Dear friends,
The time of our waiting continues. But we will arrive at the scene very soon. Please remember, on Tuesday, December 20, we have a spectacular opportunity to meditatively reflect on the important scenes leading up to Christmas through our “Stations of the Crib.” It has proved to be a very healing and comforting program. Please mark it in your calendar.
Please also note that we will have several Masses for Christmas:
On Saturday, December 24, 2022 we will have Masses at: 4 p.m. (Children’s Mass), 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and Midnight.
On Sunday, December 25, 2022 we will have Masses at 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
The prophet Isaiah’s prophecy that “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” is coming to be true as we enter the 4th Sunday of Advent. The story is getting close to reaching its climax. The real characters involved in this story -- namely Joseph and Mary -- must face a real dilemma. How is it all going to be unveiled? Matthew in his gospel narrates this puzzle, particularly as the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that all will be fine because God is involved in this story. Once Joseph knows of the reassuring presence of God as the author of this immensely important story of our salvation, things start to find their place, and the puzzle starts to be solved. Joseph and Mary, as they enter the final phase preceding the birth of this child who is to be named Jesus, meaning “God saves his people,” entrust everything to God their protector and deliverer.
As we ourselves are entering into the frenzied phase of Christmas preparations, let us not forget to take a little more time to savor the sweetness of waiting. There is something about waiting that we are not confident of. There are fears and doubts and anxieties that can ruin this last phase of our waiting. Perhaps this litany, which I shared last Sunday, might be useful. I found this litany at the Rejoice Program.
The Litany of Waiting
Petition Response
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
From the fear of waiting, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of uncertainty, From the fear of failure, From the fear of change,
From the fear that your promises will not come true, From the fear that my suffering has no meaning,
From the fear that my suffering will not bear fruit, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of my weaknesses,
From the fear that your grace will not be sufficient, From the fear that your will is not from my good,
From the fear that your plans will not fulfill the desires of my heart, From the belief that I wait alone,
From the belief that I am waiting because I have done something wrong,
From the belief that I will wait forever without resolution,
From the belief that I am waiting because you will never respond,
From the belief that you have abandoned me in my waiting,
From the taunt of temptation and discouragement that whisper to me while I am waiting,
When it is hard to wait joyfully, Jesus, I will wait with you.
When my prayers seem unanswered, When my struggles are overwhelming, In my joys,
In my sorrows,
In the ordinary events of daily life, In times of celebration,
When I feel stuck,
When discerning big decisions, When I am tired,
When I am sick, When I am uncertain,
When no one else will wait with me, Through the pilgrimage of my life,
Prayer: Son of God, Emmanuel, you are my hope. In all circumstances help me to wait with you, on you, in you, and through you. Amen.
Have a blessed week! With love,
Fr. John