Last weekend’s snow storm reminded me once again how beautiful our world is. I know that many people don’t like the snow and cold weather. We are Michiganders; God made us hearty people. I think that many people don’t like the winter because they like to complain about the weather. St. Theresa of Avila is one of my favorite saints, mostly because she has some great quotes. About this she said, “There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God’s”. I like to remind children when they tell me that they are bad, that “there is no such thing as a bad child. You came from God and everything from God is good”.
The storm also reminded me that every so often God reminds us that it is He that is in charge. We had great plans for the early morning celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday morning. Las mañanitas, the morning prayers to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe, with Mass, is a common tradition that we had planned. Because of the snow, we judged it best to cancel the celebration, although we did have a nice quiet 8:30am Mass with 20 or so faithful. Yes, God is in charge. Maybe our celebration was meant to be simple, humble, unassuming, as Mary is. We have to learn, over and over again, to put everything in God’s hands and trust.
As your preparations for Christmas become more hurried, take a few minutes each day and realize who is in charge of your life. Do you have to have control? Or can you leave it up to God?
Fr. Ken
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Catholic Church 