I wrote the following for this weekend’s bulletin as we begin Advent.<\/p>\n
Christmas is Coming!<\/p>\n
Notice, the title says Christmas is coming.\u00a0 The Christmas shopping season began Friday but Christmas day is still almost a month away.\u00a0 We see Christmas decorations going up everywhere.\u00a0 Truly, Christmas, as the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, is a time to celebrate.<\/p>\n
And we will celebrate Christmas not just a day but a season.\u00a0 But that season does not begin until we start our Christmas Masses at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.\u00a0 The birth of Jesus is a gift<\/p>\n
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16).<\/p>\n
Imagine it!\u00a0 The son of God became human for us.\u00a0 I literally cannot find the words as I write to express how awesome this is!\u00a0 Jesus was with God but he loved us so much that he was willing to come among us as one of us.\u00a0 Of course, we celebrate Christmas with joy!<\/p>\n
And recognizing the importance of Christmas we do not celebrate Christmas as a single day but as a season.\u00a0 However, as Catholics, our Christmas season does not end with Christmas Day.\u00a0 It begins with Christmas Day!\u00a0 From there the Christmas season continues with feasts of many saints.\u00a0 On the Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate Holy Family Sunday, emphasizes the importance of family by the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the holy family.\u00a0 On December 27th, we celebrate the feast of John the beloved disciple who spent so much time with Jesus.\u00a0 December 28th is the Feast of the Holy Innocents remembering the innocent infants who were killed by Herod because he sought to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16-18).\u00a0 On January 2nd, we will celebrate Epiphany, when the three kings came to the infant Jesus bearing gifts because they recognized his greatness (Matthew 2:1-12).\u00a0 Then, our Christmas season will draw to a close on January 9th with our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord.<\/p>\n
Ok, so Christmas season begins on Christmas day.\u00a0 What are we to do until Christmas?\u00a0 Well, we have a whole season to celebrate before Christmas.\u00a0 It\u2019s called Advent.\u00a0 The word advent means coming or arrival.\u00a0 Christmas is the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.\u00a0 Our season of Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ into the world.<\/p>\n
There are actually three comings of Christ.\u00a0 The first is the coming of Jesus as an infant, that is Christmas Day.\u00a0 The Second Coming will happen at the end of time as we know it.\u00a0 Our gospel reading today points to the Second Coming (are you ready?).\u00a0 Next Sunday, the readings will speak of the first coming of Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, the first coming of Jesus Christ has already happened for us.\u00a0 He performed many miracles and taught us how to live so that we might be ready for the Second Coming.\u00a0 I mentioned a third coming.\u00a0 Christ seeks to come into our lives now.\u00a0 Advent is a special time of preparation for us to focus on readying ourselves for the coming of Jesus.\u00a0 How much time will you spend shopping for Christmas, baking Christmas cookies, and preparing food for the Christmas meal?\u00a0 How about spending some time getting ready for Jesus\u2019 arrival in your heart?<\/p>\n
Peace,<\/p>\n
Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I wrote the following for this weekend’s bulletin as we begin Advent. Christmas is Coming! Notice, the title says Christmas is coming.\u00a0 The Christmas shopping season began Friday but Christmas day is still almost a month away.\u00a0 We see Christmas decorations going up everywhere.\u00a0 Truly, Christmas, as the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, is …<\/p>\n