By Brian Moore
IN Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 6:23 he sends a beautiful greeting of peace and love to the Church in Ephesus.
The problem in the world that we live in today we hear many people talk about peace and love so much that the words have lost their meaning.
The peace and love that St Paul desires for the Ephesians, has its origin in God.
It is love born of faith and peace which only God can give.
Prior to Christmas Day shoppers crowd the stores looking for gifts to give to their loved ones and special friends, which is a measure of their love and goodwill.
However, when you really think about it many people in the world today have no idea what Christmas is really about, being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful gift of peace and love that God the Father gave us in giving His son Jesus to the world.
I am sure that you have heard or read, “Jesus is the reason for the festive season”. The best gift that we can give our children and loved ones is the gift of love.
During my life and many years of service in the ambulance service and the St Vincent de Paul Society I have noted with a touch of sadness that there are many unfortunate people who have never been told and shown that they are loved.
Love, peace, patience, generosity and gentleness.
These wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit are both simple and easy to use if we really try.
A quite moment of prayer will help us find one of these gifts when we need it most. In reality these wonderful gifts are the oil that keep all relationships working, especially when we are stressed and stretched to the limit, they assist us loosen the grip of our self-centeredness and anger.
They ease the tight grasp of a grudge that seems so important to hang onto.
They fuel us with superhuman patience and deep peace in moments of crisis.
In many countries and shopping centres around the world, the old familiar manger scenes have been stripped from public places.
Jesus’ name and message have been banned from holiday celebrations.
We are living in a very secular society and it is very sad to note that there are thousands of people in the world today who do not know who Jesus is.
May I now share with you the following story by James Dobson that I read many years in ago in a daily devotional called “The Gift of a child’s love” which reminds us all that life is not built on things, but on relationships.
“Sometime ago a friend of mine punished his 3-year old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became upset when she tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
“Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy.’
“He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction. But his anger flared again when he opened the box and found it empty.
“He yelled at her, ‘Don’t you know that when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside?’
“The little girl looked up at him in tears and said, ‘Oh, daddy, it’s not empty, I blew kisses into it, I filled it with my love and wrapped it up just for you.’
“He was crushed. Quickly he put his arms around her and begged for her forgiveness.
“My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he got discouraged, he’d take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who’d put it there.
“In a very real sense, each of us as parents have been given a gold container filled with the unconditional love of our children. There’s not a more precious possession anyone could hold.”
Malcolm Muggeridge was struck by the link Mother Teresa made between the Mass and the Sisters’ work of caring for people in need.
Mother Teresa stated to him and her Sisters’… “This morning we were at Mass and we saw how reverently the priest held the Body of Christ at the altar … Today in the streets, we will meet the needy … the sick, the mentally ill, the lonely, the homeless and the dying… We must likewise hold them reverently. For they too are the body of Christ.”
May the Holy Spirit, shower us all with the gifts of love and peace, and help us share these gifts with others in our lives today.
John 4: 7 tells us to Let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Wishing all the readers and everyone attached to The Catholic Leader a Joyful and Holy Christmas along with good health and a prosperous 2015.
Brian Moore is the former president of the Queensland St Vincent de Paul Society.
