Posted on December 18, 2016 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
This upcoming week we enter into our final week of preparation for Christmas Day. Christmas is the day on which the Word made flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin is born. It is a day that seemed like any other day, but it is a day that has completely changed the entire world.
The Lord came on that first Christmas so that we would have the opportunity to have Him come to us. He desires us to be like Him so much, that He was willing to become like us. There has never been a person more generous than God. Something we ought to reflect upon often.
He never promised to wipe away our every tear. He never promised us that life would be easy. He never promised that we would always be liked. In fact, His life also shows us a lot of tears, a lot of hard work, and a lot of hatred. But what His life does show us, that if we are faithful, if we sacrifice, if we have deep charity, that we have the opportunity for eternal life.
The story of His life is perhaps the greatest tragedy story of all time. The coming of God was mostly unnoticed, and He was sent from the world rejected and defiled by His creation. But yet, He was so madly in love with us, that He came to offer us great gifts. The most important gift being divinity itself.
As we enter into our final week of Advent, when we celebrate the ‘advent’ or the coming of God in time, may we ready our own souls for His coming to us.
Please be sure to try to get to Confession sometime before Christmas. Try to make it to a few extra Masses in the course of this week. It is an ancient practice of the Church to fast on Christmas Eve, until the sun begins to go down. This way, we are well prepared for the Christmas feasting, and more appreciative, the next day. I also suggest pulling out your Bibles this week, and reading for yourself or with your family and children the Nativity narratives. Reflecting upon the birth of the Lord in the words of the Evangelists themselves.
Finally, be aware of those not as fortunate. Perform some act of mercy for them, just as someone in Bethlehem looked with mercy upon the Holy Family as they desperately looked for a place to stay. Doing these few things will help prepare us for Christmas, and make us more worthy of the coming of Christ.
Like Holy Week, these are days that altered human history. May we truly live our life as if we have been effected by Christ Himself. May the whole world be set on fire for the love of Christ through our own love and example. Christ can continue to come into the world each day, through us. But we must allow ourselves to be His instruments. Have a blessed week ahead!
