The Leader, Eganville, Ontario - December 20, 2011

Page 12

God continues to love us

In our world today, the word love is used in all kinds of ways. I love chocolate! I love the way snow glistens in the moonlight. I love getting away from work for the holidays. What do we mean by all this though? Listening to the way the word is used, I would guess the meaning of love would be to adore, admire, or have a strong affection or fondness for something. Going by how often we claim to love something, there must be a lot of things in this world we adore. In these times, people seem to love so many things so often, that I wonder if we over-use the word love? Maybe even to the point that it loses some of its real meaning? Sure a person can love chocolate, but if one becomes diabetic, isnt the love lost? We may love the look of snow without work how do we earn a living? Is this really love? Isnt real love about commitment? Isnt it about a commitment for our entire lives with our entire being? God has been telling humanity for eons that God loves us, each of us, and to show it, to prove it, God sent his Son to earth for us. Jesus came to tell us what God expects and to show us how an earthly life can be lived that is both pleasing to God and benecial to ourselves. On top of that, Jesus also came to wipe away our personal list of wrongdoings. In spite of any ways that we hurt others, God is ready to wipe the slate clean and keeps on loving us. That is commitment. That is love. That is why we celebrate Christmas with such intense joy. We are loved!

in the moonlight, but only until the end of January if that long. We can love time away from work, but

The overwhelming Christmas

Christmas this year is coming so fast it is overwhelming. I didnt have the chance to pick up things for the grandchildren starting in the summer. This year I am leaving some of my shopping to the last minute which is really different for me. I was laid up with my back most of the summer and have learnt what it is like to be in a wheelchair and the feelings that come with this, to the relief of being able to walk. I am feeling quite a bit better now and very thankful to God. I am certainly going to enjoy Christmas this year even though it will be different. Please remember those who are less fortunate than you. When you see someone in a wheelchair that needs your help offer to open the door for them. They dont want your pity, but your respect. If you want to be used by God, He is not looking at your disability or ability but your availability. Christmas to me has always been about families being together, about the Saviours birthday, breaking bread with loved ones, exchanging gifts, etc. Jesus came into this world so we can have life and have it more abundantly! John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me. So for those who are looking for truth and life here is your answer. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. Will this be the Christmas that you ask Jesus to come into your heart? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

DEATHS

The birth of hope moves us

Bishop Douglas Crosby, Bishop of Hamilton, tells the story of an encounter he had when celebrating mass at Dalhousie University a number of years ago. When he entered the room where he was to celebrate mass, he noticed a young woman sitting at the front of the room with her bare feet on the table that held the book of Scripture readings. The bishop walked over to the area of the table and began to greet the people gathered there. As he was exchanging greetings, he noticed that the girl had no arms. She was holding the book of Scripture readings with her feet, for that is how she held the book, turning the pages as she did with her toes. When it came time for the greeting of peace, Bishop Crosby was careful to greet others rst, keeping a watchful eye for how people gave the greeting of peace to someone with no arms. As he watched, he saw people shaking her foot, not surprising given her lack of hands. After mass, Bishop Crosby was eager to learn the source of the girls courage. The girl shared how, when she was very young, her mother told accomplish, and then set about to accomplish them. And that is how she lived her life. For each one of us, though without a doubt our lives may not be so obviously challenged, we too face the same two choices. We can either spend our days lamenting the things we cannot do in life, or the consequences of decisions that we have made. Or we can focus on the things we can accomplish, and do our best to make the most of what we have been given in life. I believe this is the power that we are given in the person of Jesus Christ. Born in a stable to obviously humble parents, Our Blessed Lord is the example to us of what can happen when we allow Gods grace to have control in our lives. To follow the example of Jesus is to make manifest in our own lives the power and potential of God. At this time of year, I believe it is the birth of hope that so moves us at Christmas, the promise of hope and a world made new by the power of Almighty God. To all this Christmas, may we be blessed with new hope found in the life and example of Jesus.

I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus. He has brought me through this trial and increased my faith.

her that she had two choices in her life. She could either sit around and spend her time thinking of all the things she could not do given the absence of arms. Her other choice was to focus on the things she could

A time to rediscover Christmas

When Jesus was born on that rst Christmas, apart from Mary and Joseph, a few shepherds alerted by the angels, and a few wise men alerted by a star, most people missed it. And do you know what? The mystery of the incarnation is also missed by most of us today. Even many a faithful Christian misses the true wonder of Christmas. Why is that? Because we are consumed by consumerism. We worship less, we spend more. This is the stark message given in an inuential little book called The Advent Conspiracy. The Advent Conspiracy asks what if we spent less, gave more, worshipped fully, and truly loved all? What if we substitute consumption with compassion, and give not just presents but our presence? What if some of the money we spent at Christmas was used instead, for example, to dig wells in poor remote communities where people regularly die from lack of clean water? A number of churches got together and began to dream what if? Churches began to spend less, worship more fully, to give more where it can really make a difference, and food bank or other charity. Such gifts are costly in a different way. But then, look at Jesus. He gave Himself fully. Gods gift to us cost Him everything. Did you know that the fastest growing religion in the world is not Islam or Christianity, but radical consumerism. It promises transcendence, power, pleasure and fulllment. The dollar sign is its idolatrous symbol. But we know our desires are never satised by acquiring things. So whats the alternative to material wealth? Jesus, of course! Look at the Christmas story with fresh eyes. Notice how everyone who encounters the infant Jesus has the same response: worship. Notice Marys humble response to the angel Gabriel: Here I am, Lord As you have said, let it be done to me (Luke 1:38). Ask yourselves if the way you spend your money and energy truly shows that you worship God incarnate. Christmas can still change the world, so let us show that by our actions, by the way we spend our money and our time, that Jesus is still alive today.

to love all. They began to make their giving relational, meaning we pay attention to the other person. Rather than just giving money, one man gave his daughter two blank journals. They were each to ll one in for a year and the following Christmas they exchanged the journals. Their giving was relational. Another church collected winter coats for those in need. One church drank only water for a week and gave the money saved on pop or juice to the