Come to drop that burden with the forgiveness of Christ!
I have been blessed to be a part of a priest support group in our Diocese for over 20 years. We gather to pray and share and support each other and have a meal together—and of course share the gifts of wine we receive. It is important for our life line in ministry. We agree that as priests we especially need take the time to focus on the season for our personal and spiritual growth as well.
We all agree that you our parishioners bring us hope by your witness of faith in your daily struggles well known to your priests as you give us your sacred trust sharing your lives. We know it isn’t easy to live in the world and witness Christ in all ways, and we are thankful for who you are.
This past week, we also had our Mass of Anointing and here too there was a powerful witness of faith and hope in the people who attended. Fr. Juan Ramon helped me as we anointed over hundred people. It never fails to be a powerful experience since as priests we know the suffering that many are enduring and yet see the bright light in the darkness of suffering in the eyes of the people as we anoint them in the love of Christ.
And so many help us—the children from our school help as altar servers, greeters, and help serve lunch in the hall as well as provide an Advent musical program directed by Geoffrey Say, Marian Visitors in their wonderful ministry organize the special sacred service and help with lunch. My spiked soup (don’t tell anyone) helps lift people to the Spirit in the spirits. I hope you know the alcohol cooks off in the hot soup. It is another beautiful way our faith family comes together to help many that need hope in their lives and to be out and welcomed and surrounded by children too. Such care and love expresses our readings this second Sunday of Advent.
The prophet Baruch promises a time of such great hope when we will be “wrapped in the cloak of justice.” Justice is not merely one virtue among many. For God’s community, justice is the key virtue. It reflects the very way God treats us. In a community guided by justice, all are treated equally; all share in the community’s resources; no one goes hungry or is treated unfairly.
The Thanksgiving Dinner in the gym was a joy to be a part of as over 175 persons were fed, enjoyed live music, great hospitality and delicious food provided by you; special thanks to Charlie Carpy for his leadership and to so many other volunteers.
The Love Tree has come back to us again to remind us of needs of others. Your help brings hope. Just as in last year you gave hundreds of donations to St Vincent de Paul to help more than 150 families receive hope at Christmas, we know you will do the same as needs continue. There are many volunteer hours to help with SVDP, your Lenten box donations The Family Center, and the local food bank. There are volunteer hours at the Table to help feed people in Napa, Ministry to San Quentin, and providing personal visits to our Veterans in Yountville. There is so much more that you do as a faith family that reflects care and hope. Our school and parish children and youth also give witness in their support to help and share from the Love Tree to helping visit the elderly, providing food to the Pantry, and much more.
To share in such a spirit of justice is what St. Paul addresses in his letter today:
“I am confident of this that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it…” He goes on to tell us that Jesus is the good work that was begun in each of us as members of his body to live righteous lives in caring for one another. And our gospel tells us of what that baptism begins with. We hear from St. John the Baptist the call to change: “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins….”
In the days of John Baptism was not the Sacrament of Baptism it was a symbolic action through which people expressed their desire to have their evil past totally washed away by their repentance and God’s grace. St. Luke uses the term “baptism of repentance”. It’s a complete turning around; to stop going in our own direction, move towards God in Christ.
Such conversion is still a part of who we are in Christ. That is why we need the liturgical seasons to remind us of our annual journey in the life of Christ. We begin a new year by looking at what we need to improve and change and to Repent and find relief and fulfillment in Christ with forgiveness.
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths,” To do so requires that we look at the geography of our own lives: where are the “valleys,” the empty places that the coming Christ can fill in? What are the “mountains,” those forces that tower over us and leave us feeling helpless: debilitating habits, sins, addictions, social pressures, fighting with family members, refusing to forgive, harboring resentment, etc?
Forgiveness is a release, a letting go, like dropping heavy baggage or burdens. Forgiveness, too, involves a total reconciliation with God – a healing, a making whole.
John the Baptist tells us this week that our obligation to prepare the way for the Savior includes forgiveness and sharing what we have with persons in need. It includes all the many good things we do from this family of faith to help others, to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, bring hope to the captives; the life of the Advent of Christ in us.
Blessed Release