Peace Moment by Deb Crowley
Dec. 19, 2021
My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn? *
As Mary journeys to visit Elizabeth, her soul cries out to God in humble gratitude for the babe in her womb that will bless the world. She isn’t sure exactly what his life will look like, or how his name will reverberate for generations to come. But her faithful, hopeful heart sings for joy at the blessing to come.
At 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning I lay in a hospital bed as the pains tore through my body. “How long will this last?” I asked the nurse. She replied, “You don’t want to know!” Fortunately things progressed rapidly and by 10 a.m. I was holding our firstborn child, a daughter, in my arms. Like Mary, amazement and wonder filled my soul. Overflowing with joy at this little newborn being that would be ours to love and nurture and teach of God seemed a miracle and blessing of such huge magnitude our hearts were about to burst! Our world was about to turn and never be the same again.
Our child, while a blessing, was not destined to change the world as did the child Mary carried. Not only was her world about to change, but generations to come would experience the impact of that spectacular event in her life.
The baby whose birth we soon celebrate continues to influence lives around the globe. He desires nothing more than to bring the reign of God’s peace and love to the earth. Like Mary, we are the vehicles chosen for the work. As small and insignificant as we humans are we are challenged to let the heart and mind of Jesus live in us so that our hearts sing, justice burns, tears are wiped away and the world turns.
Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn. *
*(Canticle of the Turning, CCS 404)
Prayer:God, sometimes the challenges you place in our hearts are tough. How can we possibly make a dent in the insanity of humankind in this world today? When we ask, “how long, O Lord?” remind us our time is not your time and grant us the patience to continue living in faith and hope as did Mary. Let us draw near to Jesus to see the light, to follow the gentle guidance of the Spirit one person, one action, one bold step at a time. Help us remember it is you who, in your mercy, holds us fast and may your will be done on earth. Amen