Reconciliation – December 17

Dear Parishioners,

Please bear with me as I ponder some not too deep thoughts and meander my way through this  bulletin article as we head into the final days of preparation for Christmas.

Last week we got our first snow fall of the winter. As it fell continuously for several hours there was a certain beautry in it all. The snow might have caused some of us delays and headaches, but it covered us in a shining blanket of fresh, clean and white fluff. It didn’t last long in that pristine state but how terrifically beautiful it was. We aren’t always present to each other in godly and sublime love, but how awesome it is when we are. Those moments might be brief and fleeting but they lead us in hope and faith towards the possibilities we have in God’s love. It was only snow and we will get more. Our moments might also be few and hopefully not far between, and I believe God will give us more.

This week Thursday the parish will be celebrating Reconciliation together. As we gather in penance seeking forgiveness we might just be able to have one of those precious moments I mentioned about. God will grace us with his love and peace helping you and I reach out to each other and remind ourselvers how beautiful we truly are.

We all make mistakes, but we don’t come together on Thursday because of them. We come together because we have sinned. In our sinning we have hurt each other, offended God and have separated ourselves from God’s loving grace. Mistakes happen, sin is planned. By seeking out forgiveness, by participating with others like ourselves we renew and enter again into God’s plan. We seek forgiveness together in community so that we might live together as a community.

Last Sunday, I preached about praying for each other and placing one another at God’s feet trusting in His goodness and grace allowing God to heal us and free us fromn our resentments and anger and to be reconciled in and with God. Come join us this Thursday and during the remainder of Advent have your best ever Christmas.

See you there, for you are welcome!

Fr. Andy