Saint Andrew Church

The Advent season focuses on the difference between two words: “to” and “with.” Advent is likely to seem to be artificial, a forced liturgical season to get us excited about the coming of Christmas, like the Christmas decorations in stores as we celebrate Halloween. For that reason, it usually feels a bit fake to adults as we shop and decorate for the season and anticipate enjoying the emotional climax of our children and/or grandchildren. This comes mostly from the misunderstanding about Christ’s coming. Christ is not coming TO us.                                                      While the Incarnation has already taken place historically, psychologically it is unfinished. He has not yet come to complete what was begun with his birth by Mary. There is more of our life with Him to open, unbar, to unlock because God cannot say some things to us until we are ready to hear it. That is worthy of repetition: there are some things God cannot say until we are ready to hear it. Prophet Baruch’s admonition to “take off your robe of mourning and misery” and to “put on the splendor of glory from God forever” may sound quite hollow [“Sure Baruch, that’s easy for you to say…”], but the historical context of the passage was Israel in great turmoil.                         So, our experience of Advent is more along the lines of Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony.” We long to hear the entire composition, to hear the music resolve as we catch with our ears the place where the composer takes us with his music. We are easily tempted in this age of near instant gratification to turn away from the ongoing Advent of God’s love, a symphony already in progress.                                                                                                                 Israel’s return from exile was shaky as it was glorious, but that is the result of the human condition, human inattentiveness and not God’s inattentiveness. We are like children rushing to grow up and be recognized as adults with emphasis on the freedom that entails and almost no sense of its responsibility. We become impatient with the pace of God’s unfolding reality.                                                                                          We are in the midst of God’s advent of love and compassion, but that is, at times, nearly impossible to believe. We see and hear about the misery of Syrian refugees as winter weather and starvation grips their tent-camps, the Israeli/Palestinian sniping, the American Liberal/Conservative arm-wrestling matches, global warming and the “invasion from South America” and wonder where God is in all of this. The promise of God that he is with us seems useful only as fodder for atheists and cynics, but not for us while awaiting his coming. That is the outcome of believing that God is coming to us.                                                                                                                                     This journey of faith, of expectation that God will help us determine the purpose of our living is experienced as God WITH us, not to us. We can become so anxious with the pace of revelation that we are like kids who want to leave their parents in the dust as they (prematurely) take their place in the great procession of humanity’s migration into the future. Who is the leader at the head of the Advent procession? It is EMMANUEL who leads the way to the fulfillment of His promise. His name does not mean “God to us” but rather GOD WITH US!” Don’t leave him behind.         Happy Advent!

Fr. Dan

 Each week our bulletin has an additional page of information that we share.  Take a moment and open the link         (open here)                                         

 THIS WEEKEND DEC. 8TH 5:30 TO 6:30 & DEC. 9TH 10:30 TO 1PM...All donations go to ERIE DAWN!!!

                                                                    NATIVITY SCENE EVENT
 

 WHO:      Tri-Parish Event sponsored by St. Paul, Sacred Heart, and St. Andrew Churches

WHAT:      Nativity display ( Parishioners are asked to loan their nativity sets for the weekend.)

WHEN:      Displays can be seen Dec. 8th from 5:30 to 6:30 & Dec. 9th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:    St. Paul Social Center - 453 West 16th St.

COST:       A free-will offering will benefit Erie Dawn, which provides housing for families.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED...Bring your friends and neighbors! 

5TH ANNUAL ST. ANDREW’S CHILDREN’S   CHRISTMAS CRAFT ACTIVITY

When:   Sunday, Dec. 9th; 12:15 –2:00PM

Where:   St. Andrew Gym

What: Craft Activity     Cookie frosting   Lots of Fun!!!

Pizza lunch is provided

Age:   For ages preschool -  8th grade

Open to children from St. Andrew, St. Paul or Sacred Heart, you are welcome to bring other children from friends, family or your neighborhood.

Parents of special need children and preschoolers please stay so your child feels more comfortable.

Cost: Free        RSVP: Call Julie 449-1353 or Kathie 456-5715