Second Sunday of Advent
From The Font
“A voice... crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”
One of the stranger and more spiritually dangerous ideas that has come into popular Catholicism from the charismatic protestant tradition is the idea that certain sins are demonic in nature and that we don’t have the power within ourselves to put them aside… Put another way, latent Pentecostalism has convinced some of us that we are powerless against certain kinds of sin…
And while it’s very, very true that demonic activity is real, it’s also true that we, as Christians, have the power to “Prepare the way of the Lord” and to “make straight his paths” and to “rid ourselves of EVERY burden and sin that clings to” us (Heb 12:1).
Properly understood, our sins are choices. While there are sins of the mind and sins of omission (things we should do but don’t do), all sins are choices. Bad habits and addictions are very real and very hard to overcome, but we generally call those habits “vices” rather than sins because they aren’t properly speaking free choices so much as they happen because we lack the freedom to control ourselves in their regard… That can seem like meaningless wordplay or semantics and they can keep us out of heaven just as certainly as our sins, properly speaking, can… The larger point, though, is that the Holy Spirit is ready and waiting to come to our aid if we cry out to Him.
We CAN rid ourselves of sin and vice if we really want to… NOW, the ways and means of accomplishing that freedom may be painful! I guarantee you that any one of us can lose weight or learn a new language or accomplish one of our goals if we REALLY want to! But the reason we don’t is because we don’t want to lift the weights or put aside the food or put in the practice. We excuse ourselves by talking about “willpower,” but it’s just a function of how seriously we want something.
That said, there are some great tools and techniques that are available to us to overcome our lack of want or intention and those tools may be helpful in the spiritual life as well. But none of them are more valuable than the certain truth that we CAN prepare the way and we CAN make the right choice.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
In reading the Bible, there’s a great divide between the Old Testament and the New Testament on the topic of justice.
In the Old Testament, everyone from the Kings to the Psalmists to the Prophets to the ordinary folks want divine justice to come for them. Everybody is excited about God’s justice. In the Gospels and in the New Testament, though, everybody switches sides pretty hard and everybody is nervous about divine justice. Jesus tells us to cover our faces against the retribution of God’s justice. We are to fear justice and long, instead, for mercy. And while it’s not exactly that cut and dry… There are definitely two very different ways of thinking about divine justice.
The amazing British author CS Lewis compared the two opposing ideas to the difference between Civil and Criminal law. He says that the Jews in the Old Testament thought of God’s justice like a civil case. They were the chosen people and God had a covenant with them and so they weren’t nervous about some moral judgement at the end of days! They understood themselves to be in the legal right… When the Messiah came, He would come like a lawyer with a box of evidence and they would be vindicated against the evil Persian and Roman empires that had oppressed the Chosen People.
In the New Testament, though, CS Lewis says that Jesus teaches us to understand Judgement as a Criminal trial in which WE are the ones being judged. Judgement isn’t about being in the covenant, it’s about living up to MY PART in that covenant. And so suddenly, Judgement isn’t an easy and welcome thing, it’s a moment of existential fear.
Again, the line isn’t cut and dry and we can see some aspects of the new idea in the Old Testament and some aspects of the old idea in the New Testament, but CS Lewis’s idea is a very good analogy. It helps us to understand why Catholics don’t believe in “being saved.”
“Being Saved” in this analogy is something like a plea bargain in which we acknowledge our sin and ask forgiveness, but then we just kind of ignore everything else! If I’m saved and then I sin again, is that just not a sin? Do I not need to ask forgiveness for it? That would seem to be the Old Testament idea of judgement.
In truth, the New Testament idea of judgement is all about turning us toward God’s mercy. It’s about calling us to realize that being a disciple of Jesus isn’t about shortcuts or one-and-done decisions! That’s part of the reason prayer matters so much! Every day we’re either getting closer to Heaven or farther away! We are, indeed, adopted children of God and thus we are part of the chosen people, but the Lord’s judgement isn’t about whether we have been given a gift, it’s about what we have done with that gift! “Being saved” is a dangerous misunderstanding that John Calvin, himself, denounced near his death.
