Beloved Advent Season

by Brother Boniface
(Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany)

candles light the darkness

candles light the darkness

Christmas to most of us is a feast that connects us back to our childhood and to our earlier years in life when we had all so much fun. Of course, the care and worries of life had not overcome us yet. They came later on in life when we got older and our responsibilities increased. Some of our dreams and aspirations have changed also during a life time that saw ups and downs, joy and sorrow, life and death change hands frequently.

Later on in life our perspective may have changed to Christmas and the holidays being a time when we did not expect gifts but were able and needed to make gifts to loved ones and grandchildren.

However Advent and Christmas must not become only a commercial event centered around material things. It is to be a time of grace, a spirit filled time with peace and joy and loving relationships. After all Christ did not come to make people happy but to bring salvation. He wanted to reconnect us with his Father in heaven.

Humankind had lost touch with the divine and become absorbed in all things earthly instead of lifting eyes heavenward. We cannot reach heaven our final destination unless we pay some attention to our Maker. And my feeling is that it is this loving relationship that God cherishes most when we keep it up.

So in this spirit I wish you a blessed and joyful time of Advent and a holy and happy Christmas.

Comments for Beloved Advent Season

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Dec 04, 2011
Peaceful Holiday Wishes
by: Chris Olson-Vickers

Brother Boniface,

I enjoyed your post. I spent 9 years of my childhood in Germany and have the fondess memories of trees with real candles, gingerbread cookies, St. Nicolas, snow, beautiful, inspirational choral works and music and sharing the experiences with both American and German friends.

I plan to visit Germany when I retire and renew my joy in the lovely country and friendly people in three years.

I pray for world peace and harmony.

with gratitude,
Chris

Dec 02, 2011
Merry Christmas
by: Anonymous

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.
We are all so colourful, we have lived so long and experienced so much. May God be with everyone at this wonderful time of year.
Thank you retirement online for making my life more interesting.
Ann

Dec 01, 2011
Advent
by: Donelda Small

Good morning Brother Bon. It was so amazing to receive this email this morning here on my computer in Canada! I actually was reading from my Daily Bread book which I do every morning before I start my day and the first story I read was the Advent. We do need to focus on peace, love, joy and the gift of the birth of our Savior . Everything else just seems to fall into place when we trust Him and give thanks. Nice to hear from you once again! Welcome back, blessings Donelda

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