Christmas is right around the corner! How do
you intend to celebrate the Christmas season? This is my favorite time of the
year. As Frank Sinatra sings Christmas Carols, "It's the most wonderful
time of the year" the truth rings in my ears. The smells of the
Christmas trees and the lightings of candles are so magical…
One of my favorite things to do when I was in Chicago
was to walk down to the Christmas lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is giant production of putting all
these lights in a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors and the zoo
synchronizes all of the lights to Christmas tunes. The best thing about
it when I was on a college budget was, it is FREE! There is a lot of
people who need a push to enjoy the Christmas season.
http://www.chicagonow.com/show-me-chicago/2013/11/chicago-holiday-events-2013-the-top-ten-things-to-do-in-chicago-this-holiday-season/
This is a special Link for all the events in Chicago for the
season. I also think it is important to remember everything you are thankful for, spread the
good news by smiles, opening doors for people, asking an old friend or a new friend for
coffee or hot chocolate, and spending time with the family and being
encouraging. Also it's nice to get outside and do some exercise and refresh
for the upcoming new year, read a good book and dink egg nog. This week’s
reflection on the readings is important because it helps put the Christmas
spirit in perspective. Paul greets the Romans as "slave of Christ,"
which I think is because Christ saved him, he decided to give everything
over to Christ. The term itself has a lot of negative connotation. It sounds
different when it is replaced with servant and
Jesus teaches us that a servant is greater than the master and it is better to serve than to be served. These are what the saints,
apostles and true followers of Christ do and this is how they live their lives. Let your light
shine this Christmas season. The gospel is about Joseph who found out Mary was pregnant and decided to divorce her. However, an
angel came in a dream and told him not to be afraid but to take her into
his home and that this is the savior of the world who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit.
Isaiah's words many years prior are fulfilled that Emmanuel,
"God with us," has come. The patience has paid off,
and Joseph was obedient. This is a reminder to stay
faithful.
From Sam Bostrom,
DePaul University
