Daily Thoughts: “What then, will
this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” I have celebrated
a few baptisms in my life as a priest and there is one thing I do the same at
each one. During my homily, I ask all gathered to consider asking themselves
two questions as they celebrate the baptism of the child. When they get a
chance during the party that usually follows the baptism, to hold the child for
a moment, they are to ask themselves – First, what do they, wish, dream, hope
for this child? Second, how will they help this wish, dream, hope to come true?
As I proclaimed the Gospel (Luke 1:
57-66) this morning at mass the picture that I painted above of a baptism came
to mind. If you have ever taken a baby in your arms perhaps one of the first
questions that came to your mind was, What will become of this child? The same
question people asked at the circumcision of John. I think it is a natural
question to ask when seeing a new born. What will this child be? What gifts,
what talents, does this child have? What kind of life will this child encounter,
life? What lies ahead for this child?
Another thought when looking at a new
born is the fact that this child has come from God. I use an image in one of my
mission talks of a new born child coming into the world. The image is that when
a child is born, the child, she or he comes directly from the hands of God. The
last face before coming into the world a child sees is God’s. If the child
could speak in words that we could understand she or he would tell us about
God. Unfortunately by the time the child can speak in words we understand she
or he have forgotten what God looks like and like us, the child spends the rest
of her or his life making the journey back to those hands of God. Just think
the first hands to embrace us after we take our last breath will be God’s. The
first face we will see will be God’s. In other words the hand of God is with
all of us at birth and throughout our life.
The story we find in the Gospel today
about John’s circumcision is all of our stories. When we came into the world and
people wondered what we would become. People looked at us with love and knew
God’s hand was at work. Yet, unlike John we don’t know the end of our story. It
is still being lived out, it still needs an ending. We know what John became.
We know how John lived out God’s call. We know how John allowed God’s hand to
be at work in his life.
Who then are we? How then is God’s hand
at work in us? These are our questions for this day. These then are our
questions for the celebration of Christmas. These then are our questions for
the beginning of a New Year.
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: Loving, God, to
know you is life. To serve you is freedom. To praise you is our soul's joy and
delight. Guide us with the power of your grace here and in all places. Today and
at all times, forever. Amen. (Adapted
from a Prayer by St. Augustine of Hippo)
Runner’s Thoughts: “Winning isn't
about finishing in first place. It isn't about beating the others. It is about
overcoming yourself. Overcoming your body, your limitations, and your fears.
Winning means surpassing yourself and turning your dreams into reality.” (Kilian
Jornet) Winning is about a friendship with God and as the angel Gabriel reminds
us that all things are possible with God!
Daily Blessing: Happy Monday
everyone! I hope this finds you well and having a good Monday before Christmas.
I know for many of you this might be a stressful time, trying to get things
done at work so you can get away and have a nice Christmas and /or rushing
around trying to get last minute things done so that you are ready to celebrate
Christmas. I also know that the weather might not be helping things where you
are. If you are in the midst of this chaos hang in there you will make it
because all things are possible with God!
If you are traveling today or will be
tomorrow please travel safe, take it easy, take it slow, it might take a little
longer but you will get there in one piece and it will be a much better celebration
with you present, remember there are a lot of crazy, in a hurry, none thinking
people out there.
With just a little over a day left until
the Christmas celebrations begin let us pray that these next hours of our life
will be blessed and graced by God so we will be ready to welcome the gift of
the Christmas spirit into our lives.
Loving God, bless us this day by reminding
us that we have come into this world from your hands and that your loving hands
are always at work in our life. You have created us in your image and likeness
and gifted us to the world. May we live that gift today and every day. May we
make present your presence, your love and your hope in all that we do and say
today. And may we be ready to celebrate
the gift of Christmas surround by the people most important to us. Loving God,
come to life within us today and always! Christmas blessings to all. Peace in
Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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