Dec. 2009

Merry Christmas to all, from Fr. Barry, your pastor, at St. Edward the Confessor parish!  

Last week in a religion class, I was looking through some passages from Isaiah on the foretold Christ to come.   The students were pulling out words that grabbed their attention—from the Christmas prophet of the 8th century B.C.   

Here are some of them:

“The people have seen a great light!”   They rejoice before You, like people merry when dividing spoils/treats.”         

“There shall be endless peace in Him—the zeal of the Lord will do this!”  “Come, though your sins be as scarlet-red, they shall become white as snow!”  The Lord Alone will be exalted on That Day…and the Glory of His Majesty!”        

There Lord will give a sign:  The virgin shall be with Child and shall bear a Son, and He shall be entitled:  Immanuel.” 

“I will trust and not be in fear.  For the Lord is my strength and might…my salvation.  With joy we draw water from the wells of salvation.”

I find the prophetic words uplifting, even as heard in this 2009 Christmas.  It tells the faithful follower of the Lord what will be the reward of our obedience and trust in God.

Isaiah spoke the words as hope to the remnant people who would have to survive and live the faith through Israel’s eventual fall to Assyria.  An axe would come to the tree of Jerusalem (as the end result of nation Israel’s long disobedience and purposeful indifference to God’s call), yet a shoot of Jesse would take root and bear the very Messiah and Hope of God’s elect.  (See Isaiah 11)   In our parish church, we have added to the Jesse Tree all Advent Season, as the sign that God will observe and bless and come into the people that are His faith-hearted, trusting children.   In our parish church, we also have had reminders of Mary’s full trust in Jesus (homilies, song/prayers, images) that her Advent hope is what the Church needs to fully know Christmas.    For truly--Christmas (Christ’ Mass) IS “a great light” to make us “merry” and lead us to “endless peace” in a holiness like new-fallen “white snow.”   We are happy to “exalt” the Lord and recognize the “sign” Jesus as our Savior and Lord “Immanuel.”  There is “joy” in His “wells of salvation” of which we draw from in His Church.      Amen!  Alleluia!

Well, friends, it is the “Year of the Priest” and I just want to say how glad I am to be your priest here in this parish.  It is my third Christmas with you, praise God, and I hope for many more!   This homecoming to Bowie has been a real blessing to my priesthood, which has been 21 years and six previous parishes of assignments around Maryland, but this is the best place on the ministry journey.  

Welcome aboard, if this is your first Christmas at St. Edward’s.  We have a Christmas flower (and light) envelope in the bulletin (12-12/13) and at the doors, so to have your offered intentions be what supplies the decorations.   There is a special Christmas donation envelope (in the packets for those who get parish envelopes), though the donation can be given in any envelope marked Christmas or by a check noted for Christmas.  The parish relies on a generous Christmas offering, and it is custom for Catholics to do so everywhere.  Thanks for your support.

Christmas Eve Mass is 4 p.m. (families/children) and/ or at 10:30 p.m. (choir starts at 10).

Christmas Day Mass is 7:30 a.m. and at 10 a.m.    More info at our web site: www.stedwardbowie.org.                 

                                                                                                       Peace in Christ!         Fr. John M. Barry

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