Truly He taught us to love one another

His Law is love and His Gospel is peace

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

I enjoyed Father John Dear’s Christmas message of the potential for peace within Jesus’ birth and His Message for the world:

“I see Jesus as a nonviolent revolutionary who sets in motion God’s peace movement for the disarmament of every heart, every nation and every age. His nonviolent revolution continues to this day and, as participants in it, we celebrate his birth and his revolutionary life.”

Candlelight Christmas Eve services are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. As flame travels from one candle to another, the sanctuary is illuminated and warmed by the Light, and voices join together and “all is calm, all is bright,” even if it’s but for a few moments, and the “dawn of redeeming grace” seems real.

The experience is one that encourages me; that perhaps the world can be like those candles: slowly warmed to the point of melting, giving light and heat to the notion of hope, warming souls to choose peace.

The childish naivety I cling to always hates having to blow my candle out at the end of the service. I want it to burn forever.

Dona nobis pacem. Merry Christmas.