THECHURCHYEAR
ReligioustimesandseasonsThechurchyearhasdeeprootsintheprimitivehuman impulsetomarkcertaintimeswithsacralsignificanceandritualobservance.These aretimeswhenconsciousattentionisgiventothemysteriousforcesthatsurround andinvolvealllivingcreaturesinthenaturalandinexorablecyclesoflightand darkness;labourandrest;birth,growth,death,anddecay
Twointerrelatedcycleshavehadprimaryimportanceintheshapingofreligious calendars.Oneiscosmic:thephasesofthemoonandthesolarequinoxesand solstices.Theotheristheperiodicsuccessionoftheseasonsofnaturethat determinestimesofsowingandreaping.Bothcyclesspeaktothemysteryofbirth, death,andrebirthandtohumandependenceuponthefecundityoflifegiveninthe naturalcreation. AselectionofsacredreadingsfromtheScripturecollatedwithintheLectionaries (Latin:lectionarium)areorganizedintothreeyearcyclesofSundayreadingsThe yearsaredesignatedA,B,orCEachyearlycyclebeginsonthefirstSundayof Advent(theSundaybetweenNovember27andDecember3inclusive).
YearA:GospelofMatthew YearB:GospelofMark YearC:GospelofLuke
TheGospelofJohnisreadthroughoutEaster,andisusedforotherliturgicalseasons includingAdvent,Christmas,andLentwhereappropriate.
THEADVENTSEASON
TheAdventseason(fromLatinadventus,“coming”)isatimeofpreparationand reflection,hopeandanticipation.AsixweekseasoninwhichthecomingofChristin hisNativityisoverlaidwithasecondthemeoftheSecondComingattheendoftime. ThisinterweavingofthethemesoftwoadventsofChristgivestheseasonapeculiar tensionbothofpenitenceandofjoyinexpectationoftheLordwhois“athand.”
AlthoughtheSundaysinAdventrankassolemnities,theGloriaisnotsungorsaidat MassUnlikeLent,thereisnorestrictionontheuseoftheorganandothermusical instrumentsduringthisseasonThealtarmaybedecoratedwithflowers,although theiruseshouldbemoderatesoastohighlightthesolemnityofChristmas.The violetvestmentsandantependiausedduringAdventmaybedifferentindesignfrom thoseusedforLent.RosevestmentsmaybeusedontheThirdSundayinAdvent (LaudeteSunday).
TheuseofthewreathandcandlesduringAdventarealongstandingCatholic traditionthatwasoriginallyadoptedbyChristiansintheMiddleAgesaspartoftheir spiritualpreparationforChristmasThewreathandcandlesarefullofsymbolism tiedtotheChristmasseasonThewreathitself,whichismadeofvariousevergreens, signifiescontinuouslifeThecircleofthewreath,whichhasnobeginningorend, symbolizestheeternityofGod,theimmortalityofthesoul,andtheeverlastinglife wefindinChrist.Threeofthecandlesarepurplebecausethecolourvioletisa liturgicalcolourthatsignifiesatimeofprayer,penance,andsacrifice.TheAdvent wreathdoesnotreplacetheuseofAltarcandles.
Thefirstcandle,symbolizeshopeandissometimescalledthe“ProphecyCandle” inremembranceoftheprophets,especiallyIsaiah,whoforetoldthebirthof ChristItrepresentstheexpectationfeltinanticipationofthecomingMessiah
Thesecondcandle,representsfaithItiscalledthe“BethlehemCandle”asa reminderofMaryandJoseph’sjourneytoBethlehem.
Thethirdcandleispinkandsymbolizesjoy.Itiscalledthe“Shepard’sCandle,” andispinkbecauseroseisaliturgicalcolourforjoy.ThethirdSundayofAdvent isGaudeteSundayandismeanttoremindusofthejoythattheworld experiencedatthebirthofJesus,aswellasthejoythatthefaithfulhave reachedthemidpointofAdvent.
OnthefourthweekofAdvent,welightthefinalpurplecandletomarkthefinal weekofprayerandpenanceaswewaitforthebirthofourSaviourThisfinal candle,the“Angel’sCandle,”symbolizespeaceItremindsusofthemessageof theangels:“PeaceonEarth,GoodWillTowardMen”
Thereisanadaptationwherebyawhitecandleisplacedinthemiddleofthewreath andlitonChristmasEve.Thiscandleiscalledthe“ChristCandle”andrepresentsthe lifeofChrist.ThecolourwhiteisforpuritybecauseChristisoursinless,pureSaviour.
ADVENTSUNDAYONEYEARA
STAYAWAKESPIRITUALWHITESPACE
Matthew24:3744
TheSonofManiscomingatanhouryoudonotexpect
Thewindatdawnhassecretstowhisper,donotgobacktosleep!RUMI
Isittoolate?Areweproclaimingthegospeltoafewclosefriends,whiletherestof theworldqueuesuptobuythelatestIPhone?
ButIdeserveit,itismyfreedom,anditismydreamtolive!ThisfirstlittlestepandI havewalkedfreelyintomyownillusion.Hereinmycomfortableslumber,thereisno thoughtofpoverty,hunger,sickness,death,orthepornographyofwar;theseareall aclickawayinanotherworld.No,nosuchmorbidthoughtsforme!
Andso,theyearsflowtogether,withallthemanypreparationsthatoccupyus, preparationsforholidays,preparationsforcelebrations,preparationsforthenext contest,thenextpageant,thenextproject,thenextpurchase,busy,busy,andbusy withsomanythings…
Thesealsomergeastheyearspass,untilallwehavetimeandstrengthonlyforthe preparationsforthisday.Yetformanythepreparationsofthisdaywillnotbe fulfilled.Asyoureadthisshortreflection,750peoplewilldie.
Onedaythiswillalsobeourdaytodie,andforsomeoneitistodayForalltoomany ofus,evenforthosewhoareelderlyorsickly,themomentofdeathwillcome suddenly,willcomeunexpectedlyandwillfindusunprepared;willfindusclutching andgraspingatallthosepeopleandthingsthatwemustleavebehind.Allourpride, allourprestige,allourwealth,allthosehonourswehavehoarded,allthepromises ofeternallove,allwewillhavetolayaside.
Thegospeliseverfruitfulandwillfinditsplacetogrow.ThisAdventisatimeto breathe,atimetoputasideourgrievance,atimetoletgo,andatimetoprepare.
Thispreparationcallsonustospendregulartimeinquietandsolitude.Whenweare quietandbyourselves,thedeepestthoughtsandquestionsinourmindcansurface soyoucanwrestlewiththeminprayerwithGod.
LetusbecomeawareofGod’sLoveadmonitionstousinourdailylife,thatconstant presenceinthemanywaysthatcommunicateswithus.Letusawakenoursensesto theawarenessofGodWhenwedo,oursoulwillbecomerefreshedandourlifewill constantlygrow
Asweawakentoallthesethingsinourlives,letusnowmakeourownpreparations sothatthefinalmomentofgoodbyewillnotcatchusunprepared.Fullyawakeand fullyalive,nowisthetimetoacknowledgetheimportantpeopleinyourlife,to remembereachandeverytreasuredmoment,askforforgivenessandtoletgoof grievances,toexpressourgratitudefortheloveandcarewehavereceived,andto affirmourlove.
Thisisnotacompositionforsicknessandapproachingdeath,itisanotefornowin themelodyofourlife
ADVENTSUNDAY2YEARA AWAKENFINDINGTHETRUESELF
Matthew3:112
TheonewhofollowsmewillbaptiseyouwiththeHolySpiritandfire Deepwithinourancestrythereliesaneedtogather,tohoard,clingingto possessionsandeventopeople.Thisneedtranslatesalsointoourphilosophyand thewayweseetheworld:thisiscorrectthinking,thisistheworldandthisiswhatit meanstobeorthodox.
Weassociateourselvessostronglywithourideasofwhatisright,whatisproper, whatshouldbe,andwhatshouldnotbe,thatweinstinctivelylabelanydifferences toourwayofthinkingasheretical,asevil,asdisorderedthinkingtobedeniedand suppressedThisisme,withalltheideasintrinsictomybeingandsoIlashoutatthe other,“idiot,renegade”!
