Christmas 2013 - Let Us Set Out to Be His Light and Warmth

• Only a few days ago downed power lines and collapsed tree branches greeted us
• Only a few days ago road ways were blocked and water lines were clogged
•  Only a few days ago candle light and battery power lead us along the way
•  Only a few days ago darkness enveloped and dampness encircles us

The storm which hit us only a few days ago shook us to the point of not knowing if light would return. For some - including several parish families in Puslinch - this darkness remains this Christmas! For some they now - in a very real way - know what it means to be out of their home for Christmas as they stay with relatives, celebrate Christmas in a motel, seek shelter with a neighbor - they feel the cold not of a stable but of a shelter unfamiliar to them and a next day not completely known. But not just for them. Darkness and Dampness remains too:

•    For those who at this time of year recall a loved one - son, spouse, sibling who has died.
•    For those who at this time of year revisit a Christmas of old where more was possible financially and a future seemed secure.
•    For those who at this time of year remember a time when cancer was not a word they knew, where chaos was not a sentiment they felt, when caution was not an approach they undertook.

And yet today we gather - size and shape, young aged and anxious teen, adult at their prime or senior walking cautiously - we gather to celebrate a mystery that even in darkness is seen, even in uncertainty is heard - the mystery ...the message

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Our new Holy Father, Pope Francis - who celebrates his first Christmas with us as Universal Pastor wrote some time ago: “Knowing Jesus is the best gift that anyone can ever receive. That we have encountered Him is the best thing that has happened in our lives. Making Him known by our deeds and words is our greatest joy.”

You see that is the light. You see that is the warmth. You see He is the Way ! But that light is seen.That warmth is felt only ....only....in an encounter with Christ found when we share Him. As a Family of Faith we have sought to be that encounter with Christ  - it has been seen - the light has shown : a light ................

- made with 480 red stocking of school supplies collected given to an African school
- made with 210 toys available to children and families in need in our own community
- made when we collected blankets and back packs, served meals for the homeless and offered shelter and bought generators for those truly Out in the Cold.
- made when a hosting a baby shower for young mothers, or collecting food, toothbrushes and even electronics
- made when constructing a well of water for a village in Haiti or blankets made of milk bags to mothers seeks a place of rest for their baby
- that light has been present in prayer 24 hours a day - 365 days a year in an Adoration Chapel and seen in a glowing red light a top our tower to say He is here!

As a Family of Faith we have sought to be that encounter with Christ  - it has been felt - that warmth has been sensed ................

- when we have received and distributed mitten and toques to children and teens in need
- when we have offered compassion to those bereaved, a gathering place for those divorced, a stop over for those seeking a place of prayer, a small group for those who wish to grow in faith
- when we have dropped off a meal to an expectant mother, when we have purchased a portable air conditioner for an elderly apartment dweller, when we have ensured a hearing aide for one in need or a kind card for a lonely soul that proclaims you are not forgotten

As Pope Benedict XVI would often say - ‘Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.’”

This is our family of faith - we encounter Him, we engage with Him....We like those Shepherds say “ Let us go and see what has been proclaimed to us...and so we too set out....”

• Set out - even though darkness still exists        

• Set out - even though barriers still block our way

• Set out - even though dampness surrounds us    

• Set out - even though the storm may come again

We set out - because we have met Him, and He knows us - We Set out because we have been told of Him and now seek to tell others of Him.

Do you know what my Christmas Wish is ....
▸    That this Christmas you will see His Light
▸    That this Christmas even in a season of storms you might sense His warmth
▸    That this Christmas that  winds of sorrow, sadness, uncertainty, confusion might be calmed
▸    That this Christmas you might truly be able to say I have encountered Him...in the light and warmth of this family of faith - and as a result - set out with us to let His light shine!

Advent 4 - Don't Let them Steal Christmas

As the fourth Sunday of Advent arrives I must tell you that I love Christmas  The lights, the music, the beauty, the decor, maybe not the weather of Christmas, but everything else of Christmas I truly do. Christmas is a season that intensified everything in our life - the relationships - the beauty and the challenges. Now, I am not sure about you - but I am generally open to both traditional and contemporary things. But when it comes to Christmas - I am a bit of traditionalist. I like the traditional hymns of Christmas, I like a good size Christmas tree. I enjoy the traditional actions of Christmas and checking my stocking for a visit from you know who... I am pretty "possessive" of Christmas. Have you ever thought about what steals Christmas.

