From the Bishop

Advent and Christmas can result in us experiencing sheer exhaustion; conversely, these are the two seasons that generate many blessings of joy. We can become exhausted from that very long “to do” list, from shopping, from decorating our  homes, from sending out Christmas greetings. However, joy is definitely a powerful by-product because so many people are touched by the profound importance of these seasons; some even embrace the faith and return to the practice of their faith.

A few years back, I was talking to my niece, who teaches in a Catholic elementary school. She was telling me about the beautiful Christmas pageant she was working on with the 5-year-olds in her kindergarten class. The highpoint of the pageant was when four of those “little angels” were to hold placards, each with an “S”, “T”, “A”, and “R”, to spell out the word “STAR.” As the shepherds came onto the stage hoping to see the newborn Baby Jesus, the children were to hold their placards to spell out what the shepherds were seeking: the STAR. My niece had practiced many times with her students. When it came time for this highpoint of the pageant, they got confused and lined up exactly opposite the way they were supposed to. As they proudly held up their cards, the audience giggled as the cards spelled out: “RATS.”

So, with the hustle and bustle of these liturgical seasons, how do we keep our eye on the “Star” and not let it turn into “Rats”? I would suggest that we can do that very practically by adhering to the three “S’s”: slow down; simplify; and silence.

• Slow down — The idea of waiting is often associated with negative images – we wait in line, we wait for a stop light and we wait for what seems like forever to connect to the internet. That’s when we really need that spiritual virtue   of patience to help us. But we not only can pray for patience to get through the time of waiting — we also can pray for the ability to see the waiting as a gift. If we can see that time as a time of grace, a kind of spiritual pause button, the waiting itself can be a gift.

• Simplify — Generally busyness leads to exhaustion and a typical “Grinch-like” attitude toward the season. So, why not try to simplify? For a few years now, we have followed a tradition in our diocese of hosting a St. Nicholas event on (or near) Dec. 6, the saint’s feast day. This family-friendly event has grown in popularity because parents are looking for a way to simplify and re-center on the importance of the season. Perhaps you can consider adopting one of the many spiritual Advent practices and traditions (found throughout  this edition) and, by simplifying, keep consumerism   in check.

• Silence — “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps 46) There’s no doubt that this is a busy and noisy time of year; therefore, we should look for, or create, times to be still and silent and, in that silence, find God’s grace. If you don’t already have this spiritual practice, it would be wonderful to consider looking into eucharistic adoration, spending time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It was in the stillness of the winter’s night that the shepherds received the greatest news of all. And that message of the angels to the shepherds on that first Christmas morning, continues to be the message of hope for the world: