The timeless and universal challenge of proclaiming the Gospel rests in handing on an immutable truth in a world that never stops changing. At the core of what we believe lies a series of simple truths: God created everything out of the desire to
love and be loved. We rejected Him. He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us by His death and resurrection. He will come again at the end of all things to gather His followers to Himself.

That’s it. That’s the Gospel. There are certainly other related events, as well as expansive explanations, complex theological structures, governmental necessities, and countless mysteries of the faith for us to search and find, but that’s the core. But as simple and unchanging as the story of salvation is, it must be preached in 21 ^st century America, and 14 ^th century France, and 16 ^th century India, 2 ^nd century Africa, and all places and times even until the end of the world.
 
The only thing that has made it possible for the Catholic Church to spread throughout the world is the unquenchable thirst for God that is rooted in
every human heart. Each person, whether they are cognizant of it or not, yearns for union with Jesus Christ. The Scottish author Bruce Marshall writes in one of his novels that “the young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God,” arguing that even when we flee to the basest of our instincts, our most infinite desires can only be truly fulfilled by the infinite God. Everything else is a cheap knock-off. Pleasures have their place, but unless they are enjoyed rightly, they will never satisfy us and can even become a poison that consumes us.

Everyone is searching, and that is to our advantage. Even the great forerunner, John the Baptist, sends his followers to ask Jesus if He really is who He seems to be. From the desolation of a prison cell, rotting away for standing up for justice, he simply wants to know if Jesus can fulfill the desires of his heart. Everyone is asking that same question, whether they know it or not. You. Me. Your family. Everyone seeks to love and be loved by their Father in heaven.
 
My prayer is that we remember that as we draw so close to the nativity of Our Lord there are so many things that can pull our hearts away from what they actually desire. Material goods, worldly distractions, the cares of this age; all of them take up space in our heart that was created especially for union with God. John the Baptist was seeking his Savior, as are we. If you are wavering in your commitment to Jesus Christ, take this time to renew it. Receive the graces God offers us in the sacraments. Regardless of your relationship with Jesus Christ, know that your family and friends are still seeking him. Your neighbors are seeking Him. The entire world seeks Him, even when every outward appearance shows that they have turned away. Pray, sacrifice, prepare for His coming. May the coming of Christ light our hearts on fire with zeal for souls, and may we never forget the gift we receive when we share in the sacrifice of the Mass.
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McC