A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
On this Gaudete Sunday, the first reading reminds us that the Lord our God is in our midst! We are called to cherish again and again the fact that our God is in our midst! God also enjoys the company of His own people. It is not a mere link but a strong connection. In this era of social media, we are linked to the world through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc., but we stay personally disconnected from all of the people. Similarly, sometimes, we can feel that we are linked to God but not really connected. Let us pause for a moment during this Advent preparation time and ask ourselves how deep we are ‘connected’ to the Lord. Is my connection vital and strong to the Lord? This vital connection brings joy!
On this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we light the pink candle of “Joy”. Real joy comes out of kindness, prayer, and gratitude. This is achieved through the strong connection with God.
During this Advent season, we can talk to God through meditation and reflection. Ask yourself what you should do personally to become joyful. Let us make our link a vibrant connection to God.
We have a great opportunity to connect through our Advent Reconciliation Service this Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00pm in the Parish Life Center. Additional priests will be available for the service. Please consider making your connection with our Lord more vibrant!
A kind reminder: Please consider prayerfully becoming a disciple to help as an Usher or Sacristan. We are in desperate need of more disciples as we move into the new year. Beginning Saturday, January 31, we will offer 3:30pm and 5:30pm Masses. For more details, please contact Bethany Myers in the parish office at 239-561-2245 or email bethany@johnxxiii.net
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10
- Reading 2: James 5:7-10
- Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
