Rejoice!

My dear Friends in Christ,

Welcome to Christmas! For most of us, it is a season of Joy, giving, lights, color, sound, time with family, and rejoicing. It is also a time to thank God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us. It also includes a sad reminder of loved ones lost, or memories of better times. Jesus came into this not so perfect world where emotions run from extreme joy to great sorrow. Some may have great times while others endure great suffering. Jesus came for all of this, and for all of us! Today’s feast reflects the importance of the INCARNATION and how it also points to Jesus’ entire life, death and resurrection—the mystery of redemption—and not just the joy of the birth of a Savior. Many are still concerned that the world has lost its focus when it comes to Christmas. Merry Christmas signs have been replaced Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. The day no longer has the reverence thanks to the commercialism of the holiday. Prayer gives way to sales at the mall. Many wonder if it’s nothing more than a secular holiday. Where getting gifts signifies greed, and joy and hope have been replaced by stress anxiety. And through all of this, today is born a Savior, the newborn baby who cries and cannot speak, whose first words are yet to come, whose teaching and preaching will change the world. Rejoice! I say it again, Rejoice!

On behalf of Father Stas’, Father Devlin, and the entire staff here at Corpus Christi, may you all have a Happy, Holy, and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

May God Bless You All,

Father John