Wanted: Both Joyful and Weary Travelers to Rest Here a While

Welcome to all, parishioners and visitors alike, for this worship celebration of Christmas!  The beauty of this season is inspiring, and together with the nostalgia of Christmases past and the idealism of a season of peace, they give us plenty of reasons to look forward to this time of year. Above all, the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ – Emmanuel: God with us – reminds us how loved each of us is: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) So we rejoice with the angels, singing “Glory to God in the highest!” and “Joy to the world!”

I sincerely hope you are experiencing that kind of joy this Christmas, especially as we conclude a year when many of us got back to gathering with loved ones, traveling, and returning to other things we enjoy. On any given Christmas, however, some of us might also have things that are trying to rob us of that joy. When that happens, we might feel like we’re the only one whose Christmas is not “bright and cheery”, but you are not alone. This year it seems that many are affected by a general tiredness – not necessarily from lack of sleep, but more of a spiritual weariness. The things we used to do are not always giving us the same joy and peace, even at Christmas when we are “supposed to be” happy.

The first Christmas was also less than ideal. I bet Mary and Joseph would have much preferred to have Jesus born at home instead of amongst the dirty animals and smelly shepherds! More importantly, they would have appreciated the support of family, a midwife, and others to reassure them they were not alone as they faced an already challenging, unexpected pregnancy. On some level, we can identify with these weary travelers, and there is consolation in knowing they share our experiences, too.

This is one of the reasons Jesus established his Body, the Church, as an integral part of our walk with Him – so we are not alone: in Christ, God is with us and we are with each other. In our parishes of St. Martha and St. Mary, we strive to embody the values we chose for our Catholic collaborative: love, welcoming, compassion, and boldness. All four values call us to be faithful to Christ and to others. Welcoming and compassion are always positive expressions, while Christian love and boldness might call us to affirm or to challenge one another – always with the goal of lifting each other closer to God and the fullness of life Jesus wants for all of us. We need all of these qualities from our Catholic community in the Church to help revive us to move beyond our spiritual weariness!

So welcome, fellow traveler, on our journey with Jesus – from his birth, our growing with him throughout life, and as he leads us through our sufferings and losses to share in his resurrection. We lift you and your loved ones up in prayer daily, and look forward to sharing the journey with you!