Third Sunday of Advent

12-15-2024Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

Have you ever thought of yourself as a missionary? I don’t mean the kind that goes off to a foreign country. In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), he writes about the Church’s missionary role and the need for both clergy and laity to make the proclamation of the Gospel a lived reality in all of what we say and do. He calls for each of us to be “Spirit-filled evangelizers” with a “renewed missionary impulse” marked by a “joy ever new, a joy which is shared.”

One concrete opportunity each of us has to be a Spirit-filled evangelizer who shares joy will be coming up very soon – at Christmas. Think about who will be joining us at Christmas Mass. Many of these folks will not have been to Mass in a long time. We can react to this phenomenon in two ways. One is with an attitude that conveys, “Where have you been?” Or, another, with an attitude that conveys the message, “It’s wonderful you’re here with us!” Something is drawing them to be with us at Mass on Christmas. It could be an answer to somebody’s prayers. You and I can imagine what a difference our joy-filled reaction will make to a person who is considering returning to the practice of their faith. This is an example of Pope Francis’ call to be sensitive to opportunities you and I have to witness the loving welcome and joy of Jesus to those who may need a concrete reason to hope and to seek Christ among us.

So at Christmas, if you see some new faces of neighbors and friends in the congregation and they don’t seem to know the responses, or if they have taken your usual seat… STOP, BREATHE, AND SMILE… even though you may not feel like it. Sometimes the practice of our faith calls forth something more within us than we’re ready to give – at first. But, remember what Pope Francis has called us to be and what he has sought to do in his own life. Yes, special prayers to the Holy Spirit may be in order for the grace needed. But, you’ll be a “Spirit-filled evangelizer” who has experienced a “renewed missionary impulse” that is filled with the joy of the Gospel. That will make all the difference! We’ll be checking your “impulse” from time to time.