Do you see what I see?This Christmas, open your eyes to how Christ dwells among us WE CATHOLICS CLAIM BELIEF IN THE Incarnation, the dogma that says God became human and dwells (present tense pres·ent tense n. The verb tense expressing action in the present time, as in She writes; she is writing. Noun 1. present tense - a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking present ) among us. But dogmas can seem sterile and disconnected from our own lives. That's one of the reasons the celebration of Advent and Christmas is so essential to the development of our faith. The customs and practices of this holy time provide vivid clues to help us understand the Incarnation, this core truth. As we drag out the ornaments and the manger scene, and dust off the Advent wreath An advent wreath is a ring or set of four candles, usually made with evergreen cuttings and used for household devotion by some Christians during the season of Advent. Many churches illuminate these candles in succession through the four weeks leading up to Christmas as part of and Advent calendar Advent calendar n → calendrier m de l'avent Advent calendar advent n → Adventskalender m Advent calendar n , our hearts and imaginations become engaged. These tangible objects bring home the lesson that our Christmas story is more than a fable or fairy tale fairy tale Simple narrative typically of folk origin dealing with supernatural beings. Fairy tales may be written or told for the amusement of children or may have a more sophisticated narrative containing supernatural or obviously improbable events, scenes, and personages . It's revelation itself. God became human and dwells, even now, among us--often, as Mother Teresa said, "in distressing disguise." The story of a newborn baby, laid in a manger, gives clues to where we might recognize the Incarnation today. For example, I see the Incarnation revealed in a family in our parish. The parents have welcomed half a dozen foster kids with severe physical and mental disabilities into their family circle. And when they pile into Mass, there are smiles, care, and tenderness all around. This family has shown our parish new ways to see the face of God. The Incarnation is also visible in the life of Rigo Navas, a young man who co-chairs the parish council at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago. Having come to this country from Guatemala, Navas now runs a youth group that gathers more than 100 kids in a weekly prayer circle. Each year the kids plan and put on a Good Friday Stations of the Cross Stations of the Cross depictions of episodes of Christ’s death. [Christianity: Brewer Dictionary, 1035] See : Passion of Christ walk, in full costume, at a popular park. I have a file of such Incarnation stories. Catholic layman W. Earl Lewis instigated a program to provide interfaith memorial services for Cook County, Illinois Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 5,376,741, making it the second largest county by population in the United States (after Los Angeles County, California), and accounting for 43. residents who die poor and alone. Because of Lewis, more than 3,300 indigent indigent 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. deceased have been buried with dignity. Kelly King is a young adult Catholic who, twice a month, joins a night ministry bus that travels to depressed areas of Chicago. She says, "It lets me meet people I ordinarily wouldn't come in contact with." Claretian Father Bruce Wellems, whose parish has been plagued by gang problems and violence, has started dozens of programs for the young in his parish. Wellems has established an alternative high school for youth who have dropped out, or have been suspended or expelled; a marimba marimba: see xylophone. marimba Xylophone with resonators under each bar. The original African instrument uses tuned calabash resonators. In Mexico and Central America, where it was brought by African slaves, the wooden bars may be affixed to a band that is putting out its own CDs; a job program; and a mentoring program in which teens spend time coaching younger kids on the brink of trouble. Through Wellems and a dedicated parish staff, the Word is being made flesh and dwelling on the street corners, alleyways, and parks in Chicago's beleaguered be·lea·guer tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers 1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems. 2. To surround with troops; besiege. Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood. Look around this season and notice the presence of God in our midst in surprising places. God also dwells in some of the stories we witness and tell, such as this story a coworker co·work·er or co-work·er n. One who works with another; a fellow worker. recently mentioned in passing, which has stayed with me like the presence of Christ. Her late father, who was an astute and able lawyer, came to visit her a year or so ago. The family attended Mass at her urban parish, which is usually welcoming to the homeless and penniless pen·ni·less adj. 1. Entirely without money. 2. Very poor. See Synonyms at poor. pen  ni·less·ly adv. in the
neighborhood. Upon arriving, they slipped into a pew and discovered a
homeless man sleeping in the pew in front of them. His aroma made it
clear he had been drinking, and it had been some time since he had
bathed. An usher, visibly agitated ag·i·tate v. ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing, ag·i·tates v.tr. 1. To cause to move with violence or sudden force. 2. , came over, shook the man roughly by the shoulder, and told him to wake up and get out of there. "My father took hold of the usher's arm, and the usher looked at him with genuine surprise," my friend told me. "They looked each other in the eye, and my father said, slowly, well enunciated, and in a whisper, `Leave him alone.' The usher put his head down and walked away. My dad wanted to give the man some small peace and also the dignity of not being embarrassed, but he also gave all of us something. The presence of the man in the pew throughout Mass may have been uncomfortable for everyone around him--but that discomfort was good for us, even brought our words and prayer to life in a new way." Christ dwells among us. I wish you more than a Martha Stewart Christmas. By TOM MCGRATH, executive editor of U.S. CATHOLIC magazine. |
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