Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
Advent according to Isaiah is a season of disarming:
"They shall beat swords into plowshares."
Advent according to the Psalmist is a season of rejoicing & peace:
"I will say, 'Peace be within you!"'
Advent according to Paul is a season of no drunkenness & no jealousy: " ... awake from sleep ... make no provision for the desires of the flesh."
Advent according to Jesus is a season of being alert and prepared:
" .. for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
What an opportunity here at Holy Rosary we are given as we begin a new liturgical year, a new year of hopefully and actively awaiting a new Season of Christmas and the future arrival of Jesus at His second coming. Let us become ever more committed disciples who disarm ourselves from grudges, unforgiving miserly hearts; Jet us rejoice in the God-given good in each neighbor and offer peace; let's discard from our lives the capital sins of sloth, lust, envy, avarice, wrath, gluttony, and pride, but rather clothing ourselves in a healing array of virtues; and, let us not worry about the details of Jesus' coming so much as becoming ever more faithful in living on fire with love of God and neighbor. The purity of a heart on fire with compassion equals life while a lukewarm heart's sludge ensures a rancid death-like stench.
Blessed Season of Advent!
-fr. Chris, 0.P.
