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Faith Direct - eGivingWe at St. Matthew church are so thankful to those who used eGiving when Covid-19 struck,continuing their church giving even when in-person services and tithing were not possible. It’s agreat stewardship habit we want to encourage among all our parish families!Monthly recurring gifts help provide our ministries with steady, consistent support. It helps ourparish stay strong when summer vacations, holiday travels, and unexpected weather disruptionskeep people away from services. And it saves time for our staff by cutting down the number ofcash and check donations they must process. Get started today with the habit of e-giving!Faith Direct - Matching gift programFaith Direct, our online Giving Program, has announced a Donor Match Program for the next twomonths. For every new recurring donor whose first gift is added between November 1 andDecember 31, 2021, Faith Direct will match that first gift, up to 50, with a maximum match of 1,000 per Parish. To be eligible for the matching gift, more than one installment must be set-upand the first recurring gift must be processed through Faith Direct by December 31, 2021. Pleasesign up today, either online or using the forms located at all exits of the MCB, and help us receive this FREE money. Thank you!Faith Direct - Enroll today!Enroll in eGive, at our Parish website www.st-matthew-church.comContact Faith Direct toll free at 1-866-507-8757,or by emailing your questions to info@faithdirect.net.Thank you for your continuous support.2021 Diocesan Services AppealWe are still in need of 19,967.84 of our 131,000 goal, which will have to come out of St. MatthewChurch’s operating budget if it cannot be met. Thank you for your continued feline Pregnancy Care Centers, Catholic Relief Services, Counseling Services, ElderAffairs, Guardianship Training, Hunger/Homeless Outreach, Immigration Legal Services, InterfaithHealth & Wellness, Parish Social Ministry, Prison Ministry, Refugee Resettlement , Human Trafficking, Rachel's Vineyard, Respect Life, Samaritan Center/Transitional Housing, Volunteer Svcs.Rite of Christian Initiation of AdultsThe main purpose of the R.C.I.A. process is to answer questions and tell the story of thedevelopment of the Catholic Faith in the world. Explanation of our traditions, our history, thedifferent types of prayer and devotions, the Sacred Liturgy, and the importance of Holy Scriptureand the Sacraments. If you have questions you would like to ask, please call the parish office at561-966-8878 and let’s talk.O Little Town of BethlehemThere is a Christmas song that says of Bethlehem: "Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light." Bethlehem isa suburb of Jerusalem. Its main tourist attraction in the time of Jesus was that it was the birthplace of David. Thoughtoday it has many modern homes and buildings, you can still see that it is part of "the hill country. . .of Judah." It isnot too far from En Kerem, where John the Baptist was born, and apparently where today's Gospel takes place.We see in the Gospel reading today how Elizabeth and her unborn child rejoiced at the news of Jesus' coming birth.The story implies that Mary went to see Elizabeth as soon as the angel told her about Jesus. Maybe it was easier totell her cousin, who was also with child, than her fiancé. I would think that talking about it made this miracle morereal. I know that talking about my faith makes it more real to me.Jesus is the "everlasting Light" mentioned in the song. That light shines today, not just in Bethlehem, but everywherethat his followers bring it. When we console someone who is mourning, that light shines. When we offer to helpsomeone in need, it shines brighter. When we forgive someone who hurt us, the light is burning. When we offer tosponsor a candidate in the RCIA, the light grows. When we teach a child how to pray, it shines even brighter.Our dark streets need the everlasting Light today as much as they did 2000 years ago. Today we remember how Maryand Elizabeth shared their faith in God. They did so much like we do today. Mary could not see her unborn son yet,but helped Elizabeth to believe by her words. Jesus, who seems to be invisible today, is seen in the shared faith ofthose who bring him into the world by their words and actions. Tom Schmidt, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

