Pastor’s Notes

We got our friary Christmas trees nestled in the friary.   Fr. Micah takes one; I do the other.  In this brief and final Sunday of Advent, 
we are asked to take some time now 
to sit quietly somewhere in the midst of our glowing Christmas decorations and enjoy the rest.  Hard to do! We friars took a day of recollection on Wednesday.  It was almost an agony to let go with so much to do.  And pause… It is a particularly Christmas kind of rest in awe.  We linger at how God entered our world and came to be with us. Despite the commercial world’s spending machinations to receive the gift offered us: 
that the Spirit of God will open up our lives and 
that Jesus will really came into our human story and stayed.

Sr. Doris Donnelly from “Pax Christi” wrote an article a few years back called, “Repositioning.”  In it, she called “Christmas-ing” Christians to a “Grand Pause.”  I like the word.  I am told that newly pregnant women often find themselves halted in reflection, to a unique silence in front of the mystery of new life within them. The Gospel of Luke returns us, in the final days of Advent to the early days of Mary’s pregnancy and invites us to be silent with her.  We find so many ways of getting sidetracked in the frenzy of preparations for the celebration. The fourth Sunday says–again and more emphatically–Be still. Let what is about to happen sink in.

Sr. Doris wrote, “Listen to the story as if for the first time. Mary and Elizabeth recognize that God’s promises for each of them has borne fruit.   In the excitement, the unborn John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb.  Curiously, the word used in scripture to designate the leaping means, “an exultant delight in the liberating God.”  I think he danced.  Hope you find yourself dancing before the season is over.

Mary’s “yes” to Gabriel’s request to give birth to the Word changed the course of human history.   God asked her to dance and she gave an affirmative.  We are asked too.  In so many ways, God’s angels continue to make the request to men and women,  “Give flesh, skin to God word in your lives.”  Sr. Doris noted that Christ will not be born again without our consent.  A lot depends on us.   God, however, will have the last word to our crazy lives and world.  Our community is given yet another opportunity in this last lighting of the Advent Candle to join in stillness and wonder as the mystery of God’s coming draws to climax. “Blessed is the one who trusts that God’s words will be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45).

Join us in all the various liturgies of Christmas: the 5 PM children’s liturgy, Christmas Midnight Mass and Day, Holy Family, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (We call it New Years Eve and Day) and Epiphany.  The weekday Masses of the Christmas season are so beautiful. Consider reading the Scriptures assigned to each day or join us for a noon Mass of this beautiful Christmas season.

From all the friars, volunteers & staff – Warmest Christmas blessings.

A gentle week,
Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM