Weekend Wisdom, December 24th, 2023

Last weekend Amberly reflected on having hope and joy in Christmases past and present.

On this 4th Sunday of Advent and this celebration of our Savior’s birth, I’d like to reflect on the power of Christmases present and future. 

God sends Jesus to us every time we read the scriptures and participate in the Mass. Every time my hands call down the Holy Spirit in the liturgy of the Eucharist Jesus comes to us - body, blood, soul and divinity. When we participate in the Mass we are where heaven and earth meet. Jesus gives us his very self to sustain us. Friends, Jesus comes to us here on earth today and all the time.

But that’s not all. Jesus is coming again. Jesus, who reigns in Heaven, who reigns over the Universe, who wants to reign in our hearts, is coming back for us. He wants to be with us forever and His kingdom will reign forever. Handle’s Messiah proclaims it perfectly, “And He shall reign forever and ever!”

But as disciples of Jesus, we don’t have to wait. As followers of Jesus and people who receive the Eucharist, we are able to bring Heaven to earth. Imagine that - we are able to bring the Light of the world into the darkness and to those who are weary. Heaven in this sense isn’t so much a place, but a how: how we as believers choose to become Jesus’ hands and feet. We can shepherd with Christ the King, the Good Shepherd. We are the privileged means - by which Christ – shepherds his people.

How do we do that? Let’s look to our story…our scripture…the Word himself…

·        Did I follow the command of the King today? 

·        Were there people in my path today – who were hungry? Did I feed them? 

·        Were there people in my path who were hungry for my attention? Did I give them a few moments of my time? 

·        Were there people in my path who were thirsty? Did I offer them something to drink? 

·        Were there people in my path who were thirsty for love, kindness, friendship?  Did I respond? 

·        Did God put in my path today someone who is dying of loneliness? 

·        Have I encountered someone who needs to be sheltered from gossip? Or someone who struggles with belief in their self-worth?

·        Do I have the opportunity to visit someone in prison? To help free someone from imprisonment to addiction?  

When we do these concrete things, we make Jesus known and seen in the present and bring the Kingdom of Heaven a little bit closer. When Jesus reigns in us, God’s kingdom is all around us.

Merry Christmas friends.

Peace,

Fr. Mike