Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:

The 4 candles on the Advent Wreath reminds us of the 4 weeks of Advent. These 4 candles can also help us to reflect on the 4 virtues which Jesus  brought to us: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love! During our Second Week of Advent, we will reflect on Peace. Peace in the Bible oftentimes is a translation of the Hebrew word Shalom (שָׁלוֹם), which carries the notions of totality, peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility. With the grace of God, may each one of us experience the Shalom within ourselves, toward others and with God:

1. - PEACE within ourselves: Even with Covid-19, which makes our Advent & Christmas very different this year, may I invite you to nourish the sense of peace in your hearts. To make your Advent meaningful: ‘Do your best and entrust the rest to God.’ Go to Mass during the week ‘to avoid the crowd.’ Take some time for silent reflections on the ‘reason for the season.’ You may want to use the ‘Tranquility Prayer’ –i.e. ‘God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.’ Reaching out to others may give you Peace, too. St. Mother Teresa has this lesson to teach us: ‘The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service and the fruit of service is peace.’

2. - PEACE Toward Others:  In the Beatitude, Our Lord taught us: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’ (Mt 5: 9). In your life situations, could there be some occasions when you can be a peace-maker, especially during Advent & Christmas. For example: You may have an occasion to enhance or restore friendship & harmony, love, care, concern & respect among people even in your own families and beyond. With the grace of God, may we experience peace within our hearts and be peace-makers toward others, as we continue to pray for true peace in our world.

3.-  Peace with God: During Advent and Lent the Church, for centuries, has strongly invited us to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be reconciled to God as well as to one another, This Sacrament practically bestows forgiveness and Peace, as expressed in the Absolution Prayer: “... May God gives you pardon and peace; and I absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.     

Plan ahead for the Parish Advent Reconciliation Service, with individual Confession,
TUE Dec 15 (4:30 PM in Wabeno) or THU Dec 17 (6 PM in Lakewood).
Besides me, Father Len will help in Lakewood; and Fr. J. Cerkas in Wabeno.

Fr. Philip

 

 

ADVENT HOPE:

Advent is a continuous call to hope: It reminds us that God is present in history to lead it to its ultimate goal and to lead us to its fullness, which is the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. God is present in the history of humanity, He is the ‘God-with-us’, God is not distant, He is always with us, to the extent that very often He knocks on the door of our heart. God walks beside us to support us. The Lord does not abandon us; He accompanies us through the events of our lives to help us discover the meaning of the journey the meaning of everyday life, to give us courage when we are under duress or when we suffer. In the midst of life’s storms, God always extends His hand to us and frees us from threats. This is beautiful! 
From Pope Francis’ Message at the Angelus Nov 29