This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the story of scripture, an angel of the Lord appeared and said "Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: To you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

For me, one of the most important parts of celebrating Christmas Eve is the fact that on this day all the worldwide Church gathers and gives thanks for the Christ Child. Not a child born into a life of privilege or wealth, but a child born and laid in the poverty of a manger. On Christmas Eve we gather in solidarity with a young mother, a desperate father, and a swaddled child lying in a bed of straw. In doing so we proclaim our hopes for a better tomorrow. For a moment on Christmas Eve, each year, the Church is one.

My prayer this year is one of joy for each and every one of you who reads this. I pray that we each might be fearless in our advocacy for the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the needy. I pray that we can celebrate a savior who was announced, not to the powerful, but to the shepherds and the lowly. I pray that, inspired once again by the newborn king, we can work towards a more loving, more hopeful, and more peaceful world around us.

Merry Christmas St. Martin's.

In Christ,

Mitch