My quest for holiday joy began in the aisles of Dillard’s, searching for the perfect Christmas gift for my daughter.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121324.cfm 

By Sharon Hinkebein 

 My quest for holiday joy began in the aisles of Dillard’s, searching for the perfect Christmas gift for my daughter. Clueless as to what to buy her, I stared at the wall of clothes before me hoping an elf would throw down the perfect shirt into my desperate, open hands. Any joy here?  Hardly. Next, I moved on to holiday baking, attempting to make Martha Stewart’s “best ever” sugar cookies. Three hours later I produced cookies that could be used as hockey pucks by the Tampa Lightning. Any joy here? I think you know the answer. 

 Finally, I propped up my feet for a much-needed break listening to Bing’s classic, “White Christmas”. “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas (I need to pick up some ornaments) just like the ones I used to know” (and I need to pick up a string of lights too). Sigh. 

   Today’s Gospel is about people just like me searching for joy. They look for it in food, drink, children playing melodies – all fine things indeed – but things only capable of providing short-lived moments of pleasure. O Lord of wisdom, when will we ever learn that the more secular things we pile into our lives the less unending joy we will have? 

 So exactly what does joy look like? I suppose it’s different for everyone, but one thing is for certain – we can only find it when we are willing to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. Do you have a neighbor or co-worker that steps on your every nerve? Then joy is finding patience and understanding in your disdain. Are you devoted to a political party? Then joy is finding common ground with the other side. Have conversations with family members become a battleground? Perhaps it’s time to lay down weapons of criticism and surrender to words of praise and acts of love.   

 Martha, I know this will make you cringe but I’m now a Pillsbury slice-and-bake cookie gal, greatly reducing my time dedicated to baking. With the extra time I have found joy and unexpected peace in prayer and conversation with the Lord. He’s shared with me that the joy He offers requires faith, trust, courage, and sacrifice. Is it worth it? Jesus says it is and that’s all I need to know.   

 Sharon Hinkebein has been a parishioner at St. Anne for nearly 12 years after moving here from Missouri. As a part-time employee at St. Anne, she compiles and edits the weekly bulletin, and volunteers as a faith formation teacher for middle school confirmation.     

¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Its translation is “Long live Christ the King”.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121224.cfm 

By Fr. Anthony 

 ¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Its translation is “Long live Christ the King”. I can still remember shouting this over the course of a week at World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain in 2011 with crowds ranging from 10,000 to literally over 1 million people. I was amazed at how alive Jesus Christ was as I was surrounded by more than a million youth who traveled from all over the world to celebrate their Catholic faith and recognize Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. Walking through the streets of Madrid, a group of 50, 100 or 1,000 youth would spontaneously break out into song praising God. Smiles, laughing, singing, dancing, and praising God consumed Madrid. It was truly an incredible experience.  

  In the first reading from the prophet Zechariah, we are told, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!” While life can be very difficult at times, we are called to remember how good God is and sing his praises, because even amid our most difficult times, God is with us, active, and alive.  

  2,500 years ago, the prophet Zechariah reminded the Jewish people to “sing and rejoice” because God said, “I am coming to dwell among you”. Nearly 500 years ago, Our Lady of Guadalupe reminded the Aztec people and all peoples in the Americas that God is with us, that God has dwelt among us in Jesus Christ. In 2011, at World Youth Day, I was reminded of just how alive and active Jesus Christ continues to be in our world. All of this is cause for singing and rejoicing: ¡Viva Cristo Rey! “Long live Christ the King”. 

Blessings, 

Fr. Anthony Astrab