Catholic Life Ministries

By Robert Fontana

Last year we suggested that in observance of the Feast of the Presentation (February 2), the day we remember that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God in the temple, we too should present our children to God at Sunday worship. 

Let’s do this with our kids and grandkids.  Let’s have a grand procession into the church with all the children of the Church. Let them march in with balloons, streamers, and banners while playing horns, beating drums, and banging tambourines to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” as did King David who entered Jerusalem in festive dance! Let the entire Mass be filled with exuberant joy as we present our children to God, the children who are not simply the future Church, but the Church now! Even as young ones, they are discovering how much they are loved by God and how much God wants to use them to bring God’s love to the world of their daily lives.

I wrote the Archbishop of Seattle in November suggesting that he encourage the pastors in the archdiocese to observe “Present the Children to God Sunday.”  I have not yet heard back from him. Lori and I proposed this to our pastor, and he said, “Go for it!” Here’s the tentative plan.

Essay/poetry contest— In order to build some interest in this day among the young, we are going to host an essay/poetry contest with prize money. Topic: Care for the Earth (in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si – see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOgF2Kgel6k for a 4-minute video for children.) Write a poem or a 100-word essay on what it means for you to “care for the earth” during this time of climate crisis.

First place: $25   Second Place: $15   Third place: $10

We are opening up this contest to our young readers. Scan and email your essay or poem – one entry per person – to  Robert@catholiclifeministries.org. We will select winners for the following age groups: High School (9^th – 12^th grade); Middle School (6^th – 8^th grade); Primary School (Kinder – 5^th grade).  Please be sure to write the author’s name, grade level, and phone or email on the entry. Winners will receive a check in the mail!

Liturgy for Present the Children to God Sunday

¨ Children with banners and streamers process in at the beginning of Mass behind the Word of God. The choir sings “O When the Saints Come Marching In.” If possible, a trumpet player will lead the procession.

¨ With the opening prayer, the presider prays a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of the children of the Church.

¨ Children who have been prepared serve as lectors and read the Scripture readings.

¨ The presider invites the children with the winning essays or poems to read them during the homily.

¨ Children who have been prepared lead the prayers of the faithful.

¨ During the Preparation of Gifts, children are invited to bring a dollar for the Children’s basket on the altar or a canned food item for St. Vincent de Paul.

¨ All the children present are invited around the altar as the presider begins the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The children are asked to return to their seats following the Our Father.

¨ As part of the final blessing, the presider invites the children to come forward as he gives each one a holy card from the parish (see below), commemorating the day and containing a short prayer the children are invited to pray daily.

¨ Cake and refreshments await the children and their families in the parish hall.

By Robert Fontana

I love you, O beautiful tree of Christmas. You enrich my life and the lives of all who gaze upon you in wonder and delight.

Your coming was awaited with childlike anticipation. And when you arrived, the busyness of the house stopped so all could welcome you. Treats were shared and wine was poured as you took your place in the corner of the family room, an honored guest.

You are lovely in your simplicity. Still, we dressed you with a string of lights that glow like fireflies in the night. Then your magic began, for it seems you are some sort of mystical portal to the past. I can see my father toasting his sons with a glass of Mogan and David and my mother, cigarette dangling from her mouth, laying tinsel strand by strand on the Christmas tree of my childhood.

Other memories emerge as we grace your branches with ornaments, some homemade, some gifted, some in honor of the holy event we commemorate, and some as playful as a toy plane, a doll, or an elf from Santa’s workshop. With each adornment, stories are shared. With each sharing, new images from the past flow around us: cousin Wade running in from the outside delirious with joy; my brothers in their red Boys Choir blazers preparing for midnight Mass; and friends gathered around the piano to sing “Sister Mary Had a-But One Child” to Mom’s accompaniment.

O Christmas Tree, I see in you all the Christmas trees of my past, from the great pine my brother John and I cut down and dragged into the family living room, to the silver one that shone brightly at Grandma’s house, to the very first tree of our marriage, a “tree” that Lori and I created from cast-off boughs collected at the Christmas tree lot because we could not afford even the $10 for the smallest tree.

We have gathered our children around you, and now our grandchildren, all in memory of the God of love who sent us Jesus to teach us how to love. You, O Christmas Tree, have been a sacrament of this season, a source of beauty and unity of past and present. And like the Christ-child who will give his life for all of creation, you give your life so that we may celebrate these days in the grace of your presence.

I do love you, O Christmas Tree, and I thank you!

By Robert Fontana

The Christmas homily ought to be short!  The meaning of the day is made abundantly clear in the carols sung, the readings proclaimed, the liturgy prayed, and the festivities in the home. The homilist need only add an exclamation point to what the Christmas liturgy shouts out with joy! Here’s my Five-Minute Christmas Homily for 2022.

Rob     Church, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us! When I say, “Jesus is Emmanuel,” please shout back to me, “God with us.” Let’s practice. JESUS IS EMMANUEL!

All       GOD WITH US!

Rob     God became a human being! God was born from the womb of Mary. The baby Jesus needed his diaper changed, needed to nurse in the middle of the night, had to be swaddled when he was cold and carried up and down the stable and sung to when he wouldn’t fall asleep. This little baby Jesus is Emmanuel.

All       GOD WITH US!

Rob     The child Jesus did not come just to get us to heaven. The child Jesus came to help us have the courage to fully live our lives on earth and to dare to do on earth what is done in heaven. 

Isn’t that what we pray in The Our Father: “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”  And what exactly is done in heaven? Love! Absolute love of God and of one another. Christmas invites us to love God by loving one another, and the earth itself. Jesus is Emmanuel.

All       GOD WITH US!

Rob     We are not talking about the sentimental love of a Hallmark Christmas movie, where every ending is happy and filled with holiday cheer. No, we are talking about the demanding love of the Gospels, a love that will sacrifice so that others may live, in good times and bad, in sickness and health, in war and in peace. We know what this love looks like: spouses being faithful to one another; foster parents taking in yet another child; elders caring for one another in sickness; citizens advocating for the rights of the unborn, women, and workers; compassionate citizens housing migrants and refugees; and corporate leaders adjusting their business models to help save the earth from the effects of climate change. Jesus is Emmanuel.

All       GOD WITH US!

Rob     My prayer for all of us this Christmas is for wisdom and courage: the wisdom to figure out how to fully love within the complex and challenging circumstances of life, and the courage to do so. This might mean: simply doing what you are doing at work and home more intentionally for the love of God; sharing possessions and financial resources with persons materially poor; repairing fractured relationships with a spouse or other family members; admitting an addiction to alcohol, pornography, drugs, gambling, shopping, etc., and getting the help needed for sobriety and healthy living. I hope for all of us it will mean avoiding political extremes and working hard to protect our democracy. 

Whatever it is you need to do to live out the call to love more wisely and courageously within the circumstances of your life, remember, you and I are not alone. We can draw our strength and inspiration from Jesus, Emmanuel.

All       GOD WITH US!

Rob     A blessed and holy Christmas. God bless us everyone!

By Robert Fontana

Because of God there is the Great Beginning, the emerging universe with its unimaginable energy bursting into time and space.

Because of the Great Beginning and emerging universe there is the formation of fiery stars with their immense power and potency.

Because of the great stars there came to be thousands upon thousands of galaxies, and our unique galaxy called the Milky Way.

Because of the Milky Way Galaxy and its complex evolution, the sun is born and with it the planets that orbit it including Earth with all its creative power and vitality.

Because of Earth there is the evolution of life through nature from the earliest microbes through the dinosaurs to our world of plants and animals.

Because of nature there are humans, women and men, from all corners of the earth, from countless tribes of people.

And because of the one tribe of Judah there is born to Mary of Nazareth the child Jesus called Emmanuel, God with us.

By Robert Fontana

Because of God there is the Great Beginning, the emerging universe with its unimaginable energy bursting into time and space.

Because of the Great Beginning and emerging universe there is the formation of fiery stars with their immense power and potency.

Because of the great stars there came to be thousands upon thousands of galaxies, and our unique galaxy called the Milky Way.

Because of the Milky Way Galaxy and its complex evolution, the sun is born and with it the planets that orbit it including Earth with all its creative power and vitality.

Because of Earth there is the evolution of life through nature from the earliest microbes through the dinosaurs to our world of plants and animals.

Because of nature there are humans, women and men, from all corners of the earth, from countless tribes of people.

And because of the one tribe of Judah there is born to Mary of Nazareth the child Jesus called Emmanuel, God with us.

By Robert Fontana

December 6  is the Feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey). He had a reputation for secretly giving gifts to people in need, which led to the rise among pious Christians of the figure of Santa Claus (Sinterklaas (Dutch: [ˌsɪntərˈklaːs]) or Sint-Nicolaas – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas).

Lori and I decided when our children were small to make the Feast of St. Nicholas a special day for them so that they would understand the Christian figure behind the Santa Claus story. We are continuing that custom with the grandchildren. On St. Nicholas Day morning, they will be opening their Christmas stockings, each containing a book, a candy treat, and an orange. For the grands who live above us, we’ll have breakfast together with an ice cream pie as the main dish!

Here’s a reflection on the difference between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, followed by a prayer service that families (with or without children) or friends can do to honor St. Nicholas, disciple of Jesus, and friend of the poor.

• Santa wants your credit card; Nicholas wants your heart.
• Santa will turn you into a consumer; Nicholas will help you be a servant.
• Santa is a whimsical tale of a fat old elf who gives toys to boys and girls who have been good; St. Nicholas helped children escape from poverty and slavery.
• Santa reminds us to give presents; Nicholas reminds us to give ourselves.
• Santa is controlled by the department store; Nicholas was led by the Spirit.
• Santa is a man dressed in a costume; Nicholas was a Bishop who cared for his people.
• Santa reminds us to follow the Christmas sales; Nicholas reminds us to follow Jesus.
• Santa promises us happiness through gift-giving; Nicholas reminds us that happiness is the fruit of a faithful life.
• Santa is a fun story to read to children at Christmas Eve; Nicholas was a man of great compassion who sold his possessions and gave the money to the poor so that he could do God’s will in perfect freedom.
• Santa has nothing to do with Jesus the God-Man whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day. Nicholas’ life only makes sense because of his love and commitment to Jesus the God-Man whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day.

A Prayer Service for the Feast of St. Nicholas, Adapted by Robert Fontana from a prayer service by Thomas G. Simons from the St. Nicholas Center.

Call To Worship

Leader: Praise God for St. Nicholas!

Children:  Yea St. Nicholas!

Leader: The Spirit of the Lord was upon him.

Children: Yea St. Nicholas!

Leader: Loving God, St. Nicholas loved Jesus, and because he loved Jesus he loved children and the poor.  We honor his memory today and in doing so hope to imitate his kindness and love.

Children:  St. Nicholas, pray for us. Amen!

Word Service – 1 Peter 5.1–4

The following summary of the life of St. Nicholas may be read and discussed.

St. Nicholas was born to Christian parents.  Legends recount the story of Nicholas’ baptism when his parents brought him to the sacred fount; he leapt from his mother’s arms into the Baptismal waters.  After the death of his parents, he gave away his inheritance to the poor of Myra, and dedicated himself to serve his people first as a priest and later as a bishop.

Bishop Nicholas preached the Gospel in a Roman culture still dominated by Greek and Roman religious customs and moral behavior.  He organized Churched, taught the Catholic faith, and invited non-Christians to join the community of faith.  He is most remembered as a helper to the poor and to children.   Once Bishop Nicholas heard that a father was struggling to feed his three daughters.  He did not have the money for a marriage dowry, and was considering selling them off into slavery so they would at least have something to eat.   On three occasions, Bishop Nicholas threw a bag of gold through the window into the room of the sleeping father. His daughters soon were married. Later the father came to Nicholas, fell at his feet and said, “Nicholas, you are my helper.”

This story and his many other works of charity led to the tradition of giving presents on the Feast of St. Nicholas and at Christmas. The name Santa Claus, in fact, evolved from his name.

Bishop Nicholas proclaimed the Gospel, baptized new Christians, feed the hungry and poor, and taught the truths of Christianity.   He died at Myra in 350 A.D. His popularity, already great, increased when his bones were brought to Italy in 1087. Both the Eastern and Western churches honor him. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia, Greece, and Sicily.  He is regarded as the special patron of children. His feast is December 6.

Intercessions

Reader: For the gift of each person here.

All: We give thanks.

Reader: For the many material blessings that we have received and can share with those in need.

All: We give thanks.

Reader: For a holiday season of joy, hope, and peace.

All: We give thanks.

Blessing Prayer

Leader: Gracious and good Lord, we bless you on this feast of St. Nicholas, your servant, who is an example to us of a life of charity and love.

All: Help us to imitate his good deeds.

Leader: Make us always mindful of the needs of others and help us rejoice in the abundance of your goodness around us. We ask this through Jesus our Lord.

All: Amen.

Our Father…

Share a special treat or exchange small gifts, if desired.

By Lori Fontana

On Saturday, November 26th, CLM partnered with the Care for Mother Earth Social Justice Committee of Assumption Parish, north Seattle, to help families prepare for Advent.

