Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

If you asked your children, “are you truly happy?” how would they respond right now?

Ok, with a week until Christmas, you may well get an answer tied to their Christmas list, making them happy.

I am curious, because I read recently of a priest who asked his 6th graders this, and they replied that “it is not possible to be perfectly happy…” with one exception. Only one child made reference to Christ, and responded with a resounding, “yes!”

What would make you happy? If your answer to that, is anything other than one word, you need to reexamine. I like technology, and computers, and movies, and games, and skiing, and golf, and I never cease to be amazed that I can always fill up my Amazon wish list. No matter how many things come off of it and into my little hands, there is always more going up. Gifts are great, and a lovely expression of our affection for one another. But, I really want to be truly happy.

And the only wish list that really matters has only one word on it: “Jesus.” So go ahead and ask me if I am happy. “Yes and Beyond!” The joy that Christ gives goes so much deeper than mere happiness. This Joy is constant in successes and in trials, in delights and in sorrow. This I have in superabundance and I am trying to give as much away as I can for Christmas!

And one of the best ways to get this Joy? Confess your sins and bask in the mercy of God. With regard to confessions… There will be confessions all week, Monday- Saturday the 23rd. But the lines will also get crazy long by then too!

Two planning notes for Christmas Eve:

1. After the ’Advent’ Masses, the door to the church will be closed and locked for setup purposes. It will be reopened at 3pm for the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses. Please don’t come two hours early!

2. I also renew my exhortation to avoid the 4pm Mass in the church! Attending at HCA, or a later Mass, or Christmas morning will be a much calmer and joy filled celebration! Your spreading out to other Masses has been a great help, and has prevented the fire marshall from having to pay a visit!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

“Shave by the Headlights.” Ok, that may seem non-sensical. I hate shaving. When I entered religous life, I was tramatized by the fact that now I had to shave EVERY DAY! I would whine about it, try to not shave, and get called out by my superiors for not shaving. One day in Mexico, the head of our community said to me, “Shave by the Headlights.” Huh? I literally pictured taking my razor and shaving in the early morning hours by the light of our car’s headlights.

He went on to say that when driving it is always much easier to see what is in front of you and just deal with it. Imagine if you tried to drive only by looking behind you, or if you always had to backtrack to catch the turns that you missed. If we take care of unpleasant tasks first thing when they present themselves, they just are no real big deal. It is the agony, whining, and avoidance that make simple tasks a big deal. Or to use another cliche, we can turn mountains into molehills by just shaving by the headlights.

Yes, I have noticed that fashion no longer seems to care if men shave every day, much to my rejoicing! But the ridiculous image of literally taking a razor and shaving in the headlights of my car so stuck with me that I now use it to rally my will and strength to complete some unpleasant tasks.

And one more insight that I discovered at a young age: household chores could be accomplished in a fraction of the time when done willingly and cheerfully! I found that if I did my Saturday morning chores while my parents were at morning Mass, I could be done before they got home and have the rest of the day for play! Yeah, at first they were so shocked that they would let me off with less work required, but the real key was found in freely and generously embracing these duties!

Maybe going to confession is your personal version of shaving or Saturday morning chores. Just letting you know that this week we will have extra Advent confession Mon/Wed/Friday at 11:30 am and 6:30 pm. Lines will definitely be shorter this week. Penances may be smaller too. It is a great week to take care of your soul, in preparation for the coming of our Lord.

pax,

Father John Mosimann