Advent Series of Hope: Tuesday of First Week of Advent: Believing.

Believing
'
'' You promised'' children often protest to their parents.  We as parents may think how did '' I will think about it'' become a promise?  How did the merest suggestion that I would consider their request take on the trappings of an oath?   It baffles me.
To children, a suggestion is as good as promise.  They believe in that promise, and their faith is unshakeable in you as parents.   Therein lies their hope.


So what is a promise?  What happens to us when a promise has been violated in any way.

In this day and age, words can be cheap.  People can promise to do something, be there for you or help you. It may give you some hope in a difficult situation that you are not going to be alone.
What do you feel when the promise of help, of being there for you in your hour of need is not followed through- is not fulfilled.

How we feel and think about a promise whether positive or negative can influence our belief in God fulfilling His promises to us.  Of course, God always fulfils his promises but we, may not see it that way. We may have lost hope or lost our faith and belief in God who loves us.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is known as 'the prophecy candle' in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah

During this advent let us renew our faith and belief in God who loves us. Let us relearn how to trust God again in our lives.

Suggestion:

1.Light the Prophecy Candle of your advent wreath.  Spent some time quietening your spirit and coming into the Be still for the presence of the Lord the bright warm light of the Candle. Read the scripture:

Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful ones';

the Lord will hear me when I call upon Him  Ps 4:4

2.  Consider what does a promise mean to me?  How well do I keep a promise?  What occurs to me when  a promise is not fulfilled?

3. Think of people whom you may have hurt during the year by not fulfilling your promises to them.  Pick up the phone/write a note to say sorry.  Let trust and belief in your words be restored.

4. What commitments did you make to God and have not fulfilled?  Examine those times and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

5.  Write down or discuss a promise which you would like God to fulfil this advent. Are you prepared to believe that God will fulfil this promise in the best possible way for you?  Do you give God the answer or allow God to provide the answer? 

6. Now in trust, in faith and in belief give your request to God.  Pray a prayer of belief and trust in God in your own words and carry the words of scripture with you throughout the day in your heart.

Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful ones';

the Lord will hear me when I call upon Him  Ps 4:4

                   

Advent Series of Hope: Monday of the first week of Advent: Trust

SOON:

''Soon'' a voice whispers in the night to the woman awaiting the birth of her first child.
''How soon?"' she responds.  She hears no answer.

''Soon'' the dying man hears.  ''When'' the relative asks.  No answer is the reply.

''Soon'' the search team member says to the troubled parents waiting for the news of their lost son.
''When?''  There is no answer.

How soon is soon? Today? Tomorrow? Next week? or Ten years from now?

In advent we hear this reading

" The days are coming, says the Lord

when I will fulfil the promise I made to the House of Israel and Judah''.  Jeremiah 33.14

In advent we are invited to view time with an advent perspective. We are to wait with expectancy and with hope. We know that God keeps His promises but God keeps His promises on His schedule not ours. We know from the Old Testament that the people of Israel waiting for centuries for your coming- You came.  They waited  and You came.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is known as 'the prophecy candle' in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Suggestion:

You may choose to do this as a personal reflection or you may choose to include your family.
If you choose to do it with your family, then you may wish to think about the timing of the reflection- perhaps ask family members to name one or two ways. Adjust this reflection exercise to suit your needs.

1. Review your year and recall the times God has fulfilled something in your life-when He has answered your prayers and/or given you something better than what you asked in His timing?

2 What are the ''soons'' in your life that you would like God to fulfil this advent? List as many as you wish.

3  From your list, which one on your list would you like God to fulfil soon. 

Now light the Prophecy candle on your advent wreath or if you do not have one, light a candle representing the advent wreath..  Let the warmth of the flame fill you with hope, with patience and with expectancy and trust in God.

4. Spend some quiet time  with God. Thank God for all the blessings and graces He has given you in your life and especially those you have recalled.  Thank God again- perhaps say sorry for not thanking Him at the time.

5.  In the spirit of trust and hope of Advent season,  present Him your list-  ask God to fulfil His promise soon.  When you present God your list, remember let it go- let God decide when soon is.
Wait patiently with hope and expectancy knowing that God will fulfil His promise in His own time in His own way but it will always be for my good.

