Journey with us this Advent through the darkest days of the year to the Light of Christ’s birth.
Read daily Advent reflections, by Fr. Gagné
The dictionary defines the word ordinary as something that is customary, usual or familiar. What is familiar or common to Christians is the weekly celebration of the paschal mystery. This mystery recalls the life, death and most importantly the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The first day of the week becomes for the believer a day of play and worship. Through play and worship Sunday is in itself a sacrament of the redeemed.
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Dear Parishioners,
The accounts of the resurrection talk about seeing and believing, and not seeing Jesus. The garden account tells us that Mary did not recognize Jesus; she thought he was the gardener. Thomas could not bring himself to believe that he was alive, and had appeared to the others. A week later, he saw and believed. The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize the stranger that walked along with them and entered their conversation. And the gospel tells us; they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.
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Dear Parishioners,
Although we were taught as Christians, to believe in one God in three divine persons, the actual practice of our faith sometimes suggests that for many, God is an old man in a white beard, who judges, punishes, and keeps a record of every mistake we make. This God is to be feared, appeased, and at best approached with great caution.
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During the past 2000 years there have been so many advances in science, medicine, language, and technology. And yet, when I heard the cheers and applause for passing late term abortion legislation at the state capital, I thought of the crowds of people who cheered for those who died in the arenas of the Roman Empire, simply to provide entertainment. Some also died because of their refusal to worship the pagan god’s of the empire.
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When the devil left Jesus in the desert, after his third temptation, the gospel writer writes, “when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” (Luke 4:12) There is implied here that the devil wasn’t finished with Jesus, and that he would come back to tempt him again. It was only after the resurrection that Jesus defeated the devil. The devil, however, has never given up tempting the followers of Jesus.
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Dear Parishioners,
Winter is to nature, what spirituality is to the Christian. In winter all life in nature goes dormant, so that during this period of rest nature can renew itself in preparation for spring. Without winter there cannot be any spring. If my fig trees were not allowed to go dormant and rest, they could never produce their delicious figs in the summer.
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Dear Parishioners,
The writer, Carl Sandburg wrote, “a baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.” A baby is the sign God chose to reveal his simplicity. God makes himself small for us because he does not want us to be overwhelmed by his strength. In this act of Mary giving birth, he takes away our fear of his greatness and asks only for our love. We respond to God’s love in the holy child by stooping down, as did the shepherds, when they stopped what they were busy about, and humbled themselves to stoop and peer into the cave at Bethlehem.
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