From the Pastors Desk

I have a picture book that I have used so much that it has practically worn out. One day when I found another copy of the book in a remainder sale, I purchased it. The book is entitled, “The Faces of Jesus.” It is full of paintings, carvings, and sculptures of Our Lord. For 2,000 years Christians have painted, carved, described, drawn, and imagined Jesus.

I use the book in the classroom. Everyone loves to look at pictures and more so, to find one’s favorite picture of Jesus. There is a strong carving of the face of Jesus in hardwood from Africa in the 20th century. All the teenagers love this picture.

My favorite is a carving in ivory from France in the 13th century. The Virgin is seated with the Child Jesus in her lap. The infant is smiling up at his mother and is “chucking” her under her chin. How often have we seen a mother and child in such a pose! It is so human, so simple, and at the same time, the Madonna holds in her arms Jesus, the Son of God. And more than that Jesus, the Son of God, is laughing with his mother. Like all mothers, Mary comforts her child in her arms, suckles the child, and cleanses him. God comes among us like one of us. God comes so close among us.

The Christmas season is fast upon us. So much of what we do in these hectic days has nothing to do with that child held in his mother’s arms. I want to remind all of us of how close our God is to us. I want us all to draw strength and comfort from a God who loves us so much, with the same love that a mother pours out upon her child. A mother holding her child in her arms has everything to do with the Christmas story.

Take time to remind yourself of the simplicity and the sacredness of the Christmas season. Join us for Christmas Mass. Make time for the sacrament of confession. Give with a generous heart to others in need.

In the favorite Christmas carol, “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” there is a verse that never made much sense to me. It goes like this, “God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb.” That always sounded strange until I discovered what it really says. Some prude changed the words! What it actually means is “He is born from the body of a young woman.” Jesus is begotten, not created, of Mary, his mother.

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb:
Very God,
Begotten, not created,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Christmas is a magical time, for these days of the story of the birth of Jesus remind us each year of how much God cares about us. God comes close to us, never to depart. Do not let anyone tell you that you are not loved, forgiven, graced, and blessed by God. His son, Jesus, has come among us to make us new again. Make some room in your busy schedules to simply wait for God to come into your lives. Make some time to invite Jesus to be born again into your life. Make some time to sit quietly, to visit Church, and to pray for your family.

May the twelve days of Christmas fill you with the joy of God’s only begotten Son coming to life in your lives! May God bless you and yours!

–– Msgr. Frank Kelley