First Sunday of
Advent
Psalm 119, Verse 120
My flesh shudders with dread of you; I fear
your judgments.
Samekh
(Verses 113-120)[1]
The letter samekh
is a prop, support, fulcrum or lever, and it has a meaning of leaning upon
something or supporting yourself with something. Leverage and support give
stability. The closed circle also represents a shield used for protection.
And, it is a visual image of the eternal spiraling of God’s Truth and
ever-increasing glory.
113 I hate
double-minded people, but I love your law.
114 You are my
refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
115 Away from me,
you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me, my
God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
117 Uphold me, and
I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
118 You reject all
who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked
of the earth you discard like dross; therefore, I love your statutes.
120 My flesh
trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
Trusting in a false worldview, like
leaning on a splintered staff, will cause chaos and end in disaster. And
this is exactly what happens to the double-minded man (113). Only those
who are committed to God’s Truth will experience God as their refuge and
shield (114), and God is well able to shelter and shield those who hope in
his Word. The psalmist wants nothing to do with double-minded evildoers
(115) because their ways will neutralize the leverage and support (116,
117) that God’s promises and decrees provide on this earth. The
double-minded philosophies of man provide no true support or assistance,
but instead splinter and collapse like weak levers, which should be
rejected and discarded (118-119). It is an awesome thing to understand the
looming danger of worthless worldviews when compared to the awesome
potential of God’s word in our temporal world (120).
1040 The Last Judgment
will come when Christ returns in glory. Only the Father knows the day and the
hour; only he determines the moment of its coming. Then through his Son Jesus
Christ he will pronounce the final word on all history. We shall know the
ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of
salvation and understand the marvelous ways by which his Providence led
everything towards its final end. The Last Judgment will reveal that God's
justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that
God's love is stronger than death.
A sudden announcement that the lord is coming
WHAT does
Advent mean?
Advent means the coming, and is used by the
Church to represent the four thousand years of preparation for the coming of
the Redeemer, and at the same time points us to His second coming as our judge.
When is
the season of Advent?
The season of Advent comprises the four weeks
preceding Christmas.
When was
the first coming of our Redeemer?
When the Son of God was conceived by the Holy
Ghost in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was made flesh, to sanctify the
world by His coming.
Was a
redeemer necessary?
Yes; for all men sinned in Adam, and needed to
be reconciled to God.
Could
not the just under the Old Law be saved before the coming of Christ?
Yes; through the expectation of Him and through
His future merits all might be saved under the Old Law who made themselves
worthy of the grace of Christ by innocence and penance, though they could not
be admitted to heaven until Our Lord’s ascension.
When
will be the second coming of Christ?
At the end of the world, when Christ will come
with great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead.
Why has
the Church appointed the holy season of Advent?
1. That we may consider the wretched state of
mankind before the coming of Christ, and bring before our minds the mercy of
God, Who sent His only-begotten Son down from heaven for our redemption.
2. That we may prepare ourselves worthily for
Christmas, that Christ may then enter our hearts in the fulness of His grace,
to renew them and to dwell in them.
3. That we may so prepare ourselves for the
second advent that He may be to us a merciful judge. “Watch ye, therefore,
because you know not what hour your Lord will come (St. Matt. xxiv. 42).
Prayer.
O God, Who hast brought joy to the world
through Thy gracious advent, grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy grace, that we may
prepare ourselves by sincere penance for its celebration and for the Last
Judgment. Amen.
First Sunday of Advent
THIS is the first day of the ecclesiastical
year; on it the Church begins to contemplate the coming of Our Savior, and,
with the prophets, to long for Him ; she exhorts the faithful to true penance
for their sins, which oppose Christ s entrance into their hearts; she sings,
therefore, at the Introit of the Mass, in the words of the psalmist: “To Thee,
O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
Prayer.
Raise up Thy power, O Lord, we pray Thee, and
come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening
dangers of our sins, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Amen.
EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 11-14.
Brethren: Knowing the season, that it is now
the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now, our salvation is nearer than when
we believed. The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly
as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and
impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is
understood here by sleep?
Sin, in which man, as if sunk in a torpor, no
longer sees the light of the Gospel, no longer hears the warning of his
conscience, neglects the means of salvation, and lives without care, until he
awakes, alas! too late, as from a dream.
What is
understood by night and day?
By night is to be understood ignorance,
infidelity, and sin. The day represents faith, grace, and reconciliation with
God.
What are
the works of darkness?
All sin, especially that which is unknown to
men, but seen and known by God, of Whose grace it deprives us.
What is
the armor of light?
It consists in faith, hope, charity, and good
works, the spiritual arms with which we have to overcome the world, the flesh,
and the devil.
What
does it mean to put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
It means that Christians should think, speak,
and act like Jesus, adorning themselves by the imitation of Him as with precious
garments.
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who became man for us,
grant that we may in all things comply with the admonitions of this epistle;
that we may arise from the slumber of our sins, and walk in the light of grace
by the diligent performance of good works, and adorn our souls by putting on
Thee, through the imitation of Thy virtues.
GOSPEL. Luke xxi. 25-33.
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be Signs in the
sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations,
by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men
withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole
world, for the powers of heaven shall be moved ; and then they shall see the
Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these
things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your
redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig-tree, and
all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is
nigh. So, you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the
kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass
away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My
words shall not pass away.
Why does
the Church cause this Gospel concerning the Last Judgment to be read to-day?
To prepare our hearts by penance for the coming
of Jesus as our judge.
What
signs shall precede the Last Judgment?
The sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not
give light, the stars shall fall from heaven; the heavens themselves shall pass
away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with
all that is in it shall be burned up. At the command of God, the world shall be
shaken to its center; fearful tempests shall arise; the sea and waves shall
roar, and wild struggle and destruction take the place of quiet and order. Men
shall wither away with fear, not knowing whither to fly. Then shall appear the
holy cross, the sign of the Son of man a terror to sinners who have hated it, a
consolation to- those who have loved it.
How will
the Last Judgment begin?
At the command of God, the angels, with the
round of the trumpet, shall summon all men to judgment (i. These, iv. 15). The
bodies and souls of the dead shall be again united, and the wicked shall be
separated from the righteous, the just on the right, the wicked on the left
(St. Matt. xxv. 33). The angels and the devils will be present, and Christ
Himself will appear in a bright cloud with such power and majesty that the wicked,
for fear, will not be able to look at Him, but will say to the mountains, “Fall
on us,” and to the hills, “Cover us” (St. Luke xxiii. 30).
Why will
God hold a general and public judgment?
1. That all may know how just He has been in
the particular judgment of each one.
2. That justice may at last be rendered to the
afflicted and persecuted, while the wicked who have oppressed the poor, the
widow, the orphan, the religious, and yet have often passed for upright and
devout persons, may be known in their real characters and be forever disgraced.
3. That Jesus Christ may complete His
redemption, and openly triumph over His enemies, who shall see the glory of the
Crucified, and tremble at His power.
How will
the Last Judgment proceed?
The books will be opened, and from them all men
will be judged; all their good and bad thoughts, words, and deeds, even the
most secret, known only to God, will be revealed before the whole world, and
according to their works men will be rewarded or be damned forever. The wicked
shall go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting (St.
Matt. xxv.46).
Exhortation.
The Church, during the season of Advent,
reminds thee, O Christian, of the coming of Christ to judgment, that thou
mayest with the more zeal apply thyself to profit by His first coming; for they
only will be justified and glorified who have acknowledged and received Him as
their Redeemer. Examine thyself, therefore, to-day, and during this week,
whether thou hast believed in Him, loved Him, admitted Him into thy heart, and
kept His holy commands. Begin at once penance and good works, that thou mayest
with confidence await the judgment-day of the Lord.
Aspiration.
Thou art just, O Lord! and just is Thy
judgment. Oh, penetrate my soul with holy fear, that I may be kept from evil
deeds, and incited to good works. Would that I could say, with St. Jerome, “Whether
I eat or drink, or whatever I do, it is as if I heard the awful summons of the
trumpet, Ye dead, arise, and come to judgment!”
