Another Christmas
There are many elements and characters in the Christmas nativity scene, and the most important Character is always the smallest. This is a divine paradox, what seems small to God is great, what is weak for us has great power in God's eyes. If you did a survey among those celebrating Christmas, what is needed for the holiday to be successful, many important answers would come up: family atmosphere, cultivating traditions, good weather, etc. All these can certainly help in the celebration. On the other hand, the answer is quite rarely answered that during Christmas, the most important thing is Christmas - Baby Jesus who comes to us. He is so little, when He comes, sometimes we get lost in the multitude of all these traditions, dishes and holiday pleasures. This year it is said that the holidays will be different. Due to the pandemic, there are many prohibitions and restrictions. Not everywhere will be possible to celebrate all traditions, meet with loved ones, trips or even outings are not possible everywhere, many holiday attractions are closed. But it is precisely for this reason that we have a chance to make this Christmas the most normal. Maybe this year there will be fewer things for us to cover Little Jesus in the manger. Let us accept all these difficulties and look at them positively, seeing them as an opportunity to celebrate the great Mysteries of God more deeply. Let this little Baby, who is the Lord of this world, with all its problems and concerns be at the center of our holiday. God wants to remind us that He is born in us regardless of external conditions, it is enough to be attentive and accept Him with faith and trust. If we cannot travel or go outside during the holidays, let's remain inside. Sr. Sybilla Kołtan
Mary Immaculate
In the middle of the Advent season, the Catholic Church celebrates a feast on which an important aspect of Christmas shows up. It is a feast that many people have little or nothing to do with: the feast of Mary, the mother of God, conceived without original sin. If we have the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin in view of Christ, translate it into our reality, then it is said that we too are without original sin in view of Christ. Where Christ is in us sin has no power. In the inner space within us where Christ dwells, sin and guilt have no entry; there sin is disempowered. In Mary we meditate on our own being, the mystery of our redemption through Jesus Christ. Just as we in Mary are pure people celebrate who is without intrigue and side intentions, who gets involved in God without ulterior motives, so we also believe that there is something pure and holy in us, is something Immaculate and intact. We shouldn't feel like sinners all the time, but rather as people who God has transformed in Jesus Christ. It is an optimistic feast that the Church is celebrating. It corresponds to the shine of Christmas that goes out. It lets the light of Christmas into our brokenness to shine. Often enough, we don't see ourselves as loud and flawless. Even if we do something good if we have secondary intentions, we want to be well received by others, we want to be seen. We know our tendency to present ourselves better than we are. Even in our Charity creeps in egotistical motives. In Mary we see the secret of our own salvation. In us there are not only defilements and falsifications, there is also a core in us pure and holy, something that is not infected by guilt and sin. The holy reading from the letter to the Ephesians expresses it in this way: “In Christ God chose us before the creation of the World, so that we may live holy and blameless (Immaculate) before God ”(Eph 1,4). Where Christ is in is us, we are flawless. Even if we know about our lies and deceitful tricks, so we can trust that something in us is very pure and holy. There is something in us healed, is completely permeable to God's love. Where Christ is in us, our Feelings have no admission to guilt with which we often enough tear ourselves. There they have Self-devaluation and self-accusation no chance to occur. There we are in Harmony with ourselves. ... And where Christ is born in us, sin has no entrance, we are clean and holy. P. Anselm Grün (OSB)
100 percent “yes”
Advent is a season of preparation extending over four Sunday before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin “advenio” means “to come to”, and refers to the coming of Christ. Thus, the term “the coming” includes three references: First of all to our celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas; Second, to the coming of Christ in our daily lives through Sacrament of the Eucharist; and finally, it refers to his second coming at the end of time. Therefore, our preparation during Advent should have all three comings in mind. We need to prepare our souls to welcome and receive Christ wholeheartedly. What perfect example of receiving Jesus wholeheartedly, than Mary. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception just around the corner, stand as a reminder to us all, that Mary is truly the central figure of the Advent season. It reminds us all that God bestowed such favour on Mary, not for her sake, but for ours. She stands as the sinless one, the perfect disciple, the model of the church, and her assumption the promise of our resurrection. In fact, it through her “yes” consenting, that the Son of God was conceived and live among us in the flesh. It is through her “yes” that Jesus began his way along the road of humanity. Mary “yes” shows how complete and unconditional, her love for God without reservations. But more importantly, her saying “yes” tells the whole story of God saving Love; that “though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humble himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philip 2:6- 9). Thus, our daily saying “yes” to God creates our own salvation stories. It tells of how God work in and with us through the Holy Spirit for our redemption. God offered life eternal and we say “yes” in complete favour of his eternal love, and as a result life everlasting follows. It sound straight forward and easy but in reality, it demands sacrifices by dying to self-daily. It demands faithfulness and the joy of carrying daily crosses with Jesus each day. It demands perseverance through the uncertain and unclear moments of everyday life. Pope Francis remind us that “we are experts on the half-yes; we are good at pretending not to understand what God wants, and what our conscience prompts us to do. We are also smart, and never give a true no to God, and say: ‘I am not able’, ‘not today, but tomorrow’, ‘Tomorrow I will be better, tomorrow I will pray, tomorrow I will do good.” It is through these half-yes and delay responses we offered to God each day, which leads us to sin. Nevertheless, this season of Advent is an opportunity for us to reflect on our saying “yes” to God. Indeed, God desire to see us and awaits our “yes” wholeheartedly. Like Mary, we should be completely open to the actions of God in our daily activities. We should be like Mary, presenting no obstacle to the transforming power of God’s love. Like Mary, we should be pondered of all that God graces us with. The Immaculate Conception of Mary speaks to us of the reality which will helps us draw close to her son. May our hearts grow like Mary’s in trust of God the Father, and we offer thanks to the Father for the gift of Mary our Mother, and through her tender maternal intercession may we grow firm in our everyday “yes” witnessing to her Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Fr. Sione Hamala
Stay awake, I am in charge, Do my task!
It is like a man travelling abroad:he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake! Three points: Stay awake, I am in charge, Do my task! To stay awake is to feel the ardent desire to be at the presence of the Lord who is molding the clay. Feel that you are the work of His Hand (first reading) I am in charge of what: of all the graces I have received through Jesus Christ. So, don’t stop thanking the Lord in prayers and witnessing. (second reading) Each one with his own task: That is to respect the task of each one and to help the other with his or her task. Each task is important as it is entrusted by Lord. Don Giorgio
