This 4th Sanctuary Sunday of Advent Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.

If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.

But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

---

With the Storm upon us…please remember to Pray for our President.

---

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!! 

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

---

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

---

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

---

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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4th Sunday of Advent ~ Love

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~ Love ~

Matthew 22:35-40
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole Law and the writings of the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Love – how important? So important that all of the Old Testament Law and all of the writings of the Old Testament prophets depend on it!

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John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love – the characteristic that Christians must embody by which the world will recognize us!

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1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Faith, hope and love . . . all important! But the greatest of the three is love!

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John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

There is no greater love than Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

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The culmination of Advent, after faith & hope, peace and joy is love, agapé love . . . and rightfully so.  God’s agapé love for us is the reason for the entire existence of mankind.

Agapé love is a specific kind of love.  It is founded in willful actions to put the welfare of others above yourself as in “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  And “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

An example: Empathy or sympathy may involve understanding of and emotion toward an old, frail bag lady struggling painfully up the stairs, but agapé love walks over to that foul-smelling lady and takes her bag and her arm and helps her up the stairs.

God chose us in Him before He laid the foundation of the earth and has destined us for a wondrous eternal future with Himself and Jesus.  God’s plan, all that He has done from the Creation, through the Garden of Eden and all the events of the Old Testament; the birth, ministry, sacrifice, resurrection and 2^nd coming of Jesus; through the events of Revelation . . . all of that leads to our eternity with God and Jesus . . . and has been and will be carried out because of God’s agapé love for us.

Why do I think it’s all because of God’s agapé love for us? Because “In love [agapé] He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.”  In agapé, God planned each person’s existence, from birth through eternity, all before He laid the foundation of the earth.

“Wondrous eternal future” . . . what do we know about that?  Well, certainly not a lot, but since “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has anyone imagined the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”, we can be assured it will be wondrous.

And since “The kingdom of God is . . . righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”, I think we can solidly plan on righteousness, peace and joy in God’s eternity.

We even have a foretaste of what we’ll be doing . . . God granted Jesus “authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

The word “know” (γινώσκω, ginóskó), used above, means to know, especially through personal experience.  It will take an eternity, getting to know God, Who is omniscient, and Whose thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are our ways His ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.  And “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”.

“Take an eternity” . . . we shouldn’t overlook the enormity of this statement.  “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years,”.  We are only on this earth for an infinitesimally short time, compared to eternity, before we whither, like leaves, and are blown away.  Eternity is forever.  Never ending.  Our true home.

This is the future love that Advent points us to.  When this sinks in, it’s very difficult, perhaps impossible, not to experience the hope, peace and joy associated with the first three Sundays of Advent. Give to God the thanks, praise and love He deserves many times over.

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May we all experience the hope, peace and joy of this Advent season as a result of God’s agape love, and may we return our praise, thanks and love to God for the unmerited favor we have received and will receive from Him.

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Isaiah 35
The Future Glory of Zion
1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, nd the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
7 The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where each lay, there shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm 146:5-10
The Happiness of Those Whose Help Is the Lord
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He makes crooked.
10 The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

Luke 1:46-55
The Song of Mary
46 And Mary said: “My soul declares the greatness of the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”

James 5:7-10
Be Patient and Persevering
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

Matthew 11:2-11
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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This homily is prepared by Reverend Monsignor Russell G. Terra, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Redding, CA.
http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html

3rd Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2019
“Facing the Future”

Is 35:1-10
Jas 5:7-10
Mt 11:2-11

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –

Everywhere on our planet there seems to be problems. There seems to be no nation, state, or locale that is not experiencing problems on some level. Armed conflict; acts of terrorism; political unrest; drought, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, warmed oceans; oppressed, disenfranchised, and persecuted people – and millions of displaced refugees – all these attest to the sad state of our world today!

Unfortunately, for all of this, there seems to be no answer. Any change seems to be beyond what our leaders are willing to undertake. Furthermore, if we add to this, homelessness, growing income disparity, a housing shortage – as well as the struggles that every person and family face – then we might begin to wonder how we can face what the future will bring!

700 years before the time of Jesus, Isaiah spoke to a nation that had been divided
politically and had split into two separate kingdoms: Israel on the north – and Judah on the south. Their leadership had become corrupt – and most of the people had become unfaithful to God as well. Because Israel had chosen to fight Assyria, they were conquered and led into exile. Judah, for its part, sought an alliance with Assyria, but then had to live under its oppressive rule.

Nevertheless, Isaiah spoke words of hope. Isaiah wished to give the faithful few, a remnant really, a reason to hope and to remain faithful in trust. Consequently, he spoke in beautiful words of a future that seemed impossible – The desert would be changed into a garden land – The plains, forested with the cedars of Lebanon and the pines of Carmel and Sharon.

Moreover, people would be delivered from every ailment and affliction – from blindness, deafness, speechlessness, lameness, and any other disability – And the song of joy would be in every heart!

Of course, Isaiah spoke of a future beyond when they lived – a future which began with the birth of God’s Son among us.

The Gospel of Matthew reveals that Jesus began that future which continues to unfold only gradually. Jesus came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God, the Reign of God, in our world. Certainly, it can begin for us now, at least in our hearts.

However, Matthew’s Gospel also tells us that there was doubt and uncertainty about Jesus and his role. Did the Baptist really doubt – or was he trying to help his own disciples move beyond their hopes for a political Messiah to a liberator of our souls and spirits? For, clearly, Jesus was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about a promised future that would come to pass.

And, yet, Jesus only began God’s Reign for us to experience. He, himself, would have to suffer and die before his human nature could enter into the fullness of eternal life with God.

We are, indeed, blessed beyond belief to live in the time of God’s Reign as brought to us by Jesus. We are blessed, because as Jesus said, we are born into the Kingdom of God, which is already there in the hearts and souls of true disciples! However, we must remain faithful. The Reign of God co-exists with all the sin, evil, and hardship in our world today. This is the reason St. James urges us to be patient. We must be patient and our hearts must remain steadfast despite a bankrupt culture and a broken world.

God continues to come to us in every moment. Even the hardships we experience on so many levels are opportunities to grow in God’s life of love. But we must face every suffering as Jesus did, as part of the cross we must carry.

Brothers and Sisters, Christmas is only 10 days away. Our pagan culture continues to take Christ out of Christmas in every way that it can. Therefore, it’s no wonder that people feel let down afterwards – when they face the world on the next day!

So, let us pray – that we never forget that Jesus is God’s Son born to us – That Jesus inaugurated the Reign of God in our hearts and lives – and that we can gain all that he has promised if we remain patient and faithful, despite living in our broken world!

Amen.

December 15, 2019                                     Msgr. Russell G. Terra

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This 3rd Sanctuary Sunday of Advent Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.

If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.

But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

---

With the Storm upon us…please remember to Pray for our President.

---

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!! 

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

---

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

---

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

---

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

---

3rd Sunday of Advent ~ Joy

Joy should be a characteristic that permeates through all facets of a Christian’s life: every day, in troubles and trials, in hope, in giving, in prayer, in praise, in worship, in thanksgiving . . . in everything . . . for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

During this Advent season, we look to the past to recognize and celebrate the effects of Christ’s 1st coming, and we look to the future in anticipation and a peaceful assurance of what Christ’s 2nd coming will bring.

The 3^rd Sunday of Advent . . . Gaudete Sunday . . . Joyful Sunday.  The Christmas season is well upon us.  Christmas trees, lights, carols, and soon will come presents, friends, family, food . . . the most wonderful time of the year!

As we should do during Advent, on this Joyful Sunday, we look back:  Joy . . . should be an easy topic with all the joy surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Mary rejoiced in God her Savior.  An angel of the Lord brought good tidings of great joy to the shepherds and to all people.  All those who heard, marveled at what the shepherds told them.  The shepherds joyfully returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.  Simeon got to see the Messiah.  The promised Messiah had come to Israel.

But there is some joy, looking back, that is more difficult, if not impossible, for us to truly grasp.  Jesus wasn’t born just so He could walk around the countryside healing people and telling people they needed to get right with God.  He came to die, to be the perfect sacrifice to reconcile our inherent sin nature and our sins with the righteousness of God.

And not just to die.  He knew He would be flogged beyond recognition, nearly to the point of death, before they pounded the metal spikes into Him.  His bones would be out of joint. He knew He would die by the most painful and torturous method of execution ever devised.  He knew He would become sin.

The night before, Jesus’ anguish was so great that the blood capillaries surrounding His sweat glands ruptured and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

We have now gone far from our topic of joy.  But what would make Jesus go through this for us?

The answer to that is His love for us, agape love . . . love that puts our best interests ahead of His own welfare.  Love? Not joy?  Well, here it is.  “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame”. 

