READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/november.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101
November 30, 2010
(Rom 10:13-15) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things?
RESOURCE: Birmingham Catholic Bishop Robert J. Baker writes Advent devotional
Catholic Bishop Robert J. Baker once had a Christmas tree nearly dumped on his head. "Someone threw the tree off a balcony the day after Christmas," Baker said. That was years ago in Charleston, S.C., but the trend toward earlier and earlier Christmas shopping seasons, followed by an immediate dropping of Christmas cheer the day after, has troubled the bishop ever since. This year, he's promoting the importance of Advent -- the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Baker, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, has written a 28-day devotional, "Reasons for Hope: Meditations for the Advent Season," that is available free online at the Our Sunday Visitor Publishing website: http://www.osv.com/portals/0/pdf/Ebook-ReasonsForHope.pdf. Baker has also taped the meditations, and they will be airing daily on EWTN beginning Sunday, the first day of Advent, and continuing through Christmas at various times each day. It's important to stress the spiritual meaning of Christmas and prepare for it, Baker said. "If Christmas is to have meaning, you have to prepare for it, in a way that's prayerful and penitential," Baker said. "That's why we have purple candles. To remind us the king is being welcomed with prayerful and penitential hearts."
An Advent wreath is traditionally made of evergreens in a circle, symbolizing God's unending love. It includes three purple candles, and the candle for the third week of Advent is pink in most Advent wreaths. It signifies the hope of the coming of Christ, Baker said. "Hope is needed in our culture," Baker said. "People are struggling economically. People are in dire need of hope." For Christians, that hope comes from the birth of Jesus, he said. For the first week, there is one purple candle lit on the Advent wreath every day. Another is added the second week. A pink candle is lit the third week, another purple candle the fourth week. The three purple candles and the pink candle are all lit on the last Sunday before Christmas and throughout that week. A white candle at the center of most Advent wreaths, the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas day, Baker said. Baker recommends that starting Sunday, families light Advent candles each day at the dinner table in their homes. "They can make their own meditations as a family," Baker said. "Children can come up with beautiful ideas. Let the children come up with a reflection." The essence of Advent is preparation for the arrival of Christ, Baker said. "God is here; he is not withdrawn from the world," Baker said. "We Christians see Jesus as the hope of the world," Baker said. "He is Emmanuel, God with us. No matter what our situation, how bleak, God is with us and he walks with us through the struggles and turmoil of life." ADDITIONAL LINK: Praying Advent-2010
Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 26- "Brief Summary on Discernment"
47. As a blind man cannot see to walk freely, so those who hoard money cannot ascend to Heaven.Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com
This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
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