The end of the calendar years gives us pause to look back and encourages us to look ahead.  That exercise can be long and exhausting, and not always fulfilling.  I want to focus on living in the present moment, with recognition that the Lord desires to be our day-to-day Companion through the ups-and-downs that life brings.  The beautiful passage from Isaiah 9:1-6 which was the first reading at the midnight Mass, speaks of the long-awaited Messiah as being Wonderful-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.  What a blessing it is when we let Jesus be all these things and more each and every day.  When we "live in the moment" with Jesus, we don't let stress, worry and other negatives get the best of us or even completely overwhelm us.  Let's make our prayer, early in the new year, reflect our heart's desire, that "Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart . . . ," confident that it will assuredly make our future bright.  God bless you all in the coming calendar year 2013!  (The song quoted was "Christ Be Beside Me" by Laura Wasson).

We are now at the doorstep of Christmas.  For some, the real stress begins in earnest.  What a perfect time then to turn all our worries over to Jesus and remember that what will make Christmas memorable and fruitful, is to truly celebrate what Christmas really and simply is all about.  It celebrates Emmanuel-that-is-GOD IS WITH US in the presence and power of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord and the Holy Spirit until the end of time.  With so many visitors with us for our Christmas Masses, it is imperative that we present ourselves in a hospitable, joy-filled way and give our hearts in praise of the God who loved us so much that He sent His only Son.  Our faith in the mystery of Christ's birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension to glory is hopefully the cornerstone of our hopes and dreams for ourselves, our families, our country and the world.  The pronouncement of the angels will hopefully be the cry from our lips and hearts "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace to those on whom His favor rest." (Luke 2:14).  A Blessed Christmas and Christmas season to all of you.

As many people are now starting to give serious attention to getting gifts for others at Christmas, I have already witnessed gifts upon gifts bought and delivered to our Church by many Christ-like people from our parish who wish to brighten the Christmas morning of needy children and young people in our area.  This comes also at a time when many people in our parish recently reached out in a loving way to retired Religious (Brothers and Sisters) throughout our country in the special collection in early December that netted over $11,000.  Finally, as the calendar year comes to a close, I wish to acknowledge and thank those 291 people (or families) who contributed to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal (CASA) in the amount of $64,982.58 which is 111.42% of our goal for 2012.  There is, indeed, much to be thankful for and to confidently anticipate for the future, including the near future, as we are given the annual opportunity to help the retired, sick and infirmed priests of our diocese through the only collection that is taken up at all the Christmas Masses in our diocese.  Those who are travelling for the Christmas season can give to meet this need through your collection envelope either before you leave or after you return.  GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU THOUGHTFUL, GIVING PEOPLE.