Parochial Administrator’s Corner

Week of December 22, 2024

Meditation on the Gospel:

On this, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear Elizabeth declare to her cousin, Mary, “blessed is the fruit of your womb.” As Mary generously travels to be with Elizabeth who is expecting a child in her old age, Elizabeth recognizes that an even more generous gift is about to be born: the Savior of the World! As you have been busily finding gifts for your loved ones, I invite you to recall that our gift giving is in imitation of our God’s generous gift to us – his Son, whose coming we eagerly await during this Advent Season.

While he was with us, Jesus offered himself to us under the forms of bread and wine in the Eucharist and to the Father on the cross in expiation for our sins. In dying for us, he overcame the final effect of sin – death as he rose from the dead. His Resurrection allows us to be raised to eternal life with him. And, before he returned to his rightful place at the RIGHT hand of God, he promised the Holy Spirit of God to continue to lead and guide us. Yes, Jesus, the Son of God who became the son of Mary, has, showered us with gifts and we are blessed every day of our lives as we benefit from them.

This is why it is so important to celebrate the sacraments, for through them, we are reminded of God’s great generosity to us and are, in turn, strengthened and encouraged to share of ourselves with those around us. In the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council remind us that our Lord, who came once in history to accomplish his great work of salvation, and will come again at the end of time to lead all the faithful to our heavenly Father, remains in our midst, especially through the sacraments:
To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, “the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross”, but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in all the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Yes, our coming together to worship God is the most sacred action we can perform as we gratefully acknowledge all that God has done for us, especially through his Son, Jesus. And, it guides and directs our daily lives in imitation of Christ’s great work. As we come to the end of another Advent Season, let us give ourselves time to meditate on this great mystery and so prepare ourselves ever more deeply to receive our Lord as we celebrate his coming on Christmas in just a few days. Remember, the very word “Christmas” means “Celebration of the Messiah.” MERRY CHRISTMAS!