Preparation
Purple Catholic Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday,
As we continue our journey through Advent, I invite you to reflect on tomorrow’s Gospel reading. In it, we hear John the Baptist prophecying about the coming of Jesus:
I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:11-12)
This passage should convict us in our own time as well. As we declare in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, we believe that Jesus “ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” That sounds a lot like what John is describing in this passage.
Since the “day and hour no one knows” (24:36), we need to prepare ourselves now. We must adhere to the words of our Lord when he says, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray” (24:4). Who calls to us now to lead us astray? Those who seek to divide us put a wedge between our shepherds and us. The promises of the world that even young people are realizing are deceitful. Those who present apathy towards God.
Advent isn’t just a time to reflect on the incarnation of our Lord, though that is certainly a noble spiritual exercise. It is a time for us to prepare for that second coming and our own deaths, whichever might come first.
This week on UP North Catholic:
Pope Leo XIV speaks to young people in Lebanon and I share some reflections on the incarnation from the Church fathers and doctors. Tune in at 7pm this evening on 103.9FM in Marquette, MI or online at ClavesRegniMinistries.com.
You can also find the show on Sundays here on PurpleCatholic.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.
UP North Catholic w/ Matthew Handley
Tune into Matthew Handley’s newest program, UP North Catholic on Northern Apostle Radio or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Second Sunday of Advent
This Sunday at Mass we will hear from Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72, Romans 15:4-9, and Matthew 3:1-12.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Monday, 8 December - Solenity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary*
Tuesday, 9 December - Memorial of St. Juan Deigo Cuauhtlatoatzin (optional)
Wednesday, 10 December - Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto (optional)
Thursday, 11 December - Memorial of St. Damasus I, pope (optional)
Friday, 12 December - Feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe**
Saturday, 13 December - Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr
*Holy Day of Obligation in dioceses in the United States
**Readings may vary at Mass
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Luke 3:4
In the news:
The United States
Eastern Catholics in the United States: A Look at the Numbers - Catholic World Report
Artificial Womb Technology: Daedalus Revisited - Sr. Renée Mirkes in Catholic World Report
Popular YouTuber priest says you shouldn’t pray after communion; here’s why he’s wrong - Jimmy Akin
The Vatican
Vatican commission rejects female diaconate - Catholic News Agency
Leo XIV suppresses Vatican donations commission - The Pillar
Chris Pratt to present new Vatican Media documentary about St Peter’s tomb - Vatican News
The World
Undercover abortion videos shock Canadians - The Catholic Register
Court in India tells state to make sure Christians don’t get minority benefits - Crux
Requiescat in pace
Have a good weekend,
Matthew