As Advent wanes and we ready our houses and hearts for Christmas, let’s pause to think of the many places in the world that seem far removed from the joy of this holiday.
We offer a prayer for all those afflicted by violence and war and in a special way we pray for our own conversion that this Christmas we might really celebrate the birth of Christ.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor, theologian and martyr describes so well one who celebrates Christmas worthily:
“Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high, whoever looks at the child in the manger and see the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.”
Merry Christmas and God’s choicest blessings in the New Year!
Mark Francis, CSV
Provincial