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PAROQUIA – Nssa Senhora do ROSÁRIO

Residência Nssa. Sra. de Fátima                              17 November, 2023               LIII:3

Trav. Carlos Pontes, 171                             

62.900-000 Russas, Ceará                           http://www.egfbenya.com    

BRASIL                                                                     e-mail: [email protected]

Dear Benefactors, Colleagues, Family, Friends, and Collaborators,

“The Fullness of Time” is a most profound statement that embraces and conveys a depth of meaning at various steps of history, especially of Salvation History. As a declaration it attempts to capture the dynamic mystery of time (a constantly changing entity) in one simple phrase, not as a changing entity but as a “constant”. In Eternity there is no past or future. All is in the present. However, within our own situation of continuous change time is crucial. Yet it is uncertain as an entity and as a measure. It presents difficulties.

Dynamics themselves are tricky because of their variability, a variability that is usually unique to each dynamic. Formulas, models and equations help with the task of understanding dynamics, but the gathered presence of profane and spiritual qualities constituting a subject complicates the matter. Thus the simple declaration (“The Fullness of Time”) allows a general statement while permitting each participant to ponder the specifics of the mystery.

Most of the specifics of the Mystery of Salvation are unique to that Mystery. Almighty God is the author. He, and ONLY He, knows the totality of that Mystery. Yet His revelation to us and the Mystery of Salvation is a gift whose overall value we comprehend but cannot fully understand. The fact is that Revelation has arrived. Its manifestation is a continuing dynamic in “the fullness of time”.

ARRIVAL of the Savior is documented, complete in “The Fullness of Time”. The Promise of Salvation became the Dynamic of Salvation as the life span of the Savior in this life began and was realized over some 33 years.

Our understanding of Salvation is lacking but developing, a dynamic of manifestation. We try to live that manifestation day by day. Celebration of the Savior is essential to our daily life. It provides a reference, a ground-work, a motive to our perseverance IN the Savior.

We celebrate that ARRIVAL of the Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate the beginning of the sequence of activities realizing Salvation. We celebrate the presence of the Savior among us in the Hanukkah-Yuletide-Christmas season. I invite you, along with your families and communities to join us in spirit for these celebrations as I wish you a:

Happy Hanukkah-Yuletide-Christmas season and Blessed New Year of 2024!

Gratefully in the Love of Jesus Christ,

            Pe. Ed Benya, S.J.

UNISINOS – RESIDÊNCIA CONCEIÇÃO

 

Residência Conceição                                      23 November, 2015               XLV:3

UNISINOS

Cx. P. 101

93.001-970 São Leopoldo, RS                          e-mail: [email protected]

BRAZIL                                                              http://www.egfbenya.com

 

Dear Benefactors, Collaborators, Family, Friends and Colleagues:

 

As the light of days grows shorter, the nights grow longer for those who live in the northern hemisphere. The reverse runs here for us in the southern hemisphere. That dynamic and alternation has been in place long before any humans made their appearance on this earth and it may well outrun our presence here.

 

An obvious lighting and heating mechanism for the earth, it also serves as a natural timing mechanism for life in its diverse forms especially plants and animals whose numerous internal systems frequently are governed by light intensity, length and accompanying effects. Research and scientists devote vast amounts of time, money and effort in a continuing quest to identify, understand and even control the multiplicity of life cycles associated with light and temperatures. The human species is blessed with a fascination for and with life cycles up to and including immortality. That fascination is legitimate. As the most mobile of species on earth in terms of physical, social, psychological and spiritual range, we are the stewards, the ministers of the complex entity that embodies those life cycles, an entity called “creation”.

 

That stewardship is unique to us. Other creatures may biologically out-run, out-swim, out-build or even out-survive us on an individual basis. However we are the species that out-thinks the others, no small task when one considers the multitude of questions in, of and pertaining to creation. All imaginative thought has its origins in God THROUGH the soul, BY the mind of an individual inspired by God. Thus arise legitimate questions.

 

Inspiration however can be perverted by sin. This adds degenerative complication to the singular beauty of creation. Dishonest and invalid questions can arise. Stewardship can be perverted from a broad, probing, guiding, ministry to a narrow, degenerate manipulation that destroys rather than nurtures the dynamic of creation.

 

Perversion entered the world through a demonic move that confused and confounded our first parents. They fell, and the wreckage of that fall was hereditary, passed from one generation to another in a cycle of degeneracy.

 

That cycle was broken with the arrival of the Savior. The cycle of degeneracy was opened and we escaped. Yet that escape is dynamic. We are free to return to the demonic cycle. Some, in fact, choose to return as individuals, groups, cultures, even nations. Evil has its attractions.

 

However the call of Salvation never ceases. The Savior, Jesus Christ arrived and completed His mission. We celebrate that arrival at this Christmas-Yuletide season. Simple and profound, I wish all of you a most:

JOYFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON and a BLESSED NEW YEAR of 2016!

Gratefully in Jesus Christ

Padre Ed Benya, S.J.