Sometimes it seems religion and science describe two different worlds. The world of science and nature is the one that roots us in our daily lives. Religion, on the other hand, is about a world we hope exists but we cannot see. (Unfortunately, science sometimes discredits the knowledge Faith gives.)

Some think when we talk about religion we have to put our knowledge of this world on the shelf (Eg. our knowledge of astronomy.) Our Faith tells us Jesus “came down from heaven”, “he suffered death and was buried . . . and rose again”, then he “ascended into heaven”, and “is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

The words seem to indicate a heaven situated a few miles above us, from which he “came down” and then “ascended” back. It’s like a palace in the air with two chairs set side by side. One chair is for God the Father (he’s the older looking one with the silver hair); the other for the Son (who’s a youngish man (33) wearing sandals and a beard. This is Heaven.

Add to this Jesus saying, “in my Father’s house there are many mansions. . . I am going to prepare a place for you.” Jn. 14:2 and one can imagine a place not unlike Candyland. There’s the Candy Castle and there on his throne is King Candy.

I’m not trying to be a smart aleck here. This is what the words of the bible can cause us to imagine about God and Jesus and heaven. And these imaginings can seem childish next to the hard and sometimes scary facts about the limitless cosmos.

What can we say to help here? I think the first thing to remember is the difference between believing and imagining. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” This is a statement of faith . . there is one God, and all that is, comes from God.

But then we imagine. “What did making the earth look like?” Michelangelo tried his brilliant best in the Sistine Chapel. Remember that painting of God the Father on the cloud reaching out with his divine finger to touch the finger of the sleeping Adam? Did it really look like that? No. But does it convey a truth? Of course. God created us out of love. How exactly? We don’t know. Science can help here.

Or the story of Adam and Eve, the Serpent and the Apple. Did the “Fall of humanity” look like that? No. But is it true? Was there a moment, when, by the actions of the first human couple, we have become strangers to God and to ourselves? Absolutely!! (Read St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans Ch. 7).

So, two things are happening here. The WHAT of Faith and the HOW it happened.

• The WHAT of Faith . . . God the Eternal has come into our world from outside time and space to become one with the human race in the man Jesus.
• The HOW it happened . . . the Nativity scene or most any Christmas card.
• The WHAT of Faith . . . Jesus ascends into heaven to be with the Father and Holy Spirit.
• The HOW it happened . . . The picture in the dome at Holy Trinity Church or El Greco’s “Ascension”.

The church wants us to know what is true; then artists and poets imagine the visuals. Science offers some facts and then some theories. Some of those are helpful and inspir- ing. Some are silly and wrong. What is needed is a deeper understanding of MYSTERY. And science needs to keep in its lane as to what it knows and what it doesn’t know. How does science describe the moment of creation? The best it’s come up with so far . . . “something went Bang!”

There’s lot’s more to talk about here. Another time perhaps.

Hey it’s winter . . . stay warm . . . I’m in Florida! Heh, heh.

Fr. Tim

In these days, marked by Covid, political malfunction, social distancing, it might be well to tell you, good reader, how happy my life as a priest has been.

There is of course the happiness of marriage and family life: spousal love, the birth of children and their thousand “firsts” (first step, first word, etc.), holidays, vacations, family nights. Everyone knows these joyful moments.

Did you ever wonder about the secret happiness of a priest? I am convinced that few people know the joys of a priest’s life. I’m sure Fr. John has his list of the happiness of priesthood. Here’s a list of mine.

