I would again like to wish you a Happy Christmas. I hope all went well for you yesterday. Today of course is Saint Stephen’s Day and is another relaxed day for everyone
I have my latest video up below
Last Saturday (Dec 21st) was the winter solstice. Light is so scarce at this time of year and also so precious. Light is also wrapped up in the Christmas message. Jesus is born into our world as a wonderful and inspiring light. The invitation is to allow Jesus to be born into those parts of our lives that need him the most. We all have dark corners in our lives. On our own the darkness could overwhelm us.
Christmas is a reminder that we can’t journey through life on our own. We need support, love, companionship, friendship, light, hope and so much more. That’s why we make a special effort to reach out and include everyone at Christmas. We thank God for coming into our world to be a beacon of light and hope. We invite God’s light to touch every aspect of our lives this Christmas.
Video for the week🎥
This is my latest video and it is called ‘Why Every Christmas Crib Is Different’ and it also contains my Christmas message too💕🙏
The video below is a recent video and it is called ‘One Snow Story’. An unexpected snowfall made sure I got out and about, to create the story with a few reflective thoughts. If you would like to see a selection of my other videos on Youtube you can click this link here. https://www.youtube.com/@JamesMcSweeneyFr/videos
Spiritual Thought For The Week
“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.” ~ Saint Mother Teresa
Last Saturday was the shortest day of the year and is the winter solstice. As light is so scarce at this time of year we are naturally drawn to light. The Christmas tree in our homes always gives us a lift with their display of light. Candles also add a lovely touch. We often talk about Jesus as that special light born into our world to make a difference. This difference is not just some days but every single day.
I was watching an interesting documentary on the Christmas tree and the crib at Saint Peter’s Square in Rome. The tradition of donating a tree to the Vatican began back in 1982 under the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The Christmas tree is a symbol of generosity, hope and community. Each year, a different area, province or country donates the tree. This Christmas, the tree comes from the Valle di Ledro in the Trentino region of Northern Italy. It is no ordinary tree. It is 29 meters tall, weighing approximately 5 tons and was chosen for its grandeur and beauty.
The crib each year in the Vatican is also different. The crib figures represent a different part of the world. It is of course the same beautiful story being recreated but every crib in every church is uniquely different. There will never be any two the same. It is the same with all our stories. All our stories are different but it is the same loving God who holds all our stories together.
This is the Christmas message. Everyone needs light, hope, meaning, connection, support and love in our lives. It is our heartfelt belief that Jesus born in a stable, is a guarantee that these blessings can be ours too. Just as there are so many different Christmas Cribs, is also a recognition of our own unique story. But it is Jesus who brings meaning to our story, makes it personal, makes the connection and gives us hope in a sometimes hopeless world.
