Merry Christmas to you all! I know some people are thinking, “enough already!” and that is because we forget that the Christmas Season begins Christmas Eve December 24th. However, being bombarded with Christmas decorations and “Holiday Muzak” in the grocery stores and department stores, and homes in our neighborhoods since Halloween, we forget when this Season actually is.
A recent Gallup poll stated that “Americans say Christmas has become too commercialized, with not enough emphasis on religion.” I would never want that to be the case among us as a Catholic Community. We strive always to focus on the seasons of the Liturgical Calendar and how it impacts our “inner” spiritual lives.
The Christmas Season comes to a close as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. This feast brings us into the public ministry of Jesus and demonstrates for us how we are to live our own baptismal commitments as children of God and Disciples of Jesus Christ. Through these early Sunday’s of Ordinary Time, we witness the ways that Jesus enters into the lives of those around him, calling us to do the same. We need to enter into the lives of all peoples and recognize that our world is bigger than Hopedale and even larger that the U.S.
How encouraged I have been to read the Pastoral Letter “Night will be no more: Pastoral letter to the people of God in El Paso” by their Bishop, Mark J Seitz https://www.hopeborder.org/nightwillbenomore It was written in response to the El Paso massacre on August 3rd 2019 where 22 people were left dead and dozens more were traumatized at the El Paso Walmart. It clearly states how we as fellow disciples of Jesus Christ have an obligation to work toward inclusion and work against hate and white supremacy. The same message is offered by the Antidefamation League as the rise in anti-Semitism increases. Fires in Australia, flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia, demonstrations for justice and democracy in Hong Kong, the tinderbox of the Mid-east; all our part of our faith journey. In the midst of all this we seek to allow the light of Christ to shine and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide, protect and defend all as this year unfolds.
May God’s Holy Spirit guide us as we engage with all our brothers and sisters of faith.