As your heart, like the manger, receives anew the birth of Christ, may you give Christmas away to all who cross your path the whole year through.
“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. ” Mother Teresa
Abundant Blessings of His Peace and Joy to you and yours!
Merry Christmas. Joy to the World, the Lord has come.
From, The Heart of J
“It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…” Fr. Andrew Greeley
Gratefulness eradicates fear…
Because gratefulness comes from a place of enough…not from scarcity.
“Indeed religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.” 1 Tim 6:6-7
For we are like olives…only when we are crushed do we yield what is best in us. –the Talmud
“The Lord is close to the broken hearted, saves those whose spirits are crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers from them all. “
Ps 34:19-20
“This journey is never finished. ..
Just as in the life of each one of us, there is always a need to start again…
to get back up, to rediscover the meaning of our existence.
So for the great human family it is necessary always to redirect ourselves toward the common horizon that is the goal of our journey.
It is the horizon of hope!
The season of Advent that today we begin once again, restores the horizon of hope for us,
a hope that does not disappoint because it is founded on the Word of God.
It is a hope that does not disappoint simply because the Lord never disappoints!
He is Faithful! He does not disappoint!
+ Pope Francis…12/1/13
Where is your greatest poverty?
To give from your poverty is true generosity of faith. To give from your nothingness or barrenness is to give with God’s hands in yours.
So, when you have nothing left to give…give anyway…you are just beginning to truly learn the art of giving.
For if you have nothing to give…you have everything to give!
People of faith shatter the horizons of those whose feet are grounded in the world…
Forever exploring and living out the newness of the day with all its accompanying grace, they rock the world of those holding on to earthly ways.
They are the front loaders, the bulldozers, the tractor trailer work trucks building the kingdom of God bit by bit.
They are the hard hatted, steel booted, fearless of dirt and sweat disciples of today work crew.
“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven…” Matt6:10
image via curesearch.org
There are times one is given a foreshadowing of life’s hill ahead…
It can be daunting.
But it’s not about how far you travel daily or even how quickly you journey.
It’s all about showing up each new day, with hiking boots laced up, ready to climb, step by step.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, “God does not require that we be successful, only that we be faithful.”
“But he said to me, ‘ My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weakness, in order that the power of Christ dwell with me.” 2 Co 12:9
It is the sacrifice unspoken behind an action…
That makes it an act of Love.
“Above all, let your love for one another be intense…” 1 Pet 4:8a
JOY is in the “how we see”!
Have a joy-filled weekend.
Blessings, From the Heart of J
through Him with Him in Him... 