A Harvest of Hope

While there are many beautiful and powerful moments in “The Lord of the Rings” books; there is an experience that Sam has in the deep darkness of Mordor which is particularly relevant to Advent and this time of year: “There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.” This moment in which hope returns to Sam’s heart is a moment that he could have easily looked at the vast darkness around himself and thought the faint and miniscule light of the star counts little against the vast darkness that surrounded him.

Instead, following the vein of hope that runs throughout “The Lord of the Rings” story, Sam allows himself to be encouraged and strengthened by the light of the star. This hope enables him to travel with Frodo the rest of the way to Mount Doom. Great truth is found in this story. We can often look around us and allow a myriad of things to discourage us, whether it be a difficulty we are facing in our personal lives, being swamped at work, or being awash in the prophecies of doom on cable news or social media. However, we can look around and see, like Sam, glimmers of hope. Reasons to keep moving forward, to keep growing, to keep seeking the Lord.

Look around and you find more than one reason to have hope, whether it is you or someone around you welcoming a child into the world, you have begun to see God at work in the mundane, or even observe someone who has experienced great pain and/or grief but still has found peace and even moments of joy. As a friend of mine calls them “God winks”, moments in which we realize there is much to be thankful for and for which we can hope. Hope that God’s love conquers sin and promises us eternal life. “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (I Corinthians 13: 7)

To continue to squelch fear in favor of hope. In St. Joseph, Pillar of Families there is no plan to close churches. Provided there is the necessary support (financially or otherwise) to keep our magnificent churches open. We have no desire to close any of our beautiful churches. Why would we be investing in church improvements whether structural or aesthetic, if the intention was to close the churches in our Family? Our intention is to keep all four churches open, and I have no indication from the archdiocese or archbishop that they would pressure us to do otherwise. If people are showing up and there are adequate finances to maintain the structures all will be well and full of hope.

Remember to find the Christmas Mass times and figure out which Mass works best for you. If you are able to make it to Christmas day or Midnight Mass that helps us a lot with crowding at the Christmas Eve vigil Masses. Also, please remember to scootch in your pew to make room for those who may be joining us for Christmas Masses. Again, I would like to challenge all of you to approach our brothers and sisters who may be joining us for Christmas to thank them for coming and to invite them back to weekly Mass attendance.

Thank you to all those who help to decorate the churches. Especially those who will be helping to decorate for Christmas. It brings a smile and joy to so many when they see the churches decorated for a very merry Christmas. Thanks again for your generous and hard work to give glory to the Lord and peace to people of goodwill by decorating for Christmastide.

Peace in Christ,
Fr. Jarred Kohn