The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

On New Year’s Day, I took down the outside Christmas decorations at my home.

I felt a noticeable sadness when I removed and placed in storage the outside nativity manger, Baby Jesus, Blessed Mother and St. Joseph statues. 

I was surprised by my emotional reaction noting that these “decorations” have been up since Thanksgiving. 

My sadness centered on not being able to see them lit when I drive home at night or not seeing them when looking outside the windows of my home. I often said to myself during Advent and the Christmas season that the Nativity Scene is what Christmas is all about; Jesus loving us so much that He humbled Himself to become one of us out of love, to save us.

As I thought about it though, I said to myself, “Don’t be sad.” These religious decorations (as wonderful as they may be) are merely directional, pointing us to Jesus. 

The real presence of our loving Lord is in the Holy Eucharist. A presence available to us 24 hours a day, each and every day of the year, to nourish us in body and soul and help us in our lives.

My sadness was then replaced with a sense of wonder and awe about who we could be that our loving Lord would love us so much that He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.

By Deacon Tom Gryzbek