Advent Daily Reflections
First Monday of Advent
December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
Isaiah 2: 1-5,
Matthew 8: 5-11
Carol Gaeke, OP – Director of Personnel
“Lord, my
servant is paralyzed.” The centurion’s words often parallel our feelings in the
face of the world’s ills. We experience the paralysis of fear and hopelessness
in the inability to stop war in Iraq
or in the horrendous growth of trafficking of women and children. But Isaiah
gives us hope. He says: “stream towards God’s mountain.” Climb that mountain
and see as God sees. From the mountaintop a hazy veil is often cast over the
vista beyond and one only sees indistinctly the view below. But God sees
through that haze to what can be. Isaiah proclaims it loudly: “they shall beat
their swords into plowshares.” Weapons of war will become tools of peaceful,
living. There shall be no more training for war. Military academics shall
become schools of peace. This is what God sees that we cannot.
Advent 1 B - Reflections
From Fr. Tony Kadavil's Collection:
Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 63: 16-17, 19; 64: 2-7
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9Gospel: Mark 13: 33-37
Introduction
The common theme of today’s readings is that vigilant service prepares us for the coming of Christ as our savior during Christmas and as our judge and Lord at the end of the world. The reason why the liturgical year ends and begins with the same theme is clear: if we have already embraced Jesus in his first coming, we will have no fear of his second coming. Advent is the season of special preparation and expectation for the coming of Christ. It encourages us to examine our lives, to reflect on our need for God to enter our lives and to prepare earnestly for, and eagerly await the coming of Christ. He will come to us in the celebration of the Incarnation, in His continual coming in our daily living and in His final coming as our Lord to judge us all and to renew the Father’s creation. Using apocalyptic images, the gospel urges the elect to be alert for the return of Christ because no one except the Father knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. Jesus summarizes the complexities of Christian living in two imperatives: "Take heed!" (Be on guard) and "Watch!" (Be alert, stay awake, and don’t grow careless). Our life on earth is to be one of productive service uninfluenced by a supervisor's presence or seeming absence.
To Find Lost Mobile
Simple to find
Lost Mobile After reading this mail please preserve the IMEI number in a notepad and send to your Email so that it will be permanetly with u An IMEI number-The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset. |
ADVENT 1 B Homilies
Christ the King 2014 - Homilies
1) Who's king in today's world? Size of the car, house, iPhone, number of likes in social media, position, title, pay packet, employees under....?
2) Who's the King of the Kingdom of God? Each one 1 denarius, look after the vineyard, talents to invest and multiply, come to the wedding feast, beloved son...., shepherd and servant leadership....
3) King who is a judge and our accountability. Reckoning day. We are forgiven by mercy and condemned by judgment. Health, wealth, responsibility, talents, wedding garment, shepherd, vineyard responsibility ......
4) Our baptism, confirmation, Eucharist does not matter at the end of the day, we wonder...? Mt 25 means these are foundations to look after the children of God. These give us the strength, inspiration, direction to do that. They are not titles, positions or entitlements for salvation...
T.K.
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33 Sunday A - Talents
It's not only what you have got, but it's how we use what we have got - with love- that matters!
We have nothing to do with how much ability we've got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus' spirit controls.
S.D. Gordon, The Bent-knee Time.
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Jack complains to God in prayer about his finances. "It's getting worse, Lord, after all my prayers to you. Give me a break. Let me at least win a lottery." Then he hears a voice from heaven, "Give me a break yourself. Buy at least a lottery ticket!"
32 Sunday A and Dedication of Lateran Basilica
Reflections on Both the Themes. - TK
3 Readings talk about God's presence in three areas: Nature (water & Herb) or creation. This is first temple. Second human persons, second temple. Third: social, civil and ecclesial structures. God first created time, space and context. Then created human beings. Sin and grace take place at a particular, location and context. Paradise had everything for grace and growth. Also the apple tree that caused sin.
During the plague in France, those who sought refuge in the churches were saved. This was because of the candle lights and incense that kept the rats away. context and time and place in God's plan! - TK
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Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
3 Readings talk about God's presence in three areas: Nature (water & Herb) or creation. This is first temple. Second human persons, second temple. Third: social, civil and ecclesial structures. God first created time, space and context. Then created human beings. Sin and grace take place at a particular, location and context. Paradise had everything for grace and growth. Also the apple tree that caused sin.
During the plague in France, those who sought refuge in the churches were saved. This was because of the candle lights and incense that kept the rats away. context and time and place in God's plan! - TK
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Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
Sisters and brothers, each week when we assemble for the Eucharist we enter into the presence of the Father, and offer him the sacrifice of praise in union with Christ Jesus. We enter into the presence of Christ, and through him into the presence of the Father. Today we reflect that as the people of the Lord Jesus we are called to be always awake and ready to bring his wisdom to our world and to be his presence among all the people we encounter.
31 Sunday A - Preaching without Practising
Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
Introduction to the Celebration
One of the great gaps in each of our lives is between
intentions and actions; we often have only the best intentions but what we
actually do is a lot less wholesome. We have noble words and ignoble deeds. We
make professions of faith with our lips, but not with our deeds or our wallets;
we say we are willing to be disciples of the master, but we often find easier
paths and other guides. We claim the enlightenment of the gospel and to be the
people of love and peace, yet our behaviour often brings the very name of
Christ into disrepute. It is this gap that is the focus of our thoughts and
prayers in this assembly. Let us reflect now on this chasm that opens up
between our public religious identity and our ways of living.
Nov 2 - All Souls
Fr. John Speekman
In the eyes of many purgatory is a bit of a ‘nuisance’ teaching belonging in the same category as angels and indulgences and even hell. It’s not easy to explain because not many understand it deeply and so it’s always making us run up not only against our own ignorance but the disbelief of our modern world as well – and that’s a real nuisance.
The word purgatory comes from the Latin "purgare" to make clean or to purify. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines it as: a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.
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