Christmas is coming

It is hard to believe, but Christmas is this week. In just a few days, we will officially begin the Christmas season, even though most of the country has been celebrating it for quite a while. Just a reminder, the two 4:00 Masses on Christmas Eve are always the busiest and we are limited in the church and parking. We will have the kids’ choir in the gym with Fr Larry because there is more space in there. We also have a 6:00 and a 10:00pm Mass scheduled for this year; we will have a significant amount of space available for overflow in the gym!

Remember also… Christmas does not end on this Friday the 25th, but it begins! The season of Christmas goes on for a while; the exact date is dependent on a few things. Some would say that the Christmas season goes on until the feast of the Epiphany (January 6th or we celebrate it on the 2nd this year), but most would say that it goes to the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 9th), which is the date we will use here. Still others would argue that it goes until the Feast of the Presentation (February 2nd). No matter how long it is celebrated, it is a wonderful season, a season of joy and peace, and while the time with family and friends, the food and drinks, and the gift giving and receiving is wonderful remember why we are celebrating in this time. During this Christmas season let us be mindful of the greatest gift that we have been and ever will be given: Christ Jesus.

Take some time to reflect on the story. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled… And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

God bless,
Fr. Ken