Over 30 people attended – children, parents, and grandparents – to learn about the INCARNATION of Jesus, who came to earth to be with us and all of God’s creation.

Through prayer, skits, songs, and crafts, we helped each other enter into the Advent  season with a plan for prayer and action.

We watched a children’s video which explains Pope Francis’s letter on the care for creation, Laudato Si. (seehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIVuISZGdug) Remember, the Incarnation of Jesus is not simply about His saving humans for heaven.  Jesus came to teach us how to bring heaven to earth by loving one another and that love includes the “birds of the air and the flowers of the field.” (Matthew 6:28)

Each family made an Advent wreath to use as a focus for their daily prayer. Also, each family made an Advent chain, to countdown the days until Christmas. On different links of the chain, they wrote what they will do to show care for each other and for God’s beautiful creation.

It was a lively, fun, and faith-filled time!

It’s not too late to make an advent plan for your family!

Advent Prayer with the Advent Wreath

[Materials Needed:  Prayer card; Advent wreath, 3 purple candles, 1 pink candle.]

 All     O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear.  Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

Leader        Come, O Lord, and set us free.                                All            Bring your people peace.

Candle of Promise (1^st Week of Advent):  I light the Candle of Promise because God made a covenant to our ancestors to save us from sin and evil, and give us peace.  This promise has been fulfilled in Jesus. (light 1 candle)

Candle of Hope (2^nd Week of Advent):  I light the Candle of Hope because God’s beloved son, Jesus, born at Bethlehem, gives us everlasting life. (light 2 candles)

Candle of Joy (3^rd  Week of Advent) I light the Candle of Joy because God’s beloved Son, Jesus, born of Mary, is our friend.  He is “Emmanuel,”  “God with us.”  (light pink candle, and 2 purple candles)

Candle of Love (4^th Sunday of Advent):  I light the Candle of Love because God so loved the world that He gave his only son, not to condemn the world, but to save it.  (light 4 candles)

By Lori Fontana

Every year about this time, I just want to burrow into my favorite cozy chair, wrapped in a fleece blanket, with a mug of cocoa and a good book. Mark Twain describes it well:

“Good friends, good books and a sleep conscience: this is the ideal life.”

But it’s also Advent-tide, one of my favorite seasons of the liturgical year. I normally make a special plan of action and prayer. But this year, the Seattle “Big Dark,” plus my age, leave me feeling a bit tired and unmotivated. Twain’s good book and sleepy conscience sound inviting. How to get motivated to observe this holy season and to grow spiritually…

Advent, with its candles and songs, readings of light and hope and the awaited birth of a little baby, can be a potent antidote for the very dark, very cold, very rainy Seattle winter days.

My conscience, I guess, is not sleepy enough to ignore  Advent. In the depths of my heart and soul, I do want to celebrate this lovely season in a concrete and meaningful way. But to do that, I’ll have to push through some very real inertia and make a plan.

How can I mark this holy season? Here are some ways to journey through Advent with spiritual awareness and energy. There are Advent booklets galore, with daily Scriptures, reflections, and suggested activities. I like the offerings of an organization, Creative Communications (CreativeCommunications.com), which has an assortment of Advent prayer booklets for everyone: children, families, seniors; booklets in Spanish and booklets especially for teens. The themes of these booklets range from angel messages to “light,” from the messages in traditional carols to the gentle wisdom of Henri Nouwen. Many   parishes offer a reflection booklet for Advent. Find one you like and use it in your daily prayer.

Maybe you’d like to go straight to the Scriptures, the Gospel of Matthew or Luke, reading the birth story of Jesus a little bit at a time and reflecting on the awesome mystery of the Son of God who became a tiny, helpless baby, in Israel, over 2,000 years ago.

Perhaps your prayer could be a daily quiet time: sitting in silence and stillness for 5 or 10 or 20 minutes each   morning or each evening, making that a part of each day in Advent. Light a candle, wrap up in a blanket (but, I remind myself to sit up so it doesn’t become naptime!) and just pay attention to your breath and to the mystery of God’s love for YOU. You can whisper a word that draws you into prayer: “Jesus.” “Love.” “Surrender.” “Peace.” A time of stillness like this can be a centering balance to the chaos of the Christmas season, with its parties, presents, cooking, cleaning, traveling, family, guests, late nights,  early mornings, wrapping, baking, buying! Doesn’t 20 minutes of quiet sound heavenly?!?

