6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Virginia 22015 nativityburke.org “We are God's People” 1Peter 2:10 SUNDAY MASSES: 5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 7:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in Spanish 7:30/9:00/11:00/12:45/5:30 p.m. WEEKDAY MASSES: 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. on Saturday HOLY DAY MASSES: As Announced RECONCILIATION: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday or, if necessary, by appointment BAPTISM: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Parental Instruction required. Parents must be registered members of the parish. MARRIAGE POLICY: Please contact the Church as soon as you are engaged, and at least six months prior to your wedding date. BULLETIN DEADLINE: Announcements for the bulletin must be submitted in writing by 9:00 AM on Friday (10 days prior to publication). Please note: this deadline can change due to holiday office closings. You may email submissions to [email protected]. WEBMASTER: Stacee Smith, [email protected]SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: Mary Castellano [email protected]SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES OF THE PARISH: Adrienne Swidal, Parish Secretary Ann Benson, Business Manager Carlos Gutierrez, Facility Manager Carol Mack, M.T.S., Pastoral Minister (part-time) Maureen Andersen, Liturgical Minister Kathleen Ferraris, Parish Receptionist Ingrid Sanchez-Seymour, Director of Youth Ministry Alison Fram, Director of Young Adult/College Ministry Caroline Chase, Bulletin Editor Carole Fischl, Co-director of Music Debbie Doyle, Co-director of Music Mai Tran, Traditional Choir Director Sara Prince, Youth Choir Director/Cornerstone Choir Natacha Hines, Gift Shop MINISTERS OF OUR SCHOOL: Maria Kelly, Principal Richard Godwin, Assistant Principal MaryJo Mazzella, Pre-School Director/Extended Care Director Shannon Murphy, Administrative Assistant/Registrar Kim Vu, Business Manager Mary Helen Chapman, School Secretary MINISTERS OF OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: Sister Donatella Merulla, A.R., M.R.E. Sister Mary Attilia Todaro, A.R., M.R.E. Fania Jimenez, Administrative Assistant CATHOLIC CHARITIES COUNSELOR Marguerite Turner, MS, LPC (703) 772-4751 PARISH OFFICE: (703) 455-2400 PARISH FAX: (703) 455-6832 NATIVITY SCHOOL: (703) 455-2300 NATIVITY FAX: (703) 569-8109 PRE-SCHOOL: (703) 455-2300 ext. 136 CCD OFFICE: (703) 455-0372 CCD OFFICE FAX: (703) 455-6832 REV. ROBERT C. CILINSKI, PASTOR REV. CHRISTOPHER H. HAYES, PAROCHIAL VICAR REV. STEPHEN VACCARO, PAROCHIAL VICAR REV. CEDRIC P. WILSON, O.S.A., VISITING PRIEST DEACON RICHARD F. KELLY DEACON JOSE PARDO, SPANISH MINISTRY
Transcript
6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Virginia 22015
nativityburke.org
“We are God's People” 1Peter 2:10
SUNDAY MASSES: 5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 7:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in Spanish 7:30/9:00/11:00/12:45/5:30 p.m.
WEEKDAY MASSES: 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. on Saturday
HOLY DAY MASSES: As Announced
RECONCILIATION: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday or, if necessary, by appointment
BAPTISM: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Parental Instruction required. Parents must be registered members of the parish.
MARRIAGE POLICY: Please contact the Church as soon as you are engaged, and at least six months prior to your wedding date.
BULLETIN DEADLINE: Announcements for the bulletin must be submitted in writing by 9:00 AM on Friday (10 days prior to publication). Please note: this deadline can change due to holiday office closings. You may email submissions to [email protected].
