B
Brownginger
Guest
I am always puzzled by columns found in our Catholic periodicals and by the content of homilies this time of year. I just checked the message from my own archbishop last Christmas, in which he described the meaning of that Day in terms of the humility of Jesus in being born in such miserable conditions and, basically, asking the members of his flock to give thanks on Christmas for the Incarnation. Not once did he mention that, along with Christ’s humility and His Birth, the excitement of Christmas and what makes it truly unique derives from the fact that that was the Day when mankind first saw the Face of God!
Homilists and columnists get overwhelmed by the manger scene and these days they feel the need to counteract the cloud descending on the Holy Day as a result of the coincidental celebration of the secular holiday; but there need not be the angst exhibited by so many. Of course, there is the warmth of the Holy Family in Bethlehem, with the choirs of Angels and the heart-tugs from the little shepherds and the animals gathered around the manger; but there is one thing almost always neglected. Jesus had been with the Virgin Mary for nine months – He had been with US for nine months. The Promised Messiah of the Ages became Man at His Conception. His Birth was not unexpected. What makes this Birth eternally separate from the birth of any other human was that for the first time man was able to look upon the Face of God.
How the Blessed Mother must have pondered during Her pregnancy about the Face of Her Son! The circumstances surrounding His Birth probably never entered Her thoughts. She eagerly anticipated seeing Her Son, with Whom She had lived since His Conception. Like the Virgin Mary, we should be preparing to give thanks to God on Christmas for this gift; and, while a Happy Birthday is always appropriate, we should fall on our knees at the manger scene and gaze on the Face of God!
Homilists and columnists get overwhelmed by the manger scene and these days they feel the need to counteract the cloud descending on the Holy Day as a result of the coincidental celebration of the secular holiday; but there need not be the angst exhibited by so many. Of course, there is the warmth of the Holy Family in Bethlehem, with the choirs of Angels and the heart-tugs from the little shepherds and the animals gathered around the manger; but there is one thing almost always neglected. Jesus had been with the Virgin Mary for nine months – He had been with US for nine months. The Promised Messiah of the Ages became Man at His Conception. His Birth was not unexpected. What makes this Birth eternally separate from the birth of any other human was that for the first time man was able to look upon the Face of God.
How the Blessed Mother must have pondered during Her pregnancy about the Face of Her Son! The circumstances surrounding His Birth probably never entered Her thoughts. She eagerly anticipated seeing Her Son, with Whom She had lived since His Conception. Like the Virgin Mary, we should be preparing to give thanks to God on Christmas for this gift; and, while a Happy Birthday is always appropriate, we should fall on our knees at the manger scene and gaze on the Face of God!