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Our Parish
Our Mission & Patron
Parish History
Join our Parish
Bulletins
Latest News
Catholic Faith Resources
Calendar
Blog
Giving
Contact Us
Stewardship
Newsletters
Event Form
Love One Another Capital Campaign 2023
Community Life
Fish Fry
Donut Sundays
Meet the Team
Pastoral Staff
Pastoral Council
Finance Council
Committees
Careers
Liturgy & Sacraments
Mass Times
Pray With Us
Funerals & Cemetery
Sacraments
Baptism
Eucharist
Reconciliation
Confirmation
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage
Holy Orders
Become Catholic
Faith Formation
Contact Faith Formation
Catholic Social Teaching
Adult Formation
Lent Resources
2023
Alpha
Knights of Columbus
Men's Group
Women's Group
Small Groups
RCIA: Adult Sacraments
Student Formation
Busy Bees & Parents @ the Playground
Registration Information
Family Class
Pre K- 1st Grade: CGS
Grades 2-5
Middle School
High School
Ministries
Get Involved
Outreach Ministry
Console the Sick
Feed the Hungry
Clothe the Naked
Comfort the Mourning
Strengthen Families
Sister Parishes
Liturgical Ministry
Music Ministry
Minister at Mass
Console the Sick
Ready the Church
Hospitality
December 16
Our Parish
December
13
,
2018
In Christianity, we hear often about the "Good News." We might
often associate it with Jesus' compassion to the poor, his healings
and miracles, and the salvation he won for us. In today's Gospel,
we read of John the Baptist. "Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people." Yet as we examine the rest
of the reading, we see examples of John's preaching. If you have
two cloaks, give one away. Don't cheat others out of their money,
extort, or lie. And, of course, the warning that the Messiah is on
the move and "his winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his
threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the
chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Merry Christmas?
Not only do John's listeners enjoy his message, but they seem to
think he might be the awaited Messiah! To understand today's
Gospel, it's important to understand the Jewish people. For most
of their history, God's chosen people had been under someone
else's heel. They were slaves in Egypt. Their kingdoms were
ravaged first by the Assyrians, then the Babylonians. Now they
were under the yoke of the Roman Empire. Familiar with being
strangers in a strange land, welcoming the stranger, caring for
the vulnerable, and enacting justice was incredibly important to
them as a people. While John's words may seem odd or strong to
our modern ears, this call to justice was welcome, even if it was
directed at the hearer.
The truth is, no one is exempt from John's call to repentance. We
all have further to go in the Christian life. We can all grow in
virtue and love our neighbors more generously. The Church gives
us the Advent season to examine our own hearts. Did any of
John's warnings resonate with you? That could be a great thing to
bring to Jesus this week!
©LITURGICAL PUBLICATION