Chancery Advent Gathering

Today, the Chancery Employees were invited to gather with Archbishop Sartain for the annual Christmas Mass and Luncheon. At this celebration, most employees are decked out with their boughs of holly, wearing red blouses with Christmas trees or a knitted blue sweater with snowflakes, (this year we even had offices wearing antlers and mistletoe on their heads) I, on the other hand, wear one of my favorite purple dress shirts. After all, we are still in the season of Advent.

Whether you see it as a Christmas or Advent celebration, it was a wonderful gathering! Archbishop Sartain delivered an inspirational homily at Mass celebrating the feast of St. John of the Cross. The theme was that no matter how the public sees you or may judge you, no matter how they treat you, we must remain strong in our faith and prayer. Just as we hear in today's gospel, we can "play the flute" and yet no one will "dance."  We could be seen as a glutton or a drunkard or friends of tax collectors. Our day may have begun by someone yelling over the phone towards us, but no matter what happens in our lives, we must remain rooted in Jesus. We must hold firm in prayer. We must remain grounded in our faith. It is only in Christ Jesus that we are able to remain rooted in our faith and prayer life and are able to continue to serve God's people for His greater glory!