Church of The Holy Spirit

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004

Second Sunday of Advent

Today's gospel from Matthew brings us face to face with the prophet, John the Baptist. John reminds us in very colourful terms that we must prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. For his listeners and followers around the Jordan, John's message is one of repentance and a call to change their hearts. Throughout the end times, the time since the coming of the Christ, that message again challenges the followers of Jesus. Just as in the time of this gospel, the indifferent, the self-righteous, the ones closed to the message of mercy and justice, are shaken from apathy into action. Lay aside our ways and change our hearts. To welcome the coming of Christ means to put on Christ. Discipleship calls us to spread the good news in word and in action and to act always as instruments of Christ in the spread of his kingdom – right here and right now.

The person and ministry of John the Baptist is a vivid picture of what the spirit of Advent is all about. He appears in the wilderness of Judea and calls the people to conversion and renewal. Many of his followers thought that John was the one they were waiting for, but John himself quickly puts a stop to such ideas. He points beyond himself to announce the coming of someone greater than he is, someone who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is the forerunner, the one who prepares the way of the Lord. From his lips, the words from the prophet Isaiah remind us of the God of the Old Testament. The God of the exodus from Egypt, the God who leads his people out of exile in Babylon, and the God who gifts us with Jesus is a God of salvation and liberation. Our God is a God of promise and fulfilment. Our God is a God of history and of the future. He has a plan for us and for all of humankind and he will see it through to fulfilment.

Advent is a time for hope – hope and trust in the promise of fulfilment. What God has done for us in Jesus is a guarantee that God remains with us and that he is leading us to final fulfilment in him. Our liturgies for all of Advent are filled with hope and longing. Christ comes here and now. He acts in our lives and speaks to us in Word and in Eucharist. He comes into our present in our love and service to one another. He is with us in all of our struggles for peace and social justice. He is with us as we open ourselves to hear His Word and truly take it to heart in all that we do and all that we say.

As we celebrate this day, let us take the time to recognize God acting in our lives. Take that moment to hope, to offer hope to another, to love as Jesus has loved us. Let us pray, then, for the opening of our hearts to let the love, peace, joy, and hope of Advent fill us so that we too may fulfill the baptismal call to discipleship – right here and right now!

— Rev. Thomas G. Moore

Mass Intentions for the week

TUESDAY, Dec. 7
St. Ambrose
12 Noon - † James and Joanna Sheahan

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8

Immaculate Conception of Mary
8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving for Father Thomas Moore
25th Anniversary in the Priesthood

THURSDAY, Dec. 9
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. - † Joseph Lee Nam Kwong
Requested by family

FRIDAY, Dec. 10
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. - † T.L. Joseph and Ancy Joseph
Requested by family

SATURDAY, Dec. 11
Advent Weekday
9:15 a.m. – Morning Prayer
(Office Of The Blessed Virgin)

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004

Third Sunday of Advent

As human beings, we seem to find great joy in anticipation and prolonged preparation for those days that have meaning in our lives. Just look at the count down that a six year old does, waiting for that glorious day that he or she will turn seven. A little bit of the future enters into the reality of the present.

The third Sunday in Advent has been known to many of us as Gaudete Sunday, or, translating from the Latin, Rejoice Sunday. The term comes from the Latin translation of a letter that Paul wrote to the Phillippians.

      "Rejoice in the Lord always,

       again I say rejoice.

       For the Lord is near."

For some, the immediate reference becomes the nearness of Christmas day. Yet the celebration of this day, marked by the change from purple to rose vestments and a decidedly uplifting spirit in the music and readings, is not so much about the things in the here and now, but what is yet to come in the life beyond. All of Advent looks forward, not just to Christmas day, but to the second coming of the Risen Lord to the earth when He will end earth's time and bring in the time of eternal joy. The mere thought of such a celebration is a reality in the lives of Christians everywhere; it is a sure thing, for Christ has said it will come. It is something that we have been waiting two millennia to experience and we will continue to wait until it happens. Meanwhile, we anticipate, we prepare, and we remain awake.

As we enter into these final days before Christmas, let us take the time to savour our anticipation. So many chances pass us by because we have not recognized them as opportunities to experience the joy of just being with the Lord, of anticipating what is to come, and of preparing as best we can for that coming again that is so much a part of the promise.

So, enjoy the rose coloured vestments, sing to the lord, and 'Rejoice!'

— Rev. Thomas G. Moore

Mass Intentions for the week

TUESDAY, Dec. 14
St. John of the Cross
12 Noon - † Barbara Lobo
Requested by family

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 15
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m.- † Maria Virgilio
Requested by Frances

THURSDAY, Dec. 16
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. - † Daniel Florentino
Requested by family

FRIDAY, Dec. 17
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. - † Tse Hsu Mei
Requested by family

SATURDAY, Dec. 18
Advent Weekday
9:15 a.m. – Morning Prayer
(Office Of The Blessed Virgin)

Parish Bulletin for Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004

Fourth Sunday of Advent

And so it begins! Today's gospel story is drawn from the infancy narrative recorded in Matthew and it is the first time in Advent that we have heard directly about the preparation for Christmas, the historical coming of the Lord.

Even more to the point, Matthew has an angel visiting Joseph to proclaim just how important this Jesus really is. It is important for us to remember that both Matthew and Luke wrote their infancy narratives from a deep commitment to and belief in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord of all time. Their records, then, are not meant to be historical representations; they are far more powerful coming from a knowledge of the reign of God and of the parables, miracles, and moral wisdom of Jesus.

Their wonderful stories reveal to us a Messiah who fulfills the scripture promises and remind us once again of what we believe about the adult life and teachings of Jesus, seen through the eyes of faith and treasured as Christian tradition.

All of the gospels examine in great detail the reaction of the people to Jesus and his revolutionary teachings. Matthew begins this reaction with the infancy narrative. Close examination on our part tells us that it is sages from far away who are ready to accept the birth of this child who is destined to fulfill the hopes of the Jewish people.

We find in that acceptance one of the threads that connect Matthew's gospel; the Messiah has come to bring everyone the good news of God's reign and all are welcome who come with open minds and hearts. Jesus' ministry very quickly reveals that the kingdom of God will not be good news for those who wish to preserve their own power. Those who are blind to the ways of the Lord will not even recognize the Messiah in their midst. Transformation and acceptance in the reign of God is open to anyone; male and female, Gentile and Jew, slave and free.

Matthew wants to remind us of all these things in his recording of the birth of Jesus. Over the next few weeks, we will celebrate the season of Christmas. Listen to the proclamations with great care and attention. Allow the stories to enter your life and answer the call to discipleship that is so much a part of our lives as Christians. Rejoice and be glad because God is with us. As the final echoes of the great advent hymns resound in our ears, prepare once more for the hymns that mark Christmas time.

— Rev. Thomas G. Moore

Mass Intentions for the week

TUESDAY, Dec. 21
Advent Weekday
12 Noon - † Tien Shin Lee
requested by Philomena Lee

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 22
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. - † Margareta Hammer
requested by Debbie and Terry Kennedy

THURSDAY, Dec. 23
Advent Weekday
8:30 a.m. – Intention:
Thanksgiving requested by Philomena Lee

FRIDAY, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
.
SATURDAY, Dec. 25
Christmas Day
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Second Sunday of Advent

Mass Intentions for the week

Third Sunday of Advent

Mass Intentions for the week

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mass Intentions for the week

A Christmas Message

Mass Intentions for the week