Ember Wednesday
GOLDEN
MASS
Genesis, Chapter 46, Verse 3
Then he said: I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.
At times God asks us to go
down into our personal Egypt’s; so he can make us more by raising us up.
·
I
will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. – Psalm 119:8
·
Blessed
is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will
receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. –
James 1:12
What
is your “Egypt”? What is your temptation, your land of (empty) promise? What
has placed you under bondage? For some it could be that “dream” job across the
country. For others it could be that big house, or luxury car. Chances are, if
you find yourself saying something like, “Things would better if I could
only…”, then you have an “Egypt” of your own. In most cases your “Egypt” is
really just another heap of steaming trouble, bundled in empty hope and wrapped
with false promise. God knows that humility, and a sense of self-worth centered
in God’s grace and not in “things” and “stuff” is what leads to a heart that is
not been made cynical by the disappointments of materialism. A humble and
compassionate heart is softer, fertile ground made ready and willing to love. We
must find contentment in the immutable, in the unwavering God. Only then will
the distractions, the idols, and the daily lies we tell ourselves to feel okay…
only then will they start to fall away and we can be fully Present. Being
Present means to exist fully in the now, in this moment. Not
regretting the past, not worrying about the future, but fully mindful and
present in the moment at hand. Then you would be able to give this text
your full attention, and not simply a cursory scan. You would find yourself
really listening to someone speaking, and not simply waiting for a chance to
talk. And most importantly, your find yourself fully enjoying the presence of
someone close to you, fully mindful that in an instant they could be gone. Our
personal “Egypt” is a always a source of bondage and domination. We find
ourselves broken through our pursuit of it, and God forbid, we attain it! Then
we realize that its promise and hope were dust and dreams and there is nothing
of substance to sustain us. Where do we turn to now? We’ve already spent
ourselves trying to attain our own personal “Egypt”? We turn back to God. He is
always ready and willing to perform the next personal Exodus out of another
personal Egypt. And you will need God’s help, for the wisdom of the
world and it’s Pharaohs will rise up to stop you the very moment you start to trust God’s
immutable providence for your life: Wake up. Spread the blood of lamb on the
lintels of your soul. Ask God for salvation from bondage to your own personal
Egypt, and God will act in your life.[1]
Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday after Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent) are known as
"Advent Embertide," and they come near the beginning of the Season of
Winter (December, January, February). Liturgically, the readings for the days'
Masses follow along with the general themes of Advent, opening up with
Wednesday's Introit of Isaias 45: 8 and Psalm 18:2 : Drop down dew, ye heavens,
from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud
forth a Savior. The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament
declareth the work of His hands. Wednesday's and Saturday's Masses will include
one and four Lessons, respectively, with all of them concerning the words of
the Prophet Isaias except for the last lesson on Saturday, which comes from
Daniel and recounts how Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago are saved from King
Nabuchodonosor's fiery furnace by an angel. This account, which is followed by
a glorious hymn, is common to all Embertide Saturdays but for Whit Embertide.
The Gospel readings for the three days concern, respectively, the Annunciation
(Luke 1:26-28), Visitation
(Luke 1:37-47), and St.
John the Baptist's exhorting us to "prepare the way of the Lord
and make straight His paths" (Luke 3:1-6).
Attend mass
today and feel the joy of Mary at the annunciation!
Winter
is characterized by "wet and cold," and is associated with the golden
years of old age; remember them this season. Get your children to think of what
changes atmospherically and astronomically during this season. Why is it so
cold? How does the cold affect the earth's air and waters? Remember that lore
says that the weather conditions of each of the three days of an Embertide
foretell the weather of the next three months, so the weather seen on Wednesday
of Advent Embertide predicts the weather of the coming January, Friday's
weather foretells the weather of February, and Saturday's weather foretells the
weather of March. Make a note of the weather on those three days and see if the
old tales are true! What stars can be seen during the Winter months? Do your
children know the traditional names for this season's full Moons? Ask your
children to consider how the seasonal changes of Winter affect the plants and
animals. How have the trees changed? What are the animals doing now? Which are
hibernating? Which are gone, having migrated? What do the animals that aren't
hibernating or gone eat now? Have any stored-up food to eat during the cold
months? Which have fur that has grown thicker to protect them? Do any have fur
that has changed color to match the snow? Ask them to consider how the seasonal
changes affect (or traditionally affected) the activities of man. What can we
do now that we couldn't do at other times of the year? What can't we do? How do
modern conveniences affect the answers to those questions? Ask them how they
would ensure they had shelter, food, and water if they were put into the middle
of the woods right now, with the season as it is. What plants and animals would
be available to eat? How would they keep themselves dry and warm and protected
from the winds? In the Middle Ages, the months are almost always uniformly
depicted by showing the "Labors of Man" throughout the seasons. In
stained glass windows, in illuminated manuscripts, one sees over and over the
same human activities used to portray the months. In addition to these things,
now is the time to make snow angels, build snowmen and snowforts and ice
sculptures, sled, ski, skate, ice fish, sit around hearths and tell tales, make
crafts indoors, watch for and feed the Winter birds, and, most of all, praise
God for His artistry and providence... Get to it! -- and know that just when
you tire of this season, Spring will be here!
