T’was the day before Christmas, and all through the parish, not a soul was stirring, except for everybody, because it is the 4th Sunday of Advent!

So what Mass are you going to for Christmas? This is where I could exhort you to pick a less crowded Mass tomorrow, but I am sure that you have set your plans by now, and I think I’ve done that enough by now.

I know I have written before about how important is was for me to see the family Christmas tree on Christmas morning! As I got old enough to help Santa Claus, I would help in most any way possible, except not the main family tree. I held onto that little tradition as a simple joy of Christmas, and nothing could match the wonder of going down the basement stairs to see the tree!

I hope you have some simple pleasures like that planned. I have come to appreciate how much work Santa Claus put into making that moment special. No wonder they wanted to sleep in!

As a pastor, I have also come to appreciate even more how much work goes into everything we celebrate. St. Mary’s army of elves and reindeer, is the many volunteers decorating, musicians practicing, servers training, workers cleaning, sacristans, Knights of Columbus trying to keep the parking lot moving, and many more.

pax,

Father John Mosimann