Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 25, 2020 3 Gulf Pine Catholic (ISSN No. 0746-3804) December 25, 2020 Volume 38, Issue 9 The GULF PINE CATHOLIC , published every other week, is an official publication of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. Editorial offices are located at 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532. Periodical postage paid at Gulfport, MS. —POSTMASTER— Send address changes to: The GULF PINE CATHOLIC 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —PUBLISHER— Most Rev. Louis F. Kihneman —EDITOR— Terry Dickson —PRODUCTION/ ADVERTISING — Shirley M c Cusker —CIRCULATION— Debbie Mowrey —PHOTOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY— Juliana Skelton —OFFICEHOURS— 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— Editor: 228-702-2126 Production/Advertising: 228-702-2109 Circulation: 228-702-2127 Photography/Videography: 228-702-2172 FAX: 228-702-2128 —EMAIL— News: tdickson@biloxidiocese.org Production / Advertising: smccusker@biloxidiocese.org Circulation: dmowrey@biloxidiocese.org Photography / Videography: jskelton@biloxidiocese.org —OFFICEAND MAILINGADDRESS — 1790 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532 —WEBSITE— www.biloxidiocese.org —SUBSCRIPTIONS — Subscription rate is $18 per year. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about a subscription, customer should include a recent address label with old address and new address. Allow three weeks for changes of address. —DEADLINES for JANUARY 8 EDITION— News copy and photos: Due DECEMBER 29, 4 p.m. Advertising: Completed Ad and/or copy due DECEMBER 29, 10 a.m. Bishop Kihneman’s Schedule Jan. 1 Mass, Mary Mother of God Holy Day, Nativity BVM Cathedral, 10 a.m. Jan. 6 Resurrection High School Mass & Visit, Our Lady of Victories Parish and Resurrection High School, 9 a.m. Jan. 8 Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School Mass & Visit, Our Lady of Fatima Church and Our Lady of Fatima Elementary, 8:30 a.m. Jan. 10-15 Region V Bishops’ Retreat (Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center) BY BISHOP LOUIS F. KIHNEMAN III The Hope of Christmas is needed now more than ever with illness raging and the chaos of our political scene. It is a time for us to enter into Holy Scripture, especially the birth of Christ in Luke’s gospel. “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were struck with great fear.” (Luke 2:8-9) The shepherds were living their isolated lives, and like them, especially during this time of pandemic, we can feel alone and afraid. However even now, the angelic hosts are all around us singing to us and tell- ing the news of great joy: Jesus is born in our midst. Just as the shepherds were encouraged by the angels to let go of their fear, so are we. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David the savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) As we enter into the mystery of the birth of Jesus, the gift of new life and God’s love is the first thing we are called to experience. It is meant to be an attention catching moment, just as it was for the shep- herds. The truth is life is not about ill- ness, politics, or even death. What matters in life is that God loves us, that we know God’s love personally, and that we share that love. This truth is, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” (John. 3:16a) The birth of Jesus is not just a game chang- er -- it is a life changer. No longer is it just up to us. No, now it is up to God. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swad- dling clothes and lying in a manager.” (Luke 2:12) In the midst of all our weakness and all our confusion, the promise of and hope of redemption is at the heart of this moment of God’s love. To believe is to open our hearts, our minds, our very selves to the glory of God’s love. “And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and say- ing: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14) This moment of pure Love is meant to move us into action. Will we answer the invitation to behold the miracle of the Child born in our midst as the Shepherds did? The shepherds said to one another, “‘Let us go then to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in a manager.” (Luke 2:15b-16) For us it is not a matter of just hearing the message, it is a matter of taking the step of going to the manger, seeing, and believing. The Holy Family has much to teach us about hardship and suffering and God’s great love for us. At this pre- cious moment take the child, Jesus, in your arms and feel the warmth of His Love. There is nothing more joyful than to hold the Savior of the world in your arms. What is he saying to you as you look into His eyes and see His face? A moment of truth and love and the gift of Peace is yours. It is all gift, the gift of God’s personal presence in the midst of illness and pain and suffer- ing. God saying to us so intimately that what we see in life is not all there is. It is at the foot of the manger that we experience what life is all about and the meaning of life is revealed. God’s Love, Jesus, born in the world for us, for you and me. “When [the shepherds] saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about the child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:17-18) The shepherds were so moved by the Good News of Jesus’ birth that they could not contain themselves. They joyfully told everyone they met about the birth of the Savior. That is the same invitation we have, to experience the Savior’s birth in our lives such that we cannot contain the Good News, and to let the joy of Jesus’ birth fill our heart and mind and soul such that we know the Hope beyond hope that God’s Love is real and that God loves us so personally that He humbled himself to be born like us. God gave us His Son, Jesus, so that we might experience Him intimately and completely. Like the shepherds, God wants us to proclaim to all the world His great Love for us. Jesus, Emmanuel, God is with us! As the angels announced to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the high- est and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) Christmas Prayers and Blessings! I am remembering you in the Christmas Masses that I celebrate. The Hope of Christmas Bishop Kihneman