And what was the joy that was given Him?  God gave Jesus authority, that He shall give eternal life to as many as God has given Him.  Jesus’ joy, greater than the physical agony of crucifixion and being forsaken by God, since Jesus had become sin, was the joy that came from being the means through which believing mankind would be reconciled to God and given eternal life to know God, the only true God, and Jesus, our Messiah.

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Most of the time we fail at discovering joy in some difficult present circumstances. And that’s because we’re looking at what we consider troubles and trials from our earthly perspective, and we overlook how these troubles and trials can and do result in changes to our Christian life . . . which is God’s perspective.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

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As part of Advent, we look forward to find joy.  And again, we find joy, but, again, a joy that we can’t entirely fathom. For “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  “In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Although we don’t know the details of the things that God has prepared for us, we do know they will be wonderful, undoubtedly beyond our present capacity to comprehend, but will bring us to levels of peace and joy that we have never experienced or imagined.

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Philippians 4:1
Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice!

Psalms 47:1-2
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day:
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
~ Philip Dodderidge, published 1755

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. . . that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.”
And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
And again:
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles Laud Him, all you peoples!”
And again, Isaiah says:
“There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Isaiah 11:1-10
The Reign of Jesse’s Offspring

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, nd the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign

1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.
3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth.
7 In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.

Romans 15:4-13
Glorify God Together

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the perserverance and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:  “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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This homily is prepared by Reverend Monsignor Russell G. Terra, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Redding, CA.
http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html

2nd Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2019
“Authenticity, or Appearance?”

Is 11:1-10
Rom 15:4-9
Mt 3:1-12

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –

We live in a culture of appearances. Far too many today are overly concerned about how they look – and about what people will think of them. Many politicians will say whatever their constituencies want to hear – instead of what is good and best for our country. Many people will believe anything they hear or read especially on social media – only later to regret having been “taken in”.

Moreover, our system is so broken that people are judged, rejected, and even condemned over something that happened long ago in their past – something that in no way defines who or what they are today!

However, worst of all is that those who judge, reject, or condemn others are often self-righteous. They fail to see or can’t admit the truth about themselves and their own faults. Fortunately, the scriptures for today have much to teach us in this regard.

Isaiah speaks of one who is to come who will not judge by appearances. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. He will not base his decisions on hearsay. He will stand for justice. He will be faithful to all that God asks – And he will be faithful to all those he has come to serve and liberate.

Of course, Isaiah is speaking of Jesus Christ whom we know has come for our deliverance and salvation. Indeed, Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom of God which finds root in the hearts of all authentic disciples. It is a kingdom of peace, wherein we can shield ourselves from the duplicity, the dishonesty, and the artificiality of our current culture!

In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist urges us all to repent and to change – especially from the dishonesty within ourselves. Few of us are people of complete integrity. Most of us are hiding something – and most of us want to appear better or more than who we really are.

However, we must become disciples who aspire to honesty and integrity. We cannot be like the Pharisees and the Sadducees of today’s Gospel. They came with everyone else to the Jordan – But their coming was only for the sake of appearances. They were far from the conversion and repentance that John was urging. And, as such, they would not escape the wrath of God. For they would not be able to accept the truths, the gifts, and the salvation that Jesus came to bring!

Furthermore, salvation does not depend upon heredity, position, or the false worship of going through the motions of religious observance!

In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we have a history. It is the history of our salvation recorded in the Old and New Testaments – all of which was written for our instruction. It is there to encourage us and help us to endure the hardships we face. It also gives us a well-founded hope in what Jesus has promised!

St. Paul also teaches us that we are a community of disciples who live lives of faith. We truly need the support of one another. And we must look beneath the appearances of others and discover the truth that lives within them.

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus came to unleash the fire of God which is the Holy Spirit. That Spirit is the same spirit of which Isaiah spoke and the same Spirit that Jesus, himself, possessed. The Spirit of the Lord can and does rest upon us – and it gives us the power to do that which is beyond us – or what we think might be beyond us.

It is the Spirit that enables us to rise above the surrounding culture, strip away falsehood, and come to the truth that can set us free.

So, as we prepare for the Birth of God’s Son, – may we allow that Spirit to work within us, so that we truly become all that God has created us to be!

Amen.

December 8, 2019 Msgr. Russell G. Terra

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This 2nd Sanctuary Sunday of Advent Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.

If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.

But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain an abode for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

---

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
“I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

---

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!! 

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

---

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

---

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

---

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

---

 

2nd Sunday of Advent ~ God’s Peace

All around us, in these days, the lack of peace is everywhere; violence, hatred, fear, anxiety, worry and doubt abound: within ourselves and our families, between ethnic groups and religions, and between countries . . . everywhere. Our finances and employment situations rise and fall, the media uses our fears in the news to boost ratings, the entertainment world capitalizes on lack of peace to sell their movies and TV dramas, and political groups either claim or cause unrest to further their agendas.

During the Advent season, we look to the past to recognize and celebrate the effects of Christ’s 1st coming, and we look to the future in anticipation and a peaceful assurance of what Christ’s 2nd coming will bring.

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Looking to the past, when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, He gave us the means to reconcile our inherent sin nature and our sins with the holiness of God, the Father. At the Last Supper, Jesus said ” Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Christ’s peace is real for all who believe and trust in Him.

And when we rely on God, His peace is real also ” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.”

God is in control. Nothing happens that is outside of His will. When we turn to Him in our lives, we gain the greatest remedy for fear, anxiety, worry and doubt. God offers us something the world cannot give us . . . His peace, which surpasses all understanding, and which will fill our minds and hearts.

Peace from God is a state of calmness or quietness of spirit that goes beyond the happenings in our lives. God is the God of peace, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and God blesses us with peace.

---

Looking to the future, when Jesus comes again, we look forward to the fullness of God’s peace, His shalom . . . an unprecedented level of peace that will encompass all life in the world.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

This fullness of the shalom of God is more than inner peace or peace within the family, more than the absence of hostilities between ethnic groups, religions and nations. Its meaning encompasses completeness, soundness, welfare, success and peace. It’s even more than the reconciliation between us and God. The fullness of the shalom of God results in a universe governed by God in which all relationships are fully loving and just . . . all in a right relationship with God, and it touches every facet in life.

---

 

As we await the fullness of God’s shalom, we can trust God for our welfare. Jesus encouraged His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

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Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

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Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
~ ‘Wonderful Peace’ Don Moen

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As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we enjoy the peace we have with God through Christ. And may we be given a foretaste of the peace on earth that is yet to come.

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This 1st Sanctuary Sunday of Advent Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.

If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.

But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain an abode for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
“I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!! 

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

---

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

---

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

---

1st Sunday of Advent ~ Advent Faith & Hope

Faith and hope are related. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) And yet, faith and hope are different attributes. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

During Advent, we look back at Christ’s 1st coming in celebration, while at the same time we look forward in anticipation of His 2nd coming when He returns for His people.

~ Advent Faith ~

Faith, as defined in dictionaries, is the belief in something for which there is not complete evidence, so that it can’t be accepted as an indisputable fact. For us Christians, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Simply put, our faith is trusting in something we cannot explicitly prove.

As Christians, we have faith in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and in God’s Word, the Bible. Our faith is not grounded in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 )

Advent faith is strong because it looks back at what God, through His prophets, said would happen with respect to the first coming of the Messiah, and finds that those events did happen.  The Old Testament scriptures abound with the God-breathed words of the prophets concerning the Messiah that would come. Those Old Testament promises were fully realized in the 1st coming of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, which we celebrate at Christmas.

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~ Advent Hope ~

Hope, as it is usually defined, is akin to wishful thinking, a desire that something we would like to happen will actually happen. But hope, as used in the Bible, is more than just a wish. There’s a confident and certain expectation that what we desire will, indeed, take place.  This type of hope needs a much stronger foundation than that of wishful thinking . . . something like faith that is firmly rooted in the events of the past.

We look forward with a confident hope and expectation, a peaceful assurance built on the strong faith of the fulfillment of the prophesies of Jesus’ first coming, to the return of Jesus, as prophesized in both the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus said He is coming again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3). “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . . . For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20,22)

What a wonderful time this will be: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Jesus’ return is our blessed hope. “. . . we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . .” (Titus 2:12-13)

Jesus loved us enough to offer Himself as a sacrifice to God, then defeated death by His resurrection from the dead, giving us a confident, reassuring expectation that we, too, will one day rise from our graves to live a never ending life with Him in the presence of God!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

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By faith, we trust Jesus’ words, and that leads to the hope that we will one day be with Him forever.