......for example according to Statistic Canada we will spend a total of $23 billion in gift giving this year and some 63 billion on Christmas related items - (you might think I spent that just myself yesterday at Cambridge Mall).

...for example more family disagreements, more relationships, more occasions of misunderstanding happen at Christmas then any other time of the year - the number one day of the year when boyfriend/girlfriend break up - Christmas !

This is not the traditional Christmas

Now don’t get me wrong - this is my favorite time of the year....and gift giving is a part of it - after all we celebrate the greatest gift and Advent has been about preparing and giving the gift of kindness,   but there are things that sometimes strive to take us away from the traditions of Christmas - so I guess the question that always comes before us “The Secret of a Spiritually Jolly Christmas” - how do we do it !

So - the Gospel to day brings us back ... it brings us home...

• Home to the real meaning of Christmas
• Home to the most magnificent truth in the entire Bible 
• Home to our Lord's greatest promise 
• Home to the reason we celebrate Christmas         Namely this: "GOD IS WITH US!"

When we decide that Christ the great gift will be first - and the other things we do represent that great gift - well we keep things in perspective It is what Christmas is about. God is with us. The four weeks of Advent are about getting us ready for a traditional Christmas!

• They are about seeing all we do through the lens of kindness

• They are about noticing what we celebrate through the window of care and justice

• They are about celebrating those who are filling the chairs around our table not in an unhealthy way lamenting the empty chair or wishing more chairs were filled

• They are about viewing our choices not as spur of the moment reactions but responses in love to the truth that "GOD IS WITH US!"

So don’t let your Christmas be stolen "GOD IS WITH US!"  - all four candles are lite.  Christmas is here and we can make it traditional if all we do is about seeing, speaking and serving one another knowing "GOD IS WITH US!"

Advent 3 - Rejoice in Grace

The Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday – a Sunday for rejoicing! On this Rejoicing Sunday, a good question to ask yourself is this: in these times and in this culture that is so negative and cynical and seemingly without hope, about what do you have to rejoice?

Halfway through our Advent pilgrimage we pause for a moment for rejoicing. The readings are generally happy readings and provide us with a glimpse of our final destination. A wonderful sight is set before us, one that is truly a reason for rejoicing. However the readings are not all scenes of peace and tranquility. There is a paradox here. On the one hand, there is a scene of blossoming life and beautiful restoration; on the other, there is a picture of John the Baptist languishing in prison.  

We all need to have some empathy for John the Baptist. He appeared to do everything right. Even the public historian Josephus describes John the Baptist as a very gifted and popular preacher, while he has very little to say about Jesus. John’s expectations of the Messiah were not in synchrony with what he saw in Jesus. So he was very confused. Have you ever had a situation or an experience, similar to that of John the Baptist where you did everything that you thought was right but nothing seemed to turn out the way you wanted? Yet, it seems that in the midst of his “prison”; John the Baptist is awaken not to sadness or despair but to hope and grace. Grace is the unmerited blessed of God in our life.  Have you ever experienced a ‘grace filled’ moment?

Can you name a moment in your life when you were “awaken” to rejoice not in despair, fear, punishment, but rather to a blessing that was not merited – a grace filled encounter.

So what do we have to rejoice for ? So why are we pausing to rejoice? Well because we are His children and because of that - well - we live in Grace.

Advent 2 - The Heart of the Matter

Several decades ago a story has been told of a young couple in the north shore of England who had wanted a child of their own. Unable to have such they allowed their name to be on a list for years in the hopes of one day being able to adopt a child. Their happy day arrived shortly before Christmas one tender year when a young boy waited in his crib for his new parents.

