Christmas 2002

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Christmas Reflection

Sr. Noreen Cullen, Institute of Our Lady of Mercy of England & Wales

When a family have a new baby everything changes in the home. Extra furniture is needed, the baby can never be left alone and the usual pattern of the parents' days and nights is thrown into disarray. Yet there are few, if any, complaints because the joy of the arrival of the newly born surpasses the inconvenience of the upheaval and confusion.

At Christmas time we welcome Jesus who came into our world as a baby. How does this affect our lives? Are we prepared for the coming of Jesus to change our life patterns? Life patterns need to change, otherwise new worlds won't emerge. When we agree to move from the familiar and comfortable to a place of uncertainty we are often amazed at the changes that take place in ourselves.

Mary Pat Garvin RSM quoted recently from Human Development:-

"Tradition is the living voice of the dead; Traditionalism is the dead voice of the living."

In many of our Mercy Communities there is a strong urge to stay with the known way, to travel the same route we have travelled before. Jesus who came as a baby brought angels and shepherds and Kings to the same stable.

We experience many atrocities in our world today. it is only our belief that good has overcome evil that keeps hopes alive. Recently I spent many hours in a Nursing Home Ward with my mother who no longer knows who I am. This helped me to reflect on what life is really all about. When my life on earth is over what would I hope to have been, to have accomplished. I have only one life to live. This is the real thing not a rehearsal. While I was in the ward, a lady in another bed, (who is a nurse but has been retired for many years), woke up suddenly and said, "It's time to go on duty." We all need to have a sense of purpose in our lives.

Christmas can be a time for looking at our lives through a new lens or through the lens of another member of our Congregation - perhaps someone whom we find it difficult to relate to. It may be a time to offer forgiveness for past wrongs or perceived wrongs. It is certainly a time to think of others, especially those who are displaced.

Mary and Joseph were unwanted that Christmas night in Bethlehem. There are many refugees in all our countries for Christmas this year. They may not be in a stable but many of them are in secure units, imprisoned for being homeless, stateless.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, on those who live in the land of shadow a light has shone." Isaish 9:1

We need to walk while we have the light, our light can also give light to others. May this Christmas be a time of blessing, of light for all of us as we pray:-

Lord show us the world as in your sight,
Riddled by debt, deceit and disbelief,
Yet also shot through with possibility for recovery,
renewal, redemption, Amen.

May you Lord be born again in each of us this Christmas.

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