December 5

December 5, 2013:   Thursday, 1st week, Advent

Readings

• Is 26:1-6  Open the city gates to let in the just, faithful nation you keep in peace.  Trust in the Lord!  He humbles those in high places, bringing down the lofty city by the footsteps of the poor and needy.

• Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."  Take refuge in the Lord; don't trust in people.  I'll enter the Lord's gates of justice.

• Mt 7:21, 24-27  Only the one who does my Father's will enter the Kingdom.  If you act on my words, your house will stand, not collapse. 

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Put Christian words into practice lest we be deceived to think we have a foundation, and all will be hurt.  Words not rooted/founded in Christ lead to pride, divide us from ourselves, and divide the Church.

• Gospel Joy 2.I (Evangelii Gaudium drill-down), starting Chapter 2 of his exhortation (a series):  Crisis of Communal Commitment:  Missionary disciples scrutinize signs, distinguish kingdom’s fruit from what opposes it, discern, choose good, reject evil. Factors restraining/weakening renewal:

Many barely live:  diseased, afraid, desperate, unfairly treated, struggling, not joyful or respected.  Information age has led to new, anonymous power.  Economy of exclusion and inequality kills; reject it.  Powerful feed on powerless; people are marginalized, without work or possibilities, considered goods to be discarded after use.  In throwaway culture, they're excluded.  Culture of prosperity deadens us to pain and outcry.

We accept money's dominion.  Financial crisis, originating denial of the primacy of the person, lays bare the lack of concern for people.  Rich/poor imbalance, from marketplace autonomy, grows; corruption is widespread; market devours what's fragile.  Ethics, scorned as a threat, can bring balance and order.  God calls all to realization and freedom, demands response outside marketplace categories.  Our goods are the poor's; we should share them.

Face challenge of financial reform favoring human beings.  Money must serve, not rule!  The rich must help and respect the poor.  Violence remains till exclusion and inequality are reversed and society doesn't leave parts on the fringe.  Toleration of evil/injustice undermines systems; unjust structures kill.  Unbridled consumerism damages society.  Inequality creates and corruption exacerbates conflicts.  (2.I, 50-60; pp. 43-50) 

Reflections

• Creighton:  Trust God and be faithful. 

• RC.net:  God, rock of refuge, is our best security.  Our foundation determines how we survive storms.  Actions, not words, prove sincerity. 

• Universalis:  St. John Almond, priest, martyr; St. Birinus, bishop

• Marian retreat, day 31:   Bl. Mother Teresa recap:  listen to/satisfy Jesus' thirst; offer your heart; make/keep covenant

• Sacred Space

Music

• Trust in the Lord forever, from Everlasting Covenant/ Fabing (1st reading)

Apparel

• Peace-sign tie bar:  God keeps faithful nation in peace (1st reading)

• "Scales" pin:  enter God's gates of justice (psalm)

• "I love my dad" tie:  one doing Father's enters Kingdom (gospel)

• Purple shirt:  Advent season

Dress your life!

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