This is a festive time of the year. Houses, parks and boats beam with lights. Christmas music abounds. And so too do holiday dinners. Which reminds me of a story. A couple invited me to their home for dinner. While they were in the kitchen, I asked their son what we were having for dinner. The youngster replied: “Goat.”
I said: “Goat?” Are you sure?” Yep,” he said. “Daddy said to mommy: ‘Today is as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.” We had beef tenderloin!
Christmas ornaments can invite us to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
The green of a tree symbolizes hope. Always trust in God’s love for us, no matter what our circumstances.
ANGELS sang the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. So be an angel, a good-finder. Look for the good in ourselves, in others, in every situation.
A STAR symbolizes the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Messiah. Let's keep our promises.
CANDLES symbolize Jesus as the light of the world who scatters the darkness all around us. Inspire people by living a life of integrity.
And SANTA symbolizes generosity. Be generous with what we have: our time, talents and treasure.
Yes, these and more can invite us to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, worshipping the Christ-child, Emmanuel, God-with-us.
The word of God takes us back to the eighth century before Jesus, to a prophet named Micah, who proclaims that God’s promised Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (where King David was born). He will guide his people and “shall be peace.”
Micah challenges us to remember that God always keeps his promises, and so should we. My favorite quote from Micah is: “Do what is right and love goodness and walk humbly with your God.”
The letter to the Hebrews compares the Jerusalem Temple sacrifices to the death of Jesus on the cross, and indicates Jesus’s sacrifice is far superior. His fidelity to his heavenly Father and his self-giving re-opened to us eternal life. The word invites us to be faithful to our baptismal promises and to live a life of service.
In the Gospel, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Both were pregnant—Mary with Jesus, Elizabeth with John. Elizabeth cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This became part of our Hail Mary prayer. Yes, Elizabeth–and her unborn child–recognized the presence of God in Mary, the living Ark of the Covenant.
Three biblical personalities have dominated the Advent season: Isaiah foretells a messiah; John the Baptist prepares the way for the messiah; and Mary gives birth to the messiah, Christ.
The Christmas story really began with the annunciation. The power of God asked Mary to believe that she would bear in herself a special child. Mary was so attuned to God's presence, such a woman of faith, she replied: let it be done to me according to your word.
Now that's easy to say when things are going our way; but not so easy when what is happening is not what we want. Such turns in life can test our trust in God.
Mary’s “Yes” gave us the world’s greatest love story. That story, as it has come down to us, tells of a baby in a trough. It tells of a mother holding her child as her husband Joseph stays near. It tells of angels singing; shepherds running to tell the child how much they love him. Yes, it tells of a star guiding people across the wilderness and onto their knees to worship the child.
John the Evangelist summed up this great love story in a single line: “the Word became flesh.” Yes, John wrote: In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Through him all things came to be and apart from him nothing came to be. And “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Christmas means not simply God in Bethlehem centuries ago, but God within us by virtue of the waters of baptism. Paul summed up this truth magnificently: we are by grace what Jesus Christ is by nature: sons and daughters of God. That is God’s gift to us. We are called to live a life worthy of that status. And until Jesus comes again, to be missionary disciples:
bringing the good news to others,
doing all the good we can, to all
the people we can:
helping
those who doubt to find faith;
those
who despair to find hope and trust;
those
who are sad or angry to find joy;
those
who are sick to find healing;
those
who are weary to find strength in Jesus: our way, truth and life;
and
those who are dying to find peace in
God forever.
