Saturday, December 01, 2007

The First Sunday of Advent

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
~Ephesians 3:9-10
Dearest Brothers and Sisters: With today's first Sunday of Advent, a new liturgical year begins. The Church takes up her journey again, and invites us to reflect more intensely on the mystery of Christ, a mystery that is always new and that time cannot exhaust. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Thanks to Him, the history of humanity proceeds as a pilgrimage toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom which he inaugurated with His Incarnation and victory over sin and death.
~John Paul II, Angelus address, December 2, 2001
From Advent and Christmas Widsom from Pope John Paul II


I think mystery is a good way to approach Advent. To see God and His salvation through the eyes of a newborn child is a challenge that is especially difficult in these modern cynical times. During Advent, we are called to search for God anew and make room for Him in our hearts.

Oh God, cure me of my cynicism

and help me to see you

through new born eyes.

7 comments:

Michele said...

good post, good point.

Staying in Balance said...

Thanks.

Elaine said...

Hi Dymphna....thank you for today's devotion as well as the video feed. I am currently without a church and this has helped me to put things in the proper perspective. I will look forward to more this month.

Staying in Balance said...

Wow, thanks, Elaine! God bless you!

Craig said...

I enjoy your scripture quotes...now how about something about, oh, say, CHRIST, or a reading from a non-apocryphal book? You know, for us 'Protestants'. ;P

I'm juuuust teasin ya! Pulling your ever-so-Catholic leg! I love ya! So does Jesus. :D

Peace, God bless.

Craig said...

Ah, reading from Ephesians noted and appreciated...once I found it on this cluttered blog!

I was referring to your previous posts quoting Maccabees and Wisdom, which I'm pretty sure are apocryphal. Beautiful writings, though. Especially that bit about the dignity of old age, eh?

Also, your blog, in all of its image-laiden glory, has the longest full-load time in the history of ever.

That is all. I promise.

For now. ;)

Staying in Balance said...

Thanks, Dizzy! I admit to thinking of you when I posted from The Maccabees and Wisdom books, lol! But that is what was read at Mass those particular days and God spoke to me though them, so, that's what ended up on the board! (Sorry its so cluttered--it comes from my visual ADD--Ooooo, shiny!!)

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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