Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today marks the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. Today we light the fourth and final candle of our wreath: it is the third purple candle and is called the Angel candle and symbolizes the love of God. As we wind down our reflection time prior to the Nativity, I thought I would share some thoughts:

The greatest gift God ever gave us was coming to us in the form of His son, Jesus. And after giving birth to him, Mary laid him in a Manger. . .A Manager. . .a feeding trough! Made to feed animals! How incredibly symbolic that is!

In our Eucharistic Prayer, there are two lines right after the breaking of the bread but before we are released, by row, to process up to receive the Sacraments. The wine and the bread are lifted in offering and the priest says:

"The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in
rememberance that Christ died for you, and feed on him
in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving."

He was laid in a feeding trough and we are to feed on him in our hearts. . .

He is what gives us life and sustains us through good times and bad and what makes us be who we are. Love came down at Christmas and gave us all eternal life!

Thanks be to God! Merry Christmas! May God be with you today and always.

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