6. Read the scripture now with trust, hope and expectancy.

         On this first Monday of Advent are you prepared to wait for God to fulfil His promises? 

Are you ready to learn to trust God a little more this advent.



Advent Season of Hope Series: Introduction

Welcome to Advent- Season of Hope Series. I intend to write a reflection each day in Advent  using a scripture from Advent.  So let us begin the series with an introduction".

In today's world,  full of despair and hopelessness, in a world filled with false hope based on fleeting promises and false gods, true hope often can elude us.  Hope is more than an abstract concept concerned with some distant future.  Genuine hope must be connected to everyday reality yet grounded in the confident assurance that these things for which we long will come to pass.

How welcome, then is Advent, with its focus on humanity's yearning for justice, renewal, healing, liberation and comfort. 

For centuries the people of God continued to hope despite their suffering from persecution destruction and exile; their hopes were fulfilled. The Old Testament readings of Advent liturgies reveal God's wondrous works and steadfast love and gives us ample assurance that God loves us as God loved the Israelites.

We hold on to the message of Advent in hope. We search for wisdom and courage, we ask for God's help in our struggles, we rejoice and give thanks when our hopes are realized.

Advent essentially is therefore a season of hope in three key areas.  We look forward  to remembering and revisiting Christ birth in our world- the incarnation which is a cornerstone of our belief. Then we look forward in hope to the day we meet Christ face to face on a personal level as we leave this world. We also  look forward in hope to His second coming at the end of time since then everything will be put under His feet and Christ shall reign for ever.


The vignettes and scripture selections which I offer during this series are, I hope a reminder that God does work in mysterious ways that God always loves us, and that God keeps His promises.
I also offer a suggestion that you and/or your family could touch these scripture passages to make them a reality for you and your household. I will also offer some music that can accompany your reflection time.

During this advent-in this season on hope let us commit ourselves again to trusting in God and in His promises. Let us commit to being a people of hope.

Advent Year B Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year.

 

 

Welcome to Advent- the start of the liturgical Year- Year B in the liturgical cycle.

What is your new Year resolution?  I mean your spiritual resolution for this new Year.

As I look back over the last liturgical year,  I am glad that Jesus is patient because I know I have not grown as much spiritually as I could. Plenty of room for improvement.!!! Hopefully you had a wonderful spiritual year and can built on it this year.

 

Sometimes we can be so overwhelmed as we undertake a stocktake of our lives that we give up hope.

If you are feeling a little like this after a stocktake, why not receive the sacrament of reconciliation- Jesus is waiting to welcome us and to lift the burden from our hearts. It is also a wonderful time to receive this sacrament leading up to Christmas.

 

What I like to do on the first Sunday of Advent is to set my spiritual goals for the Year with the view of growing spiritually throughout the year.  What about you?   Here is a list of some of my goals for the Year.

 

1. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly: I know I can put off attending this sacrament throughout the year- so when I get my new diary, I write in regular dates for this sacrament. I think of it as a date with Jesus. Generally the very act of writing the dates in for the whole year helps me to not leave this sacrament to chance.  It says to me it is important.  It also means I can lock out this time for the sacrament. When things come up during the year, I can easily say no or work around it ensuring that this sacrament does not become neglected in my life.

Receiving the sacrament in Advent gets me off to good new year.!!!

 

2. Attending Mass during the week: I like to attend Mass during the week either daily or as often as I can. I know when I hear myself say '' I cant be bothered'' or it is too hot, too cold etc that my soul is backsliding. However when I attend Mass daily, there is also a danger that I attend because I promised myself I would as if I can tick that goal off the list.  Being mindful of why I am attending Mass is vital and keeping God as no 1 in my life critical to my spiritual growth.

 

3. Exploring different ways of praying: I like to attend Evening Prayer with the Friars. Living on my own can be great for my personal prayer but communal prayer can be missing when I do not make an effort to attend.   Thankfully in my parish,  we have communal evening prayer. 

However I can become ''bored'' with the routine.  Exploring and understanding more about the psalms is something I want to learn about this year.

 

4. Helping Others: At the last judgement, we will be judged on how we have helped others.  We may not be able to help others who are in great need on the other side of the world with our presence. We can definitely pray for them,  or give financially if we are able.

However we may be able to help someone in need closer to home- in our own home or neighbourhood or parish. We may be able to highlight a cause or run and event ( a morning tea/afternoon tea/ trivia night )  for it with the proceeds going to the cause. 

Perhaps we can seek out someone in the parish who needs assistance in some way and give it to them or perhaps we can join a group in the parish or even start a group that fills a need.   This latter idea is what I want to do- I want to start a group that fills a need in the parish- don't know what yet ( keep you posted).

 

5. Identifying one vice in my life and changing it into a virtue. I have identified a habitual sin and I have committed myself to eradicating it this coming year. Working on one area is better than not working on any. It gives impetus as well and focus for the year.

 

These 5 ideas will definitely keep me going for the year- I may add others as the year unfolds.  However, as this new liturgical Year starts, I wish to commit myself to knowing and loving God more in my life and showing it in my life.  

 

                                What will be YOUR commitment to God this New Year?

 

 

 

 



 



Collect for Christ the King.

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 majestic service,

and ceaselessly proclaim Your praise.

 

 

 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 seems to have deteriorated. 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 recognized 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. 

 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.

 

As we celebrate this feast, we may wish to look back at our spiritual year. We may ask ourselves whether Christ has been king of our hearts throughout the year and if not, resolve to make Him King of our hearts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Collect for 33rd Sunday of Year A

The Collect for the Thirty Third Sunday Year A 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.

 

 

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

 

 

1. What does it mean to me to be devoted to God?

 

2. How will I show that devotedness to God this coming week?

 

3. How do I feel when I am devoted to God?

 

4. What areas in my life hinder me from being totally devoted to God?

 

5. What steps will I take this week to remove at least one of these hindrances?

 

6.  What does it mean to me to serve God with constancy?

 

 

 

The gospel today of the story of the talents is an interesting one.  We tend to think of the word talents as gifts/abilities/ graces that God has given us.  Indeed this is true.  When we read this Gospel with this definition in mind, it is important that whatever talent that God has given us that through His help that we develop  it/them.   This is the crucial learning for the man with one talent- he buried it and as Jesus points out, did not even put it in the bank to earn interest to give to his master on return.

 

I don't know about you, but at times I feel like the man with one talent when I don't know what to do, feeling down and worried- it is easier to bury the talent than to move forward.  It is like the saying : if life serves you lemons, make lemonade''.  Sometimes this seems impossible and the sourness of the lemons and the pips etc get in the way of the creativity to make the lemonade.

 

 

In the story we do not know whether the man with one talent was lazy or he just did not know what to do.  Perhaps he thought that by burying it, it would give him time to think what to do, and perhaps, he forgot about making the decision or just procrastinated.

 

 

What we do know is Jesus wants us to use our gifts/talents for the benefit of others and not to keep these gifts/talents to ourselves. 

 

The English word "talent" was used to translate the Hebrew word (pronounced) kik-kar, meaning a round loaf, and the Greek word (pronounced) tal-en-ton (from which the English word talent originated) that referred to the standard weights used in a balance, but was also used for a larger unit. The standard for the talent was variable, depending on the Hebrew or Greek usage. A talent ranged from the English equivalent of about 70 to over 90 pounds.

 

According to the Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, whatever its exact value, in the New Testament a talent indicates a large sum of money. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament says that this sum was maybe even as much as a million dollars in today’s currency. No wonder the master was so upset with the servant who buried his one talent in the ground!

 

John B. Carpenter gives a more open interpretation in his article, “The Parable of the Talents in Missionary Perspective“: “Parables are about principles, and this parable is about faithfulness of endeavor.” He goes on to say the money was used as an example of everything with which we have been endowed by God and that we cannot identify the talents more specifically.
R.T. France’s commentary on Matthew argues that talents refers to “the specific privileges and opportunities of the kingdom of heaven…to be faithfully exploited before the master returns.

So when we read this gospel along with the Collect of the day, it is obvious that whatever we have been given by God is to be used for the benefit of others and we are to do this joyfully knowing that we are serving Him.

At the end of each day just before I fall asleep, I like to ask myself in my prayer time  2 questions:

            1. What was I most grateful for today?
            2.  What was I least grateful for today?

I find this is very helpful because it helps me review my day and acknowledge what went well and what needed improvement.  It is important to do it just before you fall asleep, because whatever needs healing or processing can occur during the night and you wake with a greater sense of gratefulness.

