A Reflection on the Feast of the Holy Family, 12/26/10 ~ by M. A. Allen

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Ps 128:1-5
Col 3:12-21
Matt 2:13-15, 19-23

The peacefulness and joy surrounding the birth of the Christ Child did not last very long for Mary and Joseph. Too soon, this Holy Family is faced with real danger. Herod has learned of the birth of a future King and he is determined to secure his throne by hunting down and destroying this Child.

Joseph is alerted to this potential danger by an angel of the Lord who tells Joseph in a dream to leave immediately for safety in Egypt. Joseph does not hesitate for he understands by now that he and his little family are under God's special protection.

In time, King Herod dies and Joseph is again advised by an angel that it is time to return home. Because there is still some danger because of Herod's successor, Joseph decides to settle in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth.

Life is different now for Mary and Joseph. Instead of being just a couple, with the birth of Jesus, they have become a family.

We learn from the first reading from Sirach, how families are to function and how God rewards families whose members strive to live together in peace... honoring and caring for each other, whether they be parent or child. When we honor our parents and each other, we atone for sin, our prayers are heard and God rewards us.

In the reading from Colossians, the analogy of the family is carried over into our community life. We are God's chosen ones, who are called to be holy and the beloved of God. We are to live lives of "heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another." (Col 3:12-13)

In our communities, as well as in our families, we are to embody love, which is "the bond of perfection." (Col 3:14) We are to live in peace and to allow the Word of Christ to dwell in us. These are the ways that we show our gratitude to God for all He has done for us.

There may be times of drama and danger in our own lives just as there were in the lives of the Holy Family, but we know that if we continue to walk in His way, God will bless us abundantly.


~ Flight into Egypt by Juan de Borgona, c. 1500
~ Free Christ Images.org

Merry Christmas!

"For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:5)


~ Adoration of the Child - Gerrit van Honthorst, c. 1622
~ Free Christ Images

A Reflection on the Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent ~ M.A. Allen

Is 7:10-14
Ps 24:1-6
Rom 1:1-7
Matt 1:18-24

If God spoke to you and asked you to do something for Him, how would you respond?

We can see in the Isaiah Reading and again in Matthew's Gospel how two different people reacted to God's request and which one's response was pleasing to God.

In the first reading, the Lord speaks to King Ahaz and invites the King to ask the Lord for a sign. But Ahaz, in his pride and self-righteousness, claims he would never presume to ask for such a thing from God. King Ahaz is filled with a false humility and this attitude angers the Lord, who gives King Ahab a sign anyway. Actually, this sign is a very important one in itself because it is a prophecy of the future birth of Emmanuel.

In contrast, we find Joseph, in Matthew's Gospel, wondering what to do after discovering that his espoused wife is going to have a baby. How confused and disappointed he must have felt that his beloved fiance had betrayed him. Because he loved her, Joseph decided he would divorce Mary quietly, so that she and her family would be spared the embarrassment that this pregnancy would cause. This appeared to be the best solution for all concerned. But God steps in and everything changes.

The angel of the Lord speaks to Joseph in a dream and reassures Joseph that he needs to take Mary as his wife in spite of the pregnancy because she has not betrayed Joseph at all. The child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit and that all this is happening to fulfill the prophecies that a Messiah will be born.

Joseph could have dismissed the Lord's request as Ahaz had done centuries earlier; but with true humility and trust in the Lord, Joseph obeyed the angel of the Lord and immediately took Mary into his home as his wife.

Mary and Joseph both said "YES" to God. Little did they realize how important their "YES" had been as they both had vital parts to play in the history of salvation. It surely must have taken a lot of faith and trust to be able to step beyond what their lives would ordinarily have become, to do what the Lord wished.

We come now to Paul's letter to the Romans. Paul recognized that we also have a part in this history of salvation. Because we have received the Good News and believed, we now belong to Jesus Christ and thereby, are called to be holy as He is holy. Just as Mary and Joseph were obedient to God, we too must accept the specific roles God desires us to play for the salvation of the world.

If God spoke to you today and asked you to do something for Him, how would you respond?


~ Clipart from Hermano Leon

The Reason for the Season

Josephine Fernando sent this poem that has been circulating on the Web, reminding us of the REAL reason for the season!

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!

Please all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

~ Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione, 1508, National Gallery of Art
~ Free Christ Images

Gaudete Sunday - - (Rejoice!) ~ by Ronnie Archer

Is 35:1-6a, 10
Ps 146:6-10
Jas 5:7-10
Mt 11:2-11

A reflection on the Sunday Readings

As a much younger person, attending Mass in our old St. Joseph's Parish for the first four decades of my life, I vividly recall hearing the priest announce on the Third Sunday of Advent... that "This is Gaudete Sunday"... I never knew what the word "Gaudete" meant. If I ever heard the explanation, I must NOT have been in a place in my life at that time to receive and understand. It wasn't until becoming a member of St. Elizabeth's in the '70's that I learned that Gaudete is Latin for "Rejoice."

