The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." - Luke Ch 2; 9-14
On this day before Christmas, the
holiday celebrating the birth of the Christ child, I look back and reflect on
the journey of faith and love that has brought me to the point that I am at in
my life.
I met my wonderful wife 8 ½ years ago.
I was sitting on a bar stool drinking my life away with more than a few 7&7’s
on board. She walked up to me and told me “you know my friends and I think that
you look like Norm from Cheers”. I acknowledged her with a laugh and a wave and
went on to finish my drink. Then a voice inside my head said… “Why don’t you
buy them a shot and take it over to them and talk to her”. For once in my life
I listened to my inner voice and…well, the rest as they say is history. We went
out, dated for a year, and then I asked her to marry me on the top of a parking
garage in Bricktown. I will go into that story at another time.
During the time that we dated she got
me to attend her church, the Catholic Church, and after we were engaged I
decided to join the church. I remember feeling the same awe and nervousness
that I would imagine those Sheppard’s felt when the Angel of the Lord came to
them. Until then I had been staunchly against church and religion in general. I
remember one of the things that I said to my wife when we were dating was “I
would either like to be a Buddhist or a Catholic”. Again that voice in my head told me that I
ought to give this church thing a chance. It would allow me to be around my
soon to be wife and In Laws and it would allow me to check the church out. Take
it for a spin so to speak. One of the reasons that I was going through RCIA,
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, was so I could go through the full Rite
of Christian Marriage. I, most importantly, was doing this for myself but this
was another reason.
That year was a magical and stressful
year. The classes started in August, I believe, and ended with my Baptism at
Easter Vigil. Stephanie and I got married in May of that same year and I was
able to do so with the full religious ceremony of the Catholic Church. I felt
so honored to be part of a universal church, millions of brothers and sisters
who were there to spread the word of God through their lives and deeds. It was as
if the Angel of the Lord came down and spoke to me on that night. Maybe that
was that inner voice that I finally decided to listen to.
Anyway, I say that to say this. I wish
you all the peace and love that God bestows on us. Listen to your inner voice;
it just might lead you to great things.
Peace to you and your family in this
holiday season.
God Bless
Be Safe
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