Gaudete Sunday REJOICE Phil: 4,5

Tree of Jesse ROMAN MISSAL
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Sunday, 16 December 2012

Third Sunday of Advent - Year C

Gospel Today, 365 Days with the Lord Jesus

“All spiritual growth comes from readrejoiceing and reflection. By reading we learn what we did not know; by reflection we retain what we have learned.” ~ Saint Isidore of Seville

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Daily Gospel & Reflection, Sunday, December 16, 2012

Third Sunday of Advent

Zephaniah 3:14-18, 1^st Reading

Isaiah 12

Philippians 4:4-7, 2^nd Reading

Luke 3:10-18

The Tree of Jesse

This icon depicts the many prophecies of the Virgin birth of Christ.  

There are twelve Old Testament prophets, shown holding things that reveal their identity and the prophecy they foretold of the Theotokos and the virgin birth of Christ.  

1.      In the top row, from left to right: St. Daniel, whose scroll reads: "The stone was cut out of the Mountain without hands" (Daniel 2:45); 

2.      St. Moses holding the bush that was burning, yet not consumed (Exodus 3:2-4);

3.       St. David, whose scroll reads: "Arise O Lord into thy rest: Thou and the ark of thy strength." (Psalm 132:8); 

4.      St. Isaiah holding tongs with live coals (Isaiah 6:6); 

5.      St. Jeremiah, whose scroll reads: "He was seen upon earth and conversed with men." (Baruch 3:37);  

6.      St. Samuel holding a throne referring to 

7.      St. Nathan's prophecy to King David whom St. Samuel had anointed (2 Samuel 7:13-16).  In the bottom row, from left to right:  

8.      St. Habakkuk holding the overshadowed Mountain that is the Virgin (Habakkuk 3:3); 

9.      St. Micah, whose scroll reads: "He is come unto the gate of my people." (Micah 1:9); 

10.   St. Gideon holding a fleece: "As dew upon the fleece hast Thou descended into the womb of the Virgin, O Christ" (Judges 6:37-38); 

11.   St. Ezekiel, whose scroll reads: "This gate shall be shut, It shall not be opened." (Ezekiel 44:2); St. Amos holding an ark referring to the Virgin serving as the Tabernacle of Christ (Amos 9:11); Prophet Balaam, whose scroll reads: "There shall come a star out of Jacob and a sceptre shall arise" (Numbers 24:17).  Enthroned in the center of the tree sits the Holy Virgin Mary.  

12.   At the foot of the tree lays St. Jesse asleep.  Jesse is portrayed asleep, to tell us in a way that we know his righteous character not so much by the works done in his own lifetime, so much as by the righteous line that proceded from him. That line which started with David and culminated with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ our Savior.  We don't know much about Jesse, other than that he was the father of King David, who was "a man after God's own heart." But the Scripture honors him calling Jesus Christ the "root of Jesse". Romans 15:12:

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas.  It is located at St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, PA. 

   

Worship Song

O come, O come, Emmanuel http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=DPHh3nMMu-I

Entrance Antiphon

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near (Philippians 4:4,5).

Opening Prayer

Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this…

First Reading

Zephaniah 3:14-18

14Shout for joy, daughter Zion! sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! 15The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, Zion, do not be discouraged! 17The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you, 18as on festival days. I will remove disaster from among you, so that no one may recount your disgrace.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. Alleluia, alleluia. (Isaiah 61:1; cited in Luke 4:18)

Gospel

Luke 3:10-18

10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”11He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”14Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.16John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.17His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection

Every age in human history grappled with evil and suffering. An explanation given by one school of thought in the Old Testament was this: In the beginning, the principle of good and evil fought with each other. The principle of evil won. This explains why the power of evil is so evident in the world. But this situation will not last forever. A time will come when the principle of good will overpower and destroy evil.

The coming of Jesus launched God’s Kingdom and the power to overcome evil. When Jesus shared the Spirit after his resurrection, he shared this power with those who believe and who allow this power in their lives. By becoming man, Jesus also showed that this power of God will continue through every person who believes in him. Despite the gravity of the evil present in our world, evil will not have the last say. Jesus promised that eventually good will reign.  The dominating presence of good is already being manifested in our culture. Yes, there is evil but it will never win over good. God has overpowered evil.

The challenge Christmas poses on us is this: Jesus wants to conquer evil. But he can only do so through people who believe in him, and who allow him to be the power in this world through their lives by living his values, mentality and lifestyle. Can we be generous enough to lend our whole being to God?

