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December 1, 2025Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths,”John the Baptist exhorts us in today’s gospel passage from Matthew. How do we prepare for the coming of Christ, the celebration of Christmas? Advent is a season of preparation as Christians, but how do we prioritize our faith when our life is already full and sometimes hectic. Quietly the pressures may mount during this season when we desire to bring a deeper sense of meaning to this holy season, and yet our life is full with family responsibilities, financial concerns, work expectations, school activities and sports, holiday preparations—all within the days that are getting shorter. Distractions from the holiness that God seeks within each of us. Most likely we will not slow the pace of life down, nor step away from the various responsibilities, but the possibilities of ‘holiness’is nonetheless before us in the moments and circumstances within these four weeks of Advent.We can awaken our soul to the holiness that surrounds our days—the moments—and the people within. Christ comes to us every single day. In the quiet of prayer, however brief, whether late at night, before a meal, a period of solitude, sharing in the Eucharist. Christ comes to us within moments with family, shared time with friends, an interaction with a co-worker, the person next to you in the pew, or the individual in line next you at a checkout counter. Christ comes to us when we share in the Eucharist, taking the risk to receive healing and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Even within the people we struggle with, the strangers we pass by, Christ comes to us. In the moments we rush through and the moments we wish were different, Christ comes to us.In the people we love..
But if we move too fast, preoccupied with our ‘responsibilities’…we will miss Him. Our season begins with the holiday lights, the trees decorated, endless Hallmark seasonal movies, the Christmas music of Bing and many other singers, cards received and sent. Yet, the true blessing of this season will be the opportunities of Christ’s presence unveiled at a moment or time we cannot predict. Could it be, at a certain moment in this busy Advent Season Christ is telling us to“Look up; take a breath; God is closer than you think.Our preparation during this Advent Season is a willingness to be aware of those opportunities that come at a moment's notice, when life is most hectic. As a priest pointed out: notice the blessings, we often overlook; be open to God’s nudge in our conscience or in a moment of kindness; hear Christ’s whisper in the middle of busyness or stress; and remember that we have a purpose in God’s eyes even on days when we feel overwhelmed. God doesn’t wait for us when we think we are ready, less busy. He will meet us where we are at any given moment, in the chaos, the exhaustion, the pressure, within our generosity; indeed, in the imperfect moments of our ordinary life.“Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world.This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what's really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.”(Xavier University)Next weekend we will host a retired priest who will preside at each Mass, specifically sharing about Unbound Ministry. Unbound is an international nonprofit based in Kansas City, Kansas, and founded by lay Catholics in the early 1980’s, grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. Unbound offers a practical way for sponsors, donors and volunteers to make a personal and direct impact with a specific child and family, youth or elder on their path out of poverty. Unbound Ministry will not ask for donations; rather, they will offer individuals from our parish the opportunity to sponsor a specific child from another country. Especially in this Advent Season when we have been blessed with so much in our own culture, his message will resonate a deeper calling of our faith— whether or not you choose to sponsor a child— as we approach the birth of Christ, Christmas.Thank you to the parents whose son or daughter received their First Reconciliation last Sunday. Your support of a child’s faith will be the foundation that cannot be taken away as they grow older. As a parish we are blessed by your presence and faith shared within our Eucharist and parish life.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI:“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”(Dr. Seuss)