Today, Fr. Baker gave a homily about Advent (obviously), and about how people think that their Christmas is awful if it's not filled with happiness every second.

But the first Christmas was a time of troubles and sorrow for the Holy Family. Mary was forced to travel to Bethlehem, where she had to give birth in a manger, with cows watching her. Then, she had to flee to Egypt.

And yet, that first Christmas was real, and it was joyful.

Because the darkness does not consume the light.

The reality that Christmas shows us is that the light of Christ shines in and through the darkness.

A Christmas with tribulations can be an amazing Christmas, because it shows us the reality of the first Christmas.

For with Him, there is joy even in pain, there is light even in the darkness.

I'm praying for you!

:)