Remembering the Birth of Christ

Well, we cannot bring sheep because we are not shepherds. I can’t even play a drum like the little drummer boy. But in some ways we can all be like the little drummer boy.

Each of us has a different gift to bring. We may have thought about it midway through Advent or perhaps even this day. Perhaps our gift may even be belated but that is ok because in God’s time everything is present time.

This is great news for those who are returning home. By virtue of your baptism you never left, you need to just fill in the blanks ---- what a Christmas gift to yourself and to your family!

Each week I am so blest to see more and more families with children attending Mass. This includes those with infants as well. You truly have the Holy Family as your role model. Even those who have drifted away on their return remember gathering for Mass on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Sometimes they do tell us that they got nothing out of it BUT they did remember that people came together for Mass.

As someone put it to me today, “Going to church on Christmas is tradition.” They are right but
I think that it was more than that. I think many did go every week but for some reason ceased.  It is time to come home. You have been gone too long.

You have explored life and in many cases have wondered what this world is coming to. There is so much violence. Television and movies  offer poor choices and shopping extravagance. It seems like we are living without limits.

If we go back to the birth of Christ we remember that He was born in a town far away because of the census. His parents, Mary and Joseph were following civil law but that was not enough for them. They also followed Jewish Law and Jesus was educated in the temple and attended services with His parents. My question is: How can we do less?

God bless you. See you at church.

Jeanne Schneider, Pastoral Assistant

813-689-4900 ext. 314

jschneider@ststephencatholic.org

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