Un-Quiet Word for Today
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A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."
Mark 1: 3
Provoke God's presence...be a Prophet!
Throughout the history of the journey of God’s people in the scriptures, they encounter moments of great desperation or periods of decadence and national depression. At these times they question whether God is really present among them. They doubt and think God must be ‘done’ with them. One such age is the inside story of the first reading. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, has attacked and destroyed Jerusalem. The temple has been burnt down and all liturgical worship removed. The people are forced into exile. There the Judean leaders begin to question the faithfulness and omnipotence of their God. Why would he allow them to be defeated by pagans? More so, the Babylonian idolatry and religions are now ‘in their face’, filled with every pomposity. Why?
In these times of crisis, God chose always to send the ‘prophets’ (seers, divine messengers) to refocus, indicate or challenge/provoke God’s continued presence. Isaiah brings a message of consolation and comfort. God is not done, but in these exact times of desolation, a new beginning is underway, a new hope is dawning.A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 40: 3-5
The ‘desert’ is that experience of uncertainty; nothing seems to bear life, yet in that moment the people must re-listen, hear again the voice of the Lord, change their manner of life and in such a way prepare for the Messiah who is coming. God’s word is enough; no fear should prevail. The first reading ends with the image of God as a Good Shepherd who feeds his flock, who gathers them in his arms and leads them himself.
Who is John the Baptist? And what is his mission? He is the forerunner/precursor of Jesus. John is ‘the voice’ of repentance and conversion from the desert. He calls many to an interior transformation: “make straight his paths.” He paves the way for one mightier than he. He emphasizes the centrality of Jesus by limiting his view of himself to that of herald.
What Isaiah and John the Baptist were, are what we are called to be: Prophets/Heralds of the Good News. But prophets ‘provoke’, they challenge, they call others to action. Prophets are still needed today in a world that hungers for God's presence. We must indicate or be catalysts by our lives as to who we are and who is in our midst. Many still doubt and think God is of no use. There are many who seek ‘comfort’ in all the wrong places. The desert experience still goes on today.
If only our families, husbands and wives lived in a manner that demonstrates God’s presence! If only we saw it as our prophetic mission to console the distraught of society. If only our leaders stressed the centrality of Jesus and others rather their own importance!
The question is, how can we exploit God’s presence for others?
Provoke God’s presence…be a prophet!
— Father Anthony
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readings of the mass
SELECT HERE for the Audio recording of the Readings of Sunday, December 6th, 2020, The Second Sunday of Advent.
SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, December 6th, 2020, The Second Sunday of Advent.
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advent season
Advent begins Sunday, November 29th. LEARN MORE about this Liturgical season of the Church. -
mass: Solemnity of the immaculate conception
The Vigil Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Monday, December 7th at 6:30PM.
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Mass: december 6th, 2020Second sunday of advent
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Mass: Diocese of Worcester, Monsignor Jim Moroney is the celebrant.
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VIDEO SERIES VIEWING
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word on fire
Bishop Robert Barron illuminates a handful of saints, artists, and scholars who not only shaped the life of the Church, but changed the course of civilization.
Watch this video series, "Catholicism: The Pivotal Players", on the Sundays during the Advent Season: 3:30 to 4:30PM in the Parish Hall.
Nov. 29th, Dec. 6th, 13th, 20th
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"What are you looking for?", Christ asked of his disciples.
Are you new or have been away from the Church? Are you Catholic and have not received the Sacraments?
We welcome and invite you to LEARN MORE about the faith that Jesus Christ founded.
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