Dear Friends,
A Happy and Holy Christmas to You! Our theme line comes from Meister Eckhart who inspires us: "We are all meant to be mothers of God, for God is always needing to be born." What a wonderful mission for us: to give birth to God in our world today. We as The Spirit of Life Community try to give God birth with a face of justice and joy! This Advent Oscar Romero has guided our path with his advent homilies. On Christmas Eve, he writes:
"We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs.
We must see him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed with nothing to eat,
among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways. December 24, 1979
I am recovering quite remarkably well from knee replacement surgery. I am most grateful for the healing energy you are sending my way: that is wrapping me in God's love and strength and comforting me in the quiet and in the painful moments of rehab. I hope to be back with the gathered community for our "alternative New Year's Eve:" our prayerful, twilight retreat and Eucharist as we ponder how God is moving among us as one year finishes and another abundant year of God's blessings begins. I also want to thank all of you who have expressed sympathy on the sudden death of my brother Tom. This community of support is truly comforting to Jean and me.
This is the prayerful blessing that Jean and I send to you this Christmas:
May the Angel of Annunciation awaken in you
God's profound heartfelt love.
May your dreams lead you to profound reverence
as you bow before the Divine born in the stable of every heart.
May Mary guide you in birthing the Holy One in your life
and in birthing Love in others.
May Joseph engage you in deeper questioning and listening
and give you courage to risk the next step.
May your life become a Luminous Presence
leading others to the place in their hearts and in the world
where Christ is always being born anew.
May you have the Spirit of Christmas which is Peace.
The Joy of Christmas which is Hope.
The Heart of Christmas which is Love.
The poem originates with CSJ Ministry of the Arts.
In these Christmas days we send you our love and feel encircled by yours in return, We wish you many blessings!
Ron and Jean