Think about those times in your life when you have felt inspired to something really great. Where does that inspiration come from?
The Holy Spirit. God inspires us to do great things with our lives.
----Matthew Kelly

Welcome to The Not So Perfect Catholic!

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian, just a Catholic empty-nester trying to figure it all out. The views on this blog are my own.

3rd Sunday of Advent

Yeah, so I kind of didn't get around to posting last week. Yet another reason why I'm "not so perfect"!
Here's my recap of last night's Homily:
REJOICE! We're half-way through Advent and our focus shifts from anticipation to joy. In order to see the blessings of God, we must be filled with joy.
Our priest took care of a woman who had taken care of his parents up to the time of their deaths. She passed away last Saturday. I know this is a time of mourning for him; she was a mother-figure to him after his mother passed away. Yet, he insisted that we have to be filled wtih joy. After mass I asked him how he was doing, and he said he was doing okay. I told him I knew it had to be hard, and he responded that he has to put it in the hands of the Lord.
Earlier yesterday, I tried my hand at making some pastries. Everything seemed to be going great: the dough rose (twice!), but when it came to the baking part, it didn't work out. And I missed my mama something terrible. This is the second Christmas without her, and it seems like this one is harder than last year. She wasn't there for me to call and ask her what was going on with the pastry. She wasn't there for me to call and ask her to run over to look at them. Even though I called one of my sisters (who is 1000 miles away), it wasn't the same. I felt so alone.
Yet, I do rejoice in her passing. I know she is with our Lord, and I know she rejoices with me. As I drove to church, a thought popped into my head: this is why Mama didn't bake this certain kind of pastry. She had trouble with it, too...I just bet that she did. That was why she made a coffeecake and cinnamon twists out of that same recipe.
So, I will do what Father suggested: I will take time to rejoice so I don't lose sight of where I am going.