St James Catholic Church

For the last four weeks in the season of Advent we have been preparing our hearts and our homes for this day on which we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, Savior, and the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  We recall that glorious night when the Blessed Mother, Mary, bore Jesus into an expectant world, realizing that Jesus is also born in our hearts and in our world here and now, made present through one another and in the Eucharist we celebrate.  May this good news of great joy, that will be for all the people, continue to be incarnated in our lives and our world.

Have we made a worthy home in our hearts for our Lord?  Do we feel that despite our good intentions, our hearts remain filled with unchristian feelings and attitudes?  Today we remember that Jesus was not born in a palace or mansion, or even a simple house or apartment.  He was born in a dirty, smelly stable, a home unworthy of any infant, let alone the Son of God.  Our dirty smelly hearts may seem just as unworthy a home for Jesus, but Jesus was not born into the world as a reward for humanity’s goodness.  It is out of God’s mercy on our imperfectness that we have been blessed with such a wonderful gift.

It had been nine months since Mary was visited by the angel who announced that she would bear the Son of God.  So when the shepherd told her that angels had come to them in their field, directing them to her infant son, she must have been especially pleased to hear that the angel of the Lord had returned.  “A savior has been born,” they would have repeated.  “He is Christ the Lord.”  We are called to bear Christ to the world through our words and actions.  May the good that we do reflect God’s goodness, even as we reflect on how we too pass on God’s  good news of great joy.

On behalf of Fr. George, Carl, Dale, Donna, Linda, Mary Jo, and Steve  I extend to you, your families, and friends a most Blessed Christmas.  May the Incarnate Word remain with us now and throughout this new year.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob