WELCOMING THE GOOD NEWS OF ADVENT -CHRISTMAS-EPIPHANY!

The following story, as best we can tell, is anonymous and maybe apocryphal.  Still it's a reminder of what should be the faithful story of every Christian. Several years ago, some students were asked to list what they thought were the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient and Modern World."  Though there was some disagreement, these "wonders" received the highest rankings from one to seven:

* Egypt's Great Pyramids

* Taj Mahal

* Grand Canyon

* Panama Canal

* Empire State Building

* St. Peter's Basilica

* China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student had not yet turned in her paper. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.  The student replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many choices."  The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think that the Seven Wonders of the Ancient and Modern World are:

* to See,

* to Hear,

* to Touch,

* to Taste,

* to Feel,

* to Laugh,

* to Love. "

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.  The things we overlook are so simple and so ordinary. The things we take for granted are truly wondrous!  That's a profound reminder about our welcoming the good news of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany, which sings the songs and paints the pictures of Emmanuel, of God-with-us, in holy revelations and gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love.  In their "Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy," Fred and Mary Ann Brusset make clear what those simple, sacred gifts are all about:

"HOPE:  Let this positive and potent emotion fill our dreams and support your service of others.  Through your attitudes and actions, encourage others never to lose hope.

PEACE:  Protect the world's future by promoting peace every day.  Your small steps will link you with others who also are seeking to give peace a chance by practicing the ways of justice and peace.

JOY:  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.  Find this divine energy in your daily life and share it with others.

LOVE:  Fall in love over and over again every day.  Love your family, your neighbors, your enemies, and yourself.  And don't stop with humans.  Love animals, plants, stones, even the galaxies."

So let us, faithfully and gracefully, share Emmanuel's saving good news of hope, peace, joy, and love as much as we breathe and as long as we live.

Graceful Faith to Everyone!

John