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Dear people, abundant blessings to you and yours!
Christmas approaches, and I desire to share the magnificence and monumentality of Christmas, when the Creator of all things became a human being so that we might have abundant life. We are called, now and always, to join the Lord Jesus Christ, a baby, at the humble manger, bringing with us all our humility – our problems, our dreams, and our sins – so that we might have eternal life, and live with Jesus and the Most Holy Trinity forever. We are also called to bring a gift to Jesus this Advent, the liturgical season before Christmas, in the form of penance – prayer, fasting, or almsgiving – so that we might grow the Kingdom of God and we might grow in holiness; if you already give a lot, or feel you don’t have much to give, bringing yourself is enough!
Christmas, the holy day marking the birth of Jesus Christ, is of supreme importance in history, and individually for each of us. In The First Christmas, Thomas D. Williams so wisely writes:
“
For on that still night, the world shifted its course,
A babe in a manger its unlikely source
“
Adoration of the Magi by Giuseppe Chiari (1654-1727)
History has shifted course, and our lives too should shift course. Even before the birth of Jesus Christ, God ruled humanity; but the birth of Jesus Christ was the beginning of the Eternal Kingdom ruled by Him. He would shepherd His people into heaven, through the good and bad events in our life, using these for the good of each of us and all humanity (Romans Chapter 8). So, we are each welcome to come to the manger with Jesus, to not be afraid to be disciples of Jesus Christ, even if we feel incomplete: with our problems, limitations, failures, frustrations. In fact, some of these problems we bring may be for our sanctity and the well-being of the world, so we have nothing to be ashamed of; these are all ways that God may be already working in our life, and our life “shifting course” toward heaven, as Thomas Williams mentions in the book I previously referenced. When we are “small,” incomplete, we are more and more full of God, so, like Jesus, we become the presence of God on this earth, wherever we may go or for whomever we may meet. So this Christmas, and always, let us not focus on what’s missing, but on Jesus, Who has come among us and is with us always, and will give us everything we need (Psalm 23).
Of course, we can also bring our dreams to the mighty King of Kings so he can help us. We are also called to bring our sins and not fear our lovely King, born in humility as a baby. He is pleased to forgive our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) so that we might have life with Him forever (Diary St. Fautina #1784).
The Nativity by Jean-Charles Frontier (1701–1763)
I at least am guilty of sometimes taking life with Jesus for granted – the world wraps us up in seeking success and achievement so that I start to think that this is most important, but let us briefly consider the graces God has granted us, beginning with Baptism. Jesus was the first to get baptized, and this new Sacrament has eternal significance – we are cleansed from original sin and all our sins and thus have eternal life with God. Jesus through the Church has also given us Holy Communion, the ability to consume Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and so be sustained in this life after being redeemed from our sins by Jesus, as the Israelites were sustained after leaving Egypt and slavery by bread that rained down from heaven (Exodus chapter 16). And through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), in a manner similar to baptism, our sins are forgiven by God, allowing us also to have eternal life with God. What would our lives be like without these consequential graces? How much darkness would still pervade our souls! But this reflection leads to a deeper question: how many people in the world still haven’t received these graces? At the manger this Christmas, and moving forward, we should realize that part of having this abundant life with God is placing more focus and emphasis on sharing the life that God has given us, so that others can also experience this life with God. A very concrete way of doing this is penance – prayer, fasting, or almsgiving – and for the benefit of others. By offering of ourselves in this way, we are, though it might seem humble and insignificant, growing God’s kingdom by being channels of sharing God’s blessings – prayer, fasting, or materially through almsgiving. Some of us already give a lot, so don’t feel pressured or lose your peace; rejoice, for your names are written in heaven (Gospel of Luke chapter 10)! The best way to live this Christmas spirit would be to offer this penance for the rest of your life for the same reason – for example, committing to a rosary weekly for the well-being of the world, committing to a once-a-month fast from coffee one afternoon a month for all our family and friends, or increasing giving to the local parish or other worthy causes and organizations, like those that serve the corporal works of mercy.
Dear friends, I wish you a peaceful Christmas this year; may it be a preview of the full and supremely joyous lives we will have with God in Heaven for all of eternity.
Abundant blessings,
Juan B