WEBMASTER: Stacee Smith, [email protected] MEDIA COORDINATOR: Mary Castellano
SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES OF THE PARISH: Adrienne Swidal, Parish Secretary Ann Benson, Business Manager Carlos Gutierrez, Facility Manager Carol Mack, M.T.S., Pastoral Minister (part-time) Maureen Andersen, Liturgical Minister Kathleen Ferraris, Parish Receptionist Ingrid Sanchez-Seymour, Director of Youth Ministry Alison Fram, Director of Young Adult/College Ministry Caroline Chase, Bulletin Editor Carole Fischl, Co-director of Music Debbie Doyle, Co-director of Music Mai Tran, Traditional Choir Director Sara Prince, Youth Choir Director/Cornerstone Choir Natacha Hines, Gift Shop MINISTERS OF OUR SCHOOL: Maria Kelly, Principal Richard Godwin, Assistant Principal MaryJo Mazzella, Pre-School Director/Extended Care Director Shannon Murphy, Administrative Assistant/Registrar Kim Vu, Business Manager Mary Helen Chapman, School Secretary MINISTERS OF OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM: Sister Donatella Merulla, A.R., M.R.E. Sister Mary Attilia Todaro, A.R., M.R.E. Fania Jimenez, Administrative Assistant CATHOLIC CHARITIES COUNSELOR Marguerite Turner, MS, LPC (703) 772-4751
REV. ROBERT C. CILINSKI, PASTORREV. CHRISTOPHER H. HAYES, PAROCHIAL VICARREV. STEPHEN VACCARO, PAROCHIAL VICARREV. CEDRIC P. WILSON, O.S.A., VISITING PRIESTDEACON RICHARD F. KELLYDEACON JOSE PARDO, SPANISH MINISTRY
Nativity Catholic Church, Burke Virginia Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
Nativity Catholic Church, Burke Virginia Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Father Christopher Hayes
December 24
Deacon Richard Kelly December 27
Nativity’s Grief Support Group Meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month,
from 7:30pm until 9:00pm. This group is open to all adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
No pre-registration is needed. For additional information, please call Mrs. Carol Mack at 703-455-2400, ext. 117
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
Christmas Eve - Tuesday, December 24 4:00pm - Children’s Choir 6:00pm - Family & Folk Choirs 8:30pm - Youth Choir 12:00am - Midnight Mass (12/25), Traditional Choir
Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25 7:30am - Cantor 9:00am - Cantor 11:00am - Cornerstone Choir 1:00pm - Spanish Choir (Spanish Mass)
NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE
New Year’s Eve - Tuesday, December 31 5:00pm - Vigil Mass
New Year’s Day - Wednesday, January 1 7:30am, 9:00am, 11:00am and 1:00pm Spanish Mass
STARFISH FOR HAITI
We will once again be offering crocheted ornaments made by the lepers of Cardinal Leger Hospital in Haiti after Mass this weekend.
Please stop by the Christmas tree in the back of the church. The ornaments are free but any donations are much appreciated!
a message from your Nativity Creation Care Ministry
Mary inspires us to listen to God's call. We do this in prayer. We also do this by being attentive to what is happening in our lives – as individuals, as communities, as a society, as a civilization. If we are attentive, with God’s grace we can begin to discern God’s call in our lives and our world. Pope Francis provides an excellent example of this, summoning us to care for God’s creation. We need to open our eyes and ears to what is happening to our mother the Earth and the possibilities to heal her that are still available.
Thus there is another house that we need to concern ourselves with. It is our common home, the Earth. And as it turns out "eco" in the word "ecology" comes from the Greek word for 'house' or 'household.' Pope Francis wrote his encycli-cal Laudato si' because he discerned God's call to the household of the faith to accept his urgent challenge to protect our common home. No home created by us, however lavish and comfortable can substitute for the beautiful home created by God. This is a living house that we are called to cherish.
Knights of Columbus Council 7992 Basketball Free Throw Challenge
This fun event will be held on Saturday, January 18th from 6:00PM – 9:00PM in the Father Martin Center and is open to all boys and girls ages 9 -14. Nativity girl and boy age group winners will be eligible to compete at the Knights of Columbus District Challenge in February. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Dave Zivich at [email protected].
THANK YOU
To all the coordinators and volunteers of Nativity’s Hispanic Community that helped with the Our Lady of
Guadalupe celebration last Saturday.
Everyone enjoyed the Mariachi Band and Mexican folk dancers from
Corazón Folklórico, DC.
Nativity Catholic Church, Burke Virginia Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS APPALACHIA HOME BUILDING
The Knights will be speaking at all Masses on January 4/5 asking for your help to build Nativity's 22nd home in the heart of Appalachia in June 2020. The goal is to raise $65,000 as Nativity's contribution to the estimated building cost of $75,000.
If you can help, checks should be made payable to Nativity Catholic Church and annotate that it is for the Appalachia Home Building Project; also annotate your Church envelope number to facilitate posting to your account.
Donations may also be mailed to the Church at 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015. Please refer any questions to Bob Corsi at 703-239-2890 or email: [email protected]. Please help if you can!