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Isaiah 2: 1-5
The Future House of God

1  The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2  Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.
3  Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4  He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
5  O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Psalm 122
The Joy of Going to the House of the Lord

1  I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together,
4 Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.

Romans 13:11-14
Put on Christ

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk decently, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Matthew 24:36-44
No One Knows the Day or Hour

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

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I had been looking for, and have now found, an online homily that complements each of the Advent lectionaries. This homily is prepared by Reverend Monsignor Russell G. Terra, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Redding, CA.
http://www.stjosephredding.org/parish-homilies.html

1st Sunday of Advent
“The Realm of the Spiritual”
December 1, 2019

Is 2:1-5
Rom 13:1-14
Mt 24:37-44

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –

Last week I spoke about the sad fact that most of the younger generation do not have the same values that the generations before them had. What I did not mention is how rapidly this godlessness is increasing today.

The latest research reveals that Christians have declined from 77% of Americans to 65% in just the last 10 years! The non-religious affiliated, the “Nones” as they are called, have increased from 16% to 26% within the same time frame! However, what is most significant is that this represents 40% of all Americans under the age of 40!

This is truly alarming! Moreover, if the trend continues, Christian believers will become a minority – and we will, likely, be persecuted for certain values we hold that are non-negotiable!

At the root of the problem for many is a rejection of all things that cannot be physically or materially quantified – including anything that is not scientifically provable. However, this completely eliminates the spiritual. It eliminates what can be called a “5th Dimension”, which is the spiritual realm in which God works and interacts with us. What the non-affiliated risk is the Christian heritage that has sustained our country for almost 250 years – and the Salvation History that is found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

What is absolutely essential for complete human spiritual development is openness to the Bible and to the spiritual realm which can transform our lives in preparation for the vision of God.

Today’s reading from Isaiah was written before the fall of Jerusalem, 700 years or so before the time of Jesus. The Chosen People no longer led God-centered lives – and their leadership had become corrupt. Catastrophe was coming – but God wished to give hope to the faithful few. So, Isaiah spoke of a future Kingdom of God in symbolic words.

The mountain of the Lord is the realm wherein God dwells. Everyone is invited, and countless will come to this realm. Our vocation is to know God’s ways and to walk God’s
paths. Then we will achieve what is really important. Moreover, there will be the absence of conflict and war – and, instead, eternal peace! However, to get there, we must walk in the light of God’s revelation and grace!

In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul insists upon the urgency with which we must be prepared and ready for God’s final call to His kingdom. We are to wake up to what is happening around us! We need to recognize our complacency and our failure to see and do what really must be changed in our hearts and lives. Our ultimate reckoning is closer than we think because with each day’s passing, our life here becomes one day less.

Perhaps, many of us have already repented and dealt with our darkest sins and crimes – But what about the subtle things – like our attitude, our behavior toward others, our tone of voice, our failure to communicate, our neglect of those we love, and our addictions that are not drugs, alcohol, or sex – like social media itself?

Once again, we are urged to put on the armor of God’s light and grace – to be able to stand against all darkness satan espouses – satan, who also works in the 5th dimension!

Finally, Jesus teaches us in St. Matthew’s Gospel that his coming for us will be without much or any warning at all. This might be at our own death – or at his universal final coming at the end of the world. Jesus will come, besides business as usual for Wall Street, our jobs, our politics, our recreation, our family life, and our usual daily activity. But come he will – and take us, he will!

Brothers and Sisters, those who truly believe and recognize the realm of the spiritual, know that God makes overtures toward us at every moment. God comes again and again in special ways throughout our lives. One of these is His annual coming at Christmas with the birth of His Son in human form.

So, let us prepare for this wonderful gift and for all that God continues to give to us!

Amen.

December 1, 2019                                    Msgr. Russell G. Terra

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This THANKFUL THOUGHTS SUNDAY Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Heavenly Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post and discuss news that’s worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster.

If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack where all legal free speech is allowed.

But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain an abode for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
“I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!! 

