Second Sunday of Advent
From The Font
“The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.”
It’s hard to overstate the importance of this verse. To be clear, Isaiah is writing this without knowing that God is a Trinity or that the Holy Spirit is anything more than an attribute of God. He’s also not, in any way, aware that the Messiah will be a person of that Trinity or that the Spirit of God will dwell within that Messiah.
For the Jews, the Messiah was broadly understood to be a warrior-politician who would appear at the head of the army, wipe out the enemies of Israel and set up a dynasty of kings - or at least something to that effect. Isaiah isn’t trying to claim here that the Messiah would be anything more than a very, very virtuous Jew. And yet the Holy Spirit - Whom Isaiah names without knowing it - uses Isaiah’s limited perspective to proclaim a truth that would not pay off or make sense for 600 years!
That reality should cause us to pause and realize that God is not limited by us in any way!
If God wants to use you or me to do something profound on a large scale or a very small one, He can! It doesn’t matter whether I have this or that skill, talent, ability, knowledge, perspective, wealth, or whatever!
If the Lord wants me to have wisdom, the Lord can give it to me. If the Lord wants me to have understanding, He can give it to me. The same with sage advice, moral strength, or even specific knowledge. At the top of the list of these gifts (also called “charisms”) is “Fear of the Lord.” Sadly, the 80s overused the word “awesome…” “Awe” is the word we use to describe being astounded, amazed, blown away by something. “Fear of the Lord” and “Awe of the Lord” are very similar which is why the delight of the Messiah and the delight of every Christian believer should be “Fear of the Lord.” We all love being in awe of something and to be in awe of the Lord - either because of a mystical experience or a deeply personal one - makes us feel something nothing else in this world has to offer. Being amazed - awed - by God is something that we are designed and built to desire about almost anything else in this life.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
When Our Lady appeared at Lourdes, Bernadette couldn’t convince the local clergy that her vision was real. So Our Lady told Bernadette to use the phrase “Je suis l'Immaculée Conception” which, in English, is “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
That’s a complicated and technical theological phrase that would’ve been completely unknown to even many of the priests of the region. It was only known among those who were especially well studied or who were keeping a close eye on the writings of the Pope. Of course, nowadays, we’ve heard that phrase a thousand times. Even though it’s still a complex theological idea, Our Lady has brought it up every single time She has appeared in the last 200 years. It’s amazing how quickly we adapt to our own times. Mary has not made a habit of appearing publicly throughout history - She’s only really done it in the past 200 years (excepting Guadalupe). The idea of Her Immaculate Heart is not an idea that reaches back in history, it’s a newish way of thinking. Even the theological lingo is relatively new. The Church has only taught the Immaculate Conception as Dogma since 1854. Which is around the same time that Our Lady began appearing to children all over the world and advising them to speak on Her behalf to the wise and learned of the world.
Why oh why would Our Lady choose 10 year olds and even younger children to explain theological complexity to educated and devoted bishops and religious people? Why would Our Lady give such important instructions about the coming trials the world must face and about how we are to survive them to kids? The answer is hidden right in the way She identifies Herself every single time: I am the Immaculate Conception. Simply put, that means She is perfect purity, free from original or actual sin and free from the effects of sin. And the only other folks on our big blue marble who come close to that are the “little ones” that Jesus loved so dearly. The children are special!
Is there any real surprise that most of the evil of the modern world is attacking them…? Abortion tries to kill them before they get here. The perversion of the family tries to rob them of the love they need. Sinful clergy, activist teachers, woke media, etc rob them of their innocence. Even our welfare system and the communist sympathizers in the world at large seek to take from them a sense of larger purpose in their futures. But Jesus and Mary go to the children and love them and trust them with the most important truths in our modern world.
Our Holy Day of Obligation this week is complex and technical and, honestly, hard to understand without a degree or two from a theological college. But the larger spiritual context in which the Immaculate Conception functions is very close to our hearts. Our Lady is purity and she desires to help our children to embrace their own purity again while they can. We, as families, should make every effort to protect their innocence against the deadly forces of perversion and technology that are gunning for them at every moment. Children are a sign to us of God’s goodness, love and wonder!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome/P Gilfoil
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Cougan Fulton/Lancaster
- Wed 5:30p In memory of John and Marie Johnson/family (Vigil of Feast of Immaculate Conception
- Thu 9:00a In memory of May DiTomasso (Feast of Immaculate Conception – Holy Day
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Dale Magoun/family
- Sun 9:00a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12/3 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard |
| 12/4 9:00a | Henry and MaryKatherine | D Ellerbee |
| 12/10 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow |
| 12/11 9:00a | Chandler, Annie, Maura | K Collins |
| 12/17 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil |
| 12/18 9:00a | Courtland and Preston | Youth |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass at 5:30p
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall after the 9:00a Mass unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Tuesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
Dec 4 Angel Tree packages need to be returned to Church Hall
- Dec 4 Christmas Along the Bayou Festival - Parade 3 p.m., Music program at First Baptist Church 6 p.m. followed by fireworks.
- Dec 8 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION…HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION… see notes elsewhere for times.
- Dec 18 Birthday Party for Jesus for our youth and families following Sunday Mass. All are invited to join in. See notes elsewhere for details.
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
FORMED.ORG… Check out FORMED’s Advent Page! (https://watch.formed.org/advent-and-christmas) They’ve got a ton of great content for all ages! Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
CHRISTMAS ALONG THE BAYOU… the community festival will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2022 . There will be a parade at 3 p.m., music program at First Baptist Church at 6 p.m., and fireworks on the bayou following the music program.
ANGEL TREE… Gifts need to be brought to the Church Hall by December 4.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION…HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION… Anticipated Mass on Wednesday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. and on the Feast Day on Thursday, December, 8 at 9 a.m.
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS… will be held on Sunday, December 18 following the Sunday Mass for our children and their families. All are invited to join in the celebration. Kendra Collins will give leadership to this event. Please offer your assistance to her.
40 HOURS DEVOTIONS at ST JOSEPH… Fr Taylor will host Eucharistic Devotions at St Joseph on Dec 8-10. The “40 Hours” devotion is a long-standing tradition in the Church which has fallen out of use in the last few years, but is especially recommended to increase our love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. It consists of forty consecutive hours of Eucharistic Adoration along with various talks, presentations, penance services, etc. Fr Ryan will be speaking on Friday at 6pm and a penance service will follow. All are heartily encouraged to attend! For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/stjoe40hours
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2020-21 | $ 2,111 |
| October Budget | $ 10,555 |
| October Income | $ 9,515 |
| October Expenses | $ 9,175 |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November 26-27 Collection | $ 1,410 |
| November Income To Date | $ 5,446 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Chris and Nick Hall (Dec 7)
Happy Anniversary Dana and Randy Dukes (Dec 3)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Holy Father Pope Francis and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Mary Ernst, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Kathleen Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Sue & Mike Rome, Delia Trichell, and Don Wood
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Ruthie Coenen (Wilks), Jami Cook (Wilks), Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Ashley and Chuck Edwards (Keene), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Charlotte Green, Carol Drawe Guidry (Gilfoil & Keene), Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Melissa Jennings (Gilfoil & Keene), Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Mason Miller (Wilks), Caryn Oliver, Sue Perrilloux (D Wood), Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Frances Robinson (Wilks), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Albert Thom (Rome), Gabby Trejos (Wilks), LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Joe Yerger
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Brice Wood, Marsh Wood