As they arrived at the adoption service, they heard in a room the muffled cries of what seemed to be a young mother. Aware that they had arrived the compassionate case worker came toward them and walked them into another room where this small boy lay with a days worth of clothes and diapers in a small bag beside. As the parents gushed over their new child they noticed in the crib was also a pair of letters - one from the child’s mother to the adoptive parents and the other addressed to the child himself.

With the letter to the parents were the simple words of thanks and a request that when the boy turned 18 years of age he be told of this letter - which did not share any details of who the birth mother was but simply had a message. The parents agreed to never share the name, but yes they would give the letter. As the new proud parents left the agency they spoke about what they would have written in such a letter.

"I wonder what she wrote? "They asked each other. "If I had to condense all I feel about life and love into a few precious words what would I say?" They inquired of each other. "I would have no time for trivia. I would not be concerned about economics, politics, the weather, the size of house or the type of car. At such a time I would want to dwell on what life was all about and what things were absolutely essential."

John the Baptist in our Gospel today started going around trying to get people to be on track - to not miss the mark - to focus on what really matters in the course of life The second candle on our advent wreath beckons not only more light - but also an urgent call - time is fleeting. And while the message might be the same as Black Friday sales conclude and 50% off sales begins - the message of urgency speaks not of the number of shopping days - but the fleeting passing of time. For we do not know what the future holds - we know only the passing moments of today.

The letter to the Romans in the Second Reading proclaims a clear but close message when it invites us to be steadfast in encouragement, welcoming and in the service to another.

•    We see this in our parish theme of Kindness this Advent - the desire to look for ways to demonstrate kindness in the midst of the busyness and demands of our day.

•    We see this in our Red Stocking Campaign as we seek to reach out and make a difference in one school community in Africa where school supplies make possible a lunch program which results in learning.

•    We see this in our commitment to Haiti and the water system we have made possible allowing a hospital to care for those in most urgent need and in the Milk Bag Mats we send, the support we give to the mission we support.

•    We see this in our openness to aiding in the relief work in the Philippines - helping a nation  recover.

•    We see this in the openness of our Neighbourhood Ministry which is seeking to help some 160 children this Christmas by collecting a simple toy and making it available to them.

It’s the core of what we do. It is at the heart of what we are about.  It is Faithfulness to Who God Made Us to Be.

And yet Isaiah (1st  Reading) remind us that at times we fail to truly understand what we are about

There was a man who went to the doctor and after his physical took place he said to the doctor who was a family friend “ I am really concerned about my wife, I don’t think she is feeling too well and I know she is having problems with her hearing.” The doctor, concerned, because he knew her, said “well if you are really that worried I will get my nurse to go and see her and we will check it out. But, in the meantime there are a few simple things you can do in order to determine just how bad her hearing loss is .”

When you walk in the door tonight - some 40 feet way - normal conversational tone - ask a simple question. And if you don’t get a response then move in 30 feet, and then 20 feet etc.... The man thought that was a great idea and so when he got home he walked in the door and asked “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the living room and asked again  “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the dinning room and asked “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved into the kitchen and asked again  “What’s for supper ?”. He didn’t get a response so he moved right behind her and asked “What’s for supper” - and she said “ Oh Harry, for the 5th time we are having chicken.”

Sometime we get confused about where the issue really is, and who really has the issue and what the heart of the matter is truly all about.

So the second candle is lite - what can’t you see yet ?
•    Is there anything in your life right now which is preventing you from getting to the heart of the matter - and see who ....what...really matters?
•    Are there things in your schedule, processes in your life, policies on your radar, that are hampering you from sincerely serving the one who matters
•    Have you surrounded yourself with choices, company, commitments, conversations which take away the scent of goodness and kindness from your life
The Sacrament of Reconciliation this coming Thursday at 7:00pm is a good way to start

This year "kids" of all ages want the Apple Mac Book Air, the iPhone 5s, the Xbox-One, a Kindle Fire, or Play Station 4. These gifts will be used and will enhance for a time. But might I suggest a greater gift - ensure the ones you love have your time  and help them, ans yourself, keep focused on what really matters this Advent Season - because its  the heart of the matter.

