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Synopsis: Advent I Sunday [B] (Dec 3) Homily on Mark 13:33-37 (L-17)

Introduction: The central theme of todays readings is Jesus warning to us to be alert, watchful and prepared because Christs Second Coming, coinciding with the end of the world, can occur at any time. People, in general, used to have a paranoid fear about the end of the world. They expected it in A.D. 204, 999 and 2000. The title of a best-seller published in 1988 was 101 Reasons Why Christ Returns in 1988. A very popular film released in 1999 about Christs Second Coming was Omega Code, and another film released in 2005 was Left Behind. Excessive fear of the tribulations accompanying the end of the world led the followers of a religious cult led by Jim Jones (in 1978), and followers of another cult called Heavens Gate (in 1997), to commit mass suicide. But Jesus, in todays Gospel, gives us the assurance that we need not be afraid of the end of the world, Christs Second Coming and the Last Judgment if we remain alert and prepared. The Church invites us on this first Sunday of Advent to prepare for Christs Second Coming, first by properly celebrating during this Christmas season the fond memory of Christs first coming 2000 years ago, second, by experiencing Christs daily advent or coming in the Eucharistic celebrations, in the Holy Bible and in the worshipping community, and third, by preparing for Jesus Second Coming which, for us, will happen at the moment of our deaths or at the end of the World.

Scripture lessons: In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah prays for Gods active presence so that the Jewish community, returned from Babylonian exile, may remain faithful to their God. In the second reading, St. Paul prays for the reconversion of Christians in Corinth who have misused their gifts and charisms and remain ill-prepared for Christs Second Coming. In todays Gospel, using the short parable of the servants and gate-keeper of an absentee master who could return at any time, Jesus instructs his followers to be alert and watchful while doing their Christian duties with sincerity. The gate-keeper and the household servants are expected to be ever-vigilant because their master is sure to return. The time of his return is uncertain, but the reward or punishment is sure and certain.

Life message: We should live in the living presence of Jesus every day, waiting for his Second Coming, while preparing for Christmas celebration. We can experience Christs living presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Holy Bible, in our worshiping community in our parish, in our family, in our own souls and in everyone around us. The early Christians experienced it, and that is why the mutual greeting among Christians was not Hi! or Good Morning! but the Aramaic, Maran Atha which means Come, Lord Jesus. This greeting acknowledged Jesus present in each of them and about to return. God bless you and keep you ever prepared for Christs second coming, while preparing for the yearly celebration of his first coming (Christmas) by repenting on our sins and renewing our lives.

Advent I [B]: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37

Anecdote #1: Endtime Paranoia: In A.D. 204, Hippolytus, a Christian writer in Rome, recorded that a Bishop was convinced that the Lord was going to return immediately. He urged his followers to sell all of their land and possessions and to follow him into the wilderness to await the Lords coming. At the end of the first millennium, anticipation of the Second Coming ran high. On the last day of 999, the basilica of St. Peters at Rome was filled with people who were weeping and trembling waiting for the world to end. It was in 1978 that the media flashed the shocking news of the mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana of 914 American men and women, members of a doomsday cult, The Peoples Temple, at the instruction of their paranoid leader Rev. Warren (Jim) Jones. In 1988, Rev. Colin Deal published a book titled Christ Returns by 1988 101 Reasons Why. In the same year, Edgar Whisenant, a NASA engineer used his mathematical skills to set a date for the return of Jesus. He wrote a book called, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Take Place in 1988. Another very popular book, published in 1989, was 89 Reasons Why the World will End in 1989. The Jehovahs Witnesses have frightened gullible followers at leastthree times during the last century with their end of the world predictions. The film Omega Code, released in October 1999, was an independent movie funded by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the largest Evangelical Christian TV network in the U.S., and promoted by a team of 2,400 U.S. Evangelical pastors. The plot involved the portrayal of the rapture, when born again and "saved" Christians, both alive and dead, will, it is claimed, fly upwards in the air to meet Jesus on his Second Coming. It was rated in the top 10 highest-grossing movies for October 1999. It was in March 1997, that 39 members (21 women and 18 men, ranging in age from 26 to 72), of a California cult called Heavens Gate, headed by Marshall Applewhite, exploded onto the national scene with their mass suicide in a luxurious mansion at Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego in California. This was their preparation for being safely transported to Heaven by a UFO, thus avoiding the tribulations accompanying the immediate end of the world. It was in 1995 that the landmark apocalyptic thriller, Left Behind (a series of 12 novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins -- Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Desecration, The Remnant, Armageddon, and Glorious Appearing) began hitting Christian bookstores. Since then, the Left Behind series and its related books have sold over 62 million copies, generating 650 million dollars in sales.Three more books in the series are expected. In October 2005, a big budget film, Left Behind, based on this novel series, was released for showing in all Evangelical Christian parishes. This is how modern man reacts to the coming end of the world. Todays readings remind us that along with our special spiritual preparation for Christmas, we should beprepared andready to meet Jesus at all times, whether at the end of our lives or the end of the world, whichever comes first.

# 2: You may judge my ability as a salesman: Years ago, when 20th Century Fox advertised in the New York papers to fill a vacancy in its sales force, one applicant replied: "I am at present selling furniture at the address below. You may judge my ability as a salesman if you will stop in to see me at any time, pretending that you are interested in buying furniture. When you come in, you can identify me by my red hair. And I should have no way of identifying you. Such salesmanship as I exhibit during your visit, therefore, will be no more than my usual workday approach and not a special effort to impress a prospective employer." From among more than 1500 applicants, this guy got the job. Jesus wants us to be ready like that man. We dont know when Hes coming back, so we should be prepared all the time.

