Reflection for January 11
Carson, age 9
This Advent book is my favorite tradition at Holy Family, second only to…Vacation Bible Camp.
Every June, just after school breaks, Holy Family is overtaken by young people. We’re talking close to 200. We welcome campers as young as kindergarten and youth volunteers into high school and college, a few of whom have contributed artwork to this devotional. Speaking of which, can we take a moment to celebrate their offerings? Thank you, friends, for sharing your talents (and hearts).
Bible Camp really is the best week ever: filled with prayer and song and games and crafts and ‘Bible Adventures.’ The Bible Adventures station is, essentially, a cross between imaginative prayer and interactive theater. It invites campers to not only learn about scripture but enter into it. It’s a great deal of fun, and a pretty powerful thing to behold.
This past summer, we kicked off our week of Bible Adventures with this gospel passage: Jesus’ Baptism by John. We gathered at the Jordan River (a blue tablecloth taped to the floor), overlooking a fertile valley (green tablecloths along the walls), under a crisp blue sky (yes, another tablecloth). We introduced a four-foot John the Baptist to a four-foot Jesus. Each dressed in robes with head holes much too big (cut by yours truly). The dialogue went something like this:
Jesus: Hi John. Baptize me, please?
John: No way. You do not need to be baptized.
Jesus: Trust me.
As John led Jesus into the water, the rest of us joined our voices to proclaim the words of God the Father: “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.”
Can you hear it? In the ear of your heart, can you hear it? A chorus of young voices, exclaiming “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.”
A dove may not have appeared above us that day, but the Holy Spirit had undoubtedly pervaded that room. Hearing those words as though for the first time, I was reminded of three things. Three things that I’d like to leave you with before we cross the threshold of Christmas and step back into Ordinary Time:
Jesus Christ is the Beloved, “the covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6-7). At Christmas and beyond, we have opportunity to know Him, to love Him, and to be loved by Him.
The Kingdom of Heaven begins with children. These too, these little ones, are beloved sons and daughters of God.
And so are you.
Caelie Flanagan