TODAY’S READINGS1st Reading — FromBethlehem-Ephrathah shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel (Micah 5:1-4a).Psalm — Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved (Psalm 80).nd2 Reading — We have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Christ once for all (Heb 10:5-10).Gospel — Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:39-45).Fourth Sunday of AdventFor years, Catholic spiritual writers have drawn our attention to the Christmas liturgy’s subtle - and not-sosubtle - linking of Christ’s incarnation with his paschal mystery. In the infancy narratives of Matthew andLuke, there are countless intimations of the Passion and cross. The saints of the Christmas octave, dubbed“comites Christi,” Christ’s companions in suffering, form a royal honor guard of martyrs and others whobore witness at great personal sacrifice to the Child we hail as “Prince of Peace,” while the wood of themanger evokes the wood of the cross. But these days, sadly, in the wake of seemingly endless massshootings at schools, we need no reminders of how close in real life are the cradle and the cross. May ourhearts find, if not answers, at least comfort in the prophet Micah’s reminder that, from the pain of awoman’s labor came forth the Child who is our incarnate peace.COMFORT AND SALVATIONAll of today’s scriptures seem to declare Christmas’s “comfort and joy.” Micah declares that, as small asBethlehem is, the child born there will bring peace that “shall reach to the ends of the earth.” Hebrewsproclaims that, despite pain and suffering, the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ” saves us all.In today’s Gospel, bearing the Christ Child within her, Mary, barely more than a child herself, immediately,unselfishly sets aside her own preoccupations - and as a betrothed but as yet unmarried mother-to-be,how many they must have been - to travel in haste, over dangerous terrain, a four-day journey (thescholars say) from Nazareth to Ain-Karem, to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah.BLESSEDThen, just as David leapt and danced before the ancient Ark of the Covenant that bore precious signs ofGod’s abiding presence, so John leaps in his mother Elizabeth’s womb as Mary arrives, a living ark bearingGod’s living presence. Elizabeth joyfully greets Mary in words that we pray daily in the “Hail Mary”:“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Why Mary is so “blessed”Elizabeth then explains: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would befulfilled.” Likewise, we may dare hope to be “blessed” for “believing that what was spoken” to us “by theLord”- Jesus’ promise of mercy - will be fulfilled as we share God’s mercy with everyone. For by reason ofour baptism and, more immediately and repeatedly, because of our participation in the Eucharist, we toobear within ourselves the living Christ. To whom, or to what situation, do we need to bear Christ thisChristmas? Indeed, throughout the year, how selflessly do we set our own concerns aside? How eagerly“in haste” - do we, disregarding difficulties, traverse whatever dangerous terrain needs conquering to beof service to another?With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. - Isaiah 12:3The Lord established for him a covenant of peace, and made him the prince,that he might have the dignity of the priesthood forever. - Sirach 45:30Christ is born, that by his birth he might restore your nature. - St. Peter ChrysologusAll the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle. - AnonymousPRAYER FOR VOCATIONSGod our Father, you will all men and women to be saved and come to the knowledge of yourtruth. Send workers into your great harvest that the gospel may be preached to every creatureand your people, gathered together by the word of life and strengthened by the power of thesacraments, may advance in the way of salvation and love. We ask this through our Lord JesusChrist, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.AMEN. To take home the Chalice and pray for vocations, please contact the parish office to schedule your week.AN ADVENT PRAYERMay the God of peace make us completely holy. May God keep us blameless in spirit, soul andbody for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever faithful is the One who calls us God our Father! Expectant, let us live in joyful hope for the revelation of the glory of our God andSavior, Christ Jesus! To him be glory forever! Come, Lord Jesus! Your grace be with us all. Amen.

Veni, Sancte SpiritusCome, Holy Spirit, come!And from your celestial homeShed a ray of light divine!Come, Father of the poor!Come, source of all our store!Come, within our bosoms shine.You, of comforters the best;You, the soul’s most welcome guest;Sweet refreshment here below;In our labor, rest most sweet;Grateful coolness in the heat;Solace in the midst of woe.O most blessed Light divine,Shine within these hearts of yours,And our inmost being fill!Where you are not, we have naught,Nothing good in deed or thought,Nothing free from taint of ill.Heal our wounds, our strength renew;On our dryness pour your dew;Wash the stains of guilt away:Bend the stubborn heart and will;Melt the frozen, warm the chill;Guide the steps that go astray.On the faithful, who adoreAnd confess you, evermoreIn your sevenfold gift descend;Give them virtue’s sure reward;Give them your salvation, Lord;Give them joys that never end.Amen. Alleluia.I can do all thingsthru Him whostrengthens me.The Beatitudes - Matthew 5Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children ofGod.Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute youand utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Memorial PaversAt a cost of 50 each, memorialbrick pavers can be placed in theprayer garden by the Blessed VirginGrotto. Order forms are available atthe exits to the MCB and in theparish office.Philippians 4:13PRAYER OF THE WEEK - Fourth Sunday of AdventPour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnationof Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Crossbe brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of theHoly Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Anniversary Mass for Married CouplesMost Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach, will preside at the celebration of our38th Annual Anniversary Mass for Married Couples on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 10:30AM, atSt. Jude in Boca Raton. Cake, coffee, and punch will be served in their parish hall after the Mass.All couples who will be celebrating 25, 40, or 50 or more years of marriage in the calendar year2022 are invited to participate. There is no cost to attend, but please contact St. Matthew ParishOffice at (561) 966-8878 and register your names as soon as possible – but no later than Tuesday,February 1st, 2022. We ask that all participating couples arrive at St. Jude by 10:00AM -- thirtyminutes prior to the start of the Mass, so you can receive your personalized certificate.St. Jude Catholic Church21689 Toledo RoadBoca Raton FL, 33433

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Dec 12, 2021 · Father Briese is a Professor of Theology at St. Vincent DePaul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida, and is a priest with the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia. We are privileged to have Father Llane as our leader for this day. Father Clem will be serving a light lunch in the parish center, so pl