December Messenger: ‘Enjoy the waiting!’

Donal Neary SJ’s editorial in this month’s December Messenger reflects on the meaning of Advent. And unusually, he does not decry the ‘starting too early’ complaint. Rather, he wonders, “Can we ever start [Christmas] too early? After all, it commemorates the most important day in the history of the world.”

Fr. Donal also declines to pit the commercial aspects of the season against the spiritual, noting that, “The secular and the religious are mixed in the city and the village. The crib in the shop window and in the church both remind us of this birth. I wonder, in fact, is there anything secular about anything at Christmas? Preparations in the city and parish, both secular and religious, speak of this big mystery.” And he concludes with a heartfelt plea, “Please don’t sing carols too early at Mass! Let Advent be Advent! Enjoy the waiting!”

Kevin O’Gorman SMA, shares the Pope’s intention for the month: “That Christians living in areas of conflict or war, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.” Commenting on the intention, Kevin says, “The call to sow seeds of peace with neighbours, to reach out the hand of reconciliation to enemies, and to be signs of hope in the midst of horror, goes to the heart of the Gospel proclaimed by St Paul – ‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought nearby the blood of Christ, for he is our peace'”. Kevin concludes, “As the Church awaits the celebration of Christmas with the coming of the Prince of Peace, the child born of Mary in Bethlehem, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and people in places all around the Middle East.”

Fr Gerard Condon is parish priest of Killavullen, Co. Cork, and Director of Mission and Ministry in the Diocese of Cloyne. His piece ‘Toward God’ is inspired by Dutch priest and author Henri Nouwen. Father Condon says: “Nouwen describes three lifelong spiritual movements, ways that we can direct our lives toward God. Firstly, Nouwen explains how faith transforms loneliness into solitude. Nouwen suggests that instead of running away from loneliness, we should fly into the questions it asks about our existence. Secondly, Nouwen suggests that hospitality is the best antidote to hostility. It is a spiritual movement that should define our relationships. 

Finally, Nouwen says that the third movement in spiritual life is ‘from illusion to prayer’. Prayer comes more easily as we get older, he believes, because all the striving and ambition that typically characterises the first half of life has burnt itself out. It is replaced by a spirit of acquiescence, of handing one’s life over to God, which is the essence of prayer”.

Fr Bernard Cotter is Co-PP in Clontaff, Union Hall, Skibbereen, Co Cork. He shares fond memories of his childhood at Christmas time in his article ‘Christmas Family Customs’. He tells readers that he was raised in a small shop in Dunmanyway Co. Cork, owned by his grandaunt Una Brennan, who ran it from the 1930s until 1982. He says Christmas in the shop was the best time of the year.

“In December came the big events, the decoration of the Christmas window (complete with a crib inserted somewhat incongruously amid the sales items). We had a special Christmas display room too. The residence’s wide hallway, adjoining the shop, had a formal front door, but this entryway had to be sacrificed each December for our unique seasonal showroom.”

Fr. Bernard remembers that his favourite treat on Christmas day, as a child, was being taken by his dad to the crib in the church. “After the turkey was eaten, and as the shopkeepers slept, he drove me through the still streets, beautifully decorated with coloured lights, but empty of shoppers. We walked through the darkened church to the simple crib, bathed in golden light, to see that baby who was the centre of our world”.

Jesuit Peter McVerry lives in Ballymun, Dublin, and works in the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. His article focusses on the theme of solidarity during Christmas. He writes, “In compassion we may give of our excess; it is our surplus time that we devote to those in need. Christians are called to follow Jesus not just in compassion for those that are suffering but in solidarity with them. Solidarity is rooted not in my distress at the pain of others but in the objective reality of their distress, regardless of whether we like them or not, or how deserving or not we may judge them to be. In solidarity, our response to the suffering of others is chosen not by us but by those who suffer.” He concludes, “It may not be too much to say that a commitment to solidarity with those who suffer is the defining characteristic of the follower of Jesus.

Other stories in this edition of the Messenger include ‘Joseph’s Dilemma’ by David Breen, which explores the reactions of Saint Joseph, in Matthew’s Gospel, as his plans and hopes are challenged by the announcement that Israel’s long-awaited Messiah will arrive.

‘No Escaping My Love,’ by Elphin priest John Cullen is a deep dive into the meaning of these four words and how they can impact our lives. And Fr. Sean McDonagh SSC discusses the potentially harmful effects of plastic in his piece, ‘Is plastic causing a rise in Alzheimer’s?”

The Messenger also features its regular selections, including reflections, scripture, cookery, crosswords, children’s pages, nature focus, and RE:LINK.