Lasallian Reflections
Third Sunday of Advent
The Prophet Isaiah tells us: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…he has sent me to bring good tidings to the poor…” And in his Letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul tells us to “Rejoice always!” What powerful words and how they go hand-in-hand!
As God’s servants, we are being told to “bring good news.” We are challenged to recognize more deeply what God has done for us in Jesus and to accept God’s commandments to tell others about his irrevocable love, and that it seeks the poorest. A full heart realizes that this is never to be taken for granted. What would this life be like without this love?
We can search for God and for Jesus in many ways and in many places. The people who came to John were looking for the “one who was to come.” They may have been looking for someone like John or for a fervent religious leader. We, too, tend to look for God in dramatic ways – like healing from a terminal illness, great feelings of awe and peace, or in places connected to apparitions. But, “the God of everyday” is the one who is always among us: in the people we meet, in the quiet spaces of prayer, and in our courageous endurances of life’s troubles. Our daily living with God is a quiet, non-dramatic and gentle awareness that God is near us, among us – even when we do not recognize God.
We can take some risks in connecting with our inner selves, with other peoples and cultures, finding some creative ways to unity and peace. If, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we do these things daily, we will be making God’s way straight. We are called at all times to look for the signs of God’s action in our world.
Let us pray …
God our Savior,
be with us each day, each moment.
May we recognize you in our times of prayer and
in the people we are close to.
Help us to prepare our hearts and minds
to welcome you in Jesus, your Son,
who lives within us and in whom we live.
May our joy in him radiate in our lives
so that others may rejoice in you. Amen
Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!
Prepared by Brother Timothy Dean, FSC
Advent, 2008
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Lasallian Reflections
Second Sunday of Advent
The message of John the Baptist is one of repentance, to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” To believe in the Gospel, as Jesus said, was to repent. And to repent is not to berate ourselves for our failures but to believe the good news that God’s reign of love is here. If we accept this love for ourselves just as we are, our hearts will be changed and we will be able to extend God’s goodness and acceptance to others.
From time to time it helps to give ourselves a good soul clean-up – to look at the sum total of our dreams, thoughts, feelings, decisions, commitments, values and all those components that define each of us as a unique child of God. Soul is the safe harbor where we go to hear God’s healing, encouraging voice speak to us during the difficult and joyful times of life. Soul clean-up is a good spiritual practice in preparing us to welcome Jesus. It enables us to unclog and sweep away all the things we don’t love and get rid of everything that’s had a non-productive and unhealthy impact on us. How often have those unpleasant memories, imagined worries, and false fears left us feeling drained, afraid, or anxious? By unblocking the soul, it will be more easy to accept each day as a gift and make the most of it. De La Salle tells us that “in order to fulfill your responsibility with as much perfection and care as God requires of you, frequently give yourself to the Spirit of our Lord to act only under his influence and not through any self-seeking.” (Meditations)
The season of Advent is about God’s constancy amidst the suffering that we meet. God accepts our frustration, our anger, our faltering hope, our stumbling faith. When the struggle has become too much, turn to the love and speak to the truth.
Let us pray …
God of all understanding,
strengthen my belief in your reign within me
so that I may be freed from
fear and mistrust,
hatred and resentment and
those inner negative attitudes that control me.
Guide me in ways of forgiveness and tolerance and
lead me in a path of peace. Amen
Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus
Prepared by Brother Timothy Dean, FSC
Advent, 2008
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Lasallian Reflections
First Sunday of Advent
How fitting that the Scripture for this First Sunday of Advent contains the words of Jesus to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert!” And it is in this spirit that we remind ourselves of our dependency on God and that God is so closely involved in our lives. The unknowns in our life make us aware of just how much of our life is lived in the context of mystery – outside our control.
Advent is also the beginning of God’s dependency on us for bringing the divine Word to life. Jesus invites us in Advent to be alert to the signs of his presence in the unfolding mystery of our own lives. In his Third Meditation for the Time of Retreat, De La Salle tells us “All the good that you are able to do in your work for those entrusted to you will be true and effective only insofar as Jesus Christ gives it his blessing and as you remain united with him.” How important it is for us to get into the habit of watching for Christ in his daily comings. Keeping vigil for Christ’s coming may be difficult at times and we may be tempted to give up hope that Christ can or will come. And we may feel keenly the absence of God. But, in our patience through the darkness, we have the spiritual strength to stay alert and wait for the dawn of Christ’s coming.
