SPSE’s Atlanta, GA, team offers a visible reminder of Christ’s presence during the retail shopping frenzy that stretches from “Black Friday” through Christmas Eve. Dismayed by reports of shoppers actually fighting over material goods and forgetting goodwill toward their neighbors, the team set up bright and early on a busy street corner near a popular retailer in Snellville.

This echoes a phrase in the Church’s Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, that calls Jesus the “Dayspring from on high” and pleads with Him to disperse the dark clouds and to put death itself to flight. “Dayspring”, meaning “the dawn”, refers both to the first light of morning and to the beginning of a new era. Jesus Christ is both.

Of Him, the Bible says, “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Mt 4:16), and “[He is] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Lk 2:32), and “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:3–5).

Even more amazing, by Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection, even death itself loses its power. God promises us through the Scriptures, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:26). “For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end” (1 Cor 15:22–24).

Especially when we are bombarded during these days leading up to Christmas with pressure to focus on ephemeral material things, the Atlanta team wanted to remind passersby to take some time to focus on Reality: Jesus Christ.

Besides Rosaries and other Faith materials, the team offered free coffee and hot chocolate to those stopping by. Thank you, Team Atlanta! Join us?