Christmas Eve Mass turned out to be beyond wonderful. The Children put on a play in following with the Gospel reading that was just precious. We had a full house with standing room only. I am so proud of the Questors who helped usher the Mass; Francesca, Monica and Graham. We met early and worked fastidiously to greet and assist the parishioners to find seats. They did a wonderful job with the collection and then guiding the hundreds of people for communion. I am so happy to receive the many compliments for their efforts. We are truly blessed as a community having our Questors a part of our church. This Christmas I read a passage from Henri J.M. Nouwen's book, "The Only Necessary Thing", that Captures their spirit:
"Three Forms of Listening
How can we keep listening to this voice in a world which does its best to distract us and get our attention for seemingly more urgent matters?... I want to put before you... three forms of listening that for me have proven to be the most productive.
First of all, listen to the church.... I'm deeply convinced that the greatest spiritual danger for our times is the separation of Jesus from the church. The church is the body of the Lord. Without Jesus there can be no church; and without the church we cannot stay united with Jesus. I've yet to meet anyone who has come closer to Jesus by forsaking the church. To listen to the church is to listen to the Lord of the church. Specifically, this entails taking part in the church's liturgical life. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost: these seasons and feasts teach you to know Jesus better and better and unite you more and more intimately with the divine he offers in the church.
The Eucharist is the heart of the church's life. It's there that you hear the life-giving Gospel and receive the gifts that sustain that life within you. The best assurance that you'll go on listening to the church is your regular participation in the Eucharist.
Second, listen to the book. By that I mean read the Bible; read books about the Bible, about the spiritual life, and the lives of "great" saints.... Many people are brought to God through spiritual literature that they chance or chose to read. Augustine, Ignatius, Thomas Merton, and many others have been converted through the book. The challenge, however, is not to read a "spiritual" book as a source of interesting information, but rather to listen to it as a voice that addresses you directly. It isn't easy to let a text "read" you. Your thirst for knowledge and information often makes you desire to own the word, instead of letting the word own you. Even so, you will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart.
Finally, listen to your heart. It's there that Jesus speaks most intimately to you. Praying is first and foremost listening to Jesus, who dwells i the very depths of your heart. He doesn't shout. He doesn't thrust himself upon you. His voice is an unassuming voice, very nearly a whisper, the voice of a gentle love. What ever you do with your life, go on listening to the voice of Jesus in your heart. This listening must be an active and very attentive listening, for in our restless and noisy world Jesus' loving voice is easily drowned out. You need to set aside some time every day for this active listening to Jesus, if for only 10 minutes. Ten minutes each day for Jesus alone can bring about a radical change in your life."
I wish every one a blessed and loving Christmas time and good health, happiness and prosperity for the New Year.
