Dear Brothers and All USA Marists,
Continued Advent blessings to each of you. It is hard to believe that next week is Christmas. I pray that, in the midst of these hectic days of last-minute shopping, the final days of school before the break, and all the other tasks filling our to-do lists, we might somehow find a quiet moment amid the chaos to open our hearts to the Miracle that awaits us next Thursday.
As we embrace this third week of Advent, may the pink Candle of Joy not only shine brightly in our Advent wreaths, but also be reflected in the joyful witness of our lives and actions during these sacred days. Despite the many painful challenges and realities present in our world and in our own country, let us continue to strive to be true Marist Pilgrims of Hope. May we take to heart the inspiring words of Meister Eckhart: “What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the Son of God (many) years ago if I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my own time and in my own culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. God is always needing to be born.” Each morning during this month of December, I have been using two key resources for my prayer: the daily reflections from our fellow USA Marists in our Province Advent Prayer book, and, Give Us This Day. I am deeply grateful to all our USA Marists who shared such thoughtful and powerful meditations, as well as to Kelly Latimore, the artist whose painting is featured on the back cover of this month’s Give Us This Day. Kelly’s depiction of the Holy Family of the Streets has been a central focus of my prayer. It reminds me daily that Mary and Joseph not only found no room or welcome at the inn, but that shortly after the birth of Jesus they fled to Egypt as refugees to protect their child from Herod’s massacre of the innocent. So many modern-day “Holy Families” live with similar fear, sustained only by the hope of providing a better life for their children. May God grant a peaceful and safe path forward for all such families throughout our world.
On behalf of our USA Province, I wish each of you a most blessed and grace-filled Christmas. May it be filled with family, friends, love, peace, joy, and hope. As we soon celebrate the gift of Emmanuel, may we do so by ensuring that each of us—like Mary—allows Christ to come into our world once again through the actions and witness of our lives.
With gratitude,
Br. Dan O'Riordan '85, US Provincial
Want to learn more about the Lay Marist adult formation program? Contact Maureen Hagan at mhagan8486@gmail.com or visit the Marists of Champagnat Website.
