CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
 

As I sit before my computer on Christmas Eve, 2020, I think about the past. The first thing that comes to my mind is my childhood memories of relief that the long period of waiting for Christmas (and especially presents) to arrive was coming to an end. Beyond that are the memories of the family traditions that made this time of year so special. Each year, my brothers, sisters and I would dress up as the biblical figures and present our own ‘living Nativity’ scene. We didn’t have the tradition of opening any gifts on Christmas Eve, but were usually awakened around four or four-thirty Christmas morning with the shout of “Santa came!!,” then later in the morning the routine of getting ready and going off to Christmas Mass and later in the afternoon, heading to my aunt and uncle’s house to gather with relatives for their annual open house. I am sure you have your own special memories and traditions of these festive days. I certainly don’t have to remind anyone that many of those traditions have to be postponed this year. (In fact, I just received an invitation from my brother to join a family Zoom gathering this evening – another first for us.)

My thoughts also go further back to the time none of us lived through, but hopefully know just as well. Thousands of year’s ago to the stable in Bethlehem where a child was born in the most unusual circumstances. Perhaps this year of anxiety and fear, darkness and despair, we can experience the light of hope and joy, peace and serenity in even greater measure. Each year, as I prepare my Christmas homily, I struggle with going beyond just saying the same thing year after year, but hopefully we can all appreciate the message in a new way. I often talk about the changes that a child brings to the lives of his or her parents and family, and the new perspective to life and priorities that the child brings, as well as the renewed hope for the future. The child whose birth we celebrate each December 25^th has had and continues to have an effect not just on our immediate family, but on all. Jesus brings true happiness and joy, comfort and reassurance, peace and good-will to each one of us. I hope that we can all experience that in a deeper way this year!

Knowing that I will not be able to celebrate with many of you who are wisely avoiding gathering outside of your household this year, I wanted to reach out to you to assure you that you are not forgotten by your fellow parishioners or myself, and will be remembered in a special way at all of our Masses for Christmas. Please continue to pray for all of us here and especially for those whose lives have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Finally, on behalf of all of us here at the parish, we wish you and your family a very Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Fr. Dan Fawls