The twelve days of Christmas are upon us and we celebrate the brith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My normal Friday letter is a Monday addition because of the work and time needed to set up the outdoor celebration I did not adequately allot my time to be able to write and reflect on the joy of Christmas. The good thing about this on my part is the ability to now look back and share some of the joys and blessings this odd and strange Christmas gave to me as a gift.
God does not abandon us…Christmas still occurred amidst the dire warning and the stern gazes…Christmas still occurred. In speaking with many people who came to Christmas Mass and then the Masses of the following weekend a trend appeared very quickly. Christmas was with family. Christmas didn’t involve traveling or much visiting of other members of the family. There was lot of “zooming” and video chatting. And in the end there was Christmas with the reading of the Christmas story, the sharing of memories, the exchange of a gift and the family not bustling about but enjoying the day.
The waves from the sunroofs…this happened at almost every Mass…one of our younger parishioners would appear, head and shoulders sticking out of the roof of the car waving, wishing others a Merry Christmas, the peace of Jesus Christ and a smile of joy and blessing to everyone who could see them. From my vantage point at the altar it was the reminder of who we are as a community. Young and old, families and singles, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ gathered together in joy and blessing.
Help from friends…we are not in this alone…no matter how much social distancing, isolation and keeping apart we are asked to do…we are not in this alone. From Wednesday afternoon until Christmas day on Friday, brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow parishioners and priests stepped forward to set-up the worship spaces and prepare the environment for the coming holy days of celebration. I slept fitfully on the night of the 23rd wondering and worrying about how we would get all the things that needed to be done finished by the time people began showing up for our 2:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Walking into the church that morning I was shocked and overjoyed to see a Christmas elf had been in the church that night and had completed most of the work in the building. Next was the joy and innovative creativity from those who set up the outside worship space. Taking what we had (normally only used for inside) and finding ways to make it work so that we could honor our God with a beautiful and holy prayer space. And finally a brother priest, knowing my stress stepping in to celebrate with our community. Thanks Fr. Randy!
St. Joseph…”The greatness of Saint Joseph is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he placed himself, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, “at the service of the entire plan of salvation”.” (#1 Patris Corde) I used this short sentence from our Holy Father Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter as the foundation for my homilies on Christmas day. It was the refocusing of my heart not on simply getting through the day, but to be more like St. Joseph in being of service to God’s plan of salvation. Looking at the day not as an endurance test but as a blessing of life to be given and shared with others our out of love.
Thank you for all your prayers and blessings over the past year. Just a reminder…God does not abandon us…because we are a community of love…full of friendship were we journey together…at the service of God’s salvation.
God Bless
Fr. Mark