Dear Families,

Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, recently sent out his 2020 Christmas message. Here is an excerpt from his message, “as people of hope, we glimpse in the birth of Jesus God’s ‘yes’ to life, and the birth of new possibility, new life triumphing over death and despair. The Incarnation is God’s decisive ‘yes’ to humanity and creation.”

As Christians, it’s so important to realize that in order to have hope, we must first have desire. A desire for new possibilities and new life, especially in the coming of our Lord Jesus. And that this new life is the ultimate triumph over the despair so many of us struggle with. For some, especially during times of crisis, or a pandemic for that matter, it may seem that hope is lost and there is no desire left. A Spiritual director once told me, that it is in these times that we simply pray to God for “the desire to desire.”

The Third Week of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, represents joy. Gaudete, in Latin meaning “rejoice ye.” As we continue through the Advent season, and inch closer to Christmas, my hope and prayer for all of you is joy. That we may rejoice together in the birth of new possibility and life. And the triumph over death and despair.

God Bless,

Paul