Gifts of Immeasurable Value We are constantly surrounded by advertising in a growing variety of forms. Ads creep into nearly everything we do. And this ramps up even more during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent invites us to take a break from the deluge of ads and seek something deeper and more lasting than the latest electronics or the best deal on that kitchen appliance that everyone needs this year. Advent invites us to seek a sense of peace and wholeness in our hearts and in our daily lives. If we do that even in small ways this year, we will have an immeasurable gift to share with our loved ones and possibly even with our world. —from the book Simple Gifts: Daily Reflections for Advent | †Quote
"Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently."
— St. Francis of Assisi † MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Your Lord is seated at the Father's right hand in heaven. How then is the bread His body? And the chalice, or rather its content, how is it His Blood? These elements are called Sacraments, because in them one thing is perceived by the sense and another thing by the mind. What is seen has a bodily appearance; what the mind perceives produces spiritual fruit. You hear the words, 'The Body of Christ', and you answer 'Amen.'"
— Saint Augustine, p. 91
AN EXCERPT FROM
Augustine Day by Day † VERSE OF THE DAY
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." John 15:12-14 |  click to read more | | ST. BARBARA St. Barbara (3rd c.) was born in Nicomedia in modern day Turkey. According to tradition, after the death of her mother she was raised by her rich and tyrannical pagan father who, because of her beauty and intelligence, guarded her closely, keeping her locked away in a tower to protect her from the outside world. She was educated by tutors and came to reject the false gods she was taught to worship in favor of the true God for whom she yearned and wished to discover, dedicating her life and virginity to this purpose. She developed a prayer life and resisted her father's attempts to have her marry. Believing Barbara to be negatively affected by the seclusion, her father allowed her more freedom to associate with the world. She soon discovered Christians, and, recognizing the Creator she sought, and was baptized in secret. After informing her father that she was a Christian, he denounced her to the authorities under the persecution of Roman Emperor Maximian. She was imprisoned and cruelly tortured, but remained steadfast in her faith. During the night she would pray fervently, and her wounds would miraculously heal. This only subjected her to greater torments, followed by more miraculous interventions. She was finally beheaded by her own father, and afterward he was struck and killed by lightening as punishment. St. Barbara is the patron saint of firemen, armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and others who work with explosives. She is also the patron against storms, lightning, and fire, to name a few. St. Barbara's feast day is December 4th. Maximian
Maximia | Tuesday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1 Is 11:1-10 On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea. On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious. Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 10:21-24 Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
| Meditation: Isaiah 11:1-10 Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial) His dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10) When you look at a nativity scene, you will see hay and animals. And right in the center of it all is Jesus, the Son of God, lying in a manger. Who would have thought that he would choose to make his glorious dwelling in such a humble setting? Let this truth sink in: Jesus, the Messiah, was willing to come right into the heart of our world and be born in a stable. No pomp. No fanfare. No royal attendants. His presence alone made that stable glorious. Every day, Jesus continues to come to us in humility. He chooses to enter our ordinary circumstances and make them glorious. When he does, our lives are graced just as that stable was two thousand years ago. He doesn't wait for just the right moment or the perfect setting. He embraces our highs and lows, triumphs and failures. Just as he came to an unkempt stable, Jesus is happy to come into your messy home. Just as he was surrounded by the sounds of noisy animals, he is there in the midst of crying children or difficult relationships. Just as he came to a displaced family huddled in a cave, he is there when we feel isolated or afraid. He comes to prison cells and hospital rooms just as readily as he comes to families gathered around the table and worshippers gathered around the altar. Jesus is always Emmanuel, God with us, in times of joy and times of sorrow. He comes and fills them with his glory. Jesus always comes to you, regardless of your situation. The smelliness of the stable cannot take away from the beauty of his presence. Your own unworthiness or failings cannot dim his glory. He embraces every part of your life, and by doing so, he makes you glorious! So don't be afraid to welcome Jesus. Don't think you're unworthy. Don't let shame or fear keep you from opening the door to him. He knows what it's like to live in an all-too-human, less-than-perfect world. Not only will he come into your home and your life, but he will change it—simply by his loving presence. "Jesus, come and dwell in every part of my life. Make me into your glorious dwelling place." Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Luke 10:21-24 | 2 cents :
"The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations...". Everything was chopped in the days of old. The world needed a Messiah. And the Savior came. And the world? They said they needed a savior, but when He came? He was not recognized, for 33 years, He was rejected as soon as He was revealed. Is it any different today? Most want Christmas without the Christ. And you? Me? The stump has blossomed. The stump is now its own tree...of life...Jesus. The signal of life born from a dead stump, the wood of the cross, alive, and thriving. | Let us pray: "May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever." How can we bless Him? Simple. Do as He says. Not as He asks, but as HE SAYS. Commandments are not questions. The words of Christ are not invitations. Come, follow. | In comes our Lord from Heaven: "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. " The childlike are revealed what things? What hidden things? What is hidden in the world? Many things. Many things not sought. Things made of grace. Things of humility. Things of light. Things that gear towards eternity. When you go to church, do you go seeking Him, or do you go to put on a show? When you take the Eucharist, what are you taking? By force? Why are you "taking" the Eucharist? It is to be received. How? Bless God. How? An open soul's heart. What do you desire? What does your heart desire? How about what God desires? I think we'll have to realize a couple of things; First, you will not be perfect, second, you will always have to try. We will be eventually made perfect, but not in this life. So, the church is not perfect. Never has been. We make up the church. What's wrong with the Church today? Us. In Church, we expect perfection of a priest. But we expect little of our own perfection. We must surpass one another's holiness. This is the true race. How can I better serve and love God? How can I show you more of grace? Grace loves grace. And who loves humility?
Our Father.
So Mary beholds the child of God. The Father is revealed through Jesus. That is the Father, and she loves Him all the more.
Who desires Jesus? Because they say He is coming. They say He has been left as a signal. The Holy Spirit. There are signs everywhere pointing us to Him. But it doesn't look pretty. The cross looks painful. I don't want to give like that...do I? Do you want to see Our Father? Our Father does want to see you...
To See you in His desire...in His eyes | |
