THIS FIRST FRIDAY OF ADVENT 2014.............

Friday in the First Week of Advent is also the Liturgical Memorial of St. Nicholas of Myra, the same Good St. Nick who has come down to us through thhe centuries of Christian History as, Sinterklaas in Dutch; Kris Kringle in German; Pere Noel in French; Babbo Natale in Italian; Papa Noel in Spanish; and Father Christmas / Santa Claus in English;  to name some of his legendary monickers.  Nicholas of Myra, was a Bishop of the Church in Asia Minor, in what is now the country of Turkey.  He was so magnanimous in his personal charity and generosity that what has become a deeply seeded Christmas tradition of a kindly and loving man with great care for girls and boys dressed festively in a bright red and white suit and a long white beard travels the World on Christmas Eve each year gifting the "nice" boys and girls.  The Bishop in History who became St. Nicholas, has become a living mythical figure, metaphorically continuing to bring gifts to all celebrants of Christmas.  As we prayerfully remember and intercede through St. Nicholas on this his feast day and as Advent People, let us put on the cloak of generosity and charity he teaches us and that is at the heart of the real reason for Christmas - the Birth of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus the Christ.............Fr.  Troy David