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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 11-28-04
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^
| 11-28-04
| New American Bible
Posted on 11/28/2004 6:18:54 AM PST by Salvation
November 28, 2004
First Sunday of Advent
Reading I
Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD's house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths."
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Reading II
Rom 13:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Gospel
Mt 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
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1
posted on
11/28/2004 6:18:55 AM PST
by
Salvation
To: Salvation
2
posted on
11/28/2004 6:21:44 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: father_elijah; nickcarraway; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; attagirl; goldenstategirl; ...
Alleluia Ping!
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.
3
posted on
11/28/2004 6:22:34 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
From: Romans 13:11-14
Love, the Fulfilling of the Law (Continuation)
[11] Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you
to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first
believed; [12] the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast
off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; [13] let us conduct
ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in
debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. [14] But put
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify
its desires.
Commentary:
11-14. The Church uses this inspired text in t he liturgy of Advent to help
us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Christ came into the world by his
Incarnation; he also comes to souls through grace; and at the end of time he
will come as Judge. Rising like the sun, he dispelled the darkness when he
came into the world, and he continues to dispel whatever darkness remains
in souls the more he obtains mastery over the hearts of men.
13-14. Souls who have become members of the Church through Baptism are
always in need of conversion to a new life. Sometimes God uses Sacred
Scripture to awaken people from their spiritual lethargy. In fact, he used
these particular words of Scripture to move the heart of St Augustine and
have him take the last step towards casting off the attachments of the
flesh. "I felt myself still enslaved by my iniquities, and therefore did I
groan to myself, 'How long? How long must I continue saying Tomorrow,
tomorrow? Why not now? Why not, at one instant, make a n end of all
uncleanness?' [...] And behold I heard a voice, like that of a child in the
house next door, repeating in a sing-song tone, 'Take up and read. Take up
and read' [...]. I rose up [...] and returned to where I had left the book
of the Apostle; I took it quickly into my hand, opened it and read in
silence the first passage on which my eye happened to fall." Having
transcribed the verses we are now commenting, Augustine continues: "I read
no further, nor was there any need to; for with the end of this sentence, as
by a clear and constant light infused into my heart, the darkness of all
former doubts was immediately driven away" ("Confessions", VII, 12, 28-29).
14. All Christians "put on" Christ in Baptism (cf. Gal 3:27). Starting with
this initial configuration to Christ, they are steadily transformed into him
by frequent reception of the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of
Penance. "'"Induimini Dominum Iesum Christum". Put on the Lord Jesus Christ',
says St Paul to the Romans. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that you and I
put on Jesus Christ and his merits" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 310).
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
4
posted on
11/28/2004 6:24:05 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
From: Matthew 24:37-44
The Time of the Second Coming of Christ and of the Last Judgment (Continuation)
(Jesus said to his disciples,) [37] "As were the days of Noah, so will be
the coming of the Son of man. [38] For as in those days before the flood
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the
day when Noah entered the ark, [39] and they did not know until the flood
came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. [40]
Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. [41] Two
women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.
Vigilance. The Faithful Servant
[42] "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lo rd is coming.
[43] But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the
night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his
house be broken into. [44] Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of
man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Commentary:
37-39. In a few strokes our Lord sketches man's perennial insensitivity and
carelessness towards the things of God. Man thinks it is more important to
eat and drink, to find a husband or wife; but if that is his attitude he is
forgetting about the most important thing--eternal life. Our Lord also
foretells that the end of the world will be like the great flood; the Son of
man's second coming will happen unexpectedly, taking people by surprise,
whether they are doing good or evil.
40. It is in the context of the ordinary affairs of life--farmwork,
housework, etc-- that God calls man, and man responds: that is where his
eternal happiness or eternal punishment is decided. To be saved, one does
not need to meet any special conditions, or to be in a special position in
life: one simply has to be faithful to the Lord in the middle of ordinary
everyday affairs.
42. Jesus himself draws from this revelation about the future the
practical moral that a Christian needs to be on the watch, living each
day as if it were his last.
The important thing is not to be speculating about when these events
will happen and what form they will take, but to live in such a way
that they find us in the state of grace.
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
5
posted on
11/28/2004 6:25:15 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
Sunday, November 28, 2004 First Sunday of Advent (Blessing of Advent wreath after homily) |
|
6
posted on
11/28/2004 6:26:40 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
7
posted on
11/28/2004 6:36:00 AM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: Salvation
Advent Meditation
Let us ponder
the depths of love
in the promise
given so long ago.
A virgin,
the Virgin,
pure container,
she who stood
in spiritual opposition
to Eve, the one who said NO,
she,
the one who said yes,
A virgin who would conceive
and bear a son.
Emmanuel,
God with us,
miracle of miracles,
that he who was master
emptied himself
to become servant,
incarnation,
taking on of flesh,
feeling our needs,
our pain,
our hopes
our fears
to love,
to suffer,
to die
to save.
Outstretched are your arms,
Beloved Master,
to take us in
in love,
God with us,
now and forever,
Amen.
