St. Matthew Catholic Church

Weekly Message     

           Light the Candle of Peace

Dear brothers and sisters,   

      This weekend, we are lighting the candle of peace; and we also celebrate the ’Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.’ In God’s plan, the Virgin Mary was chosen to give birth to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. God lit the first candle in her; and she passed on the candle light to the world’s salvation.

     Jesus didn’t just come to end conflicts, He came to take away our sins, so that we could fully live in Him / in peace. The word peace / shalom means harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility. It is our responsibility to prepare the way for ‘peace’ removing the barriers in our hearts – pride, hatred and division. John, the Baptist received God’s Word and cried out to “prepare the way of the Lord. It is a journey / process of restoration with the divine grace. How?

     Firstly, we make room and time to hear God’s Word in our lives, as John, the Baptist did to fulfill his mission. We may have to embrace silence and solitude to receive His message. Secondly, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance. It does not mean just the confession but a turning away from sin that disturbs our peace or blocks the peace. Thirdly, valleys being lifted, mountains made low and crooked paths straightened - God’s salvation is for all. What “crooked paths” in your life need straightening; valleys of doubt or mountains of pride need leveling? Surrender them to Christ. HE will bulldoze them all and prepare the way to meet Him.

     In one Peanuts cartoon Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!” Charlie says, “But I thought you had inner peace.” Lucy replies, “I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness.” How can you have inner peace when everything around you disturbs you? The Easy way: Light a candle of peace in your heart and you will have peace everywhere. Wishing you a fruitful Advent season!

  Blessings!

Msgr. Xavier                                        

                                       Please pray for vocations to the priesthood,
                              for the Priests of our Diocese; & for our New Bishop.

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