Saint Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus



On December 6, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Nicholas, the real Santa Claus. He was a priest and bishop acclaimed for his charity and his love of children and the poor.

Saint Nicholas was born during the fourth century in Patra, a village on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young.

Later he was ordained a priest and was made Bishop of Myra. Saint Nicholas is distinguished for his great faith. His faith was so great, that with his prayer, he calmed a stormy sea while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. For this reason, sailors pay homage to him as their protector.

He is predominantly known for his charity and his love for children. He used his great wealth to assist all who were in need: poor families, widows, and especially orphans and poor children. As bishop, he established both a poorhouse and a hospital.

The best-known story about Saint Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who was unable to provide dowries for his three daughters, who desired to be married. Rather than see them forced into prostitution, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling each of the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast.

He was the personification of Christian love and affection. As such, he is honored by the entire Christian world, both the Eastern and the Western. In the West especially, he is considered the great patron saint of children and the cheerful giver of gifts under the name Santa Claus.

He died December 6, 343 AD in Myra. He was buried in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Italy, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This oily liquid substance, which is said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas is the patron of: bakers, brewers, brides, children, fishermen, grooms, judges, merchants, murderers, newlyweds, parish clerks, pharmacists, pilgrims, poor people, prisoners, sailors, shoe shiners, students, thieves, and travelers. The following places honor him as patron: Greece, Russia, Naples, Sicily, Lorraine, the Diocese of Liège; many cities in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Belgium; Campen in the Netherlands; Corfu in Greece; Freiburg in Switzerland; and Moscow in Russia.

In many places St. Nicholas is the main gift-giver. His feast day, Saint Nicholas Day, is December 6, which falls early in the Advent season. Some places he arrives in the middle of November and moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. Other places he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children’s wish lists. Small treats are left in shoes or stockings so the children will know he has come. To learn more about St. Nicholas Day traditions around the world, click HERE.

Source: http://www.jeanmheimann.com/2017/12/saint-...al-santa-claus/

Did you know?

Pope Paul VI published a small chant book in April of 1974 called "Jubilate Deo" in which he asked that each and every Catholic of the Latin Rite learn a core repertoire of Gregorian chants.

Who knows the following?

Adoro Te
O Salutaris Hostia
Laudate Dominum – Psalm 116
Tantum Ergo
Parce Domine
Da Pacem
Ubi Caritas
Veni Creator
Regina Coeli
Salve Regina
Ave Maris Stella
Tu Es Petrus
Magnificat
Te Deum

P.S. If you don't know them, it's not your fault; your Bishop was meant to teach them to you!

This post has been edited by yeeck: Dec 6 2017, 04:50 PM

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 178



Reading 1 (Is 26:1-6)

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a)

R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia (Is 55:6)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 7:21, 24-27)



Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



The ancient prophet Isaiah teaches us, "Trust in the LORD forever, for the Lord is an eternal rock." (First Reading)

And the LORD Jesus says, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock." (Gospel)

Then Jesus said to Simon, "You are Peter (Greek for 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not conquer it." (Matthew 16:18)

On what foundation is your life built on? Is it the rock-solid Wisdom of the Spirit-driven Church? Or is your foundation the shifting sands of manmade ideas that hijack God's eternal laws? Or is it the unstable grounds of the economy and stock market? Or the nebulous mist of fame and honor?

Today's Psalm (118:8) reminds us, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."

If the Lord were to return this Advent Season, how would He grade your construction? Let us check the condition of our life, marriage and family. If there be serious cracks, let us be wise and relocate to the time-tested teachings of the Church Jesus built.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...808855732745517

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 689



Reading 1 (Gn 3:9-15, 20)

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself."
Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"
The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with meC
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it."
The LORD God then asked the woman,
"Why did you do such a thing?"
The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it."

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel."

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4)

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Reading 2 (Eph 1:3-6, 11-12)

Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

Alleluia (See Lk 1:28)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 1:26-38)

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



If you had a choice, which would you rather bring your son to school, a fresh clean car or a filthy old bus?

God the Father chose like you.

Today we praise and thank God for His choice. We celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the First Reading is Eve, created without sin. But she chose to disobey God; and so the mother of all the living became a soiled container who transmitted the infection of her sin.

So what now would God do about His plan even before He formed the world to adopt us, holy and without blemish before Him? (Second Reading)

In the Gospel is Mary, conceived without the original infection by God's special act, then filled with grace to resist sin all her life. She chose to say Yes to God's request for her to be the virgin, immaculately clean vessel to deliver His Son our Savior into the world. Thus she became Mother of all the saved.

