Have you ever wondered why God would have His Son, born in a cave which was used as a stable, at a time of word-of-mouth communication and in a region which has been torn by violence since the days of Abraham?
With a reflection on history, I'm not sure that there is another time in history when the miracle of Christ would have had the same effect.
It seems to me that the one thinng that existed then that may be in short supply today is faith. Just consider that the Apostles and earliest Christians were each willing to die rather than deny their faith that Jesus is the Son of God. That is an incredibly strong statement of faith.
Today we celebrate the birth of Christ. No other day is more apporpriate to consider the strength of one's faith. Here is a question for today, "Would I sacrifice my life rather than deny my faith?"
Today, recommit yourself to live out your faith with an Attitude of Gratitude . . . for the gift of Christ in the world.
This has been an interesting work week in that it has been our "annual food-drive challenge'. Each site in our company competes to raise the most pounds per person for the local food pantry.
An interesting pattern has developed, in that the winners each year seem to come from the sites least likely to win. The winning site has historically been the one with the fewest high income employees.
The pattern is that those most likely to be charitable are the ones who recognize the need for individuals to care for and support each other. Those less likely to give are the ones who look to "Big Brother" the government or even the Church to care for the needy.
There is a saying that charity begins at home, it is in the family that we learn to care for one another. But we are all God's family. So this Advent, show your Attitude of Gratitude. Find a way to share your blessings with someone in need.
Have you noticed it? It is as if the tone of the world has begun to change in preparation for Christmas. In Advent, there is an outpouring of charity, and the joy that comes from helping those in need. Many of us experience the joy of spending time with those we love.
Last year as we introduced the stewardship model, we discussed joy as an outcome of stewardship. During Advent we witness first-hand how society can change and experience the joy of Christ.
On the third Sunday of Advent, the rose color reminds us to rejoice at the coming of Christ. During Advent, and especially on “joyful” Sunday we should consider, why is this time of year different?
Society changes during this time of year because of an outpouring of love. Consider how you can show your Attitude of Gratitude by sharing the love of Christ and living the joy of Advent, throughout the year.