Weekly THIS AND THAT for December 25, 2008: Where Christmas Could Find Us

This and That:
Where Christmas Could Find Us


Merry Christmas to each of you from our Pastoral Team: Sr. Mary Therese, Elaine Hagner, Byrdie Ricketts, Deborah Webber, Chris Pignataro, Beth Pugliese, Erin Ingram, Jen Perry, Mary Miller, Joan DeSoto, Mary Kioussis, Chien Dang, Deacon Lee, and yours truly.

To those who are visiting with family and friends, to those whom we haven’t had the pleasure of seeing in a while, and to those who are with us a first time, a heartfelt welcome to our Catholic family on this glorious day. We are happy to have you worship with us as we celebrate Christ’s coming among us and begin the 9th Year of the Third Millennium of the Christian Era. In greeting you, we want to add quickly that you and your loved ones are always welcome here at Our Lady of Grace.

A constant theme we children heard from our mothers was that no matter how difficult times were, no matter what our living situation was, we were grateful to God for the little we did have. Thankfully, that point of view became part of our world view as children and continues in us as adults today. True, these are trying times economically and the financial situation has touched most if not all of us. Yet, it is a time to give thanks and to think of others who are in greater need.

IF you woke up this morning with more health than illness ...
THEN, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

IF you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ...
THEN, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

IF you can attend a church service without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ...
THEN, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

IF you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep …
THEN, you are richer than 75% of this world.

IF you have some money in the bank or in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ...
THEN, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

IF your parents are still alive and still married ...
THEN, you are a very rare family, even in the United States.

IF you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ...
THEN, you are blessed because the majority can … but most do not.

IF you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even place a hand on their shoulder . . .
THEN, you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

IF you can read this message, you have just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you,

AND BEYOND THAT, you are more blessed than the over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

… AND SO may we count our blessings and not only think of others, but reach out to them as well, as we celebrate an event that has Jesus coming to poor shepherds as well as wealthy Magi.

Fondly,
Father Nicholas