Introduction: Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christs first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christs Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation. (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 1969). The common theme of todays readings is that vigilant service prepares us for the coming of Christ as our Savior during Christmas and as our judge and Lord at the end of the world. The reason why the liturgical year ends and begins with the same theme is clear: if we have already embraced Jesus in his first coming, we will have no fear of his second coming. Advent is the season of special preparation for and expectation of the coming of Christ. It encourages us to examine our lives, to reflect on our need for God to enter our lives, and to prepare earnestly for, and eagerly await the coming of Christ. He will come to us in the celebration of the Incarnation, in His continual coming in our daily living and in His final coming as our Lord to judge us all and to renew the Fathers creation. Using apocalyptic images, the Gospel urges the elect to be alert for the return of Christ because no one except the Father knows the day or the hour of the Lords return. Jesus summarizes the complexities of Christian living in two imperatives: "Take heed!" (Be on guard) and "Watch!" (Be alert, stay awake, and dont grow careless). Our life on earth is to be one of productive service uninfluenced by a supervisor's presence or seeming absence.

First reading( Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7) explained: Around 600 BC, the Babylonians took the Jews out of the Promised Land and kept them in exile (the Babylonian Captivity) for about 60 years. When Cyrus, the Persian emperor, took over Babylon, he sent the Jews home. This reading is set in that troubled period when Judah was trying to put itself back together after returning from Exile. To get the flavor of it, imagine how a contemporary family might feel when they return to a fire-damaged or hurricane-destroyed or flood-damaged home. The reading contains a mix of feelings: guilt and outrage at God alternating with praise of God, humility, anguish and hope. Isaiah expressed the hope of Israel for a powerful manifestation of God in their midst. "Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before You. The prophet hoped that if God would come into their midst, the people could be faithful to Him. Acknowledging the fact that the people were unfaithful, Isaiah asked for Gods forgiveness and acceptance: "You, O Lord, are our Father; we are the clay and You are the potter: we are all the work of Your hands." In other words, we're not perfect, but we are totally Gods to shape. Here Isaiah was not anticipating Jesus arrival when he asked God ... to rend the heavens and come down ...! He was simply pleading with Yahweh to force those Israelites who had recently returned from the Babylonian Exile to do what was necessary to allow God to be present and active in their lives. Isaiah was praying to Yahweh on behalf of the Israelites, Would that You might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of You in our ways. He begged Yahweh, the Father of the Chosen People, for mercy. This prayer was answered when the Son of God became man in the Incarnation.

Second Reading (1 Corinthians 1:3-9) explained: We wait for Christ in two ways. The early Sundays of Adventteach the end-of-the-world theme. In this context, we wait for Christ to come again in glory, to judge the living and the dead. The later Sundays of Advent celebrate a different theme: the coming of the Messiah in the flesh. Todays second reading, taken from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians and written from Ephesus in 57 A.D., begins witha greeting anda thanksgiving prayer. The letter is Paul's answer to reports which had reached him concerning disputes and difficulties in Corinth. It was written while he and his audience were still sure that Christ's second coming was just around the corner. Like all early Christians, the Apostle used the phrase the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ as another way to speak about Jesus Parousia his Second Coming at the end of the world. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were not ready to face the Day of the Lord because they were misusing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. After describing the special gifts of the Holy Spirit, they had received, Paul reminded the Corinthians that they wereusing their gifts in the wrong way. Christ's favor, the speech and knowledge they possessed,the spiritual gifts in which they gloried -- all were useless unless used for the good of the community. In fact, many of Paul's converts had been using their gifts todestroy the communityinstead of building it up. What should have been an asset, had become a detriment. Paul could only pray for the eventual conversion of his community. "He (Jesus) will strengthen you to the end," the Apostle writes, "so that you will be blameless on the day of Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and it was He who called you to fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Todays Gospel is the conclusion of a speech found in Mark 13, in which Jesus foretells his Second Coming (Parousia), at the end of time or at the end of the world. Ten years after Pauls death, Mark reminded his community in Rome of Jesus words, Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time will come. The evangelist knew thatif an expected event didnt happen as quickly as expected, people would stop doing the things they ought to do. Hence, Mark reminded them of Jesus parable about the gate-keeper in the house of a traveling master. Since the master was traveling, his servant must be constantly alert, at dusk, at midnight, when the cock crows, or at early dawn. There was always a fear that the master would come home suddenly and catch you asleep. In such situations one must constantly, be on guard! When Paul and Mark spoke about the things to come, it was only to remind their readers that their present behavior wasnt measuring up to whatChrists second coming demanded.

Gospel Exegesis: The context: Mark is the shortest of the four canonical Gospels and, in the view of most Scripture scholars, was the first of them to be put down in written form, probably sometime in the 60s A.D. The Gospel of Mark was probably written at a time when the Romans had swept through upper Galilee to suppress a Galilean revolution. This region was where Mark's Judeo-Christian community lived. This community was besieged by three hostile forces, all of which demanded loyalty from the followers of Jesus as former Jews. Since Palestine was the breadbasket of the Empire,the Romans controlled it through military might and local alliances. The high priests and their minions collaborated with the Romans and imposed their own oppressive burden of regulations and Temple taxes. Armed Jewish nationalists had seized the Temple by force and wanted to expel the Romans from the region. At the time Mark wrote his Gospel, the Roman legions were poised to destroy the Temple and all of Jerusalemwith it, once and for all, and thus end the Jewish nation as it had existed before.Hence, Mark reminded the Christian community of Jesus injunction to be alert and awake for Christs second coming, recalling Jesus parable about the gate-keeper. Scripture scholars sometimes refer to this part of Marks Gospel as the little apocalypse because these verses speak of the striking cosmic signs that will signal Christs coming (vv. 24-27), and Christs injunction to be watchful and attentive (vv. 28-31).

The background of the parable: Absentee land-owners and wayfaring masters were a common thing in Jesus' time. The owners of large properties often lived elsewhere, leaving servants in charge of caring for and carrying on business as if the owners were still present. This kind of situation would be a test for the servants left in charge. Would they be faithful day by day, or would they wait until they heard the master was about to return and then quickly get things in order? The trouble was that often they didnt know when the land-owner would return. The absence of the master was a test.

