3rd Sunday of Advent

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WE ARE CALLED TO REPENTANCE

John The Baptist preached repentance and baptized people in water as a sign of cleansing and repentance.  John insisted that true repentance must mean a change in how one behaved, and laid out how repentant people should behave.  They must share what they have with the needy; they must not use their power for their own gain.

John announced that one far greater than he was coming, one who would “Baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire” instead of water.  John goes on to describe the one who would come as an agent of Gods’ judgement, separating the wheat from the chaff and burning the chaff in a unquenchable fire.  Even now, John tells us the ax was beginning to fall.

There are times in our lives when God may speak to us as directly as John spoke to the elders of the people of Israel.  It may be that he might want to call us to repentance, but we are just not listening.  So God turns up the volume – through a Scripture passage that jolts us, the words of a friend that convicts us, or an unexpected event that shakes us up.  We know that it is God speaking to us and not the devil trying to condemn us if along with the message comes a promise of love and mercy.

When this happens, there is only one thing to do: Repent!  Get to Confession as soon as you can!  Then you will be ready for whatever gift the Holy Spirit wants to give you.  There is nothing better than getting right with the Lord and experiencing His Spirit more deeply.  Though it may be difficult, repentance always bears “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

MAY GOD BRING US ALL TO REPENTANCE.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

 

2nd sunday in advent

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THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

The ministry of John the Baptist provides the prelude for Jesus’ public ministry, and Luke carefully specifies the historical setting.  Some of the names of rulers may mean little to us now, but they make the point that Jesus lived at a definite moment in history, in a definite place.

John preached repentance and baptized people in water as a sign of cleansing and repentance.  John the Baptist came to prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah and point him out to the people as the “Christ.”

The Jewish people’s homeland was occupied by the Romans.  There was oppression.  The procurator was Pontius Pilate.  Herod the King was brutal and ruthless.  Ananias and Caiaphas were not the most revered high priests.  The world that Jesus was born into was a difficult one.

John was a prophet.  He prepares the way for the Messiah.  He  fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament.  One prophecy in particular is associated with John, that of Isaiah Chapter 40.  In that prophecy we hear about the “voice” who calls out in the wilderness the to prepare for God’s coming back to His people.

Certainly John’s location in the Judean wilderness by the Jordan would evoke great hope and expectation from the Jews of his day.  The specific location was where Joshua led Israel across to enter the Promised Land.  The Jordan was the threshold of the promise, and John’s summoning Israel to return to the waters of the Jordan for the forgiveness of sins meant that he was asking the people of Israel to make a fresh start.  He invited them to a new beginning. Once again, at the Jordan, a new Joshua (Jesus) would lead them to the longed for promises of God.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

 

1st sunday of advent

Posted on by Cassie

Today we begin a new year in our Church.  Each Church year begins with the Season of Advent.  During Advent we prepare for the coming of Jesus our Savior on Christmas Day.  Advent allows us time to prepare ourselves for the continual birth of Christ in our heart, mind and soul.  If you want to be prepared spiritually for the coming of Jesus on Christmas, you need to enter into this season eager to strengthen your spirit for your encounter with Jesus.

To help in your spiritual preparation we will have our Parish Penance Service on Thursday December 12, 2024 at 7pm.  Please reserve this date to take part in our penance service.  The Sacrament of Penance lifts a burden from our hearts and fills us with the grace of peace.

During Advent Season make an effort to attend daily Mass (6:30am and 9am weekdays), read Sacred Scripture or other spiritual readings, come to Eucharistic Adoration and receive the Eucharist frequently.  Continue your effort of personal spiritual renewal.  Pray, study and be generous. Prepare yourself and your family spiritually for this Christmas.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

Since December 8th falls on a Sunday this year, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 9th.  It is not a Holy Day of Obligation.  You are encouraged to come to Mass, but it is not an obligation.  We will have Mass at 6:30am and 9am on Monday December 9th.