GOD'S DESIRE FOR US
One of my seminary professors, who taught us liturgy and worship, used to caution us about trying to make the celebration of daily Eucharist in a parish too long or too extravagant. Most people who come on a regular basis to daily Mass come for quiet spiritual nourishment at the beginning of their day. In his memorable words: “Don’t try to make every Eucharist like opening night at the Metropolitan Opera!”
I have often thought of this advice, not just about the liturgy but also about our daily Christian life. Most of us, I believe, say our prayers and go about our everyday lives as best we can and with as much virtue as we can muster. But there are moments when it is appropriate to lift up our heads and think of the big picture, to experience something like “opening night at the Met.”
I think of Advent in this way. These weeks leading up to Christmas invite us to step back for a moment from our daily concerns and dare to think of our ultimate destiny as human beings. What is our final future?
We know that all of us face the inevitable experience of dying and that is something to think about from time to time. But what about beyond death? Is there life beyond death?
Advent invites us to believe that God will give us abundant and everlasting life even beyond the horizon of death. We strive to believe this not because we ourselves have some control over this or that science is someday going to allow us to live forever. We believe this because God has promised it to us. That is the sole basis of our hope.
Recently I have spoken of Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who was beatified on October 10. As a child, he had a powerful experience of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. After his First Communion at age seven, he went to Mass daily with his mother and received Communion. He said that the Eucharist was his "highway to heaven." When he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, which ultimately took his life, Carlo stated that he was not afraid of dying and that he believed that God had awesome things prepared for him in the next life. His joy and confidence touched many lives.
This is the message of the readings for this Second Sunday of Advent. The first is a soaring passage from Isaiah. “Comfort, give comfort to my people,” God tells the prophet. In words that John the Baptist will echo seven centuries later in announcing the appearance of Jesus at the Jordan River, the prophet cries out in the desert that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all people shall see it together.”
The message to be proclaimed from the mountaintops is not to fear, for “Here is your God!” The language and imagery are consoling. “Like a shepherd, he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.”
The other readings echo the same vibrant hope. The Responsorial Psalm (83) exults in God’s promised future: “Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.”
We hear a similar message from the Second Letter of Saint Peter. The author pleads with his fellow Christians not to grow weary in hoping for God’s future: “According to God’s promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Today we hear from the opening verses of the Gospel of Mark, which is the Gospel that will dominate the Sunday readings throughout this liturgical year of 2021.
The title of Mark’s narrative is: “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The original Greek word for “gospel” is euaggelion, “good news.” For the evangelist, the entire account of Jesus’ life is good news because Jesus, the embodiment of God’s abiding love, will conquer death and bring unending life to our world.
Mark’s first lines draw on the hope-filled message of Isaiah to “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” This is what the last and greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, will proclaim to God’s people Israel, that encourages them to renew their lives and to believe in the good news. That good news of God’s enduring love appears in the very person of Jesus for whom John prepares the way.
Advent dares us, even in hard times like these, to believe that our deepest longings for peace, for unending life, are, in fact, God’s own desire for us. This is our ultimate reason to hope.
J. Janda has written a short poem on the Bible verse, "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way":
You worry too much about my will
at the right time, I will tell you
I will speak to you in your heart
it will all be clear
I will send the Holy Spirit
He will tell you what to do and what to say.
Estas semanas previas a la Navidad nos invitan a dar un paso atrás de nuestras preocupaciones diarias y atrevernos a pensar en nuestro destino final como seres humanos. ¿Cuál es nuestro futuro final?
Sabemos que todos nos enfrentamos a la inevitable experiencia de morir y eso es algo en lo que pensar de vez en cuando. Pero ¿y más allá de la muerte? ¿Hay vida más allá de la muerte?
El Adviento nos invita a creer que Dios nos dará vida abundante y eterna incluso más allá del horizonte de la muerte. Nos esforzamos por creer esto no porque nosotros mismos tengamos algún control sobre esto o que la ciencia algún día nos permitirá vivir para siempre. Creemos esto porque Dios nos lo ha prometido. Ésa es la única base de nuestra esperanza.
Este es el mensaje de las lecturas de este segundo domingo de Adviento. El primero es un pasaje altísimo de Isaías. “Consolad, consolad a mi pueblo”, le dice Dios al profeta. En palabras que Juan el Bautista se hará eco siete siglos después al anunciar la aparición de Jesús en el río Jordán, el profeta clama en el desierto que "la gloria del Señor será revelada y todos los pueblos juntos la verán.”
El mensaje que se debe proclamar desde las cimas de las montañas es no temer, porque "¡Aquí está tu Dios!" El lenguaje y las imágenes son consoladores. “Como pastor apacienta a su rebaño; en sus brazos recoge los corderos, los lleva en su seno y conduce las ovejas con cuidado ” Dios, que vino a nosotros en su Hijo Jesús, es amoroso y misericordioso.
With appreciation to Fr. Donald Senior, CP
NOTES
Schedule
St. Joseph's Church Downtown is open with the usual schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, sacraments, and ministry. Because of increased coronavirus cases locally, social distancing, hand-sanitizing, and the use of a face mask are observed during church services, in order to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Honoring Mary
The coming week has two special Marian feasts. Tuesday, December 8, is The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Holy Day Masses are on Monday at 5:00pm, the Vigil, and on Tuesday at 12:00noon. Saturday, December 12, is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of the Americas. Mass is at 12:00noon. Special prayers at all Sunday Masses.
Receiving Holy Communion
In keeping with the Covid-19 protocols of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Holy Communion is to be received reverently in the hand at this time. Unless you are members of the same household, you are asked to keep social distancing of six feet between yourself and others. Please sanitize your hands before coming forward to receive the Body of Christ.
Faith Formation
Virtual classes are now being conducted on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30. If you have not registered your child(ren) and wish to do so, please call Beatrice Bailey at 210-227-0126, ext. 210.
Christmas and the Christmas Octave at St. Joseph's
The Nativity of the Lord
Friday, December 25
Masses:
Christmas Eve: 5:00pm, 12:00 Midnight (with The San Antonio Liederkranz)
Christmas Day: 9:30am (Bilingual), 11:00am
The Octave of Christmas
Friday, January 1
Masses:
New Year's Eve: 5:00pm
New Year's Day: 9:30am (Bilingual), 11:00am
Christmas Toy Drive
The Ladies Auxiliary of St. Joseph's Parish is organizing a Christmas Toy Drive for Children, a way to brighten the celebration of Christ's Birth for those who might not otherwise experience the joy of receiving a special gift just for them. Your kindness and care can make all the difference in the life of a child. Leave your donations of new, unwrapped toys, dolls, stuffed animals, games, etc., in the box near the Altar of St. Joseph in the front of the church. Thank you.
Looking Ahead!
Sr, Joseph's is starting a Young Adults Group. The ministry will be geared to spiritual growth and social communion among single and married Catholics ages 21-40. Watch future bulletins for more information about this new venture. An interest meeting will be held in January 2021. Call the Parish Office at (210) 227-0126 if you would like to know more.
Videos of Masses
Videos of Sunday Mass and other Masses from St. Joseph's are posted on YouTube at the St. Joseph Church Downtown Media page. The Strelchun Family and John Francis are doing a fantastic service for those who are unable to be with us at this time.
Supporting St. Joseph Church Downtown