“Lest we be tempted to sentimentalize the mystery of Christ’s birth, the Church today sets before us the example of Stephen, first of martyrs…Bethlehem is the prelude to Calvary. We may not merely stand adoring at the crib; we must also follow to the Cross.”

–Magnificat Daily Readings

Two snippets from St. Stephen in Acts (not included in today’s first reading)….

“You stiff necked people…you are always opposing the Holy Spirit just as your fathers did before you.”

“You who received the law through the ministry of angels have not observed it.”

The Scripture passage goes on to say;” Those who listened to his words were infuriated…” Another version says the listeners were “stung to the heart.”

I can see why Stephen might have been stoned. Like the religious leaders he spoke to, I don’t like those judgments. But they do sting my heart.

It is TIME I accept that the living God desires to be welcomed, noticed, loved, served, followed and shared in my ordinary life.

St. Stephen, pray for us—not to be stiff necked. And not to miss the angels and the Incarnate One among us.

My favorite song (lately) of this season of the year is “In the Bleak Midwinter.” I love the melody and the last line…

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

May he be found incarnate there—in my heart. And yours.

This morning I was trying to be still. Silence…such a hard task for me. Phone calls. Random thoughts. Distractions. Desiring to be moving and doing something else.

I was trying to reflect on the Scripture of the day. The passage was that of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38). The angel Gabriel comes to Mary.

I’ve heard the passage a few (hundred) times before. That’s another obstacle –that I have some (presumed) familiarity with the text. That takes some of its rawness and newness away from me. Nevertheless, I sat and asked for a word from God as I read and re-read the passage. It was hard to just be still.

Being still is a difficulty but I am aware that the other meaning of still is also a problem for me. The dictionary says “steadily, constantly, always.”

I’ve seen the bumper stickers: “Wise Men Still Seek Him.” I get daily inspirational messages from Christian author and preacher Max Lucado and the by-line is “The One who came Still comes and the One who Spoke Still Speaks.” Still. So Angels still come? Messengers still speak on behalf of the living God?

So I wonder where my angels are? I want to come up with some profound answer…I have this Hollywood production of “God in Mike’s Life” (I wonder if I should get Steven Spielberg to produce it?) There’s a lot of glitz in my mind but that doesn’t seem to be God’s way of working in my life. So often my angels are my family. They are so close but I am so oblivious to believe God speaks in them to me. These Hollywood ideas of God get in my way. And His.

So let’s just go along with this idea that angels still come and still speak. And still call others for God to be born in them today? Then I catch myself. Isn’t God still calling me to make room for him to come into my heart?

My heart. The center. How I think, spend money, spend time, click on the computer, talk on the phone, watch ESPN, tell jokes, “do” relationships. He wants “in”. That kingdom thing. Starting with my heart. Nowhere else.

Crazy, huh? Shouldn’t God just be satisfied with the periphery? I mean, after all, (here comes my Pharisee) I do speak on religious matters and I do give him “some” time. Religion is kinda my job. Come on, I can’t take this whole faith thing that seriously now, can I?

Anyway, there I am in my” home chapel” (a prayer bench and a prayer table in the corner of my office)….sitting…. trying to imagine what it must have been like for Mary. I imagine how odd, stupefying and scary the whole episode must have seemed to a teenage girl (Mary). I can even echo her reservations: “I don’t see how this can happen.”

Mary was nice, compared to me. My list of why God shouldn’t find favor with me or invite me is very long. Some of it is false humility. Some of it is I don’t want the burden and responsibility that goes with saying yes. I am kinda hoping that the angel’s calls to me are a wrong number. Like I will convince them (and God) to go down the street. Imagine–craving to be found as full of grace and then not accepting that because it means some change or sacrifice. I think I am more odd than this God who is still using angels.

Then the answer back (from Gabriel): “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will OVERSHADOW you.”

That one line struck me hard. God has been overshadowing me. I’ve felt it this year—through some of the things I see and feel as I speak…and as I am home and when we (God and me) connect. There’s power in this “overshadowing” thing. God going past my reservations. Working through my junk. Being more powerful than my sin. Not giving up on my infidelity.

God loves me. God invites me. God wants me. And you. Still.

Mary answered: “Let it be. ” (Beatles version).
My turn to answer…and yours.

Marlene has been my wife for 20 years. We celebrate our anniversary and relationship today. I can’t let this moment pass.

She doesn’t like fanfare. She is a humble, strong person. She shies away from the spotlight.

She has a fierce work ethic.
She is loyal and dedicated–to those she works for, and those who work for her.

She is thoughtful. She shops for Christmas on a year round basis.
It is nothing for her to be shopping for herself and to come home with a shirt for me and clothes for Megan …just because.

She cooks well. No matter what she says or thinks.
She is detailed. Nobody packs for vacation (or my tee shirt bag) like her.
She tells a great joke.
She handles finances for us…well.

She is the mom (and part time dad, when I travel) to the little girl/“tweenager”/wanting to be twenty-something called Megan. She is the object of adoration (and rightly so) from Pepi the wonderdog. She is a saint in my mom’s eyes.

She said yes to me to go on a first date.
She said yes to me when I asked her to share my life.
She said yes to moving from Lafayette to take a job in New Orleans in 1990.
She said yes to letting me try this speaking business.
She says yes everyday to me.

She says no, also.

She performed CPR on my dad as his heart was failing.
She was there when I had my own heart attack.
She is amazing to care for my mom so lovingly (I really think she missed her call).
She is the one of the most loving and compassionate ministers I know.

She is there at my worst. When I am angry, inconsiderate, self-absorbed, childish.
She sees me when no audience is there. She sees me stressing and obsessed over my preparations and travels. She knows my doubt and fear.

She makes me want to be a better person. She inspires me.
She has taught me about the depth of God’s faithful love like no other book, course or retreat.
She is my best friend, my partner, my love.

I love you, Merle. Happy Anniversary.
Thank you, God, for her.

Joe Barbera died.

Creator and animator of Yogi, Scooby and so much more.

These cartoon characters were big in my childhood, making me grin between homework and basketball practice.

They are big now as part of my neckwear (ties) and one of my favorite icebreaking songs (thanks, Memphis and Miss Catherine).

I thank God for people like Joe…and Charles Schultz and living and deceased cartoonists who make me think and laugh.

Katie Nicholas
Ruby Mikell
Paige Blache
Matthew Robaszkiewicz
Michael Theisen
Mark Moitoza
Maureen Gross
Kathy Carver
Bob McCarty

You may not know their names. They are the staff for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. They are a hard working (and, dare I say, intensely focused) group of professionals who provide leadership and support through youth ministry resources, services and programming across the country. They are the working staff who monitor management committee and task group projects and see them through to completion.

They just finished working the national conference in Vegas earlier this month. They set aside today for an in-service where I checked in with them about the pace and activities of the last four months. There have been staff additions, adjustments, work group shifts and some major deadlines amid it all.

I also offered some reflections of where I saw the “field” of youth ministry in light of my travels. I offered some implications for their consideration as they continue to serve the field.

I was honored to be among them, because of their professionalism, because of their commitment to the work of youth ministry and because they have served me well and often, both professionally and personally.

I cannot imagine the challenges of working to serve a vast membership and to deal with the challenges of not being able to see them frequently. They do it with a grace that I admire.

I asked my “prayer team” to remember me on this day. A good friend typed this back to me about the day: “they need prayers and they need praise.” Amen.

It’s always flattering when folks “back home” invite me to share my thoughts about our faith. The youth minister from a parish just north of Lake Charles recommended that I do their parish mission and the pastor and mission coordinator said sure, sight unseen. (Now that’s faith!)

After the Saturday evening vigil, I was invited (or rather crashed) one of the choirs’ Christmas gatherings. It warmed my heart to sing Christmas carols with gusto among people who so enjoyed ministering and each others’ company. A great snapshot of the joy in this parish.

I had a good time visiting with the Life Teen group after Sunday evening mass and enjoyed the manners and faith insights of the school children on Wednesday morning. It is always interesting for me to watch their eyes as they hear they are going to have a “guest speaker.” I try to make less dreadful than a trip to the dentist.

I got to see some friends from my past and from the ministry field and that warmed my heart. I had lunch with two good priest friends of mine, Father Henry and Father Jace. Henry has known me since my freshman year. Jace and I were in seminary together. There were stories and laughter and just enjoying reconnecting.

At the mission itself, I got to see a former classmate from college whom I hadn’t seen in 24 years—that was awesome. I also got to see a dear woman of faith, Maria, whose path crossed mine often in our youth ministry work. I visited the local diocesan youth director, Milissa, a creative, passionate young woman.

