It is Advent again, and everything is in full swing toward Christmas.  It is sad that many of our businesses refer to it as “holiday time” with holiday trees, instead of Christmas trees and happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas.  Politically correct or religious discrimination? Christ is the reason for the season!   However, it seems more and more that we want to forget Christ, spend more money, and forget Christmas Mass.  In fact, that is how it became known as Christmas—Christ’s Mass!  Or we can all forget that and just have a good time—push Christ out of the season, and out of Christmas—just, be happy.  I believe that God must be wondering about all of us, as we forget more and more where we came from, how we are blessed, and how ungrateful we can be.  Do you think he has reason to be unhappy with us?  We take, want, take, want, and complain that we need to show thankfulness.  Let’s put thankfulness first in our Advent season, as we prepare for the reason for the season—Christ came to us, to save us from our sins, and give peace—peace on earth to men of good will!  It is all in our individual hands!  We make the choice, and we will receive the blessings, or the consequences.

 

The decorative lights and the fence were installed on our parking lot this past week.  I think it looks very nice.  We have some wiring to complete in church (our connection) and the landscaping.  It will significantly improve the appearance of our church, and of Main Street in Mascoutah.

 

The Advent/ Christmas letter came out this week with the “Little Blue Book” in it.  I hope that all might at least take a peek at the book sometime in Advent to find something interesting for yourselves, and maybe, an insight to God’s gifts to us.  It is good for the soul.

 

This afternoon, about 1:00 P.M., we will begin the “greening” of our church as part of our Advent preparation.  We will not put up all of the decorations so that Christmas will have a sense of grandeur when we do the “final finish” on the Sunday before Christmas.  We need to emphasize the meaning of Advent, which can easily be put aside for the materialism and celebration of the season.  It is sad to see Christmas trees and decorations pitched the day after Christmas.  It is like anticipating a gift,  receiving a gift, opening it, and then never using it.  Let the real meaning and purpose of the season sink into our lives—Christ comes to be with us and bless us!  Prepare the way, clean the house, cleanse the soul, and make room for the guest— Christ our Savior!  We do not know when we will have our final Christmas.  The tragic events of this past week are an example, we need to think about them and learn from them.

 

A Blessed and Cleansing Advent to all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENTION PARENTS   Pick up your  copy of the series "Growing In Love" in the PSR office.

 

Parents are invited to the school meeting room for coffee and refreshments

during class time between 9 & 10:15 AM.