Christmas Message
By Josefino Rona
CHRISTMAS 2016 MESSAGE TO ALL
EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS DAY
Brothers and Sisters, Lord’s Leaven,
Times are getting more challenging and harder. The situation of the world is not getting better, but all of us who now see that the TRUTH is in us are not dismayed or discouraged. We are NO LONGER afraid because we know where to go at all times. We do not have to wait for any negative pressure to come to our lives. Even at the slightest provocation in our mind or feeling of anything negative we simply exhale towards our heart and SURRENDER INTO THE SILENCE OF FAITH IN HIM WITHIN US and hide behind the “mantle of His Love in us” believing in what Our Lord said:
“See that you are not frightened or afraid when you hear wars and rumors of wars, for these things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. In various places there will be famines and earthquakes…. Most people’s love will grow cold because lawlessness is increased, …. (Mt 24:6-8, 12)
“However, when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Lk 21:28)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)
“Remember that the one who endures to the end will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Mt 24:13-14)
The mission of EVERY Lord’s Leaven is to tell everyone and be a witness of the Gospel to all “in season and out of season” that HOPE lies in our CHILDLIKE FAITH SURRENDER TO GOD WITHIN.
We who NOW know, believe and live the TRUTH OF GOD’S PRESENCE in us celebrate Christmas not only on the 25th day of December but every day of our lives; for to a Lord’s Leaven EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS DAY. Every day is a constant renewal of the birth of Our Lord in the poor manger of our sinful heart.
God, we know, “conceived us in Him from all eternity even before the world was made.” (Eph 1:4) Then He made our parents participate in this “conception” on the day that they expressed their love for each other through the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The birth Of Our Lord on that first Christmas Day 2015 years ago in the manger of that damp and cold stable outside Bethlehem reveals to us that similarly on the day of our Baptism Our Lord was born in the manger of our sinful heart. Beginning that day our personal Christmas Day began.
BETHLEHEM means HOUSE OF BREAD, Our Lord being the LIVING BREAD. The International Eucharistic Congress Theme: Christ in us reminds us that each of us is the Living House of Bread and the Temple of God, Living Tabernacle of the Living God. If we do not live the Divine Indwelling in our soul the Eucharist remains a mere external liturgical religious ceremony and Sacrament leaving the purpose and reality of living our interior life with God vague and hazy, if at all. We do not understand that the message of John’s Gospel (Jn 14 – 17) points out to us that every time we receive Holy Communion we are to consciously renew in us our life of Union with Our Lord in His Divine Indwelling; for the TRUTH IS we are the living Tabernacles of the Living God.
Like the Shepherds and the Wise Men, we consciously and always adore our Lord in the manger of our hearts, for our HEART is the LIVING MANGER and TABERNACLE OF THE LIVING GOD. At all times we carry Christmas always with us wherever we are. We simply form the habit of adoring, loving and serving our Lord within the manger of our hearts and in the hearts of others. EVERY DAY becomes CHRISTMAS DAY to us ONLY when we live always in conscious attention of Our Lord’s Indwelling Presence WITHIN US.
The longing and nostalgia we feel every time Christmas comes around is actually God’s longing for us and our longing for Him. Such a feeling of longing is the STAR that guides us to the manger within us and in silence and love adore Our Lord in His humble and cold dwelling place. Let us wrap Him, then, with the warm swaddling clothes of our faith, attention and love for Him. Let us therefore, join Mama Mary, St. Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, and the host of angels in contemplating the wonder of the birth of the Son of God and Creator in our soul.
Hence we in Lord’s Leaven do not cease to reach out to God within us and in everyone in order that together we may celebrate the sharing of our love with one another because of the Lord dwelling in us. ONLY then can we celebrate Christmas every day.
For this reason let us resolve to
“Stand firm in the Lord, so we will find life.” (Lk 21:19)
“God WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. THOSE WHO PERSEVERE IN DOING GOOD, seek glory, honor and immortality, will gain eternal life….” (Rom 2:6-7)
LET US, therefore, NOT TIRE IN DOING GOOD and LIVING WITH GOD WITHIN US. WHATEVER MAY HAPPEN WE WILL NEVER LET OUR THOUGHTS VEER AWAY FROM OUR CONSCIOUS ATTENTION OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITHIN.
God’s gift of Christmas was given to us ONLY ONCE, 2016 years ago. But GOD wants us to live this gift of His Birth every day of our lives. In this way EVERY DAY BECOMES CHRISTMAS DAY.
MERRY MARY CHRISTMAS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE.
GOD BLESS US ALL
… Just consider this. Mama Mary travelled in full term on top of a donkey along rough and tumble road from Nazareth to Bethlehem… a long journey… under the heat of the sun, the rough stony countryside, the cold of the night… all the time carrying the BABE in her womb… the SON OF GOD, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, THE KING OF KINGS… But how much did Mary realize…? But now in heaven She knows.
And we like Mary are travelling life’s rough road and a journey long…. we carry within us… the KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE… But like Mary, how much do we really realize this…? Mary kept all these things in her heart… so must we in the silence of our spirit. God bless us all, Mary Christ Mass to all.