8
posted on
11/28/2004 8:57:26 AM PST
by
Knitting A Conundrum
(Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
To: Salvation
Mt 24:37-44 |
# |
Douay-Rheims |
Vulgate |
37 |
And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
sicut autem in diebus Noe ita erit et adventus Filii hominis |
38 |
For, as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark: |
sicut enim erant in diebus ante diluvium comedentes et bibentes nubentes et nuptum tradentes usque ad eum diem quo introivit in arcam Noe |
39 |
And they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. |
et non cognoverunt donec venit diluvium et tulit omnes ita erit et adventus Filii hominis |
40 |
Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left. |
tunc duo erunt in agro unus adsumetur et unus relinquetur |
41 |
Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and one shall be left. |
duae molentes in mola una adsumetur et una relinquetur |
42 |
Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. |
vigilate ergo quia nescitis qua hora Dominus vester venturus sit |
43 |
But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. |
illud autem scitote quoniam si sciret pater familias qua hora fur venturus esset vigilaret utique et non sineret perfodiri domum suam |
44 |
Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. |
ideoque et vos estote parati quia qua nescitis hora Filius hominis venturus est |
9
posted on
11/28/2004 2:31:01 PM PST
by
annalex
To: Salvation
10
posted on
11/28/2004 4:13:02 PM PST
by
Judith Anne
(Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
To: Judith Anne
http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=6&art_id=26265
|
The Light Is Coming!
|
 |
11/29/04
|

|
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As fall moves onward towards winter we have places to go, things to do, people to meet. Yet as we go about our business, we notice the days are getting shorter. Sweaters come out of storage; we close the windows and turn on the heat.
|
 |
Advent is the season in which we stop and remember that the light of this world is waning in more ways than one. That the world as we know it is passing away.
The word secular comes from the Latin word for this present world with its priorities getting a job, paying the bills, finding a mate. Politics, economics, entertainment, sports are all realities of the secular world. Secularism is the modern program that insists that this is all that there is. A version popular in America says that there may be more to life than this, but it is entirely a private affair that you may not talk about in public. God, higher values, heaven are all out-of-bounds topics in school, politics, and the news media.
Secularism wants us to live under the illusion that things will always be the way they are. There may be ups and downs in the economy, but it will keep humming along. Elections may change the office holders, but the government will just keep on keeping on. Thats the way people thought in Noahs day. But then the flood came (Mt 24:37-44).
St. Paul calls this attitude being asleep (Rom 13:11-14). God, breaking into space and time in a manger in Bethlehem, changed things forever. The central moment of human history has come and gone; were in the end-game now. The things that now seem so real, so ultimate, will come to a crashing halt.
For many of us in December, the bleak light injects a dose of melancholy into our dispositions. But then we remember that the holidays are coming there is something to look forward to! We string lights on our shrubs and put candles in our windows to cheer ourselves up and thumb our noses at the darkness.
For Christians, these lights have a deeper meaning. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. At the moment when the darkness of human society is at its deepest, the Light of the World will come.
So is it a waste of our time to get educated and employed? Should we just spend our days praying, reading the Bible, and trying to predict dates for the return of the King?
St. Paul sharply rebuked some for taking this approach. As focused as Paul was on the age to come, he was thoroughly engaged in this one. Besides his profound life of prayer and preaching, he labored with his hands to the point of exhaustion so as not be a burden on anyone, and have something to give to the needy. He said that those that refuse to work should not eat (2 Thes 3:6-13). The Second Vatican Council said that living for the future world should make us more, not less, committed to improving this one (Gaudium et Spes 37).
Besides, the Lord clearly says that His second and final coming will be at the time we least expect it (Mt 24:44). If God is purposely designing it to be a surprise, I dont think there is much hope of outsmarting Him.
So what do we do about His coming? Very simple. By the power of His grace, lets make sure that when the Light arrives it wont for us be a cruel light. Are there things in your life that youd rather were not seen by God and everyone else? Then youd best get busy getting them out of your life. Because the Light will reveal all.
Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He appears weekly on radio and TV reaching six continents and his books, tapes, videos, and CDs are internationally distributed. Information on his free resources, talks, CDs, videos and books is available on his website, www.dritaly.com.
For info on Dr. D'Ambrosios 2005 cruise to Italy, visit www.crossroadsinitiative.com or call 1.800.803.0118.
(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and is used by permission of the author.) |
11
posted on
11/28/2004 10:07:24 PM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
The Word Among Us
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Meditation Isaiah 2:1-5
Scripture tells us that Jesus was born in a manger. While the manger scenes we will see displayed this Advent tend to be beautifully madeand often quite expensiveearly church history gives us a different picture of Jesus birthplace. For instance, around the year a.d. 160, Justin Martyr wrote that Joseph took up residence in a cave since he could not find an inn. Around a.d. 250, Origen said that many people had visited the cave thought to be the home of the manger. About 150 years after that, St. Jerome, who lived in Bethlehem, testified to the presence of this cave as a place of pilgrimage.
Why do we still remain fascinated with the question of where exactly Jesus was born? Is it because this little bit of Christian history helps us connect deep theological truths with the everyday, earthly realities of our lives? Probably. But as intriguing as the location of the manger may be, its even more exciting to ponder the baby himselfthe one we call Emmanuel, God with us.
St. Pauls exhortation to clothe ourselves with Jesus (Romans 13:14) begins at this manger. It begins as we meditate on the baby born in a humble, nondescript, musty cave. It begins as we meditate on this baby as the one who held the world in his little hands. It also begins as we meditate on the baby Jesus and see him as our living bread.
A manger is a feeding place. So as Advent begins, lets look to this manger as a symbol and a reminder: Jesus came to feed us his body and his blood so that we might clothe ourselves with him. Today, as you eat his body and drink his blood, recall the damp and musty cave where Jesus was born. Picture yourself there with him. See him lifting up his little hand and giving you the bread of life so that you might be united with him.
Holy Spirit, open my eyes this Advent so that I can see Jesus. Help me to look deeply at the manger and see my every hope and dream fulfilled in the baby lying there. Jesus, I want to know you more. |
 |

12
posted on
11/28/2004 10:10:43 PM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
One Bread, One Body
One Bread, One Body
<< Sunday, November 28, 2004 >> |
First Sunday of Advent |
|
|
Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 |
Psalm 122 Matthew 24:37-44 |
View Readings |
|
|
|
Stay awake, therefore! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42 |
|
The meaning of Christmas determines the importance of Advent and even its necessity. If Christmas is primarily the exchange of gifts, partying, and decorating, then we dont need Advent. However, if Christmas is about the reception of the greatest gift of all, salvation in Jesus (see Rm 13:11), then we need all the preparation God wants us to have. We need every precious moment of Advent. It would be foolish to attempt to start the Christmas season early. Also, if Christmas is about such peace on earth and good will to men (see Lk 2:14) that nations dont even train anymore for war (Is 2:4), then it would require an Advent of life-changing, world-shaking conversions to accept Jesus as our Peace (Eph 2:14) and to become peacemakers (Mt 5:9). Moreover, if Christmas is not about artificial lights on trees as much as about Jesus, the Light of the world (see Jn 1:4), then we need an Advent of illuminating repentance. When Christmas means little, Advent means nothing. When Christmas is nothing less than the coming of Jesus in new glory, then Advent is exceptionally important. Christ is most important; Christmas is very important. Therefore, Advent is a necessity. Obey God in every detail this Advent. Dont start Christmas early, or you may not even have a true Christmas. Have the best and holiest Advent ever. |
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Prayer: Father, on this first day of the Church year, may I begin a new dimension in my life. |
Promise: Come, let us climb the Lords mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths. Is 2:3 |
Praise: Praise You Jesus, the Christ Child. You are the risen Lord, the King Who is coming soon! |
|
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13
posted on
11/28/2004 10:13:12 PM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
To: All
FEAST OF THE DAY
St. Catherine was born on May 2, 1806, to a land owning French
family. Catherine's mother taught her the basics of religion and
spirituality, and these early lessons stayed with Catherine for the rest
of her life. After the death of her mother, Catherine dedicated herself
to the Blessed Mother in an effort to fill the void left in her life.
At the age of twelve, Catherine took on the duty of household
management because her older sister left home to join a religious
community. Catherine did well with the new responsibilities placed
upon her, and still always found time in her day for prayer.
As a young lady, Catherine's hand was requested for marriage
several times, but she denied each suitor who came to her.
Catherine felt a calling to dedicate her life to God, and at the age of
twenty-two, she followed this call and entered the religious life. Her
father resisted her will at first, but eventually Catherine was allowed
to join the Sisters of Charity.
Catherine progressed through her postulancy with little trouble, and
at this time she learned to read. When Catherine progressed to the
novitiate, extraordinary things began to happen in her life. Beginning
on July 18, 1830 when Catherine was twenty-four, she was graced
with visions of the Blessed Mother and of the Lord. In these visions
Catherine was given a message concerning the future of France,
including the fall of King Charles X and a period of anti-clericalism. In
addition to these predictions, Catherine was graced with a vision of
the Miraculous Medal and entrusted with a mission of encouraging
devotion to wearing this medal. Mary told Catherine that those who
wore the medal with confidence would be blessed with graces.
With the reluctant help of her confessor and the help of the
Archbishop of Paris, the first Miraculous Medal was minted in 1832.
This medal received its name because many miracles were wrought
through it. Catherine died in 1876 and was canonized in 1947.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to
thee. -Words on the Miraculous Medal revealed to Catherine Laboure
TODAY IN HISTORY
741 St Gregory III ends his reign as Pope
1984 Pope John Paul II completes the last of 133 homilies in St.
Peter's Square on the theme, "Theology of the Body."
TODAY'S TIDBIT
The apparitions of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal occurred three
times in 1830 at the motherhouse chapel of the Daughters of Charity
on Rue de Bac in Paris, France. During these apparitions, Mary
commissioned a medal honoring her Immaculate Conception and is
now known as the Miraculous Medal. The first medals were minted
within two years after the final apparition.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray for who have lost hope.
14
posted on
11/30/2004 6:05:42 PM PST
by
Salvation
(†With God all things are possible.†)
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