Mary van Balen

“THE WORLD IS GREAT WITH GOD” …Bl. Angela of Foligno




(Originally appeared in The Catholic Times, January 13, 2013 issue. © 2013 Mary van Balen)


When my column deadline approaches, I usually look to a number of places for inspiration. I check the Universalis site, one of my favorites, for an overview of the liturgical feasts that come immediately before and after the date of publication. I read morning and evening prayers of those days as well as the daily Mass readings. Sometimes, Mass readings for the Sunday following the column provide a topic. Current news also feeds the muse.

This column falls between two great feasts, Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord. Checking Universalis, I found today’s date surrounded by blanks on the liturgical calendar. No big saints around which to fashion a column. I plunged deeper, using another favorite prayer guide, “Give Us This Day,” published by Liturgical Press.

I found the introductory quote in the “Blessed Among Us” feature, written by Robert Ellsberg, author of “All Saints.” I knew nothing of Angela, a thirteenth century wife, mother, and mystic. A third order Franciscan, she gave herself to charitable works. Her phrase “The world is great with God,” spoke poignantly to me after having celebrated Christmas, when a teenaged woman, great with child, delivered her son.

I continued reading and praying through the week’s readings. Gospel after gospel told stories of Jesus caring for those around him, curing the sick and speaking to those who followed him hoping for words that would help them make sense of life and the world they in which they lived. He fed thousands from their own meager resources, love making them more than enough. Interrupting times of prayer to respond to people’s needs was his way, even walking across stormy seas to calm his disciples as well as the waves. And, when he arrived in his home territory, he went to the synagogue and read from Isaiah: He was here to proclaim liberty to the captives, to give sight to the blind, to grant freedom to the oppressed.

Clearly, Jesus saw the world “great with God” and embraced it. Read More 

His betrothed was pregnant. Not his child. Still, he loved her and wanted to spare her the shame and consequences of her condition. What to do? How to love her in such impossible circumstances. And his life? What next for him if what he had most desired and planned was no longer possible?

With so much weighing on his mind and tearing at his heart, how did Joseph sleep deeply enough to have the dream? He did, though, and remembered it on awakening. Mary hadn't been unfaithful. Really she had been radically faithful to the One they both worshipped.

In the midst of his turmoil, what word had he received? Get up. Take Mary home. Love her. Love her child. Make a home.

Extraordinarily common instructions from Adonai Yir'eh, the God Who Sees.

Difficult for Joseph, no doubt, this faith, this call to live as if nothing unusual had happened.

Today, in the midst of personal and national grieving for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary, in the face of a "fiscal cliff" and global economic crisis, in a world filled with poverty and violence, in a world where children are not safe, where the vulnerable are not protected. In such a world, what is Adonai's word for us?  Read More 

PHOTOS: Mary van Balen


"During the Easter season we recall his resurrection and, at Pentecost, the sending of the Spirit. Not only is God-with-Us; God is within us. Liturgically, we celebrate these two seasons at separate times, but we live them as they really are: both present at every moment."
Mary van Balen



Christmas and Easter? Read my column and find out.
 Read More 

Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
First Reading Isaiah 55:10-11





This passage always draws me in, speaking to my deepest self. Perhaps the imagery appeals to my love of snow, even in early spring, making an icy white stage for unfolding crocuses. The picture of nature's lush response to April's rains, holding the promise of blossoms and harvest in each green blade and clenched bud brings a smile and hope to my heart.

God's Word is life-giving. Nothing, not even a closed or fearful heart can prevent it from filling the world with Grace. Like warming temperatures and longer days, God's own life prevails. Nothing can keep flowers in the ground or leaves from unfurling on the web of tree branches once they feel the sun and drink the rains.

PHOTO: NASA

Something which has existed since the beginning,
that we have heard,
and we have seen with our own eyes;
that we have watched
and touched with our hands:
the Word, who is life –
this is our subject.
That life was made visible:
we saw it and we are giving our testimony,
telling you of the eternal life
which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.
What we have seen and heard
we are telling you
so that you too may be in union with us,
as we are in union
with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.
1Jn 1, 1-4

These words from the first letter of John capture the enormity of the improbable reality of the Incarnation: One who was from all eternity, One who was with the Father, has been made visible to us. Those who walked the earth at the same time Jesus did, not only saw the Divinity among them, but also touched him, ate with him, heard his voice, and spoke with him.

