 Fr.
Tom's Tomes December 10, 2006
This is an exciting time of the year for children. Children are thinking about Christmas and Santa coming. They are getting more excited about Christmas the closer we get. As adults, are we getting excited about Christmas? We can see the energy children have as we approach Christmas. As adults our energy should be directed toward the faith experience we have of this day. Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Messiah. It is the day we remember Christ entered the world to be the Light in darkness. As we continue to move toward this day it is our remembrance of what God has given to us. Christ came to bring us Light in darkness. The darkness of this world is sin which leads us away from Jesus Christ and God. The sin around us can be actions we do as well as those opportunities we do not respond to follow Christ. Sin is not just the actions we do but also the actions we do not respond to in our lives. We are blessed people of God. We are responsible for our actions. As adults we need to continue to grow in the development of our conscience. We must continue to examine our lives in the light of the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes and Jesus’ Two Great Commandments. In the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is for us. It is a sacrament in which we encounter Jesus Christ. It is a time of recognizing our faults and omissions. It is a time of turning to Jesus to seek forgiveness. This is a moment of grace in our lives when we are sacramentally forgiven of our sins and given grace by Jesus to improve our lives. As adults we learned about grace. Grace is from God to help us in our lives. It is the love of God entering our lives to give us help and support. Grace is God’s direct help in our lives. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, confession, penance, we return our hearts and lives to following Christ. Whether we have strayed a little or a lot it is God’s opportunity to give us help to come back to God. On Monday, December 18, 2006, at 7:00 pm there will be an Advent Penance Service. It will take place in Church. There will be a time to listen to the Word of God, followed by time for individual confession and absolution. I invite all parishioners to come and take part in this Advent Penance Service. God bless you and keep you well this week. |