Dear Sisters,
As we write this letter, we begin the Novena for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.  We Adorers of the Blood of Christ find in this season, the great gift of God made one with us in flesh and blood.  A Christ who comes to be with us in all things, but sin.  A Christ of the Gospel, calling us to treasure the gift of our own human creation and dignity and live credible and hope-filled lives.  This season reminds us that in the simple things of life, God can become manifest.  We not only come to adore Christ in the manger, we adore Christ in our own Sisters, our co-workers, our Associates, Sojourners, Lay Consecrated Women.  We adore Christ in those we meet along the way each day, in those seeking a safe home, a place away from war, the children, the elderly, our actions on behalf of our “common home” and through our prayers for peace, for reconciliation, and for our aching world. 

Pope Francis, on the first Sunday of Advent offered a way through Advent to Christmas.  “To encounter Jesus who comes in every brother and sister who needs us and to share with them what we can:  listening, time, concrete assistance.  Dear friends, it will be good for us today to ask ourselves how we can prepare a welcoming heart for the Lord.”  Angelus, December 3, 2023

As we enter into the holy season of Christmas perhaps we could;

Listen deeply in particular to the hearts we might not so easily hear.

Take the time to better know ourselves and  understand the “other” with hearts for communion. 

To be a credible and authentic presence, sowing hope in a world so fractured and fragile.

Mary and Joseph are models for us of these things, they followed the voice of God in their hearts and their dreams.  They entered into a new way of being parents to the Messiah, who came as a tiny child.  They knew themselves before God and welcomed the world in communion with them.  They too lived in a very fractured and fragile world. They lived in truth and were present to God’s initiatives sowing hope.

So as we sing our favorite carols of Christmas, let us be people of welcome.  May God-With-Us, Emmanuel, find a song in our hearts.  A song that sings of peace, welcome, hope and healing.  God is truly with us and within us, and that is the Good News of Christmas.

What will be your Song of Christmas?

Is there someone or a group you might need to attune your heart to listen more deeply and seek communion?

How might you concretely choose to “sow HOPE”?

We join our hearts in gratitude to God for the life we are in communion,

December 16, 2023