Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Wishes with borrowed words



For a change, this year I am going to use someone else´s words to express my Christmas wishes. This is a unique time for me, a learning time for me, a journey time for me, a deep and enriching time for me... Oddly enough, in some ways, those feelings make me feel more in touch with what must have been a disconcerting, world upheaving, all is uncertain, all is wonder, the future unknown and more than a little amazing... time a couple thousand years ago when a baby was born. A baby who added stars to the heavens and hope to Earth, a baby who would grow, change world history irrevocably, love everyone infinitely...

Peace to all who visit these pages. May we take on the mantle of this wonder filled child and have the courage to walk out of darkness and witness to the light by making manifest in our actions and being love, justice, courage, respect, dignity, and joy.

Christmas thoughts from Karl Rahner...

"And now God says to us what he has already said to the world as a whole through his grace-filled birth: " I am here. I am with you. I am your life. I am the gloom of your daily routine. I weep your tears. I am your joy. Do not be afraid to be happy, for ever since I wept, joy is the standard of living that is really more suitable than the anxiety and grief of those who think they have no hope. When the totals of your plans and of your life's experiences do not balance out evenly , I am the unsolved remainder. And I know that this remainder, which makes you so frantic, is in reality my love that you do not understand. I am present in your needs.

This reality--incomprehensible wonder of my limitless love--I have sheltered safely in the cold stable of your world. I am there. I no longer go away from this world, even if you do not see me now...I am there. It is Christmas. Light the candles. They have more right to exist than all the darkness. It is Christmas. Christmas that lasts forever."

2 comments:

John said...

I have sent Karl Rahner's words to a friend in Maine who is watching his father approaching the end of life in these holy days.

Merry Christmas, friend.

mary camilleri said...

I have just found your blog through sister helen rosenthal's reflections of an rscj. I would like to write to ask your advice about a catholic education conference we are holding in Malta, Europe. We would like to encourage booksellers to import good books for the Conference and afterwards - as a librarianmaybe you could suggest some?
many thanks many blessings for the New Year
Mary