From the desk of Fr. Steve/Del escritorio del p. Steve
Merry Christmas to you and to your family. This day is a day to rejoice and to celebrate in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without His birth we have nothing. The official title of this feast day is the Holy Incarnation. Which means God taking flesh. Our Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, did not have to become a man but He chose to. He chose to come for you, and for me. He became a baby to die on the cross to wash away our sins in His Blood. And it all began today.
As the world outside has lost the understanding and the meaning of Christmas, we as Catholic-Christians must strive to have awe and wonder this very day. Those two words are what I would like us to reflect on throughout the remainder of this week. Awe! and Wonder! Awe simply means to be awestruck; to have amazement at what has happened. Wonder means to ponder; to be consumed with thinking about why it is that God chose me to become a baby and to die for. (Remember my Advent challenge to everyone: to pause, ponder and prepare!) This very day is what we have been waiting for!
Christmas is also a time for family. Jesus was born into a family. He was not just planted on the Earth out of nowhere. But given a home with a mother and a father. Though our family situations are different in so many ways, the holidays always seem to bring us together (either for better or worse). This Christmas season as we gather together let's be mindful of praying as a family and invoking the name of Jesus...especially before our meal. And if this year because of the Covid-quarantine we are not gathering with our families, let us be sure to make the effort to call everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas.
I am also very cognizant of the fact that many of us do not enjoy the Christmas season at all. Primarily because it reminds us of heartache and Christmases long ago when we had someone special in our lives. You especially will be on my heart and in my prayer as I offer the Holy Sacrifice on Christmas Day.
This, being my very first Christmas here at St Francis-St. Maximilian and St. Mary Mystical Rose, I am overjoyed to have you in my life. 2020 has been one heck of a ride, with many unexpected turns, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Please continue to show me your support and know of my love and support for you and your families. As always, know of my prayers.
