When all the shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, the house is clean, the cooking is complete, and the tree has been trimmed with decorations shining bright—do we stop to remember what the busyness has been about?
This Christmas, as we enjoy all the celebrations and festivities, let’s stop, take some time and ask ourselves: what am I remembering? What am I celebrating?
For Christians through the birth of Christ, God enters our time and history, and more importantly each of our own personal lives. This is Emmanuel, meaning ‘God is with us.’ God, and the Love, Creation, beauty and connection that we all share is with each of us today in a very personal and intimate way. No matter how we believe this, in whichever way we celebrate this meaning ‘let us take time to remember the love, beauty and connection that binds us all as one human family’.
2020 has been a very difficult year. All of us have suffered in one way or another and that suffering can deprive us of joy and celebration, but:
‘Although it is true that there is no refuge from suffering; it’s also true that suffering has no refuge from love that permeates it, through and through and through and through and through. Love protects us from nothing, but it also unexplainably sustains us in all things.’
James Finley, Centre for Action and Contemplation
We are reminded this Christmas that we have cause to celebrate the love and connection we share with each other as the Mercy family, as colleagues and as givers and recipients of love and concern for those we support.
As we celebrate the Christmas season together and move towards 2021, I pray we will see a year of new beginnings and great hope.
May the light of Christ bless our world and fill our homes and families, this Christmas day and always.
Shanelle Bennett
Director, Mission Integration
