PASTOR’S MEANDERINGS 1 – 2 DECEMBER 2018 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (CYCLE C)

Notification from the Office of the Bishop

Following the listening sessions held throughout the diocese in October, Bishop

Barry C. Knestout renewed his commitment to leading the Diocese of Richmond

with transparency, faith and direct action. A webpage has been created to help

the faithful stay informed of the diocese’s response to the present crisis in the

Church. A video interview with Bishop as he answers the faithful’s most

frequently asked questions, a timeline of actions taken within the diocese to

address the crisis, and resources to learn how Bishop Knestout is answering the

call for accountability is available at www.richmonddiocese.org/diocese-

response.

SUNDAY REFLECTION

We give thanks for this gift of Eucharist, a sharing of God’s life with us here and now. It is also a commemoration of that first coming of Jesus as the Messiah to inaugurate the rule of God’s justice and love. For Christians, Jesus Christ is also our future, and this Eucharist is also a viaticum, a special nourishment for our pilgrim journey. We are challenged to remain awake, vigilant, for His coming again in our lives, both in the everyday needs of our neighbors, and at the end of our days. Through word and sacrament we are nurtured, fed and empowered to witness to the rule of God in our own lives, and to preparing for the Son of Man coming in power and great glory. STEWARDSHIP: “Be on guard,” Jesus warns in today’s Gospel, “lest your spirit become bloated with indulgence.” Let us heed His warning and follow the advice of St. Paul, conducting ourselves in a way pleasing to God, overflowing with love for one another. Socrates “My sole fear was the fear of doing an unrighteous or unholy thing.”

SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 8 DEC ‘18 HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION MASS SCHEDULE FRIDAY 7 DEC. 7:00 P.M. SATURDAY 7 DEC. 8:30 A.M.

REFLECTION To receive a very special spiritual gift, there needs to be a special attitude of openness and of trust. As Mary was graced by God to be born free from sin, and asked to take on a special role in bringing the Savior into the world, we thank God for all the gifts we have received in our lives, including the opportunity to come together at Eucharist. As we are nourished by God’s Word, and God’s holy presence, may our openness and trust in God be deepened for the challenges that lie ahead for each of us.

STEWARDSHIP: Mary’s Immaculate Conception prepared her for her unique role as the Mother of God. We, too, have been given all the gifts we need to do the work to which God calls us. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that we may have the courage to say “yes!” when God calls.

READINGS FOR THE SOLEMNITY: Gn. 3:9-15, 20: ‘I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman,’ God’s love will remove the effects of sin from our lives, just as in Mary. Ps. 98:1-4: Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12: Paul reminds us that before the world was made, God chose us in Christ. Lk. 1:26-38: To Mary, the angel says, ‘Rejoice, so highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Luke’s gospel presents Mary as the first disciple of Jesus, the one

who hears the call of God and responds with her whole life. DOGMA of THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION This Friday the Church celebrates a mysterious and miraculous event of such importance to God's plan for our salvation in Christ that it happened in a manner that went virtually undetected. This event is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not to be confused with another mysterious and miraculous event, the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus, the Immaculate Conception is about how God acted in an extraordinary way in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that from even the first moment of her own conception, she was rescued from the power of original sin. What does this even mean? Original sin is a fact of our existence, a sad fact, that characterizes the human condition. It darkens our intellect, distorts our imagination, and positions our will so as to be susceptible to sin. We are born this way and cannot of our own efforts remedy this situation. Because of original sin, the inclination towards sin is a part of who we are from the very beginning- from the first moment of our own conception. This inclination towards sin effects us physically, emotionally, psychologically, intellectually. For this reason, original sin is referred to as a condition of human existence. Sin is our refusal of God and our refusals of God, are manifested in the ease at which we prove ourselves to be unwilling to love. It is in our refusals to love that we see the great indicator of original sin as an oppressive and terrible condition. God has a plan through which He deals with original sin. This plan unfolds in the scriptures and culminates in the revelation of Christ the Lord. When we speak of Christ "saving us" or refer to Christ as our Redeemer, what He is saving us from and delivering us from is original sin and its effects. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is part of God's plan. Christ, who receives His human flesh from His mother, receives this flesh from a person who, by a singular gift from God, herself comes into this world without original sin. This exemption is God's gift to the woman who would freely choose to be His mother. The gift highlights the extraordinary nature of the mission of the Mother of God- no one would even have the relationship God in Christ has to the Blessed Virgin Mary. No one will ever be the Mother of God except the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some might be inclined to think that something like the Immaculate Conception made things much easier for the Mother of God, and in this regard, I think such folks would be mistaken. The Immaculate Conception was not a kind of decorative accessory, but a reality that would be essential for the Mother of God to fulfill her mission. It would express itself in a capacity to love that would have far exceeded our own. And this would not have made things easy. The Mother of God was an Immaculate Conception in a sin-filled world. Those whom she loved suffered from the effects of original sin and her exemption would not have made her cold and aloof, but would have quickened her to life with a deep compassion that would have cut into her heart.

She would have been to this world a sign of contradiction, a stranger, someone who would have always been on the peripheries, deeply in love, but beset with grief at how much God's love is refused in a fallen world. Whatever we feel at the effects of the world's refusal to love, would have been intensified for Christ's mother. She would know, better than us, humanity's desperate need for a Savior and the consequences of our refusals of God would have been overwhelming, if not for the grace that she received in her relationship with her Divine Son. The Immaculate Conception does not mean that Christ's Mother did not need a Savior or that she somehow saved herself. In fact, it means the opposite. Christ saved her in an extraordinary way and gave her a holiness that she did not achieve for herself. He did this for her, for the sake of her mission- a mission that only she would bear. This gift of holiness is what the Immaculate Conception is all about. The Immaculate Conception is not something easy, it is mysterious and miraculous, but is nevertheless a beautiful and extraordinary gift - a gift through which God in Christ acted to save his Mother, and us from our sins, from all our refusals to love. (More next week on this teaching ) INTENTION FOR EVANGELIZATION MONTH OF DECEMBER: In the Service of the Transmission of Faith. That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time. READINGS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9 DEC ‘18 Bar. 5:1-9: Using resplendent imagery of anticipation and restored dignity, Baruch tells the Jews that the exile in Babylon will soon come to an end and the people of Israel will return home in triumph. Not only will they return to their own land but they will be led by God Himself who will clear the way, and ensure that they are welcomed home transformed by the joy of liberation. Ps. 126:1-6: Phil. 1:4-6, 8-11: Paul and Timothy give thanks for the faith of the Christians at Philippi, and pray that their love, knowledge and discernment will grow to maturity in preparation for the return of the Lord. Lk. 3:1-6: Last of the prophets, and precursor of the Savior, John the Baptist draws our attention from the political powers and authorities of this world to the fulfilment of the promise proclaimed by the prophets of long ago: that ‘all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ The Baptist takes up this word, this Good News, and starts pointing us to the Savior, Jesus Christ. ‘A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, so that all humanity can see the salvation of God’. Evelyn Underhill “This is the secret of joy. We shall no longer strive for our own way; but commit ourselves, easily and simply, to God’s way, acquiesce in His will and in so doing find our peace.”

ANTIPHONS With the beginning of the Advent Season we are reintroducing the use of the entrance antiphon at the Masses celebrated here at St. Stephen, Martyr.

What are the Antiphons?

The Introit (entrance antiphon), Offertory, and Communion Antiphons are propers of the Mass which match the various liturgical texts of the day. Proper texts of the Mass change every day. In addition to the Antiphons, the Responsorial Psalm and some of the prayers said by the priest are also proper texts. Proper texts differ from the ordinary texts of the Mass which never change: Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei, etc. Most parishes in the United States still use the Proper Antiphons during weekday Masses (which are often spoken). Up until the reforms of Vatican II, the antiphons were sung in Latin by the choir instead of an opening, offertory, or communion hymn. Why are hymns so often used instead of Propers? After Vatican II, translating the Antiphons into English was not at the top of the Vatican’s priority list. Consequentially, many church musicians looked for an easy English alternative. The only readily available English alternative at the time were hymns, many of which came from Protestant traditions. The practice of singing hymns in the vernacular instead of the assigned antiphons has continued to the present day. The revised translation of the English Mass caused many Catholics to re-discovering the Proper Antiphons, which are a very ancient part of our liturgical tradition. Since Vatican II did not in fact suggest that the Proper Antiphons be removed, many contemporary Catholic musicians have been working toward re-incorporating their use into the Mass. The aim of this rediscovery is to establish a more reverent and thoroughly theocentric celebration of the Holy Mass, fully in touch with our liturgical heritage.

ADVENT The Coming of the Lord

Drop down dew ye heavens from above. Let the earth be opened and bud forth the Savior.

Happy New Year! While a month yet remains in the civil year, the Church is celebrating the beginning of a new Liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent on December 2, 2018. Advent — from the Latin ad venio, “to come” — is the liturgical season anticipating the Adventus Domini, the "coming of the Lord.” While the days grow shorter and colder, we prepare for the “Sun of Justice” who comes to kindle our hearts with his light and his love. The Eternal Word, who is outside of time, became Incarnate in time, thereby making all time sacred. In the season of Advent, we await the coming of Christ on all the levels which we experience time: in the past — as a babe in the stable of Bethlehem; in the present — as grace in our souls; and in the future — as the Judge at the end of time. The Advent season is filled with preparation and expectation. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas — shopping and decorating, baking and cleaning. Too often, however, we are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real reason for our activity: the Word made flesh coming to dwell among us. Christians are urged to preserve the spiritual focus of Christmas amidst the prevailingly secular and consumer-driven society. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, let us strive to keep Advent a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and hope, meditating often on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on flesh of the Virgin Mary. In our shopping, decorating and baking, let us remember to purchase and prepare something for the poor. When we clean our homes, let us distribute some of our possessions to those who lack many necessities. While we are decking the halls of our homes, let us not forget to prepare a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior may come to dwell. Focus on the Liturgy I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord. There are always four Sundays in Advent, though not necessarily four full weeks. The liturgical color of the season is violet or purple, except on the Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday, when optional rose vestments may be worn. The Gloria is not recited during Advent liturgies, but the Alleluia is retained. The prophecies of Isaiah are read often during the Advent season, but all of the readings of Advent focus on the key figures of the Old and New Testaments who were prepared and chosen by God to make the Incarnation possible: the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, Sts. Elizabeth and Zechariah. The expectancy heightens from December 17 to December 24 when the Liturgy resounds with the seven magnificent Messianic titles of the O Antiphons. The Advent season also has a Marian and pro-life focus. We meditate on this wonderful mystery of the Word Made Flesh with as much eagerness as His Mother, Mary prepared and awaited the birth of her Son. In the USA we celebrate the special feasts of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the United States of America, on December 8, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, on December 12. Other saints’ days traditionally

associated with our preparation for Christmas include St. Nicholas, patron saint of children whose feast falls on December 6, and the saint of light, St. Lucy on December 13.

