News - December 2021 RSS Feed

By now many have undecorated the Christmas trees and their homes and have returned to “normal” events in life; however, the Church is still within the Christmas-Epiphany Season. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Aware of the significance of the blessed star and drawn by its distinctive light, the magi traveled from distant lands to reach Bethlehem. They are the first people outside the immediate area to come and greet the newborn king. Today’s liturgy celebrates the manifestation of God to the whole world, not only to Jerusalem.

Yesterday, we gathered as a faith community to celebrate the greatest gift of all time—the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel: God-with-us. Today, we continue to celebrate the Christmas season with the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In the opening Collect (Opening Prayer) the Church prays, “O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity…” Families come in all shapes and sizes, but we are all part of a family. The Church, too, is a family of believers, who comes together to support one another in our journey of faith.

We enter the Fourth Week of Advent in which we experienced a season of waiting—a season of preparation. For three weeks we have been anticipating the glorious day that is quickly approaching— the birth of Jesus the Christ at Christmas. Let us break from all the hustle and bustle that threaten to overwhelm the true meaning of this holy event and share in the pure joy of Mary and Elizabeth, two mothers expecting their first children, who in today’s Gospel exult in each other’s blessedness.

Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday.” The word means rejoice. The third candle (pink) will be lit on the Advent wreath. The priest and deacon will wear rose/pink vestments this weekend.

Wrapped gifts with ornament tags must be returned to the rectory no later than December 14th .

As we journey together on this Second Week of Advent, John the Baptist, a prominent Advent character comes on the scene. Each Synoptic Gospel, (Matthew, Mark, Luke), recalls his preaching and his role as the immediate precursor of the Lord. In today’s Gospel, we hear John the Baptist proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Let us include the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our Advent preparation.