THANK YOU MAMA MARY!

Let us "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds!" (Responsorial Psalm)

Today is an invitation from God to come to Mass and celebrate the advent of man's salvation. Those who choose to say Yes with love will always blessed. Let us ask our Heavenly Father for more of our Mother's humility and obedience to say Yes and deliver Jesus into a world hungry for His love and compassion.

IMMACULATE MARY


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...809326562698434

The surprising day when the devil himself praised Mary’s Immaculate Conception



During an exorcism in Italy in 1823, two Dominican priests made the devil acknowledge the dogma that would be declared 30 years later.

December 8, 1854: Pope Pius IX promulgates the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

March 25, 1858: On the feast of the Incarnation of the Word, the Blessed Virgin appears in Lourdes to St. Bernadette and confirms the dogma, saying, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

But 20 years earlier, another supernatural and surprising event had already confirmed the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God. And the one who declared it was someone we never would have expected to do so. The event is related by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, a late exorcist of the Diocese of Rome.

It was the year 1823. The devil had possessed an illiterate 12-year-old boy, who lived in what is today the Italian province of Avellino, near Naples in southern Italy. Two Dominican priests who were in the city, Fr. Gassiti and Fr. Pignataro, were both authorized by the bishop to perform exorcisms.

The priests asked the demon that was possessing the boy a series of questions—among them, one about the Immaculate Conception.

The devil admitted that the Virgin of Nazareth had never been under his power: not even at the first instant of her life, because she was conceived “full of grace” and fully belonging to God.

Although he may be the “father of lies,” the devil can be forced to tell the truth during an exorcism, even in matters of faith. This was how the two exorcists forced him to pay homage to the Virgin and praise her Immaculate Conception, in verse.

Humiliated, the devil was coerced, in the name of Christ, to sing the glory of Mary, and he did so by means of a sonnet in Italian—perfect in form and in theology!

Here, we present the original in Italian, and then the translation into English:

In Italian:

Vera Madre son Io d’un Dio che è Figlio
e son figlia di Lui, benché sua Madre;
ab aeterno nacqu’Egli ed è mio Figlio,
in tempo Io nacqui e pur gli sono Madre.

Egli è mio creator ed è mio Figlio,
son Io sua creatura e gli son Madre;
fu prodigo divin l’esser mio Figlio
un Dio eterno, e Me d’aver per Madre.

L’esser quasi è comun tra Madre e Figlio
perché l’esser dal Figlio ebbe la Madre,
e l’esser dalla Madre ebbe anche il Figlio.

Or, se l’esser dal Figlio ebbe la Madre,
o s’ha da dir che fu macchiato il Figlio,
o senza macchia s’ha da dir la Madre.

In English:

I am the true Mother of a God who is Son,
And I am his daughter, although his Mother;
He was born from eternity, and is my Son,

I was born within time, and yet I am his Mother.
He is my creator, and is my Son,
I am his creation, and his mother;

It was a divine marvel that my Son
Was an eternal God, who had Me as his Mother.
Our being is almost shared between Mother and Son
Because the Mother received her existence from her Son,
And the Son also received his existence from his Mother.

If, then, the Son received his existence from his Mother,
We either must say that the Son was stained by the Mother,
Or we must say that the Mother is Immaculate.

https://aleteia.org/2017/12/08/the-surprisi...ate-conception/

This post has been edited by yeeck: Dec 9 2017, 07:24 PM

Source: https://www.facebook.com/archkl/photos/a.22...532008840214203

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lectionary: 690A



Reading 1 (Zec 2:14-17)

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

Or

(Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)

God's temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed."

Responsorial Psalm (Judith 13:18bcde, 19)

R. You are the highest honor of our race.

Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.

Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
From you rose the sun of justice, Christ our Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 1:26-38)

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.

Or

(Lk 1:39-47)

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."

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



In ancient times, God promised, "I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD." (First Reading)

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. From December 9 to 12, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on the hills of Tepejac, Mexico. On the last day, her beautiful image was miraculously imprinted on the coat of the poor and illiterate farmer worker. It was the image of a young pregnant woman "clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet," exactly as described in Revelation 12:1-2.

To this day, almost five centuries later, the coat is still perfectly preserved in the Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City, visited and seen by millions of pilgrims every year.

