Dear Community of Saint Joseph's:

 

Christmas!

 

How is it possible that we just had Thanksgiving?  

 

In the next four weeks there are menus to plan, gifts to purchase, wrap and deliver,  Christmas cards to be acquired and addressed and sent.  Homilies to prepare, bulletin letters to write and my first Christmas in a new parish to worry about.   If I seriously consider everything that needs to happen in the next four weeks, I feel a full blown anxiety attack coming my way!   

 

Of course, only the last few items of the aforementioned list have anything to do with God.  When did preparing for Christmas become such a marathon?  And more importantly why do we do this to ourselves?  It seems to me that the stress of the holidays only serve to create expectations that will inevitably disappoint everyone involved.  Although all the stores and television shows and radio stations are celebrating Christmas full tilt, we in the church must first prepare for this great feast by entering into the season of Advent.  

 

Advent is that time in which we prepare for the commemoration of the Incarnation and look forward to Christ's Second Coming at the end of time.  These four weeks are meant to be a spiritual time of inner reflection.  I would propose to you that we are often let down and even depressed at Christmas because we have neglected the proper spiritual preparation necessary for an authentic celebration of Christmas day.   

 

Please do not allow yourselves to be seduced by the media message that indicates that to prepare for Christmas is to get more stuff.  When you come to church throughout the Advent season the readings of the day will guide you into a recognition of the true meaning of this season.  The lighting of the candles on the wreath, the singing of "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel," the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the colors and focus of our liturgical celebrations will help you to slow down and prepare your heart and soul for what is, and what must change, in our lives with God and with one another.  

 

So stop worrying about everything that you need to do before Christmas.  Come to church, pray throughout your day, and dedicate significant amounts of time to the feeding of your soul.   That is what the season of Advent is meant to do for you.  Participate in that and on Christmas day the singing of "Joy to the World," will have an entirely new meaning.  

 

And the meaning is: Peace on Earth!

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor