We might ask why are the tears of Rachel different from the tears of other mothers? Rachel’s grief is profound yet very beautiful. Her life without children, her struggle to accept Jacob’s love for her even though she is without children, her jealousy of her sister Leah, Rachel’s death in childbirth, her burial by the side of the road–all this creates the music of Rachel’s lament.
Tradition holds that Rachel was buried in a transitional space between two named places because it was on the route that her children would take when they were forced into exile. Tradition also says that Rachael is the mother of many, even though she gave birth only to Benjamin. It also teaches that there is no place where her children may be forced to go where she will not be with them.
Another part of Rachael's tradition is that when Herod had the children murdered in Bethlehem because Jesus was not handed over to him by the magi, Rachel’s wailing rises up. Her cries signaled a new exile. And why is she not be consoled? Because justice was not served. Rachel screamed and mourned and cried out–driving Herod mad–until there was accountability for every dead child. We certainly can say that still Rachel weeps today!
Perhaps our prayers today are not for all children who loose their lives through violence, abortion, and other kinds of death, our prayers today are to them that as saints in God's presence they might help us see the true gift of life. Our prayers are also to mother's like Rachael who hold life so dear. May they help us to bring about justice for all life in our time so that we are not exiled from eternal life.
Daily Prayer: Loving God, fill us with the spirit of the Holy Innocents and Rachael, so that we will always honor and value life from its first moment of conception to its last breath and every moment in between, as your gift. We continue though out this Christmas Season to pray for families in grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for firefighters who risk their lives; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! For we know that our help is always in you our God who created heaven and earth! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Perhaps our run today can be one where we sense miraculous expectations and allow a feeling of gratitude for the extraordinary and the ordinary to flow though us.
Blessings to all today may you continue to live in the Christmas Spirit and may you pause through this day to honor, value and celebrate the gift of life especially in the gift of the children around you! I especially honor and prayer for two little women in my life Emilia and Kristina along with their mother and father may they be guarded and blessed in the Spirit of the Holy Innocents! Peace in the Christ Child...Fr. Paul
Blessings to all today may you continue to live in the Christmas Spirit and may you pause through this day to honor, value and celebrate the gift of life especially in the gift of the children around you! I especially honor and prayer for two little women in my life Emilia and Kristina along with their mother and father may they be guarded and blessed in the Spirit of the Holy Innocents! Peace in the Christ Child...Fr. Paul
No comments:
Post a Comment