As we finish the first week of December and find ourselves on the second Sunday of Advent, we might also find ourselves counting the days (by the way, 18 more days until Christmas). Sometimes we get in the mode of counting these days, and when we do so, we really don’t give ourselves a chance to enjoy ourselves and take time to really prepare for what is to come. Yes, it’s hard to relax sometimes. Our list of things to do in these next weeks before Christmas is probably growing longer by the day! If we just concentrate on our lists, we will miss out on a great opportunity to grow closer to the Lord.
If you didn’t have an opportunity to go to our parish penance service this past week, please check the schedule in the bulletin for additional penance services at our Kalamazoo area parishes. Since the number of priests isn’t as abundant as it was in years past, we help each other out as much as possible to serve the people who come to our parishes. This is indeed a great time to prepare ourselves and be thankful for what God did for each one of us. He gave us His only Son so that we all would have a way to return back to Him and not be separated from Him.
The second candle that we light this Sunday is known as the Bethlehem candle. It stands not only for peace, but also for preparation. I think all of us need peace in our lives, especially the peace that Christ can bring. The night that Christ was born brought great peace to the world. It was a gift from God to bring that great peace. Let us pray and ask the Lord this week for peace in our lives and in the lives of our families and our friends.
This Monday, December 8th, is the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Since this is the Patronal feast day for the United States, it is a Holy Day of Obligation. We will celebrate two Masses here on Monday at 9:15 AM and 7:00 PM in the evening.