December 25, 2022
Today we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. We gather with family and as a parish family to celebrate the greatest birthday and greatest gift the world ever received. We hear the wondrous story once again, we sing our favorite carols that we know by heart, we bask in the beauty of our magnificent Church, and humbly receive our Lord once more into our hearts. The hymn Joy to the World says to each us, “Let every heart prepare Him room, let Heaven and Nature sing.” And so we do. In a special moment after Communion, we kneel and sing, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” remembering those who are no longer with us in body and pray, “Sleep in Heavn’ly Peace.”
O all who have had a hand in preparing the Church and our Christmas liturgies, a heartfelt Thank You. There is nothing like a well celebrated birthday party and at St. Luke’s we have done Jesus proud. To those who helped decorate last Saturday, to Kevin Murphy our part-time maintenance help, to our amazing Maestro at the organ, Jeff Wisniewski, to Donna in the office, and to all who donated the Memorial Poinsettias this year, thank you for your part in making Christmas 2022 special. May you all receive a special blessing this Christmas.
Each year at Christmas, I am reminded of a prayer composed by one time chaplain to the United States Senate, Dr. Peter Marshall. I will close today with his beautiful words:
“We yearn, O Father, for the simple beauty of Christmas – for all the old familiar melodies and words which remind us of that great miracle when He, who made all things, was one night to come as a Babe, to lie in the crook of a woman’s arm. Beside such mystery we kneel, as we follow the Shepherds and Wise Men to bring Thee the gift of our love – a love we confess, that has not always been as warm, or sincere, or real as it could have been. But now on this Christmas morning, that love would find its Beloved, and from Thee receive the grace to make it pure again, warm, and real. We bring Thee our gratitude for every token of Thy love.”
Merry Christmas one and all!
God Bless! Happy Christmas!
Please continue praying 3 Hail Marys.
Fr. Pete