First Sunday of Advent

hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

the next four entries are form a series that I call my annual Advent Series for 2007, which were originally posted on my new A Catholic's Life homepage. For reason of space on this site, I have omitted the second reading in one or two of the entries and the biography of the artist.  I hope you enjoy viewing these entries as I have in putting then together.

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Reading 1

Isaiah 2:1-5

 

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,

saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,

the mountain of the LORD’s house

shall be established as the highest mountain

and raised above the hills.

All nations shall stream toward it;

many peoples shall come and say:

“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may instruct us in his ways,

and we may walk in his paths.”

For from Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and impose terms on many peoples.

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.

O house of Jacob, come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord!

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

 

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set upjudgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

May those who love you prosper!

May peace be within your walls,

prosperity in your buildings.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Because of my brothers and friends

I will say, “Peace be within you!”

Because of the house of the LORD, our God,

I will pray for your good.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

Reading II

Romans 13:11-14

 

Brothers and sisters:

You know the time;

it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.

For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;

the night is advanced, the day is at hand.

Let us then throw off the works of darkness

and put on the armor of light;

let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,

not in orgies and drunkenness,

not in promiscuity and lust,

not in rivalry and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

 

Gospel

Matthew 24:37-44

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As it was in the days of Noah,

so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

In those days before the flood,

they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage,

up to the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Two women will be grinding at the mill;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house

had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

 

New American Bible

First Sunday of Advent

Psalm: Sunday 41

December 2, 2007

 

Featured Artwork of the Week

 

• They Shall Beat Their Swords Into Plowshares by Unknown Artist

 

 

Enhancement by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

02.02.07

Second Sunday of Advent

READING

Isaiah 11:1-10

 

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,

and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:

a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

a spirit of counsel and of strength,

a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,

and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.

Not by appearance shall he judge,

nor by hearsay shall he decide,

but he shall judge the poor with justice,

and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.

He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Justice shall be the band around his waist,

and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;

the calf and the young lion shall browse together,

with a little child to guide them.

The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,

together their young shall rest;

the lion shall eat hay like the ox.

The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,

and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.

There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,

as water covers the sea.

On that day, the root of Jesse,

set up as a signal for the nations,

the Gentiles shall seek out,

for his dwelling shall be glorious.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

 

R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

 

and with your justice, the king’s son;

he shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,

and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.

He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;

the lives of the poor he shall save.

R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

May his name be blessed forever;

as long as the sun his name shall remain.

In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;

all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

 

 

 

GOSPEL

Matthew 3:1-12

 

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea

and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths.

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair

and had a leather belt around his waist.

His food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,

and the whole region around the Jordan

were going out to him

and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River

as they acknowledged their sins.

 

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves,

‘We have Abraham as our father.’

For I tell you,

God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit

will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,

but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.

I am not worthy to carry his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in his hand.

He will clear his threshing floor

and gather his wheat into his barn,

but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

 

New American Bible

Second Sunday of Advent

Psalm: Sunday 42

December 09, 2007

 

 

• St. John the Baptist with the Pharisees by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

                                           Enhancement by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

12.07.07

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Third Sunday of Advent

READING 1

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

 

The desert and the parched land will exult;

the steppe will rejoice and bloom.

They will bloom with abundant flowers,

and rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,

make firm the knees that are weak,

say to those whose hearts are frightened:

Be strong, fear not!

Here is your God,

he comes with vindication;

with divine recompense

he comes to save you.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,

the ears of the deaf be cleared;

then will the lame leap like a stag,

then the tongue of the mute will sing.

 

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return

and enter Zion singing,

crowned with everlasting joy;

they will meet with joy and gladness,

sorrow and mourning will flee.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

 

R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us.

 

The LORD God keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets captives free.

R. Lord, come and save us.

 

The LORD gives sight to the blind;

the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.

The LORD loves the just;

the LORD protects strangers.

R. Lord, come and save us.

 

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,

but the way of the wicked he thwarts.

The LORD shall reign forever;

your God, O Zion, through all generations.

R. Lord, come and save us.

 

READING II

James 5:7-10

 

Be patient, brothers and sisters,

until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

being patient with it

until it receives the early and the late rains.

You too must be patient.

Make your hearts firm,

because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,

that you may not be judged.

Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.

Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,

the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

 

 

 

GOSPEL

Matthew 11:2-11

 

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,

he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,

“Are you the one who is to come,

or should we look for another?”

Jesus said to them in reply,

“Go and tell John what you hear and see:

the blind regain their sight,

the lame walk,

lepers are cleansed,

the deaf hear,

the dead are raised,

and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

 

As they were going off,

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,

“What did you go out to the desert to see?

A reed swayed by the wind?

Then what did you go out to see?

Someone dressed in fine clothing?

Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.

Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.

Amen, I say to you,

among those born of women

there has been none greater than John the Baptist;

yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

 

 

New American Bible

Second Sunday of Advent

Psalm: Sunday 43

December 16, 2007

 

 

• John the Baptist in Prison – 2007 by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain,  A modern rendition of Giusto De' Menabuoi  1376 Fresco.

12.12.07

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Reading

Isaiah 7:10-14

 

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:

Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;

let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!

But Ahaz answered,

“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”

Then Isaiah said:

Listen, O house of David!

Is it not enough for you to weary people,

must you also weary my God?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:

the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,

and shall name him Emmanuel.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

 

R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?

or who may stand in his holy place?

One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,

who desires not what is vain.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

a reward from God his savior.

Such is the race that seeks for him,

that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory

 

 

Gospel

Matthew 1:18-24

 

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,

but before they lived together,

she was found with child through theHoly Spirit.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,

yet unwilling to expose her to shame,

decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold,

the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

“Joseph, son of David,

 

do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.

For it is through the Holy Spirit

that this child has been conceived in her.

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,

because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke,

he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him

and took his wife into his home.

 

New American Bible

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Psalm: Sunday 44

December 23, 2007

 

Featured Artwork of the Week

 

•           Joseph's Dream,  by Philippe De Champaigne, 1642-43

 

 

Enhancements by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

12.22.07

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Winter Jam Tour Spectacular 2008!

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here

Check out the promo video about the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular.

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Winter Jam 2008 Tour Spectacular Promo Video

The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Christian music’s largest annual musical tour, announced its 35 city itinerary for 2008, featuring one of its most prestigious artist line-ups ever. As of this month, all four of NewSong’s guests are currently in the top 40 national sales as reported by Neilson’s SoundScan. The 2008 line-up showcases musical styles ranging from worship to rock to pop featuring multi Platinum selling MercyMe, sibling rock trio BarlowGirl, seasoned rockers Skillet, American Idol’s Mandisa.

The 10-week tour launches January 10, 2008 in Johnson City, TN, and will conclude at the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN on March 16th hitting 19 states along the way. Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning, NewSong will host the high-energy event for the 13th consecutive year, which will feature special guest speaker Tony Nolan and the Xtreme sports Real Encounter BMX/Skate Team.

The Premier Group’s Roy Morgan, co-producer of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular with Celerity Entertainment, comments, “Each year we’ve been pressed to outdo the previous tour, and we could not be more pleased with this amazing collection of today’s top Christian artists. We’re thrilled that all five of 2008’s ‘lights-down’ artists have had significant mainstream radio and media exposure, helping Winter Jam reach its goals of impacting the world through local church ministries.”

NewSong’s Eddie Carswell reflects, “We give God the glory for growing this simple multi-artist event into a major national evangelistic outreach. Admission is only $10 at the door, and we won’t turn anyone away who can’t afford to pay. Last year more than 37,000 people made decisions for Christ during the Tour and we’re anticipating a phenomenal response in 2008 as well.”

Vince Wilcox, president of Celerity Entertainment, affirmed that Holt International, the world’s leader in child adoption and relocation services, will once again be a sponsor of Winter Jam 2008, along with the Wayne E. Bailey Produce Company. HearItFirst.com is back as a sponsor and will be giving out free download cards to the first 500 in line each night. Dave Ramsey's "Generation Change" student finance curriculum is also a new sponsor this year. Wilcox also announced a landmark partnership for 2008: “The Word Label Group Pre-Jam Party featuring pureNRG and Group 1 Crew.” Co-sponsored by media giants Fox Faith and Word Label Group, this event begins forty minutes before the official start of the show and will feature acclaimed pop trio Group 1 Crew and “tween” sensations pureNRG. For more information, please visit www.jamtour.com.

MercyMe’s lead singer Bart Millard anticipates a tremendous response, “MercyMe has a new record releasing on November 20, so hitting the road on Winter Jam early in ‘08 will be great. We look forward to playing our new songs, which is always fun for us, and of course the old favorites too for the Winter Jam crowds.”

Winter Jam 2008 follows the highly successful 2007 tour, which landed in Pollstar’s Top 10 Winter Tours surpassing artists like Nickelback, Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Mayer. WJ '07 averaged over 8,000 people each night with select shows having more than 10,000 in attendance. The 2007 Tour had total turnout of more than 275,000.

Excited to reach the masses during Winter Jam 2008, BarlowGirl shares, “We are so excited about the ministry that will take place during the tour. Getting to be a part of this tour is such an honor for us girls. We have heard from so my of our friends that have been a part in the past saying that the crowds are truly awesome.”

Also thrilled to be a part of the Winter Jam tour, Skillet lead singer John Cooper remarks, “We’ve heard great things about Winter Jam and are really excited to be a part of it this coming year. Skillet loves to rock, and look forward to having a blast with audiences throughout the country on this tour.”

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Evelyn out

Digital Art by Ted Larson and Mass Readings of the Recent Past

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

 If I have not already done so, I want to introduce you to one of the best digital artist of religious artwork on the web today.  He is Ted Larson artist and creator of Digital Art by Ted Larson. You will find Ted's work by either clicking the pervious link, whichwill take you directly to his site, or by clicking this link Bridging Faith Through Art , which will take you to his art that is displayed on my site. All of his work is unframed, but he has given me premission to enhance it.           

Daniel 6:21-22 The Lions Den by Ted Larson

In addition, the entries below are a collection of old Mass Readings moved from the new "A Catholic's Life" web site.  The new entries on the new site began with the "First Sunday in Advent", and is now archived there. This week's entries is the "Second Week of Advent. Each of these the entries for these Holy of holy Sundays will be found on the new site until this Christmas season is done. 

Evelyn out.

                                                                                             

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The Solemnity of Christ the King

The Solemnity of Christ the King

Reading 1

2 Samuel 5:1-3

 

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:

"Here we are, your bone and your flesh.

In days past, when Saul was our king,

it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.

And the LORD said to you,

'You shall shepherd my people Israel

and shall be commander of Israel.'"

When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,

King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,

and they anointed him king of Israel.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

 

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

"We will go up to the house of the LORD."

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

Reading II

Colossians 1:12-20

 

Brothers and sisters:

Let us give thanks to the Father,

who has made you fit to share

in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

He delivered us from the power of darkness

and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;

all things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

that in all things he himself might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile all things for him,

making peace by the blood of his cross

through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

 

 

 

Gospel

Luke 23:35-43

 

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,

"He saved others, let him save himself

if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."

Even the soldiers jeered at him.

As they approached to offer him wine they called out,

"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."

Above him there was an inscription that read,

"This is the King of the Jews."

 

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,

"Are you not the Christ?

Save yourself and us."

The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,

"Have you no fear of God,

for you are subject to the same condemnation?

And indeed, we have been condemned justly,

for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,

but this man has done nothing criminal."

Then he said,

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

He replied to him,

"Amen, I say to you,

today you will be with me in Paradise."

 

New American Bible

Thirtieth-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Sunday 40

November 18, 2007

 

Featured Artwork of the Week

 

• Jesus Mocked by the Soldiers, 1864-1865 by Edouard Manet
• King David by Juan Correa de Vivar 

Enhancement by Evelyn F. Altheimer-Fain

11.24.07