Posted on 12/18/2014 7:08:19 AM PST by Salvation
The Lord’s coming is near. And though we have all been well taught that the word “Advent” means “coming,” there is the danger that we think we are only passively waiting for him to come. It is not just that the Lord is coming to us, but that we are also journeying to Him. In fact, as the Advent prayers in the Roman Missal instruct, we ought to run, not walk, and hasten to greet Him as He draws near.
The image of the Prodigal Son comes to mind. His father saw him and ran toward him. But at the same time, he was hastening toward his father with contrition and hope. So too, in Advent, do we look for the Lord’s coming. But the Lord also looks for us to come to Him by faith. We, like the prodigal son, consider our need for salvation, and with contrition (did you get to confession this advent?), hasten to meet our Lord, whom we know by faith is coming to us.
This notion of running to meet God is set forth as a consistent theme in the prayers of the Roman Missal. Consider these prayers and how the theme of our running, hastening, and going out to meet God, even as He is coming to us, is set forth:
Thus, we are not counseled to “wait on the Lord” in a passive sense, as though we are sitting still waiting for a bus to arrive. Rather, we are counseled to “wait on the Lord” in an active sense, much as when we speak of a waiter in a restaurant “waiting on tables.” Such a form of waiting is a very active form of waiting. Alert and aware, the waiter or waitress carefully observes the needs of others and serves as their brother or sister. The good ones strive to avoid distraction and do their job of serving well and with swiftness.
Notice, too, how the prayers indicate what it means to “run.” We do not run aimlessly or in frantic circles. Rather, running to the Lord means
St. Paul speaks of running, too:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Cor 9:24-27).
Are you running to meet the Lord or are you just waiting? Advent involves looking and waiting, but it also means running to meet the Lord, who is coming to us. Run, don’t walk, to the nearing Jesus!
The text of this song says, simply, Domine ad adjuvandum me festina! (Lord, make haste to help me!) It was composed by Vivaldi, and its series of eighth notes creates the image of an energetic and joyful running. Vivaldi also loved to run a melody up and down the musical scale, creating (here) a sense of running up and down the hills as we hasten to the Lord. (The video goes on to include the Gloria Patri.) Try not to tap your toe in the first and third movements of this clip from the Vespers of Vivaldi in G Major!
Monsignor Pope Ping!
For those who can run, run. Folks like me, can only walk.
Daily Mass and rosary: why wait until Advent to do this? It OUGHT to be done every day. I did this AFTER working and living in the Muslim Middle East for five years. That experience made me value my faith so much more.
After returning home, I got up at 4:44 A.M. every day of my working career to make 7:00 A.M. Mass and to be at work by 7:45 A.M. NOW, as a retiree, I can "sleep in" and go to the 8:30 A.M. daily rosary and 9:00 A.M. Mass. It really does feel like a luxury. :o)
If we REALLY believed that the priest has the authority to say the words that change bread and wine into the sacred Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, WHY wouldn't we go to daily Mass? There really are few excuses.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
**If we REALLY believed that the priest has the authority to say the words that change bread and wine into the sacred Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, WHY wouldn’t we go to daily Mass? There really are few excuses. **
I agree!
Yeah! Thank God! Sanity! You all Catholics pray for me! Please!
Me, I’ll crawl on my knees if I have to. :-D
I used to see Mass on television every day and I am sure there are accesses to it streaming online. If a group from here who are unable to go in person were to commit to watching at the same time and privately or publicly discuss the readings that would be a blessing.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3238425/posts
I meant wonderful not winderful. This is what happens when I post to people I really should not post to on other threads.
I went to New England for a vacation and was shocked that most towns had only ONE Catholic Church and that Church only had one or two Masses on Sunday.
Lol. I didn't realize how non-Catholic so much of New England was (Boston NOT included in that statement.)
So, I understand your conundrum. I live in a city where there were many Catholic immigrants, therefore there were many Catholic Churches built.
Your readings, prayers and spiritual communions are GOOD ENOUGH and MORE. God bless you and yours.
EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network, airs daily Mass without fail.
It IS on cable, so one would have to pay. But, it IS daily Mass and it is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better than nothing.
Your suggestions are EXCELLENT. Well done.
I'm not sure if priests who were ordained post 1960 do.
EWTN is available free to anyone who can stream Internet content.
OF COURSE they do.
What makes you believe that they don't?
So it is.
Thanks for the reminder.
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