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

---

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

---

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

---

Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks–for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

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Thanksgiving Prayer

Waking up early, a bit after dawn
Making preparations all the long morn
Baking the pies, apple, pumpkin, and more
Thanksgiving’s here and we all have our chores

Turkey roasting in the oven for hours
Families and friends, both yours and ours
Coming together on Thanksgiving Day
To thank our God and it’s to Him we pray

Thank You Lord for everything You’ve done
And, most of all, for giving us Your Son
We were lost, totally steeped in our sin
He died for us, our new lives to begin

Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings in life
Thank You for Your peace, our shelter from strife
For all Your mercies you make new with the dew
And for Your grace, and Your kindnesses, too

Thank You for the hope, deep in our hearts
That you’ll never leave us, we’ll never part
And for Your promise to take us away
To be with You for eternity’s days

Thank You for Your sun’s golden rays and light
For our homes and beds to sleep in tonight
For our good health, and for those who have none
For your comfort, ‘til their victory’s won

Lord, for all You’ve given, for all You do
We’re gathered here to give thanks to You
For all the bounty we have here, again
For all of this, Lord, we thank You.  Amen.

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It’s great that we have a Thanksgiving national holiday so that, at least once in the year, the people that aren’t normally thankful to God are reminded by the Pilgrim’s celebration, our country’s traditions, and the President’s proclamation that we are to be thankful to God for the bounty that is inherent with living in the United States.

Or is that really so?

From Insider.com, here are
25 reasons why Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday

1. The food is amazing.
2. There are tons of side dishes, so there’s something for everyone.
3. It’s the start of the holiday season.
4. Leftovers will keep you full for days.
5. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must-see.
6. The American Kennel Club’s National Dog Show takes place.
7. There’s no shortage of football games to watch.
8. If sports aren’t your thing, day-long sitcom and movie marathons are totally ok.
9. You get to be with family.
10. Or, you can spend the holiday with your closest friends for a “Friendsgiving” celebration.
11. You can participate in a Turkey Trot pre-Thanksgiving feast.
12. Everyone has their own unique traditions.
13. It’s perfectly acceptable to take a nap during the day.
14. It’s not a religious holiday, so everyone can celebrate.
15. It’s not super commercialized.
16. The decorations are adorable.
17. You don’t have to worry about getting people gifts.
18. You can get away with drinking wine all day.
19. It’s fun to prepare for Black Friday shopping.
20. It’s comforting to be back in your hometown.
21. There are pies. So many pies.
22. Cooking with family is a fun bonding activity.
23. You can dress up or be as casual as you want.
24. It’s not usually too cold outside yet.
25. It’s nice to remember what you’re thankful for.

And from Buzzfeed.com,
12 Reasons Thanksgiving Is The Best Day Of The Year

1. The entire point of Thanksgiving is stuffing your face.
2. There are so many foods on the table that everyone’s bound to find something they love.
3. You’re allowed to put bacon in every food.
4. Same goes for bourbon.
5. It’s one of the few days a year that your parents can’t complain about you drinking to wild excess.
6. It’s a secular holiday, so everyone can celebrate it with equal enthusiasm.
7. There’s a huge frickin’ bird involved.
8. But the “side” dishes get all the real glory, as they should.
9. The cooking is actually way easier than you think. No one will care if it isn’t fancy.
10. Only on Thanksgiving is eating 17 pieces of pie a reasonable thing to do.
11. Stuffing exists.
12. Finally, in conclusion: THE LEFTOVERS.

Not one mention of thanking God being the primary reason for the holiday.  In fact, blatant statements were falsely made that “It’s not a religious holiday” and “It’s a secular holiday”.

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So, how much do we really have to thank God for?  Well . . .

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father . . .”  Please note . . . “Every good gift and every perfect gift” . . . not just some or most.  Every one.  We have God to thank for all the little gifts, the big gifts, the tiny gifts, and the huge gifts.  No good gift comes from anywhere but from God.  All of them!

What about those things in life that we don’t consider gifts: sickness, injury, loss of income and savings, death, and more?  For the Christian, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  God takes the seemingly bad things in life and makes good out of them!

And the biggest gift of all, the gift of life for eternity: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

God has given us so much that we are to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  In everything give thanks.  Everything.  Every day. Always.

All this can be summed up, though not entirely adequately, by “Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  God’s everlasting lovingkindness to us is worthy of our thanks for eternity.

So, what are we thankful for this Thanksgiving?  In my opinion, the thanks to God for food, family and friends that you frequently hear at the Thanksgiving table is deserved by God, but we are thankful to Him for far, far more than that.

In fact, I believe it is totally impossible for us to properly thank God for His everlasting lovingkindness in all parts of our lives . . . but we should certainly try . . . every day and on Thanksgiving, too!

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Notably, Barack Obama only mentioned God once or twice in 6 of his 8 Thanksgiving proclamations (no mention at all in 2 of them), and then only as a historical reference or in talking about Thanksgiving . . . and never once in any of the 8 proclamations after the “Now therefore I, Barack Obama . . . do hereby proclaim” statement.

President Trump referenced God in both of his Thanksgiving proclamations to date (2017 and 2018), averaging 6 mentions per proclamation, and also after both “do hereby proclaim” statements in those proclamations where he included “thanks to God”.

We are indeed fortunate to now have a President who recognizes God’s centrality in our lives . . . another thing to thank God for!

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A Thanksgiving Prayer

Thank You, God, for everything
The big things and the small,
For “every good gift comes from God”
The Giver of them all.

And all too often we accept
Without any thanks or praise,
The gifts You send as blessings
Each day in many ways.

And so at this Thanksgiving time,
We offer up a prayer;
To thank You, God, for giving us
A lot more than our share.

First, thank You for the little things
That often come our way;
The things we take for granted
And don’t mention when we pray.

The unexpected courtesy,
The thoughtful, kindly deed,
A hand reached out to help us
In the time of sudden need.

Oh, make us more aware, dear God,
Of little daily graces,
That come to us with “sweet surprise,”
From never-dreamed-of places.

Then, thank You for the “miracles”
We are much too blind to see,
And give us new awareness
Of our many gifts from Thee.

And help us to remember
That the “key” to “life” and “living,”
Is to make each prayer a “prayer of thanks,”
And every day THANKSGIVING.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

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Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. ~ Charles Dickens

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Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

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May we be truly thankful this Thanksgiving for all that God has done for us in our lives.

This SUPERLATIVE SUNDAY Open Thread is a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

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But NOT HERE in The Q Tree. Personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain an abode for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
“I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?  TIME TO….DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

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On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Joy – Our Choice

Remember, we are not of this world . . . (John 17)

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Travelling through this world alone
There is no sickness, toil nor danger
In that fair land to which I go

I know dark clouds will hover o’er me
I know my pathway is rough and steep
But golden fields lie out before me
Where weary eyes no more will weep

I’ll soon be free from every trial
This form shall rest beneath the sod
I’ll drop the cross of self-denial
And enter in that home with God

I’m goin’ home to see my Savior
I’m goin’ home, no more to roam
I’m just a-goin’ over Jordan
I am just a-goin’ home

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Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy, much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The joy of the Lord is our strength . . .

A key to experiencing joy in our lives is our perspective.  If we focus on the things of this world, the troublesome parts of life will intrude on us everywhere we look. Lies, violence, corruption, sordid schemes, murders, drugs, perversions and evil of all stripes surround us.  We can’t escape them, yet we long to be free of them.

We, as Christians, are not of this world.  Our lives here are short and transient.  Our real lives, our eternal lives, start when our lives on earth end.  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” With faith, we have much to look forward to . . . an existence that completely eclipses our present life, in unimaginable ways.

Our joy is not based on circumstances. Our joy is a pervasive sense of happiness in what God has done, what He is doing and what He will do. Joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit within us and is a grace given to us by God.

When we look at what God has done for us, we naturally respond with thanksgiving and joy. When we look at the difficult circumstances or the frustrations of life, we are troubled. We can’t completely ignore the difficulties of this life, but we can work our way through them while recognizing that God is in full control and that He loves us.

Colossians 3:1-4  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

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Choosing Joy by Charles R. Swindoll
Scriptures: Philippians 4

I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one’s age or one’s occupation (or lack of it) or one’s geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances. Joy is a choice!

Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one’s confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go. To paraphrase the poet:

One ship sails east
One ship sails west
Regardless of how the winds blow.
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

Regardless of how severely the winds of adversity may blow, we set our sails toward joy.

Joy is an attitude that stems from our confidence that God is in full control.
— Charles R. Swindoll

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

“A sure way to a happy day”

Happiness is something we create in our mind,
it’s not something you search for and seldom find.
It’s just waking up and beginning the day,
by counting our blessings and kneeling to pray.
It’s giving up thoughts that breed discontent,
and accepting what comes as a gift “heaven-sent”.
It’s giving up whining for things we have not
and making the best of whatever we’ve got.
It’s knowing that life is determined for us,
and pursuing our tasks without fret, fume or fuss.
For it’s by completing what God gives us to do,
that we find real contentment, and happiness too.

  ~  Helen Steiner Rice

And finally, for our struggles as Deplorables, a quote from Abraham Lincoln:
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”