First Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2021

Advent is the time to let the light of the world shine in. It is a time of hope, of expectation as we watch the Christmas story unfold. During Advent we're introduced to a Woman, Mary, and to the Angel Gabriel who greets her with the words: "Hail, full of Grace! The Lord is with you." And Mary replied at the end of Angel Gabriel's message "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your Word." Mary was humble and obedient to God's Will. (See: Lk. 1:26-38)
As we experience with great hope the First Sunday of Advent (Year C) and listen to the Gospel, we find that the focus is on the time of redemption (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). The Gospel speaks of the heavens shaking, and that people will die from fright. But then the Son of Man will come on a cloud in great glory and power. In v. 34-36, "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 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." These words tell us that we better get in shape! Love the Lord, and stop loving yourself. Get away from worshipping the flesh and material things, and then begin to live frugally, and in a State of Grace. Don't assume that God's mercy will automatically get you into the promised land. We know He is most merciful and that he loves us far more than many love Him, but nobody knows the outcome of the final judgment. We just pray that He will spare us all. So be prepared. And, if you will be living in the last days, and you are in a state of Grace, He will tell you "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
A daily or weekly examination of conscience will lead to a more meaningful reconciliation experience when one could identify trends in our life and behavior which can stand improvement. Then, also try to attend daily Holy Mass during this time of preparation and maybe try to make that a permanent part of your morning.
Do something meaningful for your family to remind them of the Advent season. Acquire an Advent wreath with four candles and light one each Sunday morning. Have a member of the family read a little prayer as the candle is being lit. Pray for the integrity of your family, for health, for anything that needs prayer. The old adage "Families who pray together, stay together," is true. Make prayer a regular occurrence in your family with your children (single people can join a prayer group or pray alone.) Prayer is a conversation with God!
In Advent frequently pray the Rosary asking Mary our Mother to ask Jesus, her Son, to bless you and your family and to prepare you for the coming of the Lord, the Messiah. As Advent turns into Christmas, you'll want to take your family to Midnight Mass and watch the drama unfold in the Readings and Gospel that are read, and in your heart as you take it all in. We wish you a very special and blessed Advent season.

To Second Week

Second Week of Advent

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias were Tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" Luke 3:1-6.

The celebration of Advent goes back as far as the Fourth Century. Preparation for the coming of Jesus has, therefore, always been a part of Church History. Even though many are thinking of Christmas presents and decorating a tree, preparing for the coming of Jesus is much more important. John the Baptist's message during this time of Advent is to "Prepare the way of the Lord." John warns those (in his time) that salvation is not hereditary but that it requires active participation and conscious decisions on our part. That admonition is still true!

Our worth as a person of God cannot be purchased in a store. How prepared are we for God's coming, will He find faith among us? Are we starting the journey to that little town of Bethlehem, as Mary and Joseph did, so many centuries ago, not a physical going to Bethlehem, but a growing desire in our souls to be with Jesus now and always? Let us take this time to cleanse ourselves from the burdens of sin, and with firm amendment come back to the Sacraments with renewed vigor, as we come closer to the coming of the Lord.

To Third Week

Purple & Rose: In the Catholic Church, the color of Lent or Advent is Purple. purple is the color of Penance. In Advent, purple dominates the colors found in a Church, a green Advent Wreath is decorated with a purple ribbon. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the color Rose is used because it marks the half-way point of Advent. That means it is only a short time to Christmas and that is a sign of joy. We speak of Gaudete Sunday; we are glad to find that the Birth of Jesus is coming soon.

Third Week of Advent

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. (Lk 3:10-18)

Today, amid preparations for Christmas, we light a white or pink candle. Everywhere we go, we’re told it is the Christmas Season. But yet, it is still Advent but we celebrate anyway because today is Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday when we’re getting closer to His birth. Gaudete means, “Rejoice!” We are invited to live a Godly life. We are urged to share what we have.

When we accept the Gospel, the Word of Jesus Christ, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." This is a very important message. That is especially true now that so many people go hungry. They need help, clothing, food, and a roof over their heads. And anticipation begins to build when John talks about not being worthy to loosen the thongs of the sandals of the person he is waiting for, Jesus! So this Sunday we are also rejoicing at the coming of Jesus Christ, in two ways. He will come to us as we celebrate his nativity at the Solemnity of Christmas, and we are preparing for his Second Coming. In that sense, His replies found in Luke, Chapter 3, are as valid now as they were in His time on earth.

When we receive the Lord in Holy Communion, we might also feel a sense of anticipation and joy at the prospect of carrying Jesus in our Heart and Soul. That is a time that we are especially close to Him. So use the time of "Thanksgiving" just for Him!

To Fourth Week

Fourth Week of Advent

Today, we celebrate the actions of Mary, a simple Jewish girl, who "arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

"During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Lk 1:39-45)

Let us always obey God as Mary did that day. Mary presents to us a delightful example of a simple country girl who is totally obedient to the wish of God, brought to her by the Angel. The news brought to her must have been a little unsettling at first, but Mary doesn't show any signs of this, she is immediately ready to submit to God's wish, as we should be if we were asked to obey God this day. And we are being asked to repent and sin no more. This message is being brought to us by the Church, in numerous requests, that we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often. So like Mary, let us make ourselves ready to obey God, come clean, promise to atone, and sin no more.

In less than a week, it will be Christmas again. I wish we could have a white Christmas to emphasize Christmas in general, but that just doesn't happen in Florida. The Christmas that is being emphasized in the world is too material. Christmas gifts are nice, but not when so many people are unemployed or broke, and on the verge of going homeless. Let's pitch in, if you can, and reach out to someone. The spirit of Christmas is about giving, just as Jesus gave himself to us to spend some time with us in his humanity. Let us celebrate this with love and charity.