A Message from Your Rector
December, 2000/January, 2001
Dear Parish Family:
Greetings to you in this most holy season of Advent.
As I sit down to write this message I am in touch with my own personal
frustration at the rampant consumerism and materialism that goes on around
us as we approach that most holy day in which we celebrate the "Logos"
manifest in the world. As one of my favorite hymn says, "Christ
our SACRIFICE descendeth, our full homage to demand."
Paradoxically, demand here is not an actual demand, for Christ demands
nothing of us, and yet when we penetrate the great mystery of the
Incarnate Word our soul has no other recourse but to surrender to it;
it "demands" our total being.
The holiday shopping season is at odds with the meaning
of Christmas. It seems that the meaning of Christmas becomes more vague
by the year, but I’ve come to realize we can’t blame it all on secular
consumerism and materialism. Christianity itself has become institutionalized
in such a way that it operates under the same principles as the institutions
that surround it. Unfortunately Christianity has become as commercial
as the shopping mall. Holy events have become commercial events in many
of the most materially successful churches. People flock to these churches
on Christmas Eve because they will get good entertainment, they will leave
feeling good, and what ever they took with them going in, they will take
with them going out; in other words there will be no challenge to be transformed
beyond all fears, prejudices, feelings of guilt, and the silent complicity
with injustice.
As Americans, we make up 5% of the world’s population,
yet we consume 70% of the world’s resources, and our beautiful church
institutions reflect this reality. "Christ our SACRIFICE descendeth,
our full homage to demand." How do we restore holiness to this
most sacred time? How de we embrace the mystery of the full revelation
of God in our midst in a manner that is in keeping with the sacrifice
at hand? Advent is a challenging time, it is a time of joyful anticipation,
but it is also a time of penitence and self-reflection. Advent when observed
properly should get us in touch with our need for redemption, with our
brokeness, our sinfulness, and our resistance to God.
Soon we will celebrate the glorious birth of an innocent,
the One who was before the beginning, is, and will be beyond eternity.
The birth of baby Jesus will bring great joy to our hearts. Those who
are blessed with families and friends will have an opportunity to gather
with loved ones, and share in the warmth of this most holy night. Christmas
is usually a time to forge wonderful family memories, especially when
children are involved. It is my prayer that we share this holy night in
a spirit of hopefulness ever mindful of our call to be followers of the
"Way."
May the awe of this sacred occasion in which we celebrate
the birth of our Redeemer give us the strength, and courage, to embrace
His mission. May the coming of Emanuel move us beyond our levels of comfort,
that we may truly come to experience in its entirety the gift that is
made to us, through the birth of this most holiest of innocents. On behalf
of Cándida, and your parish family, I wish you all a Blessed Christmas,
and in the year to come, a very Happy New Year filled with growth, and
countless blessings.
In Grace,
The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez
Rector |