And we must be alert. God needs us to keep our eyes wide open so that we can see those who are discouraged and help them by being a light in the dark of their night; a comforting hand on a troubled shoulder; a guide to one who is lost.
Let us pray…
Lord Jesus,
help me to stay awake,
to look at what I have and be grateful for it.
Let me see myself
for what I really am and celebrate – or reform.
Let me be sensitive to the realities around me
so that I may live the present moment
watchful and alert
and thus be more at peace
about the unknown next moment. Amen
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus
Prepared by Brother Timothy Dean, FSC
Advent, 2008
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Brothers of the Christian Schools
District of Baltimore
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BROTHER MICHAEL PHILLIPS, FSC
1912 - 2008
Born John Joseph Phillips, Jr. in Youngstown, OH on August 7, 1912.
Died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ on November 3, 2008.
Entered the Ammendale Novitiate on September 2, 1930.
Received the Religious Habit and Name Festus Michael on December 7, 1930.
Pronounced perpetual vows in Ocean City, NJ in 1937.
ASSIGNMENTS:
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1931-1932
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Eddington, PA
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Scholasticate
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1932-1938
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Philadelphia, PA
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West Catholic Boys High: teacher
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1938-1940
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Ammendale, MD
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Novitiate staff
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1940-1941
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Quebec, CANADA
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District of Quebec: teacher
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1941-1942
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Ammendale, MD
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Novitiate staff
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1942-1943
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Philadelphia, PA
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West Catholic Boys High: teacher
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1943-1945
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Washington, D.C.
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St. John’s College High: teacher
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1945-1946
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Philadelphia, PA
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West Catholic Boys High: teacher
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1946-1950
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Eddington, PA
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St. Francis Vocational: prefect
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1950-1953
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Washington, D.C.
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St. John’s College High: teacher
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1953-1954
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Eddington, PA
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St. Francis Vocational: prefect
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1954-1955
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Orange, NJ
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St. John’s School: teacher
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1955-1970
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Ammendale, MD
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Chauffeur
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1970-1993
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Pittsburgh, PA
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Central Catholic High: driver education
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1993-2004
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Ammendale, MD
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Retired
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2004-2008
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Lincroft, NJ
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De La Salle Hall: retired
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FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Viewing at La Salle Hall, Ammendale: 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday, November 6, 2008
9:30 am Viewing at La Salle Hall, Ammendale
11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial
Followed by interment at the Brothers’ cemetery
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER:
District: 100 masses
De La Salle Hall community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Michael died peacefully at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft. For the past month he was kept comfortable by the De La Salle Hall staff and hospice personnel. May he rest in peace.
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Brothers of the Christian Schools
BROTHER LEWIS MULLIN
1927 – 2008
Born John Joseph Mullin, Jr. in Philadelphia, PA on January 3, 1927.
Died at Sanctuary at Holy Cross, Burtonsville, MD on October 19, 2008
Entered the Ammendale Juniorate on June 18, 1943.
Entered the Ammendale Novitiate on June 11, 1945.
Received the Religious Habit and Name of Geffrey Lewis on September 7, 1945.
Pronounced perpetual vows at Ammendale, MD on August 29, 1952.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1946-1950 Washington, D.C. De La Salle College: scholasticate
1950-1962 Washington, D.C. St. John’s College H S: teacher, guidance
1962-1965 Miami, FL La Salle-Immaculata H S: teacher, guidance
1965-1966 Canton, OH Central Catholic H S: teacher, guidance
1966-1977 Wyndmoor, PA La Salle College H S: teacher, guidance
1977-1982 Philadelphia, PA La Salle College: admissions director
1982-1984 Jersey City, NJ Hudson Catholic H S: guidance
1984-1993 Radnor, PA Archbishop Carroll H S: guidance
1993-1994 Ammendale, MD Holy Family Community: retired
1994-2003 Philadelphia, PA La Salle University: retired
2003-2008 Ammendale, MD La Salle Hall: retired
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Viewing at La Salle Hall, Ammendale: 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
9:30 am Viewing at La Salle Hall, Ammendale
11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial
followed by interment at the Brothers’ cemetery
SUFFRAGES FOR DECEASED BROTHER:
District: 50 masses
Ammendale community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Lewis died peacefully in his sleep at Sanctuary at Holy Cross after a lengthy illness from complications due to diabetes. Lew has no surviving relatives. His brother, Frank, died exactly two weeks before Lew. May they rest in peace.
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