As we meditate on Advent, the humility of God holds the mirror up to us.  If God loves us to the point that the Creator is willing to become creature; if God gives up his dignity as God to become one of us and enters into this messy old world, what are the implications for us?
 
At the very least, I think it means we must try to imitate God’s love and give ourselves to others.  Recently, I’ve heard a couple of sad stories about people acting badly in Church.  In one case, it involved a lack of hospitality towards a person with a physical disability and in the other case, people failed to show a friendly welcome to visitors with a babe in arms.
   
As I said in my homily last Sunday, Christmas is every day, if we prepare the way of the Lord.
I feel blessed to be the spiritual Father of a Faith Community where so many want to draw closer to the Lord.  The return that so many of you make to the Lord humbles me.  As the end of the year approaches and we prepare for Christmas, it is an opportune time to reflect upon the many blessings bestowed upon us. Realizing that God loves us so much that he became one of us, calls forth a response of love on our part as we thank God for the blessings of his love.
 
As part of that response many people at this time of year consider giving charitable contributions to their favorite charities.  I hope that you consider St. Michael Catholic Church as one of your favorites.
 
As you do your tax planning, I hope you will consider making good use of the income tax charitable deduction. Your year-end gift can significantly reduce your income taxes while providing meaningful support to St. Michael’s. Regardless of your income, in most cases, you can lower the taxes you pay through charitable giving.  If you have a financial advisor consult him/her for guidance. As you know, giving is about much more than tax savings. Your charitable gifts make an important difference in what we are able to accomplish in this faith community.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED GENEROSITY!
 
 In order for your contribution to be considered a 2018 charitable tax deduction, please note:

• Contributions (if mailed) must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2018
• Contributions must be in the offertory basket on or before Monday, December 31, 2018
• Outside the offertory basket, contributions must be physically in the parish office on or before 4pm on Friday, December 28, 2018

 
We took up the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious without much preparation last weekend.  It is a fund that deserves our support.  Across the United States, hundreds of religious communities lack financial resources sufficient to meet the retirement and health-care needs of aging members.  Many elder religious worked for years for small stipends, leaving a large gap in retirement savings.  That is true of the good Franciscan Sisters who taught in our parish school.  I have visited them in New Jersey and they live quite simply.  So, my plan is to match whatever is collected for the Retirement Fund for Religious with a check from our Stewardship Account and send it to the Sisters who taught in our parish school.