Gospel Reflections for December 4 2016
Don’t miss Christmas!
You might think that’s impossible. The signs of Christmas are all around us, in stores, malls, billboards, and countless TV commercials letting us know where the best deals are.
There is no chance anyone will miss Christmas day is coming.
But what about that first Christmas? People had been waiting for centuries for Our Lord to arrive and their biggest fear was that might miss it! How would they know for sure that Jesus had come?
The First Reading today gives a series of remarkable signs that would be unmistakable proof that God had fulfilled His promise to send His Son to us. When you see a lion lay down peacefully with a lamb, or a wolf walk calmly with a calf, look around …because these indicate that Jesus is here.
These animals are natural enemies and never would be together without violence. Clearly, only Our Lord could make this peaceful event happen.
Of course, the ancient readers understood these images figuratively, and knew they were actually about them. When people who have been enemies for some time can finally be at peace, it can only be because they have the spirit of the Lord within them. Our Lord is “born” in each heart.
Maybe you find this a stressful time filled with shopping, entertaining, and decorating. Without thinking you could inadvertently lose sight of the reason for the season which is the peaceful presence of Our Lord in your life. You might tragically miss the real Christmas!
Thank God for the Season of Advent, which is like an island of tranquility each year to remind you to slow down and reflect on how you are leading your life, how you are doing with God, and perhaps with which enemy you can find peace.
There is a year-round way you can connect with our faith every day and that is to tune in to Immaculate Heart Radio, a new Catholic radio talk show on station KHJ, AM 930 in the Los Angeles area (click here to find the station in your city). You can also listen online at ihradio.org. I am privileged to be on the air Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 6pm as a Co-Host with my old friend and Marriage Therapist, Joe Sikorra. We take calls from around the country with questions about how to find the peace and happiness promised by Our Lord in our challenging world.
The Season of Advent, and Immaculate Heart Radio can make sure you do not miss the real Christmas event, the coming of the saving power of Christ deep within in your life.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Dear Father Dave,
Once again, thank you for your insightful message of the season. It has come at a timely moment … the cards aren’t done, the shopping isn’t done, and those few pounds gained from Thanksgiving are still upon me! I plan to take it all in stride and observe through prayer and courtesy, as you’ve mentioned, the reason we celebrate Christmas.
How exciting for you to go to Rome! It’s such a beautiful place … so rich in culture and history. I’m going there with family in June.
Have a happy week.
Yes, observe Advent through Prayer and Courtesy. perfect!
Father Dave, thank you for your thoughts on this Second Sunday of Advent. We have to increase our weight as Christians. We don’t want to be light weight as is the chaff from the grain harvest. The chaff gets “winnowed away”. We want to overcome the wind that drives the chaff away and drop to the harvest floor along with the valuable produce that nurtures the world and it’s people. Light weight Christians might be those who get caught up in the commerce of Christmas and forget about Advent preparation.
I had never heard of the “Light-weight” and “heavy-weight” grain analogy before. I like it!
Loved your commentary as always Father Dave!! We believe God gave us the gift of you to spread His love and joy!! and you beautifully doooooooooooooo!!! Your priesthood is a miracle of love to all of us!! What a lovely season Advent is leading up to our miracle of love Christmas!!! Love Bishop Sheens, touching words!!!! ” Christmas,,” Heaven touched earth and love was born!!!”!!! How incredibly true!!!!It is a time we should make the world moreeeeeeeeeeeeeeee beautiful by doing acts of love and then continuing on throughout our lives!!! To live, to love, to become the person God created us to be!!! soooo precious!!!Love our loving God, our precious Jesus of love, our beautiful Blessed Mother and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you!!! Have a precious Advent and a most beautiful Christmas filled with love and joy!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Father Dave,we always look forward to your reflections! Wanted to let you know we were driving up north on 5 the day before Thanksgiving looking for a good radio station and lo and behold your voice came on, what a nice surprise! We have not good reception in our area but will try Internet. A blessed Advent to you and a Merry Christmas!
I am glad you found the program! In LA it is on AM 930, but the reception is not good in Ventura County.
You’re right about not getting a good signal in Ventura County, but I’ve solved that problem by listening to the show on my laptop feed via ihradio.com where you come in loud and clear.
Well done! Even though the station is only in the west, we actually get calls from the east coast as well because people connect online at ihradio.org.
Both Advent and Lent is a good time for me.. It seems a time of reflection. Your word reminded me on how far we can come if determined to fight the good fight of faith. I was reminded today of when really hating my Dad (a violent alcaholic). Years ago I “chose to forgive” every time an incident came up and reminded me. It took approximately 2 years of choosing to forgive and then asking the Lord to change my heart as I was unable to do it on my own. Well through an experience the forgiveness became real. After that point compassion came as I realized why he turned out that way also. His mom was a violent alcaholic and all three of the boys wound up that way. I wound up taking custody of my dad when the demensha got bad and had him in a convalescent hospital in Simi. Oneday he looked up at me and asked why he did those things. I told him I foregive him and I am sure that my sisters would. The most important thing was his relationship to Jesus and he said he had one. (I had the nurses take him to every prayer meeting there at that convalescent hospital.
What ever the situation is in our lives the rewards are great when we follow what God’s word does have the answers. It is life changing.
Thank you so much for sharing your remarkable story and journey with your dad. It is a great Advent story for everyone to read.