Christmas has arrived.



Christmas has arrived.  In the midst of all the stress, hustle and bustle, what Christmas does mean for you? The medieval Franciscan theologian, John Dunne Scotus describes Christ as God's first thought. Not a rescue mission; not a response to anything humanity had done; but God’s initiative as part of the ongoing plan for all creation.  Franciscan priest Richard Rohr describes it as God's pre-emptive strike for love.
How then might we describe Christmas? It is the coming of the Eternal Word as one of us, fully divine and yet fully human. It is God’s grand affirmation of creation and of humanity. Christ comes to remind us and all people that we are all deeply, profoundly, utterly loved. In response we are invited to base our identities and our lives on that one truth. At Christmas we are once again reminded that life is not about obtaining: possessions, houses, wealth, prestige, power, security, eternal life, or love; life is living in the love and life freely given and made real in this moment, in this birth we celebrate today.  Life is to be lived in the knowledge that our existence is rooted in God's eternal love for us, shown in this birth of the Christ child.
Richard Rohr writes, “The True Self -- where you and God are one -- does not choose to love as much as it is love itself already (see Colossians 3:3-4). The True Self does not teach us compassion as much as it is compassion. Loving from this core of your being is experienced as a river within you that flows of its own accord (see John 7:38-39). From this more spacious and grounded place, one naturally connects, empathizes, forgives, and loves everything. We were made in love, for love, and unto love. This deep inner ‘yes,’ that is God in me, is already loving God through me. The false self does not really know how to love, in a very deep or broad way. It is too opportunistic. It is too small. It is too self-referential to be compassionate.”[1]
During the next few weeks I invite you to take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God with us has invited you into God’s life and love; and through you brought life and love into the lives of others. I also invite you to reflect on what has led you away from God's eternal love.

[1] “Love Summary for the Year: Week 1,” Center for Action and Contemplation, https://cac.org/true-self-love-2016-12-18/).

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