The people were very warm, loving and receptive. I saw people who knew my mom, my in-laws, and my wife—-so I had to behave!!!

I sold merchandise (which isn’t noteworthy except that the people working the table had my stuff out and organized like it was a department store display. I never looked so good!

The biggest treat was staying with the pastor, Msgr. Charles Dubois. He is a delightful conversationalist, bright thinker, and very committed to his people. There is a great admiration and respect between him and the parishioners and that was very good for me to see.

It was a good time spent among “neighbors.” And a good Advent experience for me.

Besides being the feast of the Immaculate Conception, in my mind, today is Matt Ericksen Day!

(Matt Ericksen #16)

Matt Ericksen is a high school senior and the son of my best friend. I am so excited for Matt and his teammates at St. Charles Catholic High School (LaPlace LA). Tonight, they play in the 2A state football championship against the #2 team in the country, John Curtis. (Everyone who follows Louisiana football knows John Curtis.)

Matt reminds me of me when I was in high school– in terms of size, but he’s been doing a ton better than I ever did athletically (no snickering, please). He’s a part of something special at St. Charles and I admire his persistence, his work ethic and the way he is growing as a young man. He’s getting to have an experience tonight that I hope he never forgets. I regret my travel schedule won’t let me be there to see the excitement in the Superdome at 7 pm.

Congrats to Matt, his teammates, coaches and the entire school community at St. Charles. I am especially proud to join in congratulating his parents, Kevin and Hollie, sister Ashley (a freshman at LSU—beautiful and brilliant), dog Phoebe (what an animal!), grandparents Warren, Faye, Ben and Carol, as well as his big fan, Aunt Kim (Go LSU!) and his entire family not only on the season they have had but also on the great family they have.

Go COMETS!

What a weekend!!! A personal mini-retreat…a few talks…a national recognition…time with good friends…the chance for my wife to get a glimpse of what I do especially among so many of my friends from the road—-all reasons to give thanks to God at the Eucharistic table.

The conference ended with closing mass and saying goodbye to friends…but my personal highlight was an afternoon of laughter and disbelief while playing the most gorgeous round of putt putt at Angel Hills Golf Course outside of Las Vegas in (what felt like) close to freezing temps.

I finished tied 3rd out of 18 or so folks (tied with my colleague and playing companion, Msgr. Mike Cherup of Ft. Walton Beach FL). Scott Miller (the third member of the Tiger Woods trio) won the whole thing!

In 1995, I paced around backstage at the National Catholic Youth Conference (Minneapolis) waiting for morning prayer to be over so I could deliver my keynote address to 10,000 teens. I had been waiting for 10 months to give that talk. I remember the nervousness and the eagerness to get on with things VERY well.

Not much has changed within me, I suppose, in 11 years. On Saturday, December 2, I waited for my time to address my peers at our national conference (after a YEAR of knowing I would give the talk!). It had to be one of the times I have been most nervous to speak to a group. There is something different when you are speaking to “your own.” I wanted to do well because it is a PRIVILEGE to speak to one’s colleagues.

Waiting was a little different this time as Bob McCarty, Beth Joubert (a New Orleans friend) and Jesse Manibusan all wished me well. Some informal icebreaking was done as Jesse and I lured a very well-dressed Stan Cordero (of Santa Rosa CA, who was prayer leader) into being the third member of our personal impression of the number 101!

(Stan didn’t know why we were asking him to be on stage, poor guy.)

Scott Miller took my ideas and made them really ZING by coming up with a knockout PowerPoint presentation…and by reviewing connections with me which helped me sharpen my presentation. Orlando Bloom was a bigger hit than I was. (I know that isn’t a surprise but you had to be there.) I’ll ask Scott to put the powerpoint up and you can see it at his site, if you’re interested.

The official theme of the day was “The Work of our Hands.” I had submitted the unofficial title of “Bloomin’ Idiots of Hope.” (Typical Patin title, if I may say so myself!)

I focused on how the settings of our youth work can be a DESERT and a BLOOM. I then went on to state that the new challenges of this time call for the same commitments. I offered 3 images of who/what we are called to be:

(Mom would be so proud!)

I closed with 3 messages:

Then I gave out packets of seeds as a reminder.

And finally, as I walked off stage…my nervous energy was gone.