I want to thank all of who made our Christmas Party a great success. Thanks goes out to the committee led by Annie Tardy and to Deacon Mel for playing his trumpet and leading our Christmas Carols. The 12 Days of Christmas are still ringing in my head. I’m still not sure what a partridge in a pear tree does. The Pot Luck Food was great. Thank you for that and thanks too to our little artists who painted the ornaments for the tree. Once again, the good times rolled.
Now we are facing a lot of Masses. There are our usual Sunday Masses today, followed by two tomorrow for the Vigil with the Children’s Pageant at 3:30 PM followed by Mass at 4 PM. The Choir will have its Christmas concert at 10:30 PM followed by Mass at 11 PM. There will also be a Christmas Mass at 10:30 AM on the 25th.
I also want to wish a very Merry Christmas to the many parishioners who told me they will be away with family for Christmas. I hope and pray your trips will be safe and your visits will be really great. I’ll wish the rest of you a Merry Christmas at the Vigils or on Christmas Day itself!
In our first reading today the Prophet Micah, reminds the people of Israel of the little town of Bethlehem. He reminds them that it was the birth place of King David and will also be the birthplace of the coming Messiah. The town had always been too small to be great, but it was great! God often chooses the small and the weak to show us his power and mercy.
In today’s Gospel, we have Mary, pregnant herself visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist and is filled with the Holy Spirit at Mary’s voice. She gives us part of the prayer we use so often: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
In our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews we hear: “When Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, “As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”
Jesus became one of us at Christmas. His mission was to do the will of the Father. Our mission is the same. We are to love God above everything else and our neighbor as ourselves.
On the 26ththe Church celebrates St. Steven, The First Martyr. He was one of the seven deacons of the Acts of the Apostles.
On the 27ththe Church celebrates Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. He wrote a lot that is in the Bible, thee Letters, the book of Revelation and his Gospel.
On the 28ththe Church celebrates the Holy Innocents. These were the children Herod had killed when he tried to kill Jesus, who had fled into Egypt.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and mass shootings.
A Father Tolton Prayer:Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.