Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Readings call us to attitudes and actions that can bring harmony and joy to our family life. In the First Reading (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) echoes the lesson of the Fourth Commandment and emphasizes our call to obey, honor, respect and even revere our parents. He notes the many blessings that this reverent and respectful attitude can bring us.
There is now a kiosk located near the Lomas doors of the church containing books, pamphlets and CDs on various aspects of Catholic spirituality and practice. The kiosk will be available on Saturdays from 3:30 PM until after the 12:00 PM Mass on Sundays. A small donation is requested for these materials as indicated on the kiosk.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction have been suspended on Mondays due to lack of attendance. Many times the Blessed Sacrament has been left unattended.
Today’s Gospel (Matthew 1:18-24) is sometimes referred to as the “Annunciation to Joseph,” as an angel of the Lord speaks to Joseph in his dreams and reveals God’s plan for the birth of the Savior. What if Joseph had not obeyed Gabriel? In a small town like Nazareth where everyone knew everyone else, Mary’s pregnancy prior to moving in with Joseph as his wife would have been scandalous. And imagine what must have been going through Joseph’s mind when he became aware that Mary was with child and knew that he was not the biological father. Under the law he could have had her and her unborn child stoned to death, but any doubts he had were overcome by his love for Mary and he had decided to divorce her quietly so that no harm would come to her. But then came the message of the angel, encouraging him to take Mary as his wife.
Have you or someone you know considered becoming a Catholic Priest? Without obligation, you are invited to attend a Discernment Retreat to learn more about a priestly vocation in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. This is a weekend for single Catholic men, from high school seniors to age 50, to explore and learn about a life serving God and His Church as a Priest. The weekend retreat will be held at the Madonna Retreat Center in Albuquerque next to St. Pius X High School. It will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, January 31st , and end at 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 2nd. There is no charge to attend.
Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is known as “Gaudete Sunday” and is marked by a rose colored candle on the Advent wreath. The Latin word gaudete means “rejoice” and is taken from Philippians 4:4 in which Saint Paul declares: “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice!” The title “Gaudete Sunday” thus refers to the joy that we feel as Advent is half over and Christmas is near. The season of Advent is one of preparation and anticipation. Today, as the celebration of the Birth of the Lord has nearly arrived, we are filled with joy.
We all spend a lot of time getting ready for Christmas. There’s the gifts, the cards, the decorating, the cooking, the visits to Santa, the children’s pageants. Why do we do all this? “Well, everyone else is doing it,” you might say. “We can’t be the only house on the block without Christmas lights.” There’s some truth to that. After all we want to join those who are celebrating the birth of Jesus. The gifts are meant to be an expression of our joy in God’s gift of His Son, for He so loved the world. The cards might seem insignificant, but they are really important. Perhaps there might be someone we drop a card to whose life will brighten when they hear from us. And as far as the children are concerned, we want them to be full of joy on Christmas and we need to spend time reminding them why this is a day of joy. The music specific to the Christmas season is important too. The carols get us in the mood to celebrate as they remind us what we are celebrating.
Posole for sale after each mass the weekend of Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15. There will be a limited amount available. First come, first served.
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of .Advent. The season of Advent is a period of preparation in which we await the celebration of the Birth of the Lord. Waiting is never a passive exercise. It always involves commitment on our part. Would we invite a guest to our home for dinner and then be surprised - and unprepared - when the guest shows up? No. We would clean the house and make preparations for a grand meal. When we say we are waiting for something, we cannot live as if we are waiting for nothing. Our waiting is a dedication and a preparation. Our Advent waiting dedicates us and prepares us for the coming of Christ. Advent is a season in which we should be particularly mindful of our need for repentance and good works as we listen to the long-ago cry of John the Baptist: ''Prepare the way of the Lord!"