Our Blessed Mother never appears without good reason. She appears in this world sent by God to soften hardened hearts to His Son Jesus Christ. In Mexico, she had the face of an Indian girl and she spoke in Juan’s native tongue. Being a consummate missionary, Mary adapted herself to the local circumstances and conditions. She had a black ribbon tied just above her waist which in the local custom meant she was a noblewoman who was pregnant.

As the world's first evangelizer 1500 years earlier in Nazareth, the pregnant Virgin Mary brought Jesus to the hills of Judea and into the lives her cousin Elizabeth and family, filling them with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:39-41).

As the world's greatest evangelizer, her miraculous appearance in Mexico brought Jesus to the New World and converted millions of pagan Indians to Christianity in just a few years. Thus, Mexico joined the many nations that belong to the Lord.

The same thing happens whenever and wherever she appears in the world, she brings souls to Jesus. She is truly the Mother of Faith and the Star of Evangelization.

But today, many are falling away from the Lord. Let us join our Mother through her Rosary and in her virtues of patience, compassion and charity, so that we may share in her work of bringing Jesus back to our family and neighborhood.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE DOCUMENTARY


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...810977332533357

This post has been edited by khool: Dec 12 2017, 01:43 PM

Catholicism: “Here comes everybody,” even the annoying ones



The odd and awkward deserve welcome into the fold, to save them from the wolves of the world.

“We are not one of those churches that you would think talks about prophecy enough — this would not be the right church for you, but I do hope your search for a church home goes well.” This is what a well-respected Southern Baptist pastor says he told a man who wanted to talk about biblical prophecy.

He called the man an “issue Christian.” These people make their pet issue the subject of every conversation and the criterion for every decision. The pastor was just not going to deal with it. And who can blame him? Issue Christians really, really annoy you.

Don’t let them loose inside

The story appeared on the weblog of the important Southern Baptist agency LifeWay Research, and I stumbled upon it looking for something else. The agency’s director Ed Stetzer, a biggie in the Evangelical world, explained that these people hurt the congregation if allowed to join. “You are not being a good steward of your church to let them loose inside,” he said, because they don’t “fit in well in a mission-focused congregation.”

In other words, the wise pastor sends such a man out the door right away. He’ll be a drain on the church. If I understand Stetzer correctly, the man fails the membership test. It’s not a test ever stated out loud, of course. He’s not good enough to join. He’ll take more from the church than he brings to it.

I was a little surprised to find Stetzer saying this out loud. It seems so callous and utilitarian. The “issue Christian” might be that 100th sheep who needs to be found, while the other 99 can be left in the fold. Part of the congregation’s mission should be to bring the odd and awkward into the fold and to save them from the world’s wolves.

He’s not alone in saying this kind of thing. Colleagues when I worked at a Protestant seminary said this as well. It’s all about “mission, not maintenance,” they’d say.

I bring this up because it gives us a good way to see something crucial about the Catholic understanding of the Church, and of the local parish in particular. Stetzer thinks a church should select its members according to personality and their usefulness to the mission-focused congregation. We don’t.

The Catholic understanding

I can’t imagine many Catholic priests responding to the man with a polite version of “You’re going to be really hard to deal with. Go away.” They must feel like saying it from time to time, because they’re sinners who have to deal with sinners.

The “issue Christian” — “Johnny one-note,” as my grandmother used to call such people — can annoy you hugely. He’s the one who calls at odd hours to pick apart a sermon or complain that you didn’t mention his pet issue at the Thursday morning Mass, or traps you after Mass when you need to ask Mrs. Smith how her husband is doing after the surgery. He does the same to other people in the church.

But few would ever say this, and not just because they’re trying to be good priests. They wouldn’t say it because the Catholic Church doesn’t think of herself like that. The Catholic view is that everyone belongs in his parish.

The Code of Canon Law goes on at length about this, defining where a person’s “domicile” is and what rights that gives him in his local parish. It doesn’t say, “You are a member of your local parish unless the pastor thinks you’ll be a pain in the neck.” You’re a member of the parish, he’s the pastor of the parish, and that’s that.

The Second Vatican Council’s Lumen Gentium explained that, “Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who — by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion — are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops.” You’re a Catholic, this is the Catholic Church, and that’s that.

The standards

The Church requires a lot and very little. You have to agree to a lot and live that way, but you don’t have to be any sort of person. You can be the world’s most annoying “issue Christian” and you’re just as fully part of the Church as any saint. You don’t have to meet anyone’s standards but God’s.

