{"id":30695,"date":"2012-12-25T11:43:54","date_gmt":"2012-12-25T17:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=30695"},"modified":"2012-12-25T11:43:54","modified_gmt":"2012-12-25T17:43:54","slug":"marry-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/12\/marry-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Marry Christmas!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Botticelli_Nativity\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For many years in the church I grew up in, we would build\/perform a simulation\/reenactment of the first advent. The plot should have be no surprise to anyone here.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A group of humble shepherds gets startled by a chorus of angles who prompt them to seek a new born in the land of David\u2019s descendants.\u00a0 A collection of intellectual elites notice changes in the heavens that inspire them to search abroad for a new born king.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elsewhere [and not in the play] a teenage virgin is visited by an angle. She accepts the task to give birth to a child and name in Emmanuel. The pregnant girl and her husband must return to the land of their ancestors to take part in a census.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The church of today [played by the audience] is called to walk this advent journey towards the new revelation of God.<\/p>\n

Soon all our advent journeys intertwine and [spoiler] after many obstacles we arrive in a manger gathered around a newborn [he\u2019s not always silent] child.<\/p>\n

In the final scene someone from our church [often my father] would lead a very short prayer and reflection. \u00a0I guesstimate I have performed that play at least a half a dozen times on four separate Advents. \u00a0But no matter how familiar with the story I became that last part always left me a little awestruck.<\/p>\n

On the first Christmas a virgin, a father, some shepherds and a few kings gathered for the first time in the presence of our savior. They were drawn through many obstacles by a powerful holy presence. But even once they arrived they had no way of knowing the full effect this child would have on human history. They could only be awestruck.<\/p>\n

On the 2012th<\/sup> Christmas [give or take] the church is gathers around our savior. Our savior has called us on a advent journey over many obstacles. But still there is no one among us who can fully comprehend the full impact of this mystery on all of human life. My challenge to you is to be awestruck!<\/p>\n

God has just begun to reveal his greatest miracle. There is nothing we have done to earn it and no way we will ever completely understand it. So all we can do on Christmas is sit back and celebrate it. Marry Christmas from me and everyone at the Austin Catholic New Media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For many years in the church I grew up in, we would build\/perform a simulation\/reenactment of the first advent. The plot should have be no surprise to anyone here. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A group of humble shepherds gets startled by a chorus of angles who prompt them to seek a new born in the land of… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-blog","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1591332,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/the-crowning-of-st-joseph\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":0},"title":"The Crowning of St. Joseph!","author":"Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez","date":"March 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThus should he be honored whom the King desires to honor!\u201d The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.\u00a0 This year is also the 61st anniversary of the church approved apparitions of St. Joseph in America in which Sr. Mary Ephrem\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image4-550x392.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image4-550x392.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image4-550x392.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":324293,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/jesus-king-mercy-a-reflection-as-the-year-of-mercy-ends\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":1},"title":"Jesus, King of Mercy: a reflection as the Year of Mercy Ends","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"November 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"At this writing, I am in Corpus Christi for one of my favorite feasts of the Church year, Christ the King, and also for my birthday weekend, since I was born here. It was growing dark, raining and then storming when I got into town. \u00a0The bay was black, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jesus, King of Everything","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/christ-the-king1-149x190.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":166310,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/10\/review-rebuilding-your-message\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":2},"title":"The Art of Preaching and Teaching (Review: “Rebuilding Your Message”)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"October 27, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I used to think I was indecisive. Now I'm not so sure. I can usually come down squarely on one side or the other about my opinions on books. Bumped? Loved it. Wild at Heart? Did not love it. Then I read Rebuilt, and I mostly liked it. I liked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"\"Street closed\" sign.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/acnm_streetclosed-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/acnm_streetclosed-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/acnm_streetclosed-550x367.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2739675,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/brown-scapular-investiture-july-13\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":3},"title":"Brown Scapular Investiture July 13","author":"Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez","date":"July 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Blessing and Investiture of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel \ud83d\udcc5 Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025 \ud83d\udd58 Time: 3:00 PM Service \ud83d\udccd Location: St. William Catholic Church, Round Rock, TX Join us for a special Blessing and Investiture of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marian-scapular-vision.jpg?fit=800%2C522&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marian-scapular-vision.jpg?fit=800%2C522&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marian-scapular-vision.jpg?fit=800%2C522&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marian-scapular-vision.jpg?fit=800%2C522&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46935,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/05\/free-tony-melendez-concert-may-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":4},"title":"Free Tony Melendez Concert May 18","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"May 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you love music? Sunday May 18, 2013, there will be a free concert at Santa Cruz Catholic Church in Buda, TX. Tony Melendez is a world-renowned musician that brings the love of Jesus through his music ministry. He was born in Nicaragua, but has lived in Texas most of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World and News"","block_context":{"text":"World and News","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"TonyMelendezandJP2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/TonyMelendezandJP2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":124953,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/06\/the-story-of-san-salvador-mission\/","url_meta":{"origin":30695,"position":5},"title":"The Story of San Salvador Mission","author":"Shawn Rain Chapman","date":"June 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"She remembers walking barefoot on pilgrimage up the road to San Salvador Mission as a child, praying the rosary together with her family and friends, each August, lead by her grandmother, Ouida, to commemorate a healing, a vision, and a community coming together in response to a message from Heaven\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"IMG_1108","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/IMG_1108-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/IMG_1108-550x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/IMG_1108-550x367.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30695\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}