Searching for a star:
Inside a box of chocolates

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Becky Stuczynski

When Forrest Gump said, "Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you're gonna get," I don't think he was referring to the chocolates that come with an illustrated guide in the box's cover to help us make our choices.

I recently conducted an informal study at work where we had several boxes of chocolates for staff to enjoy. As I observed people contemplate their choices, they all used the box cover illustration to help them. In fact, several people asked right out, "Where's the guide?"

There really were no surprises. But that is what many of us have done with our lives - we have created maps, lists, spreadsheets, files, whatever we need to organize, plan, and prepare. We don't want surprises.

Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 2, 2005) Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

If we don't like a particular chocolate, for heavens sake, what would we do? So, maybe we should update Forrest's quote to the 21st century attitude: "Life is like a box of chocolates; it's awful risky without a guide."

In the movie, Forrest's ability to take life as it comes and his openness to new experiences enrich his life. His is a life full of adventure, love, and learning. He changes. He grows. He doesn't let fear get in the way.

This is what we are all called to do, just as did Forrest or the Magi in this week's Gospel. The Magi are open to God's message and they act on it. They are called as Gentiles to conversion - to acknowledge the message of Jesus' manifestation as savior of all people, of all nations.

This most likely was done with fear and anxiety. What would people think of them? Were they crazy? Who follows stars?

If you think about someone you really respect, it may be someone who has taken a big risk. We respect people who have overcome odds, who have stood out from the crowd in some way or have tackled some major life struggle.

These are people who were willing to confront themselves, their fears, and their God. They have stepped outside of their comfort zones and with faith, taken chances.

	Reflection questions • Think of someone you respect and reflect upon why you respect them. Let them know. • Is there a star shining in your life that you have been wanting to follow? What holds you back?

These are the wise ones who ignore those who think them odd or crazy, and continue to follow the star. We are attracted to these people because they speak to our own desires to change and to grow.

We need to follow their lead, rather than watching others as we stay in our own comfort zones, eating chocolates out of boxes with illustrated guides.

Becky Stuczynski is a registered nurse who works at St. Marys Hospital in Madison. She organizes and is involved with various programs at St. Paul University Catholic Center.

St. Paul's Web site is at www.stpaulscc.org

Thin line: Between silence and shouting

	Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Steve Meer

The image of the servant of the Lord presented in the first reading this week really struck me. The servant of the Lord is the one who will ". . . bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street."

What a stark contrast this image presents to me after being shouted at for the past six months about the presidential election and getting shouted at by advertisers to buy the right gift for Christmas. The servant of the Lord seems to take a refreshing approach, one that I would welcome in my life.

The image of the servant of the Lord is also a mystery that begs the question: how? How can the servant bring forth justice without making his voice heard?

Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 9, 2005) Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 Acts 10: 34-38 Matthew 3:13-17

In our society, it seems impossible. Our eyes and ears are constantly assaulted, so that it only feels natural to have to shout to be heard.

Not too long ago I got into a discussion about contraception with another Christian. The discussion soon turned into an argument which ended up with me just wanting to shout, "You're wrong and the church is right!"

My attempt at witnessing to the truth probably had the opposite effect, because I was shouting, or at least close to it. I'm sure the devil was laughing at that point.

And yet our call as Christians, more often than not, is not to be silent. Indeed, love requires it, for as St. Paul says, "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it."

I feel the temptation to shout every day, especially at the injustice and lies that seem to increase without bound. We are called to be like the Good Shepherd, who goes in search of the lost sheep.

Yet, the question still remains: How can we bring forth justice without shouting? Perhaps the answer comes later in the first reading. The servant has been sent ". . . to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness."

	Reflection questions • Can I be more compassionate to those with whom I disagree? • How can I more fully experience God's mercy?

This reminds me that I was once blind, that I was once a prisoner, and that I once lived in darkness. And when I remember that, I remember what it's like to be the object of a mercy and compassion without limit. And that is most definitely a humbling feeling and the beginning of being able to be merciful and compassionate towards others.

If we are rooted in mercy and compassion, and then make our voices heard in the street, we can become true servants of the Lord, and "bring forth justice to the nations."

Steve Meer is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a former member of St. Paul University Catholic Center. He recently accepted a job in Milwaukee and has moved there with his wife and their unborn child.

St. Paul's Web site is at www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

In a Nutshell Life is uncertain. We cannot see the road ahead. But what would be different if we truly trusted God? We first learn to trust at home. Parents may not be aware of it, but their steadfast love and care for a child is an essential part of that child's faith formation and of his or her ability to hope and trust in God's providence. Catholic News Service 3211 Fourth St NE Washington DC 20017 202.541.3250 cns@catholicnews.com	Food for Thought   We don't know how our future will unfold. It is uncertain. I've noticed that people react to uncertainty in different ways. Anxiety is one response. People stress-out over what they can't control about the future. And some live literally in the grip of fear. But others aren't hindered by uncertainty. They approach life with boldness. And some are overconfident or even reckless about life, not seeming to recognize that its course of events might not bow to them. To me, naivete in the face of all that is uncertain about the future isn't good, but excessive apprehension also won't work. full story   Thomas Merton's Prayer for Families Today By Mary Jo Pedersen Catholic News Service "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. "But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it. full story  Would Anything Be Different If We Trusted God? By Patricia Kobielus Thompson Catholic News Service What would be different if I truly trusted God? Today we find ourselves looking over our shoulders for danger. It is a mind-set created for us by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The media deluge us with reports of potential threats and images of suspected and known terrorists. Our lives have changed in ways we could not have predicted. full story  What Does God Look Like? By Father Lawrence E. Mick Catholic News Service A kindergarten teacher was observing her students while they drew pictures, walking around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat or looking up, the girl replied, "They will in a minute." full story
	Faith in the Marketplace   This Week's Discussion Point: Thomas Merton trusted that God would not leave him "to face my perils alone." Do you find it a challenge to trust God so fully?     Selected Response From Readers:
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