2013-2014 Calendar
Season of Advent 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013 - 1st Sunday in Advent (1)
Sunday, December 8 - 2nd Sunday in Advent (4)
Sunday, December 15 - 3rd Sunday in Advent (7)
Sunday, December 22 - 4th Sunday in Advent (10)
Thursday, December 25 - Nativity of the Lord
Sunday, December 29 - Feast of the Holy Family (17)
Sunday, January 5 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (20)
- This season is a good opportunity to focus on any number of gospel living values or daily life issues. Some ideas follow.
- Christ-centered vs. Consumer Christmas: Utilize the prolific resources, such as the "Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?" campaign to challenge people to live a more peaceful Christmas about relationships rather than hectic consumption. Learn more.
- Time: The stewardship of our time fits well with some Advent readings and the season of anticipation. Learn more.
Sunday, December 1, 2013 - 1st Sunday in Advent (1)
- Reading 1: Zion, the Messianic Capital (Is 2:1-5) tells of a messiah that will cause nations to "beat their swords into plowshares" and "not train for war again." If this is the Jesus we believe in, why do we still accept being a nation continuously at war. Do we even remember that we are?
- Reading 2: Awareness at the End of Time (Rom 13:11-14) urges us to live our daily lives aligned with gospel values.
- Gospel: The Unknown Day and Hour (Mt 24:37-44) advises us to stay awake, for we don't know when the Son of Man will come. Are we alert to when Jesus will show up in our daily lives, for when we help the needy in our midst we are helping Christ.
Sunday, December 8 - 2nd Sunday in Advent (4)
- Reading 1: The Rule of Immanuel (Is 11:1-10) tells of an Emmanuel who is so counter-cultural that he turns the world and its way of operating upside down. Is that our experience of Jesus?
- Gospel: The Preaching of John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-12) urges us to repent to prepare the way of the Lord. How are we called to repent in changing the way we live?
Sunday, December 15 - 3rd Sunday in Advent (7)
- Gospel: The Messengers From John the Baptist (Mt 11:2-11) has Jesus telling of the change that is coming with him: healings and good news being proclaimed to the poor.
Sunday, December 22 - 4th Sunday in Advent (10)
- Gospel: The Birth of Jesus (Mt 1:18-24).
Thursday, December 25 - Nativity of the Lord
- Announcing Mission: This is a key opportunity to evangelize Catholics who only attend mass once or twice a year, teaching them the mission of the Church and their role in it (and encouraging them to return).
Sunday, December 29 - Feast of the Holy Family (17)
- Reading 2: Renunciation of Vice (Col 3:12-17) and the Christian Family (Col 3:18-21) include the much misused passage subordinating wives to their husbands. If this portion of the reading is used it should be addressed, and possibly even used as an entry point into speaking about domestic violence.
- Gospel: The Flight to Egypt (Mt 2:13-15) and the Return From Egypt (Mt 2:19-23).
- New Year's Resolutions: Piggybacking on the secular tradition of setting New Year's resolutions at the beginning of the year is a great way to promote intentional discipleship and stewardship. It is a great time to encourage people to set their intentions for financial giving in the coming year (not just to the Church, but all charitable giving).
Sunday, January 5 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (20)