Musings from one of the women: Merry Christmas

Gifts of the Spirit

There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge. Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same Spirit another is given the gift of healing, and still another miraculous powers. Prophecy is given to one; to another power to distinguish one spirit from another. One receives the gift of tongues, another that of interpreting the tongues. But it is one and the same Spirit
who produces all these gifts distributing them to each as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
May we all live the gifts that we have been given in humble service to God and others.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our Lord, come to us, as one of us. As a vulnerable human child, God sent Jesus, our Emmanuel, to live our human experience, so that He could then teach us how to live. Christmas is so much more than the presents, the food, and the decorations. It is about the abundant love that God has for us. It is about having the faith to believe that a baby can change everything. It is about finding that little piece of the Divine in each and every human being. It is about celebrating that Incarnation, of God made flesh; it is about coming out of the darkness.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”

I have walked in the darkness for a very long time. Oh, there have been glimmers of light, shining through in people, I now know were sent by God, to be present with me, just as He is, but in a more tangible way, a way that I can see and touch and feel. That is the greatest give anyone can give, the gift of their presence. God did this for us on this day some 2000 years ago, He sent us His Son, His living presence among us. What an awesome gift! Let us rejoice today and everyday!

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Merry Christmas to All!

2 comments:

In the choir loftDecember 25, 2009 at 3:40 AM
Persis, I hope that you have a very holy and blessed Christmas season. Plus I hope you're feeling better.
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Mary KayDecember 25, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Wishing you a blessed and joyous Christmas season.
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Her Name

There is a lot I don’t know
about courage.
I think I would have been
hiding with the rest,
Or alone, crying.

She was crying too,
just three days after he died,
as she came to the tomb
to tend to the only needs of his
there were left to tend to.
And when she found him gone
it was too much,
And all she wanted to do
was to find him,
And cling to what was left of her life.

She must have heard him
say it so many times,
and maybe it always made
her think of the first time
He had spoken her name
and driven out the demons,
when he had saved her
and changed everything.

So maybe the others could hide,
but she had to be near him,
she had to care for him
even if it was too late.

And then she heard, “Mary, “
her name, in His voice,
and it was unmistakable,
and it wasn’t too late:
His voice could still calm storms
and shatter hearts of stone
and cast out every demon
of fear and loneliness from her heart.

She heard him say her name that day
and she had the courage to
let him change her life again.

Thomas Flowers, SJ
Walking Humbly: Scripture Meditations in Verse

Musings from one of the women

Gifts of the Spirit

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

2 comments:

Followers

Credit where credit is due