Of all the Christmas readings, this passage from Luke is my favorite.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122524-Night.cfm

By Fr. Kevin

Of all the Christmas readings, this passage from Luke is my favorite. I suspect some of that has to do with watching A Charlie Brown’s Christmas dozens of times and hearing Charlie Brown cry out in frustration, “Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?” You may recall that Linus provides the answer by quoting from the passage of Luke used at the midnight Mass (Luke 2:1-14).

I still hear Linus’ voice in my head whenever this passage is read, but over the years, I’ve also come to see more in this passage than just a feel-good moment at the end of a Christmas special. It says a great deal about God.

We tend to view shepherds with a certain amount of nostalgia, and while not wanting their job, we think of it as a wonderful and even heartwarming task. In Jesus’ day however, shepherds were considered by most to be at the very bottom of society and to be avoided if possible.

Isn’t it interesting that God chooses to announce Jesus’ birth to shepherds – the lowest of the low. In our time, it would be as if God announced the birth to a group of homeless people living under a bridge.

God cares about all of us, and that includes you and me. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. On this blessed day, let us remember how much God has done for us and, from that awareness, let us share that love with others.

May you have a blessed Christmas Day!

Fr. Kevin

Thanks to the twenty-two parishioners who wrote reflections for this Advent project as well as all those who used them in their preparation for today. We plan to offer this again in Lent. Let Linda know if you’d like to help.

“His name is John,” are the words written by Zechariah at the time of his son’s circumcision.
Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122424.cfm
By Sheree Paskert

After 9 months of being silenced by God because he did not believe the angel that announced his wife’s Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Zechariah’s month was opened and he praised God. He could not have known if the words would come yet spoke them in obedience and faith with virtues that matured during those nine months of silent contemplation and at seeing the promise of God unfold. The canticle that follows those words are spoken by a priest whose knowledge of the Law has become a profession of love from his very being. And love is the perfect fulfillment of the Law.

Today the Canticle of Zechariah is prayed daily by every Catholic priest throughout the world as part of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Virtue is difficult during trials. I can’t always see God during hardship. I can reason that this can’t be His will or plan for my life. Trust doesn’t come easy. Yet because of those hardships, the faith given by my parents has matured and become my own. Zechariah tells us if we can pray and trust in all things, God will fulfill His promise to us and in us.

Happy and Blessed Christmas!

Sheree Paskert