Be Watchful! Be Alert! Be More!
As we begin a new church year and enter into the preparation for Christmas called Advent, we are guided by some classic Scripture. Passages from the great prophet Isiah are the first readings for each of the first three weekend liturgies of Advent. This week we hear, “No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him.” Prayerful, reverent waiting involves an alert and watchful posture. Our world is about to be so much more with the incarnation of God through the birth of Jesus that is four weeks away. The new church year that begins this weekend will feature the Jesus story according to Mark. We have come to learn that Mark’s gospel was the first of the four to be written, hence it is the shortest. The other gospel writers built upon the foundation of Mark. It is a piece of inspired literature that gets to the point quickly; hence I give it the title Stark Mark.
In a fascinating way, though with fewer words, Mark tells the Jesus story in the most detail. Fr. Tom Cwick, S.J., who directed my retreat this past summer, gave me many passages from Mark to reflect on because he believes this first gospel helps bring out the Jesus story and animates the Spiritual Exercises most powerfully.
Let’s all give extra prayerful attention to the challenge of Mark’s gospel as we use waiting to Be Watchful! Be Alert! and Be More!
A really good way to embrace the spirit of Advent is to watch the movie Journey to Bethlehem. I referred to the movie a lot during my Christ the King homily last week. The movie is a Christmas classic with familiar melodies, telling of Mary’s unimaginable responsibility of giving birth to a savior and King, and Joseph, her betrothed, torn between love and honor. Directed by Adam Anders it stars Milo Mannheim as Joseph, Fiona Palomo as Mary and Antonio Banderas as Herod— with a Latin accent. I suggest that it highlights that our TRUE King CHRIST:
• Torments evil (Herod)
• Bewilders the Aspiring (Herod’s son)
• Amazes the Faithful (so many in the story) and
• Guides the Seekers (the Magi kings)
A Suggested Prayer
Another suggestion to prepare for Christmas, prepare for praying with Scripture and preparing during Advent is a prayer that I began crafting during my first Ignatian 30-day Silent Directed Retreat in 1994. I added to it during my recent retreat this past summer. Perhaps it can help you focus as you begin your day and before reflecting on Scripture.
God, come to my assistance.
Lord make haste to help me.
Thank you for this day, Lord.
Give me the grace of discernment, and the courage to act on it, especially discerning good and evil.
As I begin my day (or reflect on this passage of scripture) may your grace reanimate something that I have noticed before, but you want me to notice again NOW.
May your grace magnify something I have not previously noticed, even something small, that you want me to notice NOW.
May your grace diminish that which is distracting me from noticing what you want me to notice NOW.
Help me to see what you want me to see,
to hear what you want me to hear and
to feel what you want me to feel.
Shenanigans
This Sunday at 4:30pm we have our next Shenanigans event. We will offer a simple prayer service, light our large tree on the west side near the main narthex door, welcome a VIP from the North Pole, offer hot chocolate and photo opportunities.
Shenanigans are a series of fun events, but more importantly, they are opportunities for us all to invite others to catch our Holy Family spirit. They are events designed to offer ‘soft entry points’ into our community. For each of the Shenanigans events, please not only plan to attend, but encourage family members, friends and neighbors to join you, particularly those without a spiritual home.
Change in Christmas Mass Schedule
This year, with the Fourth Sunday of Advent coinciding with Christmas Eve, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING MASS SCHEDULE:
Saturday, December 23, Fourth Week of Advent-5pm
Sunday, December 24, Fourth Sunday of Advent, 9am
Christmas Eve:
3pm FM Family Mass in Church
3:30pm in the Social Center, 5pm and 9 pm in Church
Monday, December 25, Christmas Day, 10am in Church
Other Advent Prayer Opportunities
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
this Friday, December 8
Mass at 9am, followed by Rosary
Mass at 7pm
All Parish Reconciliation
Wednesday, December 13, 7pm