Justice Bulletin Board
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans1:7
Has the noise of the consumer bandwagon, endless Christmas music, and merrymaking overwhelmed these last few days of Advent? There were times when my children were small that I thought I could never get a moment’s silence in the midst of so much Christmas activity and, I have to say, I found wonder in those precious days. Yet, I realized that if I was to prepare my own heart for the presence of the Lord, silence, solitude and self-gift were necessary ingredients to a richer understanding of the coming of the Lord. Our late Pope Francis once said, “The most beautiful gift we can receive is our encounter with Jesus. . .We meet Jesus in the sacraments, but we also meet Him when we do good deeds, when we visit the sick, when we help the poor, when we think of others, when we are not selfish. . .” (Vatican Radio via Missio app 12/1/13)
The Church’s tradition of encouraging everyone to create time for waiting, watching, wondering, and welcome in these four weeks of Advent make this period one of the most spiritual. As you light your fourth Advent candle, invite others into the stillness. Breathe in the peace and calm. Let go of all distractions. Picture a world where even the impoverished person has their needs and hopes met and they can be who they were created to be. Imagine yourself as God’s instrument to help someone less fortunate in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Then, say this prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for sustaining me on my Advent journey as I go forth to welcome the One who is to come within me. When the discouraged cry for hope, make me hope.
When the hungry cry for bread, make me bread.
When the thirsty cry for water, make me water.
When the suffering cry for help, make me help.
When the sick cry for healing, make me healing.
When the bound cry for freedom, make me freedom.
When the outcasts cry for love, make me love.
This Advent, transform me anew,
and so keep me close to you,
as you transform the world. Amen.
(adapted from Our Current Prayer | CRS )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Have a blessed Christmas and may you receive the most beautiful gift of encountering Jesus.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC