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Fourth Week of Advent, Dec. 18-24, 2011
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Greetings of peace!
This past week, I was reading a blog post about Advent written by my wife, called "A Dark Season." In it, she writes,
"We remain a people in darkness a good deal of the time and, at Advent, we consent to the inevitability of it -- to both its bleakness and its gifts. We wait, however skeptically, for the light. I think of how I might live as if it is coming, even when it appears to grow darker, how I might prepare a room for it."
As our time in Advent dwindles and Christmas approaches, I find myself challenged by readings like this, and others which challenge us to "make room", often referencing Mary and how, within her, she "made room" for Christ. One of my mentors, Ched Myers, who wrote the reflection below for this coming Sunday, introduced me to a phrase which also echoes that idea of "making room". He challenges us to "liberate space" for the reign of God, here, now, wherever we might be. With Mary, in this Advent, may we endeavor to "make room" and to "liberate space" into which the Prince of Peace may enter.
Today's PSA is for next week, the Fourth Week of Advent, Dec. 18-24. For more reflections and resources throughout this Advent season, click here to visit our Advent resource page on the website. Thanks!
In peace,
Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA
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| PRAY: Dec. 18, Fourth Sunday of Advent | | |
By Ched Myers
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 | Romans 16:25-27 | Luke 1:26-38
Today's Gospel is the angel's annunciation to Mary, a scene so often reproduced by religious art, liturgy and piety that it is perhaps too familiar to Catholics. What might we learn by viewing it through the lens of the (seemingly oddly paired) Hebrew Bible reading? This part of 2 Samuel narrates the fate of the ark, the traditional mobile shrine of Exodus that symbolized God's journey with the people, distinct from the Canaanite deities who tended to be associated with specific places/institutions.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David has brought the ark to Jerusalem, the key, the final piece in his consolidation of power in Israel. Interestingly, the narrative posits a rather strained relationship between David and the ark. At first David is fearful of its power, and refuses to be steward of such a dangerous force (2 Samuel 6:6-10). But when he observes that the ark brings blessing to the house of Obededom, he covets it (v 11f). Does David want the ark only insofar as it serves his ends?
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STUDY: A peaceful warrior lives on in us
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By Frida Berrigan
My dad died nine years ago this week. Talking about waging nonviolence and little insurrections.
In life, as in dying, my dad was a peaceful warrior.
In the fall of 2002, after months of feeling lousy and only very slowly healing from hip surgery, Phil Berrigan, priest, peace activist, father of the plowshares movement and three kids, went to the doctor. The verdict came back harsh: advanced (stage 4) and aggressive liver cancer that had metastasized to his kidneys. The doctors said they could treat it with chemotherapy, but the chances of a full recovery were slight. Dad was up for trying chemo and wanted to let the doctors-oncologists at the top of their game at Johns Hopkins-a chance, but after one round of chemo, he said "no more."
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ACT: Become an e-Advocate;
Form an Advocacy Network Team
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Nancy O'Byrne, coordinator of Pax Christi Florida, wrote to share this action idea with us:
"I started the Advocacy Network Team in our diocese a few years ago after JustFaith got started, and after meeting with our new Bishop, he has encouraged me to expand this as much as possible, especially among young adults (since they are always on their computers and blackberries). It would be a great Advent Action Commitment!"
Members of the Advocacy Network Team pledge to advocate at least one hour a week for their brothers and sisters in need. In addition to special alerts sent through the Pax Christi USA network, these partners offer excellent e-advocacy centers (click on their names to be directed to their sites):
CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA
Click on the "Advocacy" tab at the top, scroll down and click on "Get Involved" at the bottom, and arrow down to "Sign up for E-Advocacy."
NETWORK LOBBY (National Catholic Social Justice Lobby)
Click on "Join our Email List" on right side.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Click on "Act Now" tab at top - then click on "Advocate" and then click on "Join Catholics Confront Global Poverty" under Action Center.
BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Put email address and zip code in "Email Signup" on right and click "Register."
MARYKNOLL OFFICE FOR GLOBAL CONCERNS
Scroll down to bottom and fill out "Join our Mailing List" info - check off "Action Alerts" and "html" email format. Click on "Subscribe".
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