Last weekend I celebrated the Eucharist for the first time in a California Mission: mission San Juan Bautista, founded in 1797 (history). It was the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), when the old rose colored candle and vestments represent the dawn of salvation that will break out into Day on Christmas with the birth of Our Savior. A mission dedicated to St. John the Baptist was the perfect place to consider Advent and Christmas. Advent, unlike Lent, is characterized by joyful anticipation of the coming of the Savior after the dark ages of sin after the Fall.
December has also been a time of joyful anticipation for me. I am still waiting for the new bishop to be appointed, and preparing to cover at St. Patrick’s full time in Watsonville while the pastor is on sabbatical from January to March. In yesterday’s Gospel St. John the Baptist sent word from prison to Jesus to ask if he was the Messiah. Jesus told the messengers to tell John what they had witnessed: miracles and blessings. Good things are happening with the coming of Christ, but on the Lord’s time table. While things sort out for me I continue to live with joyful anticipation for Christmas and the new year. I hope you all do too. Merry Christmas (in advance).