What is it about Christmas tree lights, candles, a fire in a
fireplace at this time of year? Especially when there is snow on the trees and
bushes? For me they represent an invitation beyond friends and family, beyond
gifts given and received, beyond visits made and meals eaten. They represent an invitation into
silence, into personal reflection, into that which is beyond words and
thoughts, except possibly the words of the Story that tell us the origin and
source of this time of year.
Like the prophet Elijah who found God as the still, small voice, we
find ourselves invited to find God as the still, small Child whose presence and
person are better intuited than understood. To find a deeper sense of the mystery of life, the gratitude
for who one is more than what one has, and the inspiration to move forward –
all these come in the silence, often the relief that the silence offers.
For me today the silence comes amidst the boxes, tape, and packing
materials not of gifts received but of moving boxes opened and contents
distributed around my new room. We Jesuits are now finally all in our new house
with all our things moved. And with the resulting confusion: “Where did I pack
that?” ”Why did I bring this along?”
“These boxes aren’t mine.”
It is all very exciting and very unsettling all at once. I see that my
room has a pristine look with just the basic furniture, all the books, papers,
framed things, gifts from times past remaining in their boxes. “Why can’t it
always be like this?” I think. The answer is that life isn’t always pristine.
So, now what?
The Now What? is the silence of the first night in my new room in
this Advent Season now becoming the Christmas Season. In the silence I can feel
the reality of the Child being born yet again as companion to my own inner
child that gives my grown up child meaning and value – and above all
peace. Soon enough I will be at
the parish to preside at the Christmas Eucharist. But now all is silent and at
peace. And I can be at peace because the Child is born – in me, in you, in
everyone and everywhere. The invitation is to stop and savor the silence in the
presence of the tree with its lights, and the candles – and the Story.
May we all find that peace in that Story this Christmas Day and in
this Christmas Season.
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