Today we were instructed from our Intriot: “guadete” which means to “rejoice.”
As our Lord draws near we are reminded of all that we have to rejoice for within this life. We rejoice for despite sin and hardship our Lord comes in the silence of Christmas night born of a Virgin. From this reality we rejoice for peace was ushered into the world as the world had never known peace before. On Christmas it will be to this crèche that we will flock with our attention placed upon Christ and for this we will have every reason to rejoice.
Saint John the Baptist directs all attention towards Christ. In our Gospel he sends out his disciples to see if Jesus is the one to whom they must now follow. John the Baptist understands that he must decrease in order that He may increase. John the Baptist has no problem with the virtue of humility for he understands that he is not God and only the forebearer for the one who will come after Him. With this he states: “prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight.”
During this season of Advent we must come to take John the Baptist’s example to heart. We must realize that we are not the center of attention. We must realize that our life should always point towards the coming of the Christ. We should be found in preparation of the coming the Messiah. We should realize that we are to be found humble of heart.
One great gift at this parish is that of our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. The one who dwells here is the same Jesus Christ for whom John the Baptist longed. This is the same Jesus Christ who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose birth we now prepare for. This is the same Jesus Christ who died upon the cross in order that we may be forgiven of our sins. This is the same Jesus Christ who rose on the third day in fulfillment of the scriptures.
Despite all of this we have so many hours in our Perpetual Adoration chapel which go ignored. This is very serious because the Church does not asks, but demands at the very minimum two people are to be present whenever our Blessed Lord is exposed as we do in the chapel. If this cannot be accomplished then a parish cannot continue to have a Perpetual Adoration chapel.
It would be sad if we would have to cross that road. Thankfully, this parish community is large in number and filling the 24 hours which exist in a day should be possible. If there were to be a sale at the mall we would be lined up. If there were to be a concert of a beloved musician we would make sure to be there. If there were a sporting event taking place we would have a ticket. Why do we make sacrifices for so many things, but fail to make precedence for the Lord?
Today following Mass we have the gathering area set up to promote our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. To those who currently adore our Blessed Lord with a scheduled hour I thank you for your sacrifice, but know that it is filled with many blessings. To those who do not currently assist with our Perpetual Adoration Chapel please know that it is here and open to you and your family. It would be wonderful to see families set their sight upon the Lord together. From the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord asked His apostles as He asks all of us today: “Cannot you not stay awake with me for one hour? Truly, in our Lord we have every reason to rejoice. May we make way for Him to dwell among us.
