Message from Augie

This week we begin the Advent Season of hope and expectation.  The world around us has already raced ahead, light up, carols playing, Hall mark  Buffalo Movie , and calendars full.  The Church begins quietly with candles and prophecy, with words  about waiting and watching.  Advent does not begin with celebration but with yearning.  It asks us to pause before joy, to hold space for hope, to remember that God’s greatest gifts often not come when the world is ready, but when the world is waiting.  In a sense , Advent,  itself is God’s way of reminding us that something life changing is always on the way -  that grace is already moving toward us, even when we’re too hurried to notice.

In today’s Gospel Lesson Jesus captures that tension perfectly” You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  Advent readiness is not a frantic kind of readiness,.  It is the readiness of attention.  It means keeping the heart awake  enough to notice God’s quiet arrivals.  The stillness before the dawn, the unexpected kindness,  and the moment of peace that breaks through a restless day.

Our task these weeks is simple but not easy.  We are to slow down while everything speeds up. We are to light one small candle and call it hope, trusting that its glow is enough to begin the journey toward Bethlehem.

SO THE QUESTION:    HOW WILL YOU SLOW DOWN THIS FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT?

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE:  St. Jude, apostle of Christ, the church honors and prays to you universally as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases.   Pray for us in our needs.   Make use, we implore you of this powerful privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is needed.  Pray that we humbly accept the trials and disappointments and mistakes which are a part of our human nature.   Help us to see the reflection of the suffering of Christ in the trials and tribulations of our lives.   Let us see in a spirit of great faith and hop the part we even now share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection and which we long to share fully in heaven.   Intercede that we may again experience this joy in answer to our present needs.   If it is God’s dire for us (here make your request)  we know our prayers will be heard through your intercession.  AMEN