Countercultural message: The TRUTH! — Mass for December 5, 2021

the catholic community of sacred heart welcomes you to the celebration of the mass on this the second sunday of advent our masses this weekend are being said for the following intentions of the secular carmelites and in memory of victor and mary jane hitler michael lopanto jeffrey martin williams carmel and marianne debarro robert murgis marine nadal devel pascal jesus wallotica john and kathleen flynn the tabernacle light this week will burn in memory of sherry leaker the telecast of this mass originates from sacred heart church located in the heart of downtown pontogorda florida this magnificent structure which dominates the city skyline also houses a nearly two-story tall mosaic of the blessed sacred heart behind the main altar father jerome cawell our pastor is the celebrant of today's mass [Music] prepare the way [Music] make straight the path for him let the king of glory enter let the king of glory enter in who is this [Music] the earth is full of his glory creation calls repairs [Music] his strength is victory's treasure let all who call his name prepare the way [Music] prepare the way make strength [Music] let the king of glory enter in let the king of glory enter in who is this is [Music] [Music] his strength is victory [Music] his name prepares away [Music] [Music] glory and [Music] [Music] is this king of glory the lord is his love endures [Music] [Applause] his strength is victory let all who call his faith [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen the grace and the peace of god our father the immensity of the love and joy of our resurrected and ascended savior jesus our christ and the fellowship of their holy spirit be with you all and with your spirit well hello to all of you at home we as a team here are indeed the 12 apostles of punta gorda delighted to bring the good news into your home on this second sunday of advent and is as is our local custom we prepare ourselves to enter the deep beautiful mystery of the eucharist by preparing ourselves with the centering prayer practice we take a very deep spiritual breath in [Music] and when we breathe out we simply let go of everything projects and plans worries concerns we just drop everything and we become very uncluttered and childlike and simple before god we take that second big breath in [Music] and as we breathe out we welcome an interior settling this is facilitated by this beautiful silence which gives a break to our usually over active minds we take a third breath in [Music] and on the out breath we sink as deeply as we can into our hearts the depth of our hearts and from that place of intimate self-knowledge we cry out to the one who knows us the best and loves us the most to touch us in precisely the way and in the place we need god's compassion and healing touch the most [Music] lord have mercy lord have mercy christ have mercy christ have mercy lord have mercy lord have mercy may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life amen amen let us pray almighty and merciful god may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your son but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to the lord's company who lives and reigns with you forever in unity with the holy spirit one god forever and ever amen a reading from the book of the prophet baruch jerusalem take off your robe of mourning and misery put on the splendor of glory from god forever wrapped in the cloak of justice from god bear on your head the mighty that displays the glory of the eternal name for god will show the all the earth your splendor you will be named by god forever the peace of justice the glory of god's worship up jerusalem stand up upon the heights look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the holy one rejoicing that they are remembered by god led away on foot by their enemies they left you but god will bring them back to you born aloft in glory as on royal thrones for god has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground that israel may advance secure in the glory of god the forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed israel at god's command for god is leading israel in joy by the light of his glory with his mercy and justice for company the word of the lord the lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy the lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy when the lord brought back the captives of zion we were like men dreaming then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with rejoicing the lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy then they said among the nations the lord has done great things for them the lord has done great things for us we are glad indeed [Music] the lord has done great things for [Music] a reading from the letter of saint paul to the philippians brothers and sisters i pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now i am confident of this that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of christ jesus god is my witness how i long for all of you with the affection of christ jesus and this is my prayer that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception to discern what is a value so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through jesus christ for the glory and praise of god the word of the lord [Music] prepare the way of the lord make straight his paths all flesh shall see the salvation of god [Music] the lord be with you and with your spirit a reading from the holy gospel according to luke in the 15th year of the reign of tiberius caesar when pontius pilate was