Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (12/23/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

“…he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21)

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. We can read into situations, miss-understanding others and then act in a way that alienates us from them, the opposite of what we want. We do this out of our own insecurities and need for others, and then, somehow work against ourselves.

Then there are those times we know we should be making a better choice and we let it slide one more time. “No, I shouldn’t eat that, I need to be healthier in my diet,” then we indulge anyway, waiting for later to begin our good work. Or we react in a situation, doing what is against our deepest desire, like making a racial slur or not giving the new bank teller a break.

The good news of Advent is, that Jesus comes to us to save us, even from ourselves. He desires to save us from our sin, both the things we do that we know are not good, and the things we do that keep us from living in the fullness of his life. He desires to heal us so our relationships with one another can be an experience of his presence among us. There is no greater gift.

The most powerful experience for us in this world is the power of love shared between two people and that is what God desires for all his people. He comes with his healing that we may trust, he comes with his forgiveness that we may forgive and be forgiven, and he restores our hope in the goodness of life as we give ourselves to him.

Mary surrendered herself to the will of God. Joseph does the same in today’s Gospel, with much pain in the middle of the messiness of relationships. We find God-with-us when we surrender to the Lord our lives, our wills, and our desires. Its odd, but when we give up what we want most, we receive it a hundred-fold in Christ.

Let us let the Lord come to us and be our gentle teacher and guide. Let us not be afraid of the one who comes, for he comes to us with his peace and his joy. It is true what the angel said to Mary; there is nothing to fear, for we have found favor with God. God has chosen us and we can bear the fruit of the risen Christ in our lives. To believe in Christmas is to believe in what the Love of God can do in our lives.

Let us take time to remember and to own the fact that Jesus comes for each of us personally, and that Christmas is for us, not just the kids who wonder and hope with unbounded excitement and love. Let them remind us of what the Lord hopes for us with all his love, power and might.

May the Lord descend upon you with the same Spirit that descended upon Mary and Joseph, to lead you into the fullness of life now and forever.

In Christ’s peace, Fr. Leo