FROM THE PASTOR

The fourth and final week of Advent begins today!  This week marks the final days of our interior preparation for our celebration of Christmas.  To this end, St Dominic’s will have a penance service tomorrow, Monday, December 21, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm here in the Church.  How beautiful that the first day of Winter should also be an opportunity for us to receive the grace of the sacrament of confession, and so begin anew, afresh with Christ. 

Our celebration of Christmas on Friday leads us to ponder, once again, the mystery of the Incarnation, namely God become man in Jesus Christ.  The trees, the garland, the lights, the Poinsettias, the gifts, the food – all of these appurtenances have as their purpose to highlight the mystery we celebrate. 

When we see a tree or garland, for example, we think of Christ’s human heritage, in particular the father of King David (Jesse).  When we see lights, we naturally think of Christ’s divinity, for as the eternal Wisdom of God, He is the light of the world.  When we see a Poinsettia, we think of the star over the manger in Bethlehem that led the wise men to drop everything, travel long distances, and come see Jesus.  The gifts, of course, remind us that the Incarnation remains a completely unmerited grace that God gave to us because He loves us.  And finally, the delicious food of Christmas reminds us of the Eucharist where we receive Jesus in the bread and wine now become his body and blood.     

The graces of Advent become the graces of the Christmas season this Friday.  They lead us to understand what it means that God became man in Jesus Christ to save us.

                                                            Fr. Maturi, o.p.