Father Joseph L. Labak, pastor

We are getting to that time of the year again when we gather with family, friends and many others to celebrate the holidays. It is a glorious time of the year as we first of all give thanks to Almighty God for His countless blessings on all of us. We are so very blessed in the many ways that we are able to live our lives in this great country. In giving thanks to God we must also strive to live lives that are more and more aware of the presence and love of God. To be truly grateful means that we are very much aware that ALL our blessings come from the loving hand of God. The more we realize that without God we are nothing, the more we really depend on Him for everything. The more we depend on God, the more His Way will influence our way of life.

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for all of us to grow in faith and love for God and for one another. It is a time for us to renew and deepen our relationship with God.

Thanksgiving is a very fitting way for to begin the Advent Season as we eagerly look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. As we look to the coming of Jesus at the end of time we do so by reflecting on the Old Testament prophets and how they prepared the Jewish people, our ancestors in faith, for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets announced the coming of the Messiah by reminding the people of God’s love for them and encouraging them to put God’s Word into practice. The prophets called the people to live lives of faith; hope and charity just as the Gospel call us to do the same as we await the coming of Jesus in glory.

It should be easier for us to do this since we have the benefit of God becoming a human being like us in all things except sin. He did this to show us how much He loves us and that He wants us to be with Him for all eternity. This is the reason that He created us; for us to be with Him. Jesus has shown us the way to the Father. He gave us the Gospel, the sacraments and the Church to help us and to show us how we are to live our lives, lives of thankfulness and praise.

The Advent Season then prepares us to celebrate the Christmas Season. The Season of Christmas is a special time for us to remember the great love that God has shown us by becoming one of us. We celebrate the birth of Jesus and we realize again that without God we are doomed to be lost for all eternity.

It is the birth of Jesus that gives us hope of a new life free from sin. It is the birth of Jesus that can help us to realize the love we are called to have for each other as we see the love and faith of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi. As we celebrate Christmas again and again we are called to come to a deeper realization that Jesus calls us to follow Him; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

Jesus is the reason for more than just the season. He is the reason for everything we think, do and say or at least He should be. Each celebration of His birth should bring us closer to living a life of faith, real faith in God. A life of faith is one that uses the Gospel as THE guide for all our thoughts, words and actions.

As we celebrate the holidays this year, we remember that very word, "holiday," comes from "holy" day, a day that we celebrate our call to holiness; our call to holy as our heavenly Father is holy. This year, let us allow our "holidays" to help us to become holy and follow Jesus in all that we do.

May your Holy Days be filled with peace and joy that can only God can give us. May this peace and joy be lovingly shared with family and friends and with those less fortunate than us, especially the poor and homeless.