Reflection Credits: Fr. Magdaleno Fabiosa, SVD, the Word in other words, slightly adapted

Prayer Response

God of mercy, free us from our sins, and prepare us for the birthday of our Savior, who is Lord forever and ever.

For Action

Treat people fairly and kindly. By our actions, we contribute to the coming of God’s Kingdom.

“Our actions are the best witnesses of our thoughts.” ~ Anonymous

Silencing

We cannot know God unless we have listened to him in the silence of our hearts. Rest in the loving arms of the Lord with an open mind and an open heart.

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Prayer Saturday of the Second week of Advent

Saturday, 15 December 2012

At Community Mass this morning 
Intercessions prayed;

School Shooting in Connecticut: '27 Killed' CBS News

More In UK: UK Tributes, Queen & PM, To Sandy Hook... White House Vigil... Nurse...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saint John of the Cross, Prologue to The Spiritual Canticle §1

Dear, Fr. Edward,
Community celebrating St. John of the Cross to day.
It is a joy to have your very timely Poem, and an apt preparation of our Mass.
... Donald
+ + +

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: edward ... >
To: Donald ... >   
Sent: Thursday, 13 December 2012, 20:34
Subject: Some more lines

Dear Donald,
I produced this for the Sisters at the Mass tomorrow morning, and I
thought it might interest you.

Blessings from

fr Edward O.P.

-- 

Saint John of the Cross,

Prologue to The Spiritual Canticle §1

Certainly no-one can explain [the desire he gives them!].

As a result these persons let something of their experiences overflow -

figures and similes, and from the abundance of their spirit pour out

secrets and mysteries rather than rational explanations.

How grateful we must be for the intelligence of John of the Cross

in finding simple words

heavy with spiritual meaning.

These lines  show something intellectually greater,

even though the spiritual muse now at its strongest moving

is for the moment subordinated to inspired interpretation

as he explains the overflow of spiritual poetry at its highest

to authoritative judgement,

found for the moment between spiritual intensity,

spontaneous and overflowing,

and categorising the literary genres on which he touches.

Often too much is asked of our personal encyclopedism,

and we need to take our spiritual and literary bearings

to relate them to each other.

In its richness the language of John of the Cross

can satisfy us and draw us without disturbing us.

So much the better if we are not too conscious of our own positive reactions

for objectivities take over from our subjectivities

and we are drawn into the deep calm of his faith-drenched spirit.

We are not prompted to imitate him

but to taste those spiritually dense lines

with their imagery of nature:

a pitch, dark sky enfolding us,

sometimes picked out because of their scriptural echoes,

for a gentle throb of higher enthusiasm precludes so much

except where a commentary would be a good explanation

for which others would be made happy – blessed rather.

The themes can be ancient, though the spirit which inhabits them is,

we must acknowledge, new, fresh and vibrant,

since we all know the experience of some unexpected discord

when we forego an anticipated encounter

as when love draws us in the present or from the memory

with its special wholesomeness and the joy of sharing.

But above all from those unanticipated moments when the bedrock of our being

intrudes with no ordinary gentleness

and with the spiritual strengthening which belongs to it.

Stykkishólmur

13 December 2012

Saint Lucy. "But the least in the kingdom ...!" Mt 11:11

Saint Lucy 13 December 
ttp://nunraw.blogspot.com/

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Nivard ....
Sent: Thursday, 13 December 2012, 10:49
Subject: Saint Lucy 

2 Advent Thur 13 Dec 12:  "But the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John!"  Mt 11:11-15.

 

The Lord our God grasps our right hand and says to us, “Do not be afraid, I will help you, the poor and the needy. I, the Lord will answer you. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon you.” (Is. 41:13)

God’s mercy always comes to us through other people. The greatness of John the Baptist is his total obedience to Christ by which all “see and know, observe and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this”.  That is the appearance of God as man in Jesus our Emmanuel and our Saviour.

 

Father in heaven, fill us with joy and confidence and make us bold witnesses of your saving truth so that others may know the joy and freedom of the gospel, through Christ our Lord.

Dom Donald's Blog: St Lucy

15 Dec 2007

The feast of St. Lucy. December 13, has something of a resonance at Nunraw which, in the guise of the RAVENSWOOD of Walter Scott's novel, the Bride of Lammermoor, is also celebrated in Donizetti opera, Lucia di ...

http://nunraw.blogspot.com/

Christmas Greeting - Life's Adventure

Fr. Stephen - 88

   

Dear William,
Thank you for the gift of your Christmas Message and Painting for each of the privileged monks.
Not least is of Fr. Stephen, who celebrated his 88th birthday and was with us at the Mass, and the later  Bridget special for dinner.
Let me see if his portrait is to hand.  (Eureka - only found in our Blog).

