Archives » December 26, 2007
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked. One picture was of a calm lake that mirrored peaceful, towering mountains surrounding the lake. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare with an angry sky striking out with slashing rain and lightning. Down the side of the mountain roared a waterfall – anything but peaceful. When the king looked closely, however, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing through a crack in the rock. A mother bird had built her nest there. In the midst of the rush of angry water, the mother bird sat on her nest in perfect peace. Which picture won the prize? The king chose the second picture. He explained that “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.” Because the baby came to us in the stable, because the tomb could not hold his body – we know peace even when life brings us to our knees. At first when Mary Magdalene sees the stone removed from the tomb, she panics, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” But then “the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” Mary, the Mother of the Infant, anguished to find a room in the inn; Mary Magdalene anguished to find no one in the tomb. The Prince of Peace found his first earthly home in the stable; his final home in the tomb. In between He lived love, preached love, and suffered love. Though a whip, nails, and thorns tore his body – though disillusionment, betrayal, and loneliness seared his heart, eternal peace triumphed. Our Lord earned our hope for us. Let us give thanks for such wondrous love; let us hold tight to His hope and let us always be ready to pass on His hope.
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Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. ~Jn 20:1a and 2-8
(The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
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As this year’s cycle comes to an end and we prepare to start the year anew, it is good we pause and ask ourselves how we will do things differently and not fall into the usual patterns of behavior, both good and bad, that usually mark our thoughts and actions. We pray that the coming of the Lord at Christmas has broken through and filled us with a joy that leads to a new way of life.
God our Father, you are waiting to surprise us with love. Help us to welcome you with joy whenever you appear, so that we may live like excited children, always expecting you. Amen. ~ Rev. William Seetch, CSC
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In December 1914, Ernest Shackleton, already a celebrated polar explorer, advertised in a London newspaper, “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long months of darkness, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” Five thousand men jumped at the chance to be one of the 26 chosen men to become the first to cross the Antarctica from one side of the continent to another.
Ice conditions were unusually harsh, and Shackleton’s wooden ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the packed ice. For 10 months, the Endurance drifted, locked within the ice until the pressure crushed the ship. With meager resources Shackleton and his men were stranded on the ice floes. Eventually they sailed three, small lifeboats to Elephant Island—but the uninhabited island provided no hope of rescue. Recognizing the severity of the physical and mental strains on his men, Shackleton and five others made a drastic effort to find help. In a 22-foot lifeboat they accomplished the impossible – surviving a 17-day, 800-mile journey through the world’s worst seas to South Georgia Island. The men, however, landed on an uninhabited part of the island. Their last hope was to cross 26 miles of mountains and glaciers, considered impassable, to reach the whaling station on the other side. Starved, frostbitten and wearing rags, Shackleton and two others successfully made the trek.
In August 1916, 21 months after the initial departure of the Endurance, Shackleton himself returned to rescue the men on Elephant Island. Although they’d withstood the most incredible hardship and privation, not one member of the 26-man crew was lost. Why would those 26 men take on such horrendous conditions – especially since Shackelton so bluntly stated the stark conditions? Perhaps the thrill of adventure? Perhaps the conquest of the impossible? Maybe for the honor? In many ways Jesus provides a similar warning to his followers – the journey will be brutally harsh and all may be lost. “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” Every part of who we are is infinitely, eternally valued by our God. This day be comforted and uplifted. Remember that the endurance of faith is the one place for ultimate confidence—not that we will be kept from suffering but that our lives will be held eternally in the heart of God.
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Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mt 10:17-22
(The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
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There is no such thing as a one-sided coin. Yesterday we celebrated the birth of the Savior. Today we celebrate the first martyr, St. Steven. The wooden manger that held the baby all to soon leads to the wood of the cross. Between these two extremes we live out our vocation. For many of us they are mostly moments of joy. However sorrow is also part of our humanity. Some suffer much more than others.
Lord, there will be moments of joy and pain in our lives. Your cross was so hard to carry you needed help and Simon of Cyrene came to your aid. Help us carry our cross and let us be Simon’s of Cyrene to others in need. Let the Holy Spirit put into our mouths words that build up and support, not tear down or hurt. Fill our hearts with the desire to do good to and for all me meet. Amen Rev. William Seetch, CSC
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