Journey

Dear sisters & brothers in Christ,

I certainly hope that your Advent is off to a great start. It is certainly a busy time of year with so very much to do. It can be very hard to keep one’s priorities straight and to stay focused on Jesus. I really liked the idea of the ladies Candle Light Service last Sunday. It was a way to deliberately say, “I choose Jesus!” To consciously set the hustle & bustle, the long To Do list aside and spend an evening focusing on one’s faith and the true importance of the season. We are all called to spend some time during this season reflecting on the Incarnation and what it means to us personally and as a parish community, and preparing to receive our Savior into our lives. [BTW: We are talking about doing a similar event for the men, so if you have some idea along that line or would like to be a part of the planning, please contact a member of the parish council or call the office.]

One of the things we have recently asked each member/family to pray over is your financial contribution to your parish and to increase it by at least 1%. Hopefully you have had an opportunity to pray over this and discuss it with your loved ones. I realize it may seem like everyone is after your hard earned and limited resources, but I hope your parish is at (or near) the top of that list. I pray that God abundantly blesses all of you who are so very generous with your time, talents & treasures, especially those who have decided to make this additional gift. “Good measure, shaken together, pressed down, overflowing will the Lord pour into the folds of your garment, for the measure you measure with, will be measured back to you.”

This Sunday we hear John the Baptist’s cry, which pierces the silence and stirs our spirits. He is a wonderful example for us. John devoted his entire life to a singular purpose. He gave up all his personal dreams and desires in order to fully say, “Yes, Lord!” John challenges us to make straight the pathway to our God. I don’t know if you’ve ever driven out West in states like Kansas or Nebraska where the roads stretch out before you for mile after mile and every little curve is noticeable. Or if you’ve taken a road trip with Siri (or other AI voice directions), and every time you make a stop or take a slight detour, it immediately starts telling you you’ve gone astray and how to get back on the right path. It’s nothing new. We all have that voice in our heads that warns us when we stray from the straight & narrow and begin to drift away. The question is whether we listen or hit the mute switch.

Before the term “Christian” came about, disciples of Jesus were called “People of The Way.” I really like that title for it emphasizes the fact that our faith is all about a “journey.” We are always moving closer to our God. Forever changing and growing in our relationship with our Lord. We cannot just sit back and wait for Jesus to come to us, we must “Get UP!” and go in search of our Lord. In this season of Advent we are called to take a road trip to an out of the way spot called Bethlehem. I hope to see you there.

In the Redeemer, Fr. Rick