Third Sunday of Advent - Year C

 The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent - Year C may be found at:  

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121524.cfm

Today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday.  

The Latin word, Gaudete meaning, “to be joyful”.  

We wear rose-colored vestments 

to represent the joy and gladness we feel 

because Salvation is coming 

to light up the world.

The rose being a lighter hue than the purple of Advent 

signifying the great grace that is on its way to us.

To signify that Jesus is coming.

We are joyful, 

because our Savior is coming on Christmas 

and through His birth, 

will lift up all of humanity and save us from the power of darkness.

Something for all of us to be joyful about.

This same spirit is reflected in our readings at Holy Mass today.

Both the Prophet Zephaniah and Saint Paul, tell us 

that we are to “Shout for Joy”, 

“To be glad and exult with all our heart”, 

to rejoice because the Lord is near.

Because the Lord is coming.

We are closer to this Christmas than we have ever been before.

We are closer to Jesus’ second coming than we have ever been before.

But the question for all of us is… 

While the time of Christ’s coming is closer, 

has this Advent brought us closer to Christ?

We’ve likely made great progress in preparing for the holiday.  

Lists made and checked twice, 

because we are closer to Christmas.

But are we closer to Christ?

And what does it mean, to be closer to Christ?

I think Saint Luke helps explain it in the Gospel

When John the Baptist emphasizes our need for repentance.

He tells us that repentance 

is not just a matter of expressing regret, 

but that true repentance requires us to change our behavior. 

John is calling us to spiritual renewal. 

When asked by the crowds, “What should we do?” 

John the Baptist, moves them to action - to what they can do to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

John challenges the crowds with great enthusiasm - and he challenges us.

To live as faithful disciples. 

To conform our behaviors to God’s teachings in order to build closeness to God, 

because our actions speak louder than our words.

This Advent, 

have we acted in ways that bring us closer to Jesus? 

Have we treated people with charity and justice?

Have we been honest in our dealings with people?

Have we acted out of generosity, with integrity and with humility?

Have we shared what we have without expecting something in return?  

Do we have a greater awareness of God among us?

Have we made a proper examination of conscience and had a good sacramental confession?

While God loves us regardless of the mess we are, 

we can’t get really close to Him without help 

and a good sacramental confession does that for us 

by cleaning off the dirt and grime of sin, 

Allowing us to get closer to Him.

Christmas is in a week and a half.

If we’re not closer to Christ at this point in Advent, 

we’d better act fast.

Jesus’ coming is closer than it's ever been.

And much like John The Baptist, 

Our job is to clear the way for Him to us through our actions. 

Let us pray that we can move from generous thoughts, intentions and hearts 

to concrete, unselfish acts of compassion, 

both for ourselves and others

Let us pray that our faith and repentance be genuine 

and move us in ways that make the love, 

kindness and mercy that our God has for every living person - 

visible and real for everyone we come in contact with.

And let us pray to get over whatever guilt, 

shame or unbelief is 

preventing us from making a good sacramental confession 

while we still have time to make one

Because if we do that

Not only will Christmas be closer

Not only will the second coming of Christ be closer

but we will be closer to Christ.

And that’s everything.

And absolutely a reason for us to be joyful this Gaudete Sunday.

First Sunday of Advent - Year C

 

The readings for the First Sunday of Advent - Year C may be found at:  

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120124.cfm

As we gather today on this First Sunday of Advent, 

we begin a new liturgical year

and we enter a season of joyful anticipation,

a season of waiting, preparation and penance.

Four Sundays when we reflect on the themes of

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Today, 

in our Gospel reading from the evangelist Saint Luke, 

Jesus urges us to watch and pray 

as we patiently await his coming again.

On this first Sunday of Advent,

we eagerly await Christmas,

Jesus’ birthday, the day when 

as we say at each Holy Mass in the Nicene Creed,

“He was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, 

and became man”

just a little over three weeks away.

And you’ll see changes in this Church.

Missals.

Decorations.

Vestments of purple or rose, 

instead of the usual green 

that we see in Ordinary Time,

because this is no ordinary time.

In the next few weeks, 

we prepare to celebrate

the most important day in human history,

the moment when God,

the second person of the Trinity,

became fully human -

allowing a direct connection 

between God and us,

Enabling salvation through Jesus’ life,

death and resurrection.

Literally, the most important day in human history.

So how do we wrap our heads around something so huge?

And whether we even really prepare for it at all?

How many of us,

as we prepare for Christmas,

have thought about what really matters?

We probably have our lists prepared.

We have thought about all the plans we have,

and all the things we need to do,

all the gifts we have to buy,

all the delicious goodies we will share,

and what on earth 

we are going to get that person 

who is so difficult to buy for.

All this 

added to everything else we already have going on.

That’s a lot - 

and it we’re not careful, 

all that

can leave barely any room for Jesus.

As I reflected on this, this week,

I couldn’t help but think about Joseph and Mary,

In Bethlehem,

weary, scared, uncertain

having travelled so many hours, 

in harsh and treacherous conditions,

looking for a place to stay, 

just before Jesus was born.

Every place they went,

there was no room for them,

no place for them to stay,

no room at the inn.

As I thought about Advent 

and what I wanted you to take away from this homily,

It was this.

This Advent,

Yes, it’s a busy time.

Yes, there’s a lot to do.

Yes, by the end you will likely also be weary and uncertain,

In fact, you may be that way just thinking about it!

But let us not forget one important thing.

Each one of us is an innkeeper 

who decides if there is room for Jesus.

We decide if there is room for Him in this busy time.

We decide whether to let Him in and

We decide whether to send Him on His way.

It’s a busy time of year 

With lots of Christmas preparation activities vying for our time.

We should absolutely do all those things 

that make Christmas a joyful time of year 

for us and our families,

I mean, we are celebrating the most important day in human history after all.

But let us not forget, 

through all our activities and busyiness,

to make room for Jesus in our hearts.

Reserve a few minutes each day for prayer and reflection.

Make it a point to reach out in charity to those in need.

Join us each Wednesday from 3pm - 7pm for Adoration, 

Evening Prayer, 

Sacred silence and Benediction with Jesus 

Fully present in the Eucharist.

Participate in our Catholic Bible Study with the Chosen,

Wednesday December 4th and 11th at 6:30pm,

when we will focus on the Infancy Narratives 

in the gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke,

Take time to do a proper examination of conscience 

and to make a good sacramental confession.

If the hours of confession are not convenient for you 

and if you don’t know what to get your priest for a Christmas gift, 

You can combine the two.

They would both be thrilled with a size 

“Father, can you please hear my confession?”

It’ll be the best gift they and you receive this Christmas, 

believe me.

As we light the first candle of our Advent wreath, 

let it symbolize our commitment 

to make room for Christ. 

May it give us the grace 

to be vigilant innkeepers, 

always ready to welcome Jesus into our lives.

And may this Advent be a time of joyful preparation, 

as we eagerly await the coming of our Lord. 

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

 The readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B may be found at:  

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm

In this week’s gospel passage from the evangelist St. Mark, we see Jesus in Jerusalem, teaching the crowds at the Temple treasury.

The Treasury was a court that was located to the east of the Temple itself.

Often referred to as the Court of the Women, 

because this was as far as women were allowed to enter the Temple grounds.

You can imagine the scene, 

a busy and bustling courtyard,

a public place with all kinds of people everywhere, 

having conversations, 

doing their business, 

seeing and being seen.

As Jesus taught, 

He called attention to the scribes and to the people giving at the treasury.

The scribes wanting to see and be seen.

The rich openly putting in large sums.

While the poor widow gave just a few cents.

And as Jesus watched what was going on, 

He drew a stark contrast between them.

Despite the large amounts they gave, 

Jesus saw clearly that it didn’t hurt them to give - 

because they gave from their surplus.

In fact, what they gave only increased their stature within the community.

Because everyone saw what they had and what they gave.

And then Jesus highlighted the poor widow.

With little to nothing to give.

To the wealthy she likely looked like she had no business being there, 

Yet she gave anyway.

Not giving from her abundance, 

or from her surplus, 

But instead, giving from her poverty,

from what little she did have.

She gave from the very depths of her being.

Selflessly.

Sacrificially.

It must have hurt to give like that.

This section of Mark’s gospel is not complicated.

You don’t have to be a theologian to figure it out.

What Jesus is trying to teach us is that our Catholic faith 

is not to be a self-absorbed, superficial or showy faith. 

It’s a faith that calls us to dig deep, 

a faith that is sacrificial, 

a faith of humility,

a faith not about thinking less of ourselves, 

but about thinking of ourselves less.

a faith that calls all of us to bear the cross.

If you take nothing else out of this homily today, 

I want you to take this.

Our Catholic faith isn’t about us

or what we have or what we don’t have.

It’s about how and what we give to God. 

And it’s about the amazing riches that God gives us in return.

It’s about a God who is not self-absorbed, 

and faithful Catholics who aren’t either.

It’s about a God who emptied Himself 

and gave Himself so that we could be reconciled to Him.

A completely selfless and sacrificial love.

Our Catholic faith calls us to be like the poor window. 

To love, live and give sacrificially.

To give as the Blessed Mother Theresa once said - “until it hurts.”

And this isn’t just about money. 

Regardless of how much money we have or don’t have, 

we are all abundantly blessed with many kinds of resources, 

time, talents, and opportunities each and every day - 

to give compassion, support, prayers and love to others.

God gives us many opportunities to give until it hurts, like the poor widow.

To allow us to more fully live our faith the way He calls us to do it 

and in the process devote ourselves more completely to God.

Making ourselves and our lives a gift to Him and each other.

This week, 

let us reflect on how and what we give of what we have.

Let us ask God to see what others overlook, 

and to help us to give of ourselves where it is most needed.

Let us pray that God gives us the courage and strength to examine our hearts, 

to trust Him more fully,

so that we give more generously and sacrificially of ourselves like He does.

Always reminded that when we give from our poverty,

we more fully allow God to give of His riches.