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| Bethlehem Star |
“The root of Christian love is not the will to love, but the faith that one is loved. The faith that one is loved by God. That faith that one is loved by God although unworthy—or, rather irrespective of one’s worth!”
New Seeds
Each Advent as the church begins a new year; the world winds down an old year through an increasingly frenetic pace of celebrating holidays.
When did a holy day become a cause for anxiety? Is the coming of the Christ child a time for worrying and fretting?
I ask myself these questions each time the church year begins as I find myself in a mall, or worrying about what to serve my family for Christmas dinner. At the outset, of course, I know how I want to receive the gift of quieting down in Advent, in order to rejoice in a new way with the coming of Christ.
And yet, each year I succumb to the pace around me and fall short of a quiet Advent and joy-filled Christmas.
We have heard this message again and again about a holy advent—a quiet advent—and we fit some quiet in when we have a chance. We are trying to understand what getting ready for the Christ is all about.
This advent I am asking myself some different questions.
Is it possible to get ready to receive the outpouring of God in Christ?
And my answer is no.
This Christ who came to save the world is not an event or a day. This Christ is the savior of my life, redeemer of my soul.
I cannot hope to get ready to meet this Christ by observing some quiet during the Advent season.
I can only offer myself to the beauty that is Christmas.
The quiet night, the bright star, a young man and woman with a new baby in a lowly place.
I can offer all my hopes and all my sorrows.
All my fear and all my joys.
My whole self.
I can offer myself completely this year,
And I can praise the God who chooses to love even me.
Blessings,
Debra
Your words are beautiful and ringing very true to me this day.
ReplyDelete"I can only offer myself to the beauty that is Christmas."
I made some intentional and prayerful space in my day today to set a nativity on the livng room mantle. The whole process was a physical type of prayer as I opened what I had carefully tucked away (last Ash Wednesday..I am a slow put awayer!)
It was fun to set the scene...our wise men are coming from the east of the mantle and a little goat scampers purposefully along. The shepherd cares for his flock and wonders at the star clustering admist the angel chorus.
Dear Josesph stands protectivley by Mother Mary's side.
This particular figurine has Mary cradling Sweet Baby Jesus in her arms. I placed the two of them at the pinnacle of the scene.
When all was placed I sat down and contemplated the whole. I was drawn to Mary's yes and Joesph's yes. It was then I realized Mary and Joseph were contemplatives who heard God's truth and listened. I believe Mary and Joseph must have had a steadfast and devoted love of God and a profound love for one another...the best beginning for The Holy Family.
In prayer,
Lisa
Thanks for your beautiful sharing about your experience with the Holy Family. So often we talk about Jesus or Mary, but often don't remember the context of family.
ReplyDeleteDebra