One might think that this would be enough, that nothing else could add to the joy or wonder of that experience. The last line in John's letter speaks otherwise: "We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete." Read More 

IMAGE:Picasso Peace Dove Two


He himself will be peace.
Micah 5,4



These words, taken from today's mid-morning reading (Terce), speak a profound message to us as Christmas approaches. The world is filled with violence and injustice, from our own neighborhoods to countries on the other side of the planet.

Overwhelmed, we can become paralyzed or apathetic, not because we don't want to do something, but because we don't know what to do or where to start.  Read More 

Today the Catholic Times published a cover article: Catholic Blogs:Sharing the Gospel in the Digital Age by Tim Puet. When Tim interviewed me for the article, he saved this question for last: If Jesus were alive today, would he be a blogger? If so, what would he blog about?

I did not hesitate to answer "Yes." I think Jesus would take advantage of opportunities offered by modern technology to reach a broad audience with his message. As I read the CT article, I was intrigued by fellow blogger Patrick Madrid's comment that, in his opinion, Jesus would not blog as he preferred face to face communitcation. Read More 

PHOTO: Reuters/BP Live Video Feed

The AP article written by Colleen Long and Matthew Daly is one among many that mention the need to monitor the sea bed in the Gulf for possible leaks resulting from undetected damage to BP's well deep under the ocean floor that may be exacerbated by increased pressure caused by capping the well.

Until the past few days, I had not considered effects capping the well would have other than finally shutting down the gushing plumes of oil fouling the Gulf. Why was the news that the sea floor itself could be compromised surprising? It is logical, and it points to a reality we too often overlook: Everything in our world, in the universe, in interconnected; Everything. Read More 

PHOTO:Mary van Balen
"BROTHER, SISTER, LET ME SERVE YOU; LET ME BE AS CHRIST TO YOU; PRAY THAT I MAY HAVE THE GRACE TO LET YOU BE MY SERVANT, TOO."

QUOTES: 'The Servant Song'by Richard Gillard, 1977 Text and Music copyright ©1977 Scripture in Song (Admin. by Maranatha! Music) Hear song sung by composer

My heart moved within me as I sung this song at Mass today. Truly, I have received grace to accept to gift of Christ given to me through many others in my life and especially over the past months.




"WE ARE PILGRIMS ON A JOURNEY, WE ARE FAMILY ON THE ROAD; WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER WALK THE MILE AND BEAR THE LOAD."

The mile we walk and the load we carry changes as time flows by. The friends who walk with us at one moment are not always the same ones who companion us later, but their gift of support remains. We are strong support for others during some stages of life, and at different stages we need support in ways that surprise us.
 Read More 

Many people seem eager to say goodbye to the holidays. Christmas trees that went up the day after Thanksgiving were taken down December 26. Candy canes and decorations are piled into shopping carts with “75% OFF” signs taped to them, and Valentine's Day goodies have taken their places on store shelves.

Having grown up in a house that saw neither tree nor candle before Christmas morning (Santa brought it all), I am not ready for business as usual. Christmas lasts twelve days, and I have three left. Christmas is a holiday to savor. Madeleine L’Engle called the incarnation the “Glorious Impossible,” and so it is.

One day is hardly enough to celebrate God’s coming to tell us that we are the desire of the Divine Heart and Love is the way in. Jesus showed us that even death would not stand in the way of Infinite Love. So, I am still singing along with Christmas carols as I drive, writing holiday greetings, and baking cookies.

I celebrated 2010’s arrival with my brother and sister-in-law and two of their friends. Tom had built an amazing snow squirrel in their backyard, a truly unique sight! We laughed, ate homemade pizza and salad, and watched a movie in the living room lit by Christmas tree glow.

Simple things: Sharing tea and conversation with friends; dinner with my daughters; enjoying wine and playing family games. Walking in snow. Wrapping up those I love with a warm embrace. Ordinary joys become more delicious when I take time to recognize the wonder of them all.

I can hear Fr. Michael Himes saying if something is always and everywhere true, it must be noticed and celebrated somewhere, sometime.

God is everywhere and always with us. These twelve days of Christmas are a time to stop and notice, to rejoice in the gift of Divine Self that was given in a complete and extraordinary way in the life of Jesus.  Read More