Keep Watch

Keep Watch

 “Be Watchful. Be Alert”... That is what we heard in Sundays Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Advent. So... What are we Watching for? Why are we to be Alert? Let’s break this down. The simple answer is that we are watching and being alert to Jesus’s second coming. That is the simple answer but yet it is not so simple. We know the end time will happen, we just do not know when. We do not even know a time frame. So, why be so alert or watch? It could be centuries away. Then again it could be in our lifetime. There is no one simple sign that will say because this happened then this must be the end of time. We do not have a check list for the end of time. What we do have is ways to be watchful and alert to it. Let me explain. 

      To be watchful and alert means we know something is going to happen. With knowing this we must be prepared as well. Being alert and not prepared, does nothing. It would be as if a King knows a war may happen and he keeps watching the shoreline and all of a sudden he sees the battleships there and troops are landing on the shore and then turns to his people and says “ ok, we need an army and we need to train now”. It is to late now. He wasted all his time just being watchful and was not preparing for it to come into reality. For me being watching means we are prepared. To be alert means we are prepared. To now prepare means you will be ready when it is time.

      Advent helps us prepare for the coming of Jesus. It is a reminder of what we are to do just as the readings leading up to advent were giving us ways to prepare. Our faith is one of actions. Jesus says we need to be there for one another. We need to help others. We need to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, help them financially and spiritually. We need to extend ourselves to one another. Those are some ways we can prepare by doing for others. We also need to do things spiritually for them. Pray for them. Pray for a change of heart and a change of life for them. 

     For yourself, you also need to take internal stock on your spiritual life. Do you go to confession? When was the last time you went to confession? Do you go to mass each week? Do you pray? How often do you pray? Is there things in your life that get in the way of prayer or attending mass? Do you go to adoration? Have you asked God to come into your whole life? What is God asking of you and have you acted on it? Are you holding onto past sins? Are you holding onto anger? There are many questions to help us to see where we are spiritually. We just have to be honest and act on the answers. This is how we become spiritually ready to be watchful and alert. Each day during Advent we can ask these questions and work on being watchful.

     This advent prepare yourself both by physical and spiritual actions and keep watch. Alway keep in mind that just as the readings said, We do not know when He will return, just that He will return. Don’t be caught wishing you were prepared.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and be Watchful. 

Monday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 175

Reading 1

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, 3-4B, 4CD-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 relatives 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.

Alleluia

SEE PS 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come and save us, LORD our God;

let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

MT 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,

a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,

“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 

He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 

The centurion said in reply,

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;

only say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I too am a man subject to authority,

with soldiers subject to me.

And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;

and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;

and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,

“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 

I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,

and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

First Week Advent 2014

First Week in Advent

   It is that time of year where we start the new church year and the first week of advent. We use this time to prepare our hearts and soul for the new born Christ. The first candle we light is for Hope. Hope is what makes us look beyond what is going on and see what can be coming. It takes away the darkness in our lives and allows that light shine before us so we can see our way out of the darkness. Hope is what we need when we feel lost and that nothing is going to change. Hope can get us out of bed and go out into the world. Hope pushes despair out and we can face the world before us.

   My Hope for this Advent is to come to a deeper realization of Jesus in the world and within myself. To understand the direction of my life in the will of God. I hope we all come to a better understanding of Jesus in the world and how we are to give and show others the hope we have in Jesus during this season. Let us focus more on the faith we have then the gifts that we search for each day. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may we always have Hope in our hearts. 

First Sunday of Advent

Lectionary: 2

Reading 1

IS 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,

our redeemer you are named forever.

Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,

and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?

Return for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

with the mountains quaking before you,

while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,

such as they had not heard of from of old.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you

doing such deeds for those who wait for him.

Would that you might meet us doing right,

that we were mindful of you in our ways!

Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;

all of us have become like unclean people,

all our good deeds are like polluted rags;

we have all withered like leaves,

and our guilt carries us away like the wind.

There is none who calls upon your name,

who rouses himself to cling to you;

for you have hidden your face from us

and have delivered us up to our guilt.

Yet, O LORD, you are our father;

we are the clay and you the potter:

we are all the work of your hands.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R/ (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,

from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Rouse your power,

and come to save us.

R/ Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

look down from heaven, and see;

take care of this vine,

and protect what your right hand has planted

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R/ Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,

with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;

give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

R/ Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Reading 2

1 COR 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account

for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,

that in him you were enriched in every way,

with all discourse and all knowledge,

as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,

so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift

as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will keep you firm to the end,

irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful,

and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia

PS 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Show us Lord, your love;

and grant us your salvation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

MK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be watchful! Be alert!

You do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man traveling abroad.

He leaves home and places his servants in charge,

each with his own work,

and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.

Watch, therefore;

you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,

whether in the evening, or at midnight,

or at cockcrow, or in the morning.

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Advent

Advent

   With the start of Advent this weekend it is time for us to start to get ready for the birth of our Lord. I admit I am more of a Lent man then a  Advent man. I am much better with Lenten ideals and sacrificing then the preparing the way of the Lord. It may be that I am more comfortable with repenting then rejoicing. 

    This is the time where we all need to slow down and keep the focus on why we celebrate the season of Christmas. It is not about finding the right and most perfect gift to give someone because in reality the only right and perfect gift to give is Jesus, Himself. Many time I have forgotten the meaning as I tried to get that just right gift. The greatest gifts I have received has been my life, my mother, my faith and forgiveness. Each of those things did not come from this world but from God. The perfect gift I can give is sharing my faith and bringing Jesus to people in my life. How do we do this? I mean it would be great to be able to put some of our faith in a box and wrap it up and make it look all nice and when that person opens it... instant faith but the reality is we have to be witnesses to the faith and what we have been given. I am not saying that there should be no gifts being given but know there is the perfect gift and it is one size fits all. This gift can be given to anyone of any age, any sex, any height and weight, any level of faith. Now if they use it, that is on that person. Same as a gift we give, they decide if they want to use it or wear it. Return it or just put it away in a closet somewhere and maybe pull it out if they know you are coming over. 

     As I was looking up videos for songs for Advent I came across a video that talks about slowing down and remembering what the season is all about. It did hit a nerve and makes me want to be an Advent man just as much as I am a Lent man. To check out this video you can click here or see below the readings for it. Also the USCCB has a great Advent calendar on their website and it gives you some ideas for each day of Advent. You can click here to see it. Think about how you want your Advent to play out and see what you can add or change to keep the focus on who is coming in the next few weeks. I plan on doing the same as before to have weekly meditations on each Sunday as well as the readings. I also plan on changing the blog colors to reflect the Liturgical Calendar as well. I welcome any other ideas as well as we all travel this road into Advent and then to the Christmas Season where Jesus comes to us. 

Until, Tomorrow God Bless, and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Savior. 

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 509

Reading 1

RV 22:1-7

John said:

An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,

sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God

and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,

On either side of the river grew the tree of life

that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;

the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.

Nothing accursed will be found anymore.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,

and his servants will worship him.

They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,

for the Lord God shall give them light,

and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, 

and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,

sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”

“Behold, I am coming soon.”

Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7AB

R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

For the LORD is a great God,

and a great king above all gods;

In his hands are the depths of the earth,

and the tops of the mountains are his.

His is the sea, for he has made it,

and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Gospel

LK 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.”

Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 507

Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 507

Reading 1

RV 20:1-4, 11-21:2

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,

holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.

He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,

which is the Devil or Satan,

and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,

which he locked over it and sealed,

so that it could no longer lead the nations astray

until the thousand years are completed.

After this, it is to be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.

I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded

for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,

and who had not worshiped the beast or its image

nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.

They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.

The earth and the sky fled from his presence

and there was no place for them.

I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,

and scrolls were opened.

Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.

The dead were judged according to their deeds,

by what was written in the scrolls.

The sea gave up its dead;

then Death and Hades gave up their dead.

All the dead were judged according to their deeds.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.

(This pool of fire is the second death.)

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life

was thrown into the pool of fire.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,

and the sea was no more.

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A

R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.

My soul yearns and pines 

for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and my flesh

cry out for the living God.

R. Here God lives among his people.

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest

in which she puts her young–

Your altars, O LORD of hosts,

my king and my God!

R. Here God lives among his people.

Blessed they who dwell in your house!

continually they praise you.

