Spring 2010: Holy Week, Holy Life
January 2010: The Eucharistic Life
Christmas and the Art of Substitution
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Website for the Order of Deaconesses |
President's Page: Christmas and the Art of Substitution It is truly amazing how skillful we have become in the art of substituting God's good gifts with worldly counterfeits. The Feast of the Nativity originated as a time when we could reflect upon the wonderful truth that God sent His Son to be the Bread of the World. Just so we would not miss this important point, Jesus was born in a city whose name means "house of bread" (Bethlehem). So what is our response? We replace the Bread of Heaven with all manner of decadent treats, including gingerbread cookies (the irony of their being shaped as rudimentary men should not be lost on us). We are told that Jesus is the Light of the World, and our response is to splatter our houses with gaudy bulbs that light the way to snowmen, carolers, and a large, generous man dressed all in red. Though there is a wealth of truth to sing about at Christmastide, we find ourselves humming "Winter Wonderland," which focuses on a human romance rather than the ultimate love story, that of Christ who came to save His Bride from certain destruction. Thus, it seems, we are skilled in the art of enthroning mankind instead of bowing to the Son of Man, of exchanging the Creator for the creature. The problem is that the only sure way to restore mankind to our proper place in this world, lifted from the deadly mire of sin, is to recognize the only true Lord of heaven and earth: Jesus Christ the Righteous. As long as man continues to usurp the throne, there will be dissention, destruction, despair, and death. Our response to the Son of God should be single-hearted devotion to Him, for although He alone is worthy of being enthroned, He left His throne to seek and to save that which was lost. We were not just confused or mistaken in our existence before Him; we were lost and hopeless, surrounded only by darkness and filled only with insatiable hunger. The Light of the World and the Bread from Heaven came down to make it possible for us to draw near to God. In Him we have not just life, but life abundant. Worship Him and Him alone this Christmas. Only then can there truly be the peace on earth that our Christmas cards proclaim.
So this Christmas, enjoy the baked goods,
but do not forget to meet Him in the Lord's
Supper. Think of Him, and Him only, when you
see the twinkling lights. Dwell upon His
love, and thank Him that all other
relationships find their meaning in Him. In
Him is life, and the Life is the Light of
men.
Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Dss Teresa
Johnson
President, Women of the Church
dsstrj at
dmawomen.org |
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President's Page: Archives Spring 2010: Holy Week, Holy Life January 2010: The Eucharistic Life The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles |
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