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Showing posts with the label Advent

Taking to the (Digital) Streets: Advent and Social Media

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I still see the occasional "REPENT, THOU WRETCHED SINNER" stuff in my social media feeds. But I very strongly suspect that fire and brimstone fundraisers are passé, and have been for decades. Maybe I'd get more attention if I ranted, raved and seethed with (self?) righteous anger about those sinners over there. You know the ones I mean: reprobates, rogues and rascals who aren't like me. Yeah. Maybe I could. And it would be a bad idea. I'm pretty sure the attention I'd get isn't the sort I'd like. Not in the long run. And I'm quite sure that God wouldn't appreciate my marketing efforts.... ...Something else I haven't noticed on MeWe is folks saying they're giving up social media for Lent. Or Advent. Or whatever. Maybe they have, and I didn't notice. Or maybe more non-crackpot Catholics are paying attention to advice like this.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

'We have received the message of God's herald angel and have ourselves encountered him.' Sunday Reflections, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B

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    \ St John the Baptist Preaching Joseph Parrocel [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Mark 1:1-8 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,  “Behold, I send my   messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness:   ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,  make his paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.   And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.   Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt round his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.   And he preached, saying, “After me

Boston Charlie, Partridges in Pear Trees and Me

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This is the season of jingle bells and mistletoe, cyber sales and glitter bows. Evergreen festoons and plastic reindeer strung above our streets remind us that Christmas is coming. America's holiday season is in session.... ...I'm still working on my 'starting Advent' post. It's somewhat serious. What I'm doing here isn't.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

'What I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.' Sunday Reflections, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B

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  Young Jew as Christ , Rembrandt  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Mark 13:33-37 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India). Jesus said to his disciples: “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.   It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.     Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning—   lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.   And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Léachtaí i nGaeilge Liam Whelan   (1 April 1935 - 5 February 1958) If this is the end, then I'm ready for it .  These were the last words of Liam Whelan who died in a plane crash at Munich A