Dear Spiritual Family,
Merry Christmas! What a gift to be in touch with you at this special time.
In the video service for Christmas Sunday, Mary opens with the reading from Luke of Jesus’ birth – a touching reminder of the powerful demonstration of the faith, love, humility, and tenderness of the Holy Family.
The gifts of Christmas need not be confined to any one religion. It is a universal message for all to experience as they choose.
In mystical Christianity, we choose to focus on the miracle of Jesus’ incarnation to dispel the darkness with the Light of God. Dr. Ernest Holmes wrote, “We find in him a heart of kindness, a mind of comprehension, an intellect of sincerity, a feeling of compassion. Jesus made heaven and earth meet.”
And we know Jesus continues in that glorious task. In our New Thought and Ancient Wisdom teachings, we also encourage our acceptance of the same Divinity that he came to teach. “I am the light of the world.” And, “You are the light of the world.”
It is also a good time to remind ourselves that we can give our blessing to others who approach the birth and life of Jesus as the “great exception.” Doing so, certainly doesn’t diminish the awareness that we bring to the rich experience of Christmas and the New Year.
Author, Alan Cohen shares the story of Jay Frankston (name correction from the video), who was raised Jewish but always wished he could participate in the Christmas holiday. As an adult, he decided he wanted to play Santa and after a visit to the NYC Main Post Office, he was offered many “letters to Santa.” Sifting through, he found the more altruistic ones and decided to fulfill many of those requests in the poorer neighborhoods of New York City showing up dressed as Santa with the requested gifts. He authored the heartwarming book, A Christmas Story which chronicles his adventures.
We, or friends and family, may be enjoying the “Festival of Lights” as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African-American culture. The Spirit of the Season can be an ongoing blessing to us all. Jesus teaches in A Course in Miracles, “A universal religion is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary.”
By honoring God’s great gift of our Wayshower, Jesus the Christ, by more fully accepting his teaching of our true Identity and humbly asking his help in knowing that for ourselves and others, we hasten that “Universal Experience” – of Love and Peace and Joy and spread the Spirit of Christmas far and wide!
Merry Christmas Dear Family. We love you,
Rev. Steve and Mary
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