This week marks the third Sunday of Advent and the last full week before Christmas. And boy howdy have the last seven days been jam-packed! We had the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception last week Monday, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday, Simbang Gabi (at Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Port Townsend), and Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent).

The last week or so also held a number of tragedies – some public and others more private. On the Immaculate Conception, the mother (Mrs. Hilderbrand) of a classmate of mine died unexpectedly. There have been two different mass shootings – one in Rhode Island at Brown University and the other in Australia as Jewish faithful gathered at Blondi Beach in Sydney to celebrate Hanukkah. Just last night, the 5-year-old daughter (Paola) of two of our parishioners died – likely from the significant physical & mental disabilities that afflicted her from her birth.

I’m certain that I’m not alone when I admit that reconciling all of this is beyond my ability. From Gaudete (‘Rejoice’) to mourning to the birthday of Christ – that’s a path that can not be explained, only walked. This year I am finding that the cris de coeur (French for ‘cry of the heart’) Isaiah in the ‘O Antiphons’ of the octave before Christmas (starting tomorrow) carry new significance. Not just verses to an Advent hymn, these prayers express the pleading of all of humanity for God’s presence, mercy, and healing.

And He has, is, and will continue to respond – by sending His Son to us. What we first received at the nativity of the Lord, we receive even today and anticipate in His second coming. That so-familiar Advent hymn of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ names Jesus as He is: “God with us”. He doesn’t minimize nor ignore our suffering; He enters into it as one of us – and then blazes the path to victory over sin & death.

Let us join our prayers for all those who our suffering so greatly – locally, nationally, and around the world. If that includes you, I encourage you to permit we your brothers & sisters in Christ to share your burden with you. Though we have yet to celebrate His birthday (and await still His return), Christ has already won the victory for us – and we join together with Him not only on the road to Calvary but to the resurrection. It all started in the humility of our God, placing Himself in the hands of those He created. May we likewise hold up each other and place ourselves in His tender care.