FRIDAY EVENING MASS HOMILY – FATHER ANTHONY

The sanctification of time – how you live as the domestic Church and live the Liturgical Year. Everything that we do we speak of the sanctification of time. The world is working against us where we have recognition of Christ.  It is strange that the world does not want to mention Christ, but everything is dated either before or after Christ.  Everything Jesus did in His entire life was aimed towards His death and resurrection. All go out from that point. We are losing touch with what our life is all about. That is what we mean by the sanctification of time. 

The Church encourages the basic things of Adoration, praying the rosary, going to Mass, etc. Put it in the context of Easter. Jesus becomes flesh so that He could rise. Keep image of Mary as a Mother with Her child, i.e., changing diapers, feeding Him. She walked the earth as we do. The observance of the Saints in the home keeps the reality of Jesus Christ. 

SATURDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY – FATHER SHANNON 

 Divine Wisdom is so much above human wisdom. The pagan gods could do all sorts of things and had wealth. They sinned all the time.  Our religion is divine. One of the greatest proofs of Christianity is that it cannot be made up.  We preach Christ crucified because he was a victim. We preach Christ crucified – a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Jesus, as God, did manual work, was obedient to man (Joseph and Mary), and allowed Himself to be falsely accused, arrested and crucified.

During this Advent season it is important for us to reflect on these teachings we have received. We could never figure out on our own that there is a Trinity; that the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, took on flesh. We remember the important season of Advent and reflect. Query? Why would it have to be the Son that became man? It is important that we understand this mystery – who is the Son?

The Son is the perfect reflection of the Father, the image of the invisible God, His Father. The Son is the image; we are made in the image of God. He comes forth and He seeks to repair what He created. The Son and only the Son will become man. Lucifer and Adam wanted to be the image of God and take the Son's place according to St. Bernard. 

SATURDAY MORNING INSTRUCTION – FATHER FRANCIS 

Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium – We should pass on everything we have learned, guarded and protected through the Tradition of the Church which predates the actual written Word of God. When the Pope speaks, it is Christ to us in this time, as long as it does not take away from Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium.

There are three influences which affect the decline of new society (family): (1) the distaste of a simple and laborious life – our lives are not going to be something that is built on one pleasurable, excitable mountain, one high after the next. Life is basically simple. God is the most essentially person there is. Life is a lot about monotony. Consumerism is to be a consumer of goods and being distracted from ordinary life. Are we content with the ordinary things in life? Are we constantly running after things like material goods? We are made not for earthly things, but for Heaven. We cannot seek that constant high every day. Do we have distaste in the simple and laborious life? Be careful if you develop this distaste. 

(2) A repugnance of suffering of any kind – trying to alleviate suffering of any kind, for example,  by euthanasia. If you cannot do anything and provide same, then you have no value = utilitarianism. Catholicity has taught that by the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our pains and suffering have value by the Baptism of our Faith. Love lies in the will for infinite value after we unite these sufferings to Jesus Christ. We should say that suffering has great value. As Catholics we do the normal things, but if that does not relieve the suffering, we do not turn to hopelessness. We offer it up to Jesus Christ.

(3) A forgetfulness of a future life – in the first and second weeks of Advent, we meditate on the second coming of Jesus Christ. It makes us think of our own death and a future life. This way we do not forget about our future life – a life that leads to eternal life or a life that leads to eternal damnation. When you come to forks in the road, you have a decision to make. Do I choose love or do I choose error, sin, etc.

The remedy for these three influences: 1) the Holy Rosary – a tool to meditate on the Gospel; 2) nourish our Faith and promote virtue; and 3) be apostles of the Rosary. 

HEALING SERVICE – FATHER SHANNON 

The Lord will come again in glory in a physical, tangible, visible way. The Lord came in a little way, a hidden way, and He is still hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lord is the Teacher, but He allows the Church to be the Teacher. 

Focus has been on our end in the last weeks of Ordinary Time and the first week of Advent. The four last things are death, judgment, Heaven or Hell. It is important that we see our end. We do not know the hour when our end will come.  Do not worry about the second coming, worry about our death. An individual, particular judgment is at the moment of death. At our death we see the Judge. Faith and belief are not enough. You have to have love in one's heart, charity, compassion, etc. He is always a victim, always the charitable one, forgiving one and always a merciful one. He is our food. During these days of mercy, He allows abuse. He is a Father who seems to embrace prodigal children who have gone away. When we die, it is a big, big change. The babe, victim, advocate, He is Judge, jury and witnesses. He will say you are part of His flock or not. Forgiveness is in this world now, not at death. He will not invite an unrepentant sinner in His house. These things should be kept in mind.

Focus on our end; our goal is Heaven. If we focus and are recollected on our end, we will gradually sin less and less. "This particular act has a direct impact on my end." Every human act is directly tied to our end – either Heaven or hell.

We ought to enter into Judgment with ourselves (a self-accusation) before we come into the Judgment of the Judge. We want to be in that state of grace. We have to accuse ourselves and go to Confession. St. Augustine said to live as though your Judge will meet you this day, and you will not fear Him when He comes.  

SUNDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY - FATHER JOSEPH 

The Church chooses the readings of Advent. The theme today deals with John the Baptist, the model precursor of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We amend those things in our lives that are keeping us from Jesus Christ. Be like John the Baptist as we prepare for Christmas. 

We know that John is preaching in the region of the Jordan. We are roughly at 29-30 A.D. when Jesus is ready to start His ministry. St. Luke uses a few words to describe John. John was precursor and witness for Jesus Christ. John did not have the power to forgive sins. He comes on the scene preaching need for repentance.  He was not afraid to preach the truth. He was austere, humble, a man of prayer, unafraid to give up everything, even his life, for marriage. 

Why not make a good Confession. For Christians now is the time to prepare the way of the Lord, now is the time to make amends with God. If we are contrite, He will always take us back. Does the way I act in public and private tell people I am a good Christian? Do I have a good effect on people that they are ready to turn away from their ways and turn to Jesus Christ? Am I a good witness like John the Baptist? Am I ashamed to be a Catholic or am I willing to stand up for the dignity of marriage even if I will be opposed? Am I afraid to pray in public? Am I willing to stand up in faith and morals? Am I willing to lay down my life like John the Baptist? Am I willing to give my life for the Faith? Do I give in to other people's preferences? Have I confessed all of my great sins in Confession? Do I realize that God is God and I am not? Do we do penance when the Church asks us to do penance? Do I believe what the Church teaches about suffering or do I accept euthanasia? Do I obey the Ten commandments? Do I stand up for the Catholic Bishops when they are being attacked? Do I confess my great sins and receive the Eucharist during the Easter Season? Do I help provide for the needs of the Church? Am I a person of prayer? Do I neglect my prayers or am I lukewarm? Do I trust Jesus? Do I love Him? 

Let us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Let us change for the greatest good. Make a good Confession. Have a clean heart. Be charitable, especially to those you do not like. Let us live lives that are humble and courageous.