Peace, joy within reach regardless of circumstances
Published 4:17 pm Thursday, December 25, 2014
As a boy growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, I remember Christmas a most special time — a time of wonder for youthful minds.
Then I recall being at Mass on a Christmas morning. There was sitting in the pew in front of us a lady who cried during the entire Mass. At the time, I did not understand how anyone would cry on Christmas.
It was during World War II. Perhaps there was someone in her life who was not home for Christmas or maybe would never be home for any Christmas. I never knew.
Since that time, I know that many people cry at Christmas and during the entire year. Some shed tears from loneliness, some from illness, and others from grieving a loss, still others from hunger and poverty or addictions or from other broken human conditions.
In the Gospel of St. Luke, the birth of the Christ child was heralded as “good news of great joy which would be for all the people” along with a peace for those who were disposed to receive it. For many, the joy and peace are not experienced.
Yet, if properly understood, they are attainable despite the trials with which we live. Our Lord speaking to the apostles the night before he died, said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” (John 14:27)
St. Paul states the main purpose of our Lord coming into the world: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”1 Tm 1:15
To understand Christmas, we must fast forward to Easter, to the triumph of our Lord over sin and death, to the peace and joy which the Apostles and other early Christians experienced despite persecution and martyrdom.
That same peace and joy which the world cannot give is available to us today by accepting the invitation of our Lord to being His disciples by taking up our cross daily and following Him, but also by recognizing Him in others, especially those most in need — those who weep at Christmas and throughout the year.
l
The Rev. John Poerio is a retired priest for the Diocese of Lake Charles. He recently celebrated 55 years to the priesthood having been ordained on Dec. 20, 1959.
