Pastor’s Letter: December 1, 2024

Pastor’s Letter: December 1, 2024

29 Nov 2024 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Peace to you all!  It is hard to believe how fast the time has flown by…here we are at the beginning of the Advent season. I really enjoy Advent! Although the hectic nature of this time of year can be a challenge, I always enjoy this “purple” time of preparation. One of the most common questions I’ve heard through the years: “Hey Father…why can’t the Church get in gear and get the Christmas trees set up?!?!” Given our time and what we see in the world around us, I certainly understand the question. Since our secular surroundings begin celebrating Christmas at Thanksgiving time (or sometimes even earlier—several people noted Christmas décor up in stores before Halloween), why is it that in the Catholic Church we wait until just before Christmas comes?

As you might expect, there is a great reason. For our Jewish ancestors in faith, every special celebration had a specific time of preparation. This was to help get the people’s hearts ready for the celebration to come. The bigger the celebration, the more time they prepared. We do this today for many special spiritual occasions: before weddings (couples meet with the priest a number of times), before Mass (remember the one hour fast and time of prayer before Mass starts?), before Christmas and Easter (Advent and Lent), etc. Of course, we also do a lot of preparation for regular human things.  Sports teams practice before the big game; we make a grocery list before going shopping; we check the weather and pack a suitcase before a trip, etc. We prepare because it helps us get more out of the experience. If we were going to visit Grandpa Snowman up in Minnesota and only packed shorts and a tee-shirt, we could miss out on a lot of family fun because we have to stay near the fireplace the whole time!

In the spiritual life, the same is true. Does it ever seem like you “missed Christmas” or “you don’t get much out of Mass?”  The Fathers of the Church would ask you…” What is your preparation like?”  Is your December a frantic month of parties and presents and bargain hunting? Is your time before Mass a mad rush to the shower, combing your hair in the car and trying to get settled before the opening hymn ends?

The Church understands how our lives can get so hectic. That is why we have the season of Advent. Advent is properly observed with some fasting, prayers, and meditation to prepare our hearts to welcome Christ. Also, Advent is a time when minds are directed to the second coming of Christ in glory. This season, although penitential, is not without a spirit of joy, hope, and anticipation. This is because we know and believe that Jesus the Messiah came into the world to save us, and we know and believe that Jesus will come again to establish his Kingdom in full. So, we remember with great joy the first coming of Christ, and we stir our hearts with eager anticipation of His second coming. To help prepare our hearts for Jesus, the liturgy in Advent becomes a little simpler—this helps to remind us that we must clear out the “busyness” in our hearts, so that they can be fully open to receiving our Lord.

If we make a great preparation for Advent, then we are ready to “get more out of Christmas.” I’m always amazed that after a good couple weeks of Advent, the Christmas tree looks and smells so much better, the ornaments are more beautiful, the carols and hymns more uplifting, the gifts (especially the gift of Jesus Christ come into the world) are more meaningful. Blessed Advent for you and your family!

In Christ,

Father Luke