Pray the Sunday Readings

First Sunday of Advent, Year B
Mark 13:33-37

P. Prepare
Watch!
1. Jesus presents this teaching on the Mount of Olives just before the Passion.
2. "No one knows the day nor the hour" is the preceeding verse of the Gospel.
3. Christians are to be constantly in a state of expectation of the Lord's return no matter how delayed he may seem.
4. The gospel contains a mini parable, comparing the vocation of a Christian to a "doorkeeper"...interestingly two of North America's most holy men of the last century both worked as "porters or doorkeepers": Canada's (and New England's) Blessed Andre Besset and the U.S.'s Venerable Solanus Casey...might this be interpreted as some sign that the Lord's comign is nearer now? On any account it was the "doorkeepers" one job to watch for the coming of a anyone. (one might also reflect on last Sunday's Gospel and the coming of the Lord under his many guises).
5. The doorkeeper is given "charge"...the Greek word exousia which also can mean "power"
6. What is said is underscored not to be just for the Apostles but for everyone...."Watch!"

R. Read
Read Mark 13:33-37 slowly. What strikes you as you read the selection? You might want to read it again before you go to Mass on Sunday.
A. Attend
Listen to all of the readings at Mass. How do the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm add to what the Gospel says? What speaks to you as you hear the Gospel proclaimed? What in the homily touches you or adds to what you were already thinking?
Y. Yield
How can you keep watch? Read the stories of Solanus Casey and Brother Andre...how did they watch for Christ as doorkeepers in their lives? How might you celebrate this Advent season by watching more intensely for Christ?

Here is a suggestion:
Pray the Divine Office throughout the day (all seven hours) as a way of "keeping watch" for Christ both in his future Second Coming but also as he comes to you in the guise of the poor.

From the Office of Readings

We all are sinners...to me this is a given. We begin every liturgy with a call to remember our sinfulness before God.

Today's Office of Readings features the Second Letter of St. Peter:

The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from their trials, and how to keep the wicked under punishment for the Day of Judgment, especially those who follow their filthy bodily lusts and despise God's authority.

Now, how does this passage jive with those who think that following Christ has nothing to do with sexuality? Or that every desire that we feel is good? Where is discernment of spirits in the lives of those who act as though following Christ requires no repentance, no change of heart, no turning away from something toward someone?

Document Released

Pretty much what had been leaked...

Read it at Catholic World News (CWN)

An excerpt:

"It would be gravely dishonest if a candidate were to hide his own homosexuality to enter, notwithstanding everything, to Ordination. An attitude so inauthentic does not correspond to the spirit of truth, allegiance, and availability that must characterize the personality of he who believes to be called to serve Christ and His Church in the priestly ministry."

A Sign? Michael Dubruiel

I received a note from my friend Father Stan Fortuna over the weekend informing me that he was in Liseux praying to Saint Therese for me and my intentions. Awesome!

Michael at One

Thanks grammy and grampy...

2005-2006 Bowl Dates

There are a lot of things that make this prediction by college football experts rather laughable--partly because they are wrong about everything: there will be no bowl game in New Orleans, Tennessee isn't bowl eligible and Pittsburgh is one game away from being bowl ineligible itself. Goes to show what the experts know:

From 2005-2006 Bowl Dates:

"NOKIA SUGAR BOWL - New Orleans, Louisiana
January 1, 2006, at 8:30 p.m. ET ABC
Louisiana Superdome 75,000
BCS (SEC Champion if not in national title) vs. BCS
CFN Projection: Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh
also considered: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Ohio State"

Role of the Laity

From Mary Jane in the Comments:

 

I believe one of the problems with the "role of the laity" in the the post-Vatican II Church has been the spread of the belief that the role only finds its expression in what gets done in the church buildings or organizations. And you can end up with people whose entire lives revolve around that address - very often to the great neglect of family, friends, co-workers, and the whole wide world that is waiting to learn about Christ. For some folks, it's as though good deeds don't count unless they're done in an ecclesiastical environment. (A corollary is that service to the poor is the only one that gets brownie points, whereas loving those God puts right under your nose isn't worth working on.)