Advent and Eggnog

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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My Word for the Week came up when I was on tour in Prescott, Arizona. St. Germaine Parish invited me to sing two songs and to make a brief announcement at each of the weekend Masses, to invite everyone to my Advent concert. Even though I didn’t attend the Saturday Vigil Mass in its entirety, the readings reached my ears over the sound system. I was outside the church while my dear friend, Carla, proclaimed the reading. The particular passage was already dear to my heart, and this week it has spoken to me in new ways.

Here’s the specific verse from the first reading:

“Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.”

God will bring them back to you. “What do you want me to do about this word, Lord?” I asked in prayer this week.

So far, the answer has been to "be the prophecy." In other words, I can be the one who comes back! This has been unfolding in ways both great and small this week. To allow God to bring me back:

-To Himself, ever more
-To my husband, in a moment when my pride threatens to ruin a discussion
-To my stomping grounds of the Midwest (on tour!)
-To friends whom I haven’t seen in months or years (like Carla!)
-To myself, after a season of spiritual desolation

The list goes on. Another kind of silly thing, but important to me!, is that I’ve recently re-integrated milk products into my diet. After 5 years of being dairy free for health reasons, it’s a huge comfort! Hey, I’m originally from Wisconsin. Cheeseheads are serious about their dairy.

I’m finishing this entry while on tour in Northern Wisconsin. Last night, at the beautiful home of my friends Scott and Debbie, I gave a concert for their friends and family. Each room was aglow with Christmas decor, snowflakes swirled outside the windows, and guests greeted each other with hugs and laughter. It felt magical.

And there was so much cheese.

I’ll close by sharing a song that is a throwback, but it brings a smile to my eyes: "Please Come Back to Me." It's funny to me now how I sang this as a joke about eggnog. But lo and behold, after a long time without it, I can enjoy eggnog again this holiday season!

How is God bringing someone or something joyful back into your life this week?

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