During this Advent season we have been trying to Bring Him Forth by 1) doing what is right and just, 2) letting our love increase, 3) having kindness to all, and 4) believing that what was promised is fulfilled. I hope that this Advent theme has been helpful for your Advent prayer and reflection. As you know we “borrowed” that phrase from St. Francis, who wrote in a Letter to All the Faithful:
We should never desire to be above others, but ought rather
to be servants and subject “to every human creature for
God’s sake.” And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon
all those who do these things and who shall persevere to
the end, and He shall make His abode and dwelling in
them, and they shall be children of the heavenly Father
whose works they do, and they are the spouses, brothers
and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are spouses
when by the Holy Ghost the faithful soul is united to
Jesus Christ. We are His brothers when we do the will
of His Father who is in heaven. We are His mothers when
we bear Him in our heart and in our body through pure
love and a clean conscience and we bring Him forth by
holy work which ought to shine as an example to others.
We pray that this spirit will continue as we move into a New Year, and that we will all do what we can to “bring Him forth” and “unleash the Gospel” in our parish, families, and society.
On behalf of the Friars and the Parish Pastoral Team, I wish you all a very blessed and joyful Christmas season. Thank you for your generosity and many expressions of kindness to us and the parish. May 2019 be a year of grace and blessing for all of us.
Fr. Jeff