Provincial Christmas Letter
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
Hello, my brother Oblates, Associates and Friends;
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know?
A child, a child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Christmas: Gifts given. Gifts received.
A recent e-mail from Val Forte, the sister of Fr. John Brioux OMI:
Hello Dear Family and Friends,
As most of you know, our grandson Diego (born January 1, 2018) was diagnosed with a very rare genetic condition known as Usher Syndrome. It causes profound hearing impairment (in other words complete deafness), retinal pigmatosa (the deterioration of the retinal rods causing blindness) and balance issues. Diego has unfortunately the worst type of Ushers – Type 1. Currently he can see but vision loss will begin inevitably. To say the least, it has been a difficult time for Nic and Marisa, not only digesting the diagnosis, but also to understand how to make life as best as possible for Diego. On November 9, Diego underwent a 7 hour surgery at CHEO to have two cochlear implants put in. On December 6, the processors were attached for the first time, allowing Diego to hear for the very first time in his life! The processors are attached one at a time, and the volume is very slowly increased so as not to alarm or overwhelm the child. We are all so very grateful to the wonderful medical staff and surgeon (Dr. Schramm) who have helped Diego have hearing. Here is a short video clip of that very special moment. To us, this was the best Christmas gift we have ever received! https://drive.google.com/file/d/12auZ_kzwXv0-jz9ARnrAfkO2wdUGrsBv/view?usp=sharing
Enjoy our little moment of wonder and amazement!
Val
Several months ago, I wrote to Val and Joe, Diego’s grandparents:
“Fr. Jim shared with me the difficult news about little Diego. Very sorry to hear about that. My prayer is the God of all mystery may mysteriously touch the hearts of Nic, Marisa and each of you to have the grace to put this news that has no reason into the place of faith and trust. May he who is faithful help each of you to be faithful. Lots of love!”
Today, we rejoice that the journey of Diego, with still immense challenges, will be more hopeful as he more easily shares in communication and communion with his family, friends and the world.
But this is true of every gift given and graciously received. It creates a new future together. We see rays of light that penetrate the darkness. The divine has taken on the weakness and vulnerability of the child in the manger. May God express the divine in the obvious vulnerability of Diego, firstly to his family and then to all who are blessed to know him. Henri Nouwen wisely writes; “Life is precious. Not because it is unchangeable, like a diamond, but because it is vulnerable, like a little bird. To love life means to love its vulnerability, asking for care, attention, guidance, and support. Life and death are connected by vulnerability. The newborn child and the dying elder both remind us of the preciousness of our lives.”
The “poor in spirit” person is not one who lives without things but without possessing things. The one who possesses cannot receive because one is constantly clinging in a way that grasps and controls. When every aspect of life is gift, including our material goods, we live with a sense of gratitude. Whether we purchase the item ourselves or receive it from another, it is a gift. The person who cannot receive cannot give thanks.
At our OMI Lacombe Canada Office at our Christmas party, we exchange gifts. Everyone has a secret Santa. It is symbolic reminding us of the importance of awakening consciousness; all is gift freely given. Can we receive in a poverty of spirit and give thanks? There is a danger that in my material sufficiency, I may deny the reality of my dependence on God or others. Saint Augustine once said that God is always trying to give good things to us but our hands are too full to receive them. Many can buy whatever they need. I may refuse to exchange gifts because I may reasonably say I have no need for more stuff. But am I missing out on the significance of Christmas itself: The gift of life is freely given and graciously received. Everything is a gift; every drop of water, every tree, every friend, every breath, Diego’s hearing, every card that is sent or e-mail exchanged.
Ilia Delio, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Washington, D.C. says it so well, “Christmas is not doing for others; rather, it is being done unto. This is the heart of Mary’s fiat: “Be it done unto me according to your word.”
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
In a couple of weeks, along with Harley Mapes, our Provincial Treasurer, I will be visiting our mission and men in Kenya. We will be present for their community days where all gather to meet for three days. Also, we will visit each of the locations where we minister. My visits to Kenya are always an experience of re-discovering that those with materially less, are often more filled with gratitude, for they more easily see that all is gift.
Gerald May shares some wisdom; “The myth of fulfillment makes us miss the most beautiful aspect of our human souls: our emptiness, our incompleteness, our radical searching for love. We were never meant to be completely fulfilled; we were meant to taste it, to long for it, and to grow toward it. In this way we participate in love becoming life, life becoming love. To miss the emptiness is, finally to miss our hope.” The Awakened Heart
I want to extend to you the blessings of this holy season and thank you for the trust you have placed in me to serve the Community of OMI Lacombe Canada as Provincial. Our administration is now in its final year and our new leadership team will be announced in the next few months. With the great contribution of Ken, Jim, Harley, our Provincial Council and Staff, we have been on a journey following a star and searching for new life to be born.
Do you see what I see? A Diego. A vulnerable elder Oblate. A homeless mother. Let us not be discouraged by any voice that says, “No room”. Let us join in an openness with Mary for a promise of God to take flesh: “Let it be done unto me according to your will!”
Pope Francis speaks to this moment for us; “To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.”
We continue this great mystery of the incarnation of the Divine in our Oblate lives today as Religious and Associates. We pray in every Eucharist, “May we share in the divinity of Christ even as he shared in our humanity”. Come Lord Jesus! Come and be born in our hearts!
“Let us always have at heart the Virgin Mary, a humble girl from small people lost on the fringes of a great empire, a homeless mother who could turn a stable for beasts into a home for Jesus with just a few swaddling clothes and much tenderness. Mary is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice.” Pope Francis
Merry Christmas!
Ken Forster, OMI
