Reverence is to be found in the humility which is characteristic of the prayer of Abraham: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes." (Genesis 18:27) It is the hesitancy, the reticence, the stumbling prayer of the tax-collector, who, in contrast to the Pharisee who prayed about himself in a self-congratulatory way, would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus commended that man as j

However, since the twentieth century, and particularly the 1960's, the commandments have been criticized as restrictive of personal freedom. Love, rather than law, has been interpreted as freedom to do what one likes as long as it does not hurt someone else. But such freedom has ended up as a license to do what one wants without regard for others. It is time to review again the ten commandments to see how they are still valuable for us individually and as a society.

This state of affairs has been brought about by the White Witch, who terrorizes the inhabitants, and turns to stone any who thwart her will. But there is a prophecy that some day two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve will sit on four thrones and then it will be the end, not only of the White Witch's reign, but of her life.

I believe that Jesus Christ comes to us as a baby, as he was in Bethlehem, and therefore in all babies. He comes to us as a child, as he was in Nazareth, and therefore in all children. He comes to us as a loved one, as he was to his friends, and in all loved ones. He comes to us as a stranger, as he was to the Samaritan woman at the well, and in all strangers. He comes to us in the needy, as he asked her for a drink of water. He comes to us in the poor, as he had nowhere to lay his head.