Pastors Notes from December 24, 2023
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December 27, 2023With all the activities and gatherings and preparations culminating this weekend—with a deep breath and pause to receive the peace of that holy night in Bethlehem—I extend a sincere thank you on behalf of Ascension Parish. Thank you for sharing our Catholic-Christian faith and values in your homes; sharing your faith within our gatherings for the Eucharist; sharing your faith through your acts of stewardship of time, talent and treasure; sharing your faith in your everyday encounters; sharing your faith through acts of generosity and dignity for those who are struggling; sharing your faith within our ministries; sharing your faith by your hospitality; sharing your faith with our God who is present in all our prayers. Thank you for being “God’s co-worker,” and sharing the grace of your dignity within our parish.
I leave you with a quote from a well-known Christmas movie, the lyrics of a little known Christmas song brought to the forefront by James Taylor, and a decades old poem of the season.
“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! . . . .I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” (A Christmas Carol)
1. Some children see Him lily white,
the baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
with tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
with dark and heavy hair.
2. Some children see Him almond-eyed,
this Savior whom we kneel beside.
some children see Him almond-eyed,
with skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
and, ah! they love Him, too!
3. The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus' face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight! (Wihla Hutson & Alfred S. Burt)
“And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
Blessings to you this Christmas, and a Happy New Year,
Fr. Tim
FYI:“Bless us, Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.” (Helen Steiner Rice)
