The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, December 17, 2000
The Third Sunday of Advent
"Gaudete Sunday"
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Let us rejoice on this Gaudete Sunday, for soon we will celebrate
God's greatest miracle, His most precious gift to humanity. The
"unseen" God becomes visible in Christ Jesus, God's Word made flesh.
And we, by coming to know, love and obey Him, can be changed for the
better, and the world with us. Apart from Christ, devoid of the new
life He offers us, we can't achieve the fullness of humanity, the
very purpose for which God created us: to participate in His holiness
and show forth to this world His honor and glory.
Today's society, having succumbed to secular pressures, celebrates
Christmas fraudulently. Rather than adoring the Christ Child, it
worships our "currency" as ringing cash registers drown out church
bells. We imbibe holiday cheer from bottles whose contents inebriate
our senses and deaden the human spirit. Though Western Civilization
was founded on Christianity, fear of offending the Godless forbids
our displaying the "Nativity" on public properties. Schools decorate
with secular images; their dramatic presentations and music programs
dare not mention Jesus, the world's greatest historical figure and
our Savior. Children learn to await Santa rather than our Lord; they
covet human rather than God-given, life-giving gifts.
Material gifts soon become worn, broken, forgotten when we tire of
them. God's gifts become an integral part of our beings, grow into a
source of ever-increasing joy as the fruits of His love mature within
us: gentleness, generosity, kindness, forgiveness, temperance,
honesty, justice and peace.
Blessed Holy Spirit,
sanctify us in Your love,
the only source of true joy,
that we may share it with this world. Amen
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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