Word from the Pastor

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Dear Parish Family,
On the one hand, salvation is God’s doing, and we cannot earn his blessings. This Sunday’s first reading from Prophet Isaiah emphasizes that, through his Son, God does all the saving. On the other hand, we must cooperate with God because He cannot force his grace upon us. That is why John the Baptist in this Sunday’s Gospel summons us to play our essential part by leading lives of repentance, conversion and renewal, thus preparing the way for the Lord’s second coming.

The readings for this Sunday teach us that the bad example of the unfaithful successors of King David had a negative influence on the Chosen People; they are wavering in their loyalty to Yahweh. Hence, Isaiah, in the first reading, tries to dispel their fears and stir up hope among his people with God’s promise of a new Davidic King, a son of Jesse, who will establish peace and a glorious kingdom of justice on earth. In the second reading, Paul is praying for the Jewish Christians of Rome and instructing them to draw endurance and encouragement from the Old Testament books. They are to live in harmony with Gentile Christians, accepting them as equals and brothers and sisters while they wait for the second coming of Jesus. In the Gospel, John the Baptist challenges the Pharisees and Sadducees to repentance, conversion and renewal. He also tells the common people who expect the Messiah to come in the near future, to act with justice and charity, letting their lives reflect the transformation that will occur when the Messiah enters their lives. As we are preparing to welcome Christ into our hearts at Christmas, John, in the same way, advises us to “prepare the way of the Lord.”

The message for us this Advent is that we need to prepare for Christ’s coming by allowing him to be reborn daily in our lives. Advent is a time for us to make this preparation by repenting of our sins and renewing our lives through prayer, penance, and the sharing of our blessings with others.

Let us remember the often repeated words of Alexander Pope: “what does it profit me if Jesus is reborn in thousands of cribs all over the world and not reborn in my heart?

Let us prepare way for Jesus to be reborn in our hearts during this season of Advent and every day of our lives, radiating his love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness and spirit of humble service to the world through our lives.

Happy Advent!

Fr. Jadotte
Pastor