For more information please visit: https://nativityburke.org/appalachia-home-building-special-collection/
NATIVITY Pilgrimage to the HOLY LAND & ROME
It is a joy to invite you to join us on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome. Since our youth we have been hearing the gospel stories about Jesus walking and teaching in Jerusalem, Caperna-um, and Galilee. He worked miracles around the Sea of Tiberius, Jericho and Cana. He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth and was crucified at Golgotha. We will be seeing those places and much more. Our visit will give us an opportunity of walking in the footsteps of Jesus, our Blessed Mother and the first disciples.
While in Rome, this pilgrimage will take us to sacred sites of our Catholic faith, including the Sistine Chapel and the Basilicas of Christian Rome. We will also take in the historic venues of ancient Rome. We will celebrate Liturgies, as well as, have the opportunity to attend the Holy Father’s general audience.
Each day we will celebrate Mass and reflect on the gospel text appropriate to the place we visit. This will be a pilgrimage of a lifetime and it will forever change the way you read and under-stand the Scriptures. We hope you will be able to join us on what promises to be a grace-filled journey to the land from which has come our salvation.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Cilinski & Fr. Vaccaro
If you have questions or would like more information, visit our website at https://nativityburke.org/holy-land-pilgrimage/
or contact the Terra Sancta Travel Center at [email protected] or (888) 798-3772.
Sunrise Senior Living Presents A Lecture at Nativity Catholic Church
Join us for a special lecture on “Difference between Normal Aging & Dementia” on Thursday, January 30, 2020 in the Fr. Ready Room after the 12:00pm Mass. It will be presented by Maureen Charlton who is currently the Reminiscence Coordinator at Sunrise at Silas Burke House. She has previously worked for the Alzheimer’s Association in various roles, including helpline support, providing family consultations, developing professional training and facilitating support groups. Lunch will be provided. Please confirm your presence by calling 703-250-1637.
Winter is the time for a hot bowl of soup!
While much of Fair Trade takes place in developing countries, the Women's Bean Project is based in Denver and was created to help at-risk women break the cycle of chronic poverty and unemployment. Since 1989 they have been providing skills training, raising self-confidence, and inspiring hope in place of the demoralizing effect of poverty. At any one time, between 18 and 25 women are in training, learning marketable skills for use in the workplace. The Women's Bean Project provides women with immediate income, support services to overcome barriers to employment, and teaches readiness skills needed to get and keep a job. The Women's Bean Project also supports small, local farms, sourcing many of the ingredients for the products from local farmers and vendors.
Check the Fair Trade Corner in the Gift Shop for different bean mixes for delicious warm soups
from the Women's Bean Project
Are you registered in the Parish? If you are not receiving mail from the parish, chances are you are not registered. Please stop by the Parish Office
to become a registered member of Nativity Parish. Registration is required to be a Baptismal Godparent
or Confirmation Sponsor.
Website: www.nativityburke.org Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
MASS INTENTIONS
"We are God's People" 1 Peter 2:10
Monday, December 23
7:30am † Alice Flynn
Tuesday, December 24
7:30am † Jim Collins4:00pm Special Int. for Jennifer No
6:00pm Special Int. for Nicholas Bobrowski - Happy Birthday
8:30pm † Mrs. Madarang
Wednesday, December 25
12:00am † Marshall Levitan
7:30am † Brian Fields
9:00am † C.K. Quan
11:00am † Clarence and Pat Kuntz
1:00pm † Elaine Seymour
Thursday, December 26
7:30am † Ursula Lemanski
Friday, December 27
7:30am † The Spuria Family
Saturday, December 28
9:00am † Gordon Evans
5:00pm † Cynthia Alexa7:00pm Special Int. for Isaac &
Gladys Jimenez
Sunday, December 297:30am Parishioners
9:00am † Greg Fisher11:00am Special Int. for
Marie-Anne Dinh
12:45pm † Alberto & Margot Daza and Deceased Relatives
5:30pm † Grace Hogue
The priest schedule for Masses is found on our webpage: nativityburke.org
In prayer, let us remember the sick and deceased of the parish.
How would life be different today if Mary, the mother of Jesus, had decided to destroy the child within her womb
instead of submitting herself to the will of God? Pray that the miracle of Christmas, God taking on our
humanity, may lead us to an ever greater respect for all human life. And may the Joy and Hope of this season
bring Peace to ourselves, our family and friends. A Blessed and Merry Christmas to All!
Choose Life Today. Choose Life Tomorrow. Pray Always. We Must Do No Less.
