Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We begin with the season of Advent, a season filled with grace, a season of preparation, a season of anticipation, a season of hope.  We are filled with hopeful expectation of the coming of the most precious Gift which we could ever receive - Jesus Christ Himself.    

How we long for this greatest Gift to come to us. How we long for the Spirit of the Lord to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Infant King.  Christ tells us, "be vigilant at all times and pray..."

Christ asks us to be watchful for His coming in our lives...in the breaking of the Bread in the Eucharist where the Spirit of the Lord renews and fortifies our hearts...in the pardoning of our sins in the Confessional...in the healing power of the sacramental anointing...and in the faces of our brothers and sisters in need.  Whenever we devote ourselves in love and service of God and one another, feeding those who hunger, caring for the sick, helping the poor, encouraging the downtrodden, forgiving those who have wronged us, offering all for the glory of God, we are able to stand before Christ with hearts prepared and purified.   

Christ asks us to pray at all times... In a world filled with confusion, anxieties and doubt, we pray that the Lord will come and fill us with clarity and faith.  When we are tempted to despair when problems seem insurmountable, we ask the Lord to come and give us courage and strength.  When sufferings seem too much to bear, we beg our Lord to come and embrace us in His passion and grant us the grace to endure.  Whenever tribulations assail us, Christ is just waiting for us to kneel before Him and beg Him to come and save us.    

Let us ponder on the ardent longing of Christ to come to us.  Let us be inspired by the coming of His Spirit and make our hearts a fitting dwelling of love for our Infant King.  Until the time comes when Christ's kingdom of peace, love and truth finally comes to reign forever. 

God is Love, 

father Al

Administrator