Make A Beautiful World

27 Dec

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas, according to Peale, may have waved a magic wand over the world to make it softer and more beautiful. However, there are some people who are not wavers but, rather, weavers. St. John, apostle and evangelist, is one of those masterful people who could weave words into sublime accounts of God’s mercy, joy, and love.

John, whose feast we celebrate today, gave us a gospel that is difficult for many people to read. John speaks in visionary terms with lofty ideas. He draws us upward and out of ourselves. Thoroughly read, and taking the time to digest what we read, John’s words can give us a richer understanding of Jesus as well as the apostles and early Church.

Christmas does that to us as well. When we take the time to delve into Christmas, we realize that it is more than just a day’s celebration. The Octave of Christmas, which is celebrated this entire week, reminds us that Christmas was not just a day. Rather, Christmas is a reality that is to be celebrated and lived each day of our lives.

Imagine being the magic wand that Christmas waves over the world. Imagine, because of your actions, being the wand that brings food to the poor. Imagine, because of your visit, being the wand that makes a person shut-in at hospice, in a nursing home, or in their house feel as if someone cares.

Imagine… Well, I could go on, but I think you get the point. Besides, John was the better person to challenge his people to imagine what it would be like if everyone lived as God asked of them.

FAITH ACTION: Don’t give up on Christmas. It has just begun. Continue to share your Christmas joy with all you encounter.