As I reflected on this song and the idea of where is the line for Jesus, all the children line up to see Santa Claus in the mall and yet do they line up to see baby Jesus in the manger. The wonderful gift and birth of Jesus is sandwiched between the gift giving and the buying frenzy that ensues before and after Christmas. Ultimately, when you think about it there is never a line to see Jesus. He is always there for us, present at our local parish church, and always listening to us and speaking to us, waiting for us to listen. Where is the line, we create a line to Jesus. Our actions sometimes create a line that separates us from Christ. All those things that we do year round and especially during advent, things that are put in front of going to Mass or praying daily or just listening to what God has to say to us at that moment in our day. I am guilty of these things over and over and when I think about all the times, the moments when I am frustrated in a store or stuck in traffic trying to get to the store because I put off shopping to the last minute. The crowd at the stores, the traffic on the roads, the last minute gift rush, in all this, we lose the silence, the simplicity of Christmas. A simple yes by a simple girl, who was extraordinary without even knowing it, made possible the birth of our savior as vulnerable, humble, unassuming baby in a manger. Our lives might be full of distractions and interruptions, all the background noise that clouds our lives and all God asks for is a few minutes of silence where we stop and listen to him. In our human nature, we are great at talking and keeping busy and filling every single moment of our lives with everything except God. As we search for words to explain this amazing mystery and gift, I believe nothing says it better than the words of St. John’s Gospel.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” John 1:1-14
So this Christmas day take a moment, a moment of silence, listen to what God has to say to you today on this the day of the Birth of our Lord. Christmas has become so complex and so I say something simple on such a wonderful day. Simplify Christmas…Celebrate Christ.
The following song is “I Celebrate the Day” by Reliant K
No comments:
Post a Comment