Light of Genesis...Same Light that Dawned Bethlehem

“In the beginning God created heaven and earth.  And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2, Douay Rheims)

A simple sharing this Advent...

Today, a friend asked me about the story of Creation, found in the book of Genesis.  She was confused...  Why is it that in the beginning, the earth is covered with darkness...emptiness...void?

Many people continue to read Genesis as the story of creation in terms of a religion versus science debate; reading the Holy Bible as if it is a story book or a pop novel.  This way of reading imposes our historical situation on the sacred text (using our finite mind to comprehend the infinite Word) and misses entirely the spiritual insights that open our heart to the “religious” meaning the story had for ancient Israel, and the spiritual meaning that God intends for us today.

This Advent, as we quietly contemplate on the lighted candles of Advent, we remind ourselves that the Word of God is alive and will continue to examine us individually today if we choose to allow it.  The Word of God is Light that pierces through the darkness in our lives...bringing hope, peace, love and joy.

For instance, the Genesis’ creation day is different from the ordinary day with which we are normally familiar with these days.  With the sacred scriptures, it is always about reading through the eyes of faith, patiently allowing the Word to sink into our hearts, taking quiet time to encounter the Word.  The story of Creation tells us that the Spirit of God brought life and light out of chaos and darkness.  The Holy Spirit is “the Lord and Giver of Life”.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, reminds all of us today of the power and goodness of God as manifested in the creation of the world, and also the dependence of fragile creatures like us, on the dominion of the ultimate Creator; from a formless, empty void, He unconditionally fills it with life, and from darkness, He brings forth Light – in God, there is simply no darkness...only Light.

The first chapter of Genesis shares that in the beginning the world was “formless and empty.”  It then proceeds to show how God sets out to fix this - first, by giving the world form and then filling it with abundance.  In Days 1-3, God creates the “form” of the world - the day and the night; the sky and the sea; the land and the vegetation.  In Days 4 - 6, God fills these “form” with the sun, moon and stars, the birds and the fish to fill the sky and the seas; and man and beast, which rule the land.

There is a perfect order to all these; from chaos, comes order.  First God creates the “structure” of the world, then, He fills that structure with living beings.  After each day of creation, God sees that His work is “good.”  After the six “work days” are through, God sees that His work is “very” good.  The word “very” is used to mark the end of the creation cycle.

Very briefly, Genesis is a story of faith...our faith, telling us how God chose a particular family to keep His Revelation, and how He trained His Chosen People to fulfill His mission; how His Light still shines forth today through His chosen people and still continue to radiate out simply, gently and quietly to this chaotic world that is filled with much darkness.

As we prepare for Christmas, simply remember that Christ IS “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the “darkness” of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God to each one of us.  Like the poor humble shepherds, let us always be watchful and simply trusting to the quiet call of God...following the one true Light...

As His chosen people, let us always choose to create a new Genesis in the lives of others on this short journey through life..to re-create the world we live in so that we can experience heaven, here on earth today.

Let the joyful bells of Christmas resound, proclaiming the birth of the Creator, the source of life...the true Light of the world.

Maranatha!  Let us simply and quietly invite Him into our lives, O Christ our Lord!

God bless all.  Blessed Christmas to one and all!  Peace and joy across the land!  We are but ONE family...ONE colour...the colour of the ONE human race; created and hand-painted by the ONE God who loves us for eternity!

Simply Waiting Again...Searching...

“But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God.  Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.”

(1 Peter 2:9-10, Douay Rheims)

Another eventful year 2011, is about to come to a close...a new one beginning again.

The economics around the world looked set to become another mess created by the greed of humans and the so-called, superpowers.  Many continue to be slaves to the world, to debts, to the restlessness and anxiousness of today.  Where most people around the world are led to the popular idea that Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Spain are the primary cause of this global economic downturn, many still believe that the real and present threat is quietly erupting in the United States, especially.

In any case, it is always the story of the poor becoming poorer and the rich simply gets wealthier by the day.  Doesn’t this sound all too familiar during the time of Jesus as well...the mighty Egyptians against the Hebrews, the Romans, and the Samaritans, the lepers, the marginalized...  This world has never learnt and never changed!

Quietly, but surely, the holy season of Advent comes upon us again; November 27, 2011.  It is simply a time of waiting, a time of preparing, a time to examine, a time for renewal, conversion, turning back to God...most of all, a 4-Sundays journey to receive Jesus Christ anew at Christmas...a new beginning to the Roman Catholic Church liturgical calendar.

Coincidently, according to the Holy Quran, Allah has given that it is also the first day of the first peaceful and sacred Muharram month of the Islamic calendar...yet, fighting is still ever prevalent all across the land, all over the world...greed, abuse, abortion, corruption, bribes, marginalization, crimes, conspiracy, etc!!

Many Advents has come and gone, with renewal still lacking.  The soul of the world has not changed much, yet, materially, nothing looks the same.  We recall that the simple word “Advent” originates from the Latin word “ad venio”, meaning “to come”, and thus refers to the waiting of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall...this sacred season is filled with expectations for many, waiting, waiting...  Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, we must remember that this period is a journey towards satisfying our longing for Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh...coming to dwell amongst us...bringing hope to many...the Messiah in the form of a baby born in Bethlehem!

Is there any room for Him in the inns of our hectic hearts?  We must always remember who we are in the presence of God, the source of all life, all joy, peace; without whom we are nothing!

“...Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.” (Apocalypse of St John – Revelations 22:20, Douay Rheims)

The Aramaic word, Maranatha reminds us to continue to invite Jesus Christ the Lord into our hearts!  God does not care about our past; He simply wants us to know who we are and who we can be.

Jesus, the same Messiah foretold in the prophecies of Isaiah, the lost lamb whom the poor shepherds found amidst their flock on a quiet night, the same King in a faraway manger whom the three humble kings searched and adored on bended knees with gifts of gold (royalty, authority), frankincense (holy priesthood) and myrrh (healer)...Glory to God on High, Jesus, in Hebrew, the Emmanuel...is with us...God is always with us each day.  Simply wait and listen to His voice!

A Blessed and Holy Advent to one and all as we journey together, as one people, as one human race, towards Christmas!  I have been quiet for a while but sometimes, silence is good for the soul...  With your prayers, it is my sincere wish this season is to be able to share more of my simple thoughts with all of you, for the glory of Him who created me, gives me life and sustained me.  Praying that each one of you have a meaningful Advent and remain in good spirit.

Simply be quiet,

Simply be watchful,

Be extra patient

and listen for the still, small whisper of God,

Who is waiting to touch you with joy...give meaning to your journey

Like Mary and Joseph, we, too must remain simple and simply remember that Jesus is an unconditional gift from God to us and that He came to die for all, so that each one of us may simply live...and find eternal life!
 

Dashing through life...

As I listen to the familiar Christmas tune, "dashing through the snow...", I recall a meaningful reflection I read sometime ago in 3 Minutes a Day by The Christophers. I would like to share this with you.

What's the measure of a life? This excerpt from an anonymous poem that appeared in Bits & Pieces offers a new slant.

I read of a man who stood up to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears.
But said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between the years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she had spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her know
What that little line is worth...

We don't choose our birth date or death date, but we do decide how we live the the in-between. Make the most of your life.

Blessed Advent to all, fellow pilgrims, wherever you are.


"Each year, God asks us to shed one more coat of awareness, one more dream state and come alive to the vision of God’s plan for each of us and the world-at-large.

The older we get, the harder this is to do. As children we had a sense of wonder. Our eyes were wide open and drinking in the fascinating gifts we beheld…Our thirsty souls could not have enough of the wonders of creation.

Then, somehow, we grew too old to dream. We tired of the abundance of the world, or at least grew weary of keeping up with the feast of life, and stepped away from the banquet of life.

The natural gift of wonder God gave us as children was meant to be kept alive.…Instead we let wonder go to sleep. We entered the typical dream state of most humans.

Why else does Jesus tell us today, ‘Stay awake!’…Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.

…Psychology says, ‘Let go.’ Spirituality says, ‘Wake up.’ In both cases there is a withdrawal from the busyness of daily life (our dream state) and a waking up to the subconscious and spiritual depths of ourselves."

Rev. Alfred McBride, O. Praem.,THE PRIEST, Oct. ‘87, p.26

Advent...preparing...waiting...

Advent, a time of waiting and preparing ourselves for the Lord's coming, as the incarnate God of love.

This short 28-day period can easily pass by without much significance for many of us amidst the “noise” of career-building, wealth-accumulation, commercialism of X’mas (see how the world so easily remove “Christ” out of the season?) and perhaps, social-networking. So many distractions...we become indifferent to the season.

Advent is a season of readiness, getting prepared, alert and awake…for what? For the coming of the Lord…into our hearts, into our lives. We must be conscious not be distracted by secular pursuits of the world. This season is the time for God, to listen to him in prayer, in scriptural reflection, for repentance… It is also a time to respond to his call, his invitation, unique for each one of us. In doing so, we trust that he Lord will bless us...will lead us along this life's journey.

Scripture tells us, “But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 - Douay-Rheims)

Many a times, in responding, the seemingly long wait for assurance, for his blessing…our minds wonder, did we truly hear him or was it merely our human thoughts fooling us? Our human condition plants the seed of doubt in our hearts… We lose confidence…we become disillusioned…

Scripture continues to reassure us and goes on to comfort us, “The Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentations 3:25 - Douay-Rheims)

We must continue to be alert and wait for his coming into our lives, wait for him to lead us, to bless us abundantly. We must never lose hope. Our Lord is merciful and faithful. Surrender the distractions of the world to him...and he will give you rest and lead you.

Yes Lord, in all our weaknesses, imperfections, complexity and noisiness, we continue to ponder and echo the prayer of the psalmist, “Defeat does not come to those who trust in you, but to those who are quick to rebel against you.” (Psalm 25:3 – Good News Translation) Help us to remain simple and quiet for your coming into our lives.

Jesus, we will place our trust in you this Advent, waiting for your blessings.

“The certainty of Christian hope lies beyond passion and beyond knowledge. Therefore we must sometimes expect our hope to come in conflict with darkness, desperation and ignorance. Therefore, too, we must remember that Christian optimism is not a perpetual sense of euphoria, an indefectible comfort in whose presence neither anguish nor tragedy can possibly exist. We must not strive to maintain a climate of optimism by the mere suppression of tragic realities. Christian optimism lies in a hope of victory that transcends all tragedy: a victory in which we pass beyond tragedy to glory with Christ crucified and risen.”
- Thomas Merton – Advent: Hope or Delusion?