It Feels Like Christmas

Sisters and brothers in Christ, as Christians, as followers of Christ, we are called to be Jesus to others in our daily encounter with each other, starting with our families. When others see us, hears us, and are in our presence, do they sense the presence of our Lord and Savior who dwells in our hearts, especially during this season of Advent and the Christmas season that is almost upon us.

We see this in the Blessed Virgin Mary when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, who proclaimed with joy: "For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy." Mary radiated the light of Christ so much in her being that Elizabeth and her child sensed the Jesus' presence in their midst. We are called to be like Mary, to allow the light of Christ to burn brightly in us, and shine forth from us to give others hope of knowing that God loves them.

In a recent blog post, I ranked "The Muppet Christmas Carol" as #2 on my list, and it had a lot to do with the song that is sung by the Ghost of Christmas Present, titled "It Feels Like Christmas", particularly these verses:

"It's true, wherever you find love it feels like Christmas. . . 

It's true, wherever you find love it feels like Christmas. . .

It is the season of the heart

A special time of caring

The ways of love made clear

It is the season of the sprit

The message if we hear it

Is make it last all year"

Let us carry the light of Christ all year long so that all may come to know in their hearts the love that God has for them through us.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

Mary set out in those days

and traveled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah,

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

“Most blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”