A Sunday Thought About What This New Liturgical Year Brings
Here's what Father Z wrote about the new liturgical year that began last Sunday- the first Sunday of Advent - and what it brings to us (my emphasis):
Yes, even we imperfect, sinful creatures, struggling each day to grow spiritually by strengthening our interior lives, to become saints, even as our natural tendency may be to slack off and satisfy ourselves with the material offerings of the world, the flesh, or even - heaven forbid - the tawdry temptations proffered by the devil.
Oh, and let's not forget that today presents us with an unusual cross of the Second Sunday of Advent with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In the past, Our Lady's magnificent Feast might have been observed on Monday, since the Second Sunday of Advent would take precedence in our celebration of Holy Mass. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case in most of the U.S. I suppose our bishops don't want to burden us poor sheep with having to attend Mass two days in a row - or something like that.
Turning to another connection, Handel's magnificent Messiah (as we did last Sunday), the great Oratorio here connects us sheep with Advent in a moving way in the aria "All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray." We find here a reminder of our imperfections, our sinful tendencies. The contrasting ending drives home exactly what our sins have wrought, specifically for this Babe in the manger for whom we prepare during Advent. It's a perfect piece to remind us of the spirit of penance that tempers our joyous anticipation as Christmas approaches.
Doesn't the terrible nature of sin come alive when you turn to your own way? If so, please consider going to confession during this holy season of Advent, especially if you haven't been for a while.
Advent begins a new liturgical year. Each year Holy Church presents the history of our salvation and the mysteries of the life, death, resurrection and the return of the Lord. Each year we ourselves are a little different. The unchanging mysteries touch us in a fresh way. Through His Church, Christ, the true content of our prayers, the true Actor in the liturgy, shapes us so that we in turn can shape the world around us.I like how Father connects us to the liturgical year here, especially this simple summary of how "Christ, the true content of our prayers...shapes us so that we in turn can shape the world around us.
Yes, even we imperfect, sinful creatures, struggling each day to grow spiritually by strengthening our interior lives, to become saints, even as our natural tendency may be to slack off and satisfy ourselves with the material offerings of the world, the flesh, or even - heaven forbid - the tawdry temptations proffered by the devil.
Oh, and let's not forget that today presents us with an unusual cross of the Second Sunday of Advent with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In the past, Our Lady's magnificent Feast might have been observed on Monday, since the Second Sunday of Advent would take precedence in our celebration of Holy Mass. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case in most of the U.S. I suppose our bishops don't want to burden us poor sheep with having to attend Mass two days in a row - or something like that.
Turning to another connection, Handel's magnificent Messiah (as we did last Sunday), the great Oratorio here connects us sheep with Advent in a moving way in the aria "All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray." We find here a reminder of our imperfections, our sinful tendencies. The contrasting ending drives home exactly what our sins have wrought, specifically for this Babe in the manger for whom we prepare during Advent. It's a perfect piece to remind us of the spirit of penance that tempers our joyous anticipation as Christmas approaches.
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have turned everyone to his own way
and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all
Doesn't the terrible nature of sin come alive when you turn to your own way? If so, please consider going to confession during this holy season of Advent, especially if you haven't been for a while.
Divine Infant of Bethlehem,
come and take birth in our hearts
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