Dear Friends,
“Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us; and he will be called Wondrous God, Prince of peace, Father of future ages: and his reign will be without end.” These words from the alternate Entrance Antiphon for Mass on January 1 reminds us Whom we worship, praise, and adore at Christmas and throughout our lives. Today, New Year’s Day, is the octave day (eighth day) of Christmas. Our Christmas season will continue until Monday, January 9, the feast of the Baptism of our Lord.
Christmas, like Easter, is just too massive of a feast to be relegated to one day. The mystery of salvation and redemption was revealed gradually through many ages and then in the fullness of time. While the world hurries on to the next event, to the next celebration, we disciples tarry, ponder, worship, and adore Christ Jesus, God in Flesh and Blood, Emmanuel, God with us. I encourage you to keep listening to the Christmas carols and pausing in front of the Creche, looking at our newborn King.
And while we await in joyful hope Jesus’ second coming in glory, we gratefully rejoice in Jesus’ coming into us through the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Every time we receive Holy Communion, we become a manger for Jesus, a temple of His presence within us. Jesus feeds us with Himself to give us a participation in His divine life, the graces we need, the strength that we require to walk in His footsteps through this fragile, broken world, this valley of tears. This gift of Himself renews us, forgives us of venial sins, heals us, sets us free to be all God has created us to be.
Our readings today are most beautiful and compelling. Please reread them throughout this week and let your heart be filled with wonder and awe. Saint Paul puts it this way today, “As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.”
Have no fear, give in to no worries, let no anxiety fill your hearts. We are sons and daughters of our heavenly Father through the Blood of Jesus. We are heirs to heaven through Jesus and by God’s grace. Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and forever!
As I extend wishes for a blessed new year to you and your loved ones from all our priests, deacons, and parish staff, let us welcome Jude Arkesh Ragel to our parish family. As previously shared, he is a seminarian studying for Sri Lanka and Saint Eleanor will be his home away from home during these four years leading to his ordination. Pray for him and for all our seminarians.
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
