Christmas is one of the greatest of our religious feasts in the Catholic and Christian world. It is in itself a most beautiful and joyous time. Existentially, it is a paradox, however, because large numbers of people suffer terribly at this time of year. Why? I suppose there are a lot of reasons, but one is that depression—one of the Enemy’s greatest weapons—gets the better of many of us. The world can be a cold place, and rejection and isolation in its various forms takes a terrible toll on humanity.
As Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them with their relatives, nor at the inns.
It was cold, dark, and desolate that night, and there was no room at the inn, no room that night for the Holy Family. After two millennia has anything changed? Is there indeed room in the inn of many human hearts and minds?
Countless people are alone at Christmas. They remember Christmases of days gone by-- families gathering, warmth, midnight Mass, gifts, good times and friendship. Now they are alone, aged in many cases, not so aged in others. The bitter cold of that long ago night when there was no room at the inn takes hold of them.
Often the greatest things are born of suffering and rejection, if only we can see that the preface of victory is battle. Out of the cold indifference of that long ago night in Bethlehem was born the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He had Mary and Joseph, the cave, and the animals to keep Him warm. He was doing His Father’s will. That was enough.
This Christmas allow Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to fill you with the warmth of the Father’s love. Thank God for the gift of His only Son. Then go out of your way to radiate that love to someone who is most in need of it. A kind word, a little gift, an invitation to an elderly or shut-in person to come to dinner, etc. goes so far. Love is like fire. It illuminates the darkness and transmits heat to those around it.
God bless you and yours this Christmas, and forever,
Fr. John Corapi
3 comments:
Lovely post... very apt.
Have a wonderful, joyful, Christmas filled with laughter, good health, warm food, warmer hugs, giggling children, lovely singing, uncountable blessings, and peace... peace the gift God means us to give each other ( He takes care of much of the rest! )
Joyous Christmas and bright new year
lor
PS A little practical advice to the lonely at Christmas... clean the house, really really well... especially if, like mine, it had begun to have a sort of manger like appearence! Even take the couch appart and clean ( One can get quite rich doing that...) Even clean under the strings of the guitars! Listen to the Rankin family ( don't listen to Joni Mitchel, not a good idea, though she is often good, sometimes TOO good!!! ) oil all the floors, careful not to slip... oil the drum skins... save a little Richard Smert or John Dunstable ( Medievil Christmas music ) for late at night with a glass of port wine... send a few silly little gifts...
Had a few friends, two brothers waiting over a year in prision ( the call it civil detention ) for an asylum hearing ( we won ). I used to have to speak to them in Romaness ( Gypsy ) But, in that year, they learned to speak rather good English. Well, one of the brothers called, me, oh was it two or three years ago, this time of year and said, "Tell me what you are going to do for New Years?"
"Well, imagine a church with no stained glass, no alter, no cleargy, plain wooden benches, and a bunch of people sitting not speaking for a long time, then we shake hands and that is it! " (A description of a Quaker sort of Hootananny )
There was a long pause, then a sigh, and my friend in jail said, "No, that's no good, that is what I am doing for New Years!"
Ah my... In my younger days, we'd ( Irish New York ... most of it! ) would gather in my small house, stacked several deep, singing, playing music and doing our bit to help recycle champain bottles. Then, we would, at dawn, go for breakfast at Odessa, a great Polish Greek cafe, then pile into a few vans ( our Moslem non-drinking members of our Irish currach racing crew [Irish ocean rowing craft] driving... ) and we would wend out way to the Bronx Zoo, which was always open New Years day. We begin the year, wandering among the exhibits of wonderful animals... not a bad way to spend the day. All to say, the Zoo is often a great place, in a crowd or alone, try to avoid being held awaiting a political asylum claim, and... hmmm
Happy New Year!
Thine, dearly in the light
lor
Borrow from Fr John anytime! He is such an inspiration!!
Have a very Merry Christmas!!
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