Dear Parishioners; Today, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. It is also Christmas Eve; therefore, the last week of Advent is very brief—approximately twenty-four (24) hours long. However, the message on this Sunday is very profound. The fulfillment of God’s promises is about to happen!
Dear Parishioners; In the midst of the Christmas season, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. Family life is always a challenge, and our religious ancestors had advice about how to make it work. Though many cultural values were different, we realize how family life was interwoven with faith. We don’t know much about Jesus’ family, but we hear today that they followed traditonal Jewish laws. Mary and Joseph nurtured Jesus in the ways of faith, and helped him to grow in wisdom through their love and commitment to him and to each other, and through their obedience to Scripture and Tradition. It is through our trust in God and our love for one another that we bring Christ to life in our own families and communities.
Dear Parishioners; Today, the third Sunday of Advent, is known as Gaudete Sunday or rejoice Sunday. Traditionally, the liturgical colors for this day is “rose” or pink. The third candle, the pink one will be lit today along with two of the purple candles. Our Scripture readings today are readings of hope for a future that is bright with promise. Isaiah announces a year of favor from the Lord in which all manner of suffering is soothed. Saint Paul reminds us to rejoice, to pray always and to give thanks in all circumstances. In Saint John’s Gospel, we hear that the Light has come in to the world, and it cannot be extinguished.
Dear Parishioners; As we enter the second week of Advent, our Scripture readings give us hope that Jesus is coming, but also offers us a challenge to prepare the way before him. Today we hear the very beginning of Mark’s Gospel, the beginning of Jesus’ public life. We are introduced immediately to John the Baptist as he urgently cries out in the wilderness for us to repent, for the kingdom is at hand. In order to prepare the way and make straight his paths, we must be willing to sometimes go “out-on—a-limb” and be that voice crying in the wilderness proclaiming the mightiness of our Savior.
Dear Parishioners; Today, we begin a new liturgical year with the season of Advent. One of the favorite hymns that we sing during the Advent season is “O, come, O come, Emmanuel.” The word Emmanuel means “God-with-us.” That is truly good news! Our God is with us every step of the way. During this holy season of Advent, we celebrate a moment in time and space like no other—the birth of a child, the birth of Jesus the Christ, the incarnate Son of God.