Before today's reading, Isaiah Chapter 34, gives the account of "The abomination of Edom" and God's anger with ALL of the nations. (v 2) Then in today's Isaiah, Chapter 35, we hear of "Israel's Deliverance", that God's blessings will come upon the righteous.

Dry land will flourish, the hands of the feeble will become firm, the eyes of the blind will be opened, the lame will leap like a stag. "Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee." (vs 1-10)... all a cause to rejoice because of God's love and mercy for His people, by sending us Jesus.

The psalm also continues to speak of these blessings. James' reading tells us to be patient until the coming of the Lord, reminding us to make our hearts firm, and not complaining.

In Matthew's Gospel, we hear about John the Baptist, who was imprisoned for the principles that he stood for. John was the baby who "leaped for joy" in his mother Elizabeth's womb, when Mary visited her with the good news about Jesus.

People had come to hear John the Baptist preach long before Jesus' public ministry began; he had baptized Jesus. But John the Baptist was joyful and humble. He knew WHO Jesus was and he had no resentment that Jesus was the Messiah.

On this third Sunday, we have reached a halfway point in our Advent journey. We have been in a "penitent" mode, preparing, exercising patience and being hopeful people, so the Church takes this third Sunday to "lighten the mood" a bit and be joyful!

We, our families and our world struggle with uncertainties of life, but we can rejoice at the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. We pray to continue to be vigilant, preparing for His return, because we don't know when He will come for us.

Satan is always on the prowl, but we cannot allow him to be an obstacle to us reaching the place where we want to and should be... so we have to be prepared to defeat Satan.

Jesus' coming will not be as the human power that some expected. He will not rule by force, but by the power of love. He expects us to live by the example He left us... by loving and caring for those who are less fortunate than we are.

REJOICE!


Clip art from Hermano Leon and Two Hearts Design

Reflection on the Advent Theme: Patience ~ by Phyllis Booth

Second Sunday of Advent

1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Second Reading: Romans 15: 4-9
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Our theme for Advent includes four choices to help parishioners to become ready to receive Our Lord on his Birthday. The second choice is to be Patient.

Patient is a word with several meanings. It can be 1) a person under a doctor's care; 2) someone with several attributes such as calmness, self control, a non complainer, acceptance of pain, troubles, illness or slow to anger. The word patient this week will be a reflection on the second meaning.

The state of our society brings many pressures upon our parishioners and Christians of other faiths as we try to live as God commanded us. The current economic situation has a great influence upon us as we prepare for Advent.

The homeless are being patient as they seek help from social agencies because his/her next meal or shelter depends upon his/her attitude or appearance. One who is fortunate to have a job and a car must avoid the temptation to be impatient on the road. Patience is needed to arrive safely or become the victim of causing an accident and facing the problems associated with an accident.

Think about the workers who must show self control working under stressful or unsafe conditions since companies are quick to lay off workers each day. We are blessed because each day in a foreign country, an American Soldier must be patient as he carries out his duty to save the lives of his comrades, to protect the natives and to destroy the enemy so we can enjoy freedom.

Many families are facing a bleak Christmas this year. They must make a difficult decision concerning their needs and wants. Some will not go into debt and still have an enjoyable holiday and others will follow the path of least resistance and add more debt on the family to enjoy the holiday and face more problems in 2011.

Patience is a virtue that has been practiced by our forefathers such as Abraham and Zechariah. Abraham and Zechariah believed the words of God and accepted them. They trusted God to keep the promise made to them.

In our society today, it's very difficult to know or see what virtues are practiced by Christians since our courts have allowed many sacred beliefs to be considered unconstitutional.

I feel that patience is a virtue such as faith. Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. A person who is calm during a situation hopes/sees the positive result of chaos. A person who accepts the pain of illness or a family crisis believes God will change or provide relief in his own time.

If we are patient with ourselves, family members and co-workers during Advent by being more compassionate, loving and forgiving, the Birthday of Our Lord will have a greater impact on our lives.


~ Painting of St. John the Baptist by Anton Rafael Mengs found on the Theologika blog

December Birthdays at St. E's ~ by Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday Everybody!







12/06/10 ~ Christyna Ford

12/09/10 ~ Tia Terreforte

12/11/10 ~ Burton Robinson, Sr.

12/12/10 ~ Archie Thompson, Sr. and Kiyoko Timmons

12/13/10 ~ Jannie F. Allen

12/14/10 ~ R'chell Jones and Katherine Lamb

12/17/10 ~ Keira Frizzelle

12/18/10 ~ Mieya Timmons

12/19/10 ~ James Thompson

12/21/10 ~ Perzelia Dandridge

12/22/10 ~ Sr. Elena Henderson and Frances Pope

12/26/10 ~ Lula Lamb

12/29/10 ~ Laila Sharee Miller

12/30/10 ~ Rita Hatchett


~ Clipart by Webweaver