Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
As we continue on our Advent journey we wait in hope for so many things. We wait for the coming of Christ at Christmas and His Second Coming at the end of time. We wait for the COVID-19 vaccine, and the end of this devastating pandemic. We wait to be able to safely see our family and friends again, indoors and without masks. We wait, sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently. All this waiting can feel passive and unengaging, but it need not be so.
It has been a while since most of us could welcome houseguests, but remember, if you will, the activities leading up to the anticipated arrival of a loved one. We clean the house, change the linens, purchase and prepare their favorite food and drink. We prepare in advance so that when they are with us we can enjoy their presence while ensuring that they feel welcome and loved. This is what the time of Advent is meant for, not a passive waiting, a countdown to Christmas. It is a time of the active preparation of our hearts, our homes and our community for the coming of Our Savior. Our God is coming to us, and we are called to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
Preparing the way for the Lord is paving the road with God’s justice. God’s justice favors the poor, the lowly, the neglected and the marginalized. We have the opportunity this Advent season to prepare God’s roads into our hearts and into our community. We are invited to examine our prejudices, our blind spots. We are encouraged to take action in our community to realize the justice of God’s Kingdom here and now. We are anticipating the presence of the most important houseguest we will ever welcome. I invite you to join me this week in the work of cleaning, planning and preparing for His arrival.
I wish you and your loved ones continued Advent blessings of good health, renewed hope and great peace,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission weekly bulletin.