Judgement is something that we need to keep in mind if, like St. Paul prays for us “that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” It’s not about getting on the team, it’s about giving it your all in practice and on game day!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/Rome
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue: 5:30p Vigil of Immaculate Conception-In memory of Regan & Adams families
- Wed 9:00a Feast of Immaculate Conception-In memory of Rosa Gremshell
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Kirby and Paul Fortenberry/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Dale Magoun/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Joseph and Louise Testa/Magoun
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Cathy VanderVieren
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12/4 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks |
| 12/5 9:00a | Henry and MaryKatherine | S Marsh |
| 12/11 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book |
| 12/12 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, Maura | M Lancaster |
| 12/18 5:30p | None Scheduled | VanderVieren |
| 12/19 9:00a | Preston, Cortland, Evelyn | Youth |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- Dec 5 “Christmas on the Bayou”....Arts and Crafts on Courthouse Square, Christmas Parade, Lighting of the Trees in the Bayou, Community Christmas Music program at First Baptist Church
- Dec 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception - a Holy Day of Obligation - Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, and Mass of the day at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 8.
- Dec 19 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
ANGEL TREE…ALL of our Angel Tags were quickly taken last weekend which is a GREAT thing….EXCEPT that several people have asked what they can do to be a part of the project! If you are one of those who would still like to contribute, we will be gathering some food stuffs for each family for whom we are providing so you can give a monetary gift to help facilitate that part! Just put cash or a check in an envelope and drop it in the collection or give it to Fr Ryan. There are several families with children as well as some special needs adults for whom we will be providing this season.
CHRISTMAS ON THE BAYOU … DECEMBER 5 … Arts and Crafts on Courthouse Square, Christmas Parade, Lighting of the Trees in the Bayou, Community Christmas Music program at First Baptist Church. All are invited to join in these activities.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION… DECEMBER 8… a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, and Mass of the day at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 8. Please look at your calendars and plan for your family accordingly. Should you miss either of those Masses, you can join the St. Theresa Faith Family in Delhi on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to fulfill your obligation to attend Mass.
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS… DECEMBER 19 … will be held in the Church Hall on Sunday following the Sunday Mass. Kendra Collins will be giving leadership to the event; and, if you can assist her in any way, please contact Kendra, Father Ryan, or the Church Office.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN… parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at www.virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church. “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse. “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide” The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL...If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
Stewardship Good stewards believe that God, who has begun this good work in them, will carry it through to completion. In words and deeds, they can sing with the Psalmist, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!”
SECOND COLLECTION This weekend’s second collection is for our monthly Building Fund.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2021-2022 | $ 2,111 |
| October Budget | $ 8,444 |
| October Income | $ 9,666 |
| October Expenses | $ 8,612 |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November 27/28 collection | $ 1,588 |
| November To Date | $ 8,508 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Nick and Chris Hall (Dec 7), Norman Ernst (Dec 12)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Holy Father Pope Francis and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Mary Ernst, Monique Florence, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Charlotte Marsh and Lance and Stephenie, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Jenna Faye Allen (Florence), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Molly Corulla, Sara Cannon (Gilfoil), Truman and Diane Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Tommy Dunning, Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, April Franklin (Wilks), Cogan Fulton (Ellerbee), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Kathy Garley Hanlon (Gilfoil), Rita Hargrave, Carroll Holmes and family (Keene), Lyn and Calvin Lisonbee (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), John and Martha Rogan, Bailey, Lee, and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Theresa and Albert Thom (Rome), Meg Keene Thomas, Lucy Thomason (gr-dau of Bentley Curry)(Book), Elaine and James Trimble (Rome), Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Calli Ezell, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Emmy Lu Marsh, Maddie Oliver, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood