Blessed Christmas Eve Digital Neighbors! Good Morning or Good Day wherever you find yourself on our little spinning orb of life. Happy Saturday ADD Irregulars, Vagabonds & Patrons of the WSN! You know of my fondness for all of you that make Padre's a great place to laugh & ponder. Hello again Friends, Refugees, Early Birds, Later Dayers, Conversants, Lurkers and all members at the Godfather of Locals @DaveRubin - The Rubin Report. Hey there Phamily, Dawn Patrol and all you Misfits on the Island and Odd & Diverse Ideas, the realm of the Political and often Culturally Homeless hosted by the Queen of Laughs and Authenticity, Lady Phetasy herself @BridgetPhetasy And don't forget all you Fascinating People, Merry Bigots and Triggeratti that I so fondly appreciate at the Nomerty! May thanks to the Lads @KonstantinKisin & @FFoster for their continued work with the crazy crew of oddballs! And finally, all of you Seekers of Sanity & Civility at Tulsi that are inspired and informed by @tulsigabbard in the culture and political battles that confront people of common sense and actual freedom.

I know it is a long introduction, but consider it act of appreciation from your resident Friar and local Padre. I am not everyone's cup of tea (it should be coffee if you pay any attention to the memes for crying out loud)! but I am who I am, a Disciple, a Spiritual Father, mostly traditional, slightly disturbed, entertained by what many might consider inappropriate or irreverent humor for a Believer, a laugher at self and humanity, an adherent of common sense, a respecter of freedom, a believer in conversion, a lover of neighbors, (not all mind you, just the good ones, I pray for the lousy neighbors to get their crap together), a curious observer & seeker at the thresholds of experience, thought and imagination, a fan of reality and yet a skeptic and questioner of so much that I see & read in the current chapter of life & information. I am a fan of Wrestling Jacob, holding tight to the Mysterium in the Night, waiting to know a name and a face in the dawning day. Better luck next time, Israel! I am in love with the story of humanity and I know so little of it, it is not all peaches and cream, mostly horrible chapters to be frank, with little episodes of light & hope. This world was never meant to be the permanent residency, more of an incubator, nursery, eventual boot camp for something more.

Today, this eve, I am thankful that the Unknown & Unnamed of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, The Wrestler in the Night, The Burning Bush, The Whisperer to Judges & Prophets, the Lover of David, the Faithful One of the Covenant, sent His WORD, His Son, to dwell among us, to become one of us, like us in all things but sin. Yes, I am aware of all the other days & stories in the ancient world religions that preceded this celebration and that Christians appropriated this day from the Romans .The Author of the story has entered the story. It is a stretch for many, but for me it is the key to trying to make sense of this life. It doesn't mean it answers all of life questions and curiosities, but it is foundational and formative. There is plenty left for the your guess is as good as mine crowd.

I believe that the Incarnate One gathered disciples and left a community to invite humanity to know Him until He comes again. Far, far, far from a perfect community, there is plenty to point out for all the naysayers of Christianity and Catholicism in particular. No pedestals for the living as it were and there are plenty in death who are no saints. But to see only the shame and failings of Christianity is only to see a partial part of the story and to ignore the good it has help create, and the good it helped create is immense. Not perfect, but far better than the current ideologies seeking to supplant it. Today, this Eve we celebrate Him who gives the name to the Season and the celebration that has been floating around since that fateful night before He died. Blessed Christ Mass to all of you!