Dear Friends in Christ,
Our Advent waiting has ended and now we celebrate and proclaim the coming of our Father's only Son.
Amidst the darkness surrounding us due to the pandemic, we still have a reason to rejoice because a Star is born! Christ our Savior is born - the true light that enlightens our hearts, the glorious light beaming forth our Father's love, leading us into the way of peace, grace, truth and life everlasting.
I invite you to welcome our Celebrant into your heart and spend some moments in His presence. In a spirit of prayer, approach the Infant Jesus laying in the manger. What will you say to Him? He is listening to you. Do you want to thank Him for being born, for His love, for coming to save us? What else do you want to thank Him for? Now, listen to Him as He responds to you. Then, think of what gift you want to offer our Infant Savior. Do you wish to offer Him your heart, reconciled to Him through His sacrament? Do you wish to give him your heart, freed from sin and unforgiveness and now filled with mercies and kindness? Do you have some petitions that you would like to bring to Jesus? Do you want to pray for a loved one or someone in need? Go ahead and tell Him all that is in your heart. His Heart is open, pouring out His greatest love upon you.
I ask you to carry in your heart those prayers of thanksgiving and petition as you come and gather at the Lord's Eucharistic Feast in celebration of His nativity, in our St. Luke's Church (Dec. 25th @ 10am) or virtually. The Christ Child is eagerly awaiting you, your prayers, and merciful offering.
And as we celebrate together, I am hopeful that through the intercession of our most Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, who were the first to welcome Jesus and, in faith and love were able to hurdle difficulties, God will grant us the grace to surpass our trials and follow the newborn Star, Love incarnate, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Rejoicing in Christ,
Rev. Jonathan Paala
Click here to watch St. Luke's Christmas Pageant Video.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that all who believe in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)