CGM Presents: In the Word Podcast

Episode 16, “We Are Mary and Joseph” Featuring Father Mel Hemann and Regina from Iowa

December 07, 2022 Stephanie Wright Season 10 Episode 16
CGM Presents: In the Word Podcast
Episode 16, “We Are Mary and Joseph” Featuring Father Mel Hemann and Regina from Iowa
Show Notes Transcript

Charles George Missions Presents: Day16 – Christmas Podcast – “We Are Mary and Joseph”

Hello and welcome to Day 16, of CGMissions Christmas Podcast. Today’s podcast is entitled “We Are Mary and Joseph.” Today, we will hear portions of a message sent via email from Father Mel Hemann. His Christmas letter is a call for all of us to remember what Christmas is about and that we have certain responsibilities to ourselves and to each other. Stay with us to the end of this podcast for Christmas music and announcements.

But first, we will start with our Christmas Memory Share from Regina from Des Moines. She will share her favorite Christmas gift and memory. 

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Charles George Missions Presents: Day16 – Christmas Podcast – “We Are Mary and Joseph”

Hello and welcome to Day 16, of CGMissions Christmas Podcast. Today’s podcast is entitled “We Are Mary and Joseph.” Today, we will hear portions of a message sent via email from Father Mel Hemann. His Christmas letter is a call for all of us to remember what Christmas is about and that we have certain responsibilities to ourselves and to each other. Stay with us to the end of this podcast for Christmas music and announcements.

But first, we will start with our Christmas Memory Share from Regina from Des Moines. She will share her favorite Christmas gift and memory. Let’s join Regina now.  

Thank you, Regina, for sharing your favorite Christmas gift and memory, your “box.” Homemade gifts are so special and take a little bit extra effort and care. I love that Regina still looks forward to her Christmas box of goodies.

Now, I am going to share portions of Father Mel’s Christmas letter. Father Mel is a priest and a pilot. He is a pilot‑priest and he taught me to fly. Charles also received his private pilot’s license after training with Father Mel. I have entitled this excerpt, “We Are Mary and Joseph.” His letter begins by listing the many people who have passed away in the past year some due to illness. I will start with paragraph two.

            "I know the death of my friends places me in a similar category with you. I don’t know anyone today who hasn’t experienced the passing of someone(s), many due to the COVID-19. The changes in our lives are unheard of and so we wonder about the future as we long for a return to normal. Centuries ago, Mary and Joseph found themselves in a crazy mixed‑up world as they struggled with all the unknowns suddenly thrust upon them. Like us today they wondered if things would ever return to normal. What sustained them was their faith in God and the realization they were in good hands.  We are Mary and Joseph today and God has chosen us to birth Christ so that the message of God’s unconditional love might bring true peace to a very troubled world. In a way the adage that things never change is true. What is true is the fact the messengers do change and their manner of delivery, after discerning current needs, must meet today’s standards.” 

            All too often we forget the unconditional love of God.  That love is exemplified in patience, understanding, mercy, and forgiveness. Humanly speaking we often cannot understand that kind of compassion and love.  We try to put God in a box to limit what God might or [might] not do. In the end, if we understand our union with each other and respectively attempt a serious dialogue we just might be surprised at the outcome.  In the end, TRUTH will reorient our lives so God’s love will be experienced in the most unusual ways.

            To end on a positive note, it seems to me the COVID-19 is the cause of great things happening. The hardships experienced by so many today has brought many families together in new ways to cope. Neighbors are reaching out to assist neighbors, the hungry are being fed, the homeless are being clothed, etc. We are, in spite of lying, deceitful corrupt individuals and groups, re-discovering TRUTH and honesty. Consequently, love and compassion are reappearing in our world.  All we need do is remember the world is not mine alone and together goodness and love will continue to return to our world. All we need is that you do not forget you are the Mary and Joseph of 2020-2021, and your duty is to birth Jesus and his message into our world.

            May this season be joy-filled and be a time of optimism as we continue life’s journey that will ultimately end in reuniting with all our loved ones who have completed this earthly pilgrimage."

 Thank you, Father Mel, for allowing me to share portions of your Christmas letter. 

Closing

Thank you for being with us on CGM Christmas Podcast. Join us again tomorrow when we will again share scriptures celebrating Jesus’ birth, hear an uplifting Christmas memory from another contributor, and listen to songs from our album “CGM We Love Christmas.” This is Stephanie Wright. May God’s love, peace, and protection be with you until next time, and remember, “Don’t let anything steal your Christmas.” To contact us please send an email to cgmpresents@gmail.com

The album “We Love Christmas” is a production of Charles George Missions and Macattack Productions and may be ordered on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, and other platforms.

We leave you with the song, O Come, All Ye Faithful soloist, Delores Tingle