| “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John: 1-9) |
| Yes, most of us know the “reason for the season.” Sometimes, as Christians, I think it’s even harder, knowing this, to really embrace with full joy and peace this holiday we call Christmas. Might it be easier to get caught up in the tinsel, lights, parties and presents and leave it at that? I think It’s harder to mesh the magnitude of this mystery with all the holiday hustle and bustle. Why? Because we believe that Jesus came 2024 years ago, that He is with us now, and that He is coming in the future, sometimes we may wonder, where does that leave us now? Still waiting? It’s hard sometimes to wrap our heads around, but maybe we need to wrap our hearts and souls around it instead to feel that joy and peace on Christmas Day, and every day. Maybe if we break it down (or if you prefer, look at it as Ebenezer Scrooge would)… Christmas Past We know Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary in a stable in Bethlehem to fulfill the biblical prophecies He would be the Messiah, God with us, and that the wise men or kings, guided by a star, came to pay Him homage. We know He grew up in Nazareth, a carpenter’s son, then began his ministry as an adult, performed many miracles of healing and preached many messages of hope and faith. We know He died a cruel death on a cross to save us from our sins and then resurrected and came back to his disciples here on earth to remind believers we will all join Him in heaven one day, and that He will come back to us. Christmas Present Here we are two millennia and several years later…still waiting for His return. The Jews and the gentiles from thousands of years ago had the prophets to both warn them and give them hope He was coming. Who and where are our prophets? Patience is definitely not my strong suit. Sometimes I wonder, what’s taking so long, Lord? I want to be with You, feel Your joy and peace now. And then after I reflect further, I realize the answer… Christmas Future He is here, right here, right now. I do believe He will come again as the Scriptures (and our modern-day “prophets” – our priests and pastors of our churches – tell us. When is uncertain. Where is the place where he ascended into heaven in the Holy Land in Jerusalem. On my pilgrimage there two years ago I touched the place where he last stood and promised to return. Powerful. Meanwhile, a reading in our advent reader from church, spelled out the answer for me to my wondering: “They (the Magi) were overjoyed at seeing the star and on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother…” (Mt 2:10)…The joy we’re talking about here isn’t something we whip up or pretend on Christmas day. It’s something that builds up during Advent, not a feeling that comes and goes quickly, but a deep-down sense of happiness despite…whatever. The Lord is with us and has promised to stay with us and bring us through life, through death, to a joyous heavenly life that lasts forever. It may seem strange…but the best way to catch the full meaning of this truth is to think about situations in my life right now that get me down. The good news is that Jesus came to be part of the bad news. I’m not alone with my problems. Take a moment now to bring the Lord into those places in your life. Experience the peace, the strength, the consolation of knowing that the Lord is with you there. I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and experienced these very emotions…and received light in place of my darkness. Lord, help me to experience you right here, right now with me so that I may know your joy and peace, especially on your birthday. |
Merry Christmas, Michele.
Beautiful, Michele! Thank you so much!