And just a few days ago, I had a gentle revelation about another way to observe Advent with meaning. Robert and I attended Thanksgiving Day Mass. The people gathered were small in number, mostly older folks like us. It was a beautiful time of prayer, singing, a lively homily by our pastor Fr Oliver, and then receiving the Eucharist.

After Mass, we walked out behind an elderly woman. We stopped to introduce ourselves and ask how she would celebrate the day. She told us her name and that she would be with family. But she would be missing her dear husband of 43 years who had passed away last year. She was thinking of her mom, too, who had passed away just three years ago. Then she related a very funny story about how, first her mom, and then later her husband           convalesced in the very same room at a care facility. “God has a sense of humor,” she commented. Her memories brought some tears to her eyes and also a smile to her lips.

As we parted, she reached out to shake our hands and said, “Thank you both for stopping to introduce yourselves and say hello. I am grateful.”

It was a poignant reminder for me: Advent is about the GIFT OF PRESENCE. Our culture says it’s all about PRESENTS! And, of course, presents are nice – fun to buy, fun to receive. But our Christian faith adds a deeper dimension to this season – that of PRESENCE. We will so benefit, body, mind, and spirit, if we take some time to be present to God in prayer, and present to one another. Our visit with the elderly woman after church was only 5 minutes of time, but it was rich in connection and care. Presence makes a difference.

So this Advent – YES, take time for a good book, without the sleepy conscience, though. As many of the Advent Scripture readings point out, we Christians must STAY AWAKE! Take time for  reflective prayer and silence, and make time to be present, both to your loved ones and to others you know or meet, who might need a little extra love and care in this holiday season. After all, Jesus’ gift to us at Christmas is his presence in our world and in our lives. For Advent, let’s be generous in sharing that hopeful presence.

By Robert Fontana

Here’s a paraphrase of a familiar Christmas song:

“It’s the most busiest time of the year, with the kids and mom yelling and everyone telling you get off your rear! It’s the most busiest time of the year!”

Can’t you hear Andy Williams or Amy Grant singing it? These days from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the secular holiday season, are such a busy and fun time. It’s a struggle for us Fontanas to focus on Advent and the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas when the world around us is immersed in the lights, decorations, parties, and music of the winter holiday season.

Fr. Ron Rolheiser captures the dilemma that many Christians confront during the holiday season:  Rolheiser, in his book The Holy Longing, writes something like this: most of us want the holiness and generosity of Mother Teresa when it comes to opening our hearts to the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. At the same time, we also want the fun, romantic intimacy, warm ambiance, amazing gifts, delicious desserts, and the multitude of wines, cocktails and beers portrayed in a Hollywood Christmas movie! In the end, according to Rolheiser, what we usually get is an unhappy mixture of both options and end up on Christmas night…well…exhausted.

I do not have a great piece of wisdom to offer you (and me) in resolving this dilemma because it cannot really be resolved. It can be, shall we say, tamed or moderated by a little bit of forethought, wisdom, and courage.

In my youth, I did not approach this issue with wisdom. I had good intentions, but those good intentions only created anxiety, stress, and more work for Lori.

“Lori, let’s make our Christmas gifts for the family gift exchange!” 

Great idea, right? Great way to have an “alternative Christmas,” which was all the rage during our college and post college years. However, I DID NOT (AND STILL DO NOT) KNOW HOW TO MAKE ANYTHING WITH MY HANDS! Lori ended up doing all the work and often the projects were not completed until after midnight on Christmas Eve. Good intentions without wisdom make a bad combination. A few dollars spent on some thoughtful and modest gifts would have saved us lots of Christmas misery.

Of course, at Christmas time, when we consider how the Gospel was first proclaimed to the poor shepherds in the field, we are drawn to reach out to people around us who are materially and spiritually poor. Pope Francis would have us include “nature” in our list of the poor that must be served:

“The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.”
― Pope Francis, Care for our Common Home (Laudate Si)

The Incarnation of Jesus is not simply about Jesus saving human beings and getting us to heaven.  Jesus came to wake us up to our duties on earth to love one another, and that duty extends to caring for the planet which is our only home. We share earth with all other living creatures. We need a healthy planet in order to live healthy lives. The creatures of the earth, from the great birds of prey to the tiniest insects and all growing things can live happily without us humans, but we humans cannot live happy lives without the creatures of the earth and vegetative life. Saving them during this time of climate crisis is how we value and preserve our own lives.

