A few years ago, my house was broken into on Super Bowl Sunday. Turns out, it’s a great day for burglars. If the TV isn’t on, people are probably watching the game somewhere else, so … easy pickins’. I’ll never forget walking into my bedroom and realizing someone had been there. My stuff was thrown all over the floor. The closet was torn apart. It was disorienting and disturbing — someone had invaded the space I thought was secure. After that, I bought an alarm system. And every Super Bowl Sunday since, I’m extra careful to lock the doors and keep the lights on. That experience made me more alert. Not scared. Just attentive.
That’s much like the spiritual place Jesus wants us to be on this first Sunday of Advent. He doesn’t start the season with soft candlelight and cozy manger scenes. He starts with two brutal images: a flood and a thief. In other words, chaos and violation.
Why? Because life will flood us. Chaos will come. And in the midst of it, Christ will come like a thief — not to steal from us, but to steal us back. He is the intruder we should want. The one who breaks in, not to ransack, but to rescue.
Christ presents himself as the thief but also the new Noah. He builds the ark of the Church to carry us through the flood. And he invites us to join him. How? By participating fully in our parishes. By making our homes places of prayer. By guarding our hearts with truth. By refusing to let spiritual complacency leave us exposed. By repentance.
This Advent, don’t just stay vaguely “awake.” Prepare. Build. Watch. The flood will come. But so will he. — Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this First Sunday of Advent.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, that we may discern the Lord’s presence in the world and bear witness to it, strengthening the faith of believers and giving hope to those who find life meaningless and burdensome, let us pray to the Lord.
B. For government leaders, that they may always promote the common good in the work they do, let us pray to the Lord.
C. That armies and militias of all kinds may beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, turning battlefields into fields of grain and fruit, let us pray to the Lord.
D. For those who suffer with AIDS, particularly those who cannot afford and cannot obtain the treatment available in the developed world, let us pray to the Lord.
E. That this Advent we may prepare our hearts for our Savior’s coming, reconciling with those we have hurt and turning away from sinful pleasures, so that we may walk in the light of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.
For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
Today we have a second collection for the decoration of flowers for the Parish, in particular, our upcoming Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We thank you for your generosity.
The Parish is selling Advent and Christmas reflection books. These books offer a simple yet enriching reflection for every day during Advent and Christmas. The books can be purchased in our Parish Center for 2 dollars.
Adult Confirmation registration will be this Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3 from 7pm to 9pm in the Parish Center. Classes are held on Thursdays from January to April from 7pm to 9pm.
