Happy Second Sunday of Advent!
We’re back to my favorite liturgical season of the year. It comes like a whirlwind on the heels of Thanksgiving and is with us for only four short weeks. As happened last year at this time, I feel like I’ve been in and out of Hobby Lobby just slowly buying up all of their Christmas inventory, ha. I love the decorations of the season, and now that the Lord has seen fit to name me as a pastor, I’m envisioning, year by year, how the beautiful dreams for our church spaces can gradually come into fuller fruition. Progress is always wonderful to see. Last Sunday afternoon, Fr. Christian and I managed to put up and decorate the Christmas tree in the rectory. A few garlands over the lintels, some tabletop Christmas figurines here and there, lights along the rooftop, and bam—we are officially festive for the season.
Two weeks ago, I sped through all the weekend homilies at both parishes for our diocesan campaign for Catholic education, and I’m grateful to you, our parish families, who continue to show your willingness to offer sacrifices for the Lord in support of this mission. Sometimes for me also it can seem like a lot to ask, with all the various requests for material and financial means. Like the hungry mouths of our children at the dinner table, in this life we are continually stretched by the needs and responsibilities which require our never-ending attention.
In my own life, the Lord is patiently teaching me how spiritually important they are. My faithfulness to the “never-ending” matters—whether large or small, daily or periodic—is in His will for my sanctification. I’m trying to keep in mind how the day of my personal judgment will unfold. I want to make continued progress where lack of maturity, woundedness, or selfishness still bind me and cause me to draw back. I want to go from unwilling-to-sacrifice toward willing-to-sacrifice. Then I want to go from willing-to-sacrifice toward love-of-sacrifice. Jesus, help me!
Advent is a time for all of us, my brothers and sisters, to let the love of Jesus teach us and guide us further along the way of our salvation. Everywhere we look, including in the mirror, we are watching all people go through life for the first time. Everybody, no matter our age, is still in some stage of, “I’m figuring it out,” still in some stage of, “I have more yet to go.” We are privileged to walk together, pray for each other, provide for each other, and strive as a community of disciples to be holier than we were last year. Let us make good use of these days to choose the self-sacrifice which brings good to others.
Lastly, mark your calendars for Friday, December 12th at 6 p.m. St. Robert will be hosting an Advent Lessons and Carols service at the church as part of our 24-hour Advent adoration. All are welcome—come and go as you please—and enjoy this 19th-century Christmas tradition of prayer and hymnody. The service will be about one hour in length. This year, I wanted to offer my own gift of music and so will be the accompanying pianist for our cantors, which I am excited for! Hopefully we will see you there as we spend this special time with our Lord, who has come among us in the flesh to be with us always.
Fr. Brian