Greetings from Fr. Dave

Here we go into the final days before Christmas! Our Filipino community begins their annual novena of Masses and prayer on Sunday night this weekend, in anticipation of Christmas. The growing anticipation is obvious in our school children, and I know our college students are glad to have finals over.
 
This weekend our Scripture readings call us to keep this time of waiting in proper perspective. This is not yet heaven! We are reminded of that over and over in our own lives, in our relationships, and in our world that is so far from being at as it should be.
 
I want to suggest that rather than giving in to the natural inclination to be frustrated and angry, we see these signs of incompleteness as an opportunity to do two things.
 
First, an opportunity to remind ourselves that what we are most deeply yearning for is the full coming of God’s Kingdom: a time of universal peace, full satisfaction, unity, justice, and overall goodness. Second, an impetus for us to be even more diligent in this time of waiting (not just for Christmas!) to be looking for ways we can bring kindness, thoughtfulness, and reconciliation into our dark world. Try praying the Our Father slowly and reflectively with these two thoughts in mind and see how well this prayer expresses our yearnings and our hope.
 

As you are making plans for our Christmas Masses, I remind you we have HUGE overflow crowds. I need to ask each of you to turn on your greatest patience and friendliness. May each person who joins us, especially those visiting who do not regularly go to church, find welcome and joy.
 
I know this doesn’t sit well with some of you, but please go easy on “saving seats.” It is so unwelcoming for people seeking a seat to be told “these are saved.” And, as we have alerted you before, the 3:00pm Mass is the typically the most crowded. God bless all of us, and help us remember we are here to honor the Birth of Jesus!!!!
 

Blessings to Jordan Tudela and Elias Vergara, who were baptized last week!