Good Morning Friends across Locals! Happy Sunday Refugees, Early Birds & Later Dayers, Phamily, Dawn Patrol and Political Homeless. Hey there all of you Supporters, Members and Lurkers across these wonderful communities and last but not least the ADD Irregulars and Vagabonds of the WSN.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent and the Messianic Title of O Lord. As the final day of Advent the readings at Mass always turn our attention to the either the person of St. Joseph or the Blessed Virgin Mary. We look at how their yes opened to the door to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Yes to God, to the Mysterium, to the Numen can change your life. Some embark on the path of selfless sainthood or mysticism, others become the worst type of demagogues and fanatics that menace their neighbors. While many want to blame religion for the worst events in world history, it is really human nature pushed through various funnels of behavior, indoctrination and the removal of critical thought and questioning that brings out the worst of us. Sadly for many, it doesn't take much to remove critical thought and thus questions and doubts never arise. They are the potential for the best of herdthink and worst of mob mentality. I am not sure how much of humanity prefers to be led and told, but the number of worrisomely high. Good leaders (not perfect, there are none), real shepherds are invaluable to the safety, well-being and improvement of the flock.

Often maligned in the 70's for being a sexually uptight saint, Augustine was actually accurate about the fallen human condition and how wounded we are by sin. Too many focus on his wayward days of unchastity and forget he was one of the most brilliant minds of his day and skilled in rhetoric. His hobby was logically dismantling his opponents in arguments. Pride as much as lust kept him from considering the truth of the Christ. Humility and chastity become the remedies that God applied to his life to bring about his conversion. The prayers of his mother, Monica, and the friendship of Ambrose brought him to Jesus.

The Doctor of Grace knows all about the nature of gifts. He never forgets the giftedness of his faith and the entire gift of the story of Redemption. The quote below is form this morning's Office of Readings. Blessed Christmas Eve my friends.

For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in his turn become the son of God?

Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.