We might say that the Catholic Church is about mission, not maintenance. It’s a good slogan. But maintaining her people is part of her mission. And it’s part of the mission the world might notice. “See how those Christians love each other, even that jerk” can be a greater witness than the actions usually called “evangelization.”

As the great Irish writer James Joyce is supposed to have said: in the Church, “here comes everybody.” He apparently didn’t say it about the Church, but it’s a great line anyway. “Everybody” includes the odd, eccentric, and difficult, the clueless, the awkward, the annoying, the frustrating and embarrassing. It might include you.



Source: https://aleteia.org/2017/11/08/catholicism-...-annoying-ones/

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 183



Reading 1 (Is 40:25-31)

To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God"?

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles' wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10)

R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 11:28-30)

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



Advent does not refer only to Christ's Second Coming for the final judgment. It is also Jesus' daily coming to call us in the silence of our heart:A yoke is a curved wooden beam on the neck of an ox, connected with ropes to its master's hands so he can steer the animal. The thought of being yoked and without freedom is not a pleasant thought. But in reality, we are all either yoked to Jesus or yoked to sin. Jesus says, "Whoever is not with me is against me." (Matthew 12:30) There is no in-between.

Are your problems unbearable? Is your marriage on the rocks? Are your finances crashing? Is your health spiraling down? Is your life falling apart? Could it be Satan's yoke that has led to all this?

The yoke of Jesus is His Gospel and His burden (work) is building the Kingdom. At first His commands and demands seem heavy and difficult. Indeed they are, for the work of construction is always harder than Satan's work of destruction.

But in time, if we are faithful, and helped by His grace, we will see that Jesus has steered us away from sin, healed the consequences, given us rest and renewed our strength - and He sets us free to soar on eagle's wings toward a brand-new day.

ON EAGLE'S WINGS


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...811401705824253

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 184



Reading 1 (Is 41:13-20)

I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, "Fear not,
I will help you."
Fear not, O worm Jacob,
O maggot Israel;
I will help you, says the LORD;
your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
I will make of you a threshing sledge,
sharp, new, and double-edged,
To thresh the mountains and crush them,
to make the hills like chaff.
When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off
and the storm shall scatter them.
But you shall rejoice in the LORD,
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the desert into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
I will plant in the desert the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab)

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Let them make known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Alleluia (See Is 45:8)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the clouds rain down the Just One,
and the earth bring forth a Savior.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 11:11-15)

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



Jesus says, "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force." (Gospel)

For preparing the world for the arrival of Jesus, master builder of the Kingdom, John the Baptist suffered violent death in the hands of King Herod.

For launching the Kingdom of God, Jesus suffered violent death in the hands of the Romans and Jewish leaders.For choosing Jesus and His Kingdom, millions of martyrs suffered violent death throughout the centuries, from the Roman Empire in the first to the fourth centuries, to the Arabic-Islamic caliphates in the 5th to 12th centuries, to the Japanese shogunate in the 15th to 16th century, to the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century, to communist USSR in the 20th century, and to today's terrorist ISIS.

We who love Jesus and stand up for His teachings suffer violent insults and rejection from workmates, classmates and even family whose lifestyles and practices are threatened by the moral values of the Kingdom.

But the King is on our side! He says, " I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand. I say to you, FEAR NOT. I will help you!" (First Reading)

We also have the assurance from our Savior that "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) By His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, He has won final victory over death for those who have faith and are faithful to Him. And He promises us a room in His Father's Mansion.

So let us fight back by fiercely clinging to God's hand in prayer and in the Eucharist.

BE NOT AFRAID


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4.0 CHRISTMAS MASSES AND FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please take note of the above with regards to attending Christmas Mass (a holy day of obligation, FYI). This comes directly from the office of the Archbishop of KL Archdiocese, source as follows ...

Source: https://archkl.org/index.php/en/news-events...h-december-2017

God bless, and have a wonderful Christmas celebration!

Overcoming a Critical Spirit

Do you judge others? Is it easy for you to find fault with those around you? Then beware: Your spiritual life is in danger. A critical attitude can hinder your walk with God and distract you from God's purposes for your life.

Why Do We Judge

We judge because of our own selfish interests. For example, we sometimes become critical when comparing ourselves to those around us. We try to find fault in others to prove that we are smarter, better looking, happier or wealthier. But these are selfish reasons. We simply want to feel better about ourselves. We also get critical when others fail to do what we ask, or do not do what we think is right. Often, it is a family member, friend or co-worker who fails to meet our expectations. Our expectations lead to a judgmental attitude.

