December 23, 2022
Dear Friends,
If you read this week’s bulletin already, I made mention of the fact that I have been referencing Christmas movies a lot. Maybe you questioned that, saying to yourself that I haven’t. The truth is, you read things out of order. Or at least you read things out of the presumed normal reading of things. I had all my musings planned out with time to spare. I just needed to get the words on paper or honestly in this day the words into Word.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a great movie to watch as a family. Sometimes one can argue that it is great to watch as an adult as well. We get such a great reminder of the Spirit of Christmas or more so the charitable heart. Anyway, there is a song that Kermit sings (see I even referenced another Muppet song too, Sorry!), One more sleep ‘til Christmas. The opening verse tells us there is magic in the air, the world is at its best, when people love and care. Isn’t this what Christmas is about and how we should be living our lives daily and not just during the Christmas or Easter season, but throughout the year?
Sure, the various holidays remind us of the call, but we sometimes need to be more vigilant in our daily lives. How can we do that? There is a simple way that helps us in trying to be more aware of the call, coming to mass, not just periodically, but weekly. We all know the phrase Keep Christ in Christmas. Someone shared a different take on that quote with me recently, Keep Mass in Christmas. While I like what my friend and others were trying to do, which is bring the focus on the liturgy, the Eucharist, and distract a little from the more secular parts of the Christmas season. My fear is that comments like keeping mass in Christmas encourages the mentality that we only need to come to church for Christmas or Easter and every other week doesn’t matter as much.
Obviously, over the years, you know my belief on the importance of the liturgy on a daily/weekly basis. While sure we can use the phrase “high holy days” or something similar, the reality is that while there may be a little more enthusiasm in the church and décor, the overall message and celebration has not changed. We hear the Good News. We receive the Eucharist. We are called to take what we have heard and go out into the world.
As we gather as a parish family to celebrate Christmas, as we look at the magic and weird icy rain in the air, as we get ready for that one more sleep until Christmas, pause and reflect on the joy of the season. In addition, think about how you can take the joy into your daily life and use it to deepen your relationship with Christ throughout the entire year, not just this Saturday or Sunday.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Fr. Brian
P.S. Our Christmas Eve mass schedule: 12/24 there is a 5:00 pm w/pageant before, 7:00 pm, and 10:00 pm. On Christmas Day 12/25 there is a 9:30 am and 11:00 am.
*THERE IS NO 8:00 AM MASS on Christmas Day.
P.P.S.
Why can’t penguins fly? They’re not tall enough to be pilots.