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| The Presentation in the Temple by Brother Max Schmalz, CSsR |
Mass Readings
1 John 2:18-21
Psalm 95:1-2, 11-13
John 1:1-18
The first reading in the Liturgy of the Word today speaks of the end times. The celebrant, Fr. Thomas Deely, CSsR, asked us to consider this in terms of the end of one year and the beginning of another. He suggested we meditate upon how we might fill in the blanks in the following: "Today is the end of ___________. Tomorrow, the start of the New Year is the beginning of ________."
What would we like to see ended this day? And what would we like to begin with the first day of 2012? I immediately thought that this should be the last day of war and all its horrors. Perhaps I am being sent in this direction by news of our troops returning from Iraq Germany Iran
Earlier this morning, at the Office of Readings which we combine with Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, we were offered a selection from the writings of St. Pope Leo the Great. He proposes that we too are born with Jesus and born into his peace. Here are some exerpts to ponder...
In adoring the birth of our Saviour, we find that we are celebrating the commencement of our own life, for the birth of Christ is the source of life for Christian folk, and the birthday of the Head is the birthday of the body.
The enitre body of the faithful is born in the font of baptism, crucified with Christ in his passion, raised again in his resurrection, and placed at the Father's right hand in his ascension,so with Him are they born in this nativity.
But in the treasures of the Lord's bounty what can we find so suitable to the honour of the present feast as the peace which at the Lord's nativity was first proclaimed by the angel choir.
...[We] must offer to the Father the unanimity of peace loving sond and daughters.
...The Father in his gracious favour has adopted as his heirs...those that are one with him in feeling and affection. Those who are re-modelled after one pattern must have a spirit like the model.
The birthday of the Lord is the birthday of peace.
Responsory
Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all..for he himself is the peace between us.
May January 1, 2012
be the birthday of
PEACE
throughout the world.
3 comments:
It may take a miracle but may the world have some peace and some rest from worrying in this new year.
Shalom, Sr. Hildegard, to you and your sisters in 2012, your year of transition.
I loved the ""Today is the end of ___________. Tomorrow, the start of the New Year is the beginning of ________." and will use it as a prompt in my own journaling this week. What a rich idea . . .
And I am praying for your success in obtaining this new home for yourself and your sisters. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the move. What you say resonates for me in thinking ahead for myself toward the future . . .
Thank you for sharing this. I found the prompt very intriguing: "Today is the end of ___________. Tomorrow, the start of the New Year is the beginning of ________." and will use it this week in my own journaling.
I am praying with you for success in obtaining this new home for yourself and your sisters. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this transition - they are helpful for me in thinking ahead for my own future this year.
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