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Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Readings of the Day
Our last reading of the year starts sullen and dreary. It reminds me
this year has been full of hardships surrounding us. We are then
jolted to sing a new song, proclaiming daily the Good News that He
saves. When our lives, agencies and world spiral in loss, fear and
hatred, we can feel overwhelmed and lonely. Yet God, the Holy Creator
of heaven and earth became Flesh and dwells among and within us. He
chose and chooses to enter our pain of our lost loved ones –
parents, spouses, children, friends, colleagues and clients. He walks
alongside and abundantly provides for us to fulfill His Will. In our
world where darkness too often can seem to suffocate our personal and
professional lives, our agencies and dioceses – God,
Emmanuel, He is with us. He is for us. He is light. He dwells among us
in glory and full of grace and truth. Howard Thurman’s
“The Work of Christmas” pronounces, When the song
of the angels is stilled,/ when the star in the sky is gone,/ when the
kings and princes are home,/ when the shepherds are back with their
flocks,/ the work of Christmas begins:/ to find the lost,/ to heal the
broken,/ to feed the hungry,/ to release the prisoner,/ to rebuild the
nations,/ to bring peace among the people,/ to make music in the
heart. As this Christmas and decade close, let’s acknowledge
hard-pressed challenges and sorrows, and steadfastly lean into the
eternal arms and embrace of Love, Grace, Joy and Light. May we welcome
each new day with songs that proclaim the Good News and Goodness of a
God who loves and dwells among us. May His peace, comfort, wisdom,
strength and love guide us throughout this new year in who we are and
all that we do. Malissa Geer serves as Sr. Director of Faith,
Community and Volunteer Engagement for Catholic Charities Community
Services in the Diocese of Phoenix. Her team focuses on securing
volunteer, in-kind and partnership resources for their mission work to
serve the most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve
lives. She enjoys community development, teaching, supporting dreams,
and loving God and people – especially her daughters Elliot
(18) and Aldyn (16).

 

Our
last reading of the year starts sullen and dreary. It reminds me this
year surrounded us with hardships. But then the psalm jolts us to sing
a new song and proclaim daily the good news that the Lord saves.

When
our lives, agencies and world spiral in loss, fear and hatred, we can
feel
overwhelmed and lonely. Yet
God, the holy Creator of heaven and earth, became flesh and dwells
among and
within us. He chose and chooses to enter our pain and that of our lost
loved ones -
parents, spouses, children, friends, colleagues and clients. He walks
alongside
and abundantly provides for us to fulfill his will. In
our world where darkness too often can seem to suffocate our personal
and
professional lives, our agencies and dioceses - God, Emmanuel,
is with us.
He is for us. He is light. He dwells among us in glory and full of
grace and
truth.

Howard
Thurman's "The Work of Christmas"
pronounces: When the song of the angels is stilled,/ when the
star in the sky is
gone,/ when the kings and princes are home,/ when the shepherds are
back with
their flocks,/ the work of Christmas begins:/ to find the lost,/ to
heal the
broken,/ to feed the hungry,/ to release the prisoner,/ to rebuild the
nations,/
to bring peace among the people,/ to make music in the heart.

As
this Christmas and decade close, let's acknowledge hard-pressed
challenges and
sorrows, and steadfastly lean into the eternal arms and embrace of
Love, Grace,
Joy and Light. May we welcome each new day with songs that proclaim
the good news and goodness of a God who loves and dwells among us. May
his peace,
comfort, wisdom, strength and love guide us throughout this new year
in who we
are and all that we do.

 

Malissa Geer serves as
Sr. Director of Faith, Community and Volunteer Engagement for Catholic
Charities Community Services in
the Diocese of Phoenix. Her team focuses on securing volunteer,
in-kind
and partnership resources for their mission work to serve the most
vulnerable
with solutions that permanently improve lives. She enjoys community
development,
teaching, supporting dreams, and loving God and people -
especially her
daughters Elliot (18) and Aldyn (16).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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