Christmas in Chihuahua

I just returned from an amazing Christmas holiday in Chihuahua, Mexico that coincided with a long overdue family reunion. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time with everyone (and to let my wife and boys do the same). I already miss them all and only wish we could have spent more time together. I'll just count myself blessed for the opportunity, however limited.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, a number of us spent some time helping to hand out clothes and food to the poor living in the Chihuahuan suburbs. The scope of the poverty was overwhelming and the needs of the poor seemed limitless. Nonetheless, it was gratifying to be able to give a few hours to help even if only in a small way. In addition to providing some relief to others, spending time on Christmas weekend in service to others helped to serve as a reminder about how carried away we can get by the commercial spirit of Christmas. We get so wrapped up - no pun intended - in all the presents that we give and receive that it is easy to forget what we really are supposed to be celebrating on Christmas. The birth of Christ marks the moment that God chose to become man in order that he might die to save us. Even when we celebrate Christ's birth at Mass, it is easy to forget that His birth was just the first step in a journey that would result in His crucifixion. I am not suggesting that we don't celebrate his birth with joy and hope; rather, I am suggesting that we work harder to keep our perspective and to remember the obligations that come with accepting the real gift of Christmas.

To my relatives in Chihuahua, thanks for the reminder and muchas gracias por todo!

Imagine ...

On the anniversary of the murder of her husband, John Lennon, Yoko Ono asks us to honor his memory by taking a message of hope and forgiveness out of the tragedy of his death. Yoko wrote:

"To the people who have also lost loved ones without cause:
forgive us for having been unable to stop the tragedy. We pray for the wounds to heal.

To the soldiers of all countries and of all centuries, who were maimed for life, or who lost their lives:
forgive us for our misjudgments and what happened as a result of them.

To the civilians who were maimed, or killed, or who lost their family members: forgive us for having been unable to prevent it.

To the people who have been abused and tortured: forgive us for having allowed it to happen.Know that your loss is our loss.Know that the physical and mental abuse you have endured will have a lingering effect on our society, and the world.Know that the burden is ours.

As the widow of one who was killed by an act of violence, I don't know if I am ready yet to forgive the one who pulled the trigger. I am sure all victims of violent crimes feel as I do. But healing is what is urgently needed now in the world.Let's heal the wounds together.

Every year, let's make December 8th the day to ask for forgiveness from those who suffered the insufferable."

We could all hope to rise to this challenge.