Letter from the Pastor
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December 19, 2021We have entered into the last week of Advent; this year we can celebrate the entire week. The Fourth Sunday of Advent is always dedicated to Our Blessed Lady and the readings deal with the role of our Blessed Lady. Today St. Luke paints the beautiful scene of the Visitation. St. Elizabeth describes Our Lady as the first disciple; the first evangelizer who believed that God's word to her would be fulfilled, and then brings the Word to others. Mary's faith enabled her to allow God to work through her so that salvation might come to everyone.
For the past 4 weeks, I hope you had the opportunity to spiritually prepare for the Season of Christmas! The Season of Advent is a time for genuine and directed preparation for Jesus’ Birth, the Divine entrance of Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, into our world. In this most awesome of mysteries, God actually became a man, a human. It is revealing to note that, according to ancient Church tradition, whenever this mystery of the Incarnation is mentioned, the head is bowed in reverence, or one genuflects.
In this final week we should prepare the “stable” of our souls and hearts to receive the infant Jesus. How do we do that? We must offer the Babe of Bethlehem a clean place to dwell. Is my life and my heart sufficiently clean and in order to receive worthily the Holy Child?
Tomorrow, from 11AM-1PM and again from 6-8PM, Reconciliation Advent Monday will take place in all the Churches throughout the Archdioceses of New York and Brooklyn. It’s time for a good confession. The dust of life accumulates and covers everything we try to say or do. It’s time to clean out the little things, or the major ones. In other words, go to confession! Advent is an ideal time to do some gentle but serious cleaning.
Another way to prepare for the arrival of the Babe is to offer a place of peace and quiet. Peace and tranquility is essential. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season, we still can be peaceful and tranquil. When we look into our hearts, what do we find there? A quiet, peaceful, serene place or a battlefield of anger, wrath, pride, lust, gluttony?
Finally, we need to nourish ourselves with the word of God and the Sacraments. So often, Christmas comes and goes so quickly, we don’t have the time or energy to reflect what Christmas really is. We are so busy and stressed preparing the meals, the gifts and decorations, we stress out in shopping or waiting for the UPS or Amazon truck to arrive, the kids see you stressed so they become stressed and need more attention, you are short with your spouse etc. Then you realize you have to get to Church on Christmas, get the kids dressed and out the door, if you want a seat you have to get there an hour before Mass starts. So instead of thinking peaceful Merry Christmas thoughts, all you can think or say is Bah Humbug or worse!
It doesn’t have to be and it shouldn’t be this way. Instead Christmas is a time to be thankful for God’s first Gift of Christmas, His only begotten Son, who came to us to show us how to be happy, who gave His life for us. That is the reason for Merry Christmas. So use this last week of Advent to spiritually prepare for Christmas, to be like our Blessed Lady, to ponder all these things in your peaceful, serene and pure heart.
Those who won’t be with us on Christmas, I wish you a Happy and Blessed Christmas Day and Season. Safe travels, and we will see you soon!
Christmas Mass Schedule
Please note the changes in Christmas Eve Mass schedule.
All the Masses will be offered in our Church.
Christmas Eve: 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 10:00PM.
Masses on Christmas Day: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 and Noon.
There is no evening Mass on Christmas.
The following day, Sunday, December 26, is the Feast of the Holy Family.
The Mass Schedule is 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:30 AM and Noon.
There is no evening Mass on December 26th.
