CHRISTMAS GIFT
Webmaster • December 11, 2021
There is something perpetually moving about the Christmas story. It is the account of how God became man, and, with magnificent indifference to human preoccupations with status and accomplishments, became man in a discomfiting fashion. The girl who became his mother was unmarried, her pregnancy understandably a profound shock to the man she was betrothed to. The family into which the Son of God was born was unprepossessing; Joseph was a carpenter. And, the birth of Christ may indeed have been placed firmly in salvation history by the account of the genealogy of Christ, but it also upended the usual course of events by ending with Joseph – who was married to Mary.
At a time when the issue of consent in relations between the sexes looms very large, we should note that without the consent of Mary, the Incarnation could not have happened. She could have said “no”. She did not. But it was only with her words, “Be it done unto me according to thy word” that Christ was conceived. The salvation of man depended on a young Jewish teenager.
(Catholic Herald online)
Tuesday 6th January 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments after the service.
It has been a tradition in the Catholic Church to bless chalk for Epiphany, and then use the blessed chalk as part of blessing one’s home in the New Year. It will be distributed at the10am Mass on Tuesday 6th January.
The memories of a shepherd I thank You, Lord, Our God Most High, that You fulfilled Your Promise spoken through the prophets, that You finally give us a Saviour to save us from our slavery and from our enemies. How blessed I am, that You sent Your Angel to bring us the good news that the Messiah is born, that I hear with my own ears such enchanting singing from the Choir in Heaven. Although I am so lowly, but because I kept watch over the flocks at night, I was privileged to be one of the first to receive this good tidings. The vision filled me with so much joy and love, thus driven me eagerly to meet Our Promised Saviour in Bethlehem. But poor as I am, the little lamb I carried with me was the most luxurious gift I can afford. But I know God knows my heart. When I arrived at the Cave, I witnessed something truly amazing, a baby was lying in a manger, the golden light and halo coming out from Him indicated that He is not from this world; His Light shone forth like a sun. But my eyes also noticed the terrible environment He was in, He appeared to be even poorer than I am! Nevertheless, I was attracted by this Child, not merely because of His beautiful and adorable Face or His glorious light or His pitiable state, but because He filled me with His Love. He is Love Itself. O Lord, Your descent from Heaven, Your humble birth in a cave, was not being announced like a huge thunder in the sky for everyone to know and fear of and demand attention; because of Love, You came silently in the middle of the night, since You wish us to search for You and gently draw us into Your Presence. O Lord, Your Divinity was hidden in our flesh, it is Your Love too which drove you to become like one of us in human nature, so to let us physically see and understand you are so close with us. Emmanuel! Emmanuel! God is with us, God is with His people, it is all true! You are visible, You are touchable, You are real, to make us cannot deny that Emmanuel is really with us. God Love us, God has not abandon His people. You make our hope and longing in You no longer a dream. But a dream come true. I believe. I truly believe You are the Messiah! You are the Anointed One!
SVP is asking for the following donations of food to help the poor: cooking oil; beans; tinned tuna; rice; pasta; pasta sauce; coffee; tea; long-life milk; drinking chocolate; Weetabix®; biscuits; tinned soup; tinned tomatoes; rice pudding & sugar.
If you wish your child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation & Holy Communion in 2026 and they attend a NON-CATHOLIC school in year 3 or above. Please complete the form at the back of Church and give to one of the Priests.
The third Sunday of Advent is also called ‘Gaudete Sunday’. ‘Gaudete’ means ‘Rejoice’ in Latin. We rejoice because during the Advent season, as our hearts are in the middle of this longing, waiting and penitential period; Our Saviour who we are expecting is fast approaching. As today’s Reading said: “The coming of the Lord is at hand”. Therefore, the third candle we light up this weekend, as well as the Priest’s and Deacon’s vestments change from purple to rose colour, to reflect the rejoicing spirit in our hearts.
What St Joseph might be thinking by the Crib… I was initially bewildered when I heard that Mary was pregnant with ‘The Lord’ from Elizabeth’s mouth. I love her so, and I just want to serve her as my lady, not treating her as my wife. But then I got this shocking news! I didn’t understand. She is God’s Possession. Who am I? I dared not to get close to her…and with a broken-heart I wanted to run away. But God, You has a Plan for me, Your Angel’s Message calm my fear and showed me my Vocation. I am delighted to do Your Will, yet I felt I have failed on the first mission You gave me – I can’t even prepare for You a proper place for Your Holy and Glorious Birth. But Your Wish is beyond human thinking. Not only You wished to take our fragile form of human flesh instead of the angel’s. You also desired to be born in a cave instead of a palace, accompanied by beasts instead of servants, wrapped in swaddling cloth instead of silk and gold…I marvelled that You can be with such humility, such sacrifice to Your Divinity! Ah, The Word Incarnate came with His Words and His Action, to open our eyes and mind, and made us understand and realise what Love really is, how much He Loves us, how precious we are to Him. Indeed, Your Love to us can even made the Angels jealous! Although You are my God and I fear You, like Moses hid his face in front of the Burning Bush, I also prostrated in front of Your brilliant Light in the Nativity Cave when You first born; yet as Mary invited me to come closer and the moment she placed Your little Body in my arms I just want to love You, joyful tears ran down my face. I adore You. You opened Your eyes and looked into mine, You took my soul and breath away. Oh, my Divine Child, You are the fountain of all happiness, just looking at You, just being with You, Your Real Presence made my whole being went into ecstasy, like all the unspeakable joy of the whole Heaven have come down on me. You chose me to be Your father on earth out of all men, how privilege I am! How unworthy I am! But I humbly wish to be Yours forever. From this day onwards, I will use all my strength to protect You, even if it might costs my life; I will use my very last breath to prevent any harm come to You. I love You, my dear Baby Jesus, my God and my All!
‘‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’’ (Matthew 11:3-6) O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Rosminian Fathers would like to invite you to join their Chr istmas Masses: