Third Sunday of Advent
From The Font
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
As Christians, we tend to think about the end of days and the next coming of Jesus a lot like a criminal trial. We think of personal judgement based upon the criteria that Jesus laid out for us… We know that we’ll be judged by the faith in our hearts and the faith in our deeds and upon whether or not we’re sorry for our sins.
The Jews, though, tended to think about the coming of the Messiah more like a civil case in which someone stole their property (their birthright) and they are expecting the judge to find in their favor… For the Jews, the judge was coming to rule against their enemies.
When we understand just how different those two ways of thinking are, we start to see why the Jews struggled to get their heads around what Jesus was teaching.
In today’s Gospel, St. Luke wants to make it clear that John’s listeners “were filled with expectation” and that they were asking “in their hearts” whether the Messiah had come. John’s answer - which titillated them - was to speak of the Spirit of God who is coming to baptize the chosen people with fire!
To say that kind of thing to Christians is a bit scary! Baptism means ‘plunge’ and the idea of being plunged into fire is frighteningly similar to… y’know… hell. But for the Jews who were waiting for the “civil-type” judgment of God, a baptism with fire was less about hell-fire and closer to the burning bush or the pillar of fire that signaled the nearness of God… Especially given John’s invocation of the Lamb of God image, the listeners would almost certainly have thought about the way in which the Angel of Death visited the Egyptians but passed over the Jews.
So, so much of the Scripture operates on multiple layers of meaning. So often, the same words can mean one thing for the original Jewish listeners, another thing for us as Christians, yet another thing when considered as a context for theology, and still mean something else for me personally when I read it in the context of my prayer. The Lord is so much bigger than our conception of Him could ever be and just when we think we’ve got the Lord figured out, He comes to us in love to remind us that we’ve barely even begun to consider.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Joy! “Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult!” What is joy, though? Is it contentment? Is it happiness? Is it being entertained or being free from whatever the opposite of joy is?
We live in an entertainment-driven world. Just take a moment to think what percentage of our spending is about entertainment (TV, hobbies, sports, toys for us and for the kids…). It can be startling to think about how much of our time, attention, energy, and wealth goes to preventing boredom and keeping ourselves and our families entertained…
Joy isn’t about contentment. That’s just having an emotional baseline of satisfaction with one’s life and circumstances. Joy isn’t just happiness, either, happiness is either a higher emotional baseline of satisfaction with life or it’s a temporary bump in that baseline. Joy is a state of self in which I find a sense of identity and satisfaction and which insulates me from the negative emotional effects of my circumstances. Scripture tells us that Joy, as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is a source of strength from God. It’s what gave a saint like Teresa, the Little Flower, a cheerful disposition and a genuine lack of fear while she was dying from Tuberculosis. It’s what allowed Mother Teresa to endure her own inner suffering while drawing so many people to her outward appearance of happiness. Mother Teresa famously insisted that any sister who applied to her order (the Missionaries of Charity) must be visibly joyful. There are plenty of stories of young women who wanted to join the order but were dismissed by the sweet little Mother Teresa for frowning or having a sour disposition. Mother Teresa spoke constantly of the power of Joy.
In our world, it’s rare for us to see someone who is unabashedly joyful, unless we know where to look… If we were to visit what I call the itty-bittys (Pre-K & K) at either of our schools, we would be surrounded by simply joy. The little ones are delighted by their favorite crayons and a little bit of ribbon and glue. They love a goofy story, a silly adult, a cutesy game, or a cuddly puppy. And it’s real joy, too! It is a state of self in which they find a sense of satisfaction with life and which insulates them against the negative emotional effects of their circumstances. Some are poorer. Some are less smart. Some have fewer opportunities. Some will have better lives and some will have worse… But right now, they are little joy machines and there’s real wisdom to be had by looking at them.
What is it that prevents you or me from joyful like that? Is it something that we do to sabotage ourselves? What can we do to get more of that joy? In the same breath, what can we do less of? Is our own drive for entertainment perhaps preventing us from discovering the joy that Jesus freely offers to us in our humanity?
