Rector’s Christmas Message
December 17, 2009
Rejoice!! Rejoice!!
My Fellow Parishioners,
Over the four Sundays of Advent, we sing O Come! O Come! Emanuel, in preparation for Christmas Day, when we celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is similar to the waiting that we do for the arrival of a new child into our personal family, whether by natural birth or adoption. And when the day comes, we act like the shepherds in the Gospel of Luke, glorifying and praising God. We rejoice, give thanks to God and become like town criers.
Two thousands years ago, at the birth of Jesus Christ, life went on as usual. Mary and Joseph rejoiced. The angels’ visits that we read about in Matthew and Luke, told them that this was no ordinary birth: This child was the Son of God now come to earth. He was a Gift from God.
Jesus Christ continues to be a Gift from God our Father in so many ways as we live our lives. In times of our anxiety, He is the Prince of Peace. When we are ill, He comes as our healer. When our lives seem to be going in sundry direction, Jesus is our conductor and guide. To those who are under the addiction of drugs or alcohol or sex, he gives freedom and hope for restoration of wholeness of life. When death comes to a family member, we need and receive His comfort to keep us going and carry us through. The Babe of Bethlehem, whose birth we are about to celebrate is the Gift that never stops giving.
As we join our relatives and friends, rejoice in seeing one another, and catch up on the family good news, let us keep in the forefront of everything that Jesus our Savior continues to abide with us and help us to lead Godly lives . His love is a never ending source of strength in good times and bad.
When the Wise Men came to the Manger, they brought gifts of Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense. Jesus is the Gift That Keeps on Giving. Let us rejoice and give thanks always.
Father Thomas