Advent

Dear Parishioners,

The short season of Advent is here with the Prophet Isaiah proclaiming what the Lord in his kindness will do for his people. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, nor shall they train for war again.” These words still give comfort to us who live in a world of war and civil unrest.

Immediately following the words of Isaiah, we are swept into Matthew’s gospel, where we are confronted with floods and calamities. We are reminded that we must stay awake and be prepared for an hour we do not expect. The day of the coming of the Son of Man. We are reminded that we are to prepare ourselves for His coming into our lives, and then as a church make him known by bold proclamations and even bolder actions, that Emmanuel, “God with us,” is through us now, a reality for those who walk in darkness, and who live in the shadow of death.

We are called to be Emmanuel, God living with us. The one whom we prepare a place for, lives already in us through Baptism and Holy Eucharist. We are the dwelling place for the incarnate God, who became flesh and lived among us, and is still living among us until the end of time.

We are called to be children of light, so we light candles and decorate our trees and houses. It forshadows the beauty and splendor, and fullness of God’s Kingdom, our true home. If people could experience Emmanuel, God with us, in our lives, what a powerful transformation would happen in our community.

My prayer for all of us is that the season of Advent will be a time of encountering “the Christ,” in our wilderness, in our pain, in our anger, in our sadness, and most importantly in the brokenness of our hearts, this Christmas.

Father Gagne