Fr. Sean's Weekly Blog
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Dec. 18
Dear friends in Christ,
On this 4th Sunday of Advent we hear in the Gospel from St. Matthew the account of Joseph’s dream, wherein the angel of the Lord appeared to him to assure him that it is by the Holy Spirit that Mary is with child. “Do not be afraid,” the angel tells him. That’s good advice for us in this day and age. We are called to be awake and confident in the coming of the Christ. Our Lord is drawing near to us and we must not be afraid. Let us seek the presence of the Emmanuel, the one who is coming – and indeed has already come – into our lives.
read more »Dec. 11
Dear friends in Christ,
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” We are invited to use this week to wait in joyful anticipation as the coming of our Lord is near. As a people we don’t usually like to wait, whether it be in traffic, the doctor’s office, or in an airport. But Advent waiting is different and worth the effort. We light the rose-colored candle on our Advent wreath today as a joyful reminder of the two-fold coming of Christ at his birth and at the end of time.
read more »Dec. 4
Dear friends in Christ,
This second week of Advent finds us still waiting and watching for the coming of the Lord, but we get a most welcomed visitor today – John the Baptist. He comes seemingly out of nowhere to prepare the way of the Lord and while he was by all accounts a bit eccentric, his message is as timely today as it was some 2,000 years ago. Let us heed his message to repent as we prepare our hearts to welcome the coming of the King of Kings.
read more »Nov. 27
Dear friends in Christ,
As we begin the four-week season of Advent today we are called to wait joyfully for the Lord. We know Christmas is near. The Thanksgiving holiday is behind us and many of us are probably already in high gear in terms of preparations for Christmas. We know it’s always a stressful time. Why not make a “liturgical new year resolution” to wait patiently? While everyone else is speeding up, try slowing down and listening for the voice crying out in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Our Advent wreath is blessed today and the first candle is lit to remind us of the coming of the light of Christ. Let us not allow the darkness of the world to overshadow that light. It has been entrusted to us to be kept burning brightly. Just as we light our trees and homes these days, do not fail to show forth the light of Christ in all you say and do in these coming weeks.
read more »Nov. 20
Dear friends in Christ,
Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Church’s liturgical calendar before we begin the great season of holy waiting, Advent. But first we honor Christ as our King. Not an earthly king of physical and political power and might, however, but a king who lays down His life in service to all.
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