Not Yet Lord
"Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, God with us. Which means, God is with us.” Matthew 1: 23
Let us ponder that very first Christmas-the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The circumstances around his birth were so simple, so quiet and so uneventful to the rest of the world. His birth was announced by the angels to a few lowly shepherds. It wasn't announced to the who's who in the elite group of citizens at the time.
He was born into a hostile, violent, sinful world. It sounds like the world that we live in today, doesn't it? Before he was two years old, his parents had to flee with Jesus from the murderous King Herod. He gave orders to kill all the boys who were two years old and under.
The God of the universe chose to come as a helpless baby, in a lowly stable where animals are kept. In a certain sense God was vulnerable. As a baby he trusted Mary and Joseph to care for and protect him.
In this season of joyful yet sometimes stressful family gatherings, it is important to take some quiet time and look at the babe in the manger. Reflect on how the coming of God into our midst changed the course of history forever. How the babe in the manger is changing the course of our lives one day at a time.
Jesus came to set us free of the chains that keep us bound to sin. Jesus came to give us new life. Jesus came to show us the way to Heaven. Jesus is our forever friend. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life.
Reflection:
If you are lonely and empty this Christmas even in the midst of all the celebrations, meditate on the babe in the manger. Hold the baby Jesus in your arms and ask Mary to show you how to hold Jesus in your heart this Christmas.