UNISINOS – RESIDÊNCIA CONCEIÇÃO
Residência Conceição 24 November, 2017 XLVII:3
UNISINOS
Cx. P. 101
93.022-630 São Leopoldo, RS e-mail: [email protected]
BRAZIL http://www.egfbenya.com
Dear Family, Friends, Benefactors, Colleagues and Collaborators:
Migration, immigration, peregrination: these are words of fluidity; biological, animal, human. They abound in Creation and Creation abounds with them. Life itself is one continuous migration, from the moment of our inception, to conception, birth into the World and finally birth into Eternity. Many, if not most of us might prefer life less varied, more stable, more predictable, sedentary, controlled, and stunted life of impediment. The situation of the slave may be repugnant to our politics, but it is most inviting to our ego. Ask any addict to food, drugs, sex, violence or drink. Yet besides being dull, absolute predictability and control are impossible. The Call to virtue, as well as confusion and vice, all guarantee instability, unpredictability and variety, for better or for worse.
However we are called beyond submission to vice, beyond the unknown and the unforeseen, beyond slavery. We are called to foresee, to venture and to Hope. A steady, intense daily grind in work, projects, ministries, challenges and problems can tire even exhaust an individual. An occasional rest is necessary, lest a person become depressed and fall prey to the slavery of addiction.
Many prefer addiction to the Sacramental Call of Hope. Addiction is immediate in its gratification but devastating in its degeneracy. It stunts and destroys migration; physical, mental, spiritual and sacramental. Many addicts however focus on the gratification with little or no attention to degeneracy which is usually subtle, profound and ruthless. Not only individuals but entire populations, nations and cultures can embrace addiction and, as with individuals, they thus embrace their own impedance, degradation and demise.
Our human condition was, in fact condemned to the slavery of addiction to impediment and destruction. Mired in addiction, we instituted the slavery of chattels, violence and dominance, promoting and legalizing such addiction. Such legislation and institution is historical and abounds even today. Yet as it was historically, it remains today; degrading, devastating, degenerating.
Our Creator realized this. Thus He came; Himself, Personally in us, by Himself and through Himself to redeem us, our Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate His arrival in this annual Yuletide-CHRISTMAS season.
No matter where you are in the world when this message reaches you, I wish you:
A most SACRAMENTAL Hanukkah-Yuletide-Christmas season and a Blessed New Year of 2018!
Gratefully in Jesus Christ
Pe. Ed Benya, S.J.