December 23rd

December 23, 2022
Friday of the 4 th Week of Advent
Readings: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Lk 1:57-66
Cyndye Harrell: School Counselor
In the Gospel reading, Luke 1: 57-66, we hear about the birth of St. John the
Baptist and the wonder and awe that surrounded his birth; “What, then, will this
child be?  For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”
I’d like to think that the hand of the Lord is with us all when we are born and full
of new life.  The only way to know about our birth and early years is through
pictures and stories that each mom loves to tell, especially when she teases you as
a teenager!  
It’s always this time of the year that I think of a particular young man who came
into this world earlier than was scheduled.  As he struggled for life, we knew in our
hearts that we needed Jesus.  We called for a priest to have him baptized when he
was just a few hours old.   We could all feel the strength of the angels surrounding
us during those months that he struggled.
We saw the hand of the Lord bless this child, who grew to be an adventurous
young man, so full of life and laughter.  He loved exploring the world and went on
many adventures through forests, down into caves, climbed mountains and swam
in the sea of the world.  When times get tough, he learned to lean on the love of
God and to listen for His answers and directions.   
Two days before Christmas, on a cold and wintery night, while out in the
wilderness on a great adventure, the Lord called him home.  
“For surely, the hand of the Lord was with him.” 
It’s been years since his passing and our family clings to pictures and stories of this
incredible young man.  He helped us see the world in a different light and brought
us so much joy.  We hold onto our faith and know in our hearts that the Lord
walked with him through his life and was there to lead him home on that starry
winter night.  
During this holy season, I hope that we all take time to cherish moments with our
families, laughing, sharing stories, and remembering that the Lord is with us each
moment of our lives.  We need to live each day with joy and wonder, spending
time with those that are precious to us.  There will be times when our path will take
a dip and become rocky and difficult to travel.   Hold strong to your faith and
remember that He wants us to invite Him into our lives and give us courage and
strength to overcome the obstacles that lie in our path.  Each morning when our
eyes open to a new day, we need to be grateful, feel the blessings of the time given
to us, and hold fast to the knowledge that the hand of God is always with us!