Joy to the World! A Reflection on our Christmas Liturgy ~ by Phyllis Booth

The Nativity of the Lord (C)

Is 9:1-6

Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 11, 12, 13 (Lk 2:11)

Tit 2:11-14

Lk 2:1-14

The Mass on Christmas Eve was very inspiring.  It began with the young people recalling the Birth of Our Lord.  They ended the concert with a medley of Christmas Carols.

The Church was decorated with garlands, wreaths, a few nativity scenes in the windows, candles and the beautiful poinsettias that adorned the Nativity Scene at the foot of the altar.  The choir, as usual, gave an excellent spiritual performance.

The first reading spoke of the people walking in darkness and waiting for the light that was to bring them from the slave condition and give them the freedom, compassion and love promised to them many years ago.

Today, the world seems to be experiencing that same darkness.  Countries are at war across the globe; drugs are tearing families and governments apart; guns appear to be the new norm and neighborhoods fear for their safety.

Even though we have read, heard and spoken the Word, mankind has not truly accepted the covenant promised by our God.  Violence causes us to return to God for a while and we seem to remember and practice what was given as our part of the covenant - to pray, study the Word and live its commandment, especially, "to love thy neighbor as we love ourselves."

The second reading encourages us to live as "children of God."  WE can live a clean, lawful life with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Christ's sacrifice on the cross was for all mankind, not a few.  Many churches come together as an ecumenical group to examine how we are alike and encourage members to accept/work on our differences to bring about unity in our world.

The joy, compassion, love, peace, charity and help shown during the weeks before Christmas and on Christmas Day could serve as the beginning of our response to God and prepare the way for His Kingdom on earth.



Image Source: The Birth of Christ

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ~ A Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent (C)

Mic 5:1-4a

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16-, 18-19 (4)

Heb 10:5-10

Lk 1:39-45

Today, we hear even more about the events and prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus.  In Luke's Gospel, we discover what happened when Mary learns that her cousin Elizabeth is also expecting a child.  Childbirth in those days could be a perilous time for both the expectant mother and her child... and Elizabeth was a woman past her childbearing years.  Mary did not hesitate in going to assist her cousin...

Who can forget Elizabeth's dramatic response to Mary's greeting as the child leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb:  "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."  Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized that Mary carried the Messiah.

In the Old Testament reading from the prophet Micah, we are given more information about the coming birth of that Savior.  Bethlehem, a small town of little significance, will be the birthplace of this ruler in Israel.  But what kind of ruler will this Savior be?  We hear nothing of pomp and wealth.  Instead, Micah tells us that he will be a shepherd to his people and that "his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace."

As these final days of Advent wind down to the end, we look backward to this Advent's beginnings when we placed the names of those to be prayed for on our Jesse tree.  They will not be forgotten; for as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we will continue to hold these people in prayer in our hearts.



~ Image - The Visitation (detail) by Jacopo Pontormo

Anticipation ~ A Reflection on Gaudete Sunday, Third Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Zeph 3:14-18a

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

Phil 4:4-7

Lk 3:10-18

Rejoice!  That's the good news for this Third Sunday of Advent.  The days of waiting will soon be over!

We catch a similar excitement when we read the words of the prophet Zephaniah in the first reading.  "Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!....  The King of Israel, the Lord is in your midst..."  Zephaniah's prophecies had spoken of a terrible day of judgement for all the people because they had turned their backs on the Lord.  But the prophet also wanted them to know that after the judgement, a remnant would remain who would be delivered by their Lord and Savior who would renew them in his love.  They could rejoice at this good news!

In the second reading, Paul also bids his beloved Philippians to rejoice... because the Lord is near.  They should not be anxious about anything, but to lift up their petitions in prayer and thanksgiving to God.

In the Gospel of Luke, we find John the Baptist also preaching about a future judgement. His presence and his words were so powerful, that people began to wonder if John was the Christ, the anointed one of God.  But John told them another was coming who would baptize by the Holy Spirit and fire, and whose sandals he was not worthy to unloosen.  He preached the good news to the people that their time of waiting was almost over.

So today, we have great cause for rejoicing.  Along with Isaiah, we acknowledge,

"God indeed is my savior.  I am confident and unafraid.  My strength and my courage is the Lord."        



~ Image Source

Advent: Waiting for Jesus ~ by Ethel Cooley

St. Nicholas Arrives!

Pat Mundy and Faith Formation

On Sunday, December 9, 2012, Pat Mundy, with Fr. Jim, presented our Faith Formation session.  We welcomed five families from St. Michael's who are involved with a religious education program, called FIRE.

