We have just celebrated Advent and Christmas for this year. We are now in the Christmas Season. What kind of impact has this celebration had on your life? For me, it has been a time on wondering and prayer: wondering if I am really in love with God first and prayer that I find the way of understanding and knowledge to re-direct my life in the way that God wants me to live.
Reflecting upon the four weeks of Advent, I realize that our society really needs to re-tune itself to God's ways. The four principles of Advent that form the four weeks of reflection are Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. But modern man believes that hope is the "I wish", peace if the "absence of violence", joy is the "general happiness", and love is "sensual". O how can we explain the reality of these four principles of our faith and help people to understand how far they have journeyed from the reality of God?! Hope is a deeper understanding of a future of service, not just a "what's in it for me" selfishness. Peace is the recognition that when one rests in God, there is a resolution of that inner conflict that is precipitated by modern desire and selfish gain. Joy is the realization that God's peace brings an inner joy that is expressed sincerity and a concern for the other. Love is the looking outside of oneself to help the other and love God beyond all else.
The essence of our life in Christ is getting outside of our own selfish needs and desires and becoming more centered upon the others'. When we do that, we realize that this is more satisfying and rewarding that all of the accumulated things of this world: goods, trinkets, power, position, and wealth. When we do this, we become the Love that God is and transform the world around us.
May God Give You Peace this Christmas Season. May His Love so burn in your heart that your life is transformed!
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