" Whoa Nelly", tell Father time to slow down. Put the brakes on There is so much presented on the platter of life, I am loosing my grip on reality. And 'Gramps" when this startling truth hit you, and stark naked reality ,become a living mysterious encounter with The Unknown, hit you ? So with a rattled mind, I dare to meet the challenge of this effort. You can call it, name it ,whatever your reality messages you.
We had two great events in our Liturgical celebrations. One was the Feast of Christ The King, signaling the end of one Liturgical calendar year, and then, we are invited to start another year of faith formation, and spiritual renewal as we encounter, The First Sunday of Advent. One celebrates Christ as King in all of His majestic heavenly Glory. We are quickly asked to leave those thoughts behind and focus on the descending of our God as a vulnerable baby. The most defenseless new born of all of creation. A human newborn has no instinct for survival. The question must be asked why The Creator of al Creation become immersed in a perfectly imperfect reality?
One Sunday we are caught up in the glory, we are then asked to forget that, and move to a new vivifying presentation of the arrival of The Christ Child, the Baby who will come to known as, Jesus The Carpenter. This Child is mysteriously destined to be The Revelation that signals the arrival of " an Eternal and Universal Kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.". The Prophet, Rabbi Jesus reveals the work order he has come to make a reality. In HIS own words He tells all that He has been anointed sent to do revolutionary work. His mission and ministry will entail the revelation of the good news , to the poor.
The poor are hereby chosen to receive what money cannot buy. It resulted in the poor, the prisoner, the rejected, the marginalized, the outcast are being offered a pearl of great price. At what price? it is offered absolutely free. This gift cannot be earned, or deserved. Nobody has to go through hoops to qualify. This gift giving will be called, grace . The love of The Gracious Creator in action. This Gracious Creator's revelation begins with most vulnerable of all creation, The Christ Child, Jesus of Nazareth.
The job description does not end there. For now I must be satisfied with the above. Here is a question for further thought and reflection. How many would dare to announce in the birth notice, " Our child has been chosen by her/his Creator, to preach, by the life lived, The Gospel of life to the most rejected, and the most marginalized. A prophet has been born. Creation will be changed because of this birth."