The GABRIEL PROJECT supports women who are facing a crisis pregnancy and need help. Contact 1-866-444-3553 or
[email protected]. You are not alone! (Gabriel Project is a crisis pregnancy program open to all and
REMEMBER: We don’t follow all FCPS Teacher Workdays
We still have classes on: Monday, January 27 Tuesday, January 28 Tuesday, March 3
Coming up: NO Classes - December 22-31 Classes resume on January 5, 2020
Wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sister Donatella, Sister Mary Attilia and Staff
WEATHER POLICY– We follow FCPS weather Policy. Please follow FCPS social media outlets as well as our website.
Please make sure you have a calendar and mark important dates for your student! You can find calendars in the RE office or online at our page: https://nativityburke.org/wp-content/uploads/RE_Calendar_2019-2020.pdf
Are you receiving our emails? Most of our communications (reminders, notifications, etc.) will be going out via email. If you have not received an email from us yet, please email the RE office to update your information.
FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE IN THE GIFT SHOP
Don't forget to stuff those stockings with Fair Trade Divine Chocolate available in the Gift Shop!! In Ghana, West
Africa, women sit on the board of directors of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative where they earn a fair price for their
cocoa and also own a third of the Divine Chocolate brand and share in the profits of the company.
Plus it is Delicious!!!
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
MATTHEW 1:24 Putting our complete trust in the Lord without expecting anything in
return. Striving to put God first in all things and follow Him wherever He may led us. As we prepare for the birth of our Lord, pray for the strength and courage to be a model of discipleship,
Nativity Catholic Church, Burke Virginia Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
nativityschool.org
NATIVITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Want a quick easy alternative way to join the Knights? Try Online Membership. In less than 5 minutes, you can go to
www.kofc.org/joinus, fill out the needed information, and put Council 7992 as your preferred Council. We’ll do the rest to
bring you into our Nativity Council!
Next council meeting: Our next council meeting will be on Tuesday, January 7th. Please join us at 7:15pm for the Rosary; meeting begins at 7:30pm. Name Tag Assistance: If you have not received a name tag, please provide your name so the Worthy Warden David Zivich can place the order at [email protected]. Prison Ministry: Fr. Vaccaro is asking brother knights to help in writing letters to those incarcerated. He has a list of names whose lives might be impacted for the better with your correspondence. Please contact him if interested. Upcoming Degree Opportunities: The following degree advancement opportunities are scheduled for the Knights of Columbus. Please contact DGK Barry Basselgia at [email protected] if you would like to attend. 1st Degree (Admission): Monday January 20th, 7:30pm, Council 7992, Nativity Cafeteria. 2nd Degree (Formation): Wednesday, January 22nd , 7:30pm, Council 8600, St Mary’s, Fairfax. 3rd Degree (Knighthood): Saturday, January 25th, 11:00am, Council 6292, Fairfax. KOVAR-Charitables Campaign: KOVAR is a Virginia Knights of Columbus Charity established in 1971 to provide financial assistance through grants and home loans to tax exempt organiza-tions providing training and assistance to citizens with intellectual disabilities. You can give to KOVAR through the various Charitable Campaigns. If you do donate this way, please send WPGK Mark Sawyer ([email protected]) picture/copy of your donation so we can get credit for it. Combined federal Campaign (CFC) - #4256, United Way Campaigns in Greater DC area - #883, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign - State Employees - #050735, Campaigns with no code - enter KOVAR and use the address 16933 Four Seasons Drive, Dumfries VA 22025. March for Life: The 47th Annual March For Life takes place on Friday, 24 January, 2020. If you do not wish to drive on your own or take the Metro, there will be 2 buses to take parishioners from Nativity Church parking lot down to the march and back. There will be a Mass at 9:30am at Nativity followed by boarding buses to take participants to the march. The buses are scheduled to return to Nativity at about 4:00pm (sooner if traffic allows). If you take the buses, you will miss some of the talks and other activities (see full schedule of events downtown, below), but you will be a full participant in the march. Further details and sign-up to follow. https://marchforlife.org/mfl-2020/. Upcoming Fraternal Committee Presentation: on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 9:45am at Nativity Catholic School Cafeteria; The Substance Abuse Battle (Opioids, Alcohol & Prescription Drugs) Hope, Help & Recovery - A Family Affair! The Fraternal Committee – brothers helping other brothers and their families in need of assistance or in distress. Please email us at: [email protected] for more information. Save the dates, upcoming events: Appalachia Collection (4-5 January), Council Meeting – (7 January).
