Vol.
2, No. 3
Oblates of Mount Michael Abbey, Elkhorn, NE January-April, 2003
Dear Oblates,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Before leaving for my annual last minute
shopping trip to town, I reminded myself to keep things in perspective. I only have a few gifts to purchase so the
task is not that daunting. Or at least,
it shouldn’t be that daunting.
But then you hit reality: the torn-up
streets of Omaha with the numerous construction barricades; the stranger who
cuts you off in the parking lot; the crisp cool wind of December; the masses of
humanity crowding the stores; the crying children who really don’t want to go
to yet another store; the ransacked shelf where the gift is supposed to be; and
the fickle price scanner and the temporary cashier who really doesn’t know what
all of those buttons do.
Aaah, the joy of the season! Yes, I reminded myself to keep things in
perspective. And I needed to continue
to remind myself as the day wore on.
Perspective. The torn-up streets
are signs of progress. The stranger
probably needed that spot. The poor
mother probably couldn’t find a sitter so she had to take her children. And the temporary cashier needs the extra
income. I think it is important to keep
our perspective, to remember the bigger picture.
Jesus came first in a humble birth in Bethlehem. He will come again in glory at the end of
time. The incarnation of God began with
love. That love can inspire the world
to similar acts of selflessness.
Christmas is a celebration of Christ, the eternal Word who became flesh
for us. Our belief and actions bring
Christmas to life.
In writing for the Liturgical Training Publications’ Sourcebook,
Paul Turner states:
The big surprise at Christmas is actually small. A child is born. Newborns are completely dependent on someone else’s help to sustain
their fragile gift of life. They need a
parent’s care. Yet newborns are
completely powerful in possibility.
They may become anyone. They may
do anything. One of them might even
save the world. One of them did. The big surprise at Christmas is that the
Savior of the World arrives as someone small. In a prophecy bouncing with enthusiasm, Isaiah announces, “A child
is born to us! A son is given us!”
His words brought relief to a nation seeking strong leadership
and an end to oppression. Those who
thought they were walking in the dark now could see light. God had given them a leader whose “dominion
was vast and forever at peace.”
Christians see in this prophecy the anticipation of the birth of Christ. Jesus, the font of wisdom, brings people out
of darkness into light. He rules over a
vast dominion as the Prince of Peace.
Sometimes our problems seem too large to manage. We look for big solutions. Sometimes the solution may be very small.
~~~
May this Christmas find you and
your loved ones well. Be assured of my
prayers as well as the prayers of Bro. Jerome and the entire monastic
community!
Fraternally,
Rev.
Louis Sojka, OSB