The need for Christian alertness: Jesus illustrates the need for alertness and readinessby comparing the situation of his followers to that of a gate-keeper in a house when the owner was out of the country. Since the gate-keeper did not know when the owner of the house would return, "in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning," he must always be ready if he did not want the owner to find him asleep. In the same way, there is no reason for Christ's followers to be fearful, providedwe are ready every day for Jesus' return. If we are awake and ready, the coming of the Son of Man is an event to be greeted with joy. Thus, our whole life should be a preparation to meet the master. We base this constant watch not on fear but on hope in Gods promise of eternal life.

The work to be completed: Like the parents who trust their teenagers to look after the house while they are away, or like the teacher who leaves the classroom after giving her students plenty of work to do, Jesus trusts us to carry out his work until he returns. There is the work of witnessing to Jesus in our daily lives. There is the work to be done in our families,ourschools, our local churchesandour community. There is the work of caring for those who are hurting and have needs. There is the work of guiding and leading others, pointing people to the comforting message of the Gospel. There is the work of living "lives holy and dedicated to God, doing our best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him"

Being a responsible servant: This passage reminds us also that we should not be so foolish as to forget God and become immersed in worldly matters. Using Christsparable, the Church reminds us of the alertness and preparation needed for the four-fold coming of Jesus into our lives, namely:at the celebration of His Incarnation during this Christmas season, in His active presence in our daily lives, at the moment of our death, and in his final coming in glory at the end of the world.

First coming and second coming (St. Cyril of Jerusalem): At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. We look, then, beyond the first coming and await the second. At the first coming we said: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord His first coming was to fulfil his plan of love, to teach us by gentle persuasion. This time, whether people like it or not, they will be subjects of his kingdom, by necessity. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem; transl. www.universalis.com)

Life messages: 1) An Advent project for remaining alert and watchful in the spirit of todays Gospel. Every morning when we get up, let us pray, Lord, show mesomeone todaywith whomI may share your love, mercy and forgiveness. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, "Whatever you do in your family, for your children, for your husband, for your wife, you do for Jesus." Every night when we go to bed, let us ask ourselves, Where have I found Christ today? The answer will be Gods Advent giftto us that day. By being alert and watchful we will receive an extra gift: Christ himself. Let us remember thesaying ofSt. Thomas Aquinas:"Without God, I can't. Without me, He won't."

2) We need to be wakeful and watchful: We are sofuture-oriented that we oftenforget the present entirely. We spend too much time trying to protect ourselves against future misfortunes. We save for a rainy day, to get married, to buy a home, to send the children to college, to retire in comfort and to protect ourselves against future misfortunes. But we need to be more spiritually wakefuland prepare for our eternal life because we can die any day, and that is the end of the world for us. Let this Advent season be the time of such a preparation for us.

3: We need to be Maran atha Christians: Maran atha (Rev. 22:20) is an Aramaic (Syriac) expression that means: Come, Lord Jesus. It was used as a greeting in the early Church. When believers gathered or parted, they didnt say hello or goodbye, but Maran atha! If we had the same spiritual outlook today, it would revolutionize the Church and the lives of its members during this advent season.

Joke of the week

#1: Fear of mother-in-laws rising: A man from the U.S. took his family to Israel to see the places where Jesus had lived and died. He was forced to include his troublesome mother-in-law in the tour party. While in the Holy Land, his mother-in-law died. An undertaker in Tel Aviv explained that he could ship the body home to Wisconsin at a cost of $10,000 or the body could be buried in Israel for US $500. The man says, "We'll ship her home." The undertaker asks, "Are you sure? That's an awfully big expense and we can do a very nice burial here right in the Valley of Josephat." The man replies, "Look, 2000 years ago they buried Jesus here and three days later he rose from the dead. Besides, during his public ministry he raised Lazarus from the tomb. I can feel his invisible presence all over here in the Holy Land. So, I just can't take that chance in the case of my mother-in-law."

# 2: Letting the left behind read the newspaper report on the rapture. The Evangelical printer explained to the visitors: In the printing trade, the largest print type that can be used on a front-page headline is called Second Coming Type. One of the visitors asked: If Christ has come back, who will be left to put out the newspaper? Well, said the printer, the good people are caught up in the air and go to Heaven, so the reporters would be left behind to publish the newspaper for the evil people.

# 3: The Messiah is Jewish: A Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest enjoyed teasing their Rabbi friend, continually asking him when he was going to convert to their Faith. When the Christmas season rolled around, the Rabbi sent them a card with the following note: "Seasons Greetings! Roses are reddish, Violets are bluish; When the Messiah comes, youll wish you were Jewish!!"

# 4: The beginning of a new day: Some time ago a man was staying in a chalet (hotel) in the Swiss Alps. Early one morning he heard what sounded like an earthquake. Hurriedly he got out of bed and ran to the front desk and asked if there was something wrong, if the mountains were breaking up? He was scared. The man at the front desk explained, Sir, we are on the west side of the mountain. As the sun comes up in the east, and the snow and ice expand as they begin to get warm. The expansion causes a large crashing noise. Its not the end of the world or the Second Coming of Jesus; its just the beginning of a new day.

# 5: God won!: A little boy walked into his Dads room just as his Dad finished reading the Bible. The son asked, "What are you reading? The Father replied, "I am reading the book of Revelation, the last book of the Holy Bible." The little boy curiously asked, "Whats it about? His dad replied, "Its about Gods final battle against evil." The little boy excitedly asked, "Who won?" The Father stooped down to his boys eye level and said, "God won."

# 6: Behold, I come!: One young clergyman preaching his first sermon, was very nervous. He started with the text, "Behold I come!" Then his mind went blank. He bravely repeated, "Behold I come!" Still his frightened brain wouldn't function. So, he leaned over the pulpit and repeated once more, "Behold I come!" At that moment the pulpit collapsed. He tumbled over into the lap of a lady. He got up and, red-faced, stammered, "Oh, I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" The lady was not upset in the least and replied, "Thats all right. I should have been expecting you. After all you warned me three times!" (Msgr. Arthur Tonne).

(Scriptural Homilies no.1 by Fr. Tony (akadavil@gmail.com)

28- Additional anecdotes:

1) "Ready or not -- here I come!" When you were a child, did you play the game, Hide and Seek? If you did, you will remember that the person who was "it" closed his eyes while the rest went to hide. To give them time to hide, the child started counting: 5, 10, 15, 20 and up to 100. Then he would say, "Ready or not, here I come!" The point of the game was to hide oneself so well that the leader could not find you, for if he found you, and beat you back to the goal, you had to be "it" the next go-around. The secret of the game was preparing oneself against being found and caught. With excitement we heard the words, "Ready or not -- here I come!" In today's Gospel lesson Jesus is saying to the world, "Ready or not -- here I come." In chapter 13 of Mark, Jesus tells us that he will be returning to the earth "with great power and glory." As in the game, only this is not a game, there is a counting and an accounting going on right now. It is a countdown before the blast of his appearance on earth a second time to judge the world and to gather his faithful to himself.

2) "What a way to meet the President: When Eisenhower was president of the United States, he once visited Denver. His attention was called to a letter in the local newspaper saying that a six-year- old boy dying with cancer expressed a wish to see the president. One Sunday morning a black limousine pulled up in front of the boy's house. Ike stepped out of his car and knocked on the front door. The father, Donald Haley, opened the door wearing faded jeans, an old shirt, and a day's old beard. Standing behind him was the boy. Ike said, "Paul, I understand you want to see me. Glad to see you." Then he took the boy to the limousine to show it to him, shook hands, and left. The family and neighbors talked about the President's visit for a long time with delight, but the father always remembered it with regret because of the way he had been dressed. He lamented, "What a way to meet the President of the United States." If we keep in fellowship with God through prayer, we will keep ourselves spiritually dressed for Christ's coming at any time

3) "Today, sir, today." Some years ago, a tourist visited the Castle Villa Asconti on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. Only the old gardener opened the gates, and the visitor stepped into the garden, which was perfectly kept. The visitor asked when the owner was last there. He was told, "Twelve years ago." Did he ever write? No. Where did he get instructions? From his agent in Milan. Does the master ever come? No. "But, you keep the grounds as though your master were coming back tomorrow." The old gardener quickly replied, "Today, sir, today." A Christian watches and works as though the Master would return this very day.

4) "Give God a chance to help; wait three days." It was the day after Easter. The pastor paused for a moment at the top of the steps leading from his Church to the avenue, now crowded with people rushing to their jobs. Sitting in her usual place inside a small archway was the old flower lady. At her feet corsages and boutonnieres were spread out on a newspaper. The flower lady was smiling, her wrinkled face alive with joy. The pastor started down the stairs, then on an impulse turned and picked out a flower. As he put it in his lapel, he said, "You look happy this morning." "Why not? Everything is good." she answered. She was dressed so shabbily and seemed so very old that her reply startled him. "No troubles?" he responded. "You can't reach my age and not have troubles," she replied. "Only it's like Jesus and Good Friday." She paused for a moment. "Yes?" prompted the pastor. "Well, when Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, that was the worst day for the whole world. And when I get troubles, I remember that. And then I think what happened only three days later: Easter and our Lord arising. So when I get troubles, I've learned to wait three days and somehow everything gets all right again." And she smiled goodbye. -- The old flower lady's advice would help many of us: "Give God a chance to help; wait three days." (Patt Barnes in Guideposts) "Wait on the Lord," wrote the psalmist, "be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart...."(27:14). The word wait appears 106 times in the Scriptures. Sometimes there is nothing else we can do. Like the early Church, we can only wait, watch, and work.

5) Baby Jesus with a GPS: It always feels strange beginning Advent in November. But the stores are already decorated for Christmas, so why not? I hope the department stores wont think were trying to spoil their party by injecting a little religion into this busy season of the year. It reminds me of an item that appeared in USA Today last year about this time. Authorities in Bal Harbor, FL outfitted the baby Jesus in their outdoor Nativity Scene with a GPS locator as a protection against thieves. The previous Baby Jesus was stolen even though it had been bolted down. I dont anticipate this will ever happen again, said Dina Cellini, who oversees the display, but we may need to rely on technology to save our Savior. The Mary and Joseph statues will also be outfitted with GPS. (1.12-24-07, p. 3A. Contributed by Dr. John Bardsley) Interesting! Somebody stole the Baby Jesus. Im not surprised. Theyve already stolen Christmas. Im exaggerating, of course. Still, Im thankful you are here today as we seek to reflect on the meaning of Christs coming into the world.

6) Get ready: John Phillips, in his book Exploring Revelation, tells about the return of Richard I, the Lionhearted, to England. It was during the time of the crusades. While Richard was away doing battle in the Middle East, his kingdom fell on bad times. His brother, Prince John, justly vilified in the tales of Robin Hood, usurped the kingship and misruled the realm. The people of England suffered under Johns rule and longed for the return of their rightful King. They prayed that it might be soon. Then one day, Richard returned. He landed in England and marched straight for his throne. Johns castles tumbled before Richard like ninepins. Richard the Lionhearted laid claim to his throne, and none dared stand in his path. The people shouted their delight. They rang peal after peal on the bells. The Lion was back! Long live the king! John Phillips adds these hopeful words: One day a King greater than Richard will lay claim to a realm greater than England. Those who have abused the earth in His absence, seized His domains, and mismanaged His world will all be swept aside. (http://www.sermonnotebook.org/revelation/Revelation%201_4-8.htm. ) That days coming, friends, and it will be a grand and glorious day. Get ready. No one knows when it will be. But get ready. No one knows what shape it will take, but we know this: Gods in charge and God can be trusted. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch! (Mark 13:37).

7) "Gee, I guess I just wasn't ready." There's an amusing commercial on television in which a man is about to let go of his bowling ball as he eyes the pins at the end of the lane. Just as he is ready to release the ball, he gets lifted out of himself by two men in sparkling white suits and goes walking off across the lanes, through the walls of the building and onto a staircase surrounded by clouds. At first he doesn't understand what in the world is going on but then it suddenly dawns on him. He has just died. He looks at the two white-suited men at his side and asks in disbelief, "Are you sure it was supposed to be me? I was working on a string of strikes!" Convinced there was no mistake, he goes off reluctantly and shrugs, "Gee, I guess I just wasn't ready." The point of the commercial is that one has to be ready all the time and for the sponsor that means having insurance, a "piece-of-the-rock." That's the way to be ready.

8) AD 2025: The World Future Society released their forecasts for the next 25 years a few months ago and some of those forecasts were upbeat. For example these futurists predict that by the year 2025 the world will have a billion millionaires. Thats a lot of wealthy people. I hope youre one of them. They also forecast a new process to remove salt from seawater and make it drinkable at a much lower cost than thought possible. They predict drastic improvements in artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, nanotechnology and robotics. These advances will improve every aspect of our lives. But they also report that the threat of another cold war with China, Russia, or both could replace terrorism as the chief foreign-policy concern of the United States. Scenarios for what a war with China or Russia would look like make the clashes and wars in which the United States is now involved seem insignificant. Also of deep concern is climate change with the disappearance of much of our bio-diversity, widespread flooding and water replacing oil as the most precious commodity on earth. (futuristupdate@wfs.org )How much of this will occur? No one knows. But heres what we do know. The God who sent a tiny babe 2,000 years ago to redeem our world is the same God Who holds the future.

9) Misha, you can come and be in my family and live in my home. On one occasion this missionary couple was teaching the children about Christmas. They told them all about Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wise men, and about the baby Jesus. They told them all about the stable, and the manger, and the star in the sky. They told them all about Gods love for the world embodied in the birth of Jesus. And after teaching the children the Christmas story, this couple invited them to draw some pictures of the manger scene. All of the pictures were wonderful! But one in particular caught their attention. It was drawn by a little boy named Misha. And what made Mishas drawing distinctive was that there were, not one, but two babies lying in the manger. Misha, what a wonderful picture! said the woman missionary. But who is the other baby in the manger with the baby Jesus? Misha looked up with a lovely expression on his face. The other baby is Misha, he smiled. Oh? How is it that you added yourself to the manger scene? she asked. And this is what Misha said. When I was drawing the picture of the baby Jesus, Jesus looked at me and said, Misha, where is YOUR family? I said to Jesus, I have no family. Then Jesus said to me, Misha, where is your home? And I said to Jesus, I have no home. And then Jesus said to me, Misha, you can come and be in my family and live in my home.

(http://www.tellicochurch.org/Year%20B%20Sermons/ 021224.html.) ) Thats a lovely story, and we are so thankful that Misha was introduced to Jesus. But do you understand that two thousand years after the coming of Christ, millions of children come from situations like Mishas? They are still awaiting a Savior. Youll find them in the former Soviet Union. Youll find them in Afghanistan. Youll find them in Africa. Youll find them in the gang-ridden neighborhoods of our inner cities. Youll find them right here in our own community. Of course, it is our responsibility to reach out to these little ones, to show them the love of Jesus, but the truth of the matter is that, for the most part, they are forgotten this Advent season.

10) Anti-Christs: The Scriptures provide us with very few details about the nature of Christs return, and much of what we do have is written in a kind of code that can be widely interpreted, or misinterpreted as the case may be. For example, did you know that Ronald Reagan was the anti-Christ? Ronald Wilson Reagan six letters in each of his names, 666. What more evidence do you need? At one time the website of the PBS show Frontline carried a list of prominent figures who have been labeled the anti-Christ at one time or the other. Some are quite predictable, ranging from Yasser Arafat and Saddam Hussein to former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, because of the strange mark on his forehead that some said was the mark of the beast. But how about Reagan? And how about John F. Kennedy? Kennedy was there because he received 666 votes at the 1956 Democratic Convention and a head wound killed him. Bill Gates was there because he would enslave the world through computers and even the old folk singer Pete Seeger was there, though we are not told why http://bloomingcactus.typepad.com/bloomingcactus/2005/11/mark_132437_kee.html. ) But surely none of these is the anti-Christ. The parts of the Bible that foretell the end of time, the apocalyptic literature as it is called by scholars is written in a kind of code and is open to much interpretation. And, obviously, it is all pre-space age imagery.

11) But its steady work. Leo Rosten tells an amusing story that comes out of the Jewish tradition. There was a man in a small Russian village who, because of a disabling condition, could not find employment. The community council wanted to help him but they also wanted to protect his pride. They decided to give him a job. They paid him two rubles a week to sit at the towns entrance and be the first to greet the Messiah when he arrives. Just sit on the hill outside our village every day from dawn to sunset, they tell him. You will be our watchman for the approach of the Messiah. And when you see him, run back to the village as fast as you can, shouting, The Messiah! The Messiah! He is coming! The mans face lit up just thinking of the glory of his new position. Every morning he greeted the dawn from the hill and not until sunset every day, did he leave his treasured post. A year went by, and a traveler, approaching the village, noticed the figure sitting on a hill. Sholem, called the traveler. What are you doing here? I am waiting for the Messiah! the man replied. Its my job. The traveler was somewhat amused. How do you like this job? he asked, suppressing a smile. Frankly, it doesnt pay much, said the poor man, but its steady work. [Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yinglish (New York: McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 1992).] That would be steady work if you did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah -- twenty-five hundred years of waiting and watching for the coming of the Lord.

12) Im two hours late, and youre still not ready? Margaret was all ready for her date. She was wearing her best outfit, her hair was fixed, her makeup was perfect. Imagine her disappointment when her date didnt show up! After an hour of waiting, Margaret decided that he wasnt going to come. She changed into her pajamas, washed off her makeup, gathered up a bunch of junk food, and parked herself in front of the television for the evening. As soon as she got involved in her favorite show, there was a knock on the door. She opened it to find her handsome date standing on the doorstep. He stared at her in shock, then said in disbelief, Im two hours late, and youre still not ready? (Steve Barry, Life in these United States, Readers Digest, Oct. 1992, p. 82. Contributed by Dr. John Bardsley.) Of course, our Jewish friends have spent hundreds, even thousands of years waiting to celebrate the coming of the Messiah. In fact, theyre still waiting.

13) Wesley, Luther and gardener: Once John Wesley was asked what he would do if he knew this was his last day on earth. He replied, "At 4 o'clock I would have some tea. At 6 I would visit Mrs. Brown in the hospital. Then at 7:30 I would conduct a mid-week prayer service. At 10 I would go to bed and would wake up in glory." When Luther was asked what he would do on the day of Jesus' return, he said he would go out and plant a tree. Our text tells us that Christ expects each of us to be about our work so that when he comes, he will find us in gainful and constructive employment, taking care of the world as his trustees. Some years ago a tourist visited the Castle Villa Asconti on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. Only the old gardener opened the gates and the visitor stepped into the garden, which was perfectly kept. The visitor asked when the owner was last there. He was told, "Twelve years ago." Did he ever write? No. Where did he get instructions? From his agent in Milan. Does the master ever come? No. "But, you keep the grounds as though your master were coming back tomorrow." The old gardener quickly replied, "Today, sir, today." A Christian watches and works as though the Master would return this very day. He wants Jesus to find him busy about his tasks: washing dishes, mending shoes, running a lathe, teaching school, planting a rose bush. Jesus will be pleased to see his faithful ones working hard to build a better world, a more Christian society.

14) "One for you, one for me. A young girl was cycling down the road outside the cemetery. As she got nearer, she heard the voices, so she stopped and listened to the voice, "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me . . . "She shuddered as she imagined some awful truth. She thought to herself, "God and Satan must be dividing the souls at the cemetery." She cycled back to town as fast as she could and found an old man hobbling down the road, leaning heavily on his cane with each step. She said, "You've got to come with me. You won't believe what I heard. God and Satan are down at the cemetery dividing the souls." The old man didn't believe her, "Shoo, you brat, can't you see I'm finding it hard to walk as it is." She kept pleading, and he eventually gave in and hobbled after her back to the cemetery. When they got to the fence, they stood quietly and heard, "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me . . . " The old man whispered, "Man alive, you've been tellin' me the truth, girl. Let's see if we can get closer and see them." Shivering with fear, they got as close to the wall as they could and peered through the fence. Unfortunately, they still couldn't see a thing. The old man and the young girl clung to the fence as they heard the same words, "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me . . . " Then, after another minute, they heard, "One for you, one for me, and one last one for you. Okay, that's all. Now," said the voice of the one doing the counting, "let's go get those nuts by the fence, and we'll be done." The boys found a cane lying on the ground near the last few remaining walnuts. And, oh yes, the punch line . . . The old man got back to town five minutes before the girl did. (THEMAZEMAN@aol.com cited on The Jewish Humor List.) Is that what you expect from Christ's return--that you and I had better be on our best behavior because Christ and the Devil are going to divide up souls on the basis of merit, and we don't want to come up short? Then you need to take a second look at the Gospel.

15) "Watch." Though Russia and the United States agreed in 1974 to limit themselves to 2,500 nuclear missiles and bombers and permitted themselves to build an additional 1,200 missiles with multiple atomic warheads, by 1991 Russia had 10,877 and the U.S. had 11,602 nuclear weapons. Both sides have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world not once but many times. While hundreds of millions are starving, nations spend annually $220 billion for arms. Leading ecologists warn us that we will suffocate ourselves with pollution. The world seems to be winding itself up. And we seem to know it, too. A cartoon shows a man wearing placards as he walks up and down the crowded streets of a big city. On the sign is the warning: "The end is nigh. Prepare to meet thy doom." The sign carrier says, "The horrible thing is that people don't laugh at me anymore!" In our text Jesus is telling us to get ready for his second coming. The key word of our preparation is "Watch." He concludes his saying on this return with "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Ready or not, Jesus is coming.

16) Reason to hope and rejoice: She had every reason to be bitter. "Though talented, she went unrecognized for years. Prestigious opera circles closed their ranks when she tried to enter. American critics ignored her compelling voice. She was repeatedly rejected for parts for which she easily qualified. It was only after she went to Europe and won the hearts of tough-to-please European audiences that stateside opinion leaders acknowledged her talent. Not only has her professional life been a battle, her personal life has been marked by challenge. She is the mother of two handicapped children, one of whom is severely retarded. Years ago, in order to escape the pace of New York City, she purchased a home on Martha's Vineyard. It burned to the ground two days before she was to move in. Professional rejection. Personal setbacks. Perfect soil for the seeds of bitterness. A receptive field for the roots of resentment. But in this case, anger found no home. Her friends don't call her bitter; they call her Bubbles. Who is she? Beverly Sills. Internationally acclaimed opera singer. Retired director of the New York Opera. Her phrases are sugared with laughter. Her face is softened with serenity. Upon interviewing her, Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes stated, She is one of the most impressive if not the most impressive, ladies I've ever interviewed.' How can a person handle such professional rejection and personal trauma and still be known as Bubbles? I choose to be cheerful,' she says. Years ago, I knew I had little or no choice about success, circumstances or even happiness; but I knew I could choose to be cheerful.'" (Max Lucado, The Applause from Heaven, Word Publishing, 1990, page 3). Today we open the Advent season that leads to the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. We prepare the way for the Lord to enter our hearts more deeply. This is why we do not lose heart or hope.

17) "God warms my heart when I keep my eyes fixed on Him." There's a great story about Saint Francis of Assisi that illustrates this very well. One winter night, there was a raging blizzard, and the man who was supposed to wake up every couple of hours and keep the fire going at the monastery was unable to find Francis. So he went outside into the storm and found him kneeling at the side of a hill wearing his ordinary clothing. His arms were outstretched; he was praying, oblivious to the wind and biting cold snow. A day later, when the man asked Francis how he could stand this, Francis replied, "God warms my heart when I keep my eyes fixed on Him." God warms our hearts, too, when we keep our eyes fixed on God.

18) Unique child: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was one of the most sought after speakers of the 20th century. Shortly before his death, he spoke for his good friend Robert Schuler in the Crystal Cathedral. Dr. Schuler began his introduction by saying: "I want to introduce you to the most dynamic person you will ever meet in your life. He is exciting, positive and winsome. He can reach down inside of you more deeply than anyone else you have ever known before. He will give you self-confidence and courage, and a whole lot of other things you have always wanted in your life but have not had." Dr. Peale was astounded. He had never been introduced like this before. How could he possibly respond to this introduction? As he was trying to think of some response, he heard Dr. Schuler continue: "The person of whom I am speaking, of course, is Jesus Christ. And here to tell you about Him is my friend, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale." Yes, Jesus Christ came to free us to be all that God wants us to be. From that moment when Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem, there came power and there came light into our world. There came life, and there came a future. If God can reach down and touch the earth in all its darkness and sin and win the victory, God can bring victory into our situation whatever that situation may be.

19) The end of the world in 2012: With preacher Harold Camping's prophecies and the Mayan calendar's prediction about the end of the world next year, doomsday seems a hot topic these days. But today, I received a reassuring press release from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, assuring a worried public (were we worried about this?) that a gigantic, killer solar flare won't destroy the Earth in 2012. Whew! "There simply isn't enough energy in the Sun to send a killer fireball 93 million miles to destroy Earth," NASA's Karen C. Fox reports in the release. NASA also notes that the next solar maximum is predicted to occur in late 2013 or early 2014, not 2012. (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/11/nasa-solar-flare-sunspots-earth-destroyed-end-of-the-world/1) (L/2011)

20) Waiting to be rescued: One December day 16-year-old Gary Schneider and two friends set out on a four-day climb up Mt. Hood. Nine thousand feet up, a blinding storm engulfed the three boys. They tunneled into a snow bank to get out of the driving wind and to wait out the blizzard. Eleven days later the blizzard continued to rage. The boys sleeping bags grew wet and lumpy.Their food supply dwindled to a daily ration of two spoonfuls of pancake batter apiece. Their sole comfort was a small Bible one of the boys had packed in his gear. The boys took turns reading it, eight hours a day. The only light was a spooky, reflected light coming from the caves tiny opening. There the three boys remained huddled hour after hour, day after day, listening to the word of God against a background of howling wind. Waiting like this was not easy. All the boys could do was pray, hoping the blizzard would blow itself out and help would come. Finally, on the 16thday the weather cleared and the boys crawled out of their snow cave. They were weak from the ordeal and could manage only a few steps at a time. Later that day they caught sight of a rescue party. Their long ordeal of waiting finally ended. -- Todays readings challenger us to wait for the rebirth of Jesus in our lives. (Mark Link in IllustratedSundayHomilies; quoted by Fr. Botelho).

21) I became awake. The spiritual life is first of all a matter of being awake, said Thomas Merton. A story comes to us from Eastern mysticism: A monk asked, Abbot, what has Gods wisdom taught you? Did you become divine? Not at all! Did you become a saint? No, as you can clearly see. What then, O Abbot? I became awake! -- Advent is the time of a spiritual awakening to see and experience the presence of the Messiah in our midst. (James Philips in Pastoral Life; quoted by Fr. Botelho).

22) The Challenge of Waiting: In his book Mans Search for Meaning, Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl tells the story of how he survived the atrocities of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Frankl says one of the worst sufferings at Auschwitz was waiting: waiting for the war to end; waiting for an uncertain date of release and waiting for death to end the agony. This waiting caused some prisoners to lose sight of future goals, to let go of their grip on present realities and give up the struggle. This same waiting made others like Frankl accept it as a challenge, as a test to their inner strength and a chance to discover deeper dimensions of freedom. (Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds; quoted by Fr. Botelho).

22) Watchful Always: One of the wisest, noblest and gentlest men who ever lived was Socrates. He lived in Athens in the fifth century B.C. He was unjustly put to death by the Athenian judges. When Socrates was in the prison waiting for his death, his friend Crito came to visit him. Crito tried to persuade Socrates to escape from the prison. He said, Socrates, I have enough silver to bribe the prison guards to help you to escape from here. But Socrates declined it. Then Crito asked him to delay the drinking of the poison. He said, Socrates, I know other people drink it late. They dine and get drunk and keep company with those they happen to desire. So dont hurry. Even this suggestion Socrates declined. He said to Crito, You know, Crito, I wouldnt do what others have done. I dont gain anything by clinging on to life a little longer. Socrates called the jail attendant who came with the cup filled with hemlock poison. Then Socrates asked him, Sir, you have knowledge of this. What is necessary to do. The attendant said, Nothing except drink it and walk around until your legs become heavy, and then lie down and thus it will do it for itself. Socrates took the cup, raised it and said a prayer and emptied its contents. For some time he walked around; when his legs became heavy, he lay down and pulled a blanket over his head and closed his eyes in death. - As in life, so in death Socrates was a virtuous man. He wanted to be always at-right with justice and with God. He was a man who was perpetually watchful about his righteousness; he was a man who was perpetually prepared to meet his God. -- In todays Gospel Jesus warns us to be alert, and prepared. (John Rose in JohnsSundayHomilies; quoted by Fr. Botelho).

23) Wake Up! Do you remember the movie Awakening? Robert De Niro plays the part of a patient who, for thirty years, does not move or speak. A particularly, sensitive and enterprising doctor tries out some new theories and lo and behold, the patient begins to move around, talk and feel. For a brief period he returns to this world and announces to those amazed folks around him that he is back: I have been away for quite some time.... now I am back. He becomes gradually aware of the love and concern that surrounds him and what is really alive inside of his heart and soul. It is never too late to wake up. Morning is when you wake up. Advent is a nice time to wake up. Wake up to give an account of your stewardship. Wake up into a time for giving and sharing, a time that we are called to be thankful and prepare our hearts for the Christ child. Wake up and open your eyes in Faith to see God present and active in your life and in your world.(John Pichappilly in The Table of the Word; quoted by Fr. Botelho).

