December 27, 2023

Beloveds,

This in-between week, I’m mostly spending time with my family and with myself. Here are a couple of offerings from other writers, the first a recent call to action from one of the most powerful faith-based justice leaders active in the U.S. these days, and the second a beloved blessing from an Irish poet/theologian/philosopher.

The gift we need to give the world this year is a moral consciousness that says, “some things we can never get used to.” We can't accept indiscriminate killing. We can't accept poverty. We just can't get used to it. Right now, the greatest gift the world needs is a serious moral conscience.

If we look at the Christmas story, it's a story about poor folks forced to travel across the desert because of poverty. It's a story about not having health care, about human beings being treated as animals. It's a story about a ruler crazed with his own power killing babies to try to stop people from being liberated. We need to reflect deeply that Christmas isn't just a time for us to be materialistic. It's a time for us to be deeply moral. How do we bring good will and peace to all human beings? That's what Christmas is about. It’s not about twinkly lights and how much money you can spend. It’s about the light of compassion, mercy and being better human beings.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II

Blessing to Come Home to Yourself

May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.

May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquilities.

May all that is unloved in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love.

John O'Donohue

Yours in both the unrest and the peace of the season, and yours (as always) in love,

Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org