Like the Apostles

It’s Holy Week and I’ve been thinking about the Jesus and his Passion to some degree but I’ve also been thinking about the Apostles.  These people, these men, were chosen by Jesus to be his followers.   I’m sure they were good men who, like the rest of us, were imperfect. And I can’t help but see myself in them. 

I believe I have been called by Christ to serve his people, to proclaim the Good News. And, like his Apostles, I am a very poor example of what it means to be a Christian. St. Peter was short tempered and rough around the edges. Judas was the money keeper and worried about having more money for the coffers. Two other disciples wanted a position of prestige in Jesus’ kingdom.  Peter denied him. Judas betrayed him. And when Jesus was arrested, they stood by and watched.  Another of the disciples ran away in fear he would also be arrested.  I fit in very well with this motley group. 

I keep trying to remember that the Lord filled his Apostles to overflowing with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the apparent weaknesses of the “pre-Pentecost” apostles seemed to vanish.  I like to believe that the Lord used their weaknesses to the benefit of the Kingdom.  If the Lord can transform these men into powerful witnesses and proclaimers of the Gospel then there’s some hope for me in my little corner of the world.

May the Risen Christ fill our lives with hope.



By Judy Michaud

Winter is a Blessing

I don’t know what the original thinking was when Easter was “scheduled” in the spring, but I think it was a stroke of divine inspiration. It’s probably no mistake either that Advent and Lent (both seasons of preparation) occur in the winter season. At least to my thinking.  “What is her point?” you ask.

All week I’ve been reflecting on the changes that winter brings.  Patios and picnic tables covered in snow. Cumbersome coats, boots, gloves, hats are pulled out of mothballs as are winter tires, snow shovels and sanding salt.  Trees and bushes stand like so many stick figures waiting in the wings for their dress rehearsal.

Isn’t it the same with us?  We are forced to slow down because of the season and occasionally we come to a standstill because of the weather.

If it weren’t for the winter season, I would continue to be busy doing this, that and the other.  Busy running errands, spending time with friends, going shopping and whatever else I get caught up in when the temperature is fine and I can go about unencumbered by the weather.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, for me, winter is an extended examination of conscience.  In the winter I become more reflective, more introspective.  I find areas in my life where I should be doing better, behaviors and attitudes that need changing.  I don’t always succeed in making those changes but at least now I recognize what I need to work on.  So in my life winter is indeed . . . a blessing.


By Judy Michaud

A Child is Born

Great news! We have a brand new granddaughter.  Maryn was born November 27 and weighed in at 7 lbs. 6.7oz.  I know that her parents are so proud they could bust.  I know, too, that they are filled with hopes and dreams for Maryn and her future. And this brings me to my point.

We are very soon going to celebrate the day of Jesus’ birth.  Although a birth of humble beginnings, I have no doubt that Mary and Joseph were filled with hopes and dreams for Jesus’ future, not unlike new parents of today. We bring our babies to the church for baptism and have done so for hundreds of years.  Mary and Joseph “brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required. . . “(Luke 2:27). Both rituals are cause for celebration.  

Yet how much celebrating would we do if we heard the words that Simeon said to Mary: “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel.   He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts.  And sorrow, like a sharp sword will break your own heart.”    (Luke 2: 34, 35)

We celebrate Christmas with food and gifts.  We spend time with friends and loved ones and rightly so.  We celebrate the birth of the One who would later sacrifice his life.  Let us keep is mind that this Child became the hope for our future and the future of many generations. A Child is born. Jesus, the greatest gift of all, is with us! 

By Judy Michaud

18 Days and Counting

As I write this, my son and daughter-in-law are anticipating the birth of their first child, a girl.  Naturally they’re excited, as am I.  I’ve crocheted 2 blankets for the baby and I’ve done plenty of shopping.  We touch base regularly after she visits the doctor.  “How’s the baby? How much does the doctor think she weighs?  How are you feeling?”  The baby is due November 26 but the doctor said the baby will probably come sooner. I keep checking the calendar:  18 days and counting. . .   I’ve reminded my son at least twice in the past week or so:  Make sure you call me when you leave for the hospital. Don’t forget.

The first Sunday of Advent is right around the corner.  We are all aware that it is a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus.  But how many of us get really excited about this brief season of the liturgical calendar?  How many of us feel the excitement that I’m feeling over the impending birth of my first granddaughter?  Granted, the birth of a baby generates excitement for most people. Shouldn’t the birth of our Lord and Savior also generate excitement and anticipation?  I know we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, baking and the busy-ness of the season. Yet in the midst of our preparations are we feeling an element of joy and excitement as we think about the coming birth of Jesus or are we simply going through the paces so we can get it over and done with? 

This Advent, let’s take a deep breath and relax.  Christmas will come and go whether we bake 10 kinds of cookies or 2 kinds.  Christ’s birth will be celebrated regardless of how many gifts we can afford.  Take the time to gather with family and friends and celebrate the real reason for the season. The King is coming!  