And your wonderful Meditation - thank you.

The art is in another dimension; . "Medieval symbols that survived into this period include the Holy Spirit entering the room in the form of a dove, the gilded rays of light emanating from the tiny figure of God in the window, and the white lilies, symbolizing the Virgin’s purity." How do we interpret the the Holy Spirit - the Dove symbol with a shadow?
Yours ...
Donald

The Annunciation with Saints and Donors, The Latour d'Auvergne Triptych  http://artnc.org/works-of-art/annunciation-saints-and-donors-called-latour-dauvergne-triptych  

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: William W ...
To: ...>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 December 2012, 5:00
Subject: Life's adventure

Dear Fathers ...,

 

I am hoping that today the post will bring you my Christmas greetings cards, sent a little early so that the stamps enclosed may give wings to the first flight of greetings to the many friends of Nunraw!

 

With the cards is a print of a solemn reflection for Christmas and I should like to explain! Whilst I was preparing to come on my retreat, my mind had been dwelling upon the mystery of life and death - how I might, so to speak, circumscribe for myself the meaning of 'life's adventure'; it was when I was with you that I believe I journeyed to its source. I settled on a concept, that of life originating through the 'Idea in the mind of God' - His Son, leading to the 'Ideal in the heart of God' realized in the Son's incarnation; it is through his own 'life's adventure' that faith finds its fulfilment, the mystery its completion. I am sure there are fine writings on this subject, but I needed to come to a way of understanding for myself.

 

It is through my love for Nunraw and the Cistercian charism that my 'life's adventure' is quickened and the journey sustained.  

 

With my love in Our Lord,

William

                            Life’s Adventure

 

The mystery of life and death holds a deep fascination for all mankind,    but for many people death presents only an aspect of fear, a dark curtain hanging over the end of an earthly existence. For the Christian, however,   it is seen as a veil through which the light of eternity can even now be discerned, drawing us onward in faith and confidence. In his Incarnation Jesus opened to us the mystery of God’s love and showed us the way of truth and life, so that, following him, we might live in longing expectation of faith’s fulfilment, the completion of life’s adventure.

 

 

I love to be suspended within the mystery of life’s adventure

Upheld by the Idea in the mind of God brought within this sphere,

His living Word expressing the celestial vision of so loving a Father

Wondrously born as man through the eternal generation of His love

 

Such heavenly wisdom through Whom all things came into being

Conceived in the womb of divinity before the dawn of salvation

The very presence of the Godhead lying in the stable before me!

Sent into the world by the Father’s compassion for His children

 

Exemplar of all that is revealed amid the myriad of creation’s wonders

I kneel before You in awe and adoration as Your life’s adventure begins,

Frail human child cradled in the arms of Your immaculate mother

The one chosen to bring into this world a most wondrous exchange

 

For the Ideal in the heart of God is realized in Your incarnation

Awakening such responsive love that had lain dormant in desire

Your birth opening the way to the promised everlasting inheritance

The fulfilment of faith, the completion of life’s adventure

 

 

 

Psalm 109:3 (Grail)   A prince from the day of your birth on the holy mountains; from the womb before the dawn I begot you. 

Hebrews 2:10-11 (AMP)  For it was an act worthy of God and fitting to the divine nature that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest through suffering. For both He Who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.

Hebrews 9:15 (AMP) Christ, the Messiah is the Mediator of an entirely new covenant, so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfilment of the promised everlasting inheritance.

 

Analecta Cartusiana Edit. James Hogg Christmas. Gift

Sudden Snowscape - James Hogg

MONASTICON CARTUSIENSE

Dear James,    
Thank you for the latest issues of Analecta Cartusiana.
We appreciate this Christmas gift and thank you for the festive Greetings.
Your kind Note  gives us a window into the massive work of production of the Monasticon Cartusianse.
In Dno.
+ Donald
PS. The photography in the Analecta is amazing, and the painting and poem, 'Sudden  Snowscape' reveal  so many talents.

