From the Desk of Bishop Kettler

From the Desk of Bishop Kettler
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    As I write this, snowflakes are falling outside my window. They coat the nearby birch trees and suddenly branches and twigs that recently lost their leaves are clothed again in white, looking like pale coral in the gray morning light.
    This is a magical time of year for me. I think snowfall marks the real beginning of winter, more than some date on a calendar.
    Isaiah reminds us there is something about freshly falling snow that suggests God's grace. It falls freely and abundantly, transforming everything. When it covers the bric-a-brac in our yards under a white blanket, they become like hills in a gently rolling landscape. No matter how deeply stained we are in shame and sin, God promises to clothe us in his mercy if we turn to him.
    Snow has other wonderful properties that suggest God's grace to me. It holds in the earth’s heat, making it possible for small creatures to survive the harsh winter beneath its insulation; and it nourishes plants, trees and ultimately us all when it melts.
    Is it any wonder that we celebrate Thanksgiving at this time of year? Of course, the Pilgrims' gratitude for the harvest and the assistance from Native Americans play their parts in our national story. In the North, however, I cannot help but link Thanksgiving with snowy days and nights and the opportunity to sit by a fire and reflect on God's bounty after the bustle of summer life and the hunting season.
    This time of year also sees the beginning of another important transition.  We move from Ordinary Time into Advent on Sunday, November 27, just a few days after Thanksgiving.  That seems appropriate to me.
    During Advent we prepare to celebrate our Lord's arrival into the world. That profound event is worth our thanks, not just on one day, but every day of our lives. This year, Advent is also special in that we will begin to use the new Roman Missal. I am sure your parish community has been preparing for this change. For all of us it means learning new words. Change is always difficult. I do not doubt it will be awkward at first, but soon you will feel comfortable again with the language of the Mass.
    For myself, I am excited about this new Missal for several reasons. Part of being Catholic for me is acknowledging the wisdom and traditions handed down over the centuries by our saints and leaders. This Roman Missal tries to use words that echo that tradition. It is true that "consubstantial" is a mouthful, but it harkens back to a time in the 4th century when Church leaders fashioned a language that carried the mystery of our faith.
    Other changes reflect images and situations from the Bible. For example, in the new Roman Missal we say, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." We hear in that response an echo from the words a Roman centurion said to our Lord in St. Matthew’s gospel. I appreciate that that our new Roman Missal now provides us with these opportunities to reflect on our heritage.
    I close with an expression of thanks to you, for your work, your commitment to our faith and to our community. I pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving, a wondrous Advent, and that the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ shower on you as fully as snow falls from our skies.

Your brother in Christ,

+Bishop Donald J. Kettler