Fourth Sunday of Advent

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!

Third Sunday of Advent

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near" (Phil. 4:4-5). This Third Sunday of Advent has been traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, the Latin word meaning "rejoice". As the season of Advent continues to unfold, - we are reminded that the coming of Christ into the world is a time of rejoicing, for the Lord is soon to be in our midst in a manner outstanding in human history.

Second Sunday of Advent

John the Baptist, one of the great Advent figures makes his appearance in today's Gospel. While John's role as herald for Jesus is evident in each of the Gospels, St. Luke gives a much more detailed account of John's role. In the infancy narrative in Luke (Chap. 1-2) John's annunciation and birth parallels the same events in Jesus' infancy. In today's selection, the Gospel writer puts the words of the prophet Isaiah on John as though he is being given a role of prophecy: "A voice of one crying in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord!'" We may ask ourselves, "In what way is the life of John the Baptist like my life? How do I prepare the way of the Lord for my family members, or my neighbors, or those with whom I work?"

We witness the saving and sanctifying Gospel with what we do as well as what we say - including when we "give God persmission," as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta often said, to convert our own hearts more deeply to Christ.

Here are some simple ways for us to say Yes to deeper personal conversaion to Jesus:
Put up an Advent wreath.
Place a cross or sacred-art tiem in every room.
Pray every time a siren sounds.
Cross yourself when passing a church.
Create a prayer corner.

First Sunday of Advent

Happy New Year! We begin this weekend the new liturgical year with the season of Advent. The opening prayer for this first Sunday of Advent asks God to give us the resolve to run forth to meet Christ at his coming with righteous deeds. Sounds like a good New Year's resolution to make. We don't often think of the liturgy in terms of justice, but this Advent season is filled with it. One day, Jesus will return in his glory to judge all the world. Our preparation for his return is to live the faith we profess and to act in charity toward all our brothers and sisters. Justice will prevail when we show the love of Christ each day in all our deeds. Again, have a blessed New Year!

Christ The King

Every Church year concludes with the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. We celebrate this final Sunday of the Church year with the fundamental Christian belief that Jesus Christ is the universal king and judge of all. By virtue of our baptism we are citizens of His kingdom. Our King calls us to his throne of love and compassion. The journey involves sacrifice. The cost is our self-determination of will. Worshiping our King while here in this world will lead us to the peace and joy of his eternal kingdom. He is the only King we need to know and follow. We follow Christ our King because of His perfect example of humility, service and love. It is this kingdom that we work to bring others to. If Christ is not our king, then who is? If Christ is our king, then be an example of loving service as He showed us. Long live Christ our King!

Ordinary Time 33

Cicero said a long time ago, "A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues." Yes, we have much to be thankful for. This weekend in our second collection we thank the retired religious who dedicated their lives to Christ and to the service of others. On Tuesday evening our parish is hosting the annual Montour Association of Churches Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.  It is at this service that we as a community of believers can give thanks to God in a special way. On Thursday, we celebrate our national feast of Thanksgiving and as a nation we have the opportunity to thank God for what we are and all that we have. Yes, we have much to be thankful for, so please remember to thank God for the many blessings we have in our lives. "If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice." - Meister Eckhart

Ordinary Time 32

Today we are blessed with beautiful examples of self-sacrifice and not counting the cost. Two widows share and give all they have. Eleanor Roosevelt has been quoted as saying, "We must do that which we do not think we can do." We are challenged to give from our heart, not only from our pocket; to give that which we do no recognize as ours to give.  Even in these difficult economic times, using up our whole livelehood is not something that many of us face. But there are people around us that have to make those choices, folks who have lost a job, suffer huge medical expenses, or are suddenly without a spouse because of death or divorce.  For some the temptation may be that of the widow and her son in the first reading, "when we have eaten what is left, we shall die." While Elijah worked a miracle, the Gospel today suggests that the miracle does not come from outside, but from within the community that knows those in need and reaches out.