How are your preparations for Christmas going?<\/p>\n
What comes to mind when you read the question?\u00a0 Do you think about the list of gifts you need to buy?\u00a0 Do you think about the food you need to prepare?\u00a0 Do you think about the decorating you need to do?\u00a0 Or do you think about Jesus coming into your life?<\/p>\n
Of course, the shopping, the food, and the decorating are going to be on our minds.\u00a0 They are real tangible things that need to be done.\u00a0 We do need to think about them.\u00a0 The problem becomes when we spend all our time thinking about these things and don’t think about what Christmas really is about.<\/p>\n
Isn’t that the problem that we can face throughout the year?\u00a0 We want to spend some time praying with Jesus but there just seems to be too many things going on.\u00a0 It happens to all of us.\u00a0 But time spent with Jesus is time well spent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This week I missed a meeting of priests in New York City because of the weather.\u00a0 At the time I was supposed to fly out of Rochester, the New York City airports shut down due to high winds.\u00a0 Meantime, it was snowing hard at the Rochester Airport.\u00a0 So, after waiting for just over three hours and no hope of departing anytime soon, I cancelled my flight.\u00a0 I am sorry I missed the meeting as I take my commitments very seriously.\u00a0 Yet, I have to admit it gave me the chance to get caught up on some things and to take some time to relax with Jesus.<\/p>\n
Yes, we are a busy people.\u00a0 Sometimes we substitute work for time with Jesus.\u00a0 I have heard of people who work in ministry who say that their work is their prayer.\u00a0 Yes, if you are doing ministry, then it is part of your relationship with Jesus but work is not the same\u00a0as prayer.\u00a0 Prayer is about\u00a0conversation with God, both talking and listening.<\/p>\n
Make Jesus a priority for Christmas.\u00a0 Spend some time with Jesus in prayer.<\/p>\n
Peace,<\/p>\n
Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How are your preparations for Christmas going? What comes to mind when you read the question?\u00a0 Do you think about the list of gifts you need to buy?\u00a0 Do you think about the food you need to prepare?\u00a0 Do you think about the decorating you need to do?\u00a0 Or do you think about Jesus coming …<\/p>\n