Collect for First Sunday Advent Year C

 COLLECT SERIES

the Mass; Collect Series Icon.

The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent Year C reads as follows:

 

Grant your faithful, we pray, Almighty God,

the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ

with righteous deeds at his coming,

so that, gathered at his right hand,

they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week the following reflection questions emerged:

 

1. As we begin Advent, what is my resolve spiritually?

2. How do we intend to carry out my resolve during Advent- what is my plan?

3. How do I want to meet Christ at Christmas in a different way than last year?

4. Take time to make a spiritual stock take and consider my current level of spirituality and what areas I need to address?

5. What righteous deeds might I carry out this coming week that will be pleasing to God?

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 

The First Sunday of Advent marks the new Liturgical Year, and the Church shifts into a new Lectionary Cycle for Sundays, with 2021-22 from Year C, the Gospel of St. Luke. In the Sunday Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36) Jesus invites us to recognize the signs of the last days. We are reminded therefore that  Advent not only looks back at the first coming of Christ at Christmas, but our it is our opportunity for our own personal preparation for His Second Coming: "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

The traditional Collect of the last Sunday of the Church year began "Stir up the wills of Thy faithful people, we beseech Thee, O Lord..." With this request to God to "stir up" our wills, this day was traditionally called Stir-Up Sunday.
"Stir-Up Sunday" can now be the First Sunday of Advent. The traditional Collect of the First Sunday is asking God to stir up His might: "Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come."  Our updated Collect invites us to have the resolve- again stirring us into action.

Many families create a traditional plum pudding or fruit cake or some other recipe that all the family and guests can "stir-up." This activity of stirring-up the ingredients is symbolic of our hearts that must be stirred in preparation for Christ's birth.

What needs stirring in my heart this Advent?  How will I stand ready and stay awake?

 

Happy New Year- Year C

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Advent Wreath.

 

It is the start of the new liturgical year - Year C and it is time to enter into more deeply the season of Advent.  Advent recalls the waiting for the Messiah of course, but it is also about the second coming of Christ in all His glory at the end of time.

 

I especially like Advent because it gives me a chance to review my life and make a plan, set goals and have a very good stocktake of myself.   I especially love Year C of Advent because it gives me the opportunity to review the goals I set  at the beginning of Advent last year and see what progress I have made through God’s help during the year.    How many times when you go to an interview is the question asked ''Where do you want to be in 5 years’ time?  I like to ask myself that same question using the 3 year cycle instead.

 

It is always good to acknowledge growth because it can motivate us to know that good has occurred. Reviewing my life is good because it helps me to refocus my attention to what matters.  Setting goals and making an effort to implement them keeps me on track to further progress. Using these tools for my spiritual growth seems an obvious extension.

 

So I ask myself

1. What areas of my life do I want to be different this time next year/ 2 /3 years time?
2. What areas do I want to work on specifically in Advent?
3. Do I need someone else to journey with me to encourage me on my journey- a spiritual director, a Christian counsellor, a spiritual mentor - if so, who might that be?
4. What goals will I set and how will I implement them- in other words I set the goals and then break the goals down into manageable bite size pieces- putting a general time line on these goals is important b/c it keeps me motivated.  However, there is always more with God and His timeline may be different from mine.  So I keep this point firmly in mind- not as an excuse to fail but as a realistic factor in the journey of faith.

Advent too is a penitential season. We are reminded of it with the violet vestments that the priest wears.  Leading up to Christmas can be difficult with various parties to include some fasting.  However, with intention to include it as part of your advent journey, it can be achieved. 

Start small- maybe you fancy another mince pie.  They are a real weakness of mine.!!!!

Going without a second, third or fourth one is a starting point.  Remember though your motive.  Is your motive God related or weight related?  Do you have a tendency towards greed or lack of temperance in food/drink? If so, then start small and make a start to change this vice towards a grace/virtue. We need to stay awake and be on our guard as the Gospel reminds us.

This way you can enjoy celebrating with your family/friends but you can also celebrate your own spiritual growth.

 

Many of us do a good spring clean before Christmas before family and friends come.  What about a spiritual spring clean?  What will do about your soul this advent? Find time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

I encourage you to not let Advent pass you by spiritually.  It is a very quick season liturgically speaking but we are meant to be in an attitude of waiting- waiting expectantly. We need to stay awake and be on our guard.