During the first year of the pandemic, when we couldn’t really gather inside for family parties, we put up a Christmas tree in our front yard and decorated it with food for the birds and, invariably, the squirrels. It was so much fun putting it together and so much fun watching our animal and bird friends enjoy it.

The holiday season is the “most busiest time of the year.” It doesn’t have to be exhausting! Sit down with your loved ones and talk through how you want to observe Advent in preparation for Christmas, while enjoying the secular aspects of the season as well. Have a family meeting in which all get to state their hopes and expectations for the holidays. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and your family to wisdom in how you hold together the tension between the secular winter holiday and the Christian season of Advent and Christmas. Set some simple goals following the guidance of the folk singer Donavan as he sang in his song, “Stone by Stone,” written for the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon:

If you want to live life free, take your time go slowly. Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.

Wishing you Advent peace and blessings!

By Lori Fontana

 We all know the story of “The Good Samaritan.” (Luke 10:29-37) Jesus teaches his listeners the Great Commandment, which ends with [love] your neighbor as yourself. A scholar in the crowd asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus tells the well-known parable.

It is a parable relevant for today. Who is my neighbor? How far afield does Jesus’ directive go? Is it the people who live to the right and left of me? Is it my relative with whom I don’t get along? Is it the man or woman living in the park across the street? Just who is my neighbor, Jesus? Really, how far do I have to stretch with this?

And what does loving my “neighbor” actually look like? Is it a donation to the mission? Volunteering at the food bank?  Inviting someone in need to my dinner table? The interpretations and possibilities are endless. I want to have the loving, compassionate heart of the Good Samaritan, but do I have the time, the energy, the resources, the courage?

In my younger years, I really did believe that we Christians could “solve” all the woes and problems of society. If everyone pitched in and worked together, there would be enough food, enough shelter, enough care and camaraderie to pull every person out of need. But the older I get (and I am still learning), I’ve grown to believe that, as Jesus said , “The poor you will always have with you…” (Matthew 26:11) However, I don’t hear Jesus saying, “Just throw up your hands in defeat and walk away!” Jesus says quite the opposite: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

So I walk around with this mental tug-o-war each time I encounter someone in need. Is this my neighbor? And if so, what should I do? What can I even manage to do for her or him? The problems are so huge, and I feel inadequate and, many times, afraid to try to help.

Several weeks ago, on a gray, chilly, misty day, I walked home from the post office (rubbing elbows with my “post office prodigals!”). Ahead, I saw a pile of boxes and bags around a huge yellow umbrella, and a large dog. Having once been bitten by a stray dog, I swung widely around this pooch who seemed to be guarding the mound of assorted items. Then I saw two legs poking out from beneath the umbrella. There was a person in there. Hmmm.

I continued walking home, but my conscience was pricked. Here was someone who looked to be in need. What to do? I arrived home, and paced a bit before I decided I could AT LEAST bring the person some hot chocolate. I mixed it up in a “to go” cup with a lid and trekked back to where the person was sitting. The dog was now lying down. I couldn’t even see the person, but I called out, “Would you like some hot chocolate?”

Immediately, the person responded, “Yes!” The voice was that of a young woman. I approached slowly, wary of the dog.

All I could see were the woman’s legs so I offered, “If you put your hand out, I’ll hand you the hot chocolate.” She extended an arm, I gave her the cocoa, and I handed her a card advertising the Ravenna Pop-Up Kitchen, where we distribute food once a week for neighbors. “I hope you enjoy the cocoa.” She responded with a thank you. I asked her name – “Kat” – and her dog’s name – “Max.” I said she would be very  welcome to come by the next day to the Pop-Up Kitchen for food and toiletries. Then I was on my way.

Back in my own warm home, I had mixed feelings. A cup of cocoa is such a tiny band aid for such a BIG problem. I’m not the Good Samaritan by a long shot; but maybe I’m at least the “So-so Samaritan.” Though a small gesture, I did something; I acknowledged this  sister human being; I went a little bit out of my way to offer a tiny kindness.

Maybe that’s the point. Most of us cannot solve society’s big problems. But all of us can do something to show care. Even the smallest gesture can lift another person up and give them hope. We can ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, courage, and strength; and the Spirit will open our eyes to how we can help. Mother Teresa said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”  If each one of us shares what we can, we will be better than a “so-so Samaritan.” We will be the Good Samaritan – the hands and feet, the heart and voice of Jesus to a weary world.