Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I arrived home on Thursday, December 12th after a whirlwind tour of several cities in Europe, including Strasbourg and Colmar, France; Cologne, Germany; and Brussels, Ghent and Bruges, Belgium. I brought with me some wonderful memories and photos of the places I’d seen as well as a doozy of a head cold!
One particular memory is that of Strasbourg’s immense and impressive cathedral: Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, built between 1015 and 1439. Its 466-foot tower can be seen from many parts of the “Grande Île,” and is a helpful guide-post in case you get lost, which is easy to do in this ancient medieval city!
Most of the churches I saw during my travels already had their nativity scenes in place, including Strasbourg Cathedral. However, its nativity scene was one of five different scenes depicting the various moments of the Gospel Infancy narratives, including the Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of Jesus, Visit of the Magi, and the Presentation in the Temple. This is a photo of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth:
Here we see two women, pregnant with their offspring, greeting each other with joy and motherly anticipation. Both Mary and Elizabeth were undergoing surprise and confusion over the mysterious ways of God: Elizabeth for the many years she and her husband Zechariah had prayed for offspring; Mary for the fact that she had conceived a child through the power of the Holy Spirit who would be the Son of the Most High. The Gospel of Luke records their trusting and faith-filled responses: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people” (Elizabeth); “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” (Mary).
For both women, their trust in God would find fulfillment in the birth of their sons, John and Jesus. An older woman’s apparent barreness would result in a child who would be the last prophet to herald the coming of the Messiah, the son of her younger cousin, Mary.
On a more human level, the meeting of a family member, especially one that takes place over a considerable distance, it always a joyful occasion. Such was the case for me when I got together with one of my cousins, Jim, who lives in Cologne with his wife and two adult children and their growing families. I also think of the reunion I enjoyed with some of my cousins back in September who had come to Hartford, along with my brothers and sisters, for the celebration of my 70th birthday and 40th anniversary of ordination.
I think back, also, to the many times when we were growing up, and visits with our cousins at Christmas or during the summer months when we would travel to each other’s home cities. I am sure that many of you will be doing the same thing this year as you travel to visit relatives, or they come to visit you to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
I am reminded, as well, that many families around the world will be spending Christmas in much different circumstances as wars continues to separate families, or force them to flee their homelands just to find safety. Let us pray for all those who will spend yet another Christmas apart from their families and loves ones for whatever reason. May they not lose hope that some day they will be reunited and delivered from fear and anxiety of what tomorrow might bring.
May of all of us, in the coming days of Christmas, experience a sense of togetherness in the joy of the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace; that the world may know true peace and family unity.
Christmas Blessings to you and those whom you love!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