New Year - New Start ~~ Open House
*************************************************** January 26, 2020 * 10:00-12:00 noon
January 29, 2020 * 9:00-10:00 am + A Special Evening Session! 5:30-7:00 pm
For details, contact Shannon Murphy at (703) 455-2300, or [email protected]. If you cannot attend our open
house, give us a call to schedule a tour and/or a day for your child to “shadow” here at school. We may be just the school for which you’ve been searching! Yes, Catholic education is worth
the investment! Nativity Catholic School is committed to making Catholic education accessible to those who desire it,
and offers financial assistance to make their dream come true. We look forward to meeting you!
**************************************
Helping Local Mothers-in-Need
Working toward her American Heritage Girl ‘Stars and Stripes’ badge, a young Nativity parishioner asked Nativity School
students to help her with a local service project. In one week, she had supervised the school-wide collection of stacks of disposable diapers and piles of packaged formula --
enough to see many moms-in-need through the Christmas sea-son and beyond, at The Mother of Light Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information -- and to donate -- please go to
MOTHEROFLIGHTCENTER.COM.
A great big ‘thank you’ to our Nativity families -- your generosity and kindness was remarkable, especially at a
point in the year when there are so many demands on your time and treasure.
**************************************
Just download the App, register with ‘Nativity of our Lord,’
and begin immediately! Thank you!
Knights of Columbus Father Sikora 7992
@kofc7992
Bishop Burbidge’s Homilies Online Want to hear relevant, pastoral inspiration from our Shepherd?
Selected homilies of Bishop Burbidge can be found on our YouTube page. Please visit youtube.com/arlingtondiocese.
Nativity Catholic Church, Burke Virginia Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
Seminarians Hoops Challenge Basketball Game
Join the fun as the high school men from the Quo Vadis discernment group take on the Arlington seminarians, with Bishop Burbidge as referee. There will be contests and vocational testimonies at halftime. The event is Saturday, January 4, 2020, from 10:00am-1:00pm at St. John Paul the Great High School. Families and CYO teams are welcome. High school boys interested in playing on the Quo Vadis team should contact the Office of Vocations, (703) 841-2514 or [email protected] by December 6. There is no need to RSVP for the event itself.
Lunch N’ Life – January 16, 2020, from Noon – 2:00pm
Are you 50 or Better? Please join us for the next Lunch N’ Life sponsored by the Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke on Thursday, January 16 (12:00pm-2:00pm) at Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, Burke.
Entertainment: Just Four Grins, a barbershop quartet. For reservations, call Bea Stephenson at 703-273-5730, by January 10. Cost is $10.00; checks payable to SCFB. If transportation is needed, call the SCFB office at (703) 323-4788 or see www.scfbva.org for more information.
Do you want to experience true freedom? Learn how to read the signs of your body and understand when you are fertile and infertile with Natural Family Planning. No drugs needed. Now THAT’S true freedom!
To learn more visit www.ccli.org. The 3-part class series will be held at Nativity Catholic Church on January 26, February 23, and March 22. For more information, call Joe and Jenny Sundy at 719-649-4688 or email [email protected]. To register for class, please visit:
https://nativityburke.org/nfp/
Thinking of replacing or getting rid of your old car?
Please consider donating it to Catholic Charities! We have now three locations Arlington, Fredericksburg and Leesburg. We take used vehicles and transfer them directly to qualifying families in desperate need of transportation. We also accept non-working cars, which helps to fund our volunteer ministries. Donating is EASY! We handle all the paperwork; you receive an IRS donation receipt. Avoid the hassle of selling your car, simplify your life, or reclaim that space in your garage. To donate, please email [email protected] or call (703) 841-3898. For non - working please call 1-844-527-2232. For more information visit: https://nativityburke.org/donate-your-car/
In Observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays, the Nativity Parish Office will be closed
If you are setting up an Advent wreath in your home this year, here are some prayers you could say while you light its candles. You may say these before or after a meal, when waking up, before going to bed, or whenever you and the members of your household gather for prayer. Before you say the prayer, read and talk over the Gospel you heard at Sunday Mass that week.Week 4: O God, who sent your angel Gabriel to announce good news to Mary, make us happy with your word of life. Let our hearts be so filled with love for you that they glow with the lights of these four candles. May we live in a way that will please you. Through Christ our Lord.
