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Father Barry's December 2009 Pastor Pages
What does the birth of a God's Savior mean for the world? What does it mean to you? You will find below the thoughs of some saints, spiritual writers
and theologians. These are provided to assist you to prayerfully reflect on the meaning of Christmas for all people.
"I myself am very glad that the divine child was born in a stable, because my soul is very much like a stable, filled with strange unsatisfied longings, with
guilt and animal-like impulses, tormented by anxiety, inadequacy and pain. If the Holy One could be born in such a place, the One can be born in me
also. I am not excluded." - Morton Kelsey
"Were Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem born and not in you, you would remain forlorn." - Angelus Silesius (1624-1677 a.d.)
"Jesus comes back into the world when we offer him a dwelling place in our hearts, when we accept his law of love, when we do what Mary did and conceive
Jesus and carry him in us, so that he is able to become the heart of our life...Then he will smile through our eyes and help with our hands and once
again live his redeeming life of the Gospel. Then we shall be the doors, the tens and hundreds of thousands of doors, through which he, the Lord, the Prince
of Peace, God-with-us, will enter his world, his kingdom." - Werenried van Straaten
"Christmas time shows us how small God made himself. Go to the crib and see how small He became, how He lived that total surrender to the full.
We must learn to be that child in complete surrender and trust and joy...Christmas shows us how much heaven appreciates humility, surrender, poverty, because
God himself, who made you and me, became so small, so poor, so humble." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
"It is a custom with many Christians to anticipate the arrival of Christmas...by putting up in their homes a crib to represent the birth of Jesus Christ; but
there are few who think of preparing their hearts, so that the infant Jesus may be born in them...Let us consider how the eternal Word had no other end in
becoming man than to inflame us iwth His divine love." - St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
In his book entitled "Troubled Catholics," Bishop Norbert Gaughan states "the second largest denomination in the United States is composed of fallen away
Catholics." Many of us can probably relate to such a declaration since many of us are acquainted with at least one person (probably more) who no longer
actively practice their Catholic faith. Some of these people are our family members.
Studies reveal there are many reasons why individuals become inactive in the first place. One study conducted by Dean Hoge of teh Catholic University
of America cataloged responses from hundreds of Catholics who were recent converts, dropouts, and returnees. Hoge suggests in his study that 42% of all
Catholics dropout of the Church sometime during their lives; he defines "dropout" as a baptized Catholic who attends Church not more than two times a year
and has been away from regular church attendance withink thet past three years. Hoge's study revealed that there is not just one reason but a variety of reasons
why Catholics become inactive in the Church. This same study also provided reasons why people return to the Church and become active again. I believe
it is very revealing to note that the main reason given for returning to the Church was the influence of other persons (spouse, relatives,
friends, neighbors); 44% of returnees cited this as the main influence for their return to the active practice of the Faith. Another 41% returned because
they feel a void or emptiness in their life.
Sometimes as a parish we can be a bit schizophrenic regarding thsoe who have grown lapse in the Faith. On one hand we talk about how we are desirous of
welcoming back those who have 'fallen away.' On the other hand there is a negative and judgmental attitude towards those who have grown lax in the Faith.
On Thursday we will be celebrating Christmas even Masses which means there will be a whole gaggle of 'lapse' Catholics returning to church. The welcome
or lack of welcome we give them through our kind words and simple actions of hospitality will either be an invitation to return or just another reason
to stay away. Small impression can make all the difference. Christmas is an opportunity for evangelization that we often overlook. A simple look
of recognition, gesture and word of welcome can breakdown years of alienation.
Long ago Jesus taught us that when we give of ourselves in service to others, that it is actually a form of receiving (Acts 20:35). In other words,
it is by giving our life away that we receive life. From a worldly point of view this doesn't seem to make much sense. However, psychology and the
social sciences are now finding Jesus' words ring true. Studies reveal that helping others actually improves a person's health and deepens their quality of life.
Prior to this new research the field of psychology would not admit to the value of altruism. "Altruism" means giving of oneself to another for no other
reason than to help the other person. However, today there is an abundance of evidence in the mental health field that reveals those who regularly
volunteer their time, share themselves with others in need, have more zest for life and an increased life expectancy. Studies on aging indicate that
those who assist others in need, who can share themselves openly, are healthier, happier, and live longer, more productive lives.
