Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace. What a glorious day it is! The light who, not only created us, the light who we live, move and have our being within has entered into the world. Yes, our Savior is our Alpha, our Omega – our everything! Today’s Gospel so beautifully reveals the fullness of the truth of Christ. Oh how many exquisite hours we could spend bathing in the beauty of Christ as we meditate on today’s readings. However, as I often do when I read scripture I ask myself why the Church selected these particular readings today.
While today’s first reading, Psalm, second reading, and Gospel all reveal the all-embracing beauty, power and consubstantiality of God and Jesus Christ, we are also called to reflect on this in light of our previous Advent readings. This Advent season revealed to us the preparation that took place prior to the holy birth; including the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph’s role in the holy family, and the life of Saint John the Baptist. Looking back we see that much took place before the Light entered the world.
We Are Called Into Action
God placed in the human heart a desire to fully orientate ourselves towards him. As we love both God and our brothers our human hearts begin to rest in his peace. We have all experienced the bliss of love when we love another. Additionally, we have all, undoubtedly, experienced heartfelt “God moments” when our hearts are filled with love for Christ. These are gifts God freely gives us. However, a battle ensues within our hearts when we withhold love from our fellow human beings. We do this out of fear, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness – out of sin. Yet, God gave those who believe in him the ability to overcome sin and the pain it creates.
I believe we have been given the power to facilitate world peace; however, peace must first begin in our hearts. Today we are seeing an increase in scientific studies revealing the power of prayer. This is exciting. Finally, science is catching up to faith as their newfound “discoveries” are already present in Sacred Scripture.
The Power of Prayer
An interesting project took place in the early 1980’s titled “International Peace Project in the Middle East”. You can find it in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, December 1988 Vol. 32. I know this is an older project. However, it addressed conflict in the Middle East and given this I feel it is extremely relevant today. In the study individuals we trained to “feel” peace in the war-torn regions of Israel and Lebanon through prayer and meditation. What the project revealed was amazing. As the individuals prayed and meditated on peace the decrease in conflict was statistically significant. The project even revealed that it only took a small number of praying individuals to facilitate a positive effect. Made me think of our cloistered Carmelite Catholic Nuns! Yet, sadly, the conflict arose again when the prayer and meditation stopped.
God has given us the power to facilitate goodness in the world through prayer and meditation. However, we must do the work necessary so that our hearts become open to goodness. Forgiveness, understanding and acceptance are essential keys here. Through prayer and meditation our hearts heal and open the way to these keys. We must constantly “show up” for God and spend time with him. Our Catholic faith provides exquisite pathways towards God. The Rosary is a powerful and beautiful meditation that opens the human heart to goodness – one of the most powerful prayers available to mankind.
Loving Our Family
Let’s begin by loving and forgiving those closest to us during this Christmas season – our family. Sadly, this can feel almost impossible sometimes. After all, our family members are the ones who tend to hurt us the most. However, anytime there is hurt and an absence of love sin has entered into the relationship – somewhere, somehow. Love and sin cannot co-exist in the same place. The Evil One wants to kill and destroy your family, don’t let him do it. As believers we have been granted, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the ability to make a change. We can choose forgiveness, acceptance, peace, and prayer. Most of all, we can choose love.
Merry Christmas! Blessing to all our readers. We are so happy to be back on-line! – Carolyn
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us
(Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6, Hebrew 1:1-6, Matthew John 1:1-18)
