At Christmas, Christ comes into the world and into our lives as a sign of God’s love for us. The Christmas Season should be a time of prayer, reflection, wonder, and silence as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world.
In a Christmas message as reported by the media outlet, “Vatican News”, Pope Francis spoke about the need to understand the true meaning of Christmas. He stated that the “good news of great joy” we celebrate is the “sure promise of an unprecedented gift: the hope of being born for heaven.” He noted that the birth of the Christ Child reveals God’s tender love and that Jesus “gives us power to become children of God. This is the joy that consoles hearts, renews hope, and bestows peace.” As we reflect on these profound insights of Our Holy Father, in the midst of our busy lives, we are invited to truly focus on the birth of Jesus.
We are also encouraged to allow the joy of this Season to console our hearts and renew our hope as we reflect on these words taken from Psalm 46: “…Be still and know that I am God, exalted among all nations, exalted in the earth.”
At this special time of the year, may we truly be still and hear His voice in the silence of our hearts, and allow the light of His Son to shine through the darkness of our world and the darkness of our lives.
My prayer for all of us is that in the midst of the darkness of this increasingly secular and violent world, we embrace the spiritual peace that Jesus offers us. As a community of faith, may we truly experience the joy and love of the Lord this Christmas as we continue to strive for peace in our world, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.
As disciples, we have much for which to be thankful. As a parish community, we join in thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, our families, and our nation. We especially thank Him for the gift of His Son.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I want to thank you for all you do to enhance the spiritual vitality of our parish, especially in these difficult and uncertain times. I am deeply grateful for your willingness to embrace a spirit of generosity that, in so many ways, has enriched and strengthened our programs, ministries, and activities and greatly fostered vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.
On behalf of Msgr. Marren, Fr. Bill, Fr. Colin, our Deacons, and staff, I wish you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy, and holy New Year. May you experience the wonder of the Lord’s peace and joy in many profound and mysterious ways.
It is a privilege to serve you and our faith community.