This 'giving of ourselves' can take many forms, from providing understanding and comfort, to acts of service, to all forms of doing good for others. But no matter
what form our service takes, it is all the same in the sense the giving of our self to another is an offering of love. The world teaches when we give something
away, we lose it or no longer have it. However, love does not operate this way. Love is the only gift that multiplies the more we give it away. Jesus teaches
us to multiply the gifts entrusted to us in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Jesus' point is that it is in giving that we can truly appreciate
what we ourselves have been given. It is by giving love that we know the value of love. Furthermore, if we do not give, we cannot receive (John 3:27).
The irony is unless we give our gifts away, we lose them. For example, if we have learned a second language but don't use this gift, we will soon lose it. In a
similar fashion, if we don't use or practice our gifts - such as faith, love, hope, compassion, courage, chastity, etc. - we will lose them. Perhaps one
psychologist put it most bluntly when he observed: "If people fail to develop an attitude of giving, they will instead retreat to a health-sapping mentality
of entitlement and self-absorption" (Dr. Richard Johnson/Keys to Spiritual Vitality).
We believe we are made in the image and likeness of God and are beloved children of God redeemed by Christ. We are the gift God is giving to the world. For
us to withhold this gift means we are not allowing ourselves to be channels of God's lvoe or grace in the world. To follow our Christian calling, we give
ourselves away by our acts of service to others. And by doing this, we are given life and God's gifts are multiplied in us.
Last week the Pastor's Page mentioned some activities individuals could do to make the Advent and Christmas season more meaningful and spiritually
fruitful. There are also some family activities that can be done with children to help make Advent a time of spiritual growth.
STRAW FOR THE CRIB: This custom originated in France and helps children to see their efforts as they prepare for the coming of Jesus with many
acts of kindness. First, an empty crib is given a place of honor somewhere in the home, preferably a place people must pass often each day. Each child
in the family (and parents) may place a piece of straw or yellow yarn in the crib each night for every kind act he/she did during the day. The figure of
baby Jesus is not placed in the crib until Christmas eve. By that time the crib should be filled with soft straw or yellow yarn as a bed for the
child Jesus.
ADVENT PRAYER WREATH: A custom which children love and which daily and visibly expressed the meaning of the Advent season is the Advent wreath.
The light of the candles reminds us that Christ is the Light of the world. The circular shape reminds us that God is eternal, with no beginning and no ending.
The evergreens around the wreath remind us that God never changes. Advent wreaths do not have to be fancy. An ordinary Christmas wreath may be placed
on the table with four candles in holders. Three of the candles are purple and one is rose or pink. The rose or pink colored candle is lit on the third
Sunday of Advent to express our joy that Christmas is so close. On each Sunday of Advent another candle is lit. There is no definite way to use the Advent
wreath. Some families say traditional prayers at meal time around the wreath, or say night prayers using the Advent wreath. See the free booklets in the connecting
link for more information on family Advent prayers.
ROAD TO BETHLEHEM: The journey of pregnant Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem can be re-enacted during the days of Advent. The Mary and Joseph figures from the
family crib are taken to the top room or the room farthest away from where the crib is placed. Cardboard steps or stones are placed between Mary and Joseph
and the crib, outlining the journey they must take. Every day of Advent a child is encouraged to do one good deed, write that good work on the stone and move
the statues of Mary and Joseph forward. The idea is that the more we practice our faith, the closer we become Mary and Joseph, the more we are welcoming
Jesus into our hearts adn into the world. By the end of Advent Mary, Joseph and Jesus have journeyed through the house to the crib of our hearts.
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Pastor Pages Archives
Family Activities for Advent 12/6/09
Giving and Receiving 12/13/09
Christmas Hospitality 12/20/09
Reflections on the Birth of the Savior 12/27/09
January 2010 Pastor Pages
February 2010 Pastor Pages
March 2010 Pastor Pages
April 2010 Pastor Pages
May 2010 Pastor Pages
Current Pastor Pages
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