Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Many years ago, I decided that the Christmas after my mother died, I would not go anywhere for Christmas. It had been over 30 years since I had woken up in my own bed on Christmas. It had been over 30 years since I had not travel during the busy holiday season. Yet, when the time came, I once again chose to pack my bags and wake up in a bed other than my own on Christmas, I needed to be with the important people in my life!
 
There are some people who like to have people around them all the time, while others often prefer solitude.  At times in life all of us like doing things by ourselves. We do not want any interruptions and we find that we can get the task done faster if we have the time to ourselves. However, there are moments in our lives when we need people there. In the Gospel today once again, we are told that Mary makes her way to Elizabeth. The story does not say why Mary went, just that she went in haste. I think Mary realize that this is one of those moment when she and Elizabeth did not want to be alone. When the gift of family and friends was very important.
 
we might look at today’s Gospel as an ordinary moment in life. Two people, two family members connecting, yet Luke reminds us that it is often in ordinary moments that we encounter God’s grace. A simple greeting of hello and the movement of a child in mom’s womb happens all the time but for Elizabeth it was the grace of the presence of God.
 
Tomorrow in the afternoon we will begin celebrating the gift of Christmas and many people will make haste to be with others. There is something in each of us that knows that at this time of the year we do not want to be alone. We can be with many or just an important few. There is something special about this time of the year. Perhaps it is the need to hear the voice of God in the people we love. Perhaps it is the chance to be enlivened by the presence of God by celebrating with people important in our life. Perhaps it is being reminded that God has chosen us no matter how unimportant we think we are. Perhaps it is because we need to believe that God is truly with us!
 
Have a blessed and holy Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today!