December 22nd, 2013
In Luke’s account of the Annunciation we are told that after Mary gave her consent to the angel’s message she went in haste to be with her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant in her old age. When Mary came home to Nazareth after a few months away she was showing her pregnancy. Because they had never been intimate this shocked and distressed Joseph. Rather than cause Mary and her family any shame or hurt he made up his mind to call off the marriage. I’m sure he didn’t come to this decision easily but his mind was made up until he dreamed a dream and Joseph did as the angel commanded him; he took Mary as his wife.
Matthew makes it sound so easy – Joseph did as the angel said. But Joseph had to be confused, embarrassed and hurt by Mary’s condition. Can you imagine what a frightening thing this must have been for Joseph? He and Mary were probably in their mid-teens when all this happened. We are in wonder at the faith and trust both of them showed when God intruded into their lives and swept them up in this mystery of Mary giving birth to God’s Son. It is because Mary and Joseph opened their lives to God’s will that all enjoy the reality of Emmanuel – God with us – every day of our lives.
Matthew ends this part of the gospel claiming all this was a fulfillment of a prophecy made centuries ago, ’the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel – God with us. But quote goes back to Isaiah and deals with a totally different situation. Isaiah was trying to convince King Ahaz not to capitulate with the Assyrian armies that besieged Jerusalem. He offers the King a sign, the sign of a young woman conceiving and having a child. It is probable that the young woman in question was the wife of the king, and the son to be born was Hezekiah. This is to be a sign that Ahaz’s dynasty would continue because God was with God’s people. Matthew uses this ancient text and gives it a whole new meaning; God is with us in Jesus, flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone, one like us in all things but sin.
Joseph did as the angel said; he took Mary as his wife. Joseph and Mary were young people of deep faith and they trusted that God worked God’s will in the ordinary lives of ordinary people. They’d seen so many examples of this in the scriptures on which they had been raised.
Joseph and Mary reached out and took hold of this mystery and made it their own. They would face their unknown future trusting they were doing God’s will and God would be with them. Not as easy thing to do.
There can be times in our lives when we too are invited into the mysterious ways of God. Things happen in our lives that we really don’t want to happen, things that totally upset the way we want things to be. We ask why, maybe we scream why.
Why us, why this, why now? When these bad, sad, challenging things happen in our live, by the same grace of God that sustained Joseph and Mary we too can reach out and grasp these realities of our lives. They come in many different ways; medical tests results that tell us troubled days and nights are ahead. We resist and resent when we hear we can no longer drive our car. We find it so difficult to face the fact that we can no longer live alone in a house that has been our home for years. We are angry and feel victimized when are told the company is downsizing or moving to another place. We are totally frustrated when after all our years of study and preparing for a career there is nothing there for us. Our marriage is on the rocks, our children have no interest in the faith in which we raised them, a spouse or a lifelong friend has died. These shocks and so many other things can take our breath away.
Today’s gospel and its young hero Joseph has so much to say to us. He didn’t simply bow his head and humbly accept what God asked of him. Joseph reached out and grasped the mystery and made it his own. Whatever all this meant, whatever was asked of him he would accept, he would work through it for he trusted God was with him and God would see him through it until his task was done.
As we prepare ourselves for the coming feast of the birth of Jesus, we pray that when circumstances call us to face hard times and hard choices we will have courage of the young Joseph who with fear and trembling opened his life to the mysterious ways of God.
| Posted in Homily |
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Amen.
Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 22nd 2:00 to 4:00 PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 for more information.
MASSES
CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th No 9:00 A.M. Mass 7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing 9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing 12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th 10:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. Office Closed
BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st No 9:00 A.M. Mass Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD 10:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. Office Closed
Parking
While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM Rehearsal: Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.
We are in need of 2 people to help with the altar linens. If you are interested, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Not by Passive Hope.” Saturday, December 21st from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M.
The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change; it is not a passive hope.
By examining the recent typhoon in the Philippines, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice.
Please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.
For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag.
Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.
Many of you have been asking how to contact Bishop Gary Gordon. You can contact him at www.whitehorsediocese.com.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space decorated with gift tags. Each tag has the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space by this Sunday, December 15th. If you are a knitter, there are mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous support.
There but for the Grace of God…
Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the Good Shepherd Centre’s annual Christmas Food Drive.
Urgently Needed Items:Rice, pasta and sauces, breakfast cereals, powered fruit juices, canned items – fish, meats, vegetables, fruit, soup or stews, peanut butter, jams, tea, ground and instant coffee, sugar, cookies and crackers, ketchup, mustard and relish.
Donations may be left in the designated containers at the doors of the Church. We thank you for your generous support.
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 15th.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Thank you for your generosity!
Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it. Receipts for 2013 donations will be mailed out by the end of February.
You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!
Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.
Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.
The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes which includes Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 15th, 2013
I think an image we may have on John the Baptist might be that of a severe, intense man, a man committed to a mission. He comes in from his life in the desert, dishevelled in his camel robe tied with leather belt. He calls people to return to the ways of God from which many of them had wandered. His message was clear for all to hear, repent and change your ways. John was not intimidated by anyone, not even the king. He told King Herod it was not lawful to be married to his brother’s wife and this landed him in prison and cost him his life.
It was only after John’s arrest that Jesus, who John knew to be someone special, began his own mission echoing the message of John but in a different way. John’s disciples kept him up to date on what this new preacher was about. Jesus seemed to lack the intensity of John’s preaching. Maybe John and his followers felt Jesus was watering down the call to repentance. So in today’s gospel we have their interesting question for Jesus, ‘are you he who is to come or should we look for another’?
Jesus sends these good men back to John to tell John about Jesus and his works. The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, even the dead are raised and most important of all the poor, the little people of the land have the good news of God’s loved brought to them through the teachings and the works of Jesus. These words of Jesus echo the words of Isaiah who saw such works as a sign of Messianic times.
Are you he who is to come or should be look to another? The teaching of Jesus regarding love and justice, peace and reconciliation fall on deaf ears these days, even within the church itself. We breathe in the air that surrounds us, an atmosphere on wanting and having more – especially during the buying frenzy that happens at this time of the year. We know we are a wasteful, disposable society. We trash things and we trash people, we trash relationships. We allow ourselves to weary of the cry of the poor and feel we have no obligation to those who have less than ourselves. So we do look for another to fulfill our idea of the good life, the fulfilled life.
As Pope Francis wrote recently, This “culture of waste” tends to become the common mentality that infects everyone. Human life, the person is no longer perceived as a primary value to be respected and protected, especially if poor or disabled, if not yet useful – such as the unborn child – or no longer needed – such as the elderly. This culture of waste has made us insensitive even to the waste and disposal of food, which is even more despicable when all over the world, unfortunately, many individuals and families are suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
But there is another side to the reality of our times. There is goodness in this world of ours, in this country of ours, in this parish of ours. With a sense of justice and charity good people reach out to others in need, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. By their deeds of kindness, their generosity towards those who have less, by their efforts to bring about fairness and justice in places of work, by people taking the time to visit the sick and shut-ins, people mentoring students who have difficulty learning, by showing respect to people of other faiths, cultures and life styles – through all these good works by good men and women other people who were blind come to see the goodness in others, other people open their ears to the cries of the poor, the homeless, the over worked and under paid. Because of the good works of good people, other people crushed by the unjust policies of governments or corporations find the strength to stand up and speak out for change. Just as an example, our social ministry in Honduras and Jamaica would not be possible were it not for the generosity and social awareness of college students who volunteer for two years to work with us in these places.
With our eyes of faith fixed on Jesus, listening to his words and imitating his works we need not look for another. We can make a difference in our world, our church, our parish as we struggle every day to be the kind of person Christ calls us to be, people who love as we’ve been loved, heal as we’ve been healed, forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Being true to the example and teachings of Jesus we need not look for another.
December 16th to December 21st, 2013
MONDAY – ANNA McGLADE – Requested by her Friends TUESDAY – THANKSGIVING Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang & Family WEDNESDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung THURSDAY – JOHN & CATHERINE KELLY – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – FOR THEIR 62ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Requested by Anne & Brendan Clarke SATURDAY – KATHI WATTS – Requested by Kathi Leah
Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M.
If you are interested in learning more about or joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you are invited to attend an information meeting on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M. here at the Church.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for December 8th, 2013
Envelopes 444 $9,181 Loose Change $889 Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519(Pre-Authorized Giving) Total $13,589
Moving Forward Together Collection $5,736
December 8th, 2013
The sprout of Jesse is rising in all our lives.
Just a few words on the image we are given in the first words of our reading from Isaiah; a shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.’ When Isaiah wrote these words the people of Israel were at a low point in their history. Our merciful God sent his servant Isaiah to a people burdened by confusion and hopelessness with the promise that things will get better. Don’t give up.
How many good people in the world today live in such desperate situations? We can’t imagine what the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children in the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jorden are going through. How desperate and hopeless their lives must be. We think of the good people of the Philippines who lost everything in the latest typhoon.
Closer to home, we know people or we may be experiencing it ourselves who hear the news of a tumor or growth in our body. We may be grieving over the death of a spouse or family member. Maybe we are dealing with a son or daughter trapped in addiction to drugs. Maybe we are part of a downsizing in our place of work and face the possibility of being jobless. Maybe we are dealing with the breakup of our marriage or the ending of a long term friendship. Maybe we have a job we hate and know we are under paid. So many of these realities convince us our world is ending, falling down around us and we have nowhere to go.
It was to such people as us, a people who saw themselves as helpless, powerless, with hope that God send Isaiah with his powerful vision of hope.
Isaiah uses the image of a stump of a once mighty tree that had been cut down and yet from that stump came new life, new growth, and a new future. From that stump came the promise of time of peace and justice – total opposites living in harmony; the wolf and lamb, the leopard and kid, the calf and the lion, the cow and the bear.
There can be times when we feel we’ve been cut down, we have nothing left. We feel that all our efforts to be good and loving, to be fair just don’t bear fruit. We struggle with our daily realty that the good we want to do, we do not do and the evil we would not do, we still do. We struggle every day to be loving and forgiving men and woman. We try to be accepting of men and women who believe and live differently than we do. We try to be more aware of and sensitive to the needs of our neighbours. And when the sun goes down we know we haven’t lived and loved anyway near the image of harmony Isaiah offers in today’s scripture.We try to love others with the same generosity with which God has loved us.
We wish the imagery of the gospel might be true in our lives, our crooked ways made straight, our rough ways smooth, our high opinions of ourselves brought low so that nothing in our daily living could hinder the coming of God’s kingdom into that part of our lives which has yet to be redeemed.
As someone once wrote, ’Advent is about glimpsing God’s intimate love for every hair on our heart.’ Advent in trusting the truth that God’s grace can bring new life and transformation out of the stumps of our lives because with God all things are possible. We wait on and work with God’s grace. As one of the saints said,’ all shall be well and all shall be well and every manner of things shall be well.’
May we all have the faith to believe that the shoot of Jesse is sprouting in all our lives.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk