Walking With The Father: December 2018

December 16, 2018

What should we do to prepare for Christmas?


  • What should we do? Everyone thought John the Baptist was the saviour, but he wasn't. He said that while he was a prophet, he was nothing more than a messenger for the Messiah who was to come. So what should we do. John tells us to repent, and to make room for the Messiah. Repent means to ask God for forgiveness for our sins, which comes to us through the sacrament of reconciliation. Father Matthew calls on people to go to confession before Christmas.
  • Decorations in the home can help us to stir up preparation for Christmas, but we are to "make a straight path" for Jesus from our head to our heart. Starting a relationship begins with the head and leads to our heart. Knowing Jesus is totally different from loving Him. Reading the Gospel daily is one way to to help make straight the path from our head to our heart.
  • So the answer to the question, what should we do, is to make room in our heart for Jesus. Jesus is the reason for Christmas, and we should share this understanding with others by inviting someone to Mass. Repent and prepare a way for the Lord, our Saviour, Jesus Christ!

December 9, 2018

Advent and Confirmation enrollment


  • Are we ready and willing to enter into this time of preparation leading up to Christmas? Entering into the season of Advent, requires a maturity in our faith. God became one of us so that we may become one with God at the end of our lives. We require preparation and a concerted effort to make this Christmas more than just a family gathering and opening of gifts. The sacrament of Confirmation is also about maturing. Saying that I am old enough to agree and confirm that I want to be a disciple, and to live a life modeled after Jesus Christ. Your parents and godparents wanted this for you, and they brought you here today so that you can be the best Catholic that you can possibly be.
  • During these times of preparation, we are asked and tested to choose to make time for Jesus. Just as Mary and Joseph could have given up, they didn't, and they remained faithful. They passed all the tests, and we too are called to persevere and to grow in our faith, ultimately through our whole lifetime. How will we deal with the business over Christmas? We can decide to make room for Jesus, and to make Him the focus. You are the innkeeper of your heart, and to say we don't have time for Jesus would be similar to the inn keepers who closed their doors to Mary and Joseph. Let's help and support each other to mature and grow in our faith during this Advent. Jesus is the reason for Christmas. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Confirmation. Jesus is the reason we are here today. Amen.

December 2, 2018

Advent and 1st Communion enrollment


  • Advent is a time of waiting and of preparation. Everything worth while in life is worth waiting and preparing for. Athletes go through this when they train hard during a long season, and when they prepare for the final competition. For us, we are here today to support the children as they prepare for their 1st Communion. We are also preparing for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We are ready and willing to enter this season of Advent, and of waiting. Even today at Mass, we are preparing and waiting to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Father Matthew asks us to spend some time during Advent preparing by reading scripture. He recommends reading Advent reflections, and he invites parishoners to make a gift to Jesus.