Dear friends,
It is Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus, the Son of God.
Today, I would like to wish you all a Blessed and merry Christmas. Nativity is the fulfillment of our hope. The Prophet Isaiah is crystal clear: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The attributes we heard from the first Sunday of Advent are here tangible: “They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” We remember the words of Isaiah the Prophet on the first Sunday of Advent. Nurturing our hope for the coming of the Son of God, he told us that “He will impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war.” Here we are given the Savior who brings peace on earth and joy to the hearts.
Christmas brings us the hope that even if life is full of challenges that could lead us to hopelessness, God will always be there to wipe away our tears. Even if it is not today, his promises will always be fulfilled. That is why we celebrate at Christmas the victory of hope.
Today, I would like once more to tell you how grateful and blessed I am for each and all of you here. Whenever I look at each of you, my hope for a better tomorrow is ceaselessly strengthened and set ablaze. Therefore, to all who choose Holy Cross as a Church where to celebrate this Christmas, I say this:
If you are a guest or visitor, I would like to personally welcome you and thank you for choosing Holy Cross as your spiritual home and family. I wish you and all your loved ones a Happy, Blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Lord Jesus bring you all the blessings of a joyful and peaceful Christmas.
If you have been away from the Church for a while, please don’t worry. We are here to welcome you. The Church is not a sanctuary for saints but a hospital for sinners. That is why we are all here. I would like to welcome you back home, wishing you and your loved ones a happy, blessed and Merry Christmas. We love you and want to keep you here with us.
If you have lost a loved one during this year, I can feel your pain as you look at that empty chair at the celebration of Christmas. Please know that I lift you in my prayers especially at this Eucharist. You and your loved ones are dear to us and I want you to loot up to the Child in the Manger who is the source of our consolation and peace. May the Infant Jesus give you the peace He comes to instore in the world.
To Holy Cross parishioners, thank you for the blessing you are to this, your parish family. You and your loved ones are remembered during this mass. I would like to wish you all a happy, blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Lord who comes to us strengthen us and lead us on the path of intentional discipleship.
To all and each of you I wish a happy, blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Peace of the Lord dwell within you and in your homes.
Fr. Emery