Prayer: John of the Cross

The Father uttered one word; that word is his Son. And he utters him forever in everlasting silence; and in silence the soul has to hear it.

Question: Do you Believe?

A Chicago-based newscaster was angrily criticized because she ranted about economic woes and warned against creating unrealistic expectations of children through a fictionalized Santa Claus. She declared that Santa did not exist. She was denounced by her online colleague, people on the street, and angry callers to the TV station.

Watch the face of children and adults as Santa visits their town or a nearby mall. They all want to catch a glimpse of him and spend a moment with this magical omniscient man who brings happiness into the lives of many. He brings hope and promise. Although he is largely an icon of a commercialize Christmas season, do you still believe in him?

Prayer: In the Spirit of Giving

Giving is born in a heart filled with thankfulness. Choose to live with an attitude of constant gratitude by counting the blessings in each day. Rather than exerting efforts to accumulate more, we will be spurred onto share from the abundance we already have.

The Very Best Time of Year

Christmas trees and boughs of holly,
Yuletide logs and mistletoe,
Candles burning bright and meadows frosty white,
and faces in the firelight's glow.

Sounds of happy children's voices,
Singing carols that you love to hear.
Then the silence of the night
and the winter air so still and clear.

Feels like you could reach and touch the sky,
or catch a star and fly away,
Feels like you could wish for peace on earth,
and all at once it would come some day.

Families and friends together
Feel a special kind of love and cheer,
Sharing all the joys of Christmas time.
The very best time of year.

- That shining magic time of year.

Prayer: Third Century Manuscript

Of the light of dawn let none be silent nor let the bright stars be wanting in praise: let all the foundations of the rivers lift up their songs to the Father, Son, and Spirit.

So let all powers on earth cry aloud: Amen, Amen. Might and honor, glory and praise to God, only giver of all that is good. Amen.

Prayer: Francis Xavier

Devote your first and principal care to cleansing your own conscience. Let cleansing the consciences of others come later. For how can one be of use to others who takes no care for oneself?

Prayer: Advent Prayer

God of peace, God of justice,
At this Advent time you call us to awaken
to the gift of your life,
to be attentive to the signs of your coming,
to tend and foster the possibilities for life, for love,
to learn again to beat our swords into ploughshares,
to create peace.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly!

The Advent Wreath

Advent wreaths were originally part of folk traditions of Northern Europe. Wreaths of evergreens were decorated with candles to symbolize life and light during the dark months of winter. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God. Evergreens stay green all year and so signify continuous life.

Each of the four candles represent one of the Sundays of Advent. We needn't worry about the colors of the candles; traditionally, three violet candles and one rose candle are used, but you may prefer to use all royal blue candles, four violet candles or four white candles. The symbol is the flame, not the color. Each Sunday, the light of the wreath glows brighter as a reminder that Christ comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope.

As you light the first candle, sing a verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, re–read part of today's Gospel, and say a brief concluding prayer.

FIRST WEEK

Light one of the violet candles. During the rest of the week, this candle is lit again at the evening meal or whenever you choose to do so. Say a prayer like the following:

Jesus, as we wait for your coming, help us not to be afraid but to trust in you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of hope into our lives. May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts. Amen.

from St. Cecilia parish in Boston

Second Sunday in Advent

December 4, 2011

Isaiah 40:1-15; 9-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

          We are already at the Second Sunday of Advent and yet far enough away from Christmas that we can still listen to the voice of the One who calls us to slow down and offer quality time in prayer. These are the days in which we initially prepare ourselves for the Lord's arrival. Our good choices today will determine how meaningful the Advent and Christmas season will be for us.

          Amidst all the upcoming frenetic activities, the distant voice of John the Baptist is coming into range. This is the voice foretold by Isaiah 40. He stands in the desert urging people to prepare the way of the Lord, who is preceding the faithful ones on their return from exile to holy Jerusalem. In Mark, the Baptist declares the repentance for the forgiveness of sins is the fitting preparation to meet the Lord.  

          I prayed over this passage before I began a nature walk at Crane's Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts the other day. As I walked through the narrow path that meandered through the sand dunes, it was easy to imagine the people who left the towns of Judah in search of John the Baptist. I wondered what it would be like to encounter a man who was so fervent about his faith and had such a peculiar dietary practice, but I wondered more about the throngs of people who left the comfort of their homes to publicly speak their sins to this wild-eyed man. Something deep was drawn out of them, which led them to him.

          I considered what would have attracted me most to the Baptist - his eyes that penetrate deeply into human souls or the words that announce that our salvation is at hand. What about acknowledging my sins in public? This is uncomfortable and yet John was able to elicit trust in each of the penitents who sought his counsel and baptism. Coming clean about our sins leads to our liberation. Sin will no longer rule over us once we speak them to another. No greater jail exists than the silence we contain within us.

          The effect of letting another know of our sins is that we no longer pay attention primarily to our own voice that mediates judgment. We can finally hear what the Lord proclaims - for God proclaims peace. The psalmist sings, "kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss." We have to consider what we really fear in keeping our sins to ourselves, then we have to meditate on the liberation we experience when we are met with God's mercy.

          The Lord asks Isaiah to speak these words to the people. "Comfort, give comfort to my people. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her service is at an end and her guilt is expiated." This does not sound like a harsh, angry, judgmental God, but rather one who desires to welcome a long-exiled people home. This is a parent God who wants to give the returning children a big, warm, longing embrace as they return home. God desires nothing more than our presence so God can delight in us.

          Just as I walked the sandy paths of Crane's beach and the Jews crossed the desert to see John the Baptist, we journey through treacherous terrain on our quest to meet God. If we learn to listen to God's voice and heed the words of our sage guides, then the path that opens before us is simple and straight. We can walk that path any time - even in the midst of holiday busyness.

          If we truly believe we can meet God, we can respond with excitement just like the returning exiled Jews who cried out at the top of their voices, "Here is our God! Here comes with power the Lord God. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock, in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom and leading the ewes with care."

          Set out on your journey with the expectation you will meet your God. Be confident that God will meet you. Learn what God wants to do for you. Feel the ways your heart wants to explode when God tells you your salvation is at hand. Let God carry you in his bosom and lead you with the tender care he wants to show you.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading:  Isaiah details the ways that all of Judah will rejoice with the return of God's redeemed. All creation will burst forth to reveal the glory of the Lord. Safe passage for the purified ones is assured. God turns to the weary people to give them comfort and to speak tenderly to them for God is glad they have repented and returned. This God is the King of Glory and is mighty in all deeds. God will teach them what is for their good and will lead them on the way. The people just need to trust that God means good for them at all times. ~ The prophet Elijah appears and speaks with words as hot as a flaming furnace. His words shut up the heavens and his deeds are awesome. Here is a prophet people can hear. He will turn back the hearts of fathers towards their sons and will re-establish the tribes of Jacob.

Gospel: As Jesus was teaching, some men brought a paralyzed man to him on a stretcher so he could be healed. Jesus forgave his sins amidst the Pharisees protests. He then healed the man even though it was the Sabbath. Jesus then asks if a good shepherd would leave behind his ninety-nine sheep in search of one that is lost? He tells us that the Father would do this for you. He then tells the people to learn from him for he is gentle and humble of heart. Jesus then speaks of the fickle present generation who would not dance when the flute was played for them and will not mourn when a dirge is played for them. People begin to wonder about the origin of his extraordinary power to do good. As Jesus came down the mountain with his friends they asked about the timing of the coming of the Messiah. Their belief tells them that Elijah must come first. Jesus tells them Elijah is already present in the person of John the Baptist.

Saints of the Week

Tuesday: Nicholas, bishop (d. 350), lived in southwest Turkey and was imprisoned during the Diocletian persecution. He attended the Council of Nicaea in 324. Since there are many stories of his good deeds, generous charity, and remarkable pastoral care, his character became the foundation for the image of Santa Claus.

Wednesday: Ambrose, bishop and doctor (339-397) was a Roman governor who fairly mediated an episcopal election in Milan. He was then acclaimed their bishop even though he was not baptized. He baptized Augustine in 386 and is doctor of the church because of his preaching, teaching and influential ways of being a pastor.

Thursday: The Immaculate Conception of Mary is celebrated today, which is nine months before her birth in September. She immaculate conception prepares her to become the mother of the Lord. Scripture tells of the annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel. Mary's assent to be open to God's plan makes our salvation possible.

Friday: Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474-1548) was a poor, simple, indigenous man who was visited by Mary in 1531. She instructed him to build a church at Guadalupe near Mexico City. During another visit, she told him to present flowers to the bishop. When he did, the flowers fell from his cape to reveal an image of Mary that is still revered today.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Dec. 4, 1870: The Roman College, appropriated by the Piedmontese government, was reopened as a Lyceum. The monogram of the Society over the main entrance was effaced.

·         Dec. 5, 1584: By his bull Omnipotentis Dei, Pope Gregory XIII gave the title of Primaria to Our Lady's Sodality established in the Roman College in 1564, and empowered it to aggregate other similar sodalities.

·         Dec. 6, 1618: In Naples, the Jesuits were blamed for proposing to the Viceroy that a solemn feast should be held in honor of the Immaculate Conception and that priests should make a public pledge defend the doctrine. This was regarded as a novelty not to be encouraged.

·         Dec. 7, 1649: Charles Garnier was martyred in Etarita, Canada, as a missionary to the Petun Indians, among whom he died during an Iroquois attack.

·         Dec. 8, 1984: Walter Ciszek, prisoner in Russia from 1939 to 1963, died.

·         Dec. 9, 1741: At Paris, Fr. Charles Poree died. He was a famous master of rhetoric. Nineteen of his pupils were admitted into the French Academy, including Voltaire, who, in spite of his impiety, always felt an affectionate regard for his old master.

·         Dec 10, 1548. The general of the Dominicans wrote in defense of the Society of Jesus upon seeing it attacked in Spain by Melchior Cano and others. 

Prayer: of Praise

Blessed is the tree that takes times to sink deep roots. It shows us what we have to do in order to withstand the storm.

Blessed is the seed that falls on good soil and so produces a rich harvest; It shows us what happens when we take the word of God to heart.

Blessed is the vine which, having been pruned becomes all the more fruitful. It shows us the good of self-denial.

Blessed are the flowers of the field. Their beauty bears witness to God's prodigal artistry.

Blessed are the many sparrows. Their carefree life gives us a lesson to trust in providence.

Blessed is the wind, coming from where we do not know, to set sails in motion, to breathe life into dying embers. It reminds us of the mysterious workings of the Spirit.

Blessed is the rain that falls without favor on all fields. In it we see a reflection of God's indiscriminate love for all God's children.

Blessed are the leaves that know when to let go and do so in a blaze of color. They show us how to die.