Even our own frustrations can lead to a critical attitude. If life is not turning out the way we desire, we hide our own frustrations by finding fault with others.

Judge Not ...

Finding fault and being critical are some of the easiest things to do. They seem to come naturally to us. But Jesus told us not to judge "lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1). We should obey His command.

Jesus then explained why a judgmental attitude is so dangerous: "God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them" (v.2).

When we judge, we invite judgment upon ourselves. The Bible says that "judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy" (James 2:13).

By judging others, we hide our own hypocrisy. For example, when the religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught in sexual sin, they wanted to kill her. But Jesus responded, "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her" (John 8:7). Nobody threw one. God alone reserves the right to judge each person (Romans 14:4). As St Paul said, "Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, `I am the one to take revenge and pay them back'" (Romans 12:19).

The Cure for Criticism

Judgment is very important. The Bible says that "God is a righteous judge" (Psalm 7:11). The cure for criticism is found in understanding the nature of God's judgment. The Bible says that every person is a sinner. This sin drives a wedge between God and man, and deserves judgment (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

Regardless of how "good" we think we are, "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot make up for all the bad things we have done. Left alone, we still deserve God's judgment: death and eternal torment in a place the Bible describes as a "lake of burning sulfur" (Rev. 19:20). Only God could satisfy the judgment against us for our sins. So God sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins.

Jesus Christ took our judgment on Himself and died in our place. In return, God offers to each person all His blessings -- including eternal life, forgiveness, peace, joy and hope – through His Son Jesus.

If we truly understood the judgment that we each deserve from God, we would be less inclined to judge others.

Giving Grace Instead

Have you learned to receive God's grace and mercy? This is the first step to overcoming a critical spirit. Jesus died on the cross for us. Took upon himself the penalty that we deserved. Extended to us His love and mercy even when we didn’t deserve it. Gave us a second chance at life.

Now it is our turn to offer that same grace and mercy to others. Jesus said, "Freely you received, freely give" (Mt. 10:8). Instead of judgment we are called to extend God's love to those around us, beginning with our family, our friends and our co-workers. Often those closest to us feel the harshest effects of our judgmental attitudes.

From now on when you feel the temptation to become critical, follow Jesus' clear instruction to take a close look at your own life first (Mt 7). Ask God to forgive you for your shortcomings. You may even discover why you are so critical of others.

Remember, it's easy to be critical. The faults of others are often very obvious to us. During these times we need to make sure we give grace instead. Thank God for those people and ask the Lord to bless them and reveal His will to them.

It's really quite simple: God has granted you mercy. He has paid the debt for your sins. Now, the only debt you owe is to offer His love and mercy to others, for "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).

Finally, be sure to spend time with God in prayer and study His word. As you read the Scriptures, ask God to help you to be patient with those around you. In time, you will change from a fault-finder to a grace-giver as you learn to live like Jesus lived.

As You Pray

If you are a fault-finder, turn to the Lord right now and ask Him to set you free. "Dear Lord Jesus, I'm so sorry for the times when I have allowed judgmental attitudes to rule me. Please forgive me. Help me to remember Your mercy toward me so that I can extend Your mercy to others. Thank You so much for loving me. In Jesus' name. Amen."

God's Word on Criticism

"Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living in peace" (Eph. 4:2,3).

Scriptures for reflection:

Stay blessed!

John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.‘ But wisdom is vindicated by her works." (Matthew 11:18-19)



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Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 185



Reading 1 (Is 48:17-19)

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6)

R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord will come; go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 11:16-19)

Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



In the Gospel, Jesus mourns that the people in His time were behaving like spoiled brats playing games and changing the rules as they like, then demanding everyone to follow. They criticized John the Baptist (God's messenger) and Jesus (The Message) for both refused to follow their capricious, ever changing standards.

Today nothing has changed much. Many are critical of Jesus and His messenger Church because His Message calls for repentance, holiness and obedience to God - a message repulsive to those who want to make the rules. They instead demand that Jesus and His Church follow the latest revision of their rules on who can live, who can be killed, and who can get married to whom.

Let us not forget that what we are preparing to celebrate is the birth of the Word of God. The words, rules and commandments of Jesus are not there to make us His toy puppets on strings. They are there to establish a peaceful and just society (First Reading) where everyone is free to love as God loves.

PERFECT LOVE (MARY'S SONG)


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