----- Christmas Message -----
From: James ...
To: Donald Nunraw ...
Sent: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Subject: Sudden Snowscape

Dear  Father Donald,

 
We hope you are keeping well at your advanced age and that life at Nunraw continues as usual. Hopefully some young men may join to keep community life going even in these difficult time. 
I have given up travelling at 81, but continue to work.   
Best wishes to the community.
Yours ...,
James

Thomas Merton [1915-1968]

Dear Br. Geoff,
Thank you, for this welcome 'memorial' of Fr. Louis. (10th Dec)
Our community intercession is for Fr. Louis, and we remember our OCist Brothers at Chipping Norton.
In Dno.
Donald.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: brabo.....
To: Nunraw ...
Sent: Saturday, 8 December 2012, 12:52
Subject: Thomas Merton [1915-1968]     

Dear all,

 

Just to remind you that on Monday, the 10th December, we will remember the tragic death of Br Louis (Thomas) Merton.

 

I leave you with this Wikipedia page is accurate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton

 

Rereading his inspiring autobiography 'The Seven Story Mountain' again, recently, I was struck by the following quote, which is probably very appropriate to reflect upon on the anniversary of his death:

 

'I was not sure where I was going, and I could not see what I would do when I got (there). But you saw further and clearer than I, and you opened the seas before my ship, whose track led me across the waters to a place I had never dreamed of, and which you were even then preparing to be my rescue and my shelter and my home...'

 

Your, with brotherly love,

 

Geoff

[Br Geoff, OCist]

_____________________________________________________

...  

O.Cist Website: http://ocista.webs.com/

E-mail: brabo1098@talktalk.net

 

If we have not silence, God is not heard in our music. If we have no rest, God does not bless our work. [Thomas Merton]

Ruth and the Mother of God. Advent

Night Office Readings.
The Venerable Godfrey of Admont is best known to us for his Sunday and Feast Day Sermons.

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

SUNDAY Year I

First Reading    Ruth 1:1-22

http://www.bible-art.info/Ruth.htm 

      Responsory                                                  Rv 1:16-17

Do not urge me to leave you, to return from following you, for wherever you go, I will go, and where you live, I will live. + Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there will I be buried.

V. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you. + Your people shall ...

Second Reading

From a homily by Godfrey of Admont (Homiliae Festivals: PL 174, 1026-1028)

Your gifts

In the Book of Ruth we can find something that may rather fittingly be applied to the Mother of God. In her own person Ruth was quite praiseworthy, in her family she was conspicu­ous, being born of the base and accursed people of Moab. She chose to leave her relatives and the land of her birth and to re­side in a land not her own. There, because of the great integrity of her life and habits, she was joined in marriage to a distin­guished man of the Israelite people, named Boaz, and by him she had a son named abed, who was father of the father of King David, of whose seed Christ, the Son of God, was born.

The name "Ruth" means "hastening," and the name, we think, is suited to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was always "hastening," that is, fervent in holy and good works. Ruth was descended from the base and accursed race of the Moabites; Mary was born of that people whom the blame for original sin had rendered ignoble and accursed. Ruth left her native land and her relatives in order to practice the faith of her mother-in-law, and she resided in a land not her own. Mary left her native place and her parents when, in order to remain faith­ful to God the Father and preserve her own chastity, she sepa­rated herself from the common life of the world. She regarded  herself as an exile and pilgrim in this world, for she contemned everything that the present world loves, and she was hastening to the only true and endless glory of the heavenly homeland. From the lineage of Ruth King David was born; from the vir­ginal flesh of the Virgin Mary was born our true David, of strong arm and comely face, our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the entire world has been saved.

Tamar prayed: Most merciful Judge, recognize in me faith and hope and love of you. These are your gifts, which you have given to me; as best I could, with your help, I have preserved them as a testimony to my salvation and have brought them back to you. Since these gifts have been acknowledged by Ju­dah, that is, by God the Father, the soul shall be received into the joys of everlasting blessedness through him who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Responsory                                                           Is 40:10; In 10:1

See, the Lord God will come with power. He will pasture his flock like a shepherd. + He will gather his lambs into his arms and hold them close; he himself will carry the ewes.

V. I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. + He will gather ...

Dom Donald's Blog: Fourth Sunday of Advent David link three ...

19 Dec 2010

Sunday, 19 December 2010 Fourth Sunday of Advent. Not Trivia Pursuits in Bible. Genealogy: Mt 1:1-23, 1 Tamar, 2 Rehab, 3 Ruth, 4 Betsheba. I have a picture of the OT women in the mosaic on the shrine of the Dormition of ...

http://nunraw.blogspot.com/