Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 20th, 2020

The year 2020 has been something else, to say the least.  For some, it has meant having their business closed down.  For some they have lost their jobs as a result.  For others it has been "business as usual."  For some it has meant sickness.  Whether it be someone in your own family or perhaps it is a friend, we all probably know someone who has gotten sick this year.  For some it has meant that we have even lost a loved one.  Again, it might be someone in your family or a dear friend, but someone has even died during this year.  It seems that it has put a new perspective on things for most people.  Things that we took for granted before are more appreciated now.  We have a new-found appreciation for "essential workers."   These hard-working souls have turned out to be the heroes of 2020.  Whether they be medical staff such as doctors and nurses or hospital staff.  Whether they be police officers or fire-fighters.   Whether they be paramedics or EMT's.  Our military men and women, they truly are essential.   We could also look at truck drivers who bring in the items and supplies we need on a daily basis.  Beginning this year, we have a new-found appreciation for those who work in retail.  Those who stock the shelves in the stores so that we can buy what we need.  For those who work in the nursing homes taking care of those we love so dearly, these are heroes.  And if I could also point out the brave men and women who work for the Department of Corrections throughout our land.  These truly are essential workers.  We could all come up with our own lists but I am sure that each and every one of us has a new-found appreciation for all of our "essential workers."  For, you see, essential workers go about their tasks with little fanfare.  Essential workers go to work every day with little appreciation.  When was the last time you thanked a police officer or a fire-fighter for what they do?  When was the last time you thanked a nurse for the service he / she provides?  When was the last time you thanked a clerk in the store for the service they provide?  The year 2020 has shown that essential workers the world over who go about their duties quietly with little fanfare.  They do what they are called to do and receive little attention for it.  They continue going to work day in and day out because they know the job needs to be done.  

I can think of another "essential worker" in history.  In other words, someone who came to do what needed to be done.  Our Lord came to earth with little fanfare.  He came to earth in the humblest of ways . . .  being born in a stable with common farm animals as witnesses.  He grew up as a little boy unknown to the world at large.  He spent the majority of his years working as a common carpenter working on ordinary projects.  And even when He began His "ministry years" He did not spend this time with kings and princes and influential people, He spent His time with the common, ordinary people He would come across as He traveled.  The only time there was any acclaim or excitement upon His arrival was when He entered into Jerusalem the final time.  This was when He was going there to die on the Cross . . . . to atone for your sins and mine.  But other than that, Our Blessed Lord also did the job of an "essential worker" and did what needed to be done with little fanfare and very little appreciation.  In the eyes of the world, He was not important.  He was not a king or a prince in the  eyes of the world, at least.  He did not have a grand army.  He had Twelve Disciples . . . .  one of whom would betray Him.  He did not have a majestic palace in which He lived.  In the eyes of the world, He was not extraordinary.  In the eyes of the world, He was simply ordinary.  And yet this Man came to save us from our sins and to teach us about God, Our Heavenly Father.  He died an agonizing death on a common, ordinary cross as a common criminal.  But in this way Our Blessed Lord turned the "ordinary" into something truly "extra-ordinary."  

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, December 20th, 2020.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!