Dear Catholic Youth Ministry Contact,

God rest ye

We, who serve as youth ministers, work hard in what can be an exhausting field. On top of that, Christmas can be stressful with holiday preparations, obligations, and expectations.  Yet, Advent can be, should be, a time of pause and reflection for us.  Why?  Because, no matter how slow recruitment is going for the Living Nativity or how low attendance dips during December, we can rest in the "comfort and joy" in the knowledge "that Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day."

God rest ye merry

Therefore, the classic Christmas carol implores us to be at ease. Our Christmas narratives repeat and repeat the encouragement, "Do not be afraid!" (Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:13, 1:30, and 2:10)  We can rest without fear because we know hope.  In Ephesians 2:12, Paul reminds us that before our encounter with Christ, we were "without hope and without God in the world." Yesterday, Isaiah entreated us to "be strong, fear not, (for) here is your God."  Pope Benedict, in his recent encyclical, proclaims that "to come to know God - the true God - means to receive hope." (Spe Salvi, 3) 

God rest ye merry, gentlemen (and gentle-women!)

Let nothing ye dismay! Know hope! Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day!  In this Advent season, please accept these tidings of comfort and joy.  May God continue to bless you and those you serve in the merry tasks of Catholic Youth Ministry.

D. Scott Miller

Meanwhile, the Catholic