Dear Preachers:

AN END OF THE YEAR APPEAL

In our liturgical celebrations and daily prayer, we frequently pray for vocations.

I live in a novitiate community of the Southern Dominican Province, USA.

I can say that I have seen visible evidence that our prayers have been heard, for we have four vibrant novices spending their first year in the Order with us.

Please join us in praying for them as they discern their vocations.       

"First Impressions” is a free weekly preaching ministry. If you can help support this ministry, as well as help with the training of our novices, we would appreciate it. We pray for you, our friends and benefactors, daily. If you have someone or something special you would like us to pray for, please let us know 

Send tax deductible checks to:

"First Impressions"

Dominican Friars

3150 Vince Hagan Dr.

Irving, Texas    75062-4736

Or:  For an online donation go to:  

www.preacherexchange.com/donations.htm

Thank you.

The passage from Isaiah today is beautiful – filled with love and hope. It sets the right tone for us as we enter the Advent season. In these days of struggle and division, Isaiah presents a vision that lifts our hearts in hope, despite our personal and worldly challenges.

In his prophetic vision, Isaiah invites us to look beyond conflict to a world where peace and unity reign:

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another.”

This is what happens when God’s word takes root in our hearts – we turn from fear, anger, and prejudice toward compassion, reconciliation, and service.

Though the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet realized, Isaiah urges us to begin walking that path now:

“Let us climb the Lord’s mountain to the house of the God of Jacob.”

He invites us to live today in the light of the peace God promises. Each small act of understanding, each gesture of forgiveness, is already a step into that divine light: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Isaiah’s words are fitting for this first Sunday of Advent. He reminds us that Advent is a time of waiting and expectation – not a passive waiting, but an active and hopeful one. God desires that our lives be united, peaceful, and rooted in divine wisdom. Hearing Isaiah’s message, we long for – and begin even now to live – his vision.

“In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills.” Isaiah points to the coming of God’s kingdom – a kingdom that began with Christ’s first coming and will be fulfilled when he returns. During Advent, we renew our commitment to live the kingdom life Jesus taught us and to wait for his peace to reign fully.

The prophet calls us to “beat swords into plowshares.” Advent challenges us to prepare for Christ’s coming not merely through external observances, but through inner conversion – transforming whatever is harmful or divisive into something that nurtures life. Christ came to bring long-promised peace and calls us to become signs of that peace now.

Each week we will light another candle on our Advent wreath – a small sign of Christ’s light growing stronger as his coming draws near. Though we wait in darkness, we are not without light. We can name the darkness in our world and in our hearts, but we also recognize the light of Christ already guiding us—step by step, Sunday by Sunday – until his light fills the world and no shadows remain.

Isaiah’s grand vision may seem at odds with Jesus’ words in Matthew, where he warns that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden, as in the days of Noah, when people were unaware of what was coming. Isaiah’s message is full of serene hope; Matthew gives a sharp warning. Yet, they complement each other. Isaiah shows us what we are waiting for – God’s reign of peace and justice when hearts are converted and creation is healed. Matthew shows us how to wait – with alertness, readiness, and faithfulness in our ordinary lives.

Jesus says that in Noah’s day people missed God’s signs because they were absorbed in daily life – eating, drinking, marrying. There is nothing wrong with those things, but amid the humdrum, we must keep our hearts awake to God. Advent calls us to do just that – to live ordinary lives with extraordinary awareness.

Advent is not a season of anxious waiting, but of awakened living. If we want Isaiah’s vision of a world transformed by God’s peace, that transformation must begin within us. We prepare for Christ’s coming not by wistful gazing at the heavens, but by living each day with love, mercy, and attentiveness – walking in the light God provides, especially in our Advent Eucharists, in Scripture, and in our conversations with one another.

Here is a prayer for Advent. I’m sorry I do not know the source.

Loving God,

you call us in this holy season to wake from our sleep and walk in your light.

You promised peace for our world and hope for our hearts.

As we begin our Advent journey turn our eyes toward your coming

and make us ready to welcome you in every moment of grace.

Blessing:

“May the God of hope fill us with peace as we await God’s coming.

May God’s light guide our steps

and God’s love make us one in faith and service.

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113025.cfm

QUOTABLE

Let in the cold,

Let in the wet,

Let in the loneliness,

Let in the quick,

Let in the dead,

Let in the unpeopled skies...

Fearful is my virgin heart

And frail my virgin form,

And must I then take pity on the raging of the storm

That rose up from the great abyss

Before the earth was made,

That pours the stars in cataracts

And shakes this violent world?

Let in the fire,

Let in the power,

Let in the invading might...

