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There is a familiar scene in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. It is the day after Christmas and Bob Cratchit comes into Ebenezer Scrooge’s office about 18 minutes late. Scrooge bellows and mockingly berates him for his tardiness. Cratchit’s excuse was “I was making rather merry yesterday, Sir”. I will apply Cratchit’s line to my tardiness in getting this installment on advent Joy out a bit late. I have gratefully had the opportunity to make merry with family this past we

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 “Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122: 7-9 Long standing tradition designates this second Sunday of Advent as peace Sunday. Last week I invited a look at how the world is shrouded in spiritual and moral dark

After seasons of warmth, the growing season, the harvest and the beauty that is autumn (in which I relished for an extended season from Quebec to home feasting on the colors and refreshing cool) we enter winter with its attendant palpable gloomy gray days. It’s a time when we begin to long for the better seasons. But this season offers a needed quiet, a respite from labors. Freed from many daily outdoor chores and activities. It is a time to nourish our interior life, our spi