Fr. Kevin

Today’s readings share many parallels; they both recount how God sent an angel to announce the good news of the conception of a child to women of advanced age.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121924.cfm  

By Jose Torres, Jr. 

Today’s readings share many parallels; they both recount how God sent an angel to announce the good news of the conception of a child to women of advanced age. Both future children (Samson and John the Baptist) were consecrated to God from the womb and would grow up to deliver the people of Israel out of their current situation to an improved relationship with God. 

Where they differ is how the news was received. When God speaks to us, we can respond in one of two ways. We can respond like Manoah’s wife, unquestioning and with complete trust. She embodied today’s responsorial response: “My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!” Or we can respond like Zachariah, untrusting and with doubt. Because he did not believe in the angel’s words, he was stricken mute, unable to share the good news with anyone. Either way, God’s promises to us “will be fulfilled at their proper time” (Lk. 1:20).  

This Advent, let us be like Manoah’s wife, who trusted completely in God’s promise; the promise that He would send a savior to redeem the world by His birth! 

Jose Torres Jr. has attended St. Anne for 5 years after relocating from New Jersey by way of St. Louis. He and his family attend the 10am Mass. He is a Sacristan and is in the process of discerning a call to the Deaconate.  

Jesus is alive! I believe that statement to be true as he lives in my heart and mind. I carry Him with me as the Holy Spirit and I see that same spirit in my blessed wife and many of the sick and injured people to whom I bring communion. 

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121824.cfm  

By Jim Greenmun 

Many times, as the body of Christ sweetly dissolves in their mouths and becomes one with them, that glorious magic occurs as I see them become more alive.  Their eyes begin to appear to sparkle and well up with tears of gratitude upon receiving Christ. 

Hope is indeed alive “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him” (Psalm 72:12). God is with us just as He promised. 

 Alleluia and Amen. 

 Jim Greenmun and his wife Gail started attending mass in the old St Anne Church.  Gail was Catholic and Jim was not but one day, he received an invitation letter from Sister Marian and the rest is history.  Both later became Eucharistic Ministers and have been so ever since.  Jim brings communion to those in nursing homes and to the home bound.