Sunday Reflection (December 17, 2023)

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Our Good News Reading (John 1:6-9) tells us about John the Baptist who bore witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ, which is where we find ourselves: Bearing witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ. This third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of joy. We have joy because we have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. We “bear witness” to the light that has come into the world in Jesus Christ when we proclaim and enflesh good news to the poor, brokenhearted, and prisoners (Isaiah 61).
 
Why is that which Isaiah envisioned, John proclaimed, and Christ enfleshed not more fully evident today? Perhaps we think it is too difficult and complicated; however, God fills us with the Holy Spirit to “bear witness to the light.” God fills us with the Holy Spirit to proclaim and enflesh good news to others. With God’s help, we plant seeds in the world. May we do our part and plant seeds that ultimately produce peace, love, joy, and harmony. What news do you bring to our world about God?

Sunday Sermon December 17, 2023

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Devotion December 13, 2023

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Devotion December 12, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (December 10, 2023)

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Through the divine initiative of forgiveness, we are brought into fellowship with God and one another by Jesus Christ who revealed God’s glory in the flesh (Mark 1:1-5). Although the way of Christ stands in judgment against our way of sin, there is also hope because of divine forgiveness, confession, and repentance. There is the hope of peace with God and others.
Following Jesus Christ is much more than a one-time heartfelt experience. It is a daily experience of confession, repentance, making amends when possible. It is about bringing God’s love to the world. God has done God’s part through the shortcut of forgiveness and acceptance. What’s your response to God’s grace?

Prayer for the Week (December 10-December 16, 2023)

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Let us pray that we anticipate the coming of Jesus our Savior: God our Father, you sent your Messiah into our world with the power of love and compassion. May all your people accept him in faith so that Christ be birthed and grow within us and among us. May your Church be faithful to the Gospel of justice and peace. Amen.

                                                                                          (Claretian Publications)                    

               

                                   

                         

Sunday Sermon December 10, 2023

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Devotion December 6, 2023

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Devotion December 5, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (December 3, 2023)

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The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that we in Christ’s Church have also been made into a people of God (1 Corinthians 1:2-8). We have been called into the light of God’s love revealed to us in Christ Jesus. Paul challenges us to remain steadfast to the end so that we be blameless at his coming, yet who believes that he or she will be blameless to the end? We can hope, but let’s be real: “All our righteousness is as filthy rags and we all have gone astray” as Isaiah said.
 
Paul presents us with a challenge, but with that challenge is a comfort, not a loophole, a comfort: “God is faithful!” God is faithful to us despite our imperfections. God is faithful “to infinity and beyond.” We have been brought into fellowship and friendship with God through Jesus Christ. “Our calling is not just to perform a mission or to obey certain norms; rather, we are called into a relationship of intimate mutuality with one another in Christ” (Richard Hayes). May we respond to God’s faithfulness by our being faithful to God and others: “To infinity and beyond!”