December 14, 2014 - 3rd Sunday of Advent

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121414.cfm

Third Sunday of Advent - Pink Sunday - Gaudette Sunday - Sunday of HOPE!  Christmas is almost here!!!

How has your Advent been?  Have you had a chance to sit and Wait for the Lord?  Wait on the Lord? Have you had time to stop and just be with the Lord?

This has been a Great Advent for me!  I have been to an Advent Retreat - which was a wonderful time for me to reflect and to be fed!  I actually felt affirmed by God!  I felt He touched me at my point of need and encouraged me in this journey!

I have had a chance to read, pray, reflect, laugh, cry - all in "moments" of communion with God!

Today's readings reflect my joy!  REJOICE!!!

In the first reading - today these words jumped out at me!

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;

I know this mountain high will not last forever, but I will relish it while it is here!  I will rejoice HEARTILY in the LORD, in my God - who is the JOY of my soul!   I won't look back at my mistakes and my failures...I won't fear the future and what it "might" bring....I REJOICE in this DAY!!!!

The responsible Psalm is the Magnificat.  Mary's beautiful prayer of praise of God and what He did in her life.  Her full "Yes", without regard or worry about what the future would hold - is what I am trying to focus on today.  Let me live in THIS moment and know that God is Immanuel - HE IS WITH ME!  No matter what!

Mary proclaims - and I with her!  
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

R/ My soul rejoices in my God.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

Rejoicing comes from the goodness of God!!!

And Paul proclaims in 1st Thessalonians:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.

How beautiful is that!!!!  The one who calls you is faithful and he will also accomplish it (make me HOLY!)

Our Gospel talks about John the Baptist
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

We (you and I) are not the light - we are called to testify to the light - to share our HOPE!  To share our Joy!  To point to the One who is the JOY of our Soul!  

I am not worthy to untie his sandlestrap - but I can testify to all He has done for me!  His great mercy and love!  
That's why this week is filled with HOPE!  and JOY!!!  God is with us!  Emmanuel!  He will come again!  May we all be ready and waiting with the light of His love in our hearts!

Have a blessed week!  
Nancy

December 7, 2014 - 2nd Sunday of Advent

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120714.cfm

Today's message is very unlike the messages we hear everyday all around us...

BUY This!  Buy That!  Christmas is all about buying presents for each other....I have spent many years going into debt in December - taking the rest of the year to pay it off.....

What heavenly good has that done?  What difference has anything I bought for anyone made in their lives?  Can anyone really remember what they received from me for Christmas?

So what message is really important at Christmas?

The message that God gives us today!  Prepare our hearts and our souls for the Lord.  How do we do that?  Repent...turn from sin....turn toward God....Love God and Love one another.

Hopefully, my family and friends can tell you how much I love them - not by what I have bought them, but by how I treat them.  How I love, how I forgive, how I serve them.   If I make mistakes or hurt them, I say I am sorry.  I am far from perfect...but I try to keep my eyes on God.

This is the message John the Baptist is proclaiming - Prepare the Way of the Lord!

How are our lives preparing the way of God to those around us?

Is anyone of our family closer to God because of us?  Have we proclaimed God's love through our actions?

In the first reading: "Give comfort to my people!"

In the responsorial psalm:  Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

In the 2nd Reading: 

what sort of persons ought you to be,

conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,  - because we don't know when He is coming, we should always be this way...

In the Gospel - John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord.  He preached repentance - knowing Jesus would come to help us with the Holy Spirit.  

No, we cannot do this on our own...only as we stay close to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in prayer; Humbly asking how we can be more Holy each day - repenting for our sins and then proclaiming God's great love and mercy to those around us - through our actions.

What do our lives proclaim?  Especially during this Christmas time?  Is is peace, love, forgiveness?  

I pray that God will continue to guide me, forgive me when I fall short, and help me to be Holy and ready for Him when He returns.  In the meantime - I want my life to proclaim God.  It may not be "popular" - but I know it is the way of the Lord.

Have a blessed 2nd week of Advent!  

Nancy