Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 22nd, 2024
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last week I ended on speaking of the Good Shepherd who comes to comfort us. This time has found me very reflective, as I have been a little nostalgic remembering where I have come from and contemplating where I am at now. I can say that St. Joseph’s is home for me. I say  reflective because God’s word reveals so much of what He does in our lives that we cannot help but see its application in the everyday occurrences. The daughter, I wrote about last week, looking for consolation after the death of her mother – the funeral was celebrated today, Wednesday, as I write this article. It was comforting to me to  listen to the eulogy that was given. A 90 year old woman, who was the last of her generation, was a witness of generosity and of love. She and her husband had already made arrangements for their funeral years ago and made it much easier for their children to plan and celebrate the funeral, but still being emotionally difficult, nonetheless. As I was leaving San Fernando Mission Cemetery I walked past so many of the graves of those whom I have known and have buried over these past 21 years. The couple, who came last week with a broken marriage, caused me to reflect on the many couples whom I have prepared for marriage, counseled in their struggles, celebrated the birth of children, blessed new homes, cars, bibles, rosaries, celebrated wedding anniversaries, deaths and even help some through annulments. “Comfort, give comfort to my people says your God.” As I celebrated the ninth anniversary of my father’s death and coming upon my mother’s third anniversary, I recalled how so many comforted me and shared in my own sadness as I have done so many times with so many others. When John the Baptist was in prison, awaiting his execution, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. Jesus responded, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind gain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” God has jumped into our skin and has shown compassion to us. He comes to us in the midst of our very real circumstances of life. We are witnesses of all this. The coming birth of the child that is announced to Mary and Joseph has come to give witness that the kingdom of God is here. To live the Christmas Mystery, we are to give witness to the kingdom of God as we participate in it. It should be evident that we have been healed, that we see clearly in the midst of a confused world, and we show compassion to our neighbors that are struggling. Our joy comes from           knowing the Lord. The good news announced by the archangel Gabriel is, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means ‘God is with us.’

 

He is coming!

Fr. Steven J. Guitron

 Pastor