December is almost over as are many of the events we planned, many holidays to celebrate, many gifts to offer to our dear ones. Everybody seems to be in a hurry these days and of course one starts wondering about what Christmas really means. As followers of Christ, we may also be tempted to slowly be distracted by the traditional meals we have to prepare, the right people we have to invite in our houses, the right outfits we have to buy for the big church celebration. Romanians even started to replace „Craciun fericit” with „Merry Christmas” (the former being the Romanian version of the latter) as it sounds more „modern” and sophisticated. Could it be that we too may celebrate Christmas without celebrating our Savior?
Like many others, I have been meditating on Jesus’ life here on earth. The picture of his birth was mostly painted in dark colors. Baby Jesus didn’t receive any medical assistance, nor did Mary, they didn’t receive any special baby clothes or lotions, they didn’t even have a warm room to rest in, we read in Luke 2:7. The King of kings had been born among us but there was no room at the inn. We didn’t have room for him; we didn’t have the time for him.
How busy am I today? How busy are we today? Besides the meals and gifts and house ornaments, do we dare to stop from all the things we need to do and open the door to welcome him into our house? Jesus is still looking for a place to be born today, to sleep in, to eat a hot meal, to take a shower, to change rugged clothes, to be loved and he is doing all these things in the person of “the least of the brothers”. Matthew 25:35-46.
I pray that we all are people who make the time and find the room the invite the “least of the brothers into our lives. “ God will give us the strength to do this if we are open.
The same strength from God has enabled me to fulfill my responsibilities so far. My time at the community center here in Galati is mainly shared between two areas: administrative and educational. In terms of education, I am in charge of helping R., a 10 year old boy with his homework. I have come to realize how desperately we need God’s intervention in the lives of the children who come here, as well as in our own lives. Like R., these children have experienced sadness, despair sometime, lack of basic things, and sometimes lack of love. This is the reason most of them don’t do very well in school.
Going back to some of the prayer requests I wrote about in my previous letter, I want to thank you for your prayers.
– the financial request from the mayor’s office has been approved;
– the new children have had a smooth adjustment to the activities at the center;
– “Baby Ispas” and parents Bela and April are all doing well.
Please pray that
– I will have wisdom in administrating the resources we receive;
– The events we have planned for this month will show God’s love to all the participants: the children who come to the center, their school mates and teachers, their families. We will also spend Christmas Eve at the center which will be both tiring and beautiful. We will share beautiful and affirming words about each other, receive gifts, eat good food and enjoy each other. We want God to be present with us as we celebrate together.
– Please pray for R., the boy I tutor, and for his protection on his way from school to the center. We can’t be with him all the time and it’s hard to hear about other boys bullying him.
Merry Christmas to you!
In Christ,
Bogdan Chelariu