Let in the wound,

Let in the pain,

Let in your child tonight.

 Kathleen Raine, "Northumbrian Sequence," COLLECTED POEMS, 1935-1980

(London: Allen and Unwin, 1981, 36-37)

JUSTICE BULLETIN BOARD

You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.

—Romans 13:11

Advent brings with it the spirit of watchfulness, a time of observing God’s in-breaking salvation. Are you preparing a place for God in your life in a more visible and tangible way? Are you ready to wake up and join in? If you listen to the nightly news, the world seems hopeless. Yet, we are called to be a people of hope and Advent is a time of preparation.  We prepare because we have hope in God’s love and grace at work quietly in the world.

At our Door Ministry, we strive to give the people who come to see us a sense of hope. One parishioner said to me that our pledge of $200 doesn’t seem like much to help a person behind on rents that average between $1200-2200. I always think to myself, God hasn’t abandoned this person, why should our parish?  We are a parish that offers hope. I have deep gratitude for all of you that contribute to the Door Ministry. You make a difference in many lives. It is like that with all our social justice ministries here at Cathedral. If you aren’t participating in an outreach ministry, maybe this Advent would be a good time to explore where you could use your God-given talents and love to help the less fortunate. Prepare now to give the gift of yourself.

As you light the first Advent candle, reflect on your need to wake up to God’s hopes for you, to be the one God created you to be, to be hope to others. Lord, sustain us on our Advent journey as we go forth to welcome the One who is to come.

Cathedral Ministries Acts & Words of Hope:

• Angel Share Tree—provide joy at Christmas

• Catholic Parish Outreach—food, clothing for infants to toddlers, assistance in warehouse

• Crafters for Christ—share your talent for making items

• Door Ministry—financial donations, light-colored hoodies in L and XL

• Habitat for Humanity—build with us on Saturdays

• Helen Wright Center, Oak City Cares & Women’s Center—more cooks or bring supplies

• Justice for Immigrants—help with legal papers, advocacy

• Laudato Si Circle—come care for our common home

• Refugee Resettlement—help families already here in USA

• Share the Blessings & Farm of the Child—ministries that help outside the USA                                                               

• Walking with Moms in Need—diapers, formula, baby equipment, more parishioners to accompany pregnant women

• Contact Barbara at socialconcern@hnojnc.org 

 Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director

Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

FAITH BOOK

Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home.

 From today’s Isaiah reading:

They shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks,

one nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again.

Reflection:

Peace is our prayer for ourselves, our families and our world. Isaiah calls us to a change of heart and a commitment to a new way of living. We pray with Isaiah today, asking God to fashion our hearts to the prophet’s words, so that we can put down whatever swords and spears we are carrying.

We want peace and so we ask ourselves: 

• What “swords and spears” do I carry into my daily life?

• How can I refashion my words and actions to bring about the peace Isaiah envisions in my world?

POSTCARDS TO DEATH-ROW INMATES

“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out.”

---Pope Francis

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.  

Please write to:

• Wayne J. Hurst     #0509565    (On death row since 3/17/2004)

• John S. Badgett     #0014016    (5/6/2004)

• Paul Cummings    #0523493    (9/8/2004)

--Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org

DONATIONS

“First Impressions” is a service to preachers and those wishing to prepare for Sunday worship. It is sponsored by the Dominican Friars. If you would like “First Impressions” sent weekly to a friend, CLICK HERE.

If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to:

Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP

St. Albert Priory

3150 Vince Hagan Drive

Irving, Texas 75062-4736

Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.

Or go to our webpage to make a secure online donation:

https://www.PreacherExchange.com/donations.htm

RESOURCES

We have two English email lists available:

 1.    "FIRST IMPRESSIONS"

a.     A preacher's early reflections on the upcoming Sunday's readings and liturgy, always at least one week ahead of the Liturgical Calendar.  "A tool to help Preachers prepare for their next trip to the Ambo." Available in Spanish & English and authored by Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP.

b.    Click Here to Sign Up.

2.   "VOLUME II"

    These reflections follow the Liturgical Calendar and appear here about mid-week each week. They are written by various guest authors.  If you would like to submit a reflection of your own, then Click Here to send it as a "Request to Post" to the Webmaster. Deadline is Monday of each week for the upcoming Sunday.

https://www.PreacherExchange.com - Where you will find Preachers Exchange, which includes "First Impressions," and "Volume 2" as well as articles, book reviews, daily homilies and other material pertinent to preaching and Scripture reflection.

FOR INFORMATION OF "ANY KIND" OR TO MAKE A SUGGESTION: Click Here