EXTEND CHRISTMAS TO THE WHOLE YEAR
If the stories of the manger, the shepherds, the star and the wise men are too hard for us to wrap our adult minds around, let’s consider what the Gospel writer might have been hoping these stories would reveal to us about the truly important things in life – the real treasures God has placed within, between and around us that have the power to reveal a deeper dimension of who we are and what, with our commitment, our world can become.
These stories are meant to be doors that we can open, imaginative doors that will lead us into God’s way of seeing things – not the mundane world we are content to stay in, and fear that something catastrophic will destroy, but a world of engagement with the God who, with our help, intends to fill with God’s ever-flowing love. The stable, the shepherds, the star and the wise men speak of the humbleness, generosity, peacefulness, patience, faithfulness, kindness and joyfulness that are waiting to be born within each and every one of us living in every country on God’s earth. And that seems to me to be what God has placed His faith in: in us – hoping that we will come to realize this and choose to join God in making of ourselves, of one another and the world, a little stable into which we are born anew. May we, the lowly creature shine brightly and warmly like the angels and the star. May we bring shepherds and wise men to their knees.
Can God count on us, on you and me, to open that door into this New Year?
God could have created us so that we were forced to do this. But God didn’t choose to do that? Why did God leave the choice to us? Perhaps because the key to unlocking the door is love which has to be freely given. Will we allow ourselves to fall more deeply in love with this good and humble God? Or will we settle for going on our own “merry” way?
What do I choose for this New Year?
Who will be the shepherds and wise men that I will following? Where am I going?
Sister Loretta
A 4-minute Meditation: