Saturday, December 31, 2011

A Prayer for Today

O Mother of mercy,
beg your divine Son
to have mercy on me.
Atone for my failings,
offering him on my behalf
all the love and glory you ever gave him,
to satisfy for my neglect
in loving and glorifying him.
Grant that I may share
in your surpassing love for him,
and in the fidelity of that great eternal love.
Pray for me,
that he may give me the grace to begin,
at least now, to love him perfectly,
and that all that shall take place
during this year, and all my life,
may be consecrated
to his glory and your honor.
O angels, and saints of Jesus Christ,
pray for me,
that our loving Savior
may give me new grace
and new love for him,
to devote this year and my whole life,
purely and solely to the service
of his glory and love.

-St. John Eudes

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Today's First Reading

Well another first reading that really peeked my interest. How well do I know our Lord Jesus and do I live properly to be close to him? This reading really got me thinking. Where do you fit? Read and enjoy and God Bless!

First Letter of John 2:3-11.

The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as he lived.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Today's First Reading

The first reading really caught my eye and imagination so I have decided to share and let you all think about it.

First Letter of John 1:5-10.2:1-2.

Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A Prayer for Today

Lord, grant that I may always allow myself
to be guided by you,
always follow your plans,
and perfectly accomplish your holy will.
Grant that in all things,
great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever you require of me.
Help me respond
to the slightest prompting of your grace,
so that I may be
your trustworthy instrument for your honor.
May your will be done in time and in eternity
by me, in me, and through me. Amen.

-St. Teresa of Avila

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers! Truly wish all of you a blessed and wonderful Christmas!
I have had a wonderful week even though I was unable to last to midnight mass. I was however able to go to morning mass on Thursday and Friday and loved it! I arrived as I went by bus about 15 minutes before the start of the daily mass and I was able to join in a small group praying the Holy Rosary. The best thing though was on Thursday as I was able to go to confession after the mass.
Talk about feeling good! This is the most wonderful feeling after confession the world of sin lifted off of you if be it even for a brief moment and being absolved and knowing that God has forgiven you and you are closer to God than you were before. To me this is so wonderful.
Today off to Christmas Mass and looking forward to it!
As I mentioned Merry Christmas and may God Bless all of you!

A Christmas Prayer

Lord of light, shine on us;
Lord of peace, dwell in us;
Lord of might, protect us;
Lord of love, enfold us;
Lord of wisdom, enlighten us.
Then, Lord, let us
go out as your witnesses,
in obedience to your command;
to share the good news
of your mighty love for us
in the gift of your son,
our savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Eleventh century Latin hymn

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)


Book of Isaiah 52:7-10.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King!"
Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry, together they shout for joy, For they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Psalms 98(97):1.2-3ab.3cd-4.5-6.

Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the LORD.


Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-6.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me"?
And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: "Let all the angels of God worship him."

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1:1-18.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'"
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas is coming did you know?

So we finally went out to start Christmas shopping and lamost bought everything we needed. Suprisngly to me was that we did run into some very busy pockets of stores we also were at a mall where you basically could fire off a gun and not hit anyone.
To my amazement was we went into about 20 stores through the day and received no more than 4 " Have a Merry Christmas" and 1 "Happy Holidays".
So does this mean that now the Christmas greeting is also going by the wayside? It really disturbed me to no end. We also ran into a couple we know and the lady put it so well people have forgotten that this is the birth of Jesus we are celbrating and people only care for bigger and better not the reason of the occasion. This made me feel better as did Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada where he mentioned that Christmas Day is the birth of the baby Jesus and that is what we celebrate that day!
I guess there are people who still understand and remind you so you alleviate your frustrations about those who refuse to acknowledge the season and the reason of the season. Is this where we go; "forgive them lord for they know not what they do?"
Not sure but at least as mentioned I felt better by the end of the day. Thanks and take care and God Bless.

Fourth Sunday of Advent


2nd book of Samuel 7:1-5.8b-12.14a.16.

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
"Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements;
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Psalms 89(88):2-3.4-5.27.29.