governor of judea and herod the tetrarch of galilee and his brother philip tetrarch of the region of itaria and treconitis and lissanias was tretr of abilene during the high priesthood of annas and caiaphas the word of god came to john the son of zechariah in the desert john went throughout the whole region of the jordan proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet isaiah a voice of one crying out in the desert prepare the way of the lord make straight his paths every valley shall be filled in and every mountain and hill shall be made low the winding roads shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth and all flesh shall see the salvation of god the gospel of the lord praise you lord jesus christ oh my dear friends on this second sunday of advent we encounter the great iconic marvelous figure of john the baptist i love john the baptist because he was so outrageously counter-cultural i mean for starters let's look at his residents everybody else is living in nice little communities etc he's living out in one of the most austere deserts in the world by himself as a hermit let's take a look at his wardrobe while other people have uh cloaks of the day and tunics and whatnot john has a simple skin of camel's hair not much in john's closet and then what about his diet it certainly wasn't anything like the south beach diet or mediterranean diet locusts and wild honey it sounds absolutely dreadful to me but he certainly is counter-cultural and his message is way counter-cultural speaks the truth imagine he speaks the truth and he speaks of another world the world of the sacred in breaking now and he speaks with the prophet's authority and voice to announce the imminent arrival of the messiah so he's saying repent repent i love that word r-e-p-e-n-t re when we see it it means again right something we repeat doing something again pensare in latin is to think think again think again he's talking to people who are sick and tired of the rigmarole they're put through all the time by this oppressive force ruling them from outside here roman occupation and they're sick too of the religious leaders the pharisees that have been weighing them down burdening them with all of this minutia these rules and these man-made inventions and people are hungering really for god they're hungering for the sacred and john is saying you can have god by the way he's coming in the form of the messiah with great power and i'm not worthy to untie his sandals so let's you and i decide that we will think again and that will repent of whatever is tying us up binding us and holding us unfree and let's plunge into the jordan river as a wonderful foreshadowing of christian baptism a cleansing ritual a getting rid of dirt and grime and whatever it is that weighs us down now i've been thinking about this what are people hungering for they're hungering for happiness and fulfillment what jesus says to have life to the full joy immense the joy of the lord himself that it will be yours abundantly this is what people are hungry and thirsting for and john is telling them well let's drop something in order to have that grace i've made up a list i have a little list in front of me here about things that we might want to drop because we've been poisoned you and i by other oppressive systems we're not under occupation by a roman empire at the moment and we're not under the thumb of pharisaic liturgical and religious leaders as such however our cultures our societies and our past generations have fed us a pack of falsehoods that have really distorted our view of what it means to have a happy life we have to drop those falsehoods we have to see through them i have five of them i could have come up with 15 or 20 easily but let's start with number one think about this who of us was not taught somehow in some way that money will make you happy and the more of it the better and without it you can't be happy we were taught that we were taught that i went to school to university people with phd's taught this get this job to make the money why so that i can do the things i want to do later i guess because meanwhile i'm working like a dog i'm suited up with my tie and stressed out of my mind yeah i've got a six-figure salary but i'm missing my life i'm missing my kids i'm missing the world and all of its wonder and there certainly isn't the inbreaking of the sacred world that john the baptist was pointing to i don't have any time for that that's for sure we need to see through that one how about number two the falsehood that power will bring you joy it won't you know i used to believe that hate was the opposite of love but it's not you know the opposite of love is power and control which one of us hasn't been indoctrinated right through that you need to be in control of yourselves and everybody else and we get roped into thinking that we are in control don't we the touch of the keyboard now the digital age hit send shut down power up restart it's like we're little gods able to manipulate everything and everyone around us but does it bring you joy think about that joy something sacred and beautiful and timeless an appreciation of beauty three the falsehood that an accumulation of thrills means fulfillment in life false you know i i watch the commercials and they're painful you've seen the commercials for cars and you see a movie star behind the wheel driving at breakneck speed through mountain passes and all of the rest and you know for a car you know when we think oh you know unless i have that or i want that experience you know it's kind of like roller coaster rides aren't they thrilling and