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I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1
"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5
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Rector's Study
COME LORD JESUS
My seriousness about the keeping of the first season of the Church Year hasn't always evoked a warm response. I have been given a badge, marked "Advent Police" and appropriately ornamented in the penitential color, purple. At another parish where I served before coming to St. Mark's, I was called both an "Advent fundamentalist" and "Father Rigid" for prohibiting, or, when that proved impossible, strongly discouraging certain so-called "seasonal" practices before December 24. I always assumed the persons resorting to such unflattering references to me were merely overwrought with their own, much-too-early, Christmas observances. I, of course, was only trying to inspire each and all to enter into calm, patient waiting for the Lord that prepares the way of our hearts to receive Jesus Christ with rejoicing.
How I wish Advent would be like that, "calm, patient waiting for the Lord." Instead, I expect that it will be filled with pre-Christmas activities: parties, rehearsals for concerts or liturgies, attending school programs, shopping, decorating, sending cards or writing annual family newsletters, and all of this in addition to the over-commitments we fail to keep during the rest of the year! Wouldn't it be nice to slow down, to take time to reflect on our need to repent if we are to be ready to encounter our Blessed Lord, to watch for him in a spirit of prayerful expectation, to allow enough space in our schedule to enjoy being with our loved ones rather than fussing over finding them some little something that they really don't need?
I am thankful that we have Sunday worship. At least for that hour each week, we can reflect and watch and pray and enjoy being together, not only with each other, but also with our God. I am so glad that the seasonal changes in our liturgy, the Advent Wreath, different service music, distinctive forms for the Prayers of the People and the Eucharistic Prayer call us to be attentive to the theme of Christ's coming, not only as a remembrance of his long-ago coming at Christmas as Word of God Incarnate, but also when "he will come again in glory... and his kingdom will have no end." And what wonder is ours that not only will he come again in the future as judge and King; but in the very present moment of his sacramental Presence, he comes to us now, "and lo! I am with you always."
Christ comes. Maranatha! This is the the central theme of Advent. It is not about avoiding Christmas or putting that great feast off. It is not about being different from those around us for the sake of being different. It is certainly no so that we liturgically minded Christians can take some sort of "holier that thou" attitude towards others. Advent is all about Christ coming. So we prepare. We repent. We watch, and we wait. All this we do with the confidence of faith in him who is our hope and our salvation, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Timothy P. Perkins  , SSC
Previous Issues:
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
Summer 2006
June 2006
Lent 2006
Advent 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
Summer 2004
Easter 2004
Lent 2004
February 2004
Epiphany 2004
Advent 2003
Easter 2003
Lent 2003
February 2003
Epiphany 2003
October 2002
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