Dear friends in Christ
Together with the other Priests in our Parish, I wish you all a very blessed Christmas!
May the Infant Jesus, with Mary & Joseph, watch over our homes and families in a special way at this time, as we celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation—God become man. We can reflect on some lovely words of Pope St Leo the Great, which we find in a Homily for Christmas:
Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.
Let us put-off then the old man with his deeds, and since we are allowed to share in the birth of Christ let us renounce the works of the flesh. Christian, realise your dignity! Since you now participate in the divine nature, do not backslide by returning to the degenerate conduct of your past life. Remember the Head to whom you belong and the body of which you are a member. Recall that you were rescued from the power of darkness and brought out into the light and the kingdom of God. By the sacrament of Baptism you were made a temple of the Holy Spirit. Beware of driving such a noble guest away by evil deeds, and falling again into slavery to the devils, because you have been purchased by the blood of Christ.
I hope you will all have a wonderful Christmas Week celebrating the Birth of our Saviour!
Msgr Kevin Hale