Weekly Reflection 12/6/2020

REFLECTION

The Second Sunday of Advent

December 5-6, 2020

Our Advent Journey

 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Advent.  For Catholics, our world is filled with the color purple instead of red and green. While our houses are filled with extra decorations, our churches are decorated scantly.  As our days become more fast paced and complicated as Christmas approaches, Advent encourages us to slow down and simplify.

However, we cannot mistake this change of pace as doing nothing.  Rather, the preparation for Christ’s coming requires days filled with activity, for the mind and soul.  We are preparing for Jesus in the past, present and future; in the remembrance of the infant’s birth in Bethlehem, in the acceptance of the Lord in our life and in the waiting for the second coming of Christ the King.

Due to the social restrictions in which we live during this pandemic, we find ourselves living through a December devoid of the traditional Christmas parties and gatherings with family, friends and co-workers.  This new-found time can be filled with prayer and reflection.

Fortunately, we are not alone in this journey.  There are daily readings, Sunday masses with a homily, weekly Reflections and messages from the Deacon’s Desk in the bulletin.  In addition, to these aids, the clergy staff will be posting the recitation of the Rosary, morning and evening prayer and spiritual discussions.

Beginning on December 15th and culminating with Christmas Eve mass is Las Posada.  It is a Spanish tradition that commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.  This year, a special Novena will be live streamed each night, alternating between St. Francis de Sales and Prince of Peace Churches.

Let us center our lives and ready our souls so that we can announce with all sincerity, “O’ Come, O’Come Emmanuel!”

Patrick J. Perkins