wonderful until you get nausea from the dizziness thrills and kicks will not bring you happiness in life because there is always the hangover isn't there you know it's like feeding a racehorse cake and wine thrills and kicks are just that but they come with an enormous price tag and they have nothing to do with being a success in life fourth falsehood there's only two more that i've written up here fourth one that has been instilled into me maybe into you see how this one feels who wasn't taught that winning the gold medal being number one beating the competition brings lasting satisfaction faction it doesn't go talk to michael phelps how many gold medals did he win more than anybody else the number one greatest swimmer we've ever seen talk to him now see the struggle to be happy to be fulfilled he's gone on with advocacy to help people who are attempted to suicide would you believe it happiness and being a success in life is the goal and the objective for any meaningful way forward for any of us the fifth i love this one i don't know how many of you were taught to believe that holiness holiness belongs only to saints and is not possible for an ordinary corrupt human being like me or like you that holiness belongs to this other realm of rarefied people but certainly not me but that's false false false false we have to see through that holiness is your birthright holiness is who you are if we were able to drop all this conditioning and program and plunge ourselves into the life-changing waters of the jordan of course that's a metaphor but might it not be a metaphor for waking up like a like a splash of cold water in the face wake up wake up i'm only unhappy to the extent that i'm not that i'm thinking about what i don't have right now hey wait a minute look what you do have right now you have it all you have everything for a happy fulfilled joyful life in christ big picture christ it's yours the prophets cry themselves hoarse to tell us these truths as will jesus when he unleashes the incredible teachings that will come from his lips as we watch him develop as the messiah and indeed finally the savior of the world in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit so do you believe in god the father the almighty the maker of heaven and earth i do too and do you believe in his son our lord jesus christ who was born of the virgin mary suffered under pontius pilate was crucified died and was buried i do too do you believe that jesus who died rose from the dead that he ascended into heaven and that he is seated at the right hand of the father and to him alone belongs that divine right to judge anyone the living and the dead i do i do too do you believe in the holy spirit the holy catholic church the communion of the saints the forgiveness the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and life everlasting i do i do too this is our faith this is the faith of the church we celebrate it full of joy and full of life in the radiant presence of christ jesus our lord amen amen christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again and to be with us now as we journey in the path ahead let us pray that we may be all that we may always be ready to welcome him for our church may our leaders heed john's proclamation of repentance and justice for all people and remove all that hinders the world from meeting christ in our church we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer for governments and world leaders that the advent message of hope will move them to renew their efforts for peace and justice we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer for all who have the power to change what is evil we pray for our nation and for ourselves that we may become a voice of change we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer for refugees migrants and outcasts that they may receive food shelter and a generous welcome in their time of need we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for our own parish community that we may find advent to be of time of renewal and grace we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for all who have died may they rest in the peace with christ for our loved ones for the sick the homebound the military law enforcement personnel and first responders and for those who we have been asked to pray we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer god of love you sent your son to be our savior and our teacher open our minds to his voice and our hearts to follow his example we ask this through christ our lord amen [Music] say to the [Music] brightest do not fear for god whose love is everlasting comes to save us [Music] resound with songs of rejoicing [Music] say to the frightened heart do not fear god whose love is everlasting comes to save us they will behold the radiance of god the glory of the lord say to those who are frightened fear not be strong and have current say to the brightest ever is to not fear for god whose love is everlasting comes to save us [Music] pray dear brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father really the lord accept the sacrifice for the praise and glory of his name for our good good of all his holy church be pleased o lord with our humble prayers and offerings and since we have no merits to plead our cause come we pray to our rescue with your protection and mercy through christ our lord amen amen the lord be with you and with your spirit lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through christ our lord for he assumed at his first coming the lowliness of human flesh and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago and opened for us the way to eternal salvation that when he comes again in glory and majesty and all is at last made manifest we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope and so with angels and archangels with thrones and dominions and with all the hosts and powers of heaven we sing the hymn of your glory as without end we acclaim [Music] heaven and earth [Music] [Music] you are indeed holy oh lord the fount of all holiness make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me the mystery of faith [Music] [Music] therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection we offer you lord the bread of life and the chalice of salvation giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with francis our pope and frank our bishop and all those who serve you remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray that with the blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with the blessed apostles saint francis saint claire saint therese and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your son jesus christ through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever [Music] together we lift up our hearts and pray that beautiful prayer jesus himself taught us our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever lord jesus you said to the apostles i leave you peace my peace is my gift to you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and grant us the peace and the unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever amen the peace of the lord be with you always we offer to each other now a sign of our love and peace and if by chance you are tuning in to us this day by all by yourself in solitude join me won't you when taking just a moment of silence to whisper a little prayer that the whole world shares the peace we at this moment enjoy [Music] you take away the sins mercy on us [Music] [Music] lamb of god you take away the sins of the world [Music] [Music] behold the lamb of god behold him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those who are called to the supper of the lamb [Music] my jesus i believe that you are in the blessed sacrament i love you above all things and i long for you and my soul since i cannot receive you sacramentally come at least spiritually into my heart as though you have already come i embrace you and unite myself entirely to you never permit me to be separated from you amen [Music] shall be exalted [Music] valley shall be exhausted [Music] every mountain and hill [Music] is [Music] and the glory of the lord shall be revealed and together for the mouth of the lord has spoken in [Music] every valley shall be exalted and every mountain [Music] [Music] shall be [Music] the crooked straight and the rock places [Music] and the glory of the lord shall be revealed [Music] together or the mouth of the lord [Music] let us pray replenished by the food of spiritual nourishment we humbly beseech you o lord that through our partaking in this mystery you may teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and hold firm to the things that endure forever through christ our lord amen before we go on our separate ways today i think most profoundly the beauty of our musicians and singers what a wonderful job you've done martella and lori and becky and billy quite an internet sensation at this point i might say a lot of comments about billy joining us rory our director of course tony our bass player richie on the drums thank you for your musicality and professionalism don fortunato career announcer for the kansas city royals and wonderful cherished parishioner helping us out while gwen is out for a time she'll be back shortly and of course all of this made possible through the hard work of our filming and editing team brent billman and daryl nut thank you so much for being the 12 apostles of pune gorda and thank you to each and every one of you who join us in the ministry by hitting that like button hitting that subscribe button and the bell and then i noticed that lots of you are getting on board with hitting the share button if you can think of someone that could be uplifted by what we're doing here to come to you and you would wish to share that or perhaps they needed to hear the message of today please hit that share button and you'll see the menu you can send it by email by message you can post it post it to your facebook page or whatever and in such a way you become part of this wonderful group of heralds of the good news of jesus the christ the best message this planet has ever seen or heard so that said dear friends the lord be with you and the beautiful and meaningful blessing of saint francis of assisi may the lord bless you and keep you may he show his face to you and be gracious to you may he reveal to you this day his providence tenderness and care for you all the days of your lives may he at this moment touch you with the grace of his peace the lord bless you the father the son and the holy spirit amen thank you so much for joining us we're thrilled that you're with us today and by god's grace we'll see you next week for the third sunday of advent [Music] do [Music] [Applause] rejoice salvation is [Music] is until [Music] [Music] salvation is drawing near salvation is drawing me [Music] oh come on [Music] [Music] [Music] salvation is is [Music] [Music] salvation is drawing here salvation is [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Views: 7,244

Keywords: Sacred Heart, Jerry Kaywell, Church, Catholic, Punta Gorda, Mass, Charity, Religious, Holy, Jesus

Id: ukoav33glnI

Length: 54min 21sec (3261 seconds)

Published: Sat Dec 04 2021