Yetifwewouldviewourselvesacrosstime,somethingmostunsettlingrevealsitself tous.Asayoungchild,IthoughtinacertainwaythatIjudgedmyselftobeinherent tomybeing.Timemovedon,andweviewourselvesasstudentswithnewthoughts andnewideas,changedfromourchildhood,butstillthisnewthinkinginherentto mybeing,intrinsictomypersonhood.Marriages,births,anddeathsastime progressedwithallthosenewrelationshipsandnewattachments
Yetstill,wethoughtofourselvesasthisunchangingbeingattachedtoallthose feelings,emotionsandjudgementsIthinkthereforeIamWearebeingsmovingin threedimensionalspacetime,continuallychanging,developingandevolvingand ourintrinsichumandignitydoesnotlieinanytwo-dimensionalsliceoftime.
JohntheBaptists’wordsareprophetic,speakingforeachoneofusalso,“theChrist mustincreaseandwemustdecrease”.Eachoneofusiscalledtopreparetheway fortheLordsothatwemaybecomethetrueimageoftheexemplar,thatdivine exemplaroftheChristthatisalreadywithinusWemissthemarkwhenwegive powerandauthoritytothepassionsanddramasthatweassociatewithourselves
Thesearealltheguisesofthefalseself,oftheegotisticbeingthatwemustdivest throughtheprocessofhumbleselfemptyingkenosis.
Thecalltorepentanceisacalltoanewwayofseeing,learningtoseewiththeeyeof theheart.Thiscallsonustoletgoofthetraditionalprogressionofbuildingblocksof judgementsthatrulewhoisworthyandwhoisunworthy.Kenosisistheoppositeof ourclingingtocontrolofthespaceandtimeasanunchangingsingularity.
Thisisacallforourheartstoresonatewiththatheartthatnowbeatswithinthe TrinitybeyondalltimeandspaceItisonlyfromthatbrokenheartthatwecan expandandincreaseourcapacityforcompassionandlovetoseeasGodseesandto lookuponcreationasgood.IncreasingthesizeoftheaperturethroughwhichLove canflowleadsustonewdimensions.
OnedayasSt.Franciswastravellingthroughthecountryside,hesawaleper approachinghimalongtheroad.Leprosywassomethingthatstillevokedrevulsion inFrancis,andthisleperhadmostofhisfaceeatenawaybytheterribledisease EveryinstinctinFrancistoldhimtoturnandrunaway,lesthehimselfbecome infected,buthecontrolledthisimpulseandtriedtoseetheleperasGodsawhim Withthischangedperception,Francisranuptohimandembracedandkissedhim onhisdiseaseravagedface.Immediatelytheleperheheldinhisarmswas transformed:beforeFrancisstoodthelivingformofJesustheChrist!
Inthisnewrealityofvulnerability,wecometothepossibilityofovercomingthose passions,illusions,addictions,andcompulsionsthatenslaveusandarethecauseof ourbeingstuckinourowncircleofsuffering.Indirectoppositiontotheclingingof ournature,wearecalledtoletgoofallthosecontrollingscriptsthatarenottrueto ourownhearts
Throughsacramentalgrace,wearegiventhenecessaryenergytomasterthe capacitytoremaininthatstateofresonatinghearttoheart,calmlyfocusingbeyond
theconstantchatterofourmindsandmovingintoastateofNous,themindofthe heartinthat‘spaceofNOWbetweenthenandafter’.
“Atthecentreofourbeingisapointofnothingnesswhichisuntouchedby sinandbyillusion,apointofpuretruth,apointorsparkwhichbelongs entirelytoGod,whichisneveratourdisposal,fromwhichGoddisposesof ourlives,whichisinaccessibletothefantasiesofourmindorthebrutalities ofourownwillThislittlepointofnothingnessandabsolutepovertyisthe puregloryofGodinusItissotospeakHisnamewritteninus,asour poverty,asourindigence,asourdependence,asourson(anddaughter)ship
Itislikeapurediamond,blazingwiththeinvisiblelightofheaven.Itisin everybody,andifwecouldseeitwewouldseethesebillionsofpointsof lightcomingtogetherinthefaceandblazeofasunthatwouldmakeallthe darknessandcrueltyoflifevanishcompletely...Ihavenoprogramforthis seeing.Itisonlygiven.Butthegateofheaveniseverywhere.”―(Thomas Merton,ConjecturesofaGuiltyBystander)
THIRDSUNDAYINADVENTYEARA
THEGREATSCANDAL
Matthew11:211
Sometimesfacingrealityaboutone’skinishardLikethegreatmystic,Thomas Merton,letuseavesdropasthatguiltybystanderontheeventsthatunfoldSt Francisadmonisheshisfollowersaboutthistypeofgreed,tellingthestoryofthose veryunhappysiblings,complainingbitterlyabouthowtheirparentshadsquandered theirinheritance,“whydidtheyneedsomuchtoliveon?”
