Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church

Transcription

1 Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Lake Jackson, Texas December 2016

2 Advent & Christmas Season Calendar 11/27/16 - First Sunday of Advent Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Vespers Sun. 6:00 pm F Wing 12/4/16 - Second Sunday of Advent Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Vespers Sun. 6:00 pm F Wing 12/8/16 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception Masses Wed. (12/7) 5:30 pm Thu. 8:30 am, 5:30 pm 12/11/16 - Third Sunday of Advent Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Vespers Sun. 6:00 pm F Wing 12/12/16 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Las Mañanitas Mon. 7:45 am Rosary Mon. 8:00 am Mass Mon. 8:30 am 12/18/16 - Fourth Sunday of Advent Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Vespers Sun. 6:00 pm F Wing 12/19/16 - Parish Reconciliation Service Mon. 7:00 pm 2

3 Advent & Christmas Season Calendar (cont.) 12/24/16 - Vigil of Christmas Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Church 5:30 pm Hall 9:00 pm Church 12/25/16 - Christmas Day Masses Sun. 8:00 am Church 9:30 am Church 11:00 am Church 1/1/17 - Feast of Mary, Mother of God Mass Sat.(12/31) 5:30 pm Masses Sun. 8:00 am Church 9:30 am Church 11:00 am Church 1/8/17 - Feast of the Epiphany Masses Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Weekday Mass Schedule Tue. 5:30 pm Wed. 8:30 am Thu. 5:30 pm Fri. 8:30 am Confession Times Tue. 5:00 pm Sat. 4:00 pm 3

4 The Season of Advent Advent is the season that begins the liturgical year. It consists of four Sundays starting with the Sunday closest to November 30th. The word advent is derived from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" or "arrival." In the societies of the Roman empire, the word adventus referred to the arrival of a person of dignity and great power -- a king, emperor, or even one of the gods. For Christians, Advent is the time when the church patiently prepares for the coming of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Even though Advent occurs in the month of December and is usually considered to be a prelude to Christmas, it is not simply about waiting for the birth of Christ. Advent is as much about preparing for Christ's return on Judgment Day. Indeed, the Advent season focuses on Christ's threefold coming -- past, present, and future. First, we remember the Lord's humble first coming in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Second, we give thanks for His present and continual coming to us through Word and Sacrament. Finally, we look forward to His second coming in glory to judge the living and the dead on the Last Day. While the rest of secular society is already caught up in the frantic rush of shopping, decorations, parties, and other distractions, the church takes pause during Advent to contemplate the wonder of God's undeserved mercy and love. Christians approach the Advent season much as expectant parents approach the months before a child is born. There are feelings of exhilaration, uneasiness, longing, and awe as the day of arrival approaches. Just as parents do everything they can to get ready and put things into good order, God's people prepare themselves at home and at church for the coming of the Lord. Advent's four Sundays are thematically arranged to concentrate on different aspects of Christ's coming. In 2016, we are in Cycle A of the three year liturgical cycle which features the gospel according to Matthew. The first Sunday in Advent likens the triumphant return of Christ at the end of time with the flood of Noah s time. All are cautioned to stay awake and be ready (Matthew 24:37-44). The second Sunday introduces the greatest prophet, John the Baptist, proclaiming a baptism of repentance in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah (Matthew 3:1-12). The third Sunday depicts John the Baptist, in prison, inquiring of Jesus through emissaries as to whether Jesus was the promised one who is to come (Matthew 11:2-11). The final Sunday in Advent is a bridge to the first coming of Christ in his birth at Christmas, this year focusing on Joseph s obedience to God in becoming the foster father of Jesus. In a dream Joseph was advised to take Mary as his lawful wife and he did as the angel commanded him, taking her into his home (Matthew 1:18-24). 4

5 Advent Resources The following is a partial compilation of a variety of resources. To access these, go to this page on our website: Advent Wreath From our St. Michael s website ( this resource will help you understand the Advent wreath, ways to build one in your home, and prayers. (Online & brochure) Jesse Tree From our St. Michael s website ( this resource will help you understand the Jesse tree, ways of doing one in your home, detailed information on each of the 28 symbols, and more. (Online & brochure) O Antiphons From our St. Michael s website ( this resource will help you understand the O Antiphons, which are prayed in the seven days preceding Christmas. (Online & brochure) Best Advent Ever Receive a daily from Dynamic Catholic (Matthew Kelly) containing short inspirational videos, practical tips, and more. (Online) Daily Advent Reflections Sign up for daily s each day of Advent by Bishop Robert Barron. (Online) Word on Fire Visit the website by Bishop Robert Barron for a treasure trove of Catholic inspirational articles, homilies, videos, and much more. (Online) Put Jesus First - Advent & Christmas Planning Guide This PDF guide provides much needed planning information to help make Advent & Christmas more organized, less stressful, and help put the spiritual aspect of these seasons front and center. (Online) DeeperGospel.com Sign up for a weekly with insights on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. This resource will help you prepare for Sunday to receive the Word and let it have a greater impact on your life. (Online) The Pray More Advent Retreat Register free for inspiring talks to help you prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Includes video presentations with transcripts and reflective study guides. (Online) 5

6 The Jesse Tree Showing People and Events Leading to the Birth of Jesus The Jesse tree is a tradi on which first started in medieval mes. It depicts the family tree of Jesus through persons and events in the bible spanning from crea on to the birth of Christ. The name Jesse tree comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. One prophecy in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, says: a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. In this verse, Isaiah predicts the coming of Jesus. He is telling the people that, one day, a great ruler will rise from the descendants of the great King David. Jesse, was David s father. This was exciting news to the people of Isaiah s time. Isaiah s prophecy points to Jesus as new growth and a new hope for the kingdom that was once strong and worshiped God as one. This Advent, we will present a Jesse tree in the narthex of the church as a focal point of our environment for the season. Also, Jesse tree symbols will be incorporated into the environment in the nave of the church, on the hangings on each of the interior columns. The symbols will be augmented for each week of Advent. A brochure will be provided with pictures of the symbols along with related scripture passages. On the opposite page are thumbnail clips of the symbols that will be displayed on the tree in the narthex and the columns decora ons. A Jesse tree can be made from an actual small tree, or it can be made on a piece of felt or burlap or a large piece of construc on paper. Symbols are hung or a ached to the tree. For more informa on about the Jesse tree and how to make one and celebrate this devo on, go to our St. Michael s website at: 6

7 FIRST WEEK The Birth of Life SECOND WEEK Joseph and His Coat Adam & Eve Moses and the Law Noah and the Flood Father Abraham The Blessing of Aaron Samuel and the Word of the Lord Isaac and the Ram David Jacob and His Dream Symbol of Shepherds The Symbol of Prophecy Wisdom of Solomon THIRD WEEK Elijah and the Raven FOURTH WEEK Virgin Mary Elisha and Healing Magnificat Isaiah Birth of John the Baptizer Jeremiah Joseph of Nazareth Nehemiah the Builder Symbol of Bethlehem Angels Birth of Jesus Zechariah and Elizabeth Christ Our Lord 7

8 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Light of All Being Creator God, author of all life and light, in this season of anticipation, you call us to recognize your light in our midst, your love in our darkness. Lead us from the darkness of despair into a light of hope and peace. Wake us from the shadows of our troubled lives into a light that dispels our fears and concerns. May your presence maintain our wakefulness, as we prepare for your coming more deeply into our hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 8

9 Sunday, November 27, 2016 Come, Let Us Walk in the Light of the Lord! Today s Readings: Isaiah 2:1 5; Psalm 122:1 2, 3 4, 4 5, 6 7, 8 9; Romans 13:11 14; Matthew 24: The day of salvation is near, and the darkness in which we often find ourselves does not need to govern our lives. The readings on the First Sunday of Advent are a call to be alert. They urge us to shake off our drowsiness, find a way through the darkness, and follow the light. From Isaiah, in the First Reading, we are called to stream together to the house of the Lord, where all nations will lay down their weapons of destruction. That vision is our call to live in the light of God s Kingdom. On this opening day of Advent, we can take that first step in our homes by setting up an Advent prayer area, with a purple cloth and an Advent wreath. The purple is the dark background in which the light, growing through the season, is both a reminder and a call to move forward together to work to establish God s Kingdom of peace. All three readings today summon us to wake up and to discard some kind of darkness, turning it into a life-giving light. In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul speaks of a darkness brought about by our conduct, a reminder that when we put on Christ, when we clothe ourselves in conduct guided by the Lord, we wear the light of Christ as armor. In this dark season of the year, when our daylight hours are never enough, it can be too easy to let the darkness and the night be our guide. 9

10 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Waters of Hopefulness and Harmony Heavenly Father, in your wisdom you call us to your Son, who welcomes us, and through our Baptism, we find the source of peacefulness and harmony. May our lives be spent in hopeful encouragement of one another, with the Spirit as our guide, and justice our path. May the community into which we are baptized continue to be a place of welcome and forgiveness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 10

11 Sunday, December 4, 2016 Roots, Stumps, Branches, and Fruit Today s Readings: Isaiah 11:1 10; Psalm 72:1 2, 7 8, 12 13, 17; Romans 15:4 9; Matthew 3:1 12. A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse begins today s First Reading. These words not only set the tone for the day s Scriptures but are the foundation for images and understandings of the coming of the Messiah and of his familial roots. Isaiah s prophetic voice outlines a kingdom where the Messiah brings justice but also one that is an outgrowth of the line of David. The son of Jesse, David was a shepherd who became king. The kingdom described today is one in which the ruler will be guided by the poor and justice will be the outcome of his judgments. When justice reigns, all will live in harmony and all of creation will be at peace. The harmony of wild animals living with domestic ones, and of children who curiously reach into a snake s home without harm coming to them, are the bases for the Gospel, where John the Baptist, the wild precursor, proclaims the coming of the Kingdom. His warning to prepare calls us to question whether we are ready for a kingdom of harmony. When John states that the ax is ready for the trees that do not bear good fruit, we are taken back to the stump of Jesse. The Jesse Tree, the genealogy of Jesus family, is full of hope and promise. In your homes, discover who some of the ancestors of Jesus were, and make a Jesse Tree with symbols of those ancestors. Rediscover the ancestors of your family, those who brought hope to your family tree. In that way, you may find the encouragement to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. 11

12 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Patience, Hope, Joy Gracious, merciful, and patient God, your generosity rewards the concerts we express. You reap a fruitful harvest when we plant only hardness of heart. Strengthen us in this season of hope, grant patience in troubled times, and lift our fearful hearts. As the farmer waits for the fruitful harvest and the desert anticipates abundant blossoms may we, too, be blessed with patient hearts as we approach the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 12

13 Sunday, December 11, 2016 Rejoice! Today s Readings: Isaiah 35:1 6a, 10; Psalm 146:6 7, 8 9, 9 10; James 5:7 10; Matthew 11:2 11. The coming of Christ and his Kingdom is manifested by the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame leaping. In today s readings, we are reminded by both Isaiah and Jesus that we do not need to look any further. The signs of healing and wholeness should be enough. Traditionally, the Third Sunday of Advent is a joyous reminder that God is already in our midst, even as we prepare to commemorate his coming into the world. In the world s terms, we know that the blind see, the deaf hear, weak knees and hearts are made firm, and even the arid desert is in full bloom. This is cause for rejoicing. The words of Jesus in the Gospel are a challenge to look beyond the messenger, John the Baptist, and to realize the truth of the message. Rejoice in the topsy-turvy world where those apparently blind can now see through the rough nomad in the dry desert and recognize a prophet. Rejoice in the prophetic message heard by the deaf, pulsating through the lame, and blooming with abundant flowers. Take some time today with your family or friends to recognize the goodness that you witness in your lives: where adversity can produce joy, where the deaf have heard some Good News and a change of heart is the result. Today is the day of which Isaiah prophesies when he says, Sorrow and sighing shall flee, because those the Lord has ransomed will have joy and gladness. 13

14 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Fill Our Darkness with Your Light Ever-living God, source of all life and all goodness, you who dwell within all creation, who draw us closer: fill the darkness of lives with the light of your presence. As we await your coming, inspire us in our waking and our sleeping, and quiet our anxious minds so that we will be ready for you, God-with-us. May we realize your promise fulfilled in our hearts, our homes, and our lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 14

15 Sunday, December 18, 2016 His Name Will Be Emmanuel Today s Readings: Isaiah 7:10 14; Psalm 24:1 2, 3 4, 5 6; Romans 1:1 7; Matthew 1: Joseph was unsure of how to respond to the news that Mary was with child. He was considering how to react, for he did not want to have her disgraced publicly. And so he slept on it. Imagine the anguish of falling asleep with that on your mind! It is apparent that Joseph was faithful to God, in love with Mary, and quietly obedient. So when God sent an angel to appear to him in a dream, Joseph does not waver in his faith, for he is reminded of the ancient prophecies. When he is told to name the child Jesus, he carries that into his waking world as Mary treasures prophecies in her heart. Together, they bring the messages of the prophets into the world with their son. The challenge today is to discover the same kind of clarity of heart as did Joseph. His quiet understanding of God s plan came through a dream. As we near the end of the Advent season, can we say our hearts are ready? Have we stripped away the unnecessary distractions of our lives so that God can enter? Are we prepared to act according to God s plan? With Joseph, let us not judge too quickly, but turn our hearts and minds to God, so that we may have a quiet understanding of God coming to us. His name will be Emmanuel; that is, God with us. 15

16 We pray for God s Blessings on all during the Christmas season. We look forward to seeing you at one of our many Christmas Masses: 12/24/16 - Vigil of Christmas (Saturday) - Masses will be at 5:30 pm in the Church, 5:30 pm in the Hall and 9:00 pm in the Church 12/25/15 - Christmas Day (Sunday) - Masses will be at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11:00 am in the Church 16