Come and dine at the manger

"Augustine drew out the meaning of the manger using an idea that at first seems almost shocking, but on closer examination contains a profound truth. The manger is the place where animals find their food. But now, lying in the manger, is he who called himself the true bread come down from heaven, the true nourishment that we need in order to be fully ourselves. This is the food that gives us true life, eternal life. Thus the manger becomes a reference to the table of God, to which we are invited so as to receive the bread of God. From the poverty of Jesus’ birth emerges the miracle in which man’s redemption is mysteriously accomplished."

— Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth Infancy, p. 68

Christmas with the Homeless

Christmas with the Homeless, Phoenix, AZ (December 24, 2017)

This morning, David and I went to conduct a chapel service at the Lodestar Day Resource Center. We were greeted by the various staff who helped us access the chapel in the St. Vincent de Paul building. The chapel seats about 50 worshippers is built in a triangle that focus the attender's eyes on the alter which is a very large Pieta statute.  

At about 8:45 David and I went to invite guests of the campus (the shelter on the campus provides bedding for about 400 people). Most of the residents were in the dayroom because it was a cool 47 degrees. David likes to sing so he asked various people what their favorite Christmas carol was. He didn’t get much response. He did sing Jingle Bells as he walked around. We talked to several folks and invited them to attend Christmas service in the chapel.

We ended up with 9 people of whom 6 stayed for the entire service. We started about 9:10 and David lead various Christmas Carols and invited interaction from the worshippers. One of the women worshippers recited John 1:1-12 without blinking her eyes. David asked the meaning of Christmas and several worshippers immediately went to the Cross not to the manger. “Jesus died for my sins.” I spoke about how God came into the world to identify with humanity. We ended with a participatory prayer time where each person uttered a prayer (e.g. “I need a place to live” and we shared the response, “Lord, hear our prayer.” After prayer, David lead us in the Lord’s prayer and Silent Night.

I feel like I had the best Christmas ever!

Where can I find peace?

Advent IV - Peace

Advent is a season of preparation in the church. There are four Sundays of Advent. This year because of the way the calendar is laid out, we only get 24 hours to prepare on this “week” of advent.

The fourth candle of the Advent wreath represents peace and recalls the words of the angel to the shepherds on the Bethlehem hills:

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

Perhaps you are like me – I have heard these words spoken at Christmas for many decades and I see very little peace around me. In fact, I see more broken relationships, more conflict, more animosity between groups of people, more incivility, and more saber rattling by world leaders. There is nothing that gives me any thought that the words of the angel are being fulfilled or have been fulfilled.

I feel like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow looked on the carnage of the Civil War at Christmas1863:

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day)

So what did the angel mean?

It is a common approach to interpret the angel’s words on a personal level. That is, Jesus came to the world to restore humanity to peace with God. As a human race we are disconnected from God through our sinful humanity. Jesus, through his death on the cross, has healed the breach between God and man. This interpretation is upheld by St. Paul in Ephesians 2:13-17.

But I want peace on earth!

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. Shalom is more than personal salvation or a personal relationship with God. Shalom is wholeness; it is all of creation reconciled. It is the lamb sleeping with the lion. It is what the creation is groaning for (Romans 8:19-25). The prophetic meaning of shalom is justice. It is living justly – being a shalom people. Seeking the justice of all peoples. Shalom may begin with a personal relationship with God but it does not end there. Any conversation of peace that ends with only a personal salvation is not embracing God’s message of shalom; it is not the message of the angel to the shepherds.

Ronald Friesen © 2017

Your reign come, O God

"Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means being constantly alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of present and future with confidence in Christ’s victory and a commitment to extending his reign. It means not losing heart in the face of resistance, adversity, and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, ‘there is no human activity—even in secular affairs—which can be withdrawn from God’s dominion’. It means working to enrich . . . society and culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel, and never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives."

— Pope Benedict XVI