprises in the story of Christmas. God does not come to us in power and might but as a little baby. God does not appear in a palace but in a lowly stable. God does not appear to Kings or religious leaders but to a humble father and mother on the edge of the Roman empire.
The first to see him are lowly shepherds and then the Magi who are from a faraway place and not of the Jewish religion.
Allow the God of surprises into a new way into your heart this precious Christmas day.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
We three kings of Orient areBearing gifts we travel afar:
The three Kings (or Magi) were royal priests who studied the stars and came from the area of modern Iran. Each of them brought a gift with a deep spiritual meaning.
Gold for the King of Kings, who has become one with us poor human beings.
Frankincense for Jesus, the Priest who will bring us back into full communion with God.
Myrrh an embalming oil, a symbol of the awful death that the innocent Jesus will endure for us to show how much God is prepared to suffer for us.
God has shown to be a God of surprises in the story of Christmas. God does not come to us in power and might but as a little baby. God does not appear in a palace but in a lowly stable. God does not appear to Kings or religious leaders but to a humble father and mother on the edge of the Roman empire.
The first to see him are lowly shepherds and then the Magi who are from a faraway place and not of the Jewish religion.
Allow the God of surprises into a new way into your heart this precious Christmas day.
December 23, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Day 27
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.Sourced by Susanne Timpani
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:16-18
The Joy of Christmas"The joy of Christmas is contagious—but not primarily because of our gifts of dolls and trucks, bikes and pretty dresses, sweaters and ties…
The joy of Christmas is contagious because of the spirit behind the gifts. The glory of Christmas is that a gracious God became one of us to tell us that He loves us. And, in his or her Christmas giving, the genuine believer symbolizes his or her inner desire to spread this Good News.
Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation! We rejoice! The eternal God comes into the flesh and blood of humanity. Christmas cards portray the little Babe, the Manger, the Magi, the shepherds. Little children learn that today is Jesus’ birthday. But these pieces of the story only touch the edge of the mysterious event which brings us together.
The Good News is that the God of Mercy has come into the history of humanity to bring us perfect peace. For the peace of mind and heart and soul that the world cannot give, follow Jesus. And when you follow Jesus, do not be surprised to see others following you. After all, the spirit of Christmas is contagious."
Sunday Sermons, the Millennium Edition, CD-ROM Collection, Voicing Publications(Christmas Day, cycle A)
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:16-18
The Joy of Christmas"The joy of Christmas is contagious—but not primarily because of our gifts of dolls and trucks, bikes and pretty dresses, sweaters and ties…
The joy of Christmas is contagious because of the spirit behind the gifts. The glory of Christmas is that a gracious God became one of us to tell us that He loves us. And, in his or her Christmas giving, the genuine believer symbolizes his or her inner desire to spread this Good News.
Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation! We rejoice! The eternal God comes into the flesh and blood of humanity. Christmas cards portray the little Babe, the Manger, the Magi, the shepherds. Little children learn that today is Jesus’ birthday. But these pieces of the story only touch the edge of the mysterious event which brings us together.
The Good News is that the God of Mercy has come into the history of humanity to bring us perfect peace. For the peace of mind and heart and soul that the world cannot give, follow Jesus. And when you follow Jesus, do not be surprised to see others following you. After all, the spirit of Christmas is contagious."
Sunday Sermons, the Millennium Edition, CD-ROM Collection, Voicing Publications(Christmas Day, cycle A)
December 22, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 3 Day 26
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani
Take Time to be Aware
Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 196
Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehem's of our homes and daily lives.
Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.
An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’
The supreme trick of Old Scratch is to have us so busy decorating, preparing food, practicing music and cleaning in preparation for the feast of Christmas that we actually miss the coming of Christ.
Hurt feelings, anger, impatience, injured egos—the list of clouds that busyness creates to blind us to the birth can be long, but it is familiar to us all.
Take Time to be Aware
Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 196
Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehem's of our homes and daily lives.
Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.
An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’
The supreme trick of Old Scratch is to have us so busy decorating, preparing food, practicing music and cleaning in preparation for the feast of Christmas that we actually miss the coming of Christ.
Hurt feelings, anger, impatience, injured egos—the list of clouds that busyness creates to blind us to the birth can be long, but it is familiar to us all.
December 21, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 3 Day 25
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.Prepared by Susanne TimpaniReflection by: Ray Pritchard
If there is a single word that describes what Christmas is all about, it’s the little word “joy.” Several of our favorite carols mention it:
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” "O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” “Shepherds, why this jubilee, why your joyous strains prolong?” “Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice,”“Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies, with th’ angelic host proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem."
I wonder how many of us felt joyful this morning? Part of our problem is that we’ve got the wrong idea about joy. We tend to connect it with happiness and think that joy depends on our circumstances. You can’t have joy by going from one party to another or frantically racing through the shopping mall. In fact, going to the mall this time of year is an excellent way to lose your joy.
Where does Christmas joy come from? Reflect on the words of Luke 2:8-10 to discover the answer:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Here’s a quote from Dean Willimon that seems to put this passage in perspective: “Christmas is a delightful disruption of the way things normally go.”
I like that phrase “delightful disruption” because it catches the spirit of Luke 2. One moment you’re tending the sheep in the middle of the night, the next you’re being scared out of your wits by an angelic choir. I don’t know how delightful that is, but it’s definitely a disruption.
The angel comes with “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” What is this “good news of great joy?” Verse 11 has the answer.
'to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord.'
If you are looking for Christmas joy, I suggest that you can find all you need in this single verse.
If there is a single word that describes what Christmas is all about, it’s the little word “joy.” Several of our favorite carols mention it:
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” "O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” “Shepherds, why this jubilee, why your joyous strains prolong?” “Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice,”“Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies, with th’ angelic host proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem."
I wonder how many of us felt joyful this morning? Part of our problem is that we’ve got the wrong idea about joy. We tend to connect it with happiness and think that joy depends on our circumstances. You can’t have joy by going from one party to another or frantically racing through the shopping mall. In fact, going to the mall this time of year is an excellent way to lose your joy.
Where does Christmas joy come from? Reflect on the words of Luke 2:8-10 to discover the answer:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Here’s a quote from Dean Willimon that seems to put this passage in perspective: “Christmas is a delightful disruption of the way things normally go.”
I like that phrase “delightful disruption” because it catches the spirit of Luke 2. One moment you’re tending the sheep in the middle of the night, the next you’re being scared out of your wits by an angelic choir. I don’t know how delightful that is, but it’s definitely a disruption.
The angel comes with “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” What is this “good news of great joy?” Verse 11 has the answer.
'to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord.'
If you are looking for Christmas joy, I suggest that you can find all you need in this single verse.
December 20, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 3 Day 24
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani
Hark! The herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!” (1739 Charles Wesley)
Is peace on earth even possible amidst the violence and grief our world suffers?'Peace on earth…' The opening verse of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' infers a link between peace on earth and Christmas.Christians use an old fashioned word for this devastation. Sin. In 1739, the song writer for this carol, Charles Wesley, summed up the connection between Christmas and peace. 'God and sinners reconciled.'We all add to the lack of peace and devastation in our world. We all qualify for the best Christmas present of all. The gift of forgiveness, and the return of peace. Wesley writes that everyone is entitled to this free gift.'Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.'
If we are struggling with a lack of peace in our lives we can use this time to sit in God's presence and experience His precious gift.
Hark! The herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!” (1739 Charles Wesley)
Is peace on earth even possible amidst the violence and grief our world suffers?'Peace on earth…' The opening verse of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' infers a link between peace on earth and Christmas.Christians use an old fashioned word for this devastation. Sin. In 1739, the song writer for this carol, Charles Wesley, summed up the connection between Christmas and peace. 'God and sinners reconciled.'We all add to the lack of peace and devastation in our world. We all qualify for the best Christmas present of all. The gift of forgiveness, and the return of peace. Wesley writes that everyone is entitled to this free gift.'Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.'
If we are struggling with a lack of peace in our lives we can use this time to sit in God's presence and experience His precious gift.
December 19, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 4 Day 23
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23
'There is much more in this chapter than the crude fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin mother. The essence of Matthew's story is that in the birth of Jesus the Spirit of God was operative as never before in this world.
It is the Spirit who brings God's truth to men; it is the Spirit who enables men to recognize that truth when they see it; it is the Spirit who was God's agent in the creation of the world; it is the Spirit who alone can re-create the human soul when it has lost the life it ought to have.
Jesus enables us to see what God is and what man ought to be; Jesus opens the eyes of our minds so that we can see the truth of God for us; Jesus is the creating power come amongst men; Jesus is the re-creating power which can release the souls of men from the death of sin.' (William Barclay)
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23
'There is much more in this chapter than the crude fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin mother. The essence of Matthew's story is that in the birth of Jesus the Spirit of God was operative as never before in this world.
It is the Spirit who brings God's truth to men; it is the Spirit who enables men to recognize that truth when they see it; it is the Spirit who was God's agent in the creation of the world; it is the Spirit who alone can re-create the human soul when it has lost the life it ought to have.
Jesus enables us to see what God is and what man ought to be; Jesus opens the eyes of our minds so that we can see the truth of God for us; Jesus is the creating power come amongst men; Jesus is the re-creating power which can release the souls of men from the death of sin.' (William Barclay)
December 18, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 4 Day 22
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20
When I was 21, I joined a Diocesan youth group, ‘Christ Encounter Renewal’. The long name destined the group to become known as C.E.R. While abbreviations and acronyms are practical, they can also reduce the power of identity. Rather like removing ‘Christ’ from ‘Christmas’, or changing St. Vincent de Paul to Vinnies, to the uninformed they provide little insight into the origins of the tradition or group.
The group formed when young people from parishes across Adelaide experienced an encounter with Christ. It was a spectacular moment of grace and two generations later the fruits can be seen in our families, parishes and diocesan ministries.
We were like the shepherds returning to their flocks. How is it possible to continue on with life as if nothing happened? Yet unlike believers in other gospel stories, the shepherds didn’t leave everything behind in order to follow God.
Not all of us are called to leave the ordinariness of daily life to follow Christ. Yet like the shepherds, all of us are called to ‘return glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.’
The invitation to encounter Jesus stands today. The historical account of the first Christmas is undoubtedly spectacular. Even more spectacular is the fact that the invitation to encounter Jesus still stands today.
Let's use these last days of Advent to accept God’s invitation to experience, or deepen, our personal relationship with Jesus His Son.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20
When I was 21, I joined a Diocesan youth group, ‘Christ Encounter Renewal’. The long name destined the group to become known as C.E.R. While abbreviations and acronyms are practical, they can also reduce the power of identity. Rather like removing ‘Christ’ from ‘Christmas’, or changing St. Vincent de Paul to Vinnies, to the uninformed they provide little insight into the origins of the tradition or group.
The group formed when young people from parishes across Adelaide experienced an encounter with Christ. It was a spectacular moment of grace and two generations later the fruits can be seen in our families, parishes and diocesan ministries.
We were like the shepherds returning to their flocks. How is it possible to continue on with life as if nothing happened? Yet unlike believers in other gospel stories, the shepherds didn’t leave everything behind in order to follow God.
Not all of us are called to leave the ordinariness of daily life to follow Christ. Yet like the shepherds, all of us are called to ‘return glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.’
The invitation to encounter Jesus stands today. The historical account of the first Christmas is undoubtedly spectacular. Even more spectacular is the fact that the invitation to encounter Jesus still stands today.
Let's use these last days of Advent to accept God’s invitation to experience, or deepen, our personal relationship with Jesus His Son.
December 17, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 4 Day 21
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.