‘Awaken! Remember that God comes! Not yesterday, not
tomorrow, but today, now! The one true God, "the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob", is not a God who is there in Heaven, unconcerned with us and our
history, but he is the-God-who-comes.’
Blessing
of an Advent Wreath
The use of the Advent
Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place
in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes
place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday
of Advent.
All make the sign of the
cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.
Then the Scripture, Isaiah
9: (lines 1-2 and
5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah
64 (lines
2-7) is read:
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
With
hands joined, the leader says:
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
Each Sunday in Advent has a particular theme
·
the first week is faithfulness, associated
with Christ coming in final victory.
·
The second and third Sundays, which
feature the stories about John the Baptist, represent hope and joy.
·
The fourth Sunday, which covers the
events that led up to the birth of Jesus, represents love.
Many churches light a candle on an advent wreath each
Sunday to represent each theme. The wreath is either suspended from the
ceiling or sits on a table. It is made of evergreen branches and holds
four candles - three purple for the first weeks of Advent and a pink one for
the last week. A white Christ candle is placed in the center and will be
lit on Christmas. A common activity for children is to make Christmas
ornaments. Many church Christmas trees are decorated with these ornaments
that represent symbols in Christianity, like doves and fish. Advent starts the
four Sundays before Christmas. Church banners and cleric's stoles are
purple during the season. Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we
let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man - Pope Francis via twitter
on Dec 21, 2013.
Advent
Begins Top Events and Things to Do
·
Decorate your home with evergreens or go
to a 'Hanging of the Greens' church service. Church members decorate the
church in preparation for Christmas.
·
Hang up an advent calendar. Many of
these decorative pieces have little doors that open and reveal holiday images
or have pockets with small items in them that reflect the season. They are
especially popular with children who enjoy opening the little doors to reveal
chocolates.
·
Sing Advent Hymns. Two popular ones
are in the Deep Midwinter, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
World AIDS Day serves to remember those who have died from
AIDS and to bring about awareness of HIV/AIDS through education and publicly
held events. HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system and makes it
progressively more difficult to fight infections and diseases. Once HIV
advances and becomes so severe that the body's immune system is too weak to
fight off many infections and diseases, it is called AIDS. There is currently
no cure for HIV or AIDS and if left untreated by antiretroviral medication,
patients' immune systems fail leading to death. World AIDS Day is also an
opportunity for people to show their support for people living with HIV. World
AIDS Day is one of the eight WHO Global Health Days. The day was created by the
World Health Organization in 1988. Since its inception over two decades ago,
the world has managed to halt and reverse the spread of HIV. According to the
WHO, the occurrence of new cases has decreased 35% between 2000 and 2015, while
AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 24% over the same time frame, all thanks
to antiretroviral treatments and widespread AIDS education and awareness. World
AIDS Day is observed on December 1st of each year.
World
AIDS Day Facts
·
The Red Ribbon is the universal symbol of
support for those living with HIV/AIDS.
·
The AIDS Memorial Quilt Project
allows friends and family members of someone who has died from AIDS to
construct a quilt panel and have it placed in the quilt. The quilt travels and
is displayed throughout the US.
·
The first case of what is now known as
AIDS was reported in the US in June 1981.
·
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, more than a million people in the United States are living with HIV
infection, and almost 1 in 5 are unaware of their infection.
·
According to World Health Organization,
AIDS has claimed over 39 million lives globally.
World
AIDS Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Wear a Red Ribbon, an international symbol
of AIDS support.
·
Learn the facts of how HIV is transmitted
so you can be better prepared. Remember, HIV is spread through body fluids such
as blood, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids and breast milk.
·
Get involved in a fundraising effort to
support research into HIV/AIDS treatment. Many fundraisers are done in the form
of HIV/AIDS day walks.
·
Watch a movie or documentary about
HIV/AIDS. Some popular suggestions: Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Philadelphia
Story (1993), Longtime Companion (1990), The Age of AIDS
(2006) and AIDS, Inc (2007).
·
Get tested if unsure of your infection
status. Local pharmacies sell HIV home test kits, or you can find free testing
sites in most areas.
Walt Disney Day[1]
Animation can
explain whatever the mind of man can conceive. This facility makes it the most
versatile and explicit means of communication yet devised for quick mass
appreciation.
