I write in the wee hours of a silent night, with a bright moon, not quite at last quarter, illuminating the sky. It has been a full, full Christmas Eve, beginning with prayer and breakfast with 194 men, many in their young twenties, and clear, direct, forceful talk about the birth of Jesus. At midnight Mass, a sense of solemn reverence and worship of our God-made-man prevailed from the moment the Christ Child was brought in procession to the Creche to the final blessing. Not an ounce of commercialism in these bookends of the day. It was Christmas all the way, not bells on bob-tails. So refreshing. And have you heard more people saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays? I have, even from an Iranian teller at the bank! The coming of Jesus into our world 2000 years ago is still the basis for our celebration. St. Marcellin loved Christmas and urged his followers to take the first places "at the crib, the cross and the altar." It is there that we experience the heart of Christ's teaching on humble emptying of self to become a gift for others as he did. As we exchange greetings and gifts let us remember that God's love for us, God's desire to save us, is the GIFT of GIFTS, seen in the Babe in Bethlehem, in the Christ reigning in our hearts. Let us pay attention to the words of our familiar carols, let us not only wish each other a Merry Christmas, but live it.
Bro. Rene
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