Here Comes Jesus!
Advent's fourth Sunday
Dear Friends,
This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Christmas is right around the corner!
Are you ready? That's a question I take on in my article for this week's bulletin.
How do you think Advent went? It was a bit of a mixed bag for me. But look, Christmas is coming, ready or not.
And that's where we pick up our Gospel reading this weekend:
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Jesus is on his way. Joseph's preparations are a bit jumbled.
This is remarkable. I mean, if I were God, I wouldn't have run the risk of divorce. Heck, I'd try to take the human element out of it completely.
But that's the whole point. God LOVES the human element; it's what he takes on when he becomes a man. He's not afraid of our mess. In fact, you'd have to see he delights in the ups and downs of our everyday existence.
God is more than okay with the fact that we often get it wrong. He'll make good of it, after all. That's what I love about the close of the passage after the angel appears to Joseph in a dream:
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
No hesitation. No hemming and hawing. Just trusting God and following his call. All's well that ends well.
If Advent feels like it was a mixed bag, so be it. By God's grace we'll soon be ready to welcome Christ's coming.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Our Mass schedule for Christmas is:
Tuesday, December 24: 4:00pm, 6:00pm, and midnight (11:30pm Carols)
Wednesday, December 25: 9:00am and 11:15am
PPS The Mass parts we are using for the Advent and Christmas Seasons are linked below:
Kyrie
Gloria (Christmas only)
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fourth Sunday of Advent