The
name Disney is known all over the world and is the brand name of characters and
stories that are cherished and beloved the world over. Behind all of this
wonder, the voices of Mickey Mouse and the seemingly endless parade of
characters that the company put out was the vision of one man, Walter Elias
Disney. Known to his friends, which he would consider all of us, as Walt. Walt
Disney Day celebrates this incredible man and the joy and laughter he brought
to the world. It is perhaps no mistake that Walt Disney was born in 1901, right
at the turning of the century. He would go on to turn the entire world around,
changing the face of cinema and entertainment through the introduction of his
incredible cast of animated characters. Born in Chicago, Walt would move
multiple times throughout his life, first in 1906 to a family farm in Missouri,
again in 1911 to Kansas City where he would attend grammar school. His career
as an artist and illustrator would get its start in 1919 when he returned from
World War I during which he served as part of the Red Cross. It would be 1928
before Mickey Mouse came into the world, the result of a sketch being done
while he was on a bus. It quickly became the centrepiece of the Disney Empire,
which would grow rapidly to become one of the most important names in family
entertainment in the world. 90 years later Disney is a name known around the
world for its beloved characters, exciting theme parks, and most recently it’s
ownership of Star Wars.
How to celebrate
Walt Disney Day
The
best way to celebrate Walt Disney Day is to get in and watch as many Disney
films as you can cram into a single day, especially if you’ve never seen them
before. If you’re one of those who grew up with Walt Disney as the heart of
your childhood experience, then this is a perfect opportunity to take a walk
down memory lane. Get together a bunch of themed food and sweets and enjoy your
day with a group of friends, because Disney has always been about family.
5 Disney movies with
religious messages[2]
Disney movies are
a well-known and well-loved part of most people's childhood. These stories talk
and teach us things, like believing in ourselves and follow our dreams.
Recently, the stories inspire courage and kindness, as well as forms of
"true love." But viewers may have missed something; these popular
Disney stories have religious messages.
1. Snow White is a
Christian princess.
Released
in 1937, the first animated story Disney made is actually about a Christian
princess. It may not be explicit, but Snow White was shown briefly, praying
with her head bowed down and hands clasped, asking for God's blessing to the
seven dwarfs that had shown kindness to her.
2. Simba is The
Prodigal Son.
The
youngest son in the parable is just like Simba, King Mufasa's son who just
enjoys the life of a prince. But once he realizes the part he played in his
father's death, he runs away and lives with animals eating grubs. Discarding
the "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle, he goes back home to face the
responsibilities waiting for him.
3. Rapunzel, in Tangled, symbolizes our humanity.
3. Rapunzel, in Tangled, symbolizes our humanity.
Like
many of the characters in the Bible, the trapped princess was able to live
through the darkness in her life and find the light that sets her free. Every
year following her kidnapping by the witch, who represents the devil, her
parents lit up the sky through lanterns helping her find her way back home. And
like God, they never got tired of doing it.
4. God's grace in Cinderella.
4. God's grace in Cinderella.
We
might think of this heroin as not exactly the type to look up to: most the time
she just lets everyone tell her what to do. She may not have deserved the happy
ending she got, because she relied solely on her fairy godmother. However, the
point of God's grace is it's undeserved, as depicted in the Bible stories.
5.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame involves God the most.
This
could be a bit of an exaggeration, as described in crosswalk.com. But remember,
the beginning of the story tells of the villain wanting to kill a baby but
stopped by the Church, one way the Holy Spirit works. The heroine later sings
to God, how prayer should really be. Believing he's better than others, the
villain constantly clashes with his faith. Whether it is intentional or not,
aren't we glad Disney incorporates God and Christianity in its stories? These
scenes are rarely seen in movies, so you might want to do a re-watch. You'll
never see your favorite movies the same again.
[2]https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=59303Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving
your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after SUNSET ON SATURDAY till
Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
Meditate on Creation
Meditate on Creation
[1]http://galynwiemers.blogspot.com/2011/12/leverage-from-word-samekh-psalm-119113.html
[2]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[4]https://www.wincalendar.com/Advent
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