CLICK HERE TO READ ADVENT ALARM
Here is another Advent article from Ministry and Liturgy Magazine, 2010.
“Advent Alarm” Ministry and Liturgy Magazine, 2010
Reply
Psalm 34: The Lord hears the cry of the poor
“The Lord hears our cry” Sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Advent: A Housing Project
Here is an article from Celebrate! Magazine from 2010. Hope you enjoy the Advent theme.
Originally published by Celebrate! Magazine, November 2010
– PDF version –
My parents decided to sell our family home in Edwardsburg, Michigan the year after I was ordained a priest. Even though I had not lived in the cozy house for ten years prior to that decision, the news of my parents’ move devastated me. I was an adult having made decisions about my future, but my past seemed to be slipping out from under me. This charming white, renovated home sitting on the edge of Garver Lake was not just a commodity; it felt as if it were at the core of my identity.
I did not realize the emotional power of this piece of land and the house with the open view to the lakefront until I visited my parents just before they sold our home. I walked into the familiar setting to see cardboard boxes being…
View original post 955 more words
Third Sunday of Advent: Matthew 11:1-11
Third Sunday of Advent 2016 Bulletin Cover: “The blind regain their sight…” Pastel: Ronald Raab, CSC
My column for this weekend’s bulletin and cover drawing
READ COMPLETE BULLETIN: CLICK HERE
Dear Believers in the Baptized Christ,
Today is “Gaudete” Sunday, a Latin word meaning, “Rejoice.” We rejoice that we are half-way to Christmas. This rejoicing means that we experience and are aware of the miracles of the Incarnation. We know what Jesus can do for us because of his passion, death and resurrection and through the gift of our own baptism. The liturgical color for today is “rose” and we light the rose candle on the Advent wreath. However, the profound nature of our spiritual path goes well beyond a liturgical color.
We see the depth of our Advent journey in today’s gospel (Matthew 11:2-11). John the Baptist is in prison and hears of the work of Jesus. Jesus is demonstrating the reasons why we “rejoice” in the first place. “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.”
Jesus’ actions are at the heart of our spiritual journey. These actions are not left in the past. These are the encounters that Jesus has with his people. He still is inviting us to bring our pain, our burdens, our ill health and our complicated lives to him. He wants our hearts. He desires us. This is Advent Hope striving to break open our cynicism, our desperation and our apathy.
In our day and time, Jesus is asking us to be his instrument of justice in our world. As Christians we still need to build bridges of acceptance to become a community of peace, a city of hope, a neighborhood of mercy to bring all people together. We listen to the Advent gospels with hearts that are wide open to the needs of people today. We act as Jesus did so that hope and rejoicing remains in our world today.
We are constantly being called to reveal our identity as Christians in our world. The good works in today’s gospel revealed Jesus as the Messiah. Our role is to strive for justice for all people. We use our gifts and talents to make the world understand the mercy, tenderness, and healing powers of Jesus Christ. We never sit back in our comfort and wait for someone else in faith to change the world. Don’t wait for the pastor to do it. Don’t wait for the Pope to do it alone. Don’t wait for an organization or institution to put into place the justice that Jesus calls for. Jesus is waiting for you to be converted, changed into a hands-on believer who finally understands that we need to enter into relationship with the blind, the lame, the underserved, and the destitute. We need to finally co-operate with the graces Jesus is offering us in order to show the world that he is the Messiah.
The Advent journey takes us to the beauty and wonder of the Incarnation at Christmas. This means that every life has meaning. Every person is to be held in the light of Christ’s love and hope. In other words, the core of our faith is about “people”. It is through humanity that we all experience the awesomeness, the richness, and the integrity of Jesus Christ. We are all called and challenged to put our lives in the center of exactly what we hope for, the Coming of Christ Jesus. In today’s gospel, we see this miracle made real exactly as the disciples did when we extend our lives to hurting people and to the love of God. Rejoice when the poor have the good news preached to them, when the blind see, when lepers are cleansed and when the crippled leap for joy!
Blessings in this Advent Season,
Fr. Ron
On the Margins: Matthew 11:2-11
On the Margins from Mater Dei Radio, Portland, OR
(This week’s show does not have the opening and closing from the station)
Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2016
The promise of God is real. God comes into our lives of blindness, lameness and sinfulness. God opens up and helps us see, allows us to dance and God forgives. Advent rejoicing is real on this “Gaudete” Sunday.
Advent: 2016″Stay awake”
Advent 2016: Quick Draw, Ronald Raab, CSC
Gospel Mt 11:16-19
Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
– – –
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Mary” Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC
Gospel Lk 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Mt 11:28-30 “…and humble of heart…”
Gospel Mt 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
“The Sacred Heart” Finger Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC
Prayer: (Raab)
Jesus, reveal your humble love to us in these Advent days. Stay with us when we think we can bring peace, forgiveness and mercy through our own egos, in our own efforts. Offer us your tenderness. Show us the way to your Kingdom. Instill within our own hearts the revelation of your love. Sacred Heart, love us and call us your own. Amen
Isaiah: 40:1-11 “Comfort, give comfort to my people…”
The Prophet Isaiah: Pastel sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC
Isaiah 40:1-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
A voice says, “Cry out!”
I answer, “What shall I cry out?”
“All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever.”
Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Albert John Raab, 1920-2000
John and Rosemary Raab, 50th Wedding Anniversary 1996
CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE: “ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS”
My father died sixteen years ago today. He suffered with Parkinson’s disease for over ten years. My folks worked together in a grocery with my brother for forty-five years. Read my article that was published in 2008 about his life and how I carry on his life from the grocery store into my ministry as a priest. May he rest in peace.
