A Thought

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  Luke 1:30-33

There is great anticipation this time of year because we have seen the Light of Gabriel’s witness to Mary.  We also look forward to the family gatherings, the church programs and cantata presentations, and “feel good” Christmas movies.  It is a wonderful time of year when, as stated in a Christmas movie, “We become the kind of person we always hoped we would be.”

We can never get so caught up in our revelry, however, that we forget that this time of year is also one of profound loneliness and depression for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have no family to speak of, for those who continue to struggle in this challenging economy and – above all else – those who do not yet believe that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son …”

Let the Light of Christ shine forth in all we do this Holy Day season.  Let us be the messengers of Glad Tidings as Gabriel was to Mary, and let us receive this Good News as joyously and as reverently as Mary did.  This is the true witness of the Church.