Parent Teacher Talk



1st Sunday of Advent

December 3, 2023



Gospel of Mark

Mk 13:33-37



A Reading from the Book of Prophet Isaiah

Is 63;16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

This a prayer in time of distress. God's people who have returned from exile in Babylon are experiencing frustration. The reconstruction has not worked as they had hoped. They attribute this to their own sins. May God intervene and help!

The "shepherd of Israel" is God, leader of his chosen people, us. "The man of your right hand" is the king, representing the people, all of us. Our planet, our community, our family, and we ourselves --- all need God to come and save us from the mess we have made of life so often!

Advent, the four weeks of preparation for Christmas, means "coming." May God coms in his Messiah, Anointed One, Jesus Christ! But in order to receive him, we must open up. "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved."

The Responsorial Psalm is that that we put our trust in Jesus because of his love and kindness and that he has done great things for us, so we should be filled with joy and love for him and thoro be like him.

in your self-giving. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord hears the cry of the poor!

A Reading, From the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

1 Cor 1:3-9

Paul sees the community of Corinth as waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He thanks God for the favors bestowed on them in Christ Jesus: the gift of speech and knowledge. Later in the Letter, he will tell them to use these gifts well! Waiting and persevering to the end requires the strength of God, but they will succeed. "God is faithful."

God's word to you be: You are waiting for the final revelation of Christ. God has bestowed gifts on you. How are you using them? Persevering as a real Christian is not easy. Pray for it! God is faithful.

In the Gospel of Mark

Mk 13:33-37



The meaning of this parable is clear. Our Lord is "abroad." He ascended to heaven, but he will come back. Are we doing our job?Indeed, we are the "now" generation. The young want to enjoy everything they can right now. They are like high school drop-outs who lack the energy to work first so as to enjoy a more beautiful life later! Grown-ups may get drowsy, drift away from God, as can happen to partners in marriage.

God said to the church of Ephesus: "I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first." "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come."

Newsy Notes

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Deacon Bob Brazier, CRE

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REMEMBER:

Welcome Back

There is PSR Class this Weekend

"Happy Advent "

1st Reconciliation



CONFIRMATION

T







Address future PSR and Sacramental Preparation Questions to:

Deacon Bob Brazier at bbrazier@sttm.org

Bring Your Children To Mass?

When Jesus reprimanded the apostles for wanting

to keep children away from Him (see Mt 19:14),

He did not give an age or behavior requirement.

At the baptism of a child, parents and sponsors

promise to teach their children the Catholic faith

and “to bring them up according to

the law of Christ and His Church.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us,

“The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day

and his Eucharist is at the

heart of the Church’s life” (No. 2177).

This importance is shown in attendance at Mass

and rest from labor, the first of the precepts of the Church.

Click the link below to read why you should bring your children to Mass:

BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO MASS

Divine Lord, send your Holy Spirit anew into our hearts and cleanse us from all sin so we may adore and worship you in Spirit and in truth. Create in us a greater love for your Word and a keener desire to serve you and our fellow men. Remove all malice, bitterness, and resentment from our minds, and fill us with your abundant grace. In Christ Jesus our Savior and Friend.

AMEN