Listening With Your Heart
(Reading a Christmas letter from Br. Philip Wilhelm, OFM, in the Philippines puts everything in perspective. This year Br. Phil wrote about a lunch he attended for 300 children who are deaf-mute, blind, or suffering from Down Syndrome, the service of the Martinian Brothers to the poor and forgotten, and the needs of families living in the barrios. Following are his thoughts about Advent.)
The Christmas season has been upon us in the Philippines since October with Christmas Music blaring in most malls and stores. When I was with our young deaf boys and girls at the lunch given for them, each one was wearing an orange t-shirt. On the back was written: we hear with our heart because we cannot hear.”
Each year, as I try to prepare myself for the spirit of Advent and Christmas, it seems as if someone always comes along that helps to awaken me to follow their suggestion. With all the noise, commercialism, individualism and lack of community spirit that keeps us from hearing the good news, I realize that these young people have a message. It is the listening heart that may awaken us in turning again to accept the greatest love that the Father could give.
Mass in the Philippines
I think of the shepherds hearing the announcement from the angels of the great happening in the quiet of the night. I think of the magi, the three astrologers, who left the noise of the towns seeking with listening hearts and following one bright star that showed them the unity that was lost. A colleague says Advent is the time of our awaking, our time to proclaim our faith, our time to respond to God. With Christmas we come together, even if we are far apart from each other by lands, to unite with God through His Son who became one with us that we listen in quiet before the crib with all our heart the message this new-born child, Jesus has for us.
Setting aside the noise of our busy life I too, like the special young people, listen with my heart as I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a New Year with Christ always in your heart.
Br. Philip Wilhelm, OFM, with friends in the leprosarium in the Philippines.
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