Thenarrativealwaysfollowsthesamepattern:Iwastheonethatcaredforthem whiletheywerealive;theothershaveplentyinanycase,whyshouldtheyget anything;thisisthenarrativeofentitlementandexclusion;I’veworkedforit,I deserveit…theydonot!Andsojoyisturnedintosadness,lightintodarkness,and hopeintodespair
JesusproclaimsthekingdomofGod,fulfillingalltherequirementsoftheLawinhis lifedeath,andresurrectionInthisnewageofthesonofman,theLawiscompleted andanewandeternalcovenantinthebloodofJesusisestablishedwithhumanity.
ThisisthenewcovenantofMercy,forgivenessofsins,compassion,andLove…the CommandmenttoLoveeachotherasJesuslovedhisdisciples.
Alltheburdensofourgrievance,theexperienceofbrokenandexploitativeloveand mistrust,makeitimpossibleforustoenterintothatvulnerabilityofselfemptying LoveItisonlythroughthesacramentalgracebornthroughwaterandfireandthe ThanksgivingoftheEucharistthatGodgivesusthenewWayThisistheredemption thatthelawcanneverbringus
Manyhoweverdoubtthelargessofsuchgrace,bothinJesus'timeandamongus today.Theverysamenarrativeofthosesquabblingheirsthatfinditimpossibleto love,underliestheselfrighteousentitlementofthosewhoconsiderthemselves worthysothatothersmustbeexcluded.
EvenforthatgreatsaintandProphet,StJohntheBaptist,theincrediblelargess proclaimedbythekingdomofGod,wasadifficultthingtobear,andsodoubtcrept intohismind.HadhebeenmisledatthebaptismofJesus?Wherewasthe brimstoneandfirethatwouldwipeoutevil?AtthebaptismontheJordan,Johnhad firsthandexperienceconfirmingJesusastheChrist,yettheincredible,wondrous andawesomenewsproclaimedbytheKingdomofGodscandalisedthisgreat Prophet. ItisonlyoncewehavecometoexperiencethatgreatloveofGodmanifestedin JesusandsomanyofthesaintswhofollowedtheWay,thatwealsocanrejoiceand exultinsuchawondrousproclamationforallofhumanityandallofcreation.Thisis theGoodNewswecantrust!
Thankyoufortheearth,ourmother, shewhofeedsusandsustainsus; forherfruits,hergrass,herflowers, forthemountainsandtheoceans. Praiseforthosewhospreadforgiveness, thosewhoshareyourpeacewithothers, bearingtrialsandsicknessbravely Evensisterdeathwon’tharmthem ‘Praisebetoyou,OmyLord’. Forfireandwater, Lifeisbutasongofworship, andthereasonforoursinging istopraiseyouforthemusic, jointhedanceofallcreation!
FOURTHSUNDAYINADVENTYEARA GOD’SPLANFORMYLIFE Matthew1:1824
Promises,promises;thebigweddingisoff!Nowwhat…howtocontrolthesituation? Perhapsatriptoadistantcousinforaquickabortionoranarrangedadoption. Disgraceanddishonourofthefamilynamecaneasilyleadtofinancialruin…whatto do? Maryhasnostatusinsociety,orinlaw,andthedecisionstobetakenareallinthe handsoftheman,JosephJosephhasaplan!Wealwayshaveaplanafterallthatis theresponsibleway.GodhoweverhasanotherWay…butfollowingthewaysof dreamsandAngles…maybenot!