• The surprising newness of the tools of our trade: the psalms, scripture, the prayers of the sacraments, al- ways seem fresh and full of power to touch and heal.
• The beauty of the liturgical seasons and the “inside” experience priests have of them each year.
• Secret moments just between God and me.
• The deep peace in knowing we were used by God in very specific ways to help a soul that was burdened with sorrow or sickness.
• Watching the beauty of a bride come down the aisle to meet her soon to be husband, and to know our lives as Priest/Bridegroom, point to the Bride yet to come 􏰁􏰁􏰁􏰁 The New Jerusalem.
• Of course the confessional . . . we see the guilt and burden of sin lifted from God’s children. The hope and faith that gets fanned into flame with the words “I absolve you . . .”. (The humble and tender way people speak their sorrow for sin never ceases to touch my heart. “Lord, do you see how much they love you?”, I tell God.)
• The love of God’s people who look at us at times as they would look upon Christ. (Oh how I wish I were as good as your kindness toward me). How touching is your love for the priest.
• The privileged and sacred moment in the pulpit when the living Word of God comes out of you and is received by His people. It’s a holy moment, a goose bump moment.
• To be called “Father” and know it means something very good.
• To have wise old priests, with battle worn faces, light up when they greet you. Their humble lives have been poured out for thousands of people. Now, older and bent, they smile a secret smile. (Fr. John and I love our Saturday night dinners with our brother priests.)
• To see the Paschal Mystery up close. That means: through suffering and death to self, we experience a victory over sin and selfishness . . . and the love of Christ poured into our hearts. I’ve seen this in so many of you in your darkest hour your Faith.
• The collar. I like wearing it; sometimes for the stares it gets.
• Convocation – seeing my fellow priests all together each year with our bishop. Watching the grey hairs grow!! (or have fled entirely!).
• Time. (I love this one). You can use it as you see fit. In a sense there is no “inconvenient time”. The priest’s time is meant to be spent on the people and their needs 􏰁 􏰁 not a time clock at work.

There are lots more I could mention. (Be sure, of course, there is another list of sad or difficult times for the priest. We all have a list like that). But after 43 years as a priest (Fr. John’s 57!), I can honestly say I’d be a priest again in a heartbeat.

Let me end with a message to our young men. Take a look into your heart. God is calling you to give your life for others. Could it be he’s calling you to be His Priest?

I’m praying for you.

Fr. Tim

I’m sitting here on a Monday looking out my office window. It’s currently 18 degrees outside under gray skies. I’m searching for something to talk to you about that you might find of some interest. I’m not finding it.

Things feel kind of flat this morning. The Sunday masses, RCIA class, and two baptisms are all done. Covid concerns are popping up every where it seems. The cold and gray will be here for what? 3? 4 more months? I’m starting to get into a mood. Ever happen to you?

So let’s talk about “moods”. Webster is always a good starting place: “Mood: a temporary state of mind. A pervading quality of feeling at a particular moment.” They come in all shades, don’t they. Good ones, happy ones, sad, bored, excited. But the ones we talk about the most, are the bad ones. (Just like the news we watch on TV, good news doesn’t get the headlines.) We expect to feel good/okay in the normal course of things and pay it no attention. It’s the bad moods we’re most aware of.

I think it depends on how old you are to see how bad moods can affect us. Remember when as a child, you took sick to your stomach?, Christmas failed to bring a new bike?, a rainedout baseball game? The world was about to end.

Teenagers collapse at the sign of a pimple, a “C” in English class, being laughed at in the cafeteria, getting snubbed by the “in group”. Later on in life, disappointments with work, a failed relationship, ones “status” compared to others can send us off, not just to a mood, but to a permanent way of viewing life as a disappointment.

Combine that with the way we are wired (some have a natural tendency to see life’s cup as half empty) and soon we discover there needs to be a governor that regulates and disciplines our moods. Otherwise they carry us off. Our feelings begin to tell us who we are.

With age, we begin to discover that’s not true. We’ve been up and down and all around enough to realize “this too shall pass”. Think back. Aren’t you glad you didn’t act on your first impulse? You didn’t quit whatever; you didn’t make that angry phone call; you waited till the mood passed. And it did pass. Didn’t it?

So here are some tips from an old man about how to deal with bad moods.

• Don’t believe the message that we should be happy all the time. The entertainment industry makes millions portraying life as it should be   endlessly exciting and fulfilling. It can be at times, but not how they think.
• Don’t think there’s something wrong with you if your moods happen to be sad. Hey, life has these moments. We can learn from them but not be ruled by them.
• If the moods last and become a constant worry or sadness, TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THEM. Sometimes just speaking our feelings to a friend can be like a medicine. It connects us to a trusted person. (That person may be a priest or doctor if you think it might help.)
• Get out of yourself. Focus on something that needs doing (like this bulletin!) Who needs your help?
• Please, please . . . don’t make any life changing decisions in the spell of a bad mood. Wait. (An old priest friend of mine went a step further to say, “Don’t ever make an important decision after the sun goes down. Wait till the light of daytime.” Why? Because our enemy fear moves better at night.)
• Lastly. You are a Child of God. You are loved. That fact remains. Moods don’t.

Guess what? I’m outa that mood!!

Fr. Tim

We pray each day, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done.” Jesus tells us, “whoever does the will of my Father is brother and sister to me.” (Matthew 12:50). And he himself, that terrible night in the garden prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

So the question is, what does God want? What is His will for us?

