To: all of my friends
From: Father Bill Muench
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Father Bill saysÖfor the Third Sunday of Advent, December 14, 2008
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Now we are right into the winter weather ñ cold and snow and ice everywhere ñ but it does come every year, doesnít it.† Last evening ñ I took the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a home ñ and joined with two wonderful families ñ as well as the two Sisters in our parish ñ for the rosary ñ and then a bite to eat.† For me, there is something so wonderfully satisfying to spend time with such great families ñ too often I hear about family problems these days ñ so it was truly joyful to experience two wholesome and happy families ñ
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This Third Sunday of Advent is referred to as Guadete Sunday ñ Joyful Sunday ñ we are almost to Christmas ñ the rose color candle on the Advent wreath is lit this Sunday ñ spiritually speaking we are getting more into the Christmas theme ñ in Church during Advent everything continues to stay purple ñ but some ingenious person decided it would be good liturgically to place a rose color candle to lighten things up a bit in our spiritual preparation for Christmas.† This Sunday also calls for the priest to wear rose color vestments (my parish does not have a set of rose color vestments ñ thank God ñ I donít thing I would look very stunning in rose color vestments).
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The theme of this Sundayís Masses continues to be John the Baptist and his efforts to prepare the world for Jesus ñ we are reminded again of his Baptism ñ this Baptism of repentance ñ change your lives, says John the Baptist ñ and to remind you of your dedication to make your life better ñ he took each person into the River Jordan and baptized them.† They would not forget this day that they decided to change their lives.† I continue to try and come up with some sort of experience that I can offer people when they make a decision to change their lives -† I pray often that those who come to the Lord ñ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation ñ will remember often the day of their decision to change and draw closer to the Lord.
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In a few minutes, I am headed over to Church ñ for the First Penance Celebration ñ the eight year olds have been preparing to receive this sacrament ñ and today is the day for their First Penance (their first confession.) ñ It is always a joyful ceremony ñ truly joyful ñ many people look on this sacrament as a painful moment ñ but now the children are introduced to the sacrament in such a good way ñ emphasizing the great Love that God has for them ñ that God invites them to make their lives better ñ so I invite them to make a decision on how they can be a better person ñ what they might need to eliminate from their lives to make them better ñ or maybe what they should add to make life better.† And, you would be surprised, at how interesting their decisions are ñ may we all discover Godís love and forgiveness in this wonderful sacrament.
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Since next Sunday is our parish Penance Service ñ I will spend a little time this Sunday on this wonderful sacrament.† And I have discovered a wonderful story ñ from Father John Shea ñ that I will certainly use in this Sundayís homily.† Let me share this with you:
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It is a story about a monastery that had fallen on hard times.† The monks did not talk with one another; there were no new, young monks; and people had stopped coming for spiritual solace and direction.† In the woods that surrounded the monastery a rabbi lived in a small hut.† Occasionally, the monks would see the rabbi walking in the woods ñ the abbot was greatly distraught at the decline of the monastery.† He had prayed and pondered over the situation and admonished the mood and behavior of the monks.† All to no avail.† One day he saw the rabbi walking in the woods and decided to ask his advice. †He knew he did not have to explain the decline of the monastery ñ it was well known.† He merely asked, ìCan you give me some direction so the monastery will thrive again?î
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The rabbi said, ìOne of you is the Messiah.î† Then he turned and continued to walk in the woods.
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The abbot returned to the monastery.† The monks had seen him talking to the rabbi who walks in the woods.† They asked, ìWhat did the rabbi say?î
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ìOne of us is the Messiah,î the abbot said ñ the words slowly, almost incredulously.
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The monks began talking to one another.† ìOne of us? Which one? Is it Brother John? Or perhaps it is Brother Andrew?† Could it even be the abbot?í
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Slowly, things began to change at the monastery.† The monks began to look for the Messiah in each other and listen to each otherís words for the Messiahís voice.
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Soon new, younger monks joined, and people returned to the monastery for spiritual solace and direction.
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Advent spirit ñ recognizing the Birth of Jesus in the hearts of each and every person we meet ñ treating each person as we would treat Jesus ñ listening to each person as we would listen to Jesus ñ for if we understand the Birth of Our Savior ñ we would realize that each year, each day, Jesus is again born in the hearts of his faithful, his loved ones.
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Father Shea also adds a poem that he found from a Sufi Master
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How
Do I
Listen to others?
As if everyone were my Master
Speaking to me
His
Cherished
Last†
Words.
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LET US PRAY
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Almighty God, my Father ñ fill me with Christmas joy ñ on this Gaudete Sunday ñ and may I take that joy to all those I meet during these weeks before Christmas ñ may I see you in them ñ and treat them as I would treat you.† This is my prayer.† Amen.
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Please join me as we say together the Lordís Prayer.
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