Friday, December 9, 2011

Advent Daily Dose - 2nd Saturday

[I'm heading out of town for the weekend and wanted to post this before I left. Many thanks to Deacon Tom for his reflection here.  Have a good weekend everyone!]

+We pray in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (17:9a, 10-13).

As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection: [By Deacon Tom]:  This past Thursday morning, on the Feast of the Immaculate Assumption, I had two remarkably impactful experiences.

FIRST…
I have volunteered to be among a small group of Deacons who assist some of the retired Priests who live at Saint Agnes Home just minutes away from us in Kirkwood.  These Priests gather each morning, about six or eight of them, to concelebrate Mass and the suggestion was made that they could benefit from having a Deacon with them regularly due to some mobility issues.  Thursday morning was my first time assisting these good and holy men.  The reverence, the piety and the depth of their devotion to Our Lady on this important Marian Feast was palpable.  I’m guessing there were two to three hundred years of Priesthood in the room with this lowly Deacon.  It was humbling, to be sure, but also so very inspirational to see men who have come to the altar thousands of times before, come on this morning with such faith in Our Lady’s power to intercede for us.  So sure of Our Lady’s love for us.

SECOND…
Immediately following this early morning Mass, I travelled to Oak Hill School to participate in their Feast Day liturgy.  Here, from the opposite end of the age range, were little children, some in Junior Kindergarten, carrying lilies forward in procession and then reciting in unison the loveliest, albeit simplest, prayer of love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mother, the patron of all Sacred Heart schools.

And here I am, stuck somewhere in the middle of this age spectrum, often fumbling with my devotion to Our Lady, failing to hand over my needs for her perfect intercession and to her loving care.

We pray: May the splendor of your glory dawn in our hearts, we pray, almighty God, that all shadows of the night may be scattered and we may be shown to be children of light by the advent of your Only Begotten Son. We ask this through Him who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


+In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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