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| Mary Immaculate, prayer for us! |
Gospel Reading: Luke 5:17-26 (alternate reading for the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary: Luke 1:26-38)
On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he said to the man who was paralyzed-- "I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10: The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it, and fools shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Meditation: Is there anything in your life that keeps you from receiving the blessings of God's kingdom? The prophets fortold that when the Messiah came to usher in God's kingdom the blind would see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk (Isaiah 35:5-6). Jesus not only brought physical healing, but healing of mind, heart, and soul as well. Jesus came to bring us the abundant life of God's kingdom (John 10:10). But that new life and transformation can be stifled by unbelief, indifference, and sinful pride. Sin cripples us far more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus' forgiveness.
Jesus' treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends, Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God's redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well. The Lord is ever ready to bring us healing of body, mind, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions.
Refection question: Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus' healing power?
Prayer: "Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life – my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and righteousness." Amen.
Tau Announcements:
Monday, December 16 at 8:30 A.M. / cleaning out the old Tau House will begin, please bring boxes, plastic bags, markers, tape, everyone is welcome to help! This may take all day, please call Brother Ed at 217-316-4335 if you plan on coming after 1:00 P.M. - Maybe we will be finished by then, :-).
Sunday, December 22 at Billy Edwards we will have our monthly meeting beginning at 4:00 P.M Everyone is asked to bring something to share. Ed will send out the 4th Sunday mass readings and reflection questions that we may use during our faith sharing.
Tuesday, December 10: Board of Guardians Meeting (Franciscan Firefighter Ministries)
6:30 P.M. Quincy, Public Library, Quincy, IL
Christmas kid stuff of the 1950's - Here comes Susie Snowflake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI0t_tadZJU
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December 8 Immaculate Conception Day
_____________________________________________________________________
The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church maintaining that from the moment when she was conceived in the womb, the Blessed Virgin Mary was kept free of original sin, [1][2] so that she was from the start filled with the sanctifying grace normally conferred in baptism. It is one of the four dogmas in Roman Catholic Mariology.[3]
The doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary concerns her mother's conception of her, not Mary's conception of Jesus (the virgin birth of Jesus) nor the perpetual virginity of Mary. Although the belief that Mary was conceived immaculate was widely held since at least Late Antiquity, the doctrine was not dogmatically defined until December 8, 1854, by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. It is not formal doctrine in other Christian denominations.[4] The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is observed on December 8 in many Catholic countries as a holy day of obligation or patronal feast, and in some as a national public holiday.
Happy Day for the Society of Mary
Pat (left) caring for those is need.
Billy - God's gift to so many!
Blessings on Billy and Pat for the love and service they give the Church! May the mother of God, continue to bless these two fine men!
http://www.societyofmaryusa.org/
Tuesday, December 10: Board of Guardians Meeting (Franciscan Firefighter Ministries)
6:30 P.M. Quincy, Public Library, Quincy, IL
Christmas kid stuff of the 1950's - Here comes Susie Snowflake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI0t_tadZJU
_______________________________________________________________________________
6:30 P.M. Quincy, Public Library, Quincy, IL
Christmas kid stuff of the 1950's - Here comes Susie Snowflake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI0t_tadZJU
_______________________________________________________________________________
December 8 Immaculate Conception Day
_____________________________________________________________________
The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church maintaining that from the moment when she was conceived in the womb, the Blessed Virgin Mary was kept free of original sin, [1][2] so that she was from the start filled with the sanctifying grace normally conferred in baptism. It is one of the four dogmas in Roman Catholic Mariology.[3]
The doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary concerns her mother's conception of her, not Mary's conception of Jesus (the virgin birth of Jesus) nor the perpetual virginity of Mary. Although the belief that Mary was conceived immaculate was widely held since at least Late Antiquity, the doctrine was not dogmatically defined until December 8, 1854, by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. It is not formal doctrine in other Christian denominations.[4] The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is observed on December 8 in many Catholic countries as a holy day of obligation or patronal feast, and in some as a national public holiday.
Happy Day for the Society of Mary
Blessings on Billy and Pat for the love and service they give the Church! May the mother of God, continue to bless these two fine men!
http://www.societyofmaryusa.org/
_____________________________________________________________________
The doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary concerns her mother's conception of her, not Mary's conception of Jesus (the virgin birth of Jesus) nor the perpetual virginity of Mary. Although the belief that Mary was conceived immaculate was widely held since at least Late Antiquity, the doctrine was not dogmatically defined until December 8, 1854, by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. It is not formal doctrine in other Christian denominations.[4] The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is observed on December 8 in many Catholic countries as a holy day of obligation or patronal feast, and in some as a national public holiday.
Happy Day for the Society of Mary
|
| Pat (left) caring for those is need. |
|
| Billy - God's gift to so many! |
Blessings on Billy and Pat for the love and service they give the Church! May the mother of God, continue to bless these two fine men!
http://www.societyofmaryusa.org/
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