Drawn to Someone
Being distinctly someone, not vaguely anyone
This is not my first Christmas in the tropics, yet it still feels strange. After spending so many Christmases in the Midwest, I expect snow on the ground or at least a chill in the air.
Images of Santa are ubiquitous around the world. Gifts and celebratory food abound, but it's the particularity I miss when I'm away from home—the skits my cousin and I would perform when we were kids, the meatballs we ate on Christmas Eve, or "Patrick's Rockin' Christmas Eve Eve" that my brother hosts on December 23.
And yet, whether we're away from home or not this year, the particularity of that first Christmas still resonates. We're drawn to that baby born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.
The most local of stories—a baby born in a small town, to a young couple, in a humble setting—becomes the most global of transformations, a love so specific that encompasses all of humanity.
Thanks for your good thoughts, Father. Have a Blessed Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you too Fr Rossmann.
You are right about being distinctly someone... and I think many times we (I) are simply not strong enough to know we can cope with the criticisms of the "environment" if we are convinced we are on a good path.
Wonderful message for Christmas!