Has Anyone Seen Jesus?

Five of us living here in the house were on a zoom birthday call on Dec. 28th for one of the Sisters. During that conversation, we learned that the baby Jesus was missing from our Christmas nativity scene. Well, we were thrown into lockdown here at the Residence so suddenly, that EVERYTHING was locked in the position it was at the time of our lockdown announcement - 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve!  Consequently, no one knew where the baby was, awaiting his appearance to happen later that evening.

On Christmas Eve., after supper, the baby Jesus is usually put in place in a lovely crib ceremony that takes place in the main foyer of the Residence(pictured above). As a last ditch effort to have a “body” in the crib, some creative Sister quickly borrowed a doll from our Care Wing, intending to plop it in the crib. It is quite a large item, way out of proportion to the crib! Your imagination can picture the scene…

On the birthday zoom call, we learned that the person who had put Jesus in a drawer, revealed his whereabouts!   He was carefully being stored until the appropriate time for his appearance.

To this moment, I have no idea whether the baby Jesus is in the crib or not, since we are still in our rooms in lockdown for a few more days.

The possible lesson from this crib snatching?

1.     The person of Jesus can come to us in all shapes and sizes, if only we have eyes to see.

2.    Jesus may seem to be missing, but in reality is present in new ways unimagined before, as is evident in a lockdown.  This pandemic has taught the Global family one key lesson: WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. Hopefully we can begin to live in this new awareness..

Baby Jesus, finally in the manger at our Residence, Christmas 2021

3.    How many alerts do we need to wake up to the fact that we are called to change in how we see, think and act as a GLOBAL FAMILY?

Sequel to this story?  Success! Jesus has been found. How have you found Him during this lockdown?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti

Beginning 2022

While enjoying my morning coffee, half listening to the television, my attention was caught by the tagline in an Audi commercial: Reflect on the past. Celebrate the future.

It is a tradition in my congregation to set aside the last day of the year as a retreat day. I found myself wondering, how might my end of the year thoughts be shaped by reflecting upon the slogan: “Reflect on the past. Celebrate the future.” Looking back upon 2021, what might I discover about myself? What insights or lessons of 2021, might I uncover and so personally or communally claim? Furthermore, looking forward to the year ahead, what might I wish to achieve so that I might celebrate? What personal hopes do I hold? What prayers do I wish to say for my friends, my congregation, and the earth community as we continue to encounter the challenges and uncertainties of this ever- changing pandemic.

As one year ends and another year begins, I offer to you the buzzwords of the Audi commercial as food for your own thoughts as we take leave of 2021 and step into 2022.

Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Image: Isabela Kronemberger/Unsplash

A Gift of Love

As I prayed this morning my heart was filled with love and wonder as I reflected on Karen’s Christmas card this year.

She lost her job at 62. With her age against her she searched to find anything. I was given the job to pray for a miracle.

Finally, she was hired on in a cafeteria at a university.  There were no tips there.

With gratitude in her heart to God for this lifeline, she wrote in her Christmas card, “your gift this year is a sleeping bag I bought and donated to the homeless”.

I saw Jesus blessing her as she stood with the poor widow offering her gift, all she had to live on.

May we all feel so called to give generously this Christmas, and beyond.

Sister Ann Marshall, csj