A public service announcement: "I have overcome the world"- Jesus Christ

Commenting on a tragedy earlier this year, the tragedy being a suicide and it's impact on the lives of those who are connected to the one who took his own life, someone wrote: "We do[n]'t need to be holy Joes or spiritual superstars to live this way; the Bible wasn't written for holy Joes and spiritual sup[e]rstars. It was written for ordinary people who need an extraordinary God and are willing to trust Him. In John 16:33, Jesus says, "In this world, you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE overcome the world!"

As we enter this time of year, which is so damn difficult for so many people for a lot of reasons, let's think about what we celebrated yesterday by our observance of Mary's Immaculate Conception: in Christ Jesus God has done something extraordinary for you, which is why you don't have to be a spiritual superhero and are liberated to be who God made and redeemed you to be- this is what we call sanctification. Now, you can take this as so much spiritual pabulum, or reduce it to a sentimental thought by someone you think hasn't been there, or you can see for yourself if it is really Good News. Frankly, if this isn't what Advent and Christmas are about, then as far as I'm concerned we can call the whole thing off.

Maranatha