Monthly Archives: December 2019

The Feast of the Holy Family

29 Sunday Dec 2019

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The Holy Family, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1650

Each year, on the first Sunday after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We are invited to ponder and imitate the love of the Holy Family in our homes and families. Mary and Joseph are models of holy, faithful, obedient, and fruitful love in the rearing of the Christ Child.

St. John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World), articulated God’s plan for the family as an “intimate community of life and love.”[1] The Holy Trinity is a divine community of life and love, the intimate community of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – is an earthly model of this intimate community of life and love, lived in respect, obedience and humility to God the Father and to each other.

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The Light Has Come Into the World!

25 Wednesday Dec 2019

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Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1622

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The light has come into the world! Alleluia! God’s plan from the beginning of time has been to unite us to Him in a communion of love. After the fall of Adam and Eve when they “hid themselves from the Lord God” (Gen 3:8), God put a plan in motion to ardently seek us out and restore us to communion with Him. He went so far as to send His Son into the world so that He would be present among us.

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emman′u-el” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23

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Making Room for Jesus

22 Sunday Dec 2019

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And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Christmas is only a few days away. During these weeks of Advent, we have been emphasizing the importance of slowing down to spend time with Jesus instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the secular holiday season. Have you made time in your schedule to spend time with Jesus, contemplating His love, mercy, and forgiveness?

Thankfully, it is not too late. During the next couple of days, block out some time to quiet your heart and fix your eyes on Jesus, so that you can experience the wonder and awe of Christmas like never before.

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Building Our Life on Christ

15 Sunday Dec 2019

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During Advent, we have been emphasizing the importance of slowing down to spend time with Jesus instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the secular holiday season. The world has lost sight of what we are celebrating: the coming of the Christ child into the world for our salvation.

There are three ways to spend time with Jesus: The Sacraments, Scripture, and prayer. The foundation of our lives needs to be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

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Opening to the Grace of Advent

08 Sunday Dec 2019

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Reflect on the law of the Most High, and let his commandments be your constant study. Then he will enlighten your mind, and make you wise as you desire. Sirach 6:37

Last week we kicked off the new liturgical year in the Church with the beginning of Advent. The Church gives us Advent as a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child into the world. It is a time for silent contemplation of all God has done for us in sending His Son to save us from our sins. This is a stark contrast to the world around us that is feverishly shopping for gifts, preparing for holiday get-togethers, and focusing on the busyness of the season.

In the Church, liturgical years are called “years of grace.” All of the liturgies and prayers of Church take us through Jesus’ life, passion, death and resurrection, as well as other key moments in salvation history. This year, the new liturgical year began on December 1st. To make the new liturgical year spiritually great, a true “year of grace,” we need to predispose ourselves to receiving God’s grace.

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A Light to the Nations

01 Sunday Dec 2019

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“Lord…mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” Luke 22:29-32

Today marks the first Sunday in Advent and the start of a new liturgical year in the Church. While the world around us is feverishly shopping for gifts, preparing for holiday get-togethers, and focusing on the busyness of the season, the Church gives us Advent. This is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child into the world. It is a time to slow down and contemplate the meaning of God becoming man to save us from sin and death. This is a time when we should be conforming our lives more completely to Christ. We are His instruments in the world. Through our witness, others will come to know His love and mercy.

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