BEGINNING OUR PILGRIMAGE TO CONSECRATE TO THE UNBORN JESUS THROUGH OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
DATE: December 13, 2020
TIME: 8:00 AM
PLACE: Houston headed for Dallas
Seven PAPA members traveled to Dallas, Texas to begin our journey to Consecrate to the Unborn Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe. We rented a 15-passenger van of which we took two seats out in order to accommodate our “luggage and food.” Since this pilgrimage was mostly during a work week, we had 7 PAPA mamas and grandmamas able to make the trip.
St. John Neumann Monastery in Dallas, TX.
We made good traveling time, thanks to our skilled driver - Denise. We got to Dallas at the St. John Neumann Monastery about 12:45 PM. Our Spiritual Director, Father Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R., had just finished teaching the Redemptorist seminarians and was going to say Mass for us. Father Michael, gifted us with a beautiful songbook upon our arrival.
The first and new song that Father taught us was called, Evenu Shalom Alechiem which means
Peace of the Lord Be With You. Father also explained that, Evenu Shalom Alechiem is a Hebrew greeting and it is wishing the Peace of God the Father to fill your soul and inflame your heart with the love of God.
Then Father Michael chose the songs for the Mass he was about to celebrate, the entrance song was Prepare the Way of the Lord, the communion song was Cam Mein – Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, and our recessional song was Evenu Shalom Alechiem. Our readings for the Third Sunday of Advent were: Reading 1-Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; Reading 2 – 1 Thesalonians 5:16-24; Gospel – John 1:6-8, 19-28.
After the Readings were read, Father Michael read the Gospel and gave us a beautiful homily. This is a summary of his homily.
Who are you? This was the question the Jews from Jerusalem asked John the Baptist? This question is about a secret or a mystery about the Messiah.
Then Father asked, “Who are You?”
When you think about who you want to be you compare yourself to something or someone.
Who am I? You are a mystery. When you were young you wanted to be like someone.
Not long-ago people wanted to be like the saints. Now children want to be a hero like Wonder Woman who is a warrior, but she does not wear warrior’s clothes. Or they want to be Spiderman, or Antman or Batman but they are not human, they are insects or animals. Or they want to be like the Man of Steel (Superman) or Ironman. Now they are not human but made of metal.
When your child does something well or good, we usually say, “I am proud of you!” Isn’t it a sin to be proud? Should we encourage our children to practice the sin of pride? Or should we give credit where credit is due? Instead, we could say something like, “What an honor! Everything is possible with God's help! Praise God!”
Who is your hero? Who do you compare yourself to?
You are a mystery. So, going back to the Gospel, Who is Jesus? John the Baptist knew who Jesus was? “Whoever baptizes with the Spirit, then he is the one, the Messiah.” Who is John the Baptist? John knew who he was, “ A voice crying in the wilderness.” John was a Levite, of the priestly tribe. He said, “I am not the Christ. I am not Elijah. I am not a prophet.” Who are you? They insisted on an answer.
Who or what can John be compared to?
John told them, I am just a VOICE. A voice has a short life-span. It can be carried in a word. He knows who he is, “I am a voice crying out in the desert. Prepare the way of the Lord.” He is not even a person, just a voice. He lowered himself – lowered himself to not even a man.
Why do you baptize? John explains that he is baptizing with water those who want to repent for their sins. “There is someone among you whom you do not recognize.”
The Messiah is the mystery. The Greek translation of mystery is something hidden or secret. The Latin translation of mystery is sacramentum. Sacraments are mysteries, sacred instruments. Sacramentum is the mystery of the sacred.
John says, “The one who comes after me, I am not worthy to remove the strap of his sandal. He will baptize with the Spirit.” John is saying that he isn’t worthy of even being His slave or servant. He is a voice not even a servant.
Who can be the word and carrier of the Word? Who am I? Who are you?
How will you answer when Jesus asks, “Am I enough for you?
Wherever I am? Whatever I do? Am I enough for you?”
Do you know who you are?
Be the voice.
Is Jesus enough for you?
Mass continued and it was beautiful. After Mass we continued on to our accommodations nearby. We unpacked the food and helped set up for dinner. Our Italian cook, Marilda, had prepared a delicious hearty meatless vegetable soup, broccoli cornbread, and fruit tray some homemade cookies.
Vrbo accommodations in Dallas, TX
The meal was perfect for a cold, wintery evening. We enjoyed the conversation at the table as Father Michael shared his experiences in Vietnam when he was a boy. He explained to us what the process was when the communists took over his country. His message to us was to be prepared.
"Be Alive by being Alert, Awake, Aware, Attentive, Attuned and Atoned."
PAPA is timely.
