Novena for the Christ-Mass: Day 9 (The Vigil)

The whole world awaits the coming of the Savior. No amount of early turmoil or political shananigans will prevent the arrival of the King. Yes, he is King. It is a sign of wonder, a sign of contradiction, one that is lost on those whose thoughts are confined to the world.

Take, for example, the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam. Two weeks ago today, in light of restrictions imposed for the coronavirus pandemic, he took people of faith to task for daring to insist, that occupying a church building was no more dangerous than doing the same at Walmart.

“But this year we need to think about what is truly the most important thing. Is it the worship or the building. For me, God is wherever you are. You don’t have to sit in the church pew for God to hear your prayers,” Northam said. “Worship with a mask on is still worship. Worship outside or worship online is still worship.”

You know you've been had when the likes of His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington and former McCarrick protege, in a rare moment of testicular fortitude, had to be the one to school the Powers That Be on what matters.

"The right of the faithful to assemble for religious services is one of our most cherished constitutional legacies, and we maintain it should be treated as an “essential” activity — just as D.C. regards shopping and so many other activities as essential. We simply ask that religious worship be treated in the same way so that we may continue to worship together and serve those in need."

Of course, in the face of legal action, the Mayor of DC backed down. (See, Your Immenseness, was that so hard?)

Closer to home (and yours truly), Father Daniel Gee, pastor of Saint Rita's in Alexandria, was more to the point.

"The sacraments are not a luxury. The sacraments are life!"

We have watched our leaders make rules for everyone but themselves. But they will not prevail. What government official, what empty-suited script-reader of the Fake News networks, what health official who can't make up his mind whether or not masks are safe, can presume to tell the rest of us to stay home and pretend the Coming of the Savior would be ignored, even for one year?

Their cause is lost, for the King is coming, to comfort the afflicted with the Good News. We will take prudential measures to protect ourselves, but we will not take no for an answer.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called
"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)

So it is written. And so it goes.

This novena can be found in its entirety at the "xmasnovena2020" label.