Our Advent preparation heightens as we anticipate our celebration of Christmas this Tuesday. Isn't it amazing? God chose to save our world through the birth of Jesus, son Mary, wife of Joseph. What a clever but simple plan! As clever and simple as creation itself. As clever and simple as the unraveling of history. Even more amazing is the fact that we ourselves are, and always have been, a part of that plan, a part of that creation, a part of that birth, a part of that unraveling of history. For this baby, whose birth we are about to celebrate, was destined to be the Messiah, the Christ, whose mission was to begin to announce the reign of God. Jesus wasted no time in recruiting help to assure the continued success of his divine mission. Thus Jesus and we, the Church, were born simultaneously.
When we stand before the manger with our children and our grandchildren we realize that Jesus was once as small as they are. But Jesus learned from the world around him, accepted God's call to grow up and become mature enough to be willing to die for those he loved. And that began the salvation of our world. We hope we can learn from the world around us. We hope we can accept God's call to grow up. We hope we can become mature enough to be willing to die for those we love. We hope we, the Church, can continue the salvation of our world.
Fr. Russell, Sr. Jolenta and I wish you and your families a blessed Christmas. Together with all our parish staff and employees, we pray in eager anticipation of God's bountiful gifts in the new year to come!
