Padre Portion

Rose Sunday, 3rd Sunday of Advent - Dec 15th, 2024
Brothers and Sisters - Luke 3:10-18... You might be aware that we alll have a pre-made feeling of who God is. We get these usually from what kind of person our father or grandfather is. Are they a strong disciple kind of parent? Are they a non-aggressive kind of person. Did they show feelings of affection, or were they emotionally firm? And sadly, were they absent from your home-life? Was there a death or a divorce? The Readings for this Rose Sunday (The priest wears Rose colored vestments as a sign of brightness and joy) show clearly God's heart filled with Fatherly affection for us. Did you catch the reference to the "Star of Christmas" at the end of the First Reading? This Fatherly Joy of God is the power of the Gospel. As you enter in to the Christmas Season, looking at our Gospel Reading, may you be brought again to the Joy of the often quoted (but true!) expression, "It is better to give than to receive", Acts 20:35)

2nd Sunday of Advent - Dec 8th, 2024
Brothers and Sisters - Luke 3:1-6... Have you ever had a deep time of thinking about who John the Baptist was? Have you ever wondered what that 30 years was like for John the Baptist (and Jesus) as they grew up in the Land of Israel? Because of the three annual pilgrimages, they both were familiar with Jerusalem. John even grew up in a suburb of Jerusalem. Remember that his father, Zecharia was a priest who served at the Temple. One point of curiosity for me was, "Did Jesus and John interact as youth, as did Elizabeth and Mary when Elizabeth was pregnant with John?" One very important aspect of their lives was that it was still Old Testament life. It is said of John that he was the final Old Testament prophet. As you hopefully feel in your heart, that the Lord knows you personally, notice how much detail is given in Luke 1 - 2, about how much interaction the Lord expresses with the Lives of John, Zecharia, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary. As we travel through Advent, let remember to take notice of the life of John the Baptist, and his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth!!!