News from Brzezie
This year, the first Sunday of Advent coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. In our community of Brzezie, after praying the novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, we celebrated the commemoration of Our Lady's apparitions to St Catherine Laboure. We made sure to have medallions to give to the faithful who came to our chapel after morning Mass. It is worth remembering and reminding ourselves and perhaps even informing and telling others of Our Lady's assurance that "those who wear it with confidence, will receive many graces. " 27 November, the commemoration of Mary revealing the Miraculous Medal, is the best opportunity to do so. S.M. Agnieszka Szyma
Sunday 27 November
1st Sunday of Advent Gospel - Matthew 24:37-44 The awaiting in the advent is pictured the householder who is watching over his over against burglars who can come anytime. His house is precious for him, he is not waiting for the burglar, but he is protecting his house. His love for his house is that keeps him awake. His love for his house is that keep him alert all the time. In other words, he loves his house all the time. Now let’s think about our awaiting in the advent. Our love for Jesus must keep us awake to respond to His love always. Our love for Jesus must keep us alert all the time not to ignore His love. Because any moment in which we are passive to His love are moments lost. This happened in the time of Noah. They keep doing what they like to do without responding to the word of God through Noah. When we chose what we see, we don’t see the flood. When we respond to the love of God, we chose God who sees the flood. The awaiting is choice to be alert to respond to the love of God and not keep doing my things. Let’s reflect: how am I preparing myself in this advent? By being alert about the love of God which comes all the moments of my life or by keep doing my things? Advent is the opportunity to be alert to respond to the love of God which comes continuously into our life.
Saturday 26 November
Saturday of week 34 in Ordinary Time or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel - Luke 21:34-36 “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” Staying awake is being out of yourself and not closing yourself inside your comforts. Along with staying awake, Jesus adds praying. That means, you come out of yourself to be in union with God. The two steps in the process are important. The coming out of oneself and then relating to God. One is more challenging than the other. That is why Jesus is saying, “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life,”. Our selfishness always pushes us to remain inside ourselves, inside our desires, our pleasures, our interests… From there we must come out. Then we must relate to God. Here also there is the challenge to relate to God and not to any easy substitutes. There are lots of substitutes available which will give you the place of God. Watch yourselves! Let’s reflect: Is my prayer time, a time to come out of my comforts and to relate to Jesus crucified and risen?