Wednesday, December 19, 2012

No Room At the Inn


“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:7

Some might understand the challenges that come with being pregnant. But for Mary, it was more than your average pregnancy and birth. She was traveling – on a donkey – into a foreign land, and had no place to stay. One could certainly understand if her stress level was through the roof.

Often, we hear that Mary and Joseph had no place to stay because the census was being taken and the town was full of people. And while this is true, we must also remember that this was Joseph’s hometown – and his family should have provided a place for them to stay. But Mary’s pregnancy, with a child that did not belong to Joseph, was likely very offensive and scandalous to his family. Today, we know she was carrying the Savior of the world and the Holy Spirit conceived the child, but Mary was rejected by her own people because they only saw her circumstances.

At just 23-years-old, Julia was in her fourth pregnancy. She was facing major challenges, including poverty, homelessness, mental illness, lack of a strong social support system, the inability to read or write and a long history of abuse and abandonment by her family members. As a result, CPS had removed her three children from her care.

Julia contacted Catholic Charities’ St. Elizabeth|Coleman Pregnancy & Adoptive Services to make an adoption plan for her fourth child, but she also opened the door to a new support system to help her financially, emotionally, and to connect her with local resources.

Since the adoption of her child, Julia has formed a personal relationship with her social worker and moved out of the homeless shelter where she was staying into a small house within walking distance of her health clinic and the grocery store.  As Julia continues to grow and experience renewed hope for her future, Catholic Charities will be by her side, offering her the lifelong services and support she needs.

How often do we refuse to give a place to our own version of “outcasts,” not only in our homes, but in our lives? Joseph’s relatives probably thought they were being righteous by shunning Mary. Do we unconditionally welcome the hurting, poor, orphaned, widowed, homeless, and needy around us?

This Christmas season – and all year long – open your hearts, homes, and pockets to help those in need. Look beyond their current circumstances and see that they are a gift from God.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Reflecting the Hope and Love of Christ

First Corinthians 1:28-29 says, “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

The angels appeared and proclaimed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. The shepherds – who were only a few rungs above beggars on the social ladder. And, the angels proclaimed that message not in a dream, as they did with Joseph, or in a single vision, as they did with Mary, but with an entire heavenly host proclaiming the message with singing and shouting. Why would this world-changing message be proclaimed to the lowly shepherds?

Because that’s how God works – in the lives of shepherds…and boys like Jason. 

Jason enrolled in a Catholic high school as a freshman, but struggled with the transition. His struggle was more than the normal plight of an adolescent boy. His mother and stepfather were recently convicted and imprisoned for sexually abusing Jason just years earlier. Jason was sent to live with his biological father, whom he had never had regular contact with growing up, and was forced to enroll in a new school and start a new life.

Jason felt as if he did not belong at the school – without friends, failing academically, and struggling to process through the abuse he had suffered, he battled powerful thoughts of suicide. Jason felt hopeless.

Wisely, he sought guidance through the school’s social worker. Two years later, Jason’s life is completely transformed. Along with the social worker, Jason’s teachers, academic counselor, administrators, and his father have all supported his growth. Jason has friends, is excelling academically, and has received a prestigious spot in an acting summer program.

Jason, now in his junior year of high school, has hope.

God cares deeply for those that society says are worthless, poor, and beyond hope. And, Catholic Charities follows that same model, reflecting the love of God to the poor, widowed, orphaned, homeless, and hopeless – to provide help and create hope. 
 
To whom can you reflect the hope and love of Christ’s birth this season?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A New Hope

Jesus was born into a world that was divided – torn apart by war, economic hardships, and the silence of God. The people placed their hope more in a political savior than God. They wanted a savior who would bring political and economic freedoms. The night Jesus was born, it was not a silent night – it was a world of turmoil, frustration, and no hope. Sound familiar?

We live in a world much like the one into which Jesus was born. His birth brought forth the gift of hope. Hope that we can have a future. Hope that our current circumstances are not reflective of our eternal promise.

Christmas is a celebration of this hope that was brought forth in a tiny child.
 
“For to us a child is born
to us a son is given,
and the government 
will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
     Wonderful Counselor, 
     Mighty God,
     Everlasting Father, 
     Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his 
     government and peace  
     there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
     and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
     with justice and righteousness
     from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
     will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Our hope is not in the promise itself, but in the God who gives us the promise. A God who reached out and gave himself in human flesh. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. He is our new hope.

What a great reason we have to rejoice this Christmas season – and all year long!