Sunday Reflection – Advent I, December 3, 2023

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Staying alert for the coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13 24  In those days, right after this time of suffering,

“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
    will no longer shine.
25 The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky
    will be shaken.”

26  Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

28 Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. 29 So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. 30 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 31 The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

32  No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows. 33 So watch out and be ready! You don’t know when the time will come. 34  It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. 35 So be alert! You don’t know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. 36 But if he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you asleep. 37 I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!

Kids Korner: Preparing ourselves (Dec. 3rd)

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Read Mark 13:24-37 with your family.

We have started a new Christian year, and this year we are learning about Jesus from the Gospel of Mark.

There is a pattern to Advent readings: Week 1 we talk about getting ready for Jesus’ coming, Week 2 & 3 we talk about John the Baptist and his ministry, and Week 4 we talk about either Mary or Joseph.

The getting ready passages talk about hope for the future and what we can change. They also talk about how we can help make God’s promise of love and peace a reality for everyone.

As you begin this new year, what are some of your ideas to make the world a better place?

Sunday Reflection – November 26, 2023

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Separating the sheep from the goats

Matthew 25 31  When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32 The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. 35  When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36 and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.”

37 Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38 When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39 or visit you while you were sick or in jail?”

40 The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”

41 Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.”

44 Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?”

45 The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.”

46  Then Jesus said, “Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.

Kids Korner: Showing kindness to others (Nov. 26th)

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Read Matthew 25:31-46 with your family.

Today’s story is one of the last lessons Jesus taught his followers, and he taught it for all people: When we do things to make life better for others, we are doing it for Jesus too.

Our Christian faith believes God came to us as a baby and was named Jesus. We believe that God wants us to take care of each other, just like Jesus did when he was with his family and followers. And we believe that every person we meet gives us an opportunity to see God in them the way they can see God in us.

And the way to see God in us, the way to show the love that God has for us, is to behave like Jesus did. When people were thirsty he gave them something to drink. When people were sick he healed them.

That kind of simple love is the way God wants us to behave towards each other.

Sometimes people save their best behaviour for anyone we think is important and treat others badly. Jesus taught us it was the opposite, that we should help those who can’t help us back, who don’t have power over us. We are supposed to give our best behaviour and kindness to everyone we meet.