December 23 - St. Paul the Apostle Church - Diocese of Joliet
December 23 - St. Paul the Apostle Church - Diocese of Joliet
December 23 - St. Paul the Apostle Church - Diocese of Joliet
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Fourth Sunday<br />
Of Advent<br />
<strong>December</strong> <strong>23</strong>, 2012<br />
Are You Listening?<br />
Mary listened. Elizabeth listened. Both women were attentive to <strong>the</strong> voice <strong>of</strong> God in <strong>the</strong>ir lives. Because Mary listened<br />
to <strong>the</strong> message <strong>of</strong> God brought to her by <strong>the</strong> angel and believed, she responded with her “yes.” She also heard<br />
<strong>the</strong> message about her cousin so she traveled to be with Elizabeth.<br />
Elizabeth listened to God speak to her through Mary and her unborn son and believed that her young cousin was<br />
“blessed among women” because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> child she carried in her womb. In her heart Elizabeth knew God had spoken<br />
an astounding message to Mary and so proclaimed, “Blessed are you who have believed that what was spoken to you<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Lord would be fulfilled.”<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Christmas story we see that Joseph listened, <strong>the</strong> shepherds listened, and <strong>the</strong> magi listened. Are we listening?<br />
So <strong>of</strong>ten we hear but aren’t paying attention because we forget to listen.<br />
As we celebrate this wonderful feast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> incarnation when God became human in <strong>the</strong> person <strong>of</strong> Jesus who is 100%<br />
God and 100% human let our hearts be full <strong>of</strong> gratitude for a God who loves us so much he came to live among us.<br />
And let us listen to what he is saying to us. God is sending messages <strong>of</strong> good news to us all <strong>the</strong> time.<br />
Let us keep our ears open to hear what God is speaking to us in…<br />
rA baby crying…will we hear Jesus crying?<br />
rThe Christmas carols…will we hear <strong>the</strong> angels singing praise?<br />
rA telephone call from a loved one across <strong>the</strong> miles…will we hear a message from God?<br />
rA memory <strong>of</strong> one no longer with us…will we hear a whisper from heaven that <strong>the</strong>y are still with us?<br />
rBells ringing, trumpets sounding, wind whistling and fires crackling…will we hear God’s message <strong>of</strong> love?<br />
Listen up! In all <strong>the</strong> hustle and bustle God is speaking to us all <strong>the</strong> time through o<strong>the</strong>r people, in scripture, in <strong>the</strong> sacraments,<br />
in creation, and in a quiet, attentive heart.<br />
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?” As you walk in <strong>the</strong> winter wonderland <strong>of</strong> Christmas all year round you may<br />
not be hearing sleigh bells but listen for God speaking to you, in fact, say, “Speak, Lord, I am listening.”<br />
Merry Christmas!<br />
Sister Karen Marie
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