PEACE!
BORN INTO HUMAN DARKNESS
Into the depths of human darkness
the Word of God was born.
He, through whom all was created,
was enfleshed in human form.
Child of the homeless,
a barn as his home,
born into poverty,
a refugee from tyranny
to foreign lands did roam.
As prophets foretold, the Beloved of God,
Servant to the broken and forlorn,
clothed with compassion,
armed only with love,
brought healing to those weary and torn.
Oh, Word of God, come into our world,
cast deep in human violence and despair.
Enlighten its black shadows,
reveal its dark secrets,
our broken souls plead for repair.
In silence we stand
with great expectation
Your arrival at the city gate.
Where, once more with Your broken,
Your poor and Your homeless,
You will be born into our human state.
© 2016, by Deacon Bob Wagner OFS
Christmas 2016
Once more, Christmas rolls around. A new liturgical year begins and another calendar year concludes. As with all of life, changes continue. I seem to mark the passage of time by the surgical scars I accumulate. This year, there is a nice long scar over the right knee indicating where a new knee has been implanted. As old body joints depart and new ones arrive, so it is true with the newness that comes with the passage of another year. Andy, a skilled artisan much in demand, has started up his own wood floor installation business. Judging by the lack of time his work truck is at home, his clients are keeping him very busy. Olivia, his beautiful bride, remains much in demand for her skills as a professional photographer. For my birthday this year, she gifted me with 4 beautiful portraits of Ruthie. Their boys are busy growing in age and in wisdom. Owen began high school this year. I am presently having the pleasure of teaching both Owen and Aidan piano. Ollie, just beginning 1st grade is far too busy to think about piano lessons presently. Our youngest daughter, Beth, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Psychology this past October. She is busy doing her internship and working at Hennepin County Medical Center. Luke remains busy at Coborns, and when he is not working out at SNAP Fitness, he is busy being a dad to his 4 year old Boxerdore, Belle E Button. Meg, recently moved to Anoka which means we don’t see her, Alyssa and Sydney as often as when she lived at home. Meg continues to work at the Minnesota State Veterans Home as she pursues her degree to become a Registered Nurse. Meg has her sight set on eventually becoming a nurse practioner. Alyssa, a freshman in high school, too, and Sydney are both busy in school. Ruthie, agelessly beautiful, continues to work full time nights as a Registered Nurse at the Minnesota State Veterans Home. While she would love to be able to retire this coming year, with the political situation for the next 4 years, and the political party in power determined to cut or eliminate Social Security and Medicare, it seems unlikely that Ruth, or I for that matter, will know what it means to retire. I remain in church ministry in the New Prague Area Catholic Community. With an anticipated drastic shortage of priests and deacons, I think I will probably continue ministry for quite a while yet. As we look to the next 4 years, it is hard for us to utter, “Merry!” or “Joy,” this Christmas. However, we place our hope that as in all things, God will see us through these dark times as God has done for us in the past. In spite of our flawed humanity, Jesus remains Lord of Heaven and of Earth and humanity’s only hope for peace. So this Christmas, we bid you, “Peace!”
During this Holy Season in which we
celebrate God’s union and solidarity with
the entirety of the human family, we wish
you God’s peace!
