The 4th Sunday of Advent is very easy to overlook since we are only a week away from Christmas. If you put on the radio or stop in the stores, you would swear that Christmas has already come and gone, but as faithful disciples we know better. There is a holy waiting that we are engaged in right now, and this waiting allows us to truly prepare the way for God.

The late Fr. Henri Nouwen once wrote, in an article entitled “A Spirituality of Waiting”, that “a waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is the moment.” St. Joseph, whom we encounter in Matthew’s Gospel today, was certainly a man who waited for God’s moment. Joseph, although not entirely sure of God’s plan, did not doubt that God would reveal His will. As a result, Joseph cooperated in fulfilling God’s plan of salvation. He helped to fulfill what the Prophet Isaiah had prophesied hundreds of years before his time. He allowed the mystery of the Incarnation to penetrate his mind and heart and transform his life.

As we continue our preparation for Christmas, we truly wait for the Lord like St. Joseph with an active listening and an attentive disposition. We know that every moment is an encounter with the living God, and we eagerly anticipate what God is doing and will do in our lives.

Christmas Masses: Next weekend is the celebration of Christmas, of which you are no doubt aware. The Christmas Mass schedule, with additional scheduled Mass times, is listed below, as well as on our website. Assuredly there will be many visitors and an increased volume of people worshipping with us. I pray that we will all be welcoming and charitable, using this time as a great evangelization tool and an opportunity to encourage people to build their relationship with Christ. This parish is filled with people who are wonderful ambassadors for Christ; let us use this Christmas to share that gift with all those who come to us.

Thank you and Merry Christmas: On behalf of all the clergy and staff of Resurrection Parish; Merry Christmas to all of you and your families! Thank youfor the blessing that you are to all of us!