78. The Soul

Have you ever stopped what you were doing, taken notice of something around you and simply thought, ‘wow!’ 

Maybe you had one of these moments when watching a magnificent sunset where all the colours blended perfectly together. Maybe while staring out at the vastness of the ocean and wondering how deep it was. Maybe while looking out of an aeroplane window, and noticing how small the world actually is.

Maybe it was none of these. Maybe you thought ‘wow’ when a student brightened your day, or when a friend listened to you when you were going through a hard time. Maybe it was through the generosity and kindness of your community.

The common denominator in all of these ‘wow’ moments is God. God is the creator of every good thing because God is goodness, truth and beauty; and God delights in us too. 

We are God’s ‘wow’ moment.

As human beings, we are created with a huge capacity for awe and wonder, to see and know the presence of God everywhere and to be amazed by it. But we can also find the fingerprints of God in our brokenness and difficulties too. God doesn’t leave us, but instead encourages us to have faith, and recognise those ‘wow’ moments even when it’s hard.

One of the biggest ‘wow’ moments in the history of the world happened around 2000 years ago. A young woman was greeted by an angel who told her that she would bear a son who would become the saviour of the world, and in a daring act of faith, she said ‘yes.’ 

Not only that, but the man that she married also trusted God, and loved the unborn child as if He was his own. Then, after asking an innkeeper for space to have her baby, the young woman gave birth to her child in a stable, and three men from Jerusalem brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. God even chose shepherds to be the first ones to worship this newborn King. This is, without a doubt, a massive ‘wow’ moment! 

As we approach the celebration of Christmas, we ask God to help us find the ‘wow’ moments in our everyday lives, even when they’re difficult to see. Let’s pray for each other that we will experience the awe and wonder of the birth of Jesus; the true ‘wow’ moment of Christmas.

3rd Sunday of Advent

Matthew 11:2-11

Thank you for reading The Soul this year. As we move into 2023, The Soul will continue as a monthly publication.

• The Manger (Anne Wilson with Josh Turner)

• Come Home For Christmas (Matthew West)

• O Come All Ye Faithful (Celtic Worship)

• Silent Night / Jesus We Love You (TRIBL feat. Maverick City Music)

• O Holy Night (Kings Return)

These holidays make time for activities that you personally find awe-inspiring. Experiencing awe is about being engaged with the wonder of life. The experience of awe has the potential to turn our lives in a new direction, giving us a new perspective on the world and our place in it. 

When was the last time you experienced awe and were inspired by wonder? What were you doing? How did it make you feel? 

Find time for awe-inspiring activities this holiday break so you return in 2023 recharged. Slow down and unplug to allow these moments to come forward.

Most importantly, this is not a bucket list activity - just be present and appreciate the moment. These small moments in our lives give us an opportunity to press the pause button and experience the incredible beauty all around us.

Awe and wonder are such important feelings for us to preserve in our family. Click here to read more about how we can encourage your family to dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the world.

• YMO Debrief - Last week, we thanked and farewelled our Youth Ministry Officers for their faithful service in our schools this year. Over the 3 days, they reviewed their year, reflected on their experiences, celebrated the sacraments together and prayed for each other. Please continue to pray for them as they look forward to their next adventures.

• Christmas Games - Get ready to end the school year on a high with this selection of fun reads, activity ideas and games. This resources guide will take all the effort out of planning a lesson that is both fun and educational.

• Christmas: A Time For Hope - While many of us may become stressed out before Christmas and depressed afterwards - working hard to make the holiday perfect and burning out once it’s all “over” - the Light of the season can still shine through if we remember one thing. In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains what it means for Christmas to be a season of hope, and reminds us that strengthening our relationship with Jesus while learning to trust Him is the one thing that matters this season.

• The Fatherhood of St Joseph - Though he was mostly mentioned in the infancy of Jesus, and later only in passing, St Joseph, the human father of our Lord has enormous responsibilities of patronage in the Catholic Church. This article explores who St Joseph was, and his role in the life and death of Jesus Christ.

• The Jesse Tree - The Jesse tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus’ birth. Jesse was the father of King David, and we adorn a Jesse tree with ornaments that represent the people, prophecies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the faithfulness of God across four thousand years of history. Take a look at this guide that goes through each day of Advent with a decoration for the Jesse Tree.

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