December 16, 2005
Christmas is about Jesus Christ.
This is very easy to forget amidst Christmas cards and lights, shopping, wrapping gifts, parties, long lines at the mall, candy, and decorations. With all this activity around us, Jesus can often get “left out” or “forgotten.” After all, He is rarely mentioned in any of these activities. I often wonder: if someone who grew up in the rainforests or somewhere far away came to observe our culture during Christmas time, would they be able to distinguish that this is a religious and holy time?
For those of us who are Christians, Christmas is a very special time, a holy time, because of what we profess in our faith. We believe the impossible, that God became man and entered our history (the name the Church gives for this is called the Incarnation), that He walked on this earth to share our own life, our sufferings, our joys, i.e. our human experience. Yet, He came not only to share our life, but to die for our sins and open up the gates of heaven.
It all begins at Christmas.
At Christmas, we celebrate the reality that God has reached down to us. Human history portrays people of all cultures and all times reaching out for God, searching for Him, desperately crying out to Him and giving Him various names. Despite our best efforts, humanity could not “find” God. God “found” us. At Christmas, God seems to say to us, “you have looked for Me everywhere and now I will come to you in a way you could never imagine. I will walk among you and with you so that you may know that I love you, that I care for you, that there is nothing you will experience that I cannot understand. You must know how close I am to you, how special you are to Me, and how meaningful your life is.”
Many other religions cannot understand or accept what we believe about the Incarnation. They say it is impossible that God could become man. Their idea of God is one that is so far removed and “out there,” that God is distant from humanity. They often ask how God, Who is infinite, all knowing and all powerful, could become of all things, a baby!
As Christians we believe that God is not distant or “out there.” The Incarnation teaches us something very different, something extremely radical and liberating. He is vulnerable, allowing Himself to experience all the hurts, the misunderstandings, and the pain we experience. He is humble—instead of splashing down from the heavens, He chose to come to earth in a little dirty stable from which animals ate. He is available to each and every one of us. He has destroyed all distinctions and barriers.
What incredible mysteries surround us! How great it is to be a Christian! To be Catholic!
We are entering upon holy days. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus; He is the reason for the season. It is He Who gives meaning to our lives. It is He Who gives us joy, peace and love. It is He Who will bring reconciliation and healing to our lives and to our families. It is He Who will fulfill the deepest longings of our heart. It is His image you see when you picture a life of happiness and when you think of beauty. It is He Who took the first step by coming to us at Christmas. He has sought us. He has found us.
This is a season of rejoicing and joy at the marvels the Lord has done. Do not let anyone or anything take that from you. God has given you that right. This season, Mary’s song becomes the song of every Christian in every part of the world. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior…for He Who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His Name…He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:47, 49, 53)
This Christmas, give Jesus your heart. It is the only present He desires.
Br. Jeremiah Miriam Shryock, CFR
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