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* * * 2006 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * *
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WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 21, 2006 @ 4:00pm
More info:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2006-December/051747.html
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Dear Friend,
We are almost there; but are we all ready for the coming of the Lord?
Christmas is not so much about Jesus being born in Bethlehem but about his
coming into our lives. He comes not to be in some place but to be at home. Mary
prepares her home by going out of her way to be with Elizabeth. Can we go out
of our way to make someone, Jesus at home? Have an at-home-with-Jesus
weekend! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Fourth Sunday of Advent Perfect abode of God! 24-Dec-2006
Readings: Micah 3: 1-4; Hebrews: 4:4-7;
Luke 1:39-44;
In todays reading from the Book of Micah the prophet reminds the people that
the promised one will be born soon, the Lord has not abandoned his people. He
will come like a shepherd ready to guard and nourish his flock. Though they are
in exile, though the circumstances they endure in exile makes them hopeless,
they should not abandon hope because God is coming to liberate them and restore
them.
In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews we are reminded that the
perfect preparation for the coming of the Lord is not mere ritual sacrifices
and offering but obedience to the will of God. Our prayer should be Here I am
Lord I am coming to do your will. God takes no pleasure in the things we do
offer him; he needs us, not our offerings. The perfect model for sacrifice is
Jesus himself who came to offer himself to do the will of his Father.
Giving the best we can offer
The story is told of a mother waiting for her young son to come home from
boarding school for his Christmas holidays. In her eager anticipation, on the
evening previous to his arrival, she had baked his favourite cake and kept it
in the larder. That night her aged father, who was staying with them, got up
feeling hungry, he stumbled down to the kitchen and was rummaging for some
food. He espied the cake and could not resist taking a slice. The next morning
when the mother saw the damage done, she scolded the old man, who very
sheepishly was trying to excuse himself, saying he only took a tiny slice.
She said: It doesnt matter to you does it? But it matters to me, very much
indeed. In her joyful expectation she had poured out her love, only a matter
of flour, and milk and eggs, it would seem, but it mattered very much indeed.
The Church places Mary as the model for waiting and preparing for the coming
of the Lord. What exactly did Mary do? By her faith, and
obedience to God she prepared a body for him, through her self-gift.
Denis Pereira in All Times and All Seasons Belong to Him
Todays gospel expands the theme of eagerly expecting the coming of the
messiah. There is an urgency and excitement in those who prepare for his
coming. His coming literally moves them. Mary is moved to go to visit her
cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth is moved by the visit of Mary and Jesus in her
womb. John the Baptist is moved and leaps for joy at the presence of the one
who is to come. All are moved to believe, all are moved to go out of themselves
to reach out to the others. The nearness of Jesus is a comforting and
reassuring presence but it is also a dynamic presence that moves us to action,
to reaching out to others. To have Jesus in us we have to share his presence
with others. The more we give Jesus the more we have of him.
I cannot define the Christmas spirit, but I know what it means, I think we all
do. It is distinguished by cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity. Mary is
the person who exemplifies the Christmas spirit. In todays gospel we are
reminded that Mary had just conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. It
all seemed impossible, too good to be true. To give Mary assurance, the angel
informs her that Elizabeth her elderly cousin had also conceived and was now in
her sixth month. As soon as Mary learnt about Elizabeth her thoughts turned
immediately from the magnificent reality of what had just occurred in her womb
and focused on her relative in need. She forgot about herself. She spent not
even a moment on how blessed she had been by God. She proceeds in great haste
to Elizabeths home. She went in haste so eager was she to help the old woman.
Mary would shower Elizabeth with cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity.
Even before Christmas existed, Mary manifested
the Christmas spirit. Charles Miller
God breaks into our lives!
Yesterday I watched a huge flight of geese winging their way south through one
of those panoramic sunsets that colour the entire sky for a few moments. I saw
them as I leaned against the lion statue in front of the Chicago Art Institute,
where I was watching the Christmas shoppers hurry along Michigan Avenue. When I
lowered my gaze, I noticed that a bag lady, standing a few feet away, had also
been watching the geese. Our eyes met and we smiled silently acknowledging the
fact that we had shared a marvelous sight, a symbol of the mystery of the
struggle to survive. I overheard the lady talking to herself as she shuffled
away. Her words God spoils me were startling. Was the lady, this street
derelict, being facetious? No. I believe the sight of the geese has shattered,
however briefly, the harsh reality of her struggle. I realized later that
moments such as this one sustained her; it was the way she survived the
indignity of the street. Her smile was real. The sight of the
geese was her Christmas present. It was proof God existed. It was all she
needed. I envy her.
Fred Lloyd Cochran in Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul
Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be
fulfilled! Elizabeths cry refers to the annunciation when Mary, overshadowed
by the Holy Spirit, becomes the Mother of God. The visitation completes and
confirms the angels message it bears witness to the dynamic power of the
Spirit which increasingly dominates the infancy narratives. Mary eagerly
embarks upon the first apostolic journey to share her joy with her cousin;
Elizabeth yields the first place and proclaims Mary blessed amongst all women.
John leaps with joy and so begins his mission as precursor. So many simple
signs which nonetheless show that from the moment of Jesus conception, a river
of life has begun to flow, irresistibly and will soon water the entire face of
the earth. We breathe the same gospel fragrance today whenever Christians,
following the example of Mary and Elizabeth, tell each other in simplicity of
heart how God is present in their lives, when they celebrate with
thanksgiving the marvels which the Lord has worked for them. Glenstal Bible
Missal
Are you awake? Are you aware of God?
A man came to the Buddha and asked him, Tell me Buddha, are you a god? No, I
am not god. Are you an angel? No, I am not. Are you a prophet? No, not
a prophet neither. What are you then? Whereupon the Buddha answered
. I am
awake. -Most of us are not awake. We are always in slumber. We are not aware
of our own thoughts, feelings and actions. We function most of the time, like
automatons. The enlightened are those who are aware and awake.
Dr. Francis Xavier in The Worlds Best Inspiring Stories
May we become aware of His wonderful coming in our lives!
Fr. Jude Botelho
www.netforlife.net
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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