Blessed the men whose strength you are!

They go from strength to strength.

R. Here God lives among his people.

Gospel

LK 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.

“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.

When their buds burst open,

you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;

in the same way, when you see these things happening,

know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away

until all these things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, 

but my words will not pass away.”

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

  Wishing you and your families a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving. May we all remember on this day all that we have been given and Thank God for everyone and everything in our lives.
Until tomorrow, God Bless, and let us give thanks.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

  Walter Rauschenbusch

O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;

For the wide sky and the blessed sun,

For the salt sea and the running water,

For the everlasting hills

And the never-resting winds,

For trees and the common grass underfoot.

We thank you for our senses

By which we hear the songs of birds,

And see the splendor of the summer fields,

And taste of the autumn fruits,

And rejoice in the feel of the snow,

And smell the breath of the spring.

Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;

And save our souls from being so blind

That we pass unseeing

When even the common thorn bush

Is aflame with your glory,

O God our creator,

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Thanksgiving Day

Lectionary: 943

The following are a selection of the readings that may be used on this day.

Reading 1

SIR 50:22-24

And now, bless the God of all,

who has done wondrous things on earth;

Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,

and fashions them according to his will!

May he grant you joy of heart

and may peace abide among you;

May his goodness toward us endure in Israel

to deliver us in our days.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Every day will I bless you,

and I will praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;

his greatness is unsearchable. 

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Generation after generation praises your works

and proclaims your might.

They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty

and tell of your wondrous works. 

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds

and declare your greatness.

They publish the fame of your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your justice.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord

Reading 2

1 COR 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account

for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,

that in him you were enriched in every way,

with all discourse and all knowledge,

as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,

so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift

as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will keep you firm to the end,

irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful,

and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel

LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,

he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.

They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,

“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

And when he saw them, he said,

“Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed. 

And one of them, realizing he had been healed,

returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;

and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 

He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply,

“Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine? 

Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 

Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;

your faith has saved you.”

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve

   With Thanksgiving just a day away I felt the need to put this question out there. "What do you have to be Thankful for?" As the day goes on many of us are scurrying around to start to cook, bake, set tables, check travel plans etc... We get busy. We have to stop and ask ourselves that question. Think about it and then pray and give Thanks for each one of them. 

Until tomorrow, Gd Bless, and give thanks.

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 505

Reading 1

RV 15:1-4

I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:

seven angels with the seven last plagues,

for through them God’s fury is accomplished.

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.

On the sea of glass were standing those

who had won the victory over the beast

and its image and the number that signified its name.

They were holding God’s harps,

and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,

and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and wonderful are your works,

Lord God almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

O king of the nations.

Who will not fear you, Lord,

or glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All the nations will come

and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Responsorial Psalm

PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 7-8, 9

R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done wondrous deeds;

His right hand has won victory for him,

his holy arm.

R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell in it;

Let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy.

R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Before the LORD, for he comes,

for he comes to rule the earth;

He will rule the world with justice

and the peoples with equity.

R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Gospel

LK 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:

“They will seize and persecute you,

they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,

and they will have you led before kings and governors

because of my name.

It will lead to your giving testimony.

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,

for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking

that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

You will even be handed over by parents,

brothers, relatives, and friends,

and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name,

but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 504

Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 504

Reading 1

RV 14:14-19

I, John, looked and there was a white cloud,

and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,

with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Another angel came out of the temple,

crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,

“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,

for the time to reap has come,

because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”

So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,

and the earth was harvested.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven

who also had a sharp sickle.

Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,

and cried out in a loud voice

to the one who had the sharp sickle,

“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,

for its grapes are ripe.”

So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.

He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

he governs the peoples with equity.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Before the LORD, for he comes;

for he comes to rule the earth.

He shall rule the world with justice 

and the peoples with his constancy.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Gospel

LK 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about

how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,

Jesus said, “All that you see here–

the days will come when there will not be left

a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,

“Teacher, when will this happen?

And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 

He answered,

“See that you not be deceived,

for many will come in my name, saying,

‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ 

Do not follow them! 

When you hear of wars and insurrections,

do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,

but it will not immediately be the end.” 

Then he said to them,

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues

from place to place;

and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”