Rejoice The Lord is near.
This evening I will say mass at 11 pm for Filipino crew members
on the Crystal Ship Serenity, sailing the western Caribbean.

It is always moving for me to see them coming after a
full work day on the ship to celebrate Eucharist.

Short commentaries on today's Scriptures:

Patient waiting is the injunction here.
In all the years of hearing confessions,
"lack of patience" was the most confessed fault.

In a culture of instant communication and quick results,
we can come to expect machine like results from humans who are not machines.

Pregnant mothers can be our exemplars here.

And Mary was one who had to wait like all mothers do.

Finally scripture words for our time:
"Say to those whose hearts are frightened, 'be strong, fear not!"

PRAYER:
O God we live in frightening times.
Yet we have "nothing to fear, but fear itself.
Help me to be strong in the face of adversity,
To fear not,
And wait patiently for the coming of our Saviour.