Every year on the second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist makes his appearance preaching a message of repentance. The accounts we hear in Year A (Matthew), Year B (Mark) and Year C (Luke) are very similar. But notice three additions that Luke, the most literary and historically sensitive of gospel writers, makes to the story given us by Matthew and Mark.
First, he gives a list of the powerful people in the world of the time, from Tiberius, the emperor in Rome to Annas and Caiphas, the high priests in Jerusalem.
Secondly, he gives a longer quotation from Isaiah than found in other gospels to include the lines about mountains being lowered and valleys filled (Isaiah 40:3-5). This is the message of Mary in her Magnificat about the powerful being brought down from their thrones and the lowly being lifted up (Luke 1:52).
Thirdly, he extends the quotation of the words of Isaiah to include his verse about all flesh seeing the salvation of God.
Through these additions, Luke adds a universal dimension to the familiar story. He places John the Baptist into world history and makes us wonder why, with so many powerful people around, God chose to send his word to a person like John.
This additional information by Luke encourages us in our Christmas preparations to gaze outside our own small world at the big world outside, and to grasp how the Christmas story is a gift for the whole of humanity and not mere domestic celebration. Luke reassures readers from whatever nation or class they came, that “these things did not happen in a corner” as Paul would tell Festus and Agrippa, the Roman governor and the Jewish king, respectively (Acts 26:26). John’s message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins is intended for all.
As we hear this call to repentance once again, let us pray that it may move us to see how it incites us to a change of heart and a change of behavior. May the uniqueness of Luke’s presentation of John the Baptist move us to look beyond our own world and work for change not only in ourselves but in our society and the world.
Before long we will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. We want to make our church festive for our celebration of Christmas. In your packet of envelopes that we mail to you, there is an envelope marked Christmas Flower Offering.
If you would like to make a contribution to assist in paying for our Christmas flowers, please place your donation in that envelope (or a plain envelope) and write on the envelope the names of anyone you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. Indicate if they are deceased (“In memory of…”) or living (“In honor of…”) Place your envelope in the collection basket, mail it to the parish office or drop it off. If you use Online Giving, just put the names on a paper and put it in the collection. All the names will be listed in our parish bulletin and newsletter shortly after Christmas.
Do you remember Godspell?
If you were alive in the 1970s, you surely remember the off-Broadway musical and movie called Godspell. Its upbeat music and contemporary portrayal of Jesus’ disciples were very popular at the time. One scene portrays John the Baptist and his clarion call to Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.
Advent Penance Services
The liturgical season of Advent is upon us. Part of our preparation for Christmas is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year we will return to our practice of individual confessions during a Parish Penance Service. Our Parish Penance Service will be on Monday, December 6 at 7:00 pm. Sixteen priests will be available for confessions. Click below to see the complete list of the 13 penance services being held in various North County parishes. You may want to print it and post it in your house. There will not be General Absolution given this Advent.
St. Luke, who wrote the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, is described by St. Paul in the Letter to the Colossians as "Luke, the beloved physician" (Col 4:14).
Thanks to his vivid narrative style, historians implied that he was an artist, specifically a painter. Nevertheless, the way he speaks about Mary and the descriptive way when writing about Jesus conveys a profound spiritual and personal experience of the information shared.
Join us on Tuesday, December 7, at 7:00pm to know the highlights of the message of this gospel that will accompany us throughout the year 2022.
With the sounds of Taizé music, we will gather in the Church, and Father Ricardo will present some of the most important themes of St. Luke for this year, be sure to come along with us on this spiritual journey.
Join us on Tuesday evening, December 7, 2021,
7:00pm- 8:00pm in the church.
Masses for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will take place on Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 5:30 pm (English) and 7:00 pm (Spanish). This solemnity is a holy day of obligation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
This year the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe falls on a Sunday. This is also the Third Sunday of Advent. Our Mass schedule for December 11-12 will be as follows:
Saturday, December 11
4:30 pm – Third Sunday of Advent
7:00 pm – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sunday, December 12
4:30 am – Our Lady of Guadalupe
7:30 am – Third Sunday of Advent
9:00 am – Third Sunday of Advent
11:00 am –Third Sunday of Advent
1:00 pm – Our Lady of Guadalupe
5:00 pm – Third Sunday of Advent
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Este año la Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe cae en domingo. Este es también el tercer domingo de Adviento. Nuestro horario de misas del 11 al 12 de diciembre será el siguiente:
sábado, 11 de diciembre
4:30 pm - Tercer domingo de Adviento
7:00 pm - Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
domingo, 12 de diciembre
4:30 am - Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
7:30 am - Tercer domingo de Adviento
9:00 am - Tercer domingo de Adviento
11:00 am - Tercer domingo de Adviento
1:00 pm - Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
5:00 pm - Tercer domingo de Adviento
Christmas Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve
2:00 pm Family Mass (outside on covered court)No Reservations
4:00 pm – English in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
6:00 pm – English in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
8:00 pm – Spanish in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
10:00 pm – Bilingual in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
Christmas Day (NO reservations)
7:30 am – English in the church
9:00 am – English in the church
11:00 am –English in the church
1:00 pm – Spanish in the church
** To avoid overcrowding,reservations will be required for those attending the Masses on Christmas Eve in the church.
There will be a website to make your reservations that will open on December 10 at 4:00 pm. For those who do not have internet access, you may call or visit the parish office during business hours beginning at 9:00 am on December 10.
Reserved places are limited to 400 persons per Mass. This applies to the indoor Christmas Eve Masses only.
As the end of the year moves into sight, you might think about making an end of the year donation to St. Patrick Parish. Click on the link for the most up to date information. It includes new information that relates to the CARES Act. It is relevant if you itemize or not.
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account to make sure your payment method is up to date and your gifts are being processed.
You can also set up your Christmas or Year-End gift with Online Giving.
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.
We appreciate your support!
Catholic Trivia
"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.
What is the etymology of the word “Advent”?
How long is the season of Advent?
Which liturgical season is longer: Advent or Lent?
What is the liturgical color of Advent?
On what day of Advent does the priest wear rose colored vestments?
If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.com We will be pleased to add them.
John preaches repentance and baptizes in the region of the Jordan.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This week and next, our Gospel readings invite us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. To affirm this, Luke quotes at length from the prophet Isaiah. John baptizes for repentance and for forgiveness of sins, preparing the way for God's salvation.
The three Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke—attest to the importance of the baptism of John in preparing for Jesus. Only the Gospel of Luke, however, extends the connection between these two men to their birth. The first two chapters of Luke's Gospel contain the Infancy Narrative, which tells about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. These stories set the stage for the beginning of Jesus' public ministry in chapter 3.
The evangelist Luke is the author of the Gospel that bears his name, and he also wrote the Acts of the Apostles as a continuation of the story of Jesus and the Church. In these two works, Luke's sense of time and history emerges. He identifies three epochs of salvation history: the time before Christ, the time of Christ, and the time of the Church and the Holy Spirit. In today's Gospel reading, as elsewhere, John the Baptist is presented as the figure who bridges the time before Christ and prepares the way for Christ's own ministry.
In today's Gospel we also note Luke's attention to political and historical detail. Luke shows that salvation is for all people and situated in world events. Therefore, Luke lists the political and religious leaders at the time of John's appearance in the desert. Salvation is understood as God's breaking into this political and social history.
John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus, we too are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives the coming of the Lord, as John did.
A Garden Inspired by Laudato ‘si (the encyclical of Pope Francis on Our Common Home
Calabria is a beautiful land, rich in history, but also affected by many forms of pollution. A group of Augustinian nuns have launched a project that aims to address these problems and become a seed of hope and change. The Superior of the convent says the garden will help reconnect with the essentials in life. English subtitles make it easy to understand.
