Week 3: The Light is on for You!
ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH MESSAGE SERIES
(During the Weekend Masses: December 13-14, 2014)
SHINE: Out of Darkness ... Light
"The Light is on for you"
This is the Third Sunday
of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday,
so-called from the first word of the antiphon at the
Introit. Gaudete (“Rejoice”), taken from the Latin
translation of Philippians 4:4-5; “Gaudete in
Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete.” “Rejoice
in the Lord always: I say again, rejoice.”
Our rejoicing comes from the knowledge that
our God is near to His people; He is near in that
there is only one week of Advent remaining, and so
the great Feast of the Incarnation, Christmas is
very near. He is also near in that our God chooses
to be close to His people. His nearness is given
tangible evidence through the Sacraments of the
Church. God draws near to us through what we can see
and hear and taste and touch and smell – He comes to
us through the ancient signs and symbols that are
the Sacraments of the Church.
Fr. Charlie's message for week 3
Video shown at Mass:
Oceans of Mercy
Challenge of the Week:
This week we will be
celebrating one of the great sacraments of healing
as a parish community; the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. (Tuesday, December 16 at 10am and
7pm). These weeks of Advent leading up to this
week, and our Advent Message Series,
“Shine,
Out of Darkness...Light,”
have been a time of preparation, helping us assess
our relationship with our God through an examination
of our conscience. We have also worked on
de-mystifying the whole Sacrament of Reconciliation
experience with our LifeTeen video on how you “do”
confession. I truly hope you will heed God’s
invitation to come and be restored in
His bountiful mercy
– that you will set aside all those compelling
reasons that have kept you from this Sacrament, and
that you will take a step in spiritual humility and
courage, and let God heal what is broken in you. We
know we are fragile beings, and our tendency is to
be broken over and over again. But this Sacrament
calls us back as often as is needed. God NEVER gives
up on us, and NEVER runs out of the mercy that
restores us to His graces.
So splurge on yourself in these late
days of Advent. Come and know the mercy of God
again…come and make your rough ways level and
smooth…come and prepare the way for the Lord!
Helpful Resources on the Sacrament of Reconciliation
i
Family Advent Activity
Continue
your Advent prayer by having an Advent wreath in
your home.
Each
day your family should gather around the Advent
wreath, generally before the evening meal. Three
candles are then lighted and a prayer is said.
Third Week:
The joyful Sunday in Advent (known as
"Gaudete") is represented by rose (or pink) instead
of the penitential purple color. Each night during
the third week the mother of the family lights the
pink, as well as the two previously burned purple
candles, after the following prayer has been said.
Light a
candle for JOY for the good things that are coming
with the restoration of reconciliation with God and
others.
Leader:
O Lord, we implore you, incline your
ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our
minds by the grace of your visitation. Through
Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
This week at St. Mary Magdalen Parish that you can do with our family!
E
v
a
n
g
e
l
i
z
e
t
h
r
o
u
g
h
y
o
u
r
C
h
r
i
s
t
m
a
s
L
i
g
h
t
s
!
Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season! As you
decorate your homes, showcase your Christmas
lights with a Christian Message. This is a wonderful opportunity to
evangelize throughout your community!
|