Dear Parishioners:
A very Merry Christmas! I wish each of you, and all who are dear to you, a Blessed Christmas season! May the joy of that Holy Night in Bethlehem, which filled the hearts of Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds who came to see the baby Jesus lying in the manger, warm your hearts with ever greater faith, fervent hope, and true love for God this Christmas!
Our celebration of Christmas this year will hopefully be more than simply routine. The routine of shopping, sending cards, baking, and decorating all enrich the beauty of this joyful season. At the same time, I hope that beyond the routine, we might truly celebrate the reason for the season.
God promised to send a savior to rescue us. Throughout the history of Israel, the Jewish people anticipated the coming of the Messiah, one who would save them. Over time, many began to think the Messiah would be a King, more of a political ruler who would restore Israel to greatness. Thus, when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was born in the most humble circumstances in Bethlehem, they did not recognize him.
In our Creed, we profess to believe that "for us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven." We should reflect upon this simple yet profound truth this Christmas. If the very name Jesus, in Hebrew, means "one who will save his people from their sins," we might describe Christmas as a "rescue mission." And given that the rescue is nothing less than our eternal salvation, it is the "greatest rescue mission" ever carried out on this earth!
“Ensure that Holy Christmas is never a celebration of commercial consumerism, of appearances or useless gifts, or excessive waste, but that it is a celebration of joyfully welcoming the Lord into the crib and into the heart.”
This Christmas is a great opportunity to reflect upon how we have been rescued by Jesus, who "for us and for our salvation" came down from heaven. Christmas marks the beginning of our rescue mission! Jesus came to save us! That is the true meaning of Christmas, not the Hallmark or Hollywood warm and fuzzy Christmas.
Christmas can certainly be anything but routine for us this year if we take some time to consider its true meaning. Once we recognize the gift of love, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus, who came to rescue us, we must accept, receive, abide, and rejoice in it. The rescue of Jesus from our sin and death has eternal consequences! This rescue not only frees us from the shame of sin but also restores to us the original dignity of being sons and daughters of God! This rescue restores to us the inheritance of eternal life!
The more we appreciate the great rescue mission our Lord took up for us, the more we experience the desire for him to rescue others! This desire is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus. We become disciples of Jesus because he first loved us and came to rescue us from our sins. When we allow ourselves to experience the deep and personal love of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, who would one day suffer and die out of great and sacrificial love for us and be raised up in glory—the gratitude of our hearts wants to bring this Good News of glad tidings to others.
So if this season has become too busy with Christmas externals, take some time to break from the routine. Consider how we figure into the greatest rescue mission the world has ever known. Let yourself be rescued by our Lord Jesus this Christmas, and then spread the Good News. Make a firm resolution to live as a disciple of Jesus, coming to him every Sunday at Mass and engaging in the rescue of others by living and sharing our rescue story with them with love, sacrifice, and charity! Break away from the sterile routine of the secular Christmas the world celebrates, and live your faith with passion and commitment!
In this increasingly secular world, with its crass and commercial celebration of Christmas, we can easily lose sight of the reason for the season. Pope Francis reminds us: "Ensure that Holy Christmas is never a celebration of commercial consumerism, of appearances or useless gifts, or excessive waste, but that it is a celebration of joyfully welcoming the Lord into the crib and into the heart."
Fr. Mahoney, Fr. Connors, and I will remember you and your intentions at our celebration of Christmas Masses. We offer our sincere prayers and heartfelt best wishes to you and your families this Christmas. May the celebration of the birth of our Savior truly be joyful, hopeful, and faith-filled.
Be well. Stay safe. Do good. A Happy and Holy Christmas and Blessings for the New Year! God Bless.