As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, darkness surrounds us for a greater portion of time each day. There is a tendency, therefore, for our spirits to do the same. That is especially true in the northern part of the world. I remember that so vividly during the two years I served with the U.S. Navy at the Submarine Base in Holy Loch. Each day I went to work in the dark and came home in the dark. It was not an upbeat time.
But one thing made it bearable and raised our spirits. That was the coming of Christmas. In the midst of long dark nights, the anticipation of the celebration of our Lord’s birth lifted up our morale and lit up our hearts. In continues to happen here in Pasadena, and Jesus wants it that way.
After all, in John’s gospel (John 1:1-18), Jesus is referred to as the “light of the world; the light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). However, Jesus doesn’t want to come into our hearts at Christmas only. He wants to be with us each and every day to brighten our lives. We simply have to make some room through daily prayer and weekly worship.
On behalf of the entire staff at St. Jane’s, may you and your families have a Blessed Christmas and New Year!
- Fr. Carl
“Do you know why our Lord persists in remaining day and night
in our churches?. . . He stays there so that every time we want to go
and see him, we may be able to find Him.”
- The Cure d’Ars
