November, 30/2021
My dear parishioners and friends in Christ…
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
How time flies! Is it really Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for Christmas, already? There is so much to do at this time of year: decorating and baking (well, not me actually!), visiting and feasting, choosing just the right gifts and wondering what gifts might be received.
It is now time for Advent and a new liturgical year. The word Advent means coming toward or approaching. As we draw close to the end of another year, once again the days become shorter and shorter in terms of sunlight until we mark the shortest day of the year on December 21.
Then, the days slowly but surely begin to become longer, as more and more sunlight fills the skies. Nature’s dramatic show of sky light inspired the ancient pagan world to believe in gods of light and darkness which battles each other in a never-ending struggle of good vs. evil. This has been our experience in these uncertain times with COVID-19 and its variants everywhere, but we are sure that our loving God is coming with something new and conquering the darkness and illness.
My dear friends, let us come to the Lord during this advent season and let us make this hymn ours, O come, o come Emmanuel and ransom us from our sickness, depression, loneliness, fear and darkness, our faith and trust is in you O Lord my God ad Savior.
At this time as we already heard from our Archbishop, the invitation to return to the Eucharist on Sundays without fear, but with faith and that we can meet together to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus who comes with power and glory to transform our lives.
We are waiting for you on December 8th to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We really missed you, but we prayed for you and your family all this time you were away from the Eucharistic Table.
As the year comes to a close, this serves me the opportunity to ask God’s choicest blessings upon each of you and your families. May the Christ Child whom we long to see for ourselves one day in the Bethlehem of heaven find his heart burning brightly in our own now and in the coming year.
Blessings.
Fr. Milhton.