CHRISTMAS, a time to rejoice and to celebrate. We somehow move a short distance away from our routine tasks and daily activities. We try to take time – time to reflect, time to look at things, situations, and people, in a different way. Strange, but it seems that those very things, situations and people that are part of our daily lives suddenly take on, is it a glow? Or a meaning? that was not there before… It is as if things around us now have a special quality, a special depth, drawing our attention, perhaps even our admiration.
Reflecting on this, I started looking at the texts of the Christmas liturgy. Different aspects struck me: the light, the simplicity, the newness, the peace, that a birth – THE birth – of this God-Child brought into our world. It happened long ago, but the effect is enduring, permanent!
Then, one short text came to my mind. It stood out, not of those beautiful Christmas readings, but it appeared suddenly from the often-repeated ritual of the daily Eucharistic celebration. The words are spoken by the priest when he addresses us, saying: « The Lord is with you. »
A new meaning dawned on me and I know that, when I hear these words during the Christmas celebration, I will be tempted to reply: « HE IS ! » « Yes, indeed, HE IS, ‘GOD-WITH-US’! »
This is in fact, the meaning of all that happens during this season, what people call « the reason for the season »! It is announced at the very beginning of the gospel of Luke and it is confirmed at the end of the gospel of Matthew by that Child who has become a man who promises: « Behold, I am with you until the end of time! » (Mt.28:20) This is Christmas for me…
Pic: www.rforh.com
PEACE be yours, peace be ours.
« I know the plans I have in mind for you – it is the Lord who speaks – plans for peace, not disaster. » (Jr.29:11)
Something to receive, something to share, something to build, something to care for, something to preserve.
Are we ready to receive, to share, to build, to care for, to preserve?
Every year, November 11 sees us ‘remembering’ – remembering the end of this tragedy of a terrible carnage: killing, maiming, destroying. Wearing the red poppy as a symbol of all those who gave their lives, we remember and we say: « NEVER AGAIN! »
And yet . . .
Who would say that PEACE has prevailed in all corners of our world? The daily news broadcast displays every day much violence, fighting, killing, unimaginable suffering of so many innocent people.
As a symbol of our yearning for a world where, at last, people will have learned to live together in peace, many have started wearing a white poppy. May PEACE prevail indeed!