24) St. Mary Major's Empty Throne: A powerful symbol of God's faithfulness is found in an ancient work of art in one of Rome's most beautiful basilicas. The Basilica of St Mary Major was the very first Church in the West dedicated to the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was constructed in the 400s, and many of its original mosaics have survived. A mosaic located on the triumphal arch high above the main altar, in the very focal point of the Basilica, depicts something very strange: a lavish, gorgeously decorated throne, which happens to be completely empty. That empty throne is the perfect symbol for Advent. On the one hand, it reminds us of the Incarnation. Jesus, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, left his heavenly throne when, out of infinite love, he came to dwell among us here on earth and become our salvation. This powerful reference to the Incarnation is echoed by the Basilica's most famous relic: pieces of the crib that Mary used for the baby Jesus. Every year thousands of pilgrims still visit those relics today. The location of the empty-throne mosaic - directly above the high altar - also reminds us that Christ continues his incarnation, by coming down to dwell among us at every Mass, in the Eucharist. But the empty throne also reminds us of God's other promise - that Jesus will come again to bring his Kingdom to fulfillment. Seeing the empty throne stirs our hearts with a desire for Jesus to return and to wipe away all our sorrows, forever. It makes our hearts ring with the same cry we heard in today's First Reading and Psalm: "Rouse your power, and come to save us." The empty throne is proof that God fulfilled one promise on the first Christmas Day, and will certainly fulfill another in the days to come. (E- Priest).

25) Do you have earthquake insurance? Weve been hearing about the earthquakes in many parts of the world. Do you have a weather alert radio? What about health insurance/car insurance/house insurance? Do you have smoke and fire detectorsmaybe also CO2 detectors in your home? Do you wear a seat belt when you are in a car? What about an alarm system for your home and business? There are many ways that we are watchful and ready for things in this life that we hope and pray will never happen. But what about our eternal life our spiritual life with Jesus that we KNOW WILL HAPPEN? Why is it that so many in our world do so much about this temporary physical world and so little with the spiritual, eternal world? This weekend we begin the Church season of Advent with the three-fold reminder that Jesus came (Christmas), He comes (Word & Sacraments), and He is coming again (as Savior or Judge). (Rev. Myers). L/17

26) Unprepared medical team in Korea: Sergeant Charles B. Schlichter, 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, had been soldiering most of his life. In June 1950 he was a surgical technician at Madigan General Hospital. When the news of the outbreak in Korea came over the air, Charles Schlichter had a premonition that "Something was going to happen to him. He was diverted to the 2nd Division [in Korea] on 16 July. Schlichter and the medics of his unit received no real briefing on the Korean situation. Korea was described to them as a minor police action, which might be cleared up before they arrived. At dusk on 30 November, the medical convoy was stopped on the road miles north of the pass. Schlichter could hear heavy firing ahead, see the pink and red tracers bouncing off the hills....It grew darker, and the thermometer fell. The firing reverberated among the hills, and in the convoy men became tired and cold and scared. They were carrying 180 wounded men in the trucks. Then suddenly someone cried out. "It's every man for himself! We're trapped! Get out any way you can!" The two hundred-odd men of the company spread all over the hills, abandoning the 180 wounded men in the trucks. Men ran into the hills until they dropped from exhaustion; they ran as long as the panic held them, and their legs would carry them. Others climbed hills, to try to see about them. Air Force planes screamed out of the south, shooting, bombing. It was standard practice for the Air Force to destroy abandoned equipment before the enemy could profit from it. The pilots could not know what cargo those deserted trucks still held. Then the Air Force dropped napalm, the drums bouncing from the frozen ground and engulfing the dusty trucks in flame. In the zero weather, Charles Schlichter's face was suddenly wet with sweat. Some of the men with him closed their eyes. And then they all ran back into the hills. Within a short time, a North Korean patrol had pinned them on a hill, holding them down with submachine-gun fire. (T. R. Fehrenbach, This Kind of War - A Study in Unpreparedness, (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1963). The medical team was totally unprepared to face the challenges, because they did not have any idea of the danger that encircled them. In todays Gospel Jesus gives picture of a master who went out, with a warning that he would come back at any time of the day. Therefore, he expects his household to be ready to receive him on his return. The season of Advent, which is the first period in the Year of Worship, reminds us to be prepared for the coming of Christ. (Fr. Bobby Jose).

27) The Return of the King: John Phillips, in his book Exploring Revelation, tells about the return of Richard I, the Lionhearted, to England. It was during the time of the crusades. While Richard was away doing battle in the Mideast, his kingdom fell on bad times. His brother, Prince John, justly vilified in the tales of Robin Hood, usurped the kingdom and misruled the realm. The people of England suffered under John's rule and longed for the return of their rightful king. They prayed that it might be soon. Then one day Richard returned. He landed in England and marched straight for his throne. John's castles tumbled before Richard like ninepins. Richard the Lionhearted laid claim to his throne, and none dared stand in his path. The people shouted their delight. They rang peal after peal on the bells. The Lion was back! Long live the king! John Phillips adds these hopeful words: "One day a King greater than Richard will lay claim to a realm greater than England. Those who have abused the earth in His absence, seized His domains, and mismanaged His world will all be swept aside." That day's coming, friends, and it will be a grand and glorious day. Get ready. No one knows when it will be. But get ready. No one knows what shape it will take, but we know this: God's in charge and God can be trusted. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" ( King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com) Quoted by Fr. Tony Kayala.

28) Second Coming Readiness: While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, "It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!" They replied, "We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, 'He may come today.'" Unknown, quoted bt Fr. Tony Kayala.

Website of the week:

1) Youth Catechism (58 videos): Home: vcat.org/

2) Faith shared via videos: http://bustedhalo.com/

3) Resources for Catholic Educators: http://www.4catholiceducators.com/gospel-mark-13-b.htm

4) Text Week: http://www.textweek.com/mkjnacts/mark13b.htm

Scriptural Homilies Cycle B (No 1) by Fr. Tony: akadavil@gmail.com

Visit our website http://stjohngrandbay.org/ for previous Cycle A homilies & 56 Adult Faith Lessons

Fr. Anthony. Kadavil, St. John the Baptist Church, 12450 Hwy 188, P. O. Box 417, Grand Bay, AL36541