Christmas: a time for peace

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" Ephesians 4:31
This might seem an odd verse to choose to discuss with less than one month before Christmas, but I would argue it is at the core of the meaning of Christmas.
I once read somewhere that Christmas is one of the most stressful dates on the calendar, rife with depression, suicide and domestic violence.
That's tragic, isn't it?
I suspect that an important reason for this is we feel compelled to maintain an appearance of harmony rather than get down to the hard work of making amends and making peace with those who have a quarrel with us.
I've certainly witnessed, all too often, blood relations and their spouses force themselves to maintain a fragile front to endure a few hours or days together once a year for the sake of the Christmas tradition.
I regret to admit that I am barely on speaking terms with the mother of my children and Christmas is far from a harmonious time for our boys and either one of us.
I am happy to say, however, that I've been working hard to get rid of my bitterness, anger and brawling.
Sure, at times some hurtful actions or words really hit a raw nerve and it takes a lot of self-discipline to bite my tongue, and forgive.
But I invariably feel glad I did bite my tongue, and bring myself to show mercy rather than lash out in return.
Why?
Because bitterness rots us from within and spoils everything around us.
Like most people, I imagine, I do at times let "things get under my skin", or rattle me or get a rise out of me -- the beginnings of bitterness.
But I try to remind myself that bitterness motivates habitual complaining.
I'm always embarrassed when I discover myself indulging in this. (Job 7:11, 10:1) Bitterness is the trigger of indulging in self-pitying and/or vengeful thoughts and that's the slippery slope to a whole slew of sins.
It's interesting to me that Jesus Christ was born at a time of political strife and volatility, in a land dominated by a foreign empire and an indigenous population bitterly divided in their interpretations of how to submit to God's will.
I've heard people describe the arrival of the Messiah as a spiritual D-day, the turning point in the war between good and evil. Not the day of victory, but the day hope of victory was born. Jesus Christ came to redeem us from our sins.
His mission was also to show us how to live according to God's will.
When his cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded, he did not avenge.
When he himself was crucified, he sought mercy for his accusers.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" Romans 12:21

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

I've found myself reading this verse a number of times in the past few weeks. I suppose it's easy enough for anyone to agree with the second sentence, but I think it's safe to say most of us struggle not to worry about tomorrow.

Markets have been at their most volatile since the end of the Second World War and all signs point to the global economy on the edge of what could be a deep recession whose length is anyone's guess.

Last year, my employer of 12 years was acquired in a friendly merger that made my job redundant. This year, my new employer cut me and dozens of other people in a wave of cost-cutting layoffs that put me out of work for a few months. Now I'm days away from wrapping up a contract job that may, or may not, turn into a full-time job.

One interpretation I draw from this verse is to take life one day at a time.

More specifically, I choose to read Matthew 6:34 to mean that no one knows what tomorrow has in store for us, but that we are defined by our actions today. So I take this verse to mean I am expected to do the best I can right now, and have faith that God will take care of the rest.

A friend of mine still works with my former long-term employer overseas and he just learned that his position is being cut in January. He was told he has to find himself work elsewhere in a multinational that is still in the throes of melding two companies into one, or look outside.

My advice to him was to explore all his options while motivating himself to do the best work he can in his current job, until his destiny is revealed.

Gilbert LeGras

Pastoral Care Team Information update

Blessed Sacrament's Pastoral Care team has updated the information on their web page.  The pastoral care team brings listening, sharing, prayer, and the sacraments to people who may not be able to get to church.

You can read all about them (including opportunities to volunteer) at their page on the parish website.