Christmas Day Thoughts: Some thoughts
for a Christmas Day…
“We are all meant to be mothers of
God...for God is always needing to be born.”
“Every creature is a word of God and is
a book about God.” (Meister Eckhart)
“To be grateful is to recognize the Love
of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every
breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for
it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for
granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to
praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good,
not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” (Thomas Merton)
While it is good that we seek to know
the Holy One, it is probably not so good to presume that we ever complete the
task.”
“God loves human beings. God loves the
world. Not an ideal human, but human beings as they are; not an ideal world,
but the real world. What we find repulsive in their opposition to God, what we
shrink back from with pain and hostility, namely, real human beings, the real
world, this is for God the ground of unfathomable love.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
“Someday, after we have mastered the
winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies
of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, we will have
discovered fire.” (Fr. Pierre Teilhard de
Chardin, SJ)
“Just because something is impossible,
doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.” (Dorothy
Day)
“It is a fair, even-handed, noble
adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow,
there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good
humor.”
“For it is good to be children
sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a
child Himself.”(Charles Dickens, A
Christmas Carol)
“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought,
doesn't come from a store.” (Dr. Seuss)
“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and
intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in
every home.” (G.K. Chesterton)
“For a child is born to us, a son is
given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor,
God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5)
“Let us draw from the crib the joy and
deep peace that Jesus comes to bring to the world.” (Pope Francis)
A blessed, holy and peace filled
Christmas day everyone!
Christmas Day Prayer: Loving Jesus,
Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace, the Light of the
World, as we celebrate your birth may we begin to see the world in the light of
your gift of understanding with which you grace us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the
poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we celebrate
you in meekness of heart, wonderment of love and joyful hope. May we bring your hope and love to all we meet
today and always. Amen.
A Runner’s Thoughts: “Run into
peace.” (Meister Eckhart) Merry
Christmas all runners!
Christmas Blessing: Merry Christmas
everyone! I returned a little while ago from our monastery in Jamaica Queens,
NY where I concelebrated Christmas Morning Mass with Fr. Robert, our provincial,
and the men of the community. We had a little sadness for one of our men, Fr.
Xavier Hayes, C.P. celebrated mass with us and then went to his room and made
the final journey to God. It was a gift to celebrate with him and it is a day
of loss for our community.
Upon leaving the monastery Fr. Robert
and I visited one of our men, Fr. Tom Brislin, C.P. in the hospital. Fr. Tom is
the rector at the Immaculate Conception Monastery and had to enter the hospital
a few days ago because of a kidney stone. While in the hospital the doctors
found a few more things. So Fr. Tom finds himself in the hospital over
Christmas with some uncertainties about the future. Please keep him in your
prayers!
The death of Fr. Xavier this morning
took me back 32 years to my own father’s death on Christmas morning. It is hard
to believe it has been that long and yet he is very present to me each day. I
though back to August and having the opportunity to visit Lourdes, France and
how present he felt to me there. While it is always sad to lose someone you
love it has always been a blessing to remember Dad’s life each Christmas by
celebrating mass in his memory. Dad thank you for the gift of life and for the
family you and Mom brought into the world. Thank you Mom and Dad for sharing
your faith with me and talking God into calling me to the Passionists and
priestly ministry! Remembering Dad once again on Christmas Day!
In the spirit of this day of joy, love
and gathering here is my prayer of blessing for all…
May there be harmony in all your
relationships. May sharp words, envious
thoughts, and hostile feelings be dissolved.
May you give and receive love
generously. May this love echo in your
heart like the joy of church bells on a clear December day.
May each person who comes into your life
be greeted as another Christ. May the
honor given the Babe of Bethlehem be that which you extend to every guest who
enters your presence.
May the Hope of this sacred season
settle in your soul. May it be a
foundation of courage for you when times of distress occupy your inner land.
May the wonder and awe that fills the
eyes of children be awakened within you.
May it lead you to renewed awareness and appreciation of whatever you
too easily take for granted.
May the bonds of love for one another be
strengthened as you gather with family, community and friends around the table
of festivity and nourishment.
May you daily open the gift of your life
and be grateful for the hidden treasures it contains.
May the coming year be one of good
health for you and those you love. May
you have energy and vitality. May you
care well for your body, mind and spirit.
May you keep your eye on the Star within
you and trust this Luminescent Presence to guide and direct you each day.
May you go often to the Bethlehem of
your heart and visit the One who offers you peace. And may you bring this peace
into the world… (From Out of the Ordinary
– “a Christmas Blessing” by Joyce Rupp)
I will remember all of you as I
celebrate the Eucharist during this Christmas Season – Christmas blessings to
all. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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