Anxiety
First Sunday of Advent
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with friends and family last week. What a great blessing was to have our regional bishop, Joseph Brennan, celebrating such a special day with our community. So, just that you know, he will also be with us for the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th at 7:00PM and on Christmas day at 10:00. Again we are always honored by his presence here Mary Immaculate.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent which is a beautiful time in the liturgical year to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. The readings for this Sunday are a perfect example of what is Advent all about, mainly a time of hope. In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah tells us how God will fulfill his promise of salvation He made to the house of Israel and Judah. In the Second reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, St. Paul exhorts that people to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus.
In this Sunday gospel, Jesus says to his disciples: “beware that you hearts do not come drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of life.” Anxieties? What anxieties? I’m sure you know, in fact we all know what Jesus is talking about. It is during this time that a lot of people tends to get distracted, to get anxious running from place to another. I really hope and pray this Advent time which is a time of hope and joy and peace may fill our hungry souls with the presence of Christ in our lives. Don’t be anxious, but hope in the Lord who comes to bring light to our darkness. May you and your loved ones may have a blessed season of Advent.
Readings for the Week
Monday: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11
Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24
Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37
Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27
Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31
Saturday: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38
Sunday: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: First Sunday of Advent; Hanukkah begins
Monday: St. Francis Xavier
Tuesday: St. John Damascene
Thursday: St. Nicholas
Friday: St. Ambrose; First Friday
Saturday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary