• 100 Years at Epping
  • 100 Years at Epping
  • 100 Years at Epping
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
  • image
Friday, 19 December 2014 09:57

Do we really forget about the reason? - A reflection

 

Fr-Bernd-Ruffing-SVD---150In Thailand we have Christmas Lights everywhere. It’s probably the same in your country. But - is there something like the Christmas light in us? Is there something beyond the external lights that could prepare our hearts for the season?

The four weeks of Advent were given to us to prepare our hearts. The candles on the Advent Wreath invite us to reflect on Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. And with each Sunday there comes more and more light around the wreath. I recently read about the tradition to place a fifth candle in the middle of the Advent wreath on Christmas Eve, a white one, called the ‘Christ Candle’. I keep that white candle in my mind during this Advent which goes along with another Advent lesson that I learned four weeks ago.

Jesus-reason-for-the-season---350I attended a beautiful Opening Ceremony for a Christmas Tree Charity run by one of Bangkok’s major shopping malls. Ten Embassies were invited to decorate Christmas Trees and the Embassies each chose a project in Thailand which they would like to support in case they won the competition for the most beautiful decoration. People kept talking on and on about the decorations, the colours, the food and cookies, the gifts, and so on. Yet, there was not a single word about Christ. Only one country prepared a small stable with the Holy Family. It was nearly unseen and nearly not heard - when the women said: ’actually Jesus is the reason’.
Whenever I share this awesome story about Jesus and how he comes into our world to those who had never heard about Him – I am so touched and even more touched when I simply hear something like: ‘And that’s your God?’

Beyond all the Christmas Lights and glimmer, let’s keep our hearts connected with the reason for the season! Let’s proclaim: Jesus is the reason for the season!

Last modified on Monday, 22 December 2014 08:52

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/svdaus

 


Download Our App

Search for
'Divine Word Missionaries AUS'

apple 190

google 190

microsoft 190

Upcoming Events

29 Mar
Stations of the Cross
Date 29.03.24 10:00am - 11:00am
29 Mar
The Passion of our Lord
29.03.24 3:00pm - 4:00pm
30 Mar
Easter Vigil
30.03.24 6:30pm - 7:30pm
31 Mar
Easter Sunday Mass
31.03.24 9:00am - 10:00am

donate btn 468

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Society of the Divine Word, Australia Province, acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, sky, and community.

We acknowledge their skin-groups, story-lines, traditions, religiosity and living cultures.

We pay respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all indigenous peoples of New Zealand, Thailand, and Myanmar.

We are committed to building with them, a brighter future together.