Here begins the long story of the human race and the tragic results of not doing God’s will. Remember the Garden with Adam and Eve. God’s will was filled with many wonderful commands: “be fertile and multiply (have lots of kids!)” “Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and every living thing.” (Genesis 1:26) God’s wish is that we be master of all creation.

However . . . our dominion was to be exercised in obedience to God’s will. “You are free to eat of any of the trees in the garden but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” You know the story; we disobeyed.

Why? We had everything we could want. A wonderful partner for life, food galore, and best of all . . . friendship with our Maker. What happened to make us disobey? Adam and Eve say they were “tricked”. The Tempter (aka. the devil) got them thinking that God’s way was unfair. “You won’t die,” said the serpent. “You will become like God!” And God doesn’t want you to be his equal, we could add.

Ever since then, we humans have had this feeling that God is not to be trusted; that He wants to keep us under His thumb! Somehow we got it into our heads that God was a grumpy taskmaster that didn’t want us to be happy or free. When we take the time to even think about it, we feel God saying, “Don’t do that or that or that!” God is no fun!

This is all part of the devil’s trick. He wants to turn us away from God’s plan for us; to doubt that He even cares about us. (I bet you’ve had these feelings).

And this is exactly why God sent His Son   to show us who He is, and to correct our understanding of God. Jesus spent his whole life trying to get us to see what God is like. He tells us to call Him “Father”. Parable after para- ble tell of His love for us, His forgiveness, the plan to share His divine nature with by accepting Christ into our life. God is offering us Eternal Life!

Now, we need to ask a question here. It’s about your REAL happiness. Haven’t you found that when you put yourself aside to meet the needs of others, when you’ve been generous with your time, your kindness, your truthfulness, that you discover a happiness “the world cannot take away”? It’s a feeling that might be described as “clean” or “right with God” or (if you’re a theologian!) “integral”. It’s a happiness that brings peace and gentleness and self control.

But let’s go back to that garden where Jesus, filled with fear, surrenders to his Father’s will. It certainly was not a moment of peace and happiness. It was a moment of TRUST and OBEDIENCE. Jesus trusted in His Father’s plan of salvation for humankind. He trusted that, somehow, through the selfless offering of his life on the cross, there would be the manifestation of GOD WHO IS LOVE.

True to His Son’s word, God the Father raised Christ from the dead to be “the first fruits of all who have died . . so too shall all be brought to life.” 1 Corinthians 15: 20-23

Life with God forever in Christ. How’s that for happy? God’s will is our peace.

Fr. Tim

Christianity is the single most important event in the history of the human race. It has given us an understanding of who we are as human beings. We are children of God and heirs to Eternal Life with God.

Through its older sister, Judaism, Christianity has come to know that there is one God. This one God has created the world as a reflection of his goodness. The man and the woman are the Crown of that creation and bear a re- semblance to the Creator like no other creature in the universe.

In Jesus Christ we come to know our purpose in life here on earth (to love God and our neighbor as ourselves). And by his Resurrection we know that in Christ we are called to be with God forever.

This astounding fact has set us FREE. We have broken the chains of the primeval world. Previous powers enslaved us. Idolatry, superstition (no more rabbit’s foot!), and magic have been shown for what they are   nothing.

Christianity’s grasp of reality has changed the world. Such things as democracy, universities, science and scientific method, medicine, modern art (realism), farming, and charity toward the poor all have their inspiration from Christ’s invitation to seek the Truth. Jesus tells us “Obey my teaching and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31

Freedom gives life meaning . . . either good or bad . . . depending on us.

We need to be careful. All is not well yet. In spite of over 2000 years of Christianity, the world is still in process. The wound dealt to God’s creation by the free disobedience of the human race continues to affect every one of us.

And the wound? A hunger for autonomy from God, a desire to be free from any norm that requires my obedience. We all have this. Call it what you want, “my bad self”, “selfishness”, “the rebel in me”. Faith calls it the “original sin” . . . in you and me and the world.

Anyone over six years of age has experienced this strange and intoxicating desire. Most of us learn the hard way; we follow these impulses toward pleasure, excitement, and selfgratification till we discover that their promise of happiness was a lie.

So how do we get it right? The first thing we need to do (and if this doesn’t happen we’re lost!) is realize we have this rebel in us. (Please tell me you’ve met this part of yourself right? That rebel . . . you!). It shows itself in a “me first” way of looking at life. It starts small, and seems harmless, but if left unimpeded, it will create a world of its own, separate from God who gives us life.

We’re going to need some help here. We can’t heal the tendency we have to seek our own world unbothered by the duties of loving.

Here’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. He frees us from ourselves, knowing that in Christ, we have our hearts de- sire. It’s all there is Sacred Scripture.

“The Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children . . . and since we are his children we will possess with Christ what God has kept for him.” “For there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:17, 39.

Happy New Year.

God is with you.

Fr. Tim

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family, what a team!. Mary, the mother, was conceived without sin (Immaculate Conception), Joseph (a just and faith filled man) and Jesus, God in human flesh . . . it sounds like a household of Super Heroes. They’re certainly not like MY family.

Before we look at this saintly group, let’s look back a bit at the whole idea of “family”. That familiar picture we have: the house with the picket fence, the kids playing in the front yard; mom, in her apron getting dinner ready and dad, just back from work, calling out “Honey, I’m home!”    is really a fairly recent view of a middle class home.

To go back a thousand years or so, “family” was more like a “clan” or a tribe. That African saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” is evident in much of history. In primitive times, with dangers lurking in nature (lions!) and neighboring peoples (Those Hatfields!), an extended family was the best way to insure safety and a co operative way of getting things done.

We see evidence of this in Jesus’ childhood. When he was 12, his whole “extended family” in Nazareth traveled by caravan to Jerusalem. Jesus was gone from Mary and Joseph for a day or so with no apparent concern from his parents. “As they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it, thinking he was in the caravan (with the rest of the relatives)” Luke 2:43, 44. They returned to Jerusalem and “after three days (!) they found him in the temple.”

So what does “family” look like today? It comes in many shapes and sizes.

Blended families, single parent families, extended, adopted etc. What does your family look like? Mine has shrunk somewhat. Mom and dad are gone over 10 years so the Horan’s are 3 (Patty, Tim, and Maureen). This is what I mean when I say “I’m visiting family”.

How about your family? Big? Small? Just you? We look at photos of Christmas’s past and we smile . . . or tear up a bit. Over the years family changes, doesn’t it?

But something about belonging to a family never changes; it’s where we learn how to give and receive love. St. Pope John Paul called the family the “School of Love”. It’s where we learn to live for others and accept others kindness in turn. Family is where we help each other come to know the goodness of God. It’s been called the “Domestic Church”.

Now here’s the exciting part . . . real family, described above, can happen anywhere, with any group of people. Jesus himself pointed to this. Remember the story of Jesus preaching in a crowded house. “Someone told him, ‘your mother and brothers are standing outside wishing to speak with you.’” Jesus said in reply, ”who are my moth- er and brothers?” And stretching out his hand he said, “here is my (family). Whoever does the will of my Heavenly Father is mother, brother and sister to me.” Matthew 12: 48,49.

It’s a new kind of family. One that is intended and sustained by the will of God. The Family of Christ. The Church in the widest sense, people of good will, seeking to love God and neighbor as Jesus has instructed us.

And guess what? This family is thicker than blood or ethnicity. Its Father is our Heavenly Father; Mary is its mother. We all are God’s Children. Please help Holy Trinity Church be a part of Christ’s Family by the way we treat all who join us.

Welcome brother! Welcome sister!

Bless this Family.
Fr. Tim

Let’s get ready. There’s going to be a great celebration. Everyone in Webster and beyond is invited. Let’s celebrate Christmas here in our house at Holy Trinity. Let’s make it a total GIFT to everyone. We’re going to need everyone’s help to make this a proper celebration.

So how shall we get ready?

• Music? Clare are the choirs ready?
• Church decoration? Beautiful!
• Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, ushers . . .ready?
• Fr. Tim do you have something to say for the homily? (We hope!)

How about you? Are you ready to welcome all who come to the Christmas masses? This is your home. These are our welcomed and honored guests. Holy Trinity needs you to be ready to host this great event. What’s your role? You are the voice and smile and handshake of our parish. So some thoughts as to how “be our best”.

First off, what NOT to do:

• Glare at people who’s children are fussing and cranky. We’ve all been there.
• “You’re sitting in my pew.” Is not the way we want to welcome people.
• Make people climb over you so you can keep the aisle seat (No, move in! It’s a gracious way of saying “glad you are here.”)
• Roll your eyes when people’s talking bothers you.
• Feel superior when something happens that lets you know “these people never come to mass”. Give them a look that tells them “I’m here every week and you’re NOT!”
• Leave church right after you receive Holy Communion.
• Be in a hurry to get out of the parking lot. It’s Christmas! Take your time. Enjoy even the inconveniences of the day.

