Beads of Joy Blog II (2025)

Our Lady of Loreto: A Retreat Reflection Opening Prayer Mary, patroness of travellers and aviators, you who carried Jesus across distances and into the unknown, guide us now as we reflect on your presence in our lives. Help us to find home, wherever we carry your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Reflection The House That Travelled Angels lifting a small brick house off its foundation in Nazareth and carrying it through the night sky, across the Mediterranean, to land in a grove of laurel trees in Italy. It sounds like a fairy tale, doesn't it? And yet for centuries, pilgrims have flocked to Loreto to stand inside those ancient walls, to touch the stone where tradition says the angel Gabriel appeared to a teenage girl and changed everything. Whether you take the story literally or see it as sacred poetry, there's something electrifying about it. Mary's home, the actual space where she said yes to God, refused to stay put. It travelled. It landed somewhere completely unexpected...

December 9 - Come to Me Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 / Matthew 18:12-14 Setting the Scene Jesus tells a parable: A man has a hundred sheep. One wanders off. What does he do? Logic says: protect the ninety-nine. You can't risk the whole flock for one foolish sheep. Cut your losses. Move on. But Jesus says the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine on the hills and goes searching for the one that's lost. And when he finds it, not if, when, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander. Then the punch line: "In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." Not one. Not a single one. Isaiah had prophesied this Shepherd: "Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care." This God comforts His people, speaks tenderly, promises that every valley will be lifted and every mountain made low. The glory of the Lord...

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8, 2025 • A Franciscan Reflection Today's Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 / Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 / Luke 1:26-38 Let's Be Clear From the Start The Immaculate Conception is about Mary's conception, the moment God filled her with sanctifying grace from the very first instant of her existence. The word "immaculate" means spotless. Mary was preserved from original sin. Not because she earned it, but because God prepared her for what He was asking. He filled her with grace before she even knew she needed it. Here's the truth: If you could make your own mother, wouldn't you free her from original sin? Jesus did. He reached back through time and applied the merits of His cross to save her perfectly, not just from sin, but from ever having it in the first place. Mary never sinned. Not once. She was at perfect enmity with Satan, exactly as God promised in Genesis 3:15. She's the first and bes...

Second Sunday of Advent December 7 - The Journey Home Readings: Baruch 5:1-9 / Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 / Luke 3:1-6 Three Voices, One Journey Today's readings give us three perspectives on the same Advent journey, the journey home to God. Baruch shows us the destination. Jerusalem, take off your mourning clothes. Put on the splendor of glory from God. He will lead you home in joy, with the mountains made low and the valleys filled, so the path is smooth for your return. Luke shows us the preparation. John stands in the desert, quoting Isaiah's promise: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low." The rough terrain of our lives must be transformed. Paul shows us the process. God who began this good work in you will complete it. But your part? Let your love grow in knowledge and perception. Learn to discern what really matters. Become pure and blameless for the day of Christ....