St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Lilburn, Georgia

 
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The Nativity of the Lord

Msgr. David TalleyWe remember the story of the birth of a baby boy, but we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. What's the difference in these two points of reference? The birth of a child, girl or boy, is a blessing. We hold that life is the precious gift of God, the giver of all gifts. Life itself is to be celebrated, and in our gratitude for this great gift of life, we are called to nurture all life, protect all life, rejoice in every life given. So, remembering the story of the birth of a baby boy to a young unwed young woman in Bethlehem... this is part of our shared human history: every day, the good earth rejoices in another birth of another baby.

But at this evening liturgy (the Vigil) or at this morning Mass, we do more than remember the birth of a baby boy. This is the Nativity of the Lord... a remembrance of and a celebration in the incredible profession of faith we Catholics make, Sunday by Sunday. In the birth of this particular baby boy, born to this particular unwed mother, we hold that the Eternal One, the "God" behind all that is has entered our own history... as one of us. Incredibly, the Church professes that the eternal, communicating Word of God was born in a particular space and at a particular time, born of a particular unwed woman, in circumstances of every day poverty and oppression. And what is more, we profess that this baby boy grew to maturity and is known now as Lord, the Son of God, born of Mary... in our flesh and blood. Lord and Savior... this is the Jesus we remember.

An insight to this joyful evening or morning: the Nativity of Jesus the Lord is the true reason for this season. This is the true meaning of Christmas.

The second insight into our celebration is your presence here, with the parish family of SJN. In the name of the whole parish family, I want every visitor to know this: you are invited to come and see how we live together as disciples of the Lord Jesus, how we are a family of faith, hope and love. We are not a perfect family. We are a family that needs lots of TLC, some forgiveness and a bit of correction, from time to time. Still, we are a real family... and this family of St. John Neumann exists in obedience to the Lord, who asks us to join together in fellowship and in the Spirit.

We celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, and this Christmas gift of redemption is offered to every person here; and in this celebration, as disciples of the man from Nazareth, we invite you... to join with us in the work we have been given: to manifest the Presence of the Lord by faithfully becoming what we are called to be: the Body of the Lord on this good earth. Come and see what joy there is in living the life.    

AMDG

Msgr. David Talley

Msgr. David Talley

 

 

Ministry Spotlight

Archives Photography Ministry

The "Archives" Photography Ministry is designed to assist the website and bulletin in recording the special events of the parish through photos and video. We are a newly formed group, but always looking for contributing members to our photography "archives". If you would like to assist in capturing the special events of the parish and individual ministries, please contact Mary Lou Schwaner by e-mail: MaryLou.Schwaner@sjnlilburn.com .


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Post from the Past

Table of Fellowship

In the Gospel proclamation for this 20th week in Ordinary time, we hear the Lord Jesus say O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish ((Mt. 15.28). The Lord hears our perseverance in prayer, and offers us what we long for.

As I have mentioned to you many times before, I believe that my assignment as pastor of SJN was the providential work of the Lord. I am here, as a parishioner and as a family member and as your shepherd, to be renewed in mind and heart; and I believe that I am called to lead our parish toward a powerful spiritual renewal. We will be as persistent in our prayer as the woman in the Gospel was in her pleading, and ask the Lord of love for what we need mostto experience a new birth in joy, a new identity in holiness of life.

How will this happen, this spiritual renewal? In Rediscovering Catholicism, Matthew Kelly reminds us that to be disciples of the Lord Jesus is to live disciplined lives, living consciously and attentively this new Way of being human (of living authentically the life of our true self). In seeking to live the life of Jesus of Nazareth, you and I are invited to put away the old self of  your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created in God's way, in righteousness and holiness of truth (Ephesians 4.22-24).

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