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever, proclaim your loyalty through all ages.
For you said, "My love is established forever; my loyalty will stand as long as the heavens.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages." Selah

He shall cry to me,'You are my father, my God, the Rock that brings me victory!'
Forever I will maintain my love for him; my covenant with him stands firm.

Letter to the Romans 16:25-27.
Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.)

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:26-38.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Prayer for Today

I no longer live within myself
and I cannot live without God,
for having neither him nor myself
what will life be?
It will be a thousand deaths,
longing for my true life
and dying because I do not die.

This life that I live
is no life at all,
and so I die continually
until I live with you;
hear me, my God:
I do not desire this life,
I am dying because I do not die.

When I am away from you
what life can I have
except to endure
the bitterest death known?
I pity myself,
for I go on and on living,
dying because I do not die.

Lift me from this death,
my God, and give me life;
do not hold me bound
with these bonds so strong;
see how I long to see you;
my wretchedness is so complete
that I die because I do not die.

- St. John of the Cross

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Wishing to Share

I wish to share Psalm 34 with you today. Not sure why but it stirred something inside of me. After the psalm I have a prayer for today also. Enjoy and God Bless!


Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 And 23



Monday, December 12, 2011

Pope says focus on Jesus, not pre-Christmas distractions

VATICAN CITY, December 11 (CNA/EWTN News) .- Pope Benedict XVI reminded Christians not to be dazzled by the shopping lights of the season but to keep focused on the coming on Jesus Christ, the “true light of the world.”

“The external environment offers the usual commercial messages, even if in a lower-key way because of the economic crisis,” said the Pope during his Sunday Angelus address in a rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square Dec. 11. The Christian, by contrast, is “called to live Advent without being distracted by the lights.”

Christians should keep their eyes fixed on Christ so that “if, in fact, we persevere ‘vigilant in prayer and rejoicing in praise,’ our eyes will be able to recognize in him the true light of the world that comes to enlighten our darkness.”

Tens of thousands of pilgrims were at St. Peter’s Square for the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The title is taken from St. Paul’s encouragement in the day’s reading: “gaudete in Domino semper,” meaning “rejoice always in the Lord.” The day marks a change in the Church’s liturgical colors from the somber purple of Advent to a more hopeful shade of rose.

Pope Benedict acknowledged the importance of time for rest and relaxation. However, he added that true joy is “not the result of fun,” but is “something more profound” that is “tied to the relationship with God.”

Those who have encountered Christ in their lives “experience in the heart a serenity and joy that no one and no situation can remove.”

The Pope paraphrased the famous words of the fourth and fifth century bishop St. Augustine of Hippo. He noted that St. Augustine searched elsewhere in vain for truth, peace and joy before concluding that “the heart of man is restless, (and) cannot find peace and serenity until it rests in God.”

Therefore, true joy is not a “passing mood” nor “something that can be reached through its own efforts.” Instead, it is a gift “born from the encounter with the living person of Jesus.”

“In this season of Advent,” the Pope continued, “we strengthen our certainty that the Lord came among us and continually renews his consoling presence of love and joy.”

God is “closer to us than we are to ourselves,” he added, citing St. Augustine’s description of God as “more inward than my innermost and higher than my uppermost.”

After praying the Angelus with pilgrims, the Pope turned his thoughts and words to the thousands of families who had gathered in St. Peters Square for the traditional blessing of the “bambinelli,” the little statues of the baby Jesus that will take pride of place in family cribs.

“Dear children,” said the Pope, “when you pray in front of your nativity scene, remember me as well, as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!”

In response, the children cheered and released balloons and paper lanterns into the air in celebration.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

A Prayer for Today

When, good Lord, will you manifest
yourself to us in bright sunshine?
Yes, we are slow to understand and slow to see.
But we are quick to believe;
and we believe that if you chose
to reveal yourself to us,
you could do so this very day.
O Lord, please appear to us,
at dawn or at dusk or at the height of day.
Come to our table at mealtimes,
that we may share our meals with you.
Come to our bed,
that we may share our rest with you.
Come to us at our prayers,
that we may rejoice and be glad. Amen.

- Abbot Gilbert of Hoyland

Third Sunday of Advent


Book of Isaiah 61:1-2a.10-11.

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn;
I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, So will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:46-48.49-50.53-54.

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,

First Letter to the Thessalonians 5:16-24.
Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1:6-8.19-28.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?"
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah."
So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Prayer for Today

O Lord,
you have mercy on all,
take away from me my sins,
and mercifully set me ablaze
with the fire of your Holy Spirit.
Take away from me
the heart of stone,
and give me a human heart,
a heart to love and adore you,
a heart to delight in you,
to follow and enjoy you,
for Christ's sake. Amen.

- St. Ambrose of Milan

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity

Book of Genesis 3:9-15.20.

The LORD God called to Adam and asked him, «Where are you?»
He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself."
Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"
The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me--she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it."
The LORD God then asked the woman, "Why did you do such a thing?" The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it."
Then the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."
The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

Psalms 98(97):1.2-3ab.3bc-4.

Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.

Letter to the Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love
he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:26-38.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.



Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Sick and Tired!!!

How far will this go? I can't even see straight over this. What is this open hostility towards christans? What about me I am offended that there is no decorations etc.
Seems the village idiots have surfaced. Please read the following story and let me know what you think......

School buses forced to remove Christmas decorations

by Sameer Vasta
School buses in the Kingston area have been forced to remove all holiday decorations for fear of offending anyone; more offense should be taken at trying to take the joy out of the holidays.

'Tis the season to be merry, jolly, bright, and in the case of Tri-Board Student Transportation Services in Kingston, Ontario, 'tis also the season to be dull and drab.

Tri-Board is an agency that is contracted to manage transportation services to local school boards in the Kingston area, and they have made it very clear that any buses with Christmas decorations are not allowed to transport students this season. A violation of that rule would be considered a breach of contract, and would result in that bus company losing the route.

Diane Pope and Brigette Kelpy, school bus drivers in the area, are understandably upset by the rules: their buses were decorated this year and have been in the past. The decorations and hats that they wear have been a highlight for the children riding the bus during the holiday season. They have both been asked to remove the decorations.

There, are of course, valid reasons to remove decorations from a bus. If the decorations are hindering the driver's ability to provide a safe ride, or distracting the other drivers on the road, then they should be eliminated. Additionally, if the decorations are religious, political, or offensive, then they shouldn't be allowed on a bus.

Kelpy and Pope's decorations, however, were neither of those; it is impossible to argue that snowman stickers and snowflakes on the ceiling of a bus are offending the sensitivities of the children, or threatening their safety. In fact, having festive decorations actually enhances the school bus experience for most children, and makes the ride to and from school a memorable and enjoyable one.

The Tri-Board ban on holiday decorations is simply a case of political-correctness gone overboard — the attempt to refrain from offending anyone has turned into overblown sanitizing — and can be easily corrected. Tasteful, inoffensive, and safe decorations should not just be allowed, but encouraged. A good ride to and from school generally means a better day in class for kids, and that's something we all want.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

A Prayer for Today

O God of all the nations of the earth,
remember the multitudes who,
though created in your image,
have not known you,
nor the dying of your Son
their Savior Jesus Christ.
Grant that,
by the prayers and labors of your Church,
they may be delivered
from all ignorance and unbelief,
and brought to worship you;
through him whom you have sent
to be the resurrection
and the life of all people,
your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

- St. Francis Xavier

Second Sunday of Advent


Book of Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11.

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!
Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

Psalms 85(84):9ab-10.11-12.13-14.

I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace To his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him.
I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace To his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him.
Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land.
Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.

Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven.
The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase.
Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.

second Letter of Peter 3:8-14.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1:1-8.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God).
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"
John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

Saturday, December 3, 2011

A Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, I believe in you, the Lord of heaven and earth. Lord Jesus, I trust in your goodness and tender concern for my good and the good of every single person on this earth. Lord Jesus, I love you and wish to cooperate more fully with you. I am such a poor weak instrument, but I know that you can do anything through those who trust in you.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I come before you in humility and with a spirit of hope. You no doubt have something to tell me. I approach you in prayer, confident of your love and trustful of your grace to enable me to carry out whatever you ask. I offer this prayer for those in my family who might be far away from you.