Tag Archives: Advent

ADVENT 2014 (17 DEC 2014)

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in The Church, The Liturgical Year

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advent

“ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and [the]* dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.“

 – Collect for First Sunday of Advent, 1928 Book of Common Prayer

REFLECTION

This has been a season of darkness. There is really no way to understand this. For the past few months the darkness that looms over our nation has intensified. Everything from the political gridlock, to Black Friday fights, to the deaths of Black men at the hands of police officers, to the violent riots that ensued shortly thereafter. This darkness, is the darkness of selfishness, greed, and corruption that our nation has embraced since we decided that our individual wants and desires outweigh the common good. When we decided that God does not have a place in all aspects of our lives, this is the result.

The season of Advent is a penitential season. We are to reflect on our lives as we anticipate the arrival of the Christ child via the Blessed Virgin Mother as depicted in the above icon. I have tried to use this time to reflect on my shortcomings not only as a priest & chaplain, but also as a child of God, a Christian. I ask myself three questions:

 – Have I preached the Gospel to all nations, teaching the masses?

 – Have I showed Christ-like love to others, by displaying empathy to ALL, not just those I agree with?

 – Have I taken steps to grow closer to God?

I can honestly say I made progress, but I still have a long way to go. It’s not easy, but God never said that it would be. I urge you to ask yourself these three questions rather than picking a “side” in a spiritual battle of darkness where all are destined to lose somehow. The only winner in this equation is Christ.

 – Fr. JMH

Advent IV – A (22 DEC)

22 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in The Liturgical Year

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Our Lady of the New Advent

Our Lady of the New Advent

“O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.”

 – Collect for Fourth Sunday in Advent; 1928 Book of Common Prayer

REFLECTION

As we approach the end of the Advent season, there is much to reflect on. However, what we ought to reflect on, is not advertised on television, the internet or any other outlet of the media. We are told repeatedly to reflect on how much money we have saved up to purchase the best gift for our friend/loved one/colleague. We are told to reflect on the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and DOORBUSTER sales.

It is my hope and prayer that you (the reader) reflect on the course of your life. Reflect on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her strength to endure the labor of delivering a child during that time frame. Her strength in carrying a child that she knows will die in a manner that is unthinkable in todays context. She is the God Bearer.  Let us also reflect on the life of St. Joseph, the stepfather of our Lord and Savior. He was in charge of protecting the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus from all harm. As a father in the Jewish society of the day, he was also responsible for the raising of the child as well.

These are the things we need to reflect up during the Advent Season. The birth, death and resurrection of Christ is everlasting. A $97.00, 32 inch flat screen HD television is not.

 – JMH+