Father Madden's Sunday Reflection
First Sunday of Advent
St. John's Church
November 28, 2021
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Father Madden's
Sunday Reflection
Dear Friends in the Lord,
The Season of Advent, which begins today, calls us to “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” The first words that we hear from the Sacred Scriptures in this Year C come from the prophet Jeremiah, who proclaims:
The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to house of Israel and Judah.
We believe, of course, that in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus this promise has been fulfilled, though we do not yet fully experience it. For us, then, an important aspect of Advent is deepening our awareness of the victory which Jesus has already won for us. Therein lies the wisdom of the Church’s liturgy which ends the liturgical year with the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – the ultimate and universal Sovereign. Only to begin the New Year with the Advent instruction – this year from Luke – to “Be vigilant.”
It occurred to me this week that we in the United States are also blessed by celebrating Thanksgiving Day, nearly always, on the Thursday before the First Sunday of Advent. The Gospel passage for the feast day is Luke’s account of Jesus healing the ten lepers. Later, the Lord wonders why only one of the ten returned to thank him. On Thursday, Fr. Brice delivered a terrific homily. One point he made that struck me is that the other nine were simply following the instructions that Jesus gave them to Go show yourselves to the priests. It had never occurred to me, but it is true. Fr. Brice’s larger point though was the deep truth that “our complaining is the leprosy of our souls.” We need to rise above our complaints if we are going to be able to experience the fulfillment of God’s promises. This is especially true, I think, of our legitimate complaints.
The most fruitful way to enter and to celebrate the Season of Advent is with a spirit of gratitude. Indeed, the most fruitful way to enter each day and every season is by being grateful.
The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful;
it is gratitude that makes us joyful.
Brother David Seindl-Rast
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr John Madden
1st Reading: Jeremiah 33
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
Responsorial: Psalm 25
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 21
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Prayers
St. John's Parish:
Prayer Needs & Intentions
Please remember the following needs and intentions in your prayers:
- Please pray for a dear friend Barry who has stage 4 colon cancer. (Mary C)
- For the health of my boys. For the mental health of all who suffer, especially during the holidays. (Bronwyn T)
- Prayers for the homeless, prayers for the sick and suffering addicts and addicts, prayers for the Taylor and Marcus Families, prayers for St. John's community 🙏 (Sarah T)
- Please continue to pray for my sister-in-law that her arms heal.. (Barbara K)
- For Rosemary with a malignant brain tumor.18 yrs old...and Caroline diagnosed with lymphoma.. (Jacqueline T)
- As my family approaches our mom’s 1st anniversary of her passing (11/20/20), we pray she is in continued peace in heaven with Jesus. 🙏🏻❤️(Karen S)
- I also pray my daughter gets through yet another “bump” in her life🙏🏻 (Karen S)
- For the health and intentions of Jeff Parson. (Steve S)
- Please pray for a healing of my recent broken ankle. (Steve S)
- Please pray for JJKing and Chris Albin. Thank you (Lori K)
- Prayers for Joshua Peter and Jadwiga (Sophie K)
- For my brother who broke 2 ribs and is in tremendous pain and my family’s continued good health. (Anne L)
- Praying for the recovery of Brianna Allard. (Donna W)
- For a Special Intention (George V)
- Prayers for my boys, that their health improve. For all the college students stressed about final exams, that they take time for their mental health. (Bronwyn T)
- Please pray for my daughter for her transition in her new school. Please pray that we find permanent housing and my husband’s job. Praying for the Saint John’s community, the poor, homeless, and the hungry. In Jesus Name Amen 🙏 ✝️(Kerri N)
- Special intentions for healing for Carol. Kristen, FRAN,Paul, Braydon and Kathy . Amen (Kathleen L)
- Prayers for my parents, Anne and John that God assigns them one of the rooms in His heavenly mansion. And many thanks to God for all blessings and graces upon the St. John's family. (Cynthia W)
- Please pray for our Santiago that he find peace and begin to make sound and wise decisions. Please pray fir our children that they make good choices (Zandra V)
To share a prayer request or intention in the Sunday Reflection,
please click the REPLY button at the bottom of any
"St. John's Church (General)" email and post it in the comments.
Additional Prayers:
Spiritual Communion - Pandemic Prayer - Prayer to St. Michael
Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Prayer in Time of Pandemic
from Bishop McManus
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial.
Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son:
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
by Pope Leo XIII
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against
the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
PRAYER PLEDGE
Join the team of St. John's parishioners pledging to pray daily
for the religious education and spiritual formation of our young people
In this challenging time our commitment to praying for our youth is more necessary than ever. Without prayer we cannot hope to transmit the riches of our Catholic faith to the next generation; join us as we lift our voices to God and ask for His blessing upon our efforts to teach our young people to become disciples of Christ.
We welcome you to pray a daily prayer of your own choosing, or to use the "Prayer for St. John's Religious Education" below. 👇
Prayer for St. John's Religious Education
Most gracious Lord, we ask your blessing upon the Religious Education program of our beloved parish of St. John’s. Please allow Your love and grace to flow freely and permeate the hearts and souls of our students and their families. Holy Spirit allow your gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Piety to flourish in our Catechists as they pass on the teachings of Your Church to our students. Bless our volunteers for their generosity and loyalty which keeps our program operating properly. St. Joseph, intercede for our parents in this time so that they will recognize and accept their role as leaders of the Domestic Church.
We praise and honor you our Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen
St. Charles Borromeo, patron of catechists, pray for us.
St. Gemma Galgani, patron of students, pray for us.
Schola Cantorum
Introit
Ad te levavi
Communio
Dominus dabit benignitatem
Motet
Guade et Laetare
Parish Resources
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