4th Sunday of Advent

4 ^th Sunday of Advent
 
Last week I was referencing the fun we have playing hide and seek. The problem with hide and seek is that it stops being fun when I can’t find the prize. I have to get a hint. The Lord told Ahaz in the first lesson today to ask for a sign. Isaiah got vexed with Ahaz. “Listen, O House of David!!! It is not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign.” What is the signpost that will point me the way to Bethlehem? How will I know it when I find it? We are all very familiar with the story of the Nativity, the story of the birth of Jesus. It is romantic and poetic. It is very sweet. Even with all our sophistication we love to come close to the Manger. We always come with the expectation and the desire to be moved at the sight. We have a lovely Nativity in St. Catherine’s. It should be lovely. It cost us a fortune. All through Christmas I watch as families come close to look at the sight. People stand before it and take photos. It means something to us. The story of the Nativity of Jesus is beautiful in its poverty. It is unsophisticated. It speaks to a time and place that is now very far from us. We are all centrally heated and wrapped up warm today. But the story calls to us. It calls to the heart that yearns. I want to have my personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. I want Him to speak to me alone. I want to be moved by Christmas. Christmas Carols are great because they make us all melt. Give me a couple of verses of “Away in a Manger” and I am a blubbering bundle of childhood and tears. I am not crying because I am sad. I am crying because the message of Jesus overwhelms me in a good way. My heart says that this is beautiful. When I am left to myself I am completely a believer. But then, people come and distract me. Noise enters in. Distraction comes. Sometimes all I get at Christmas is a moment of connection with the Lord that I love. Sometimes that is all I have for the year. I wish for more but it is hard to make the connection when other people are roaring and shouting all around me. But, that’s OK. I drink from the cup of grace and I am satisfied for another year.  
With love, Fr. Pat