SOCL, Immaculate Conception

Cycle A,B,C

December 09, 2024

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.

See

Thought for the day

Two conversations with heavenly messengers shape today's readings - one in a garden of disobedience, another in a humble home of acceptance. In Eden, we hear "Where are you?" as humanity hides in shame. In Nazareth, we hear "Hail, full of grace!" as Mary embraces God's call. These parallel moments show us how fear and trust shape our response to God's voice. Through Mary's "yes," we learn that God's grace can transform our moments of hesitation into opportunities for divine purpose. Her Immaculate Conception prepared the way for Christ's coming, showing us that when we open ourselves to God's plan, the impossible becomes possible.

Listen

Gn 3:9-15, 20; PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38

Reflect

(Luke 1:26-38)

-The first reading shows Adam and Eve hiding from God out of fear and shame. Reflect on times when you've hidden from God's presence. What holds you back from being fully present to God? How might Mary's openness inspire you to move from fear to trust?

-Mary was "greatly troubled" by the angel's greeting, yet she remained engaged in the conversation. Think about moments when God's call has disturbed your comfort. How do you respond when faced with challenging divine invitations?

-"Nothing will be impossible for God," the angel declares. Consider the seemingly impossible situations in your life. How might Mary's trust in God's power help you face your own challenges with renewed faith?

-Mary's response, "I am the handmaid of the Lord," shows complete surrender to God's will. What would it mean for you to echo Mary's words in your own life? Where is God inviting you to say "yes" today?

Pray

Gracious God, through Mary's Immaculate Conception, You revealed the power of saying "yes" to Your will. Like her, may we have the courage to answer Your call, even when we do not fully understand Your plan. Help us move from fear to trust, from doubt to faith, and from hiding to standing in Your presence. Let Your grace work within us, as it did in Mary, making possible what seems impossible. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

One another, Advent2C

December 08, 2024

Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126 (125); Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6

In joyful expectation of the day of Christ Jesus to come, let us pray:

That in our parish’s prayer and work together we may create a highway for our God: let us pray to the Lord.

That our bishops, priests, and deacons and all who serve and minister to the Church may be heralds of God’s presence among us: let us pray to the Lord.

That those in government and public service may be instruments of the mercy and justice of God: let us pray to the Lord.

That the Churches of Christendom may be “rich in the harvest of justice”: let us pray to the lord.

That those who have been displaced from their homes by war, famine, disease, or disaster may return in joy and safety to their families: let us pray to the Lord.

That the poor, the struggling, and those who have lost hope may, through our compassionate help and support, remove their “robe of mourning and misery” and put on the hope and peace of the Messiah: let us pray to the Lord.

That those who have died [especially _________] may rejoice forever in the city of God: let us pray to the Lord.

That God, in mercy and peace, will hear the prayers we now make in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

Lord God, hear the prayers of your people who anxiously await your coming. Help us to straighten the crooked roads of our lives so that we might create a highway for you to enter our homes and hearts with the peace of Christ Jesus, your Son, in whose name we offer you these prayers.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ag, December 8). Second Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, Advent2C

December 09 - December 14, 2024

Monday 09 December

The Immaculate Conception of the BVM

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 The early stories in Genesis explore common human experiences , including sin, shame and the “outsourcing” of blame! All very human, of course. The serpent symbolises something more sinister—the power of sin, against which we need the grace of God.

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 The great hymn from Ephesians explores God’s grace in Christ, thus inviting us to engagement gratitude.

Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s yes is in contrast to the “no” of Adam and Eve...and all the rest of us of course! It is really good news that “nothing is impossible for God.”

Tuesday 10 December

Our Lady of Loreto

Isaiah 40:1-11 Powerful images in this reading should awaken a deep longing in our hearts. Let us come again to the great shepherd of our souls, holding us and leading us in all circumstances.

Matthew 8:12-14 The parable of the lost sheep makes a direct link with Isaiah. Of course, the ninety-nine who don’t stray at all also don’t really exist! We are, all of us, lost sheep and in need of guidance.

Wednesday 11 December

St Damasus I, bishop of Rome

Isaiah 40:25-31 Our reading today is really a meditation on God and in particular on the “beyond-ness” of God (his transcendence). The fact that God is so other in this reection is a source of hope and renewed energy.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Yoke” was a term used by the rabbis to refer to the guidance of Torah, by which we plough straight furrows in life. Jesus himself is now our Law and his guidance is light.

Thursday 12 December

Our Lady of Guadalupe; St Finian, bishop

Isaiah 41:13-20 The opening line of this poem give the key to the rest: Do not be afraid. The reading goes on to explore such deep trust using several metaphors: harvesting, drought and barrenness.

Matthew 11:11-15 So, who really was John the Baptist? In Jesus’ estimation, John was the greatest of the old dispensation. In orthodox tradition he is called the forerunner, the prodromos. Yet even he falls into the second rank compared with the least in the kingdom of heaven!

Friday 13 December

St Lucy, virgin and martyr

Isaiah 48:17-19 There is a great promise in this reading, but also one big “if ”: if only you had been alert to my commandments. Isaiah can tell us the rest!

Matthew 11:16-19 There’s no pleasing some people seems to be the message of this passage.

[The very last line, puzzling to us, calls for special comment. The passage comes from the Q community, who produced the Sayings Source (Q), behind parts of Matthew and Luke. In the view of that community, John, Jesus and their members were all children of transcendent wisdom. Originally, the last verse read: But Wisdom was vindicated by her children. (Q 7:35; see Luke 7:35.) For Matthew, Jesus himself is our Wisdom and so he alters the text and continues his portrait to Jesus as wisdom in Mt 11:25-30.]

Saturday 14 December

St John of the Cross, priest and doctor

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-12 Elijah remained a gure of fascination long after his death, as we hear in this reection. An Elijah-type gure was expected to usher in the long-expected Messiah. The blessedness of this is caught in the very appealing beatitude which closes the reading.

Matthew 17:10-13 As noted above, the expected Elijah-type gure was based on Mal 3:1. By identifying John as Elijah, Jesus afrms the signicance of the present moment and his own ministry.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ag, December 8). Second Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/