 

I hope you wait expectantly and with hope during this season of Advent.

 

Happy New Year.

 

Collect for Solemnity of Christ The King

 

COLLECT

The Mass: Collect Series Icon

The Collect for the Feast of Christ the King reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

whose will is to restore all things

in Your Beloved Son, the King of the Universe,

grant, we pray,

that the whole creation, set free from slavery,

may render your majesty service

and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for during the week the following reflection questions emerged:

1.  Is Christ, the King of the Universe, the King of my heart?
2.  What areas in my life need to surrender to Christ the King?
3. How can I work with Christ the King to set the whole world free from slavery?
4. What does rendering majestic service mean to me?  How will I render it this coming week?
5.  How will proclaim ceaselessly praise to Christ the King this coming week?
6.  How will this feast make a difference in my life?

7. How has my relationship with Christ grown this year?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical Year as next week we begin with First Sunday of Advent which is the start of liturgical year.  Let us not get ahead of ourselves. 
Today is the Feast of Christ the King and is celebrated not only as a feast, but a Solemnity because it is about Christ Himself.

During Mass, you may wish to think about the year and how you have grown spiritually.  During Mass we may wish to spend some time in prayer thanking Christ the King for all these blessings
 ( and many more we don't recall).

Perhaps as we think about the liturgical year, we may realise that our growth has not been as it needed to be.  I know as i write this post, a number of areas in my life are coming to mind.
Think about the reasons for that- not to blame but to acknowledge our part for our lack of growth and ask God for His forgiveness.  Added to that, we also need to have a firm resolve to do better.  So instead of  naming many areas- we may decide to commit to one or two areas in our lives that we commit to improve for the coming liturgical Year.  God expects us to do our best.  He does for us.

Perhaps you wonder why we have this Feast at all?   Click on the link to read my post on this Feast of Christ the King  that I wrote back in 2010.  It is still as relevant now as it was then.

Christ should be King of our hearts and minds in every area of our lives.  With a strong resolve and commitment and with God's grace, we can make sure that Christ is King of the Universe- our universe- our hearts.

As we celebrate this feast you may wish to listen to some uplifting music such as

Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah by Handel or

Lord every nation on earth shall adore You by Talbot.

Majesty .

How will YOU celebrate this Solemnity of Christ the King?

 

 

Solemnity of Christ The King.

 

Why have the Feast of Christ the King?

Why have the Feast of Christ the King?

Pope Pius XI universally instituted The Feast of Christ the King in 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas. Pius XI, and the rest of the Christian world, witnessed the rise of dictatorships in Europe, and saw Catholics being taken in by these earthly leaders. Pope Pius connected the denial of Christ as king to the rise of secularism, since at the time of Quas Primas, secularism was on the rise, and many Christians, even Catholics, were doubting Christ's authority, as well as the Church's, and even doubting Christ's existence. 

It is interesting to observe that just as the Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted when devotion to the Eucharist was at a low point, the Feast of Christ the King was instituted during a time when respect for Christ and the Church was waning, when the feast was most needed. In fact, it is still needed today, as these problems have not vanished, but instead have worsened.

Pope Pius hoped the institution of the feast would have various effects. They were:

1. That nations would see that the Church has the right to freedom, and immunity from the state (Quas Primas, 32).
2. That leaders and nations would see that they are bound to give respect to Christ (Quas Primas, 31).
3. That the faithful would gain strength and courage from the celebration of the feast, as we are reminded that Christ must reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies (Quas Primas, 33).

Today, the same distrust of authority exists, although the problem has gotten worse. Individualism has been embraced to such an extreme, that for many, the only authority is the individual self. The idea of Christ as ruler is rejected in such a strongly individualistic system. Also, many balk at the idea of kings and queens, believing them to be oppressive. Some even reject the titles of "lord" and "king" for Christ because they believe that such titles are borrowed from oppressive systems of government. However true these statements might be (some kings have been oppressive), these individuals miss the point: Christ's kingship is one of humility and service. The following two scripture quotes support this view.  Jesus said:

'You know that those who are recognised as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:42-45, NAB).
and also:
'Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"... Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world,to testify to the truth (John 18:33b, 36-37).

Jesus knew the oppressive nature of secular kings, and in contrast to them, He connected His role as king to humble service, and commanded His followers to be servants as well. In other passages of Scripture, His kingdom is tied to His suffering and death. While Christ is coming to judge the nations, His teachings spell out a kingdom of justice and judgment balanced with radical love, mercy, peace, and forgiveness. 

PRESENT DAY.

 Christ the King Sunday used to be celebrated on the last Sunday of October, but since the calendar reforms of 1969, the feast falls on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, which is the Sunday before Advent. It is fitting that the feast celebrating Christ's kingship is observed right before Advent, when we liturgically wait for the promised Messiah (King).

As we celebrate this solemnity, we may thank God that Pope Pius XI' instituted this  feast of Christ the King because it reminds us that our allegiance is to our spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy in whatever form it takes in our lives.

When we celebrate Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one willing to die for humanity and whose "loving-kindness endures forever." Christ is the king that gives us true freedom, freedom in Him. Christ radically redefined and transformed the concept of Kingship.

Collect for Thirty Third Sunday of Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

 

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Thirty Third Year B reads as follows:

 

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,

the constant gladness of being devoted to You,

for it is full and lasting happiness

to serve with constancy the author of all that is good.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. How devoted am I to God and the things of God?

2. What change/s will I commit to this coming week to become more devoted to God?

3. How have I served God with constancy and the author of all that is good in my life?

4. How will I serve God with constancy this coming week?

5. Do I truly believe that God is the author of all that is good and provides His goodness to me each day for my life?

6. When life is difficult, sickness, unemployment, problems of every kind showing up in my life, do I still believe in God-the author of all that is good?

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 13:24-32. This Gospel teaches us:

1. To accept that the Father is the only one who knows the end of time.  To speculate, to listen to those who ‘know that we are in end times’ can be tempting but we do not need to fall for this trap. Today’s Gospel is quite clear- it is the Father alone who knows and not even His Son or the angels know.

2.  To know how to live our lives each day- to recognise the signs that God provides in the natural and to act upon them in faith where it is necessary.

3.To be ready to meet God whenever He calls us to Himself.  We need to live our lives each day as though it is our last.  We do not know when God will call us to Himself. We can try our best to please God each day by being in relationship with Him every day, by living our lives according to the Gospel values and asking forgiveness when we fail through the sacrament of Reconciliation. 

 

Are we ready to be called God’s chosen?   In the month of November, we remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  God in His great love knows that we are not perfect and when we leave this earth that most of us will need some purification, some cleansing and healing before we can be truly called God’s chosen.  We would not want to stand in the presence of God not purified since God is goodness itself.

 

Many people are frightened of the concept of Purgatory. There is no need to be afraid.  It is a place that God provides to help us to be truly read and to be our best selves in His Presence.  It is a beautiful gift God provides us after death to help us on our way to Him.  However, we do not need or should not wait until then to turn towards God.  God provides us with our lives here and now on earth to know, love and serve Him.  Yes, we will fail many times a day, but that should only encourage us to try again, to move forward and to give our best every day.  We do not need to be depressed when we fail.  We turn to Him and ask forgiveness and we can start again.

The Holy Souls in Purgatory can pray for us.  We can ask loved ones who have passed to help us.  The Church teaches us that these Holy Souls can pray for us but they are not able to pray for themselves.  They rely on our prayers, our sacrifices, our efforts to help them.  In November, the Catholic Church remembers them in a special way.  However, we need to keep them in our prayers, our actions and sufferings of the day every day.

There are many Holy Souls who have no one to pray for them or they have been forgotten. Are we going to forget these people too?  For example: if we have a particular fault, tendency to a particular sin, wny not ask the Holy Souls to pray for you. Why not ask the Holy Souls who had that particular difficulty or that tendency to that sin to pray for you and unite yourself with those people through prayer for them.  They need to atone for these sins but your prayer for them, your work for them will make all the difference. They will have a greater understanding of your difficulty/ your tendency to that sin, since they had it in varying degrees themselves whilst on earth.  They will pray for you to overcome but you can pray and offer your day for them so they may be healed and cleansed too.

November Is almost half way through but start today and pray for our loved ones who have passed but also for those we do not know personally but are in need of our prayers and our day to help them.  Include the Holy Souls in your day every day.  Why not start today at Mass, start today with a kind word, or withholding an unkind word, start today with a fault, a tendency to sin and ask the Holy Souls to help you. 

Let us help the Holy Souls every day not just in November.  They need us and we need them. Let us be united in our efforts to be called by God His Chosen in Heaven.