What to do:

• “Merry Christmas!” is totally appropriate before mass begins. Say it to everyone, not just your family.
• Expect total strangers to be sitting all around you. Think of them as your cousins whom you’ve not seen for a while. Let them know somehow how glad you are for their being there. Compliments before and after mass . . . “Oh your children look wonderful. What a nice family you have.” Or more general, “That hat! Christmas come early?” . . . you’ll think of something.
• If the numbers in church make seating scarce let someone take your seat . . . a Christmas gift to a total stranger. It’s what we do.
• Expect things to be a little different than a usual Sunday at Holy Trinity. More people (yea!), more congestion, more standing, more of everything. It’s Christmas!!
• As was said, be the face of Holy Trinity for those around you. Your smile, your handshake, your readiness to give up your pew, your singing, are all part of the gift this parish wants to be for those who join us that day. Who knows what your kindness might begin in them.
• We want people to experience Christ. Chances are it may be through you.

So ready, set, here we go.

God bless you very much this week.

Fr. Tim

Webster (the dictionary!) defines joy as “a very glad feeling.” Theologians, as usual, complicate things by splitting joy in two: sensible joy and intellectual (spiritual) joy.

Sensible joy is easy to describe. Think of finishing your favorite meal done just the way you like it. Or, hearing your favorite song by the original band; the smell of lilac on a sunny spring day.

Joy may be either the action itself (the tasting, seeing, feeling) or the pleasant state that accompanies the achieving of this good thing (. . . how’s that for over analyzing?!)

Spiritual joy is different. It may have similar feelings attached to it (gladness, cheeriness) but it goes deeper than something pleasing to the senses. It has its origin in an awareness of a “Good” that has been obtained through virtuous action.

For example, a swimmer exerts themselves for months to train for the big meet. They experience joy when they see their efforts have paid off with their best time ever. The joy is in the awareness.

OR, you stuck with someone who was going through a hard time. Everyone was down on this person and any- one who hung out with them (you). You resisted all urges to run away and you never wavered in your friendship. Suddenly you both realize that this is what friendship really means. This is a joy!

Spiritual joy usually comes with some effort of the will, some “doing the right thing.” With little effort there is little joy.

So what are your moments of joy? Of laugh out loud happiness? A sense of wonder at this world’s beauty so strong it makes you choke up? Here’s a few of mine. What are yours?

Moments of Joy:

• High School Senior year. Beating previously undefeated Gilmore Academy in triple overtime. I didn’t play one second of the game but the joy it brought on the bus ride home showed me God is real and present.
• 21 yrs. old. Standing on the 17 tee at Durand Eastman, suddenly knowing that Rochester is where I wanted to live my life.
• Handel’s Messiah. Pure joy. Also Samuel Barber’s “Adagio”. I can die in peace.
• A dream I had about God a long time ago. I can still feel what it was like.
• The change of seasons brings joy (and a sweet sadness sometimes which is a weird kind of joy too).
• Many memories of friends and their great kindnesses.
• The times (there have been many) of uncontrollable, fall on the ground, close to tears, laughter.
• Being a priest and seeing God touch people’s lives.
• Watching children be children.
• Knowing (because Christ said so) that it’s all going to turn out all right. Love wins. Darkness and hatred are on the losing team. Let’s spend this life doing the things He asked of us. This purpose in life brings joy.

Of course, all moments of joy are simply a foretaste of the joy, the Lord wanted us we were created to experience . . . the vision of the limitless beauty and goodness of God.

“Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered the mind what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Two weeks to go ……………… wait ……………. Pray.

Fr. Tim

Some years ago I was having coffee with a friend in a family restaurant in town. In the background was the oh so familiar tune of Jingle Bells playing slightly louder than was comfortable. “Oh what fun it is to ride . . . “ This was followed by that new classic of recent years, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. . .“Oh Rock’n around the Christmas tree at the Christmas Party Hop …”

Somehow my ”holiday spirit” sank pretty low. Why do they do that to us? Why do they start the Christmas music five weeks too early and play it at a volume that is at least as loud as “Are You Ready For Some Football?” on Monday nights?

