Deacon Tom
Write
“When Heaven
Came Down To Earth…”
In the stillness of the night in a remote
village, the sound of a newborn baby’s cry interrupts the silence. No ordinary
child by heritage, his ancestors include Abraham, Jesse, David, Solomon and
Amos, towering figures who had safeguarded the promises given to them by Yahweh
that one day he would come down from heaven and live among his people. All
creation celebrates this moment in time. Stars in the sky light the way. Angelic
Beings sing with joy. Wise men set their course to find him. Nothing in the
history of the world before or after this singular moment has had a greater
impact on our lives than when heaven came
down to earth.
We look back two thousand years and celebrate
this joyful event today as we look forward to the dawning of this new day and
the promises it has in store for us… the promises of hope that we have for our children,
grandchildren and, for some of us, our great grandchildren…. the promises we
have that our loved ones who are suffering will find comfort and rest…..the
promises that our broken world may find some peace and that all that divides
will be reconciled.
The world that Jesus was born into was not
much different than the world we find ourselves living in today. There are evil
rulers who destroy the innocent as Herod did. Vast numbers of people lack the
basic necessities of life and they fear for their children; there is
uncertainty about "What is truth?” Many
are worried of what tomorrow will bring.
This is similar to the way things were when
Jesus was born. Yet, In the quiet of the evening he came into the world that he created to be its light. But, "the world received him not". In celebrating the birth of the
Christ Child we have made our choice to follow him and his ways. It is by the
choices that we make throughout the day that provide the surest evidence that
we have chosen to receive him into our lives even though he is still rejected
by the world. We do so...when we choose forgiveness instead of resentment… when
we choose the good of the other over our own self interest…when we choose to do
what is right and virtuous instead of pleasing the crowd…when we choose the
Eucharist over (____) [fill in the blank], when we choose to be the light in
the darkness around us. And, at the same time, Jesus chooses too; he chooses to
come again and again into our broken lives, into our fractured world, peddling
his goods… peace, justice, purity, love. One day we’ll get it right… That’s the
promise. That’s our hope.
May the joy of the Holy Family be with you
and your families this Christmas and may the Christ Child grant us the deepest
desires within our hearts.
Merry Christmas
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Deacon Tom
Enjoy this special day!
No comments:
Post a Comment