Search
From the Pastor's Desk: Dec. 5, 2021
-
On this Second Sunday of Advent, we are preparing for the fuller coming of Christ in our lives and in the world. Today we listen to John the Baptist who prepares the way of the Lord by preaching repentance, a change of heart that will prepare us for the coming of Christ. We need to be people full of the Spirit of Christ. John the Baptist's appearance in the Gospel cuts to the heart: "Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance." He calls us to prepare the way of the Lord, make paths smooth and straight, that they may be roads leading to God. But what is the “way” leading to God for us? It is a life of holiness and devotion. It is our daily conversion of heart, repentance and forgiveness. It is to remove the rocks of stubbornness from our life, to smooth the path of hatred and selfishness, to make straight the destructive force of sin and temptation. It is the way that leads to peace, love, justice and freedom. It is our faithful life as Christ’s disciples to bring the Good News to all around us and through our witness to call others to life as disciples of Jesus.
The “way” of the Lord begins now, especially during this Advent season as we pray to be awake and alert… that through our faithful everyday living, Christ may make His presence in the world that so much needs His witness.
This week along with John the Baptist, we have a special celebration of Mary with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, December 8 - a holy day of obligation. In the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception, we read: “We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful.”
Mary is a wonderful "patron" of Advent. She invites us during this season to keep vigil for her Son's coming as she herself awaited His birth in history.
“The model of this spiritual attitude, of this way of being and of this journey of life, is the Virgin Mary. A simple village girl, who carries all the hope of God in her heart! In her womb the hope of God took flesh, became man, became history: Jesus Christ. Her Magnificat is the song of the People of God on its journey, and of all men and women who hope in God, in the power of his mercy. Let us be guided by her, who is a mother, a mamma, and knows how to guide us. Let us be guided by her during this time of waiting and active vigilance.” -Pope Francis
Next week we begin our Advent Mission. Please mark your calendars to participate in the Advent Mission- December 12-15, 2021, and our Parish Advent Penance Service on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:00 pm, so we can prepare our hearts for the upcoming Feast of Christmas.
For most of us, the season of Christmas is also a special time of giving. We prepare many gifts for our families, relatives, and friends. There is a tremendous fulfillment in giving! I would like for you to consider your parish of St. Luke and offer a special Christmas gift in response to stewardship as the way of life.
The call to prepare the way for the Lord is to make something beautiful for God with our lives. “God dwells in us. It doesn’t matter where you are as long as you are clean of heart. Clean of heart means openness, that complete freedom, that detachment that allows you to love God without hindrance, without obstacles. When sin comes into our lives that is a personal obstacle between us and God. Sin is nothing but slavery.” -St. Mother Teresa
May Mary, the Immaculate Conception, intercede for us so we can have a blessed Advent!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
