Advent Reflections 2014

 Advent 2014 

We are now entering into a new Liturgical Season
 today with the Season of Advent. 

        We bless and light one candle each week of the season. 

Advent is not about the rebirth of Jesus Christ.
 He did that 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. 
Advent is about the Rebirth of our faith, 
our commitment to Christ and to the Church.

 The first Sunday of Advent, the readings focus on God 
the potter and we are the clay. 
But too many distractions
 take our attention and focus away from God. 

The readings challenge us to "stay awake, be vigilant, and watch".

 Jesus broke the heaven and came down but 
has Jesus broken down our walls of resistance, distractions, preoccupations, prisons, and reawaken our faith? 

What are your distractions?
 Smartphones, social sites, Twitter, Facebook, work, TV? 

This season of advent is a season 
where at least 5 minutes a day to
 "PUT DOWN" 
all your
 "DISTRACTIONS" and "PICK UP GOD" 
by reading the Bible, meditating, praying and contemplating.

 We light 4 candles to mark the four Sundays of Advent. 
By the end of the 4th week,
 if you focus 
you will grow ever so deep
 in your time with God. 

Let God increase in your life
 this season 
as we prepare for Christmas. 

During this Advent Season, we have our La Salette priests write reflections each week to help us contemplate deeply on God.
 This week we have Fr. Donald Jeffrey 
sharing his thoughts with us. 

Read and pray! 

Fr. Cyriac Mattathilanickal, MS

Shrine Director

“Jesus – Light of Life” for November 29, 2014

 God created light and there came life! 

All, out of love for us! 

God loved life into us and we were enlightened!

 “Christ, our Light,” 

we sing at Easter as we share in His new Life. 

As he takes on our human life,

 Jesus lights up the lives of

 those who accept and follow him.

 Our yearly Festival of Lights

 is meant to remind us of this truth of faith, 

to be a spark rekindling our understanding of

 who we are 

and of our role

 in the life of our world.

 Jesus not only said,

 “I am the light of the world,” 

he went on to assert, 

“You are the light of the world.” 

The light-life coming from the 

Son of God radiates in our world through us, 

you and me. 

If not, darkness takes over.

 As you stand before or move within the

 350,000 lights at our 

National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette 

who appeared surrounded by 

a heavenly light, 

imagine what it might be like

 for all Christians to allow their 

God-given inner light to shine through. 

It could help bring about the world-wide conversion of all of Mary’s “people;” 

her expressed desire during her apparition.

 Through you, may the Light of Jesus 

be experienced near and far, 

by all

 “people of good will” 

this Christmas.

Fr Donald Jeffrey, MS

Waiting in Silence...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-9s_oG4W9U

Awaiting For Jesus ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySe5pZnwig


Taize: Wait for the Lord..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7GexIvX8HU&list=PLYo0NzeSeTi-CVzjlf795ZaKtgeRc3m7_&index=2

Pope Francis First Sunday of Advent message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ABI5nMnR2k