Perhaps if you are struggling to think of your gifts/talents/time  or are inclined to say I don't have any talent then why not ask  these same questions in a slightly different manner.

    1. What skills/talents, time, money. conversations and actions did I do today out of love for God?

   2. What skills/ talents, time, money, conversations, and actions could I have done better today.

When we think of our days, they may not be that spectacular.  This is where we can be tempted to think that we do not have anything to offer.   However, think again- even smiling in the street or nodding could make a difference to a person's life that day- you gave your smile, warmth and love to them in that instant. Perhaps it is holding the lift for someone or letting a car come into the traffic( provided it is safe). There are so many ways as there are people- we all can make a difference.

                                So what talent/s will you use for the glory of God this coming week?    

 

 

 





November- the month of Holy Souls.

The feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, when Catholics are encouraged to offer Masses and prayers for our deceased family members and relatives, were the living expression of a doctrine which stretched back to the earliest era of Christianity, and which is embodied in the Apostles' Creed.

The origin of All Saints Day is to be found in the prayers made to the martyr saints of the persecuted Church in the early centuries.  All Souls Day reflects the constant teaching of the Church, stretching back into the Old Testament period where it is record in the Book Maccabees, " It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to prayer for the dead, that they may loosed from their sins'

It seems a tragedy that All Saints Day is less recognized that Halloween, now a secular celebration of what was once the day before All Hallows (Saints) Day.

In Australia in 2001, the Australian bishops made a decision to reduce the number of Holy Days of Obligation, with the great feast of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (albeit an unofficial  Holy Day of Obligation) disappearing from the awareness of  even practising Catholics. Sadly in some parishes including mine, the emphasis in November is about students and exams, rather than the Holy Souls.  As a consequence of that decision, a diminished awareness of the doctrine of Communion of Saints has resulted, a doctrine which teaches that believers on earth are united in a spiritual fellowship with the saints in Heaven and the souls in Purgatory.

These beautiful feasts days are both a source of inspiration and a consolation that we, in the world as the pilgrim Church can aspire to be reunited with our families and friends who are the Church triumphant in the joyful perfection of Heaven.  We can also give the souls in purgatory- great consolation by our prayers and Masses since we can pray for them, but they cannot pray for themselves.  Let us especially pray for the Holy Souls who have no one to pray for them or have been forgotten.

Many Catholics like to think that their loved ones have gone ''straight to Heaven''.  However, as consoling as this thought is at the time of death, it is not Church teaching.  You may wish to check the Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 1029-31 on Purgatory. However the doctrine of purgatory also gives us hope. We hope that we will get to heaven ourselves but we live in the hope that our loved ones have reached eternity.  We do not know for sure on most occasions, but there are times that bereaved get a certain sense that their loved ones have reached eternity.  We live in hope.

However, just for a few moments let us be practical. If a person went into confession and confessed their sins and came out and dropped dead straightaway outside the door of the confessional, then, yes, there might be a possibility of a quicker route to Heaven. If a person who had the opportunity of a plenary indulgence and died outside the confessional, then there definitely could be case for going straight to heaven, since any residual effect would be wiped. Short of that, we all have some shortfalls/sins/weakness at the time of death.

 

To enter Heaven, we want to be perfect, ''just as our Heavenly Father is perfect''.  So God, in His kindness and love provides that opportunity for our souls to be cleansed and purified. Of course, how long we are in purgatory is in a sense up to us, since we can use our time wisely here on earth spiritually, or we can squander it largely or to a lesser extent. However when we die and give an account of ourselves, God, by giving us the chance of purgatory is being kind and letting us know that our salvation is assured, but we still need to do some ''grooming'' through the efforts of the pilgrim church and the Church triumphant.  We cannot do it ourselves.
It will be one of my happiest moments in heaven if someone tells me in heaven that my prayers, works of charity or trials  and attending Mass helped to release them from Purgatory.
What about you? Would you want to hear it from someone in heaven too?

Let us assist the Holy Souls by our prayers, works of charity, offering up our day and trials for them and attending Mass for their souls not only on these great feasts, but also during the month of November especially, but also during the year.

Let these great feasts touch our spiritual consciousness this year.