Message from Father Langan, December 16-17

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Gaudete!  Rejoice for the Lord is near.  Ever so quickly we have come to Gaudete Sunday marking the latter half of the Advent season.  Though the Scriptures are promoting a sense of joy, Isaiah, St. Paul, the Responsorial Magnificat, but the Gospel goes in a different direction.  Surely there is the joy of John the Baptist since he has encountered his relative Jesus the Messiah but he is hounded by the curiosity of the authorities whose motives are suspect.  

    Curiosity is one of those human traits that can be for good or for ill.  Think of the curiosity of Adam and Eve regarding the forbidden fruit.  It seems that when it comes to curiosity it can lead us down two paths.  John was curious regarding Jesus and that was indeed a good return (” are You the one or our we to expect another?”).  Our Lord satisfies his curiosity and provides peace to John’s heart.  That is where we would like curiosity to lead us, closer to the love and mercy of God.  While most of the time we are intrigued by what surrounds us and would like answers to life’s mysteries, perhaps in these final days of Advent we should have a little curiosity about ourselves.  Who am I? Where am I going? What truly brings happiness to my life?  The answers to these important questions are to be found in a thorough examination of conscience and subsequent encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession.  Take note of the opportunities to partake of the Sacrament that bestows comfort and peace and guarantees a truly joyous Christmas.

     Once again we have been gifted and blessed by a mystery donor.  I am referring to the beautiful and artistic wreaths on the front doors of  St Mary Magdalen Church.  Every year they just appear and we have no idea who makes them or gives them.  My curiosity is peaked but my gratefulness and that of our fellow parishioners is most assured.  Thank you.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Message from Father Langan, December 9-10

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    What good can come from the desert?  It seems lifeless, scorching, and foreboding and yet from this desolate place emerges the messenger of the Lord John the Baptist.  Our Savior Himself absconded to the desert before He began His public ministry and Isaiah the prophet predicts that something good will come from the desert.  It can be seen as the start of a new creation. After all, God created this universe “ex nihilo”, out of nothing, and in ushering the creation new and superabundant life comes forth in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

    In God’s unfolding plan He provides for a forerunner to prepare the way for the coming of the long-awaited One.  John the Baptist fulfils that mission.  By today’s standards the Baptist would be considered kind of kooky.  His hoary appearance would have turned off some people but it was the substance of his preaching and call to repentance that prepared a waiting world for the Savior.  Perhaps we should take a lesson from John and be a little kooky ourselves.  What if you, yes you, invited someone who for a long time has been away from the Church to come back and review once again what the Lord has done for them: Died for their sins, nourished them with the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist, and set them free from the gnawing guilt and remorse as a result of buried sin.  Would you be considered a bit kooky in encouraging them to go to confession.  Maybe so, but would you not be like John the Baptist.  Yor certainly would be in great company and I don’t think you have to fret too much about losing your head!

   Let these days of Advent be fruitful for you and those you care about by taking the risk and guiding your loved ones to the loving embrace of our Savior.

With Blessings,

Father Langan