Faith Reflection: Mercy—The Beauty of Our Young
The days of Advent are a time of reflection, a time for us to think about what God is preparing for us. This past Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, gave us a hint of what God is preparing for us with its change of vestment colors to a cheery rose (though most of us want to say ‘pink’) and readings that proclaimed joy over and over again. This is a joy that fills us from within and must be shared with others for it to remain joy.
Our young essayist today tells us our culture does not want us to know this, it wants us to put ourselves first and to think that happiness, or joy, can be purchased. Our 7th grader also knows this is simply not true and he steers us in the right direction giving us some good spiritual food to feed on in these last few days before Christmas.
Religion Essay
by Aidan
Number one—we need to announce the good news by reminding young and old of who Jesus Christ is; Jesus is our salvation, he is life, and everyone’s opportunity for happiness. While many things in our culture change, Jesus remains.
Number two—my concern about living my faith is it’s hard to put God first. The culture wants me to think only of me. We can resist being selfish by remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
I can better live my faith by receiving the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. The Sacraments give me the grace I need to live my faith.
The next sessions of Catholics Returning Home begins next month. The eight sessions, beginning on Wed, January 10th, are a comfortable, relaxed way for baptized Catholics who have stopped coming to church to discern if now is the time for them to reengage their faith. It’s not always easy broaching the subject with friends or family members but there are flyers in the back of the church you can take that can be handed out if you know someone who may be even slightly interested.
Cinema for the Soul has rolled around again and will be on Thursday, December 21, at 7:00 pm in the parish hall the night after our Christmas program. The movie, Christmas Angel in the House, is about a couple wanting to have a family and the tension this is causing in their marriage as they try to adopt a child. Enter a 7 year old boy who steps into their lives saying he’s been sent by the foster agency. Dressed in a suit and tie, wearing a dapper hat, and carrying both a brief case and a teddy bear (he is only 7 years old after all), this little angel is wiser than his years, and the Morrison’s life will not be the same. In British with no subtitles.
May you have a most blessed and happy Christmas. Mrs. Alhadef