"We are the clay and You are the Potter"
(Isaiah 64:8)
by Fr. Dominic Borg, OCD
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel,
We are at the end of another year and
at
the beginning of a new one. This past
year,
which was the year dedicated to the
Eucharist,
has left us with many memorable events
for
which we ought to be very grateful.
One cannot
help but count among the great blessings
the OCDS Congress which we lived together
with great joy and enthusiasm! The
Holy Spirit
and the Spirit of Carmel were so present
that I dare to say that they were tangible.
Though it is true to say that behind
the
organization of it were a few master
minds,
it is also truthful to say that all
of us
present in one way or another contributed
to the success of the Congress. Yes,
it can
rightly be said that the Word of God
became
alive to all of us through the lives
and
writings of Our Saints.
Life is a journey, and so is faith.
As we
continue to travel and to grow in our
faith,
the Church comes to our rescue by means
of
the liturgical seasons. We are living
this
rich and powerful season of Advent
in preparation
to the great feast of CHRISTMAS: the
Birth
of Jesus in our Lives. It goes without
questioning
that the prophet Isaiah is the Prophet
of
Advent. The first reading of the Word
of
God that the Church presents in front
of
us as we enter Cycle B of the Liturgical
Year is taken from Isaiah. The title
of this
editorial is taken from the First Reading
of the First Sunday of Advent. At the
threshold
of this journey toward Christmas, we
are
gracefully reminded that we are being
molded
with the Word of God and the events
of our
lives. God is the potter, we are the
clay
in His hands ! The potter takes the
clay
and molds it and shapes it into the
image
or idea that exists only in His own
mind.
We, the clay, ought to trust the potter.
It is true that sometimes there is
pressure
on the clay as it is being stretched
out
during the process. In the process
of becoming,
it may even have to be beaten and molded
again.
Advent is the time of remolding. God,
our
Potter, who out of the earth molded
man and
woman and made them the Crown of His
creation,
is still molding you and me as He continues
to breathe upon us His breath of the
Spirit.
We are being molded into the image
of His
Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Advent is a time of waiting. We are
reminded
of this in every Eucharist that we
celebrate.
During the Eucharistic Prayer, the
presider
states "...wait in joyful hope
for the
coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."
It is with great joy and encouragement,
that
as I travel from coast to coast, visiting
and ministering to the OCDS Communities,
I watch Jesus Christ and Carmel growing
maturely
in the brothers and sisters of the
OCDS.
During these last few months I had
the opportunity
to visit Halifax, Calgary, Toronto,
Markham,
Windsor, and other places where I was
literally
ecstatic with the joy of receiving
new members
in formation. Speaking of formation,
a committee
has been formed to work on a new booklet
for formation, especially for those
who are
responsible for formation, and those
who
are in formation, preparing themselves
for
the investiture with the Scapular,
or making
their promise or vows.
Once again I want to express my gratitude
to all of you for the great Spirit
that you
naturally manifested during the Congress.
Our Fr Provincial, Fr Eliseus, and
all the
Fathers present were awe struck with
the
Carmelite zeal that was felt in our
meetings.
I am not saying this to flatter you,
no;
but it does help to hear a word of
encouragement
every now and then. God bless you and
reward
all of you for your dedication. The
Organization
of the Congress was, to say the least:
praise
worthy!!!
Since this is the last issue of the
Carmel
Lights for this year, I want to take
the
opportunity to thank all those in the
secretariat
and members who work very hard for
the spreading
of the Good News and the Spirituality
of
Carmel, starting from the Carmel Lights
and
its excellent production, the contributors
and all those who work quietly behind
the
scenes in the vineyard of Carmel. May
Mary,
Joseph (the Saint of the impossible)
and
our Holy Mother St. Teresa, reward
you and
BLESS YOU.
This editorial would be incomplete
if I did
not, in the name of Our Friars, wish
all
of you and your families and friends
the
Blessings that the Christmas Season
brings
with it. During the time of Advent,
one of
the most powerful quotes which sustains
me
is the one from the Prophet Isaiah:
"The Lord has proclaimed to the
end
of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him."
They shall be called, 'The Holy People,
The
Redeemed of the Lord';
and you shall be called,
'Sought Out, A city Not forsaken.'"
Isaiah 62.11-12
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel, Christmas
comes to meet us with the message that we are the Holy People, The Redeemed of the
Lord; we are being Sought Out, and no matter
what, we are: A City Not Forsaken. The Joy and Peace of Christmas is always
there for us to benefit from. May the Prince
of Peace, and the Joy that comes to us with
His Word and His Presence, be always with
you as you continue to journey in history
towards the Land of PEACE !
HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY
NEW
YEAR 2006,
FILLED WITH GOD'S CHOICEST BLESSINGS
Yours in Carmel,
Fr. Dominic Borg, OCD