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December 23rd 2007 4th Sunday Of Advent Vol.13 No.50 |
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Christmas As we move through the dark, dreary days of December
we look forward to Christmas Day brightening up our lives. Is
it any wonder there is so much emphasis on lights at this time
of year? However, we must also be careful not to lose sight
of the light. I would also like to say a word of thanks to all the people
who manage our four parish primary schools, to the many, many
people involved in all our sporting organisations and all the
Clubs and Societies listed in our Parish Directory. Thanks a
million. I would like to thank you all for your generosity to the various
special collections taken up in Church during the year. On behalf of Fr. Tim and myself, I would also like to say a
sincere thank you for your generosity to us in the Dues and
the Easter and Christmas Collections. Praying God's Blessing on you and yours this Christmas time.
May you all have a happy and holy Christmas. Nollaig shona agus ath-bhliain faoi mhaise dhaoibh go léi On this Sunday we recall the events that took place shortly
before the birth of Christ. These events are described in the
first two chapters of Matthew's and Luke's Gospels, the Infancy
Narratives. Those events were the miraculous conception of Jesus
by the Virgin Mary and the Visitation. Here we read the most famous Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. The place was a field outside Jerusalem: the time, around 735 B.C. Ahaz is the stubborn young Davidic king who has not been listening to Isaiah. Now the entire royal house of David is told of the future ideal King born of a virgin. The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above. No, Ahaz answered I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied
with trying the patience of men without trying the patience
of God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth
to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us. Responsorial Psalm (R) Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory. The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? He shall receive blessings from the Lord
We read from the start of Paul's major theological work, his Letter to the Romans. This passage is fitting for Advent because Paul describes Jesus Christ as a descendant of David and Son of God. Paul says this was foretold in the Old Testament - as our preceding reading indicates. From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures. This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human
nature he took, was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus
Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit
of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all
his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him
we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience
of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are
one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ.
To you all, then, who are God's beloved in Rome, called to be
saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace
and peace. Gospel Ref: Matthew 1:18-24 From the Infancy Narrative of St. Matthew we read the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. It is the beautiful story of the Virgin Mother. Notice the statement that this fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah about Emmanuel. This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'. When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Christmas I would also like to say a word of thanks to all the people
who manage our four parish primary schools, to the many, many
people involved in all our sporting organisations and all the
Clubs and Societies listed in our Parish Directory. Thanks a
million. I would like to thank you all for your generosity to the various
special collections taken up in Church during the year. On behalf of Fr. Tim and myself, I would also like to say a
sincere thank you for your generosity to us in the Dues and
the Easter and Christmas Collections. Praying God's Blessing on you and yours this Christmas time.
May you all have a happy and holy Christmas. Nollaig shona agus ath-bhliain faoi mhaise dhaoibh go léir! Mass schedule for the coming week: St. Stephen's Day: Cloughduv @ 10 am. Confessions: New Years Day Mass Cloughduv @ 10am Mass in Cloughduv Church on St. Stephens Day at 10am followed by Poc Fada at New Clubhouse in Cloughduv. Died Recently Anniversaries St Vincent De Paul Society Would like to thank the people of the Parish most sincerely for Church door collection which amounted to €4,070.95 Kilmurry GAA Lotto: Nos. 15, 23, 34. €1,600 in Castlemore Arms Thurs 27th Dec. Website News: Wanted news & photos from around the parish. Prayer Thought |
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