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

The Mother with one eye - Story

My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family.
There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed.

Advent 4 C - Dec 23 - Homilies (2)

4 Advent Sunday C - Homilies

Background:

The Gospel of Luke, above all books of the New Testament, is about women. It reads as if a woman might have written it. It contains intimate details which hardly would have occurred to a man. It begins with the birth of John the Baptist, focusing on Elizabeth, his mother. The next major section is Mary's story. To her we will shortly return. There follows the prophecy of an old woman named Anna. When the boy Jesus went to the temple to debate the learned doctors, the only person Luke quotes is his mother.

Quotes 59 - Prudence

"The young do not know enough to
be prudent, and therefore they attempt
the impossible -- and achieve it,
generation after generation."

- Pearl S. Buck

Christmas Gifts and Songs - Old and New

Dear Santa,  I don't want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to be happy.  Friends are the fruit cake of life - some nutty, some soaked in alcohol, some sweet - but mix them together and they're my friends, MY fruit-cakes !

Here's your personal X'mas Juke-box .... just CLICK & enjoy ! !

Christmas  Songs A Holly Jolly ChristmasBurl Ives Away In A MangerLoretta Lynn Christmas AlphabetThe McGuire Sisters Christmas Country ChristmasThe Statler Brothers Christmas In My HometownSonny James Christmas SongAlvin & The Chipmunks Christmas Times A ComingBill Monroe & The  Boys Christmas WaltzFrank Sinatra Christmas Without YouKenny & Dolly Parton Frosty The SnowmanGene Autry Grandma Got Run Over By A ReindeerElmo & Patsy Hard Rock Candy ChristmasDolly Parton Hark The Herald Angels SingNat King Cole Have Yourself A Very Merry ChristmasRosemary Clooney Home For The HolidaysPerry Como Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa ClausJimmy Boyd Its a Most Wonderful Time Of The YearJohnny Mathis Jingle Bell RockBobby Helms Jingle Bells Roy S Jingle BellsPerry Como Jingle BellsThe Jingle  Piggie Joy To The WorldNat King Cole Leroy, the Redneck ReindeerJoe Diffie Let It SnowAndy Williams Lets Put Christ Back Into ChristmasTammy Wynette Little Drummer BoyNeil Diamond O Christmas TreeNat King Cole Please Come HomeThe Platters Pretty PaperRoy Orbison Rocking Around The Christmas TreeBrenda Rudolph The Red Nose ReindeerGene Autry Rudolph The Red Nose ReindeerUnknown Group Santa BabyCynthia Basinet Santa Claus Is Coming To TownBing Crosby Santa Claus Is Watching YouRay N S Silver BellsBing Crosby/Peggy Silent NightDean Martin Sleigh RideJohnny Mathis The First NoelAndy Williams Up On The HousetopGene Autry White ChristmasBing Crosby White ChristmasThe Drifters (1954) Winter WonderlandBrenda Christmas with Elvis

Advent - Christmas Dec 24 Monday

No Room For Them

It’s hard to decide about Christmas cards. They’ve begun to feel a bit old-fashioned in our electronic world; and there  is a triteness about them sometimes. But the real problem is deciding who to send them to. You’d like to be sure of including those who are likely to send you a card, so the lines get blurred and the list expands. in the end, you can find yourself including everybody who might be suspected of sending you their seasonal greetings. The lists never match and there is a last minute rush to fill the gaps. But whatever the defects of the cards, the thought behind it is undeniably good.

Quotes 58 - Happiness and Disposition

"I have learned that the greater part of
our misery or unhappiness is
determined not by our circumstance
but by our disposition."

- Martha Washington