Merry Christmas!
From your Nazareth College Catholic Community
Christmas 2018
"Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because he cannot be at home in it – because he is out of place in it, and yet must be in it – his place is with those others who do not belong, who are rejected because they are regarded as weak; and with those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons, and are tortured, exterminated. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world. He is mysteriously present in those for whom there seems to be nothing but the world at its worst." ~ Thomas Merton
Dear Members of the Nazareth College Catholic Community,
Merry Christmas! I hope this message finds you well and resting at home after a very busy semester. In many of the conversations I have had over the past few weeks there seemed to be two common themes. The first, one of exhaustion, due of the demands of the academic responsibilities of the semester. The second, one of despair; a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the current state of our world.
As members of a college community, we have all faced the usual stress, pace and workload that accompanies the fall semester each year. We have also faced some additional challenges on our campus as well. Then there are those interior struggles known only to us in our hearts.
Nationally, our country remains divided and polarized. Our world continues to be plagued by violence, war and poverty. Our church continues to reel from the lack of moral leadership from our bishops. Yes, as individuals and collectively we have experienced much trial, suffering, pain, tragedy and loss.
All of this at times can seem overwhelming causing us to feel lost. However, this Christmas day we are reminded to find hope in places and ways that we might not expect. Today, we discover the answer to our prayers in an infant born over 2000 years ago. As Merton reminds us in the above quote, today we find direction for our future. This new found direction goes against the narrative of power, wealth and privilege that lies with a few and rather empowers the masses who have been forced to the margins of society.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to visit Assisi, Italy which was the home of St. Francis of Assisi. There I was able to stand in front of the San Damiano Cross (see the picture I took above); the same cross that St. Francis also stood in front of nearly 700 years earlier where he heard a call in his heart from God to “go and rebuild my church.” It was in front of this cross that Francis discovered his true purpose in life - to use his gifts and talents to rebuild society one person at a time. A replica of this same cross is used as our processional cross at Mass at Nazareth. This divine call to Francis to rebuild a fractured world did not end with him, it contuses today and is extended to each of us.
The hope we desire for our lives and world is found in the lived response of St. Francis from 700 years ago. Christmas reminds us that God chose to become human not in the form of a political figure or warrior but rather an infant. An infant that needs us to care for it, nurture it and help it survive. Christmas reminds us that the peace and joy our hearts desire for our lives and world will never come by looking to our political or religious authorities. Rather the infant Jesus reminds us to look for the answers to our struggles within the wisdom of God found within each of our hearts. When we do so, we can individually and collectively become effective agents of change in our world. We are the ones called this Christmas to rebuild our world.
Now I admit that this task may seem overwhelming. However stop to think about it for a moment, if God chose human beings, like you and I, to care for, teach and raise the infant Jesus because God believes in and trusts humanity. Jesus as an infant was unable to care for himself relying on the care and love of others. It is in the image of the infant Jesus where we are called to find hope. We should always trust in our ability.
Yes, our lives and world are filled with challenge and struggle. Christmas reminds us that the solutions to the problems we face do not come from above from those who hold authority and power. Rather they come from places we might not expect. We should never forget that Christianity was founded as a grassroots movement; one that empowered the marginalized of the time to stand up against political and religious authorities which failed to lead with justice and integrity. It is in the empowering of the powerless Christmas hope is found.
Another name for Jesus, is Emmanuel - which means in Hebrew, God is with us. Below you will find a link to a recording of a hymn recently recorded by members of our Nazareth Catholic Community. Take note of the refrain: “Let us become more aware of Your presence. Let us experience the glory of Your goodness.” May this be our prayer on this Christmas day. As we move into a new year, empowered by the promise the infant Jesus, the inspiration found in the words of Merton and the example of St. Francis, that we may each become aware of God’s loving presence and find comfort and courage to face the changes of our lives and world knowing that we are not alone.
Pax et bonum,
~ Jamie
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div.
Catholic Chaplain
Nazareth College
December 25, 2018
“The deepest need of our darkness is to comprehend
the light which shines in the midst of it.”
~ Thomas Merton, The Silent Life