Jan 1: Mary, Mother of God and New Year

Mary, Mother of God and New Year

Anecdote: There is a beautiful, little story about a long, tedious train journey made, one Christmas day, by some elderly residents of a nursing home who were on their way to a vacation spot. At one station, a young mother with a small child entered the train. The child smiled at all the grim faces around him and began moving from one lap to another talking, shouting with joy and chatting with everyone. Instantly, the grim and silent atmosphere in the train was changed to one of joy and happiness. Today we remember with joy and gratitude, how Mary and her Divine Son Jesus transformed a hopeless, joyless and sinful world into a place of joy and happiness. 

Holy Family - C:

 Introduction by the Celebrant
(Liturgical Prayers of the day are included at the end)

A. In The House Of The Father

It may come as a real surprise to us to hear Jesus ask Mary and Joseph: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be where my Father is?" Even Joseph and Mary had still to learn and to grow in their faith. Like the Holy Family, our families and each of us have also to grow in the faith. Perhaps it is through painful trials like the one of Mary and Joseph that our faith may become mature. We too are asked: Did you not know...?

Nativity - Dec 25

25 December 2012: the Nativity of the Lord

At the outset let me express my sincere and prayerful wishes of the Nativity of the Lord. May the promises of hope, joy, peace, love of his birth be fulfilled in each of us now and always.
it happened during the carol service. A young lad dressed like a Santa Claus and accompanied us. When the carols are sung he would dance and entertain the household and finally would distribute sweets to all. It so happened that in a house he was dancing very well. A little child who was looking at the Santa Claus was smiling and trying to imitate the steps. When we were about to leave the Santa Claus asked for a glass of water. The mother of the house extended a glass. The boy removed his Santa mask to drink water. As soon as he removed the mask, the little child, who was smiling and dancing started crying and went to hide behind its mother. The mask made him laugh. The unmasking made him cry. It happens in our relationships too. People tend to like us or we tend to like them not for what they are but for the masks they were. The humble birth of Jesus brings to us the face of God. In Jesus there was no mask. That is why people were afraid to take him in – in their inn and in their hearts.

Christmas 2012 - Homilies and Stories

Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Year C

John Littleton

Gospel Reflection

Christmas has finally Come. We rejoice that the Word has become flesh, that God the Son has become human while remaining divine. There is no more waiting because the Messiah has arrived and now is the time liberation from our enslavement to sin. But this is n surprising since, in the Hebrew Scriptures ( Christians call the Old Testament), this arrival had b prophesied for many centuries before the birth of Christ.

Santa’s message to teach Children

“The True Meaning of Christmas”

This is how it happened…I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house.
I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.
He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. “What are you doing?” I started to ask.
The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone.
Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement. I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question,
and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said,
“Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. “Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle.
“Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind,
all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.
“He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.
God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.”
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. “Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world,
and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree.
“Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases.
Love is one continuous round of affection.”He then pulled from his bag an Ornament of Himself. “Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity
and good will we feel during the month of December.”
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality.
It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him.”
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS begotten SON…”
“Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. “Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE and presented
HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that the candy cane
represents the shepherds’ crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock.
The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.”
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. “Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth.
The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men.”
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL .
“Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold.
The bell symbolizes guidance and return.”
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes.
He said, “Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center,
for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD.”

PRAYER TO WELCOME IMMIGRANTS (US)

LCWR REGION 6

O God,  You welcome all your children,

And embrace even the prodigal ones,
Help us open our hearts
And welcome all who come, searching
As our ancestors did,
For the promise of a new land, a new life.
Root out fear from our souls;
Help us form the words
"Sister" and "Brother"
As we greet the newcomers.
Let us remember that,
With your grace,
There are enough loaves and fishes
To go around
If we come together
As your family.         
Give us the courage
And the compassion
To respect the rights of all
In this country of abundance,
To embrace all in
The name of Your love.

Quotes 60 - Life

"And in the end it's not the years in your
life that count. It's the life in your years."

- Abraham Lincoln