WHAT AM I EXPERIENCING N MY LIFE, AS ADVENT BEGINS? Many of us are in an ideal place to begin Advent, but we don’t realize it. It can be tempting to think that, because we are struggling these days, we can’t enter into Advent without a big change in our mood or without distancing ourselves from our real experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Advent is about letting God come to us. We do the letting and God does the coming. And, the whole mystery of our faith is that God is not reluctant to come into an unusual relationship (like Mary and Joseph’s) or to be born in the poverty of a makeshift stable. We are tempted to prepare for Advent by cleaning everything up first – by, in effect, saving ourselves first. Our opening to Advent is to realize we need saving and to accept the saving love of our God. So, what are we experiencing? That is the first Advent question. If we chew that question, then the Isaiah reading will sound so goo to our ears. Are we the people “who walk in darkness” or have “thick clouds” over us? Is the way before us full of valleys and hills? Does it seem like we are in a desert? Are there wild beasts out there who are ready to devour us? Have we been guilty of some things we aren’t proud of? Have we lost touch with who we really want to be? Has our fidelity become a bit shabby? Then, Isaiah proclaims that our God is ready to come and save us. And, none of the things that I see as barriers even matter to God. Then, is Advent a passive season? Definitely not, we have work to do, but it is different from what we first think it is. It starts with understanding what our preparation is. If we haven’t prepared our hearts to be open to asking for salvation, we’ll never shout, beg, plead, “Come, Lord, Jesus!” Our work is to become who we are. Advent is a humble season, a season of self-awareness. To say it another way, before we decorate our homes for Christmas, we have to clear away some of the false masks we might wear. These made up identities help us be more “presentable” to others, and at times they even fool us. When I look in the mirror, which “me” do I see? There is nothing wrong with putting our best foot forward in public and it is quite understandable when we want others to see our best selves. But, before our own consciences and before God, we want to be transparent and real. We want to have no illusion. If there is struggle in my life – and there has to be some struggle in all our lives – then we want to acknowledge that before our God and to let that struggle be the door into Advent’s graces. How can we have hope and expect God will come to us? The readings of Advent open up a whole series of promises, full of powerful images, that keep reminding us that our God will come to save us. They free our imaginations to see and experience that coming with drama and joy – a banquet with “choice wines and rich, juicy food.” They invite us to imagine when “a time will come for singing.” They give us the opportunity to hope beyond our wildest hopes in the past – “the lion will lie down with the lamb” and “they will prepare for war no more.” They open our hearts to imagine the love of our God embracing us in the coming of one like us, who knows our life and its struggles and offers us the hope of the Spirits presence with us every day, in every moment. What are the key first steps to enter into Advent?

We can all slow down. We can all breath more deeply. We can all begin to trust that this will be a blessed time. Then, when we let ourselves be who we are, and hear the Scriptures, we can begin to quietly pray, “Come, Lord, Jesus.” We might expand that prayer, in quiet moments of our days ahead, “Come into my life. I trust You don’t mind it is still messy. I believe You love me, because I need Your love. I don’t fear You can’t find the way to my heart. Come and fill me with peace and the love only You can give.” Some of us will want to open our hands on our laps or hold up our arms in the privacy of our rooms and say out loud, “Come, Lord, Jesus, come into this house, into my family, into our struggles. Come and heal us, and give us joy again. Come and unite us and let us experience, each in our own way, a bit of the joy You are offering me now.” And, before a single decoration goes up, we have prepared for Christmas’ message with the foundation of faith, with the mystery of Advent’s gift. God wants to be with us. Advent is letting God’s will be done in our hearts and in our everyday lives.

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF ADVENT Advent Wreath The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins are uncertain. There is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic peoples using wreaths with lit candles during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope in the future warm and extended-sunlight days of spring. In Scandinavia during winter, lit candles were placed around a wheel, and prayers were offered to the god of light to turn "the wheel of the earth" back toward the sun to lengthen the days and restore warmth. By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted this tradition and used Advent wreaths as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. After all, Christ is "the Light that came into the world" to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. Jn. 3:19-21). By 1500, both Catholics and Lutherans had more formal practices surrounding the Advent wreath. The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning that can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death and resurrection. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents 1,000 years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior. (This tradition is exemplified in the work of Anglican Archbishop James Ussher who in his 1650 treatise The Annals of the Old Testament, Deduced from the First Origin of the World, gave the date of Creation at 4004 BC; interestingly, he even pinpointed Oct. 23 at noon.) Three candles

are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The light of the candles itself becomes an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others (Isa 42:6). The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes both the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead, but also the various aspects of our own waiting experience. As the candles are lighted over the four week period, it also symbolizes the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that something is happening, and that more is yet to come. Finally, the light that has come into the world, Jesus Christ, is plainly visible as the white candles which have replaced the colored candles on Christmas Eve are lighted and worshippers rejoice over the fact that the hope and promise of long ago have been realized in Jesus Christ. In family practice, the Advent wreath is most appropriately lit at dinnertime after the blessing of the food. A traditional prayer service using the Advent wreath proceeds as follows: On the First Sunday of Advent, the father of the family blesses the wreath, praying: "O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth Thy blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." He then continues for each of the days of the first week of Advent, "O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg thee, and come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The youngest child then lights one purple candle. During the second week of Advent, the father prays: "O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The oldest child then lights the purple candle from the first week plus one more purple candle. During the third week of Advent, the father prays: "O Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The mother then lights the two previously lit purple candles plus the rose candle. Finally, the father prays during the fourth week of Advent, "O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The father then lights all of the candles of the wreath. Of course, this prayer service can be adapted to meet a family’s particular needs.

Since Advent is a time to stir-up our faith in the Lord, the wreath and its prayers provide us a way to augment this special preparation for Christmas. Moreover, this good tradition helps us to remain vigilant in our homes and not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. ADVENT REFLECTIONS Monday – Week One 3 Dec. Is. 2:1-5 Mt. 8:5-11 We are still looking ahead. Isaiah paints a glorious picture of light and understanding and peace, offered to all nations and every person. He urges us to turn to God’s light and walk in God’s ways – because they are wonderful ways. But we may not be easily convinced because our minds are filled with the not-so-wonderful events in the daily news. How can we live in great hope like Isaiah? The gospel gives us the key. The centurion understands one thing – Jesus has authority and a single word will accomplish His intention because He knows that without the least doubt, the centurion trusts Jesus. Jesus loves that trust, so He does what the centurion desires. When we too know without doubt that the word of the Lord to us is true and powerful, our deepest desires will also be filled. We need not beg or insist or bargain with God. We need only trust the Lord freely. The Lord’s orders are obeyed in all of nature. They will be obeyed in our own living as well, to the exact degree that we trust in the Lord’s authority for our own well-being. Tuesday – Week One 4 Dec. Is. 11:1-10 Lk. 10:21-24 What a joyful, peaceful world Isaiah predicts! Even the natural enmity of the animals will be stilled – there will be “no harm or ruin” anywhere. We do not yet see this world in our world except in one situation. It is repeated again and again, if we know how to find it. That situation is wherever someone has admitted that they do not know how life is to work, when someone has become like a child to receive true life from the Lord. Sophistication, technology, status – none of these will give us a life like Isaiah describes, neither individually nor nationally. Only giving ourselves over to Jesus as children-of-the-heart will bring our life, our world, to deep harmony. Because God has given Jesus everything, the disciple – you, me – who sees Jesus clearly and gives themselves over to Jesus will experience the beauty in Isaiah’s song. There will be no more inner conflict. There will be justice and harmony in our hearts. There will be wisdom and delight – all the qualities we dream of. When we simply center ourselves on God, everything beautiful comes to us and spills over into our world. Wednesday – Week One 5 Dec. Is. 25:6-10 Mt. 15:29-34 The words of Isaiah in the first reading remind me of a quote attributed to author Willa Cather: “The miracles of the church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always.” God is with us, but sometimes there is a veil, a web keeping us from seeing clearly and from hearing God’s message.

In Advent, it is up to us to take away the veil, to clean away the cobwebs as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. Much as I clean my house for company, I also must prepare myself and open myself to what God means for me. And once that cleaning is done, I must remember to rejoice, to hone my perceptions, my sight and hearing so I can feel, see and hear what is about me always. Isaiah also reminds us of the power of God, the transitory nature of our suffering on Earth when he tells us that God will destroy death forever. The next image that God will wipe the tears from our faces serves as a way to tell us that God cares for each of us. I have always loved Advent, the anticipation and the preparation. I still see the Advent season as a time to get ready. The prayers and readings remind me to focus on what’s important, to become aware of God in my life. Thursday – Week One 6 Dec. Is. 26:1-6 Mt. 7:21, 24-27 Storms come in every life. Of course, we’d rather not have them, but since that seems unlikely, our best hope is to live well through any upheaval. How can we do that? Jesus tells us. We are not to be too complacent about mental belief in Jesus. Right belief alone does not give us the needed qualities to live successfully in the midst of storms. Only digging in and doing the will of God will give us the foundation we desire. What is the will of God? To hear Jesus’ words in our hearts and put them into practice in our lives. simply said, isn’t it? And it may not be so difficult once we decide we really want Jesus’ ways. If we seek bedrock certainty in our life. Jesus’ principles are the best. We may think we do a lot already. Instead of resisting by telling ourselves what we already are, we can open to the Lord’s strength by asking. “What more can I hear? What more can I practice?” Our answer will come. Then we can say a big smiling YES – and practice more. Victory will be ours in every storm. Friday – Week One 7 Dec. Is. 29:17-24 Mt. 9:27-31 Isaiah’s continuing pictures of a wonderful life are lovely, aren’t they? They give us imagery to help us know the quality of life that the Lord offers us – not for some distant future, but for now, just as soon as we open our hearts enough to receive God’s joys. What is the key to receiving? The blind men in the gospel reading know. First, they ask for what they want. Second, Jesus asks if they have confidence in Him. Their affirmation of confidence opens the doors for Jesus’ healing. They receive what they desire. How can such confidence be developed? Like many other things, practice. If you cannot yet have confidence in God for big things, ask for smaller things that don’t seem so impossible. Each gift of the Lord that you acknowledge will give you more confidence for the next need that appears. Gradually you will realize more deeply that the Lord wants to give it to you. All God asks is your confidence in God. You too will then receive your heart’s desires. Saturday – Week One 8 Dec. Gn. 3:9-15, 20 Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12 Lk. 1:26-38 Sometimes, if we have waited a long time for something or if life simply gets too complicated, we may tend to forget the wonders offered to us in Christian life. Today’s readings remind us

of several Christian wonders, beginning with the special graces of Mary’s conception, preparing her for the blessings to come. Ephesians recalls for us that in Christ, God prepared for all of us every possible spiritual blessing in heaven. All the glories, all the grace, all the love, all the favor are offered to us through Christ. We can be adopted children, growing in the fullness of God’s riches, just as Jesus lived in God’s fullness. With Him, we are like a family with a biological child and several adopted children: to all are offered equally the love of their parents. And why did God design the work of Jesus, the obedience of Mary, the fulfillment of every Christian hope? For love of us, so we might live in constant praise of God. If we live in constant praise, we will experience uninterrupted joy! That is the glory of God in our lives. ST. NICHOLAS 6 DEC

St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who provided for the poor and sick, and is the basis for the popular character of Santa Claus. Who Was St. Nicholas? Born in Patara, a land that is part of present-day Turkey, circa 280, St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop who helped the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew. St. Nicholas transformed into the legendary character called Santa Claus, who brings Christmas presents to children around the world. Early Life St. Nicholas was born circa 280 in Patara, Lycia, an area that is part of present-day Turkey. He lost both of his parents as a young man and reportedly used his inheritance to help the poor and sick. A devout Christian, he later served as bishop of Myra, a city that is now called Demre. Reputation

There are many legends about St. Nicholas of Myra. One story tells how he helped three poor sisters. Their father did not have enough money to pay their dowries and thought of selling them into servitude. Three times, St. Nicholas secretly went to their house at night and put a bag of money inside. The man used the money so that one of his daughters could marry. On the third visit, the man saw St. Nicholas and thanked him for his kindness. He also reportedly saved three men who were falsely imprisoned and sentenced to death. Death and Legacy Several sources state St. Nicholas is believed to have died on December 6, 343. Over the years, stories of his miracles and work for the poor spread to other parts of the world. He became known as the protector of children and sailors and was associated with gift-giving. He was a popular saint in Europe until the time of the Reformation in the 1500s, a religious movement that led to the creation of Protestantism, which turned away from the practice of honoring saints. St. Nicholas, however, remained an important figure in Holland. The Dutch continued to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas, December 6. It was a common practice for children to put out their shoes the night before. In the morning, they would discover the gifts that St. Nicholas had left there for them. Dutch immigrants brought the legend of St. Nicholas, known to them as Sint Nikolaas or by his nickname, Sinterklaas, to America in the 1700s. St. Nicholas went through many transformations in America: Sinterklaas became Santa Claus, and instead of giving gifts on December 6, he became a part of the Christmas holiday. In the 1820 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, he is described as a jolly, heavy man who comes down the chimney to leave presents for deserving children and drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. The cartoonist Thomas Nast added to the St. Nicholas legend with an 1881 drawing of Santa as wearing a red suit with white fur trim. Once a kind, charitable bishop, St. Nicholas had become the Santa Claus we know today. In 2017, a team from the University of Oxford radio carbon tested a fragment of a pelvic bone said to be from St. Nicholas. The test confirmed that the bone fragment, owned by an American priest, dated from the saint's era. Archaeologists then hoped to match the bone to others purportedly belonging to St. Nicholas, including those housed in a crypt in Bari, Italy, since the 11th century.

ST. MATTHEW’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL The season of giving is upon us. In honor of God’s love and his gift to us with the birth of his only son, we give gifts to family, friends, and, in some cases, strangers through our charitable donations. What if you could give the ultimate gift – a Catholic education - to a child and his/her family this Christmas season? And also receive a 65% Virginia tax credit plus a federal deduction for that donation. Donating to the Virginia Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit program does all this and the family that receives a scholarship that allows their child to attend St. Matthew’s Catholic School would not be able to do so otherwise. Talk about a donation making an impact!! A child with no chance of attending Catholic school will receive a solid academic foundation on which to build his/her future along with Catholic teachings to provide a moral compass and service to others. This program also helps St. Matthew’s Catholic School increase its enrollment and frees up money to help fill the financial gap of families that

don’t meet the FACTS or EISTC criteria for financial aid. See how much good your donation through the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit program can do for Catholic education and a family who wants a better education for their child. Learn more about the impact of this program on a family who has received a scholarship through EISTC after Masses on December 8th and December 9th. Information about the program will also be available at our table in the Commons. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone at St. Stephen, Martyr from all of us at St. Matthew’s Catholic School.

PRAYERS An Alternative Prayer for Lighting the First Candle of the Advent Wreath O God, enlighten the deep darkness in which we so often stumble along in our search for happiness. Through faith, may we see through the ever-present clouds to Jesus, Your Son, who is our Light and the Light of the world. Amen Prayer for Advent Loving God, we seek You in both the light and the darkness, the silence and the sounds, the fullness and the emptiness of this Advent season. Fill our hearts with hope for Your coming, love for those who are most in need, and faith in Your promises. May this time of preparation help us celebrate the birth of Your Son with deep gratitude and abundant joy. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Light of The world. Amen

UP-COMING SCHEDULE Saturday 1 Dec Mass 8:30 a.m. Confessions 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. Sunday 2 Dec Masses 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Monday 3 Dec Day Off 6:30 a.m. Mass 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Confession

8:30 a.m. Mass 7:00 p.m. - Brig

Tuesday 4 Dec 6:30 a.m. Mass

7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Confession 8:30 a.m. Mass

7:00 p.m. Advent Reconciliation Service Wednesday 5 Dec 6:30 a.m. Mass 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Confessions 8:30 a.m. Mas 10:00 a.m. PCRS Mass time at school 5 :30 p.m. Mass Indian Creek Correctional Facility Thursday 6 Dec 6:30 a.m. Mass 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Confessions 8:30 a.m. Mass 5:00 p.m. Confessions

6:30 p.m. Mass

Friday 7 Dec First Friday Eucharistic Adoration

6:30 a.m. Mass 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Confessions 8:30 a.m. Mass 5:00 p.m. Confessions

7:00 p.m. Vigil Mass Feast of the Immaculate Conception Saturday 8 Dec Feast of the Immaculate Conception

8:30 a.m. Mass Confessions 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass Second Sunday of Advent 5:00 p.m. Sunday 9 Dec SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Masses 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Brig Thursday 6 Dec 7:00 Advent Day of Reflection Friday-Saturday 14-15 Dec Advent Retreat Sunday 16 Dec Las Posadas Tuesday 18 Dec Christmas Music Concert