Christmas Eve Reflection

     The journey has come to its completion, the night is silent, the rest is needed, and the quiet hope is tangible.  These were the experienced realities of a young couple who found themselves away from home, without a place to stay, ill prepared for birthing but at a major moment in the course of history.  These are the experienced realities of those who in this moment in time have prepared their hearts for the Lord, who await his glory, who live in the here and now while learning from and celebrating the blessings that have touched their lives in times past, and who have not lost grasp of the hope that this birth in Bethlehem has generated.  This is the end of Advent, the birthday of the Lord, and our celebration of Emmanuel - "God with us".

 

 

     We celebrate this evening the coming of the Lord of lords and the King of kings, the Prince of Peace and the King of the newly established Kingdom of Heaven.  The Truth has come among us and wrapped his arms around us.  Love is made manifest and Life is freely shared.  It would take teachings and signs, a passion and even a sacrificial death to make this a reality, but this was the beginning.  That is why we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord.



     Pope Benedict wrote in his trilogy on Jesus "What did Jesus actually bring, if not world peace, universal prosperity, and a better world?  What has he brought?  The answer is very simple: God.  He has brought God ... He has brought God, and now we know his face, now we can call upon him.  Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world.  Jesus has brought us God and with God the truth about our origin and destiny: faith, hope and love.  It is only because of our hardness of heart that we think this is too little."

     The reason that we celebrate Christmas year after year is to acknowledge the presence of Emmanuel - God with us - and to do so in the person of Jesus - God become man.  This is our reality, our life, our hope.  On this Christmas eve in the year of Our Lord 2013, I assure all of you of my prayers and thoughts and good wishes, and thank you for your continued interest in Journey Thoughts.   Merry Christmas!