Morning Star Newsletter Monthly Reflection 

December 2023

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Love is Presence

Author: Sr. Sara Kowal, SCTJM, Director of Pastoral Ministries and Faith Formation

Love is presence. This oft repeated truth from our Mother Foundress was demonstrated to me in a simple way years ago when I found myself, in the middle of the night, sick and throwing up. Presuming I would be back in the bathroom again soon, I made my way to the living room to lay in a chair, so as to not disturb the other Sisters. However, one of them heard me and got to see if I was OK and if I needed anything. I softly said, “no” and crumpled into the chair. Instead of going back to bed, she sat there with me for the next hour in silence, not returning to bed until I did myself.

This touching and simple act of love on her part never left me. She was not able to “do” anything – she could not make me feel better, she could not fix it, and I didn’t need anything physically. She just sat with me – at a cost to herself, sitting awake in a chair instead of sleeping comfortably in her bed. And in doing so, she loved me. I was not alone in my misery but accompanied in love. She loved simply by her presence.

What a simple and beautiful truth to remember this Advent and Christmas. God’s profound love for us impels Him to make Himself present to us – by becoming man and in the Eucharist. It is not enough for Him to love us from Heaven. He comes, making Himself one of us, living the life we live, suffering what we suffer, accompanying us in this “valley of tears.” He shared in all things but sin. Love is presence.

There is a power in love that desires to be present. But, I would also posit that, unlike the love of my Sister that could only accompany (which is still something important!), the love of Jesus has a tremendous power. It can fix everything – all our ills, sicknesses, weaknesses, and wounds. His presence has power. Sometimes, because this power is cloaked in the body of a small baby, we forget this truth. His humility may disguise His power, but it does not erase it. He came to be present among us so that we can experience His gentle and tender love without fear, knowing that we are loved enough for Him to make himself present in this small and humble way. But let us also remember that He comes also with His power to bind our wounds, heal our blindness, and free us from all the enslaves us. When we draw near to Him and open our hearts, His presence is efficacious and powerful in our lives.

Love is presence. This Christmas, let us contemplate the powerful and tender love of God that makes Himself so present to us today, loving us to a degree and depth that we have never experienced before.