Message: Today we hear Jesus' warning - issued on the brink of Passion Week.

Today is the First Sunday of Advent. Before beginning this homily, I would like to take a quick look back. We just finished a five-week homily series titled, "Something for You." God does not want something from you. He wants something for you: Faith, Communion, Abundance, Confidence and Power.

God wants something for you. The problem is you can turn down God's offer. you can take it or leave it. He has given you and me freedom. We can accept or reject his love - his mercy.

Now, you might think, "I've got plenty of time." That type of thinking, Jesus tells us today, is foolhardy. It's like drinking and driving. Or to use Jesus image, walking into a trap.

If you still think, , "Those warnings I've heard before." Pope Benedict has a word for you. When he was a young priest, he warned people to not become complacent. He told this story
:
A traveling circus in Denmark caught fire. To fetch help the manager sent his quickest runner, who happened to be the clown. The clown was already dressed in his uniform so when he told the townspeople about the fire, they began to laugh. No, he said, the fire is blazing and it could spread across the dry grass and threaten the village. "Please, bring buckets of water," he pleaded. The people applauded his performance and as he became frantic, they laughed till they cried. The fire did spread and it engulfed the village. It was too late. Both the circus and the village burned to the ground.

At the beginning of Advent I feel a bit like that clown. But to tell you the truth, I feel even more like one of the townspeople. Like you I've heard the warnings before. I want to be amused, not take action.
Today things are different. If you laugh at me, no big deal. But this warning comes from Jesus himself. We are on the brink of something major, yet we may miss out. To show how we might be missing out, let's take a look at today's text in its context.

Sometimes I wish we were like the Evangelicals - everyone at church with Bible in hand. I would tell you to open to Luke, chapter 21. You would see immediately that the next section is about Holy Week - the Passion. That's the context of Jesus' warning.

Jesus' call to vigilance relates to his coming Passion. By drowsiness and distraction people miss the most important event in human history. As the week advances most do not see the significance of what is happening. They don't pay attention - or if they do, they see Jesus' Passion as one of those spectacles the Roman so skillfully stage. They want distraction, not conversion. They miss out.

You and I may miss out. Perhaps not by getting drunk and carousing. We have other ways of distracting ourselves. For some it may involve drugs or pornography. Our bishops have issued a major document on pornography. I encourage you - especially parents - to read it. Pornography causes a person to miss what Jesus is offering.

But it does not necessarily require something as addictive as porn or drugs. We've got other other ways of distracting ourselves. We've got cable TV, the Internet, Facebook, Smart Phones - not to mention, shop until you drop! The devil is not picky. He wants to distract you and me. He wants us to miss out.
We will see more about this in coming weeks. During Advent I ask this question: Are you missing out? That's our Advent theme.
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Today we hear Jesus' warning. He issued it on the brink of Passion Week - the most important events ever. "Do not become drowsy," Jesus says. That's our task: Do not miss out. Step back from constant distraction. Take instead the example of the Psalmist. He speaks to God, "For you I wait all the day." Amen.