Surviving the Holidays
Navigating the holidays if you are separated or divorced can be a challenge. Join us on Saturday, December 18 from 9:30AM - 11:30AM at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of San Diego (3888 Paducah Drive San Diego, CA 92117) for the “Surviving the Holidays” workshop. This will be a morning of prayer, conversation and encouragement as we look ahead to Christmas and to the New Year. To RSVP or ask questions, please email Janelle at: jperegoy@sdcatholic.org
Sing about John the Baptist
This children’s song puts this Sunday’s message of John the Baptist into a simple melody for children to sing. See if you can also learn the gestures that go with the words.
OCP announces the launch of its USCCB-approved Catholic missal app,
Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal
Oregon Catholic Press announces the launch of its USCCB-approved Catholic missal app, Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal, which is now available to download on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
For those who like to have quick access to the readings for Mass, the Order of Mass and even music, this app has it all. It even has the full readings for weekday Mass.
The Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal app is a trusted and effective resource for preparing for Catholic Mass, active participation in the liturgy and for personal prayer and reflection. To learn more, visit ocp.org/breaking-bread-emissal.
2021 Annual Catholic Appeal
Reflect. Pray. Respond.
$92,000 -Our Diocesan Assessment
$83,011.50-Received- 191 donors
$8,988.50 -Amount needed before December 31, 2021
Now, more than ever, your help is needed. We have struggled to meet our assessment in recent years. If we do not meet our Diocesan assessment by December 31, 2021 the parish will have to make up the difference through parish funds.
Your gifts make possible the work that impacts so many in our diocese.
Whatever you can give is most appreciated by the parish and by the many people who will benefit from your donation.
Response Cards are available in the parish office or click the button below.
Give in gratitude. A donor to the Retirement Fund for Religious writes, “I still remember the lessons the sisters gave us and how they instilled in us the love of our faith.” Show your thanks for the prayerful service of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Your gift to next week’s second collection helps provide care, medicine, and more. Please be generous.
Un donante al Fondo para la Jubilación de Religiosos escribe: “Todavía recuerdo las lecciones que las hermanas nos dieron y cómo nos inculcaron el amor a nuestra fe”. Muestre su agradecimiento por la devoción en el servicio de las hermanas, hermanos y sacerdotes ancianos de órdenes religiosas católicas. Su donativo la semana que viene a la colecta ayuda a dar cuidado, medicinas y más. Sean generosos.
“Ha resonado la voz en el desierto, preparen el camino del Señor, hagan rectos sus senderos. Todo valle será rellenado, toda montaña y colina, rebajada; lo tortuoso se hará derecho, los caminos ásperos serán allanados y todos los hombres verán la salvación de Dios”.En el Evangelio de este 2º domingo de Adviento, Juan el Bautista retando a todos los judíos a preparar su vida para la llegada del que tanto esperaban, el Mesías. El Mesías viene a rescatarlos y a regresarlos a la tierra de ellos. Pero este retó para los judíos, es apropiado para nosotros mismos. La Navidad pronto llega, pero ¿Qué significa este tiempo de Adviento para nosotros? Que este tiempo sea másde llenar el arbolito con regalos. El Mesías, el Salvador del mundo, nace y nos ofrece nueva vida y esperanza. ¿Cómo podemos preparar el camino de nuestro corazón para recibir el Mesías? Nadie es perfecto, y lo más pronto que aceptemos esta verdad podemos ir a Dios y pedirle perdón. ¿Cuáles “valles” existen en nuestra propia vida? Valles que nos avergüenzan y nos apartan de Dios. O, las “montañas y colinas” que hemos desarrollado, como nuestro egoísmo, rencor, odio, indiferencia o no querer perdonar a otros. Abrir nuestros ojos y oídos a que somos amados por Dios, no porque lo merecemos, pero porque Dios sólo sabe amar. Con gran humildad examinemos nuestro camino, ¿Qué tan derecho esta? O, ¿Qué cosas estamos haciendo que no permita enderezar nuestro camino? Por todas esas cosas y hábitos, acerquémonos al Señor y pidámosle perdón.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
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