By Judy Michaud

It's the Little Things

We can easily say “I am a Christian” and sometimes it’s even easy to behave as a Christian: when we team or attend a retreat when we attend Mass, when we volunteer in the parish, etc.  These are times and places when it is easy to put on the mind of Christ.  But this is not the where we live and where we live is where the challenge is.  We live in and are exposed to places and situations that constantly bombard us with messages and behaviors that are contrary to Christ’s teachings.  Without pausing to think about it, I’m sure we can all name a couple of people who claim to be Christians but whose lives do not reflect that.   However, I want to challenge you to think about YOU and the areas in your life that may not exemplify Christ. 

Immediately our minds turn to the BIG things:  I’m faithful to my spouse; I go to Church once a week, sometimes more; I don’t swear; I volunteer; I haven’t committed murder; I’m not a thief, etc. Great!  That’s all great, no doubt about it.  But let’s look at the details, the little things of our lives that may speak loudest.  After all that is what St. Therese of the Child Jesus did.  She worked on the details of the picture more than the big picture itself.

Do we give our spouse and children the same courtesy and respect that we would give others such as please/thank-you or excuse me?  We would do that much for strangers, why not our family?  What about our language?  Do we clean up our language when we’re in public but resort to more colorful words with close friends/family? As Christians, we should not have one behavior at home and one out in the world.  We need to do our best to be Christian in our thoughts/words/actions all the time, everywhere.

Are we good stewards of what God has given us?  Do we waste food? Do we recycle?  Do we hoard the clothes that we no longer wear or worse yet, do we throw them out? Are we respectful of our property and the property of others? You’re getting a new set of dishes.  What do you do with the old one? Do you throw it away, store it, or do you donate it to the battered women’s shelter, the food kitchen, Good Will? Do we spend our money wisely? Are we honest in our treatment of others, even when no one else would know?  You have a second job (or your wife or teenager) but are paid under the table so it doesn’t have to be reported on your income tax.  The clerk at the store gave you change for a twenty but you gave her a ten.  We would be quick to point it out if she gave you too little change, but too much change? Would you even have to think about it before saying anything?

Do we place conditions on our commitment to Christ?  I’ll work at the food kitchen/pantry if it rains;  I’ll visit the sick if I can’t find a partner for golf; I clothe the naked if . . . I’ll be kind to my enemy if . . .  I’ll pray more after I retire; after the garden is in; after the kids are older.  First, I have to remodel this room; first I have to roof the garage . . . the kids are too young . . .  after that I’ll  get involved. We are not all called to become Mother Theresa.  We can’t all be great evangelists.  As St. Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians, we are all parts of the same body and each part has its own function. Not every part is meant to be flamboyant. Not every part is going to be recognized for the work that it does but each part is required to do the best they can, right where they are, just as they are.  

As with St. Therese, it’s the little things that made a difference and it’s the little things that will help to keep us on the path and allow us to follow Jesus as we should.

By Judy Michaud

Listen to the Creator

I’m sitting here struggling with a topic for this blog. A couple of ideas came to mind but they didn’t seem to fit the bill.  Why is it that I struggle with this so much? I don’t usually struggle with things to talk about,  but blogging. . .  It’s a lot like having a one sided conversation, the blogger is saying something but there’s no facial reaction, no body language, no verbal response to go by.  I wonder if that’s the way God often feels .  He communicates with us constantly in numerous ways but there’s no response.  How many of us are so busy doing things: working, taking care of family, jogging, shopping, spending time on the internet, driving/riding from one point to another, busy, busy, busy.  We take little time to talk to, much less listen to, the Father who created us. He sends us the beauty of nature and we complain about the snow, the heat, the rain, the weeds. He gives us the miracle of babies yet they are aborted and abused.  He’s provided us with the Eucharist yet how often do we thank Him for the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus?  Holy Week begins in a couple of days as we commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and a few days after that we begin our own “high holy days”, the Triduum.  I pray that during this holy time we really spend time listening to what our Creator, our Father is saying to us and that we strive to truly live as His children.

by Judy Michaud

We Are a Work in Progress

We’re already in the second week of Lent. I’ve “kept” the “penances” I’ve taken but I’ve also been challenged in a number of other ways.  Did you ever notice that? Regardless of what’s going on, regardless what penance you take, it seems that during Lent there is always something else that will rise up and challenge your way of thinking, of responding.  

These incidents happen the year round, of course, but for some reason during Lent they seem to be more prominent.  I think I’m a patient person. It’s an acquired virtue. You know “practice makes perfect” and I’ve had plenty of practice.  But I ran into a situation recently that had me wanting to pull my hair out.  Internally I had a knee-jerk reaction (and I would never say out loud what I was thinking) but beyond the immediate thoughts, I knew that I needed to take a deep breath and wait this out.  I knew that in spite of what is happening, God would place His hand on it and resolve it in His way, in His time.  

You know how people/companies dangle a carrot to make someone pay attention or buy into whatever is being sold?  I think those little (and sometimes not so little) incidents, are the “carrots” that God is presenting to us.  I think it’s His way of telling us that we are still a work in progress. 

We still have several weeks of Lent.  It is my prayer, for myself and for all of you, that these unexpected situations become moments of growth and purification during this time of prayer and penance.

Judy Michaud

Wife, Mother, Catechist

I’ve been a wife for almost 34 years. I’ve been a mother almost as long. Catechist? I was prepared to say 13-14 years but then I stopped because that wasn’t correct. I’ve been a catechist about as long as I’ve been a mother. With my first child and all the other beautiful babies that followed, I found it very important that they make a connection with Jesus as friend. Certainly, the Rites of Baptism tell us that parents are the primary educators of their child(ren). But was I paying attention to that during the baptism? Of course not! I was 24, had a wonderful husband and a beautiful baby boy. All I could do was gaze in awe at that four-week-old miracle. Yet for some reason (probably the example of my father and grandmothers) I knew those babies had to know about Jesus. I can’t honestly say that I taught them their prayers when they were very little but they did recognize Jesus: on the cross, in a picture, a statue, in the nativity scene at home and in the crèche in church and they knew who Mary was.

When my oldest was about four or so, a friend introduced me to music cassettes (no MP3s back then) of “Psalty, the Singing Songbook” (Psalty, Psalter songbook, get it?). There was a story that threaded through the whole cassette and the music was upbeat. The first song on the first cassette was titled “Time to Praise the Lord” or something like that. At least once a week one of the kids would ask me to “praise the Lord.” On went the cassette and off they went marching to the music and, for the most part, singing along with Psalty and the kids. I can still remember the refrain from that song. Then came school and religious education and formal prayers and later youth ministry. We spoke about that at home and my husband and I did our best to “practice what we preached.”

They’re all grown now and gone. Of the four, two of them go to church on a regular/semi-regular basis.  But my work as mother and catechist is not finished. I still do my best to lead by example and when I can, I bring God into the topic of discussion. I have no illusions. As a wife, mother and catechist I have made many mistakes and on occasion, I have been an outright failure. However, God knows my heart and I pray often that He will take the lemons that have been created by my mistakes and failures and make lemonade. I pray too that with whatever mustard seed of faith that has been planted in my children and in-laws, God will take those seeds and make them grow into strong adult faith. So in the end, I assure my family of my love and prayers and do my best to emulate St. Francis to “preach the Gospel always [and] when necessary, use words.”

By Judy Michaud

Profound? Not so much.

I’ve had a note on my desk for several weeks now with the word “BLOG” written in large red letters.  It’s supposed to be a reminder that I have a Blog to write. It’s been all over my desk as I move it from one place to the other wondering, “What do I write about?”  I would like to write something profound and moving.  Something truly inspiring. Something worthy of all of you “out in the trenches” so to speak.  Alas, it is not to be.  Again this morning I saw the big red “BLOG” on my desk and said “Lord, what do you want me to write about?”  Immediately, in my mind, I saw an image of my year old grandson laughing.  In a heartbeat, I knew what this blog would be about.

His name is Emerson and I’ve only seen him twice in person because he lives in Alaska.  However, I’ve been blessed to live in a time when we can use Skype and video footage can be sent via email.  I was watching a clip of him the other day.  He was toddling along laughing at the camera and he was so happy! My heart filled with joy & love for this wonderful baby boy. When that image came to mind this morning, I sensed that this is the same reaction our Heavenly Father has when we turn to Him.  I know, it’s cliché. But for me, at that moment , it became a tangible experience of something that is intangible, incomprehensible really because much as I love Emerson, that love pales in comparison to God’s love for me, for us.

Judy Michaud

Heating Up

For some reason the brutal heat and humidity of last week got me
to thinking about sin. My train of thought was that my conscience is my
spiritual gauge and when I sin, it too heats up, like the thermometer.

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of all this heat and humidity. Never have
been. Anything over 80 degrees and I start looking for AC. There is no
AC when it comes to sin and I have to suffer the consequences of that.
I’m not talking about major stuff here, but rather the little things that are
easy to escape notice: the sarcastic remark; not taking time to help,
call, listen, console; failing to remain gracious and kind when I’m talking
to customer service. I’ve been trying to run interference with some of
these situations and I try to see Christ in each person. I often think of
what Jesus said, “That which you do to the least of these, you do to me.”

It’s not the black and white situations that get the best of me, it’s
the grey areas and if I’m not vigilante about what I say and do in these
situations my conscience will overheat. I have to remember that I am
first and foremost an emissary of Jesus Christ and I will be judged by the
standards which I proclaim. I have failed many times and will continue to
do so. Of that I am sure because I am, after all, a human being.

My goal however, is to have more successes (way more successes)
than failures and if that means my conscience has to “heat up” on a regular
basis then so be it.

Judy Michaud