Today's
Mass was historically called the "golden Mass" and celebrated with
special solemnity, because it focuses on the role of Mary in the Incarnation.
The first reading is the famous prophecy from Isaiah about the virgin who will
conceive and bear a son. The Gospel is the Annunciation account. Mary is a
special Advent figure. The expectant mother is a sign to us of what our Advent
waiting is all about: the coming of Christ, our Savior. Today's first reading
from Isaiah is the same one we had yesterday (for the Fourth Sunday of Advent).
Ahaz, the king, had entered into political alliances in an attempt to save
Israel from her enemies. But the prophet Isaiah was telling him not to trust in
politics, but in God. Only God could deliver Israel. In refusing to ask for a
sign, Ahaz was not being humble, but tricky. He was keeping his options open,
so to speak, by refusing to trust the Lord. Mary, instead, was completely
committed to doing God's will. By her "yes" to the angel Gabriel,
Mary totally surrendered to what God was asking of her. She didn't know exactly
what would happen. It was very risky--in those days a woman in an irregular
pregnancy could suffer severe penalties. What would Joseph think? Mary turned
all those worries over to God. And God made it all work out. Whatever problems
we face, God will help us also to work them out, if we turn to him in trust.
God’s Handiwork
Every Christmas although the same
in many ways is always new for each Christmas expresses a hope learned from a
lifetime of praising God. For every Christmas if we open our eyes to truth we
will see the handiwork of God; the rock of our salvation. Perhaps in these
final days of anticipation it would do us well to reflect on the virtues of
Mary Christ’s very own mother and in these final days in some way reflect them
in our own lives.
“True
humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” C.S. Lewis,
Mere
Christianity
“These
are the few ways we can practice humility: To speak as little as possible of
one's self; to mind one's own business, not to want to manage other people's
affairs; to avoid curiosity, to accept contradictions and correction
cheerfully; to pass over the mistakes of others, to accept insults and
injuries; to accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked, to be kind and
gentle even under provocation; never to stand on one's dignity, to choose
always the hardest.”
― Mother
Teresa, The
Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living
How
to celebrate Look for an Evergreen Day
·
The
best way to celebrate is to grab a book of local flora/fauna, and head out to
identify all the different types of evergreen plants that grow in your part of
the world· There are literally thousands of different varieties from every
place in the vegetable kingdom, so there are certain to be multiple examples in
your local area.
·
Obviously,
if you haven’t gotten your tree yet, then Look for an
Evergreen Day is when it should happen· By
understanding the difference between Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and the dozens
of other varieties of Christmas Tree available, you’ll know which ones will
have the most even spread, which ones will be the most dense, and will best
compliment your home and decorating scheme.
Come
to deliver us, and tarry not.
O Root of Jesse, who
stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and
unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not.
O Root of Jesse[7]
"Come to deliver us and tarry not." The world cries
out for Christ its King, who shall cast out the prince of this world (John
12:31). The prince of this world established his power over men as a result of
original sin. Even after we had been delivered from the servitude of Satan
through the death of Christ on the cross, the prince of this world attempts to
exercise his power over us. "The devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about
seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8). In these trying times, when
faith in Christ and in God has largely disappeared, when the propaganda of a pagan
culture is broadcast everywhere, and the forces of evil and falsehood rise up
to cast God from His throne, who does not feel the power of the devil? Does it
not appear that we are approaching that time when Satan will be released from
the depths of hell to work his wonders and mislead, if possible, even the
elect? (Apoc. 20:2; Matt. 24:24.)
"Come, tarry not." Observe how thoroughly the world
of today has submitted to the reign of Satan. Mankind has abandoned the search
for what is good and holy. Loyalty, justice, freedom, love, and mutual trust
are no longer highly regarded. Establish, O God, Thy kingdom among us, a
kingdom established upon truth, justice, and peace. "Come, tarry
not." "Thy kingdom come."
Spiritual Crib[8]
A special devotion that can be performed during Advent to
prepare for the coming of the Infant Savior. It can be adapted for adults
and/or children and applied as is appropriate to your state in life.
·
9th day, December 19th: THE OX—Silence
Today we may speak nothing unnecessary, much less give way to distracting
thoughts. On the contrary, hold interior converse with God by loving
aspirations to Him.
During this Advent season let us take up the nature of God by
reflecting on these traits that make us a model for our children and our
sisters and brothers in Christ. Today reflect on:
Gentleness vs.
Roughness
Showing personal care and concern in
meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7)
1832 The fruits of the Spirit
are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal
glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness,
modesty, self-control, chastity."
2416 Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds
them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and
give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness
with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated
animals.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
If you don't deny yourself you will never be a soul of prayer.
Daily Devotions
[1]
http://www.epochalypsis.org/daily-devotion-your-own-personal-egypt/
[9]http://graceonlinelibrary.org/home-family/christian-parenting/49-godly-character-qualities/
[10]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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