If anyone were looking for advice as to how to be more joyful, my first suggestion would not be about adding to your daily routine, it would be about removing things from it and replacing them with absolutely nothing… Adding 15-30mins of quiet or even silence into your day will, I expect, pay massive dividends sooner than you could imagine! Happy Rose Sunday!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Joseph and Louise Testa/Magoun
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue: 9:00a In memory of Gus Gremshell
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Michael Mills/Mills-Thompson
- Thu 9:00a In memory of Wallace Oliver/Rome
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Dorothy Neill/Gustafson
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12/11 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book |
| 12/12 9:00a | Chandler, Kathleen, Maura | M Lancaster |
| 12/18 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren |
| 12/19 9:00a | Preston, Cortland, Evelyn | Youth |
| 12/25 5:30p | None Scheduled | B Sullivan |
| 12/26 9:00a | Volunteers | A Keene |
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 17,18,19 Advent Mission at St Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph. See notes elsewhere.
- Dec 19 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass
- Dec 24,25,26 Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Vigil for Sunday & Sunday… Two obligations for Mass attendance due to Christmas falling on Saturday….see elsewhere in bulletin for schedule.
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…There are several families with children as well as some special needs adults for whom we will be providing this season. ALL of our Angel Tags were quickly taken 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.
ADVENT MISSION AT ST. JOSEPH AND ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCHES…St Joseph and Waterproof LA. will be held Friday, Dec 17 thru Sunday, Dec 19th. Friday’s event will be at 6 p.m. in St. Joseph with Music and worship led by visiting musician Caroline Lacombe followed by a talk by Fr. Taylor Reynolds, with adoration and confession following. Saturday’s event at 4 p.m. in Waterproof will include Mass with Bishop Robert Marshall, music with Caroline, and a talk by Fr. Taylor. Sunday, in addition to Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph, there will be at 5 p.m. Living Nativity at St. Joseph Amphitheater with Caroline leading music. All are invited to join these activities.
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS… DECEMBER 19 … will be held in the Church Hall on Sunday following Mass. Kendra Collins is giving leadership to the event; and, if you can assist her in any way, please contact Kendra, Father Ryan, or the Church Office.
POINSETTIAS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS…There are envelopes on the table at the entrance of church which you can use to make donations “ in memory of…” or “in honor of…” family and friends and contribute to the poinsettias and decorations for the Advent and Christmas season. You can drop your envelope (or check with a notation that it is for flowers) in the collection basket or give to Father Ryan or leave at the office.
2022 CALENDARS…can be found at the entrance of church and you are invited to take at least one so that you share with your family the significant days in the life of the church. Feel free to take more than one calendar and take one to your office location as well.
2022 STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPE SETS…can be found on the table at the entrance of church. If you do not see a box with your name and would like to have a set of envelopes, please advise Father Ryan or the Church Office.
CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, VIGIL OF SUNDAY, AND SUNDAY MASS…this year as Christmas falls on Saturday, we have an obligation to attend Mass at least twice in a 39 hour time frame.
For Christmas, Mass will be offered at St. Edward
- Christmas Eve (Friday) 6 p.m. Lector: MA Gilfoil
- Christmas Day (Saturday) 9 a.m. Lector: A Keene
- Christmas Day (Saturday) 11 a.m. Lector: Volunteer
For Sunday (Dec 26), Mass will be offered at St Edward
- Saturday 5:30 p.m. Lector: B Sullivan
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. Lector: A Keene
Stewardship Today’s Gospel provides a blueprint for good stewardship: “ Let the man who has two coins give to him who has none. The man who has food should do the same.”
SECOND COLLECTION This weekend’s second collection is designated to assist the National program of support for Retired Religious (brothers and nuns) who have committed so much of their lives in service to our church and faith families. Please be generous
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November Income | $ 9,408 |
| November Expenses | $ 8,896 |
| December Budget | $ 8,444 |
| December 4/5 collection | $ 2,653 |
| December To Date | $ 2,653 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Norman Ernst (Dec 12), Katherine Ernst Bedgood (Dec 14), Madeline Oliver (Dec 14), Johnny Gilfoil (Dec 15), Peggy Scurria (Dec 16), Bart Wood (Dec 19)
Happy Anniversary MaryKathryn and Nap Book (Dec 14)
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), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), 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