Website: www.nativityburke.org Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
Website: www.nativityburke.org Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019
Y CON MARIA… LA ESPERANZA SE HIZO NIÑO
IV Adviento Javier Leoz
1.Poco margen tenemos, en el presente año,entre el IV Domingo de Adviento y la Natividad del Señor. Pero, incluso en ese corto espacio, María emerge como la gran figura de esta liturgia que nos llevará, mañana ya, a la Solemne Misa del Gallo. No podía faltar, María Madre de Dios, como aquella que nos trae al Salvador en este tiempo de adviento que es periodo de espera y de esperanza. Y, con María, llegó la expectación. ¡Todo está a punto de cum-plirse! El “sí” de aquella mañana en Nazaret, nos traerá en las próximas horas al Dios con nosotros. Creyó, esperó y se brindó a todo lo que Dios le pidió. ¿Se puede aguardar más de una mujer que fue un cheque en blanco para el Señor? María, la mujer que se vació totalmente para Dios, está llena a rebosar del Espíritu. Colmada de las promesas que nuestros anti-guos confiaban en ver. Seremos nosotros los que en el día de Na-vidad, contemplemos cara a cara lo que ha germinado en el inte-rior de una Virgen. A Ella, y no lo olvidemos, le debemos la primera Navidad. ¿Cómo celebrar cristianamente estos próximos días? ¿En dónde poner el acento? ¿Cómo conseguir que Dios siga naciendo en nosotros? No lo dudemos, en María, tenemos la respuesta. Sus actitudes, su forma de ser, su personalidad y su figura, nos dan el tono para desarrollar la melodía que a Dios más le gusta. No lo dudemos, en María, se dan una serie de virtudes y de gra-cias que, al imitarlas, a la fuerza damos con el secreto y en el clavo para complacer a Dios y para hacer el Evangelio realidad. ¡Sí! Con María llegó la esperanza. No podemos dejar de lado a ninguna de las dos: ni a Maria, porque es fuente de esperanza, ni a la esperanza, porque es la mejor radiografía de una mujer que amó en su corazón y con locura a Dios, mucho antes que recibirlo en sus propias entrañas. 2.¡Qué gran pórtico el de la Navidad! ¡María Virgen! Celebremos con gozo santo estos próximos días. Dejémonos guiar por esta estrella que ilumina los senderos que conducen a Belén. Miremos a esta mujer que, siendo pequeña, es grande y confidente en cuanto que nos enseña a renovar nuestras personas para que Dios pueda también en nosotros nacer. Miremos hacia el cielo ¿No la veis? ¿Quién ha dicho que solo aparecerá una estrella en el amplio universo? Hoy, en este cuarto domingo de adviento, María es también un destello que marca los compases del caminante que quiere marchar sin detenerse hacia Belén. Que apuremos estas últimas horas. Preparemos, por supuesto, el encuentro familiar: la mesa, los dulces, el calor, el belén o el ár-bol. Pero, que entre todo ello, no olvidemos lo más importante. Dios para nacer necesita de un corazón bien dispuesto. Que cuan-do llegue en las próximas horas encuentre también una oración en nuestras casas. Que los villancicos sean un distintivo musical de estas jornadas, que además de familiares, son días de fe. En defi-nitiva, ya que Dios sale a nuestro encuentro en un Niño que se mueve en los fondos de Santa María, que salgamos también no-sotros alegres, llenos de fe, preparados, convertidos y dispuestos a que sean unas navidades santas y cristianas.
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARIA! Para que Dios nazca en nosotros sin pedir nada a
cambio y, sea nuestro corazón, una cálida cuna donde Jesús encuentre cobijo
y consuelo.
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARIA! Para que, en estas horas de santa tensión, donde el cielo y la tierra juegan a juntarse
podamos también nosotros hambrear el manjar de Amor que se sirve en Belén.
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARIA! Queremos que, Tú, seas una puerta
por la que podamos entrar y disfrutar del Misterio de Dios humanado. Una puerta que, cuando se abra desde fuera
entendamos y comprendamos que es Dios quien lo hace desde dentro que es Dios quien tira desde el cielo.
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARIA! Para que no vacilemos ni en el amor ni en la fe
Para que nos pongamos en camino hacia Aquel que viene
Para que seamos heraldos de la Buena Noticia Para que, el Niño que quiere salir de tus entrañas,
encuentre aquí y ahora hermanos que le amen, le ayuden y le sigan
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARIA! Para que Dios esté pronto con nosotros
Para que nosotros, pronto estemos con El Para que creamos, aun sin ver
Para que aún sin ver, creamos por encima de todo
¡DÁNOS TU CONFIANZA, MARÍA! Sólo así, podremos vivir, celebrar
cantar y festejar el encanto de la Navidad.
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