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©2011 St. John Evangelist, Horsham
| Christmas comes but once a year........ |
Christmas comes but once a year.... It has the
ring of Victorian poetry to it, and some might
respond Thank God!. Certainly it is a busy time
in the life of the parish. We prepare for the
liturgy, choirs rehearse, readers read, cleaners
and arrangers decorate. We also prepare for
things social and on Saturday 7th we shall
party a little at drinks after Mass. But the
pastoral care of the parish, especially the
housebound, has an increased momentum at
a time of Christian feasting. In short what we
celebrate spills over into our care for each
other.
Pope Benedict talks about this care in his New
Year’s message, especially in regard to young
people and how important it is for them to be
formed in ways of justice and peace.
To all, and to young people in particular, I
wish to say emphatically: “It is not ideologies
that save the world, but only a return to the
living God, our Creator, the guarantor of our
freedom, the guarantor of what is really good
and true … an unconditional return to God
who is the measure of what is right and who
at the same time is everlasting love. And
what could ever save us apart from love?”(9)
Love takes delight in truth, it is the force that
ring of Victorian poetry to it, and some might
respond Thank God!. Certainly it is a busy time
in the life of the parish. We prepare for the
liturgy, choirs rehearse, readers read, cleaners
and arrangers decorate. We also prepare for
things social and on Saturday 7th we shall
party a little at drinks after Mass. But the
pastoral care of the parish, especially the
housebound, has an increased momentum at
a time of Christian feasting. In short what we
celebrate spills over into our care for each
other.
Pope Benedict talks about this care in his New
Year’s message, especially in regard to young
people and how important it is for them to be
formed in ways of justice and peace.
To all, and to young people in particular, I
wish to say emphatically: “It is not ideologies
that save the world, but only a return to the
living God, our Creator, the guarantor of our
freedom, the guarantor of what is really good
and true … an unconditional return to God
who is the measure of what is right and who
at the same time is everlasting love. And
what could ever save us apart from love?”(9)
Love takes delight in truth, it is the force that
enables us to make a commitment to truth,
to justice, to peace, because it bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things (cf. 1 Cor 13:1-13).
Dear young people, you are a precious gift
for society. Do not yield to discouragement in
the face of difficulties and do not abandon
yourselves to false solutions which often
seem the easiest way to overcome
problems. Do not be afraid to make a
commitment, to face hard work and sacrifice,
to choose the paths that demand fidelity and
constancy, humility and dedication. Be
confident in your youth and its profound
desires for happiness, truth, beauty and
genuine love! Live fully this time in your life
so rich and so full of enthusiasm.
Realize that you yourselves are an example
and an inspiration to adults, even more so to
the extent that you seek to overcome
injustice and corruption and strive to build a
better future. Be aware of your potential;
never become self-centred but work for a
brighter future for all.
to justice, to peace, because it bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things (cf. 1 Cor 13:1-13).
Dear young people, you are a precious gift
for society. Do not yield to discouragement in
the face of difficulties and do not abandon
yourselves to false solutions which often
seem the easiest way to overcome
problems. Do not be afraid to make a
commitment, to face hard work and sacrifice,
to choose the paths that demand fidelity and
constancy, humility and dedication. Be
confident in your youth and its profound
desires for happiness, truth, beauty and
genuine love! Live fully this time in your life
so rich and so full of enthusiasm.
Realize that you yourselves are an example
and an inspiration to adults, even more so to
the extent that you seek to overcome
injustice and corruption and strive to build a
better future. Be aware of your potential;
never become self-centred but work for a
brighter future for all.
