The Master's Touch

December 21, 2010
Tuesday of the 4th week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!  Alleluia, alleluia.

Each of us is God's Masterpiece,

being shaped to perfection.

Today's Readings:
Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a
Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
Luke 1:39-45
http://www.usccb.org/nab/122110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_21.mp3

In today's Gospel, we find Mary, pregnant with Jesus, traveling a long journey to the "hill country" to be with Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, (the one who will prepare the way for Jesus; and their joyous greeting.  Mary needed to be with someone who was also fulfilling God's Plan for them - a plan very contrary to what the world expects of people.

Transcending Mediocrity is God is ultimately in control and God is continually shaping each of us to be the person He created us to be, for His purpose.  We are His Masterpieces, when we submit to the Master's Touch.

God's Perfect Plan

December 18, 2010
Saturday of the 3rd week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai;: come to rescue us with your mighty power!  Alleluia, alleluia.

What appears to be Chaos,

in the moment,

is Order in the Universe.

Today's Readings:
Jer 23:5-8
Ps 72:1,12-13,18-19
Mt 1:1-18
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/121810.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_18.mp3

"Jesus was born of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, a son of David."  Today's Gospel is an account of Joseph and his encounters with learning that his wife was pregnant and an angel presented God's Plan for him, Mary and his soon to be child, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, our Lord and Savior.

Transcending Mediocrity is about realizing our unique place and role in God's Perfect Design for this world; and then being humble, submissive and obedient to God in being the person He created us to be and in living our our unique part in His Perfect Plan.

God's Perfect Plan

December 18, 2010
Saturday of the 3rd week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai;: come to rescue us with your mighty power!  Alleluia, alleluia.

What appears to be Chaos,

in the moment,

is Order in the Universe.

Today's Readings:
Jer 23:5-8
Ps 72:1,12-13,18-19
Mt 1:1-18
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/121810.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_18.mp3

"Jesus was born of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, a son of David."  Today's Gospel is an account of Joseph and his encounters with learning that his wife was pregnant and an angel presented God's Plan for him, Mary and his soon to be child, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, our Lord and Savior.

Transcending Mediocrity is about realizing our unique place and role in God's Perfect Design for this world; and then being humble, submissive and obedient to God in being the person He created us to be and in living our our unique part in His Perfect Plan.

God's Humor is Perfect

December 17, 2010
Friday of the 3rd week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!  Alleluia, alleluia.

God’s Sense of Humor is Wild and Wonderful

Today's Readings:
Gen 49:2, 8-10
Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17
Matthew 1:1-17
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121710.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_17.mp3

In today's Gospel, Matthew opens his account of Jesus life and teachings with his genealogy, beginning with Abraham; followed by an overview of forty-two generations, naming some of the interesting characters in Jesus' lineage to his earth-father, Joseph.  Listed are those who were very faithful to God, along with those who committed gross sins.


Transcending Mediocrity is realizing that God's Design for us is perfect; that He created all of us, in His image; and than in the future we will understand His Holy Logic and laugh with Him and His Wild and Wonderful Sense of Humor.

God's Perfect Design

December 15, 2010
Wednesday of the 3rd week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  Raise your voice and tell the Good News: Behold, the Lord God comes with power.  Alleluia, alleluia.

What appears to be Chaos,

in the moment,

is Order in the Universe.

Today's Readings:
Isaiah 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25
Ps 85:9ab, 10-14
Luke 7:18b-23
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121510.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_15.mp3

In today's Gospel, we have St. Luke's version of John the Baptist being reassured that he did prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.  And Jesus' response to John's friends is, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blid regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

Transcending Mediocrity is about discovering God's Order in the universe and realizing that out of chaos (disability, disease, poverty, etc.) God Perfect Plan for each of His creation prevails.

God's Truths Are True Reality

December 14, 2010
Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent
Today's Saint: John of the Cross

Alleluia, alleluia.  Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.  Alleluia, alleluia.

Perception is NOT Reality

Today's Readings:
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23
Matthew 21:28-32
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_14.mp3

In today's Gospel, Jesus continues to respond to the challenges of the chief priests and the elders of the people, the spiritual leaders of the Jews, whose teaching had become legalistic, a departure from God's Truths.

Transcending Mediocrity is about aligning ourselves with God's Truths.  Man's perception of truth often drifts away from God's Truths, so we need to recalibrate ourselves from time to time, as teachers of God's Truths do from time to time.  But it is incumbent on each individual to seek, obey and live God's Truths.

Choose Growth Over Decay

December 10, 2010
Friday of the 2nd week of Advent

Alleluia, alleluia.  The Lord will come; go out to meet him!  He is the prince of peace.  Alleluia, alleluia.

We’re either Growing or Decaying;

choose Growth

- any attempt to foster the status quo

is a futile effort in delaying decay

Today's Readings:
Isaiah 48:17-19
Ps 1:1-4, 6
Matthew 11:16-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_10.mp3

In today's Gospel, Jesus continues the same difficult lesson from yesterday.  Jesus' Teaching and new Way of living are very different from life before him.  It's a lot easier to live the life before Jesus, but now that Jesus has taught His Way, people are to realize that God's Wisdom is toward eternal happiness; and Jesus consoles the people with, "But wisdom is vindicated by her works."

Transcending Mediocrity is about continuous growth and when we receive God's Truths (often paradigm-shifting), we are to continue our growth through conversion of heart and by changing the way we live our lives.