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Dear Parishioners,
As children, we played the game hide and seek. Everyone is told to hide and then after a few moments, the one person chosen yells: “Ready or not here I come!”
Advent is a liturgical hide and seek. God calls to us that He is coming, whether we are ready or not, and will never give up the search, even though there are many hiding places in our contemporary culture.
During Advent, we once again search for our savior. We listen to the Advent voices of the prophets, Isaiah, King David, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul and Mary of Nazareth. They help us put together a composite picture of the one who loves us – you and I - the worthy and unworthy.
The prophet Isaiah helps us recognize our guilt. Yes, we are sinners, but we need not feel trapped. God works with the messiness of our lives – like the clay in the potter’s hand. St. Paul assures us that our Lord Jesus Christ is faithful and will help us to “stay firm to the end.” St. Mark's parable to “Stay Awake” reminds us to be reflective and aware of God's working our lives, being self aware of the good and weak- nesses – to be integrated is the heart of the spiritual life.
Advent is a hopeful time—we are searching for God and God is searching for us! We believe in a God that forgives and wants us to be whole and full of joy. Our Advent theme this year is taken from St Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians 3:16:
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.”
PEACE
The night sky held its breath
When the Prince of Peace was born.
Peace to your heart,
Peace to your family,
Peace to the world. Peace... more than ever...peace.
Rooted in the hope found in Christ, we can recognize the good that is with us and further integrate our lives so that we can find an inner peace and then be able help others who seek the Christ this Advent.
Fr. Mike Meany
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