Dec. 25, 2018 Nativity of Our Lord C
Dec. 25, 2018 Nativity of Our Lord C
A few days ago during the Christmas play put on by the third graders of Ascension Catholic School, a touching scene unfolded before our eyes. As the angels and shepherds made their way near Joseph, Mary, and infant Jesus, a lone lamb played by a pre-k girl captured our attention. She crawled over to the live baby Jesus and began to stroke his head and his cheeks. It was a moving gesture by a pure, innocent child. Perhaps it moved all of us because, deep down, we desire to shower our affection and gratitude on the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the Creator of the entire Universe who humbled himself to be born as a human child.
Today, we come to this house of God on one of the holiest days of our church year to pay homage to our God as did the shepherds and the Wise Men over 2,000 years ago. Then, and even now, only in the silence of the heart do we truly recognize who He is for us. It’s so easy to miss His presence in our busy surroundings and lose the sense of why Christ came among us. The other day I was near the Mall of Louisiana parking lot, and I could sense that people were stressed and frustrated. Perhaps, they were trying to get last minute shopping done, so their patience was running thin. I heard lots of honking, saw glum faces devoid of smiles, and saw people in a hurry to get somewhere. I wonder in the midst of all this busyness of the season what we are really seeking in our lives. We are restlessly moving about, and yet if we pause for a moment to reflect, we will know what we are truly seeking is peace. This peace only comes from Christ. The Christ Child comes to us and says, “I am your peace.”
In our daily lives, Jesus comes to us to offer peace. Just as he came to an unkempt stable 2,000 years ago, Jesus comes to our messy homes where tensions exist between spouses and family members. Just as the Christ child was surrounded by noisy animals, Our Lord comes to be with us in the midst of blended families, separated spouses, unforgiveness between siblings, in times of joy and times of sorrow to offer us His peace.
Jesus took the first step in coming toward us even though we are unworthy to have Him with us. Regardless of our sinfulness, He comes to embrace every part of our lives to redeem and to make a new beginning. On our part we must decide everyday to receive and embrace His Peace. That means living His commandments--to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor. Just as that little girl dressed in a lamb’s costume reached over to the Christ Child and showered her affection on him, we must decide whether we will embrace the Christ Child today with our prayers, sacrifice, love, and forgiveness of our neighbors. Only when we search for Christ daily, will we hear what the shepherds heard that very holy night -- a multitude of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." May we come to know the peace of Christ tonight and throughout our lives.
Today, we come to this house of God on one of the holiest days of our church year to pay homage to our God as did the shepherds and the Wise Men over 2,000 years ago. Then, and even now, only in the silence of the heart do we truly recognize who He is for us. It’s so easy to miss His presence in our busy surroundings and lose the sense of why Christ came among us. The other day I was near the Mall of Louisiana parking lot, and I could sense that people were stressed and frustrated. Perhaps, they were trying to get last minute shopping done, so their patience was running thin. I heard lots of honking, saw glum faces devoid of smiles, and saw people in a hurry to get somewhere. I wonder in the midst of all this busyness of the season what we are really seeking in our lives. We are restlessly moving about, and yet if we pause for a moment to reflect, we will know what we are truly seeking is peace. This peace only comes from Christ. The Christ Child comes to us and says, “I am your peace.”In our daily lives, Jesus comes to us to offer peace. Just as he came to an unkempt stable 2,000 years ago, Jesus comes to our messy homes where tensions exist between spouses and family members. Just as the Christ child was surrounded by noisy animals, Our Lord comes to be with us in the midst of blended families, separated spouses, unforgiveness between siblings, in times of joy and times of sorrow to offer us His peace.
