Archive for January 1, 2016

An Invitation To Come And See

Posted: January 1, 2016 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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Day 6 of the Christmas Octave was a celebration for Jesus and a countdown party for the new year. Dinner was held outside the auditorium before heading in for the festivities.

This year I wanted to do something different and so intentionally ate dinner quickly and went round greeting everyone. Introducing myself to Parishioners not seen before.

Then I spotted a couple in their late fifties about to leave after dinner and invited them to stay. Apparently they were not aware there was a year end party inside the auditorium. They were served with some wine and stayed on throughout the night. They even came down to the dance floor and moved to the upbeat music catered for the youths. Later we chatted and I found that Robert and Muriel were living here alone while their daughter a scientist had settled down with her husband in Canada. It was a warming feeling to have been able to celebrate the new year with a new relationship centred on Christ.

All it took was an invitation to come and see……..

Now if all of us invited one couple or one person…..

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: January 1, 2016 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Dearest Blessed Mother Mary,

Mother of God, my mother I truly love you with all my heart. It is through you that I know your Son my Lord and God intimately. For you have given me the key that has opened the door of my heart to receive Him.  That is a pondering heart that treasures the Word of God.

The light of His face shines brightly upon me. I am truly blessed to have you sweet gentle mother in my life. You never gave up on me even though I strayed, and were always there to pick me up, dust me off and point me towards the embracing arms of your Son my Saviour.

And through Him we are made sons and daughters of God our Heavenly Father. We can cry out with joy Abba! Father… His peace and love is upon us now and forever. Amen

Mary, Mother of God – Solemnity

First reading
Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘Say this to Aaron and his sons: “This is how you are to bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”

This is how they are to call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.’

Second reading
Galatians 4:4-7

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. The proof that you are sons is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries, ‘Abba, Father’, and it is this that makes you a son, you are not a slave any more; and if God has made you son, then he has made you heir.

Gospel
Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.

  When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.