Pat spoke about the Gospel during Advent and we all played Advent BINGO!  We all received BINGO cards with words like:  Second Coming, Hail Mary, John the Baptist, Advent Wreath, etc.  The questions that Pat Mundy asked were:  How many weeks of Advent? (Four)  Who was the cousin of Mary? (Elizabeth)  What does Emmanuel mean? (God is with us)  What is Jesus the light of? (World)  During Advent, what do we pray for?  (Peace)

The answers were on the BINGO card and we covered the spaces with M&M chocolate candies.  Gifts were given out; everyone was a winner and we got to eat our chocolates when the game was finished.

It was a fun, learning experience!  Many thanks to the St. E's Kitchen Committee for the delicious breakfast!

Thanks to Larry Williford who was the perfect St. Nicholas/Santa Claus! 

Photos by Ethel Cooley

Anticipation - Looking to the future ~ Second Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent (C)

Bar 5:1-9

Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

Lk 3:1-6

Today's readings speak to us of hope and joy.  In Luke's Gospel, we hear the voice of John the Baptizer who is calling us to repentance for the forgiveness of sins...

John is the one of whom Isaiah says will prepare the way for the Lord.  In order to make straight the paths and fill in the valleys, one must repent and become a new person.  Then we shall see the salvation of God.

Just as John was the herald to announce Jesus' public ministry, he is also calling us to prepare for the birth of the Lord during this season of Advent.

In the first reading from the Book of Baruch, we see that the prophet is already rejoicing at the coming restoration of Israel and the end of the captivity of its people.  The reading is filled with expressions of joy at the future; words like "the splendor of glory", "wrapped in the cloak of justice from God", "mercy and justice"...  All describing the hope inherent in the human heart that God will care for those he loves, His People.  These captive people were waiting, just as we are...

In the second reading, Paul shows his obvious affection for the Christians of Phillippi as he exhorts them to greater love so that they may be "pure and blameless for the day of Christ" ... just as we wish to be as we await the birth of the Savior.

Advent is a time of waiting and preparation...  Not simply for decorating our homes and buying gifts.  Instead, we prepare our hearts so that the Babe can live in us anew...

The psalmist recognized the happiness of knowing that the captivity was ending and that the Lord was bringing his people home.  His joy echoes our own:

"The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."  (Ps 126:3)


  St. John the Baptist - Bartolomeo Veneto, 16th Century

Advent Tradition at St. E's

For the past several years, St. E's has placed a bare tree to the right of the sanctuary.  We call it our Jesse Tree though we do not place the normal religious symbols on the tree.  Our idea for our tree is different.  We tie leaves on the tree with the names of people we wish to pray for during Advent. Here is how we go about it.

One of our parishioners agrees to search for an appropriate tree.  It needs to be a young tree with plenty of branches that people can reach fairly easily.  However, it can't be too tall or bushy so that it looks tacky.  The tree's trunk needs to fit into a bucket of rocks that hold it in place.

Next, someone cuts out leaves from construction paper; or as we did this year, buy some garlands of Fall leaves from the craft store.  We just cut them from the garland and tied ribbon through each one and then placed a strip of adhesive tape on each leaf so that parishioners could write on it, the names of the people they were holding in prayer this Advent.

After the leaves were prepared, they were placed in a basket on a table in the rear of church so the hospitality ministers could pass them out as people arrived for Mass.  A few days before the First Sunday of Advent, the tree was set up in the sanctuary.

Last year, we used construction paper leaves that had the names of children in need of prayer written on them.  We had used the leaves in other ways during the past year so we were hesitant to discard them.  So, the old leaves were placed on the highest branches of the tree so that those children could continue to be prayed for during this Advent as well.

On the First Sunday of Advent, our priest spoke about the meaning of our tree during his homily and said he had written the names of his elderly parents on his leaf and when he ended his homily, he attached his leaf to the tree.  Our parishioners then left their pews and did the same.  The basket still has unused leaves in it so that anyone who could not attend the First Sunday will still be able to place their names on the tree when they return.

This prayer for our people has become a meaningful tradition for us here at St. Elizabeth's.



~ Bare Tree II by Norman Wyatt, Jr.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord ~ Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent (C)

First Sunday of Advent (C)

Jer 33:14-16

Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14, (1b)

1 Thess 3:12-4:2

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Today, the First Sunday of Advent, we are reminded once again that someday, there will be signs in the heavens and on earth that the Son of Man is returning.  We are told that we must not be asleep but to be ready for his coming. (Lk 21:25ff).

But on this First Sunday of Advent, we are also preparing for another coming: the birth of a Child, the Anointed one of God.  In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet speaks of God's promise that he will "raise up for David a just shoot; He will do what is just and right in the land."  What can this mean except that from the house of David, a Savior will be born.

The psalmist responds with joy at recognizing that our God is a saving God who shows sinners the way to salvation.  Just as the psalmist does, we also pray, "Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me..." (Ps 25:4 ff).  And then we add that beautiful response:

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." (Ps 25:1b)