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A beautiful quote to reflect on this First week of Advent:
"The liturgy of Advent...helps us to understand fully the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an 'advent,' a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously."
St. John Paul I|
A good day to express our gratitude to God for Maidie Weisbarth, parishioner and iconographer who has written the icons we pray with in the St. Francis Chapel and parish throughout the liturgical year. Pax et Bonum🙏
Hope
When we live with hope our prayers are not directed toward the gift but toward the One who gives it. Ultimately, it is not a question of having a wish come true but of expressing an unlimited faith in the giver of all good things. . . . Hope is based on the premise that the other gives only what is good. Hope includes an openness by which you wait for the promise to come through, even though you never know when, where, or how this might happen.
-Henri Nouwen
MEMORIAL OF JOHN DAMASCENE, PRIEST, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Think of how much sacred images of Jesus, Mary, angels, and the saints—in painting, stained glass, and sculpture—have filled your life and stimulated your spirit. You might have many sacred images throughout your home. Perhaps you can find them in different public places in your city. Our Catholic churches are certainly full of them. Think of how much they inspire and prompt you to momentary prayer, a fleeting lifting of your heart and mind to God as you pass by them, or to a deeper contemplation in faith. You can partly thank John Damascene, who defended holy images against iconoclasm, a movement of the eighth century that opposed religious icons. Treasure the rich imagery of our tradition.
TODAY'S READINGS: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11.
“Many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
#takefiveforfaith
You have humbled yourself, Christ my God, so that you might carry me, your stray sheep, on your shoulders.
- Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church, whose feast is today.
Happy first Sunday of Advent
Advent is often marked by the lighting of candles with the first candle symbolizing HOPE.
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."
Isaiah 9: 2
"For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees for itself is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance."
Romans 8:24-25
Amen 🙏
Stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn…
- Mark 13: 35
LIVE🌟EXPECTANTLY
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People look East and sing today: Love, the Guest, is on the way.
