Greetings in Christ! Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This is somewhat of a rare treat for us to have a full week for the fourth week of Advent. Usually, Christmas is not on Sunday and, as a result, the fourth week gets shortened. I think this makes this week a gift for us to take some time to walk through the readings for Mass each day of the week. (It is easy to find them online or use your phone to get an app that helps us do that.) When we read the Mass readings each day, we allow Jesus to connect us in a unique way with all Catholics, living and dead. This Body of Christ that is us is not bound by human discipline or ideological unity, but by Jesus.
Some of us are in a place in life where we can go to daily Mass, some are not. For those who are not able to go to daily Mass, reading the Scripture of the day is a statement that you want that unity Jesus offers us in the Mass. You are connected to all Catholics, living and dead, and praying Mass or reading the Scriptures for them fosters and strengthens the sense of that connection.
Now, I need to do my yearly reminder for us all…
Next Sunday there is a pretty good chance someone will be sitting in your seat. There’s a chance that you’ll be sitting near someone who doesn’t usually go to Mass and, as a result, may commit some faux paus. It is imperative that we love, pray for and be kind to them.
I remember last year, I looked out at one of the Masses to find a group of people “messing around” the whole Mass. Some were on their phones; some were chatting and giggling…I really had to fight irritation. All through the Mass, I fought internally to love them like Jesus loves me, to pray that God’s grace touched their hearts. It was a hard mental fight, but I’m so glad Jesus helped me.
If you run into anything like this, please pray for them. Please love them. Please think of how often we have done something wrong in our youth or lack of knowledge.
It seems to me that every week our culture pulls further away from beauty, truth and rightness. I am coming to believe that, while this makes me sad, at least there is an honesty to it and God can always meet us when we are honest about where we are.
So, Christmas is a chance for us to pray for, love and serve those who will be here who usually aren’t. Let’s give it our best in the name of Jesus.
I love being your priest. Thank you for letting me serve this way.
Fjk