By Susanne Timpani
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Are you ready for Christmas?We light the last Advent candle today with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. In the past couple of days how many times have you been asked if you are all ready for Christmas yet? I was at the hairdresser yesterday and wondered how best to answer the question. It depends on what is meant by ‘all ready.’
What is on your 'To Do' list?I've had my hair cut now, so that's one item off the list. Last night we hosted our annual Carols by Candlelight in our home, so that's another event finished.
If you ask a child if they are all ready for Christmas the last thing that comes to their mind is the cooking, shopping, and sending mail – unless it’s a letter to Santa.
A whirlwind of events surrounded Jesus' birth.Today’s verse presents a role model of what it means to ‘be ready.’ Momentous events surrounded the birth of Jesus, but Mary chose not to be distracted by them, but to reflect on them.
Perhaps we can spend these last few days of Advent enjoying the ‘distractions’. When we set aside a few moments of quiet prayer we can receive the grace to do just that.
By Susanne Timpani
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Are you ready for Christmas?We light the last Advent candle today with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. In the past couple of days how many times have you been asked if you are all ready for Christmas yet? I was at the hairdresser yesterday and wondered how best to answer the question. It depends on what is meant by ‘all ready.’
What is on your 'To Do' list?I've had my hair cut now, so that's one item off the list. Last night we hosted our annual Carols by Candlelight in our home, so that's another event finished.
If you ask a child if they are all ready for Christmas the last thing that comes to their mind is the cooking, shopping, and sending mail – unless it’s a letter to Santa.
A whirlwind of events surrounded Jesus' birth.Today’s verse presents a role model of what it means to ‘be ready.’ Momentous events surrounded the birth of Jesus, but Mary chose not to be distracted by them, but to reflect on them.
Perhaps we can spend these last few days of Advent enjoying the ‘distractions’. When we set aside a few moments of quiet prayer we can receive the grace to do just that.
December 16, 2016
Advent 30 Day Retreat: Week 3 Day 20
Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-16
“Nativity” (1875), Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)
We have here an amazing and daring picture for the beginning of Jesus’ life amongst us. God does not come amongst the wealthy, educated or powerful but rather amongst the marginalised of society.
An unspiritual mind writing a story of God incarnate would surely have Jesus born in a palace, among nobility or even royalty. The birth would be spectacular and invite the respect of the rich and powerful throughout the world.
What might the Spirit be trying to say to us through the story of the birth of Jesus?
First of all God is to be found amongst the poor and powerless. Our God is prepared to undertake a rough and risky beginning.
Secondly, the story of the Incarnation and Birth has the capacity to awaken awe and mystery. It shows that God is willing to take a huge risk by being born and coming into the world in an unsafe, small town at the edge of civilisation.
The birth of Jesus hints of a new freedom, a freedom that we who idealise Jesus, Mary and Joseph do not always want. To experience freedom and the fullness of salvation means having to take a risk and trust in God.
In these final days of Advent let us remember that God, who is Lord of the Universe, has come among us as a child.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-16
“Nativity” (1875), Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)
We have here an amazing and daring picture for the beginning of Jesus’ life amongst us. God does not come amongst the wealthy, educated or powerful but rather amongst the marginalised of society.
An unspiritual mind writing a story of God incarnate would surely have Jesus born in a palace, among nobility or even royalty. The birth would be spectacular and invite the respect of the rich and powerful throughout the world.
What might the Spirit be trying to say to us through the story of the birth of Jesus?
First of all God is to be found amongst the poor and powerless. Our God is prepared to undertake a rough and risky beginning.
Secondly, the story of the Incarnation and Birth has the capacity to awaken awe and mystery. It shows that God is willing to take a huge risk by being born and coming into the world in an unsafe, small town at the edge of civilisation.
The birth of Jesus hints of a new freedom, a freedom that we who idealise Jesus, Mary and Joseph do not always want. To experience freedom and the fullness of salvation means having to take a risk and trust in God.
In these final days of Advent let us remember that God, who is Lord of the Universe, has come among us as a child.
