The Glorious Impossible!

"And so he was born, this gloriously impossible baby...God, come to be one of us."

These words from Madeleine L'Engle's gorgeous book The Glorious Impossible always come to mind early Christmas morning. The stockings are filled by the chimney with care, Santa has had his cookies and Rudolph his carrots, and there is a stillness even among the dogs...something has changed, something is different, the holy night has passed, and the manger is occupied.

As Mary said nine months ago, "How can it be?" How can it be that the birth of a child can fill our hearts, settle our spirits, calm our souls? How can it be that the birth of a child can bring enemies together and "turn weapons into plowshares?"

My prayer this Christmas is that this annual remembrance of God made man, God come to be one of us, Incarnation, will draw more and more people to Peace, give more and more people Hope and fill more and more people with Love.

It sounds impossible, but not for God.

Merry Christmas, my friends.

May the peace that passes all understanding be with you now and forever.

The Glorious Impossible, Madeleine L'Engle, illustrated with frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto.