As Catholics in the US it can be quite a contrast between being in Church on Sundays and the rest of our lives at this time of year.
In Mass we are making our way to Christmas - through the path of Advent - Sunday being reminded that we must repent of our sin - not a popular topic at any time of year.
Yet everywhere else, everyone is playing Christmas music; the decorations went up right after Thanksgiving; the focus is quite commercialized; buy, buy, buy.
One great advantage to being in the missions is the complete lack of this phenomenon. Advent is Advent / Christmas is Christmas. I am grateful for the three Advents and Christmas we enjoyed in Udon Thani, Thailand. We missed our family at this time of year more deeply, yet this experience now over 30 years ago, remains with me and calls me to celebrate both Advent and Christmas for their unique roll in our lives.
When we are preparing missionaries to serve long-term I find myself feeling like those on the hill in Thornton Wilder's play Our Town. If they are able to make a trip home during their three years, I always recommend doing it at some regular time of year, not at a holiday - just a regular day. Grover’s Corners, or any home town, our families and friends, can be appreciated anew when we have been away - yet coming home during a holiday may be overwhelming for some. Please keep all our Mission Doctors in your prayers as they miss their families – and remember also the families here, missing them.
Matthew’s Gospel (4: 16) that “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
As each candle is lit- they draw us closer to the celebration of the humble Incarnation of our God, - may we pause, and wait in joyful hope!
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