Wow! After all that waiting and "are we there yet" - we have made it! Christmas 2010! In all of the readings that we have from Holy Mother Church, there seems to be such a theme of TRUST. On the last Sunday of Advent, Joseph trusted the word of an Angel who said Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. In the Mass at Dawn (often called the "Shepherd's Mass"), the shepherds trusted the word of the Angels, and Mary "kept all these things in her heart". Much too soon after the joy of Christmas Day, we hear of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. Again, Joseph trusts the word of the angel to flee - and immediately takes his wife and young son. Later, when the angel tells Joseph it is safe to return, he is wise and goes to Nazareth instead of Bethlehem.
I marvel at the faith that was shown by these very simple people. They were not high ranking, especially the shepherds, and yet that very quality may have been what helped them to listen, take to heart, and trust what God was telling them. Mary, a young teenager, listens to an angel and agrees to bear the Son of God. And what happens? "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:9-14)
You know what? Christ was born just a little over 2,000 years ago in a little town in the Judean hills. He CONTINUES to be born anew in the hearts of everyone who loves him, accepts him, and wants to follow him. How do we know this? The Gospel of John says, "To those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God." (John 1:7-8)
THIS is the true miracle of Christmas - that Christ continues to come to a broken and hurting world, to heal the sick, comfort the lonely and grieving, feed and clothe the poor, and bind up the wounds of those who have just been hurt one too many times. Our world today is not perfect. It certainly wasn't perfect in Christ's time either. Today, let us resolve, as we soon start a new calendar year, to do our part to be Christ to each other, to our neighbors, and to our world. As we do this, let's also try to practice some of the same trust modeled by Mary, Joseph and the shepherds, that Christ will help us know how best to use our skills, and also trust in Christ's plan.
I wish everyone a very, very Blessed and Holy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
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