Episode Transcript
[00:00:06] Hello. Today is December 1st, the first Sunday of the 2024 Advent season.
[00:00:26] We start our reflection by learning about Nicholas Black Elk, a servant of God. Born on this day in 1863, black elk was welcomed into a family of medicine men and healers.
[00:00:42] The second cousin of Crazy Horse, Black Elk grew up in South Dakota and Wyoming and fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded knee massacre. In 1890, after recovering from injuries sustained at Wounded Knee, he lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and married his first wife, a Lakota Catholic convert.
[00:01:09] They had three children, all baptized and raised Catholic.
[00:01:14] After his first wife died, Black Elk converted to Catholicism and took on the additional name Nicholas.
[00:01:23] Nicholas Black Elk later remarried and had three more children, also baptized and raised Catholic.
[00:01:32] Following his conversion, Nicholas Black Elk became a catechist.
[00:01:38] He instructed people in the faith, integrating his teachings with Lakota culture.
[00:01:44] He provided Communion or scripture services when a priest was unavailable, prayed over the sick, and buried the dead.
[00:01:54] He is credited with helping to bring more than 400 people to the faith, serving as godfather to more than 100 of them.
[00:02:03] Nicholas Black Elk died in 1950. In 2019, Bishop Robert Gruse, former bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, St. Nicholas Black Elk's canonization cause to the Vatican. If canonized servant of God, Nicholas Black Elk would be the first male Native American saint from the United States.
[00:02:37] Let's turn to our reflection.
[00:02:46] Today, the church lights the first of four candles on the Advent wreath. Perhaps you will want to light a candle too.
[00:02:55] There are now only 24 days until Christmas, and they'll probably be busier than any other 24 day stretch of the year.
[00:03:20] Something gets into us.
[00:03:22] We think we've got to make this Christmas bigger than last year's. Whatever surprise gift we pulled off last year, this year's has to be bigger.
[00:03:33] Whatever decorating we did last year, this year's has to outdo it.
[00:03:39] If that's the race we're caught in, we ought to get off the track. Instead of bigger, think better.
[00:03:47] The point is to enjoy Christmas even more, not take the fun out of it by being too busy, overtired and stressed out. This is a wonderful time of year, rich in memories and customs, with sights, sounds and smells all around that make us glad we're human beings.
[00:04:09] That fits because we're celebrating the Feast of God. Becoming human.
[00:04:16] How might we adjust our priorities to better plan for these next 24 days?
[00:04:23] Spending time with the Lord each day is a great place to start. If we're intentional about it, we'll find our hearts better prepared to adore Christ our Lord. This Christmas, we'll be ready to receive all he desires to give to us.
[00:04:45] What better gift could we ask for?