KingAhazinJerusalem,descendentofKingDavidoftheKingdomofJudahhasa problem.Heisconsumedwiththecomplex‘realities’ofinternationaldiplomacyand ahostofworldlyworries,caresandburdens.Heispreparingforwarandissearching forastrongalliancetodefeathisenemiesandsoturnstotheAssyriansastrong pagannation,whatwewouldrefertotodayasoneofthesuperpowers
IsaiahwarnsAhazofimpendingdisasterifhecontinueswiththisalliance,andthe prophecyandpromiseismadebyIsaiah;themaideniswithchildandwillsoongive birthtoasonwhomshewillcallEmmanuel,anamethatmeans‘Godiswithus’.The maidenreferstoAhaz’swife,butAhazhasnotimeforthisandcontinueswithhis ownplans. Ashasbeenforetold,Assyriaeventuallydoesturnfromdefenderandprotectorto colonizer,andtheKingdomofJudahcomestoanend.InourGospel,Matthewsees thisprophecyofIsaiahasbeingfulfilled800yearslateratthebirthofJesustothe VirginMary Ofteninourliveswealsofacedifficulties,problemsanddifficultdecisionslikeAhaz andMaryandJosephthatrequireaplan…anunplannedpregnancy…beingmade
redundant…apublicembarrassment…anunfavourablemedicaldiagnosis.Events thatcomeourwaysothatweareforcedtoseekanotheroption,asecondopinion.
Whatdoesitmeantohavetrustinthepromise,‘Godiswithus’?Forthoseofus whohavelivedlonglives,anyreviewofourjourneywillprobablyreflecteither regretatthosepathswehaveignored,thoseloveswehavedenied,wonderful opportunitiesthatweletgobybecausewestucktoourownplanandourown agenda
Howoftendowelookatourplansandambitionsinreviewoftheagesofourstory asGod’shumanfamily?Thenthereistheothersideofthisreview;wherewenever thoughtatfirstthatthisishowthingswillbe.Howverydifferentfrommyoriginal planthatIhadinmindformyfuture.AnacknowledgementthatGod’sPlanhas mademehappierandmorefulfilledthanIcouldeverhaveimagined.
Andsowehavethetwoexamplesbeforeus:AhazwhothoughtthathisownplanB ignoringGod’spromiseandplanforthefuturewouldbringsecurityandhappiness: MaryandJosephwhoalignthemselveswithGod’splansratherthattheirown desiresandaspirations,sothatthepromiseof‘Godwithus’becomesareality
AmIbusywithmyownplanstocontrolmyenvironment,family,abilitiesandstatus oramIaligningmyselfwithGod’splanformylife.DoItrustGod’splanintimewill bemoreandbetterthananythingIcouldthinktoaskfororimagine.
GodtoldtheProphetJeremiah,“ForsurelyIknowtheplansIhaveforyou,saysthe Lord,plansforyourwelfareandnotforharm,togiveyouafutureandahope.Then whenyoucalluponmeandcomeandpraytome,Iwillhearyou”(Jeremiah29:11 12)
AndasIsaiahsaystoday:“theLordhimselfwillgiveyouasign”Itwillbeasignto remindusthatGodis,indeed,withus.WhatisGod’splanforyourlife/whatisGod
callingyouto?Isaiahistellingustodaythat“Godwillgiveyouasign;asignto remindusthat”Godiswithus”.
SixteenhundredyearspassfromKingAhaz’sfranticplans.Masswiththereadingsin Latin,thepriestwithhisbacktothecongregation;agreatgulfbetweentheordinary personandthegreatsanctityofGod.ForalittlepoormanofAssisihowever,itisthe ideaofJesusChristbecomingonewithcreationasahelplessbabythatledhimto presentthefirstChristmascribsceneatGrecciointheReitivalley
Notonlywereweabletoholdthisinfantwhogiveshimselfintoourcare,butweare alsoabletoseetheworldthroughtheeyesoftheinfant,withaweandwonder,as good.ThisrepresentsapersonalGodwhobecomesonewithcreation,acreation thatisholytoreceiveHim,andthatisholyagainduetoHispresenceinthatcreation.
Beforetime,God’splantobeonewithandinGod’screation,sharingwithusGod’s eternallifeoftheTrinity,takingourlivesandourstrugglesintotheveryheartof GodGodwithusThemaideniswithchildandwillsoongivebirthtoasonwhom shewillcallEmmanuel,anamethatmeans‘Godiswithus’
SunandSisterMoon Iseldomseeyou seldomhearyourtune Preoccupiedwithselfishmisery BrotherWindandSisterAir Openmyeyestovisionspureandfair ThatImayseethegloryaroundme. IamGod’screature, ofHimIampart IfeelHisloveawakeningmyheart. BrotherSunandSisterMoon Inowdoseeyou, Icanhearyourtune SomuchinlovewithallthatIsurvey