December 25, 2020
The Nativity of the Lord
If the salutation, “Merry Christmas,” is more than just the expected greeting we use today, then what is the “more” really all about? Today is a sacred day and the birth of Christ has changed not only history but how human beings perceive and relate with God. God has become one with humanity in the Person of Jesus Christ. All of these truths remain just pious sentiments unless they take flesh in the heart and soul of each one of us. We need to absorb and immerse ourselves in what is meant by these truths so that we can be changed by them. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
A woman once recounted her journey with poverty and how she went from “doing” for the poor to “being with” the poor. It’s transforming and life changing. It’s easy to simply give alms to those in need, and yet another thing to be with them in their poverty and become poor ourselves. A change of the axis from vertical to horizon puts a whole new twist on things. Our souls understand the experience in ways that our minds simply cannot. Christmas requires this same change of axis.
It is one thing to sing out the words, “Joy to the World,” and quite another to experience that joy ourselves. Many have not experienced the full impact of that first Holy Night because they choose to keep the manager at a distance rather than make a home with the Holy One who resides there. The birth of Christ levels the playing field of life and we have to allow ourselves to be leveled. There is no way to truly be human unless we understand that God is with us and blesses every fiber of the human experience. We cannot be truly human unless we listen to the words of the Word Made Flesh and work so that justice and peace can be realized by all, and God’s sacred earth cared for and nurtured.
The axis of Christmas begins to shift when we realize it’s not about, “I and me,” but, “we and us,” and there’s an order and purpose to how God fashions and sustains things. The world hasn’t really given Christ a full shot yet to understand that Truth has been born in our midst. We pick and choose what suits us in the message and leave the rest behind.
What needs to change about you so that Christ can truly be born in you?
©LPi
MEDITACIÓN EVANGÉLICO (Gospel Meditation)
25 de diciembre de 2020
La Natividad del Señor
La Navidad da comienzo hoy con el Nacimiento del Señor. Con las vísperas del 24 de diciembre se termina el Adviento. Se supone que, durante el tiempo de Adviento, cada uno preparó su corazón para que nazca el Niño. El gozo de este tiempo es extraordinario, será por tanta luces y regalos, el clima de los corazones está abierto, la ambientación preparada para celebrar la Eucaristía con la presencia de los peregrinos Jesús, María y José. El pueblo que caminaba en tinieblas ha visto la luz. Jesucristo en un pesebre, la estrella, los pastores, y los ángeles cantando. El Evangelio de San Juan nos dice: “Nadie ha visto a Dios jamás, pero Dios-Hijo único, él que está en el seno del Padre nos lo dio a conocer. (Juan 1:18)
Este día, lo principal es acoger, vivir el significado de la Encarnación. ¡Ah! Si comprendiéramos o al menos tratáramos de entender un poquito este grandioso misterio, nuestra vida giraría completamente hacia Dios. Sus planes en nosotros se cumplirían y el sufrimiento sería llevado con esperanza. ¿Cuántos de nosotros hemos perdido seres queridos este año? ¿Cuántos perdimos nuestro trabajo? Ahora es un tiempo para recomponer lazos familiares, de amistad y de perdón. La Navidad es para vivirla con serenidad profunda, de estrechar vínculos rotos y de lejanía. La Navidad es cercanía familiar y comunitaria. Solo así, abriendo los ojos y escuchando las maravillas de este Nacimiento, es que podemos cantar con los ángeles: “Gloria a Dios en el cielo, y en la tierra paz a los hombres de buena voluntad”. (Lucas 2:14)
©LPi