Song of The Week (12/28 - 1/3) - "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by: Phillips Craig & Dean

CLICK THE LINK to download "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hope-for-all-the-world/id715225441

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" Lyrics:

Said the night wind to the little lamb

Do you see what I see

Way up in the sky little lamb

Do you see what I see

A star a star

Dancing in the night

With a tail as big as a kite

With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear

Ringing through the night shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear

A song a song high above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea

With a voice as big as the sea

Said the Shepherd boy to the mighty king

Do you know what I know

In you palace walls mighty king

Do you know what I know

A child a child

Shivers in the cold

Let us bring Him silver and gold

Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere

listen to what I say

Pray for peace people everywhere

Listen to what I say

The child the child

Shivers in the cold

Let us bring him silver and gold

Let us bring Him silver and gold

The child the child 

Sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light

He will bring us goodness and light

Do you hear what I hear...

Do you hear what I hear...

Reflection: 

In the joy of the Christmas season, this song encourages us to ask, "Do you hear what I hear"; do you see what I see?" What we hear is God's voice guiding us to the light of the Christ Child; what we see is God's Word enfleshed for us. Christmas reminds us that Love is made visible. Let us open and embrace the Gift of God!

John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory"

Matthew 1:25 - "For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins"



Rev. Gary Janak

Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (12/21 - 12/27) - "Mary Did You Know?" by Michael English

CLICK THE LINK to download "Mary Did You Know?" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/michael-english/id74001214

"Mary Did You Know?" Lyrics:

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy

Has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered

Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy

Has walked where angels trod?

When you've kissed your little baby

Then you've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?

Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear

The dead will live a-gain

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy

Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know

That your baby boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb

And the sleeping child you're holding

Is the great, I am

Mary

Reflection:

What I love most about this time of year is contemplating Jesus as an infant.  Throughout the year, I only think of Christ as a teacher and preacher, and of course what he did for us in his suffering, death, and resurrection.  But during this time of year, we are called to focus on Christ’s birth.  To think of Christ as an infant, being nursed and cared for by Mary and Joseph just as any infant is, is truly amazing.  To think that our God came down from heaven and took on our human nature is a mystery in and of itself; that Jesus Christ the immortal one, came down to redeem the mortal ones.  What an awesome God we have!  And it all started in a stable.  Not in some grand castle surrounded by servants, which would have been justifiable, but in a lowly stable surrounded by farm animals and some shepherds.  How humble is our God!  When we consider all this, we can then also wonder the same questions that are asked in this song: “Mary did you know that…” Because, honestly, who would’ve guessed that this baby would grow up to do all those things listed in this song?  During this Christmas season, let us all rejoice in the love and humility that our God has.  He loves us so much that he came down from heaven to be one of us, to live among us, and to ultimately die for us, so that one day we can live with him in heaven.  May all of you have a very blessed and joyous Christmas season and may our Infant Savior bless us all.

Philippians 2:5-8 – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.”

“The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.” – St. Thomas Aquinas

Deacon Scott Hill

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song Of The Week (12/14 - 12/21) - "O come O come Emmanuel" by: Shane & Shane

CLICK THE LINK to download "O come O come Emmanuel" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/glory-in-highest-christmas/id522507080

"O come O come Emmanuel" Lyrics:

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer. 

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Reflection: 

“O come, O come, Emmanuel” is a very ancient hymn that was probably first sung in the twelfth century.  The lyrics of the song are a plea for God to come and save us from our sins.  “And ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here.”  Due to our sins, all of us are held in a type of captivity because sin cripples us and binds us.  It truly is like an exile because we are exiling ourselves from God.  Sins stop us from loving God and we end up loving only ourselves.  However, God has promised he will save us.  So as Israel did for centuries, waiting for a savior, we too wait in joyful expectation that Christ will come again.  Christmas is less than two weeks away, so rejoice!  The savior is near and will set us free.

Isaiah 35:10 – “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning flee away.”

1 Peter 1:8-9 – “Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Deacon Scott Hill

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (12/7-12/13) - "One Thing Remains" by: Jesus Culture

 

 

CLICK THE LINK to download "One Thing Remains" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-thing-remains-live/id415036948?i=415037143

 

 

"One Thing Remains" Lyrics:

 

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

On and one and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death and in life I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love
My debt is paid there's nothing that can separate my heart from your great love

 

 

 

Reflection:

This season of Advent is one of waiting, watching and praying. We do so in the exuberant joy of Christ's love for us. When we take away all of the Christmas trees, gifts, wrappings, parties, food, drink and other festivities associated with Christmas, it all comes down to the Truth sung so beautifully by the group Jesus Culture: one thing remains, God's love for us never fails. Yes, as this song states, "In death, in life, I’m confident and covered by the power of Your great love. My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love..." The more we embrace the Truth of God's love for us, the more we become who God has created us to be.


1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us."

1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Your every act should be done with love."

 

 

Rev. Gary Janak

 

Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish