SOMETIMES, THERE CAN BE A LOT OF DEPRESSION SWIRLING AROUND AT CHRISTMAS.
PEOPLE CAN FEEL LONELIER BECAUSE WE’RE EXPECTED TO BE CHEERIER AND WE OFTEN DON’T FEEL VERY CHEERFUL.
I INVITE YOU TO TAKE TIME TO NOTICE THESE FOLKS, REACH OUT TO THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM.
CHRISTMASTIME IS AlWAYS HARD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND I’VE TRIED TO BE THERE FOR THEM. AND THEN LET’S ALL BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN NEWTON, CONNECTICUT.
THERE ARE OTHERS, TOO, WHO FIND CHRISTMAS DIFFICULT . . . .
KIDS WHO ARE SHUFFLED BACK FROM ONE PARENT TO ANOTHER TO “CELEBRATE” THE HOLIDAYS.
SOLDIERS FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME WITHOUT THEM.
AND SO, MAY WE PRAY:
THERE ARE SOMETIMES DARK CLOUDS IN OUR LIVES, LORD.
PIERCE THE GLOOMINESS OF OUR LIVES WITH YOUR VERY OWN LIGHT.
MAY THIS CELEBRATION OF JESUS’ BIRTH BRING MEANING AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF OUR WORRIES AND CONCERNS.
AND MAY WE BRING YOUR LIGHT AND LOVE AND JUSTICE
IN OUR HOMES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR JOBS, OUR WORLD.
PIERCE OUR GREED, OUR HATE AND FEAR, OUR COMPLACENCY AND VIOLENCE WITH HOPE, LORD.
MAY WE PRAY EARNESTLY FOR OUR BELOVED COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD.
MAY WE BE THE DAWNING OF YOUR LIGHT AND LOVE AND JUSTICE IN OUR LAND.
LORD JESUS, COME!
MAY YOUR LIGHT TRANSFORM OUR LIVES AND OUR LAND.
WE NEED YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR LOVE MORE THAN EVER.
AND NOW BEFORE YOU GO, HERE’S ANOTHER SELECTION FROM HANDEL’S MESSIAH AS WE GET CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS ~ “O THOU THAT TELLEST GOOD TIDINGS TO ZION.” CLICK HERE
Father Bob's Reflections 