YOU AND I: PERSONAL PLACES OF THE HEART My mom has lived in the same house for over 60 years. Her home has become a deeply treasured Place of the Heart. I have already moved eight times in my adult life, so I have less of an attachment to any of the houses in which… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Friday, December 13th

GETHSEMANE If we were to consider all of Jesus’ Places of the Heart, we would need to include the entire gospels. Each place where Jesus has been is now a place where love has reigned. Today’s place, the Garden of Gethsemane, is actually an olive grove where Jesus prayed and agonized before his betrayal and… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Thursday, December 12th

THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES This Mount where Jesus preached his radical and revolutionary sermon, including the Beatitudes, is traditionally considered to be a mountain near Capernaum, up from the Sea of Galilee. Today it is our Place of the Heart, as Jesus’ message of love overturns our cultural, personal and usual ways of understanding what… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Wednesday, December 11th

CAPERNAUM Capernaum is a fishing village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Today it is our Place of the Heart because Jesus healed many people there, showing his loving compassion, help and care for others. Light the Prophecy and Bethlehem Candles. Mark 1:21, 29-34, 2:1-5, 11-12 (NRSV) They went to Capernaum; and… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Tuesday, December 10th

THE SEA OF GALILEE The Sea of Galilee is actually a freshwater lake near Capernaum. The Jordan River connects the Sea of Galilee (northern end) to the Dead Sea (southern end). Jesus performed many miracles here, but for today this is our Place of the Heart because this is where Jesus called his first disciples… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Monday, December 9th

LOVE: THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE Light the first candle, the Prophecy Candle.  Luke 2:1-7 (NRSV) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from… Continue reading Places of the Heart- Sunday, December 8th

WEEK ONE- HOPE: PERSONAL REFLECTION Light the Prophecy Candle. This week we considered a few of the prophets who foretold of the coming of a Messiah in their Promises of Hope. These prophets were called to first name the disobedience and brokenness of the people from God. Some were even called to warn of the… Continue reading Promises of Hope- Reflection; Saturday, December 7th