How do we use our time and money?

With the Feast of the Epiphany approaching we are able to notice how the wise men lay down their gifts at the feet of Jesus. What I particularly notice about this story is not just their generosity but also their gentleness to give thanks to God in the place they had not expected to visit. They had thought that their wisdom and knowledge would have been acknowledged in the halls of the powerful but instead were led to a stable. They thought that their gifts would win them favor by appearing appropriate to celebrate the birth of a King yet they found that they knelt at a crib. They thought that they would do the most appropriate and relevant thing but found that they need to return home by a different way never to be heard of again. The urge to be powerful, spectacular and relevant can linger in our own hearts. Yet often we find that we can appear powerless, ordinary and mundane. We do not have all the answers but we can seek to live the question of where do we find Christ in our everyday lives?

The three gifts that we bring before God each day are our money, our treasure and our concerns. This may seem pretty obvious but our bank accounts, our diaries and our priorities shape who we become and what we consider important. They are a visible record of who we are becoming and what we notice. Then can be a useful guide to observing what we say is important and how we actually place the emphasis of our lives. They become a theological statement of how God is present at the heart of our lives and who we truly follow. Each day presents the opportunity to notice what is enlivening our hearts or what is consuming us. We do are called to live our lives in a way which allows us to centre on the direction that God wishes us to follow.  We discover that our lives can be Good News for ourselves and for others. We start to become aware of how God shapes our world and invites our response in a way which seeks faith, hope and love.

My thoughts at this time go out to the many communities who have been effected by bush fires. I am very conscious of the fires on the  coast of  Victoria and New South Wales. Having lived through the fires that ravaged Canberra in 2003 I am aware of not just the immediate impact of loss of homes but also the trauma which lingers longer than the smoke.  The devastation that has occured around Lake Conjola, Mallacoota, Batemans Bay, Mogo and Cobargo is hard to comprehend. The rebuilding of infrastructure and the rebuilding of lives go hand in hand. The next week will not be easy as many of the things we take for granted like shelter, power, food, and water will need to be reestablished. We pray for those men and women who often perform this work often unseen and in difficult circumstances. We pray for their safety and for the communities they serve. Often it is this dedication which defines the human spirit to live your life for others. May we all be able to notice that our lives are built on a solid foundation of seeking out the good in all things especially when immediate circumstances can seem to render us powerless. As we enter into 2020 may we review where we spend our money and time which indicate what we consider most important.

Resolutions

After Christmas we have time to review what is important in our lives. So often we seem to be driven by what is urgent. This can cause us to wonder what direction our lives are taking. What do we consider most important for the way we live. I think this is the essential starting point for any new resolution. How we would like to be gives substance to what we focus on. 

So these may be some suggestions for the next few days as we approach the new year. Spend some time each day considering what fills us with life and hope? Where do we find ourselves undertaking something we love doing? How do our lives encourage others to be their best? Where do we notice God at work in our lives and in the life of our community?

When we look at these questions what we decide to focus on each day is more than just achieving a goal but rather discovering who we are called to be. May this year be blessed and guided by a God who seeks us out. To discover that we can be open to God in all things.

So many signs!

Around the world our attention is drawn to what is happening in our immediate neighbourhood. Whether it is particular natural disasters like bush fires or floods, local protests or even just the difficulties of daily life it all seems like bad news. It is easy to see how people can become beset by events which seem to be out of control and why our focus becomes on solving our immediate needs. We want to discover why these things are happening and what we can do to solve our current troubles. This immediacy can start to influence how we live our lives which can become more food to mouth. We look at what we help us to survive one more day rather than looking at what will feed us for a lifetime.
Yet at Christmas we are called to see our world differently. This is not that Jesus was born outside of the daily problems of life. After all the reason why Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem was to meet the requirements of a Census. They knew the difficulties of travel often through hostile territories and what it was to leave everything familiar behind to travel to a new land. Yet in spite of all these difficulties they discovered that they were called to see things differently. To discover how God is with us and does not just abandon us to our own devices. God actually encounters us in our fears and wants us to discover that our lives have eternal value.
This does not remove us from the world but is does allow us to see our world differently. It does not ignore the difficulties of life but it does help us to seek a God who seeks us. The sense where our lives have a deeper meaning which calls us to work with each other for the good of all. The sign of Jesus entering into life out of poverty, in a world beset by a loss of hope and doubting everything calls us to be renewed by a spirit of charity which recognizes that our lives are not of just striving for the immediate wants of today but rather a seeking of what we truly desire. The person of Jesus comes to our lives when we least expect it and transform them for good. May the peace of Christ disturb us!

Watch and Act

With all the smoke and raging bush fires surrounding Sydney, Brisbane and many of our regional centres, the impact on daily life has been sorely felt. This is not only waking up to a day when we can't clearly see the sun or when we feel oddly out of sorts as we struggle with the effects of the inhalation of the smoke. There is a sense in which our anticipation for Christmas seems to be postponed or put on hold as we consider what is going to happen at this moment. We are called to be on alert and to have a plan about what will happen if the fire comes too close. If we leave where will we go where we know we will be safe? If we stay are we fully prepared to fight the fire? These are life-changing choices which need to be carefully considered not just for ourselves but for those we care about.

So in this context how are we called to watch and act when the fires do not threaten us? There is a necessity that we do understand our environment in which we live and the fragility of our own lives. This does not mean we are called to live in fear of creation but rather to consider how we do not live apart from creation. We are called to be people who act responsibly not just for the moment but also for every moment. There is a need to recognise that we are gifted with the place we live not just for ourselves only but so that we can be stewards who are able to pass it on to future generations. This allows us to understand the simple ways in which we can care for the environment and care for each other which sustains all life.

As we notice Christmas is different in Australia. Whereas in traditional scenes it would be raining snow here it has been raining ash. Yet in the face of such contradictions, we are called to encourage each other and reach out to each other. We pray with and for the firefighters who have faced overwhelming situations with great courage, skill and resilience. We pray for those who have lost their homes that they may find a place of welcome which will help them to rebuild shattered dreams. We pray for our politicians and public servants that they may have wisdom in guiding people to act in the common good. We pray for ourselves that our fears may not overwhelm us and that our hopes may transform us into people who bear witness to Christ with our lives.

Prepare the way

The immanence of Christmas can cause us to start to plan with the end in mind. Our activity while being focussed on that event can distract us from what is happening at the moment. The preparations can all seem present to something that has not yet happened but which we anticipate. It is in this sense of anticipation that we can miss the everyday events which make the journey worthwhile. When we hurry towards the destination we can forget who we are travelling with and why we are seeking to arrive there quickly. Maybe it is time to hasten slowly!
Each day is not just to be struck off the calendar as one day less to go. We are called to see what is happening within us as we search for who we long for. What brings meaning and substance to our life? This is a time where we can look at what Christmas and the coming of the Christ child mean for us. What is it that we are looking for and how do we see ourselves more clearly?
With John the Baptist this is a time when we are called to notice what holds our attention and whether this assists us along the way. We are called to be people who are open to the promptings of God and to let go of the things that bind us too strongly. May we become people who travel lightly and freely towards God. May the joy which rises in our hearts disturb us with a peace the world cannot give.