We get hooked. It’s one of a kind music and fresh every year . . . for awhile.

Did you know the Church encourages us to avoid flagrant displays of Christmas prior to Christmas? Rather, she encourages us to enter into that beautiful and subtle season we know as Advent. (You remember “subtle”, right? Webster says it’s “keen, acute, discriminating. Not dense or heavy. Penetrating, delicately skillful.”) “Subtle” points to something coming but not here yet. It helps us to learn how to wait.

Advent is subtle. It gets us ready for Christmas. It builds expectation and longing. It makes us hungry for the feast day. It builds a tension that wants to celebrate what is to come. The world would rather have Christmas without the wait or the tension. Sort of like the fancy cake before the quiet potatoes. Ever get sick of Christmas before Christmas?

How can we keep the proper order? Advent first, then Christmas? Here are some suggestions . . . and I mean suggestions. Each family has to make their own decisions here but I think you’ll see my point:

• Christmas carols were written as prayers and statements of faith. Save the big ones (Joy to the World, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Today our Savior is Born, Wish you a Merry Christmas, etc.) for Christmas.
• Decorate for Advent. The Advent Wreath, colors of Purple and Rose.
• Christmas Parties? Sure. But remember they’re only a warmup for the Feast.
• Keep Santa sightings to a minimum. And those Christmas Specials on TV . Do you really like those? They tend to be big and over the top as they encourage us to heights of joy none of us can achieve.
• If you hear the words “holly, jolly”, run away!
• It’s okay that   you don’t find the “perfect” gift and it probably won’t be “the best Christmas of all”. God comes to us in Jesus Christ; what more do we need?
• Advent is a season for Hope. Christmas is a season for Joy. Advent first . . . then Christmas.

Okay, here we go . . . let’s start waiting.

Bless you,
Fr. Tim

PS. Oh, by the way, Christmas is celebrated for three weeks!! All the more reason to not be sick of Christmas before Christmas. I hope these beautiful Advent Days help you to be ready to really celebrate the birth of our Savior.

I think I was 12 yrs. old when mom and dad took us on one of our rare family vacations. We went to Monmouth Cave in southern Kentucky. It is a magnificent cavern deep deep in the ground, filled with stalactites and stalagmites and beautiful crystalline gems flashing brilliant colors throughout the cathedral-like cavern.

There are many memories I have of this trip. One which sticks out the most, and one that still speaks to me fifty years later, is the sight of a school of brown trout swimming in an underground stream that flowed through the cave. Generations of these fish had lived on the floor of this darkened cave    dark, as in pitch black. Over time something very strange happened; with absolutely no light penetrating the cave these fish had lost their eyes. A thin round membrane covered what would have been the eye socket. It was natures way of saying “use ‘em or lose ‘em”.

So what’s this little Field and Stream article about? It’s about the light . . . and the dark. They are both at work in the world. Both would like to spread themselves as far as they can. Darkness is happiest when selfishness grows, anything that leads to fear and hopelessness is its friend.

Despair and ultimately death are its kingdom. You and I feel its pull. We’re tempted to cooperate with the darkness because it’s easy and comfortable. We whisper things to ourselves like, “Who will know?”, “Everyone is doing it.”, “Oh what difference does it make?”, “It feels good, what’s wrong with it?” “God doesn’t care.” And all this likes to hide behind things and in corners that are . . . dark.

Light on the other hand wants to have a party. It invites everyone, no skin or race excluded. It is filled with joy because it is bathed in the truth and goodness. It wants to see and be seen because what God has created is beautiful. It knows that the source of all that is . . is love. In this light we see and are seen, love and are loved. To walk in the light is why we were created.

Back to the fish for a minute. They too were created to see. But these fish had lived in darkness so long that they had lost their eyes. Darkness had blinded them permanently. Be careful. Darkness can rob our sight as well.

Likewise, we humans were made to see, not just with the eyes in our head but by the light of our intellect we see this world. Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

But what if, like the fish, we chose to live in darkness? What if we give up on living in the light? Can we lose our ability “to see?” Scripture points to this possibility. “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because of their deeds…..” (John 3:19).

Sooo? This Advent let’s choose the light. Where ever we go, whatever we are doing, the choice is always there be- tween light and darkness. Let’s walk in the light, drink in the light, be bathed in light, teach our children the light. This light is Jesus Christ. As always, He’s appearing daily in the Eucharist and in the people who long for His Kingdom.

Bless you.

Fr. Tim