Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Every year, sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I go to the home of some dear friends and bake a mincemeat pie. It’s my favorite! And eating that pie brings me back to the holidays of my childhood, when I ate mincemeat pie because I wanted to be like my dad. It was his favorite, and so it became my favorite too. Don’t let the word “meat” gross you out; if you Google “mincemeat pie,” you’ll learn that modern-day mincemeat pie is sweet and spiced (no meat!). Read the ingredients of the filling and your mouth will water.

Now, whether you are on board with me regarding mincemeat pie or not, I’m sure you’ll agree that it is a whole lot better than the locusts and honey that John the Baptist ate. (Yes! It’s in this weekend’s Gospel! See Matthew 3:4) I wonder what kind of pie that would make….

Anyway, John the Baptist appears on our Biblical horizon this weekend because his entire mission in the world was to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. Since the season of Advent is a call to clear the way of the Lord in our lives, John the Baptist is a great companion for us. And we read in the Gospel that he took his role very seriously. He called people to repentance, that is, turning away from anything in our lives that is an obstacle to the Lord’s saving work.

That saving work is beautifully described by the prophet Isaiah in our first reading this weekend (Isaiah 11:1-10). Jesus is “the shoot that will sprout from the stump of Jesse,” and he brings all good things to us. We’ve all heard the slogan, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” I’m not generally into slogans, but it is good to remind ourselves that everything we enjoy about this season comes to us through Jesus. If the Son of God had not become one of us to save us, there would be no Christmas.

As we enjoy this special time of the year, let’s remember to keep the Lord at the heart of it all. Let’s recognize how he comes to us in those around us (especially those in need) and respond to him with love. Let’s participate in the sacramental life of the Church and speak frequently with the Lord in prayer. Let’s make the most of every opportunity to experience the peace, love, and joy that Jesus brings us.

And if anyone who reads this decides to make a locust and honey pie, please let me know how it goes. 😉

Blessings,

Fr. Philip