May Our Paths Lead To Peace
“What is Christmas? It is the tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” ~ Agnes M. Pharo
I have said this many times through the years (and a few times in these Christmas reflections) that Christmas is not just a day or a season. Christmas, as Pharo reminds us, is a continuity of our lives past, present, and future.
We remember the past as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. We ask for grace to live faith-filled lives in the present. And we look to the future when that Christ-child, now grown, comes again in His glory to call all of us to Himself at the end of time.
We will only be ready for that moment if we live Christmas in its entirety: past, present, and future. (Hmmm, I think I’ve heard that before. Isn’t that what Scrooge promised after being visited by the three Christmas Spirits?)
The Church is preparing to exit the Christmas season next Tuesday as Ordinary Time begins the day after the Baptism of the Lord. As we prepare to exit the season, let’s remind ourselves that Christmas should remain with us every day of our lives.
FAITH ACTION: Be bold and celebrate the spirit of Christmas again this day. Live it in your heart and let it show in your life.