Faith Reflection: Mercy—The Beauty of Our Young
Nicole, our 7th grade essayist this week, tells us what our faith is about—belief in God, and knowing this is a God who loves us greatly no matter what. As we prepare for the birth of our Saviour, Emmanuel, who steps down from heaven to come into our world, Advent affords us an opportunity to delve deeper into this mystery of His great love. Jesus comes to share not only our joys, but also our tears and pain. Through the power of silence He humbles himself without expecting anything in return. He loves us that much that he comes into our mess and pain to make our world and our lives whole again.
My Better Living Faith
by Nicole Samaan
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear” - Psalm 118:6
Ever wonder how you can better live your faith and how you can keep living that better faith? Pope Francis wants us all to better our faith, but to also keep on living our better faith throughout our daily lives. To better live our faith we must remember what our faith is about; our faith is the great belief in God; that God is real, always with us no matter what and that he loves us no matter what. Our faith should be stronger so that we can be closer to God, Jesus, and all the Saints.
To better live my faith I can pray more, read the Bible more, and attend mass more. Praying to God shows that I believe in God and that he is listening to me. I show that I love him and want to talk to him or ask for guidance. Reading the Bible strengthens my faith by helping me understand and learn different examples of faith and how, when I trust in God, amazing things will happen.
Attending mass more will help a lot. I attend mass most Sundays, but being able to go to mass on other days of the week, even when I don’t go to mass on Sundays, is very helpful with better living my faith. It is helpful because I can experience getting closer to God and the priest helps explain the Bible more if I don’t understand. I receive Jesus either way, this helps me become one with Christ.
Once I better live my faith I need to learn to keep my better living throughout my life. By doing all of the above, and doing them over and over so that it becomes routine, helps me to be able to do them on a regular basis. In the end, by doing the above I can better live my faith and keep on living it throughout my life.
This Friday is the Filipino celebration of Simbang Gabi. All are invited to join in this Advent tradition. The 6:30pm Mass is preceded by the Prelude at 6:15. A reception with food, music and fun follows in the Olive hall.
Please note that there will be no Confessions and Mass at Columbia this Thursday due to the Penance Service being held at the Olive location from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Also, there will be no confessions this Saturday or on Saturday, December 23rd.
This past Sunday Youth Ministry core team members spoke at all the Masses. While they were there to speak about their need for financial assistance for the Confirmation Retreat that will take place this weekend I felt I would be amiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to say what a strong group of young people we have ministering at our parish. Guiding their peers closer to Jesus on retreat is just one example of where our young people our engaged in and living out their faith. Many of these young people are also our own SHA graduates, as the two young ladies at the 8:00am Mass were. As our bishops told us last week, our lives are an empty manager and it's in our small acts of kindness that we give Him a place to rest. A small act of kindness this Advent could be to thank our young for their service and the wonderful energy they bring.
Thank you. Mrs. Alhadef