Advent: A Change of Heart

Have you ever had reason to think about your heart ? I have - been thinking about it a lot in fact. The heart is the indefinable part of ourselves that causes us to do so many things - go places, buy the things, date the people  - incredibly powerful tool in our decision making - when we set our hearts on something - it is so difficult to change our minds about it - tough for anyone to talk us out of something.

Have you ever had a change of heart about what you believe in?
•    I’m talking you use to be a die heart Penguins Fan and now you cheer on the Bruins
•    I’m talking you use to be a fried chicken, fast food, cup cake for Breakfast (after all it’s a pastry) type of guy and now you are watching every calorie and reading the ingredients
•    I'm talking you use to a part of a political party - and now you have switched sides

Have you ever had a change of heart about a person?

A dad - when their daughter brings that boyfriend home - and all you say to your self “over my dead body you are going to date my daughter”...but as you got to know him - now you can’t wait for the day you walk her down the isle.

A employee - you meet your boss - all he cares about is the bottom line, profit, profit, profit and you say to yourself - I can’t wait til retirement - and now, as you have seen him in action - you know compassion is really his bottom line and understanding rates on his balance sheet

If you ever have had that type of change of heart - you know how difficult it. Our heart goes into defense mode when someone tells us something we are not ready for - don’t tell me how to parent, how to work, how to change - don’t tell me who I need to love, be generous to, help out, talk to - let my heart do its thing ! Its tough to change your heart !

Have you ever had a change of heart about what you believe about God?  Sometimes we  have an idea of God -what He considers a sin & even how He thinks we should act;  how we should worship God; how we should pray and how we should this or do that. Yet sometimes we need a change of heart     - so how do we do that ?

During Advent - I would like us to look at that - why ? Because Christmas was a time of changing hearts  - the baby in the manger - changed the hearts of Shepherds,  the baby in that crib changed the hearts of Innkeeper, the babe of Bethlehem born in a way that surprised even the heart of Mary and Joseph about where the child would be born  - changed the heart of a wise men and every Christmas - Christ wants to change your heart just a little bit - about a certain family member, about a friend, about society and even about ourselves and him. So be patient with me during Advent - because heart work is delict but its life saving - and in this case maybe even soul saving.

This past week our Holy Father – Pope Francis - wrote an Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”, In it the Pope invites the reader to “recover the original freshness of the Gospel”, finding “new avenues” and “new paths of creativity”.  He warns against “defeatism”, urging Christians to be signs of hope, bringing about a “revolution of tenderness”.

Change of Heart comes first as our Gospel (Matthew 24-37-44) reminds us by ‘Staying Awake”. By not falling asleep to need, by not falling asleep to caring, by not falling asleep to hurt, sadness, loneliness. As Pope Francis - wrote  It is necessary to seek refuge from the “spirituality of well-being … detached from responsibility for our brothers and sisters”

How many of us as December begins - are getting ready for hectic lines, faster pace, busier schedules, tough times - I bet we have even set our hearts on it !   - yet ! - how many of us also know
someone close to home who could use some extra support, some extra love this time of year. There are people in our lives (coworkers, neighbors, extended family) who are tired, overwhelmed, stressed out, and lonely.  How many lives and heart could we touch this Advent?

The first step to changing a heart - remember that Kindness Counts  - three ways:

First, this Advent, If you know someone who’s lonely, take him out for coffee. If you know  someone who’s stressed out, help them with a project or watch the kids for a few hours. If you know someone who’s down, bake him some cookies, send her a note, or invite him to church with you!  As you do; fill in your act of kindness on the Kindness Counts Card - and hang it on our tree.

Second, back in September - remember the back packs we collected - 106 back packs of supplies. This Advent we wish to assemble “Heart Packs”   - a simple set of small gifts which we invite you to bring (e.g. a toy, trinket, puzzle) and place in the large gift box in the Narthex of the Parish Centre and we will distribute to one of these 106 children in our parish schools and also some with Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region.

Third, Red Stocking Campaign. By taking and filling a Red Stocking with school supplies, we will ensure these are, with the help of Canadian Food fro Children, distributed to school in Africa and provide the school supplies they need for the full school year.

During this Advent - let’s make a difference in a new way! By changing Hearts - and lets’ begin with our own!