Mensaje: Hoy escuchamos la advertencia de Jesus - hecha al borde de la Pasion.
Hoy es el Primer Domingo de Adviento. Antes de comenzar la homilia, me gustaria tener una miradita para atras. Hemos completado una serie de cinco homilias - Algo Para Ti. Dios no quiere algo de ti. Quiere algo para ti: Fe, Comunion, Oportunidad, Abundancia y Poder.
Dios quiere algo para ti. El problema es que puedes rechazar la oferta. Dios nos da libertad. Podemos aceptar o rechazar su amor - su misericordia.
Podrias pensar, "tengo mucho tiempo." Esa forma de pensar, Jesus nos dice hoy, es insensato. Es como tomar alcohol y manejar. Es como meter el pie en una trampa.
Quizas dices, "He escuchado esas advertertencias." El Papa Benedicto tiene una palabra para ti. Cuando era un sacerdote joven, le advirtia a la gente no ser complacientes. Les conto esta historia:
Un circo en Dinamarca prendio fuego. Para obtener ayuda, el director del circo envio su trabajador mas rapido, que era el payaso. El payaso ya estaba llevando un uniforme, entonce cuando les dijo sobre el fuego, empezaba a reirse. No, les dijo, el circo esta encendiendo y el fuego puede llegar hasta el pueblito. "Favor llevar baldes de agua," les suplico. La gente aplaudio y cuando se puso frenetico, se rieron aun mas. El fuego extendio y trago el pueblo. Fue demasiado tarte. El circo y el pueblo fueron encendidos completamente.
Al comienzo de Adviento me siento un poco como ese payaso. Pero para decir la verdad, soy mas como uno de la gente del pueblo. Como ustedes yo tambien he escuchado advertencias - y eran falsas alarmas. Estoy dispuesto a ser divertido, pero no quiero tomar accion.
Pero hoy las cosas son diferentes. Si se rien de mi, no es gran cosa. Pero esta advertenica viene de Jesus mismo. Estamos al borde de algo grande, pero nos podemos perder. Para mostrar como podriamos perdernos, vemos el texto de hoy en su contexto.
Al veces me gustaria que fueramos como los evangelicos - todos con la Biblia en mano. Les dire abrir a Lucas, capitulo 21. Verias inmediatemante que el proximo capitulo es sobre la Semana Santa - la Pasion de Jesus. Eso es el contexto de la advertencia.
La llamada a vigilancia se relaciona a la Pasion que viene. Por torpeza y distracciones ellos se pierden el evento mas importante de la historia humana. Mientras la semana avanza, la mayoria no ve el significado de lo que sucede. No prestaron atencion - o vieron a la Pasion como un espectaculo mas. Querian distraccion, no conversion. Se perdieron todo.
Tu y yo podemos perdernos. Tal vez no por embriaguez, pero tenemos otras formas de distraernos. Por algunos son las drogas y pornografia. Los obispos han escrito un documento sobre pornografia. Saldra en espanol. Favor de leerlo - especialmente papas con ninos pequenos o jovenes. Pornografia causa que una persona se pierde lo que Jesus esta ofreciendo.
Pero no necesariamente requiere algo tan adictivo como porn o drogas. Hay otras formas de distraerse. Tenemos television, Internet, Facebook, Celulares "Smart" - sin mencionar hacer compras has caerse. Al diablo no le importa como - solamente quiere distraertnos. Quiere que nos perdamos.
Vamos a ver mas en las semanas que vienen. Durante el Adviento hago esta pregunta: Estas Perdiendote? Es nuestro tema para Adviento.
Hoy escuchamos la advertencia de Jesus. Lo hace al borde de la Pasion - el evento mas importante jamas. "No entorpezcan su mente," dice Jesus. Es nuestra tarea: No perderse. Evita la distraccion constante. Toma el ejemplo del Salmista: Espera a Dios todo el dia. Amen.

Mencioné tres recursos en inglés para oración durante Adviento. Hay también una versión castellana de Word Among Us (Palabra Entre Nosotros) y desde luego se puede conseguir la Liturgia de Horas en español. Unos de mis amigos sacerdotes la tiene en su celular.
Dios te bendiga y tu familia durante el Adviento.

This evening we begin the season of Advent. Here are three prayer resources:

1. Word Among Us: Bible readings and Mass prayers for each day from November 29 through December 31, plus daily meditations and encouraging articles. I will have some copies available this weekend. You can obtain a full year subscription for $24.99 by calling 1-800-755-WORD (9673).
2. Sacred Readings for Advent-Christmas 2015-2016 by Douglas Leonard. He explains step by step the Lectio Divina method of prayer. Electronic (e..g Kindle) version for only $0.99.
3. ​Liturgy of Hours - November 29, 2015 through May 15, 2016: The prayer book used by priests, deacons and religious in electronic form for $9.99. There are also breviary apps for phones.

​Last week the American bishops issued a helpful document: Create in Me a Clean Heart - A Pastoral Response to Pornography. I encourage all parishioners (especially parents of children and teens) to read it. Our bishops offer a powerful "word of hope and healing." I will refer to this document in my homily this weekend.
 
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/pornography/upload/Create-in-Me-a-Clean-Heart-Statement-on-Pornography.pdf
 
May God protect and bless your family,
 
Fr. Phil Bloom

As we focus on Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to all who supported our lighting upgrade by your pledge/donation to the Annual Catholic Appeal. We met our required parish goal ($55,584) and so far have received monthly rebates totaling $14,538.57. We are applying this to upgrade the lighting in our parking lot, church and hall classrooms. We have made significant steps toward our three goals:

• Safety: the new lights in the parking lot and around the perimeter of our buildings are enhancing the security for our children, families and seniors. For me it is a great feeling to return to the parish in the evening and see our campus so well illuminated.
• Economy: More efficient lights, together with occupancy sensors in many rooms will bring savings in our utility bills. Snohomish County P.U.D. provides incentives for this energy saving effort - and we are helping protect the environment!
• Enhanced Participation in Worship: We have improved lighting in our chapel and the inside perimeter of the church. Major work is yet to be done on the lighting on the church ceiling. We are waiting for the final fixtures to arrive before beginning this major project. Current timing for installation is early January.

I thank you all for your patience and support. May God bless you and your family!
 
Fr. Phil Bloom

P.S. The picture show Bill King and Dwight Bickler (with Rosie Cotton) next to replaced fixtures in our storage room.  

Gracias por el apoyo para mejoramiento de la iluminicación del parking, templo y salas. Estamos logrando tres metas: Seguridad, Economia y Mejoramiento de participación en la Misa. Usamos el reembolso de la Petición Católica Anual para cumplir este proyecto.
 
Dios te bendiga y tu familia!
 
Padre Felipe Bloom