From the Pastor:
Hopefully the last few days gave you many reasons to be grateful! That certainly was the case for me. Being home with my family is always a blessing for me. The food and relaxation were wonderful but even more so was being with my family. At the farm, life is simpler and more peaceful, and I greatly appreciate that. However, I’m equally grateful being back here in our parishes working as your pastor. My focus in the next few weeks is our preparation for Christmas and finishing the Living Christ Capital Campaign. (Have you made your 5-year pledge yet?)
This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, the time each year when we focus on the coming of Jesus, both His first coming (past) and His second coming (future). It is important that we keep both of these together. History is only important in its ability to affect today and tomorrow. We are not meant to live in the past, but rather in the present while we anticipate and prepare for the future. Christians celebrate Christ’s first coming, but they also joyfully look forward to His Second Coming.
The mature Christian yearns to enter into the presence of God, and knows that doing so requires holiness. As a result, the mature Christian looks to God first before deciding what to think, say, and do. Such a person truly seeks to love God more than anything and to love other people as oneself. Advent calls us back to this and reminds us of the importance of doing so.
At Mass this weekend, notice that Jesus directs us in the gospel to “stay awake.” This is because we become distracted at times with the things of this world. They prevent us from loving God and neighbor as we should. Our hearts and minds become divided between selfishness and selflessness. However, selfishness is contrary to who God is and what God does. We see this in every aspect of Jesus’ life. That is why we are instructed this first Sunday of Advent not to follow “the desires of the flesh.”
As I think of Christmas lights decorating almost every aspect of our landscape in the weeks ahead, I can’t help but to think of the relevance of the second scripture reading for this Sunday: “throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Light has a beauty of its own and we are invited to see the beauty of God’s light. This Advent season God invites us to look and see the beauty and goodness of His plan for each of us. Whatever it is, God’s teachings and commandments will be part of it.
In the weeks ahead, consider devoting more time to prayer and quiet reflection on the meaning of Christmas. It is truly astounding what God does for us. The Incarnation is one of the greatest hopes we have. May this Advent season prepare you well for the celebration of Christmas, and to one day stand in God’s presence.
Gratefully,
Fr. Miller