CHRISTMAS IN LITTLE OR INSIGNIFICANT THINGS
The joy and celebration of Christmas are in the little or insignificant things of our daily human and Christian lives. Where God comes to meet us. It means we all need the grace to be conscious of the little joys, gestures, words, actions and contacts we make with God and others during this holy season. Christmas challenges us to see great things happening in human history and around us in the most insignificant ways.
First, the mystery of the Incarnation, where the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God became a human being and was born a child in the crib of Bethlehem. The tiniest clan of Judah but the house the greatest king of Israel- King David and the birthplace of the Saviour of the Word.
Christmas invites us to reflect on the purpose of the mystery of the Incarnation of God in human history. Why did God become man and was born as a little or insignificant baby with no political, religious, social or economic status? A simple, humble God-child who did not come through an extraordinary way. A God Son in human nature who came only to do the will of God. Something human beings as creatures failed to fulfil towards God as their Creator.
Christmas is the story of the Incarnated God who became flesh and dwelt among us. It is also the story of Mary, the inexperienced, innocent, lowly, humble and insignificant personality in the history of men. A favoured handmaid of the Lord who totally and generously collaborate with God to bring about the redemption of mankind.
OUR THEME
The central theme of this fourth Sunday of Advent is God infinite love intervening in our human history to change it forever. It is the theme of the love of God manifested to us in a little or insignificant way.
Today the Church celebrates the Fourth Sunday of Advent with an intense or urgent sense of anticipation for the birth of Christ. We light the last candle on our Advent wreath as our preparation for Christmas is almost finished. The theme of love is our principal focus as we light this fourth candle.
The readings of the fourth Sunday allow us to focus on our individual wills concerning the Advent of Our Lord and Saviour. Love is in the fulfilment of the will of God.
The biblical readings present us the little or insignificant ways God intervenes and changes human history. Equally, they remind us that Jesus is reborn every day in ordinary people living ordinary lives of loving God and others. People who have the willingness to respond to the call of God. Men and women with a predisposition and the openness to do the will of God.
They suggest that Christmas should inspire us to carry out the will or word of God as Mary and Jesus did. The Christian life is live in perfect, loving obedience to His will, with cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity.
FIRST READING: MICAH 5:2-5
In the Prophecy of Micah 5:1-4, the will of God is demonstrated to Israel in their history. Through the place, time and condition of the expected Messiah. Bethlehem-Ephrathah, the tiniest town among the clans of Judah, shall bring forth the Holy One, Christ the Messiah.
The Saviour of the world whose greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. He shall be at peace. In this way, the loving God will come into our human history in a humble and insignificant manner.
The central theme of the prophecy of Micah is that salvation would come from insignificant Bethlehem to unite the nation of Israel under God.
Historically, it was the religious and political corruption and injustice of Israel and Judah. That God, through Prophet Micah, makes promises of restoring the people of Judah to a godly state. A God-rooted king from the Davidic kingdom will be born.
The future, kingly descendant of David, of Whom the Lord God speaks here, will lead the Israelites to victory over their enemies, and He shall be peace (Micah 5:4).
Therefore, Micah expresses a rare hope. If the people of God will recognize and follow the religious insights of this one special Davidic King. They will receive the peace that they are seeking.
PSALM 79
With Christmas almost at hand, the psalmist in the responsorial of the psalm of today encourages us, Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face, and we shall be saved.
The psalmist articulates the image of Christ, the Good Shepherd of Israel. The Mighty One will come to see justice done and salvation granted to his oppressed people.
Psalm 79 is a prayerful psalm in which the psalmist invokes the blessing of God upon his people Israel. It is also a song invoking the divine assistance of God on the Davidic kingdom. Thus, we sing, O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, from Your Throne upon the cherubim, shine forth! Rouse Your power and come to save us!
SECOND READING: HEBREWS 10:5-10
In the Book of Hebrews 10:5-10, the will of God and its fulfilment is priceless and incomparable to any sacrifice. Hence, Christ in his coming into this worldly declared: Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in. Behold, I come to do your will.
The author of the book of Hebrews presents us with a fundamental fact about Jesus Christ. That is, Jesus came to do the will of the Father and to teach us to do the same life out of our Christian life. He is the only Christ, our supreme High Priest, who can affect a reconciliation between God and us.
The Christmas story of the mystery of the Incarnation presents one indisputable fact about Christ. For him, the only and perfect sacrifice is obedience to the will of God.
THE GOSPEL: LUKE 1:39-44
The Gospel of Luke 1:39-44 presents us with the loving visitation of Mary to her cousin sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth recognizes the unique child that Mary carries within her through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
At the same, the unborn baby in the womb of Elizabeth leapt for joy. As he acknowledges the presence of his Redeemer and that of Mary, his mother. The Christmas story of two pregnant women of a generation apart is favoured high by the grace of God.
It was a joyous encounter that manifested the completion of the will of God in the lives of these great women and the loving service of Mary to her needy cousin.
It is a biblical story that presents us also with the loving encounter of the unborn Messiah: Jesus Christ and his forth-runner: John the Baptist.
THE BLESSEDNESS OF MARY
There is no doubt, one of the central focuses of the gospel today is on the blessedness of Mary. Through the privilege of God, the Father who chose her to be the mother of Christ. And through the transformation activities of the Holy Spirit, Mary proclaims her blessedness.
To Mary was granted the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God and invariably Mother of God, Theotokos.
Her heart is filled with a wondering, tremulous joy at so great a privilege. The Magnificat was a testimonial song to that honour and blessedness.
Yet that very blessedness was to be a sword to pierce her heart. It meant that someday she would see her son hanging on a cross.
To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and cross of sorrow. The hard truth is that God does not select a person for ease and comfort and selfish joy but for a task that will take all that head and heart and hand can bring to it.
The Holy Spirit inspires words of praise and blessedness through Elizabeth and us in our honour and veneration of Mary.
Mary is our mother, our model of faith and virtues in the Christian life. She is also our mediatrix of all graces and our intercessor.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD MIXES WITH US
On this fourth and last Sunday of Advent, before Christmas, not only that we celebrate the theme of love. The readings can be best expressed in the ancient song of Carey Landry & Carol Jean Kinghorn, titled “GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD MIXES WITH US”. It goes this way…
Great things happen when God mixes with us. 2x
Great and beautiful, wonderful things.
Great things happen when God mixes with us.
1. Some find life, some find peace, some people even find joy. Some see things as they never could before. And some people find that they can now begin to trust.
2. Some find health, some find hope, some people even find joy. Some see themselves as they could before. And some people find that they can now begin to live.
3. Some find peace, some are disturbed, some people even find joy. Some see their lives as they never could before, and some people find that they can now begin to change.
Indeed, the moment of encounter with God and one another is life changing forever. These changing moments happen in the little and insignificant things of life.
In the detailed love, care and concern we show to one another like a visit to check on each other or placing a call of how are you to family, friends or relatives.
It is in the simple faith journey to attend liturgical activities in the Church with brothers and sisters. The Christmas carols and the novena and pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph. That is known as Posada Navideña in Mexico and Latinamerica Church. The assistance at a Christ-Mass in the festive holiday of Christmas.
It is also in the sharing of a Christmas meal or foodstuff. Especially with a needy person, neighbour, migrant or stranger.
It is in the smile, joys, or laughter with family, friends, colleagues or the depressed and worrying faces around you.
It is the consoling word to bereaved people or someone going through the crises of life.
Christmas could be felt in the warm and enthusiastic Christmas greetings and wishes of everyone around us.
It is in the kind gestures to reconcile, forgive, accepting and be inclusive of those who hurt us or are different from us.
It is in the simple, honest lifestyle of living within your means.
It is in the peaceful resting at home with family and loved ones.
The beauty of Christmas is also in the loving contemplation of the infant Child Jesus lying in the cribs of our homes. In peace, joy and tranquillity, the God who became a baby shares our world despite all odds at his birth.
Christmas in every act of thanksgiving and graciousness for God who became one like us.
Christmas is in the prayer and adoration to render to God and for our homeless, needy, and dying brothers and sisters. Prayer for peace in our hearts, lives, marriages, families and large society.
Christmas is the act of kindness to victims of conflict and violence displaced from the homeland. Prayer for those affected by the covid 19 virus and all the dead.
It is in the empathetic consciousness to relate, connect and feel for others. Most important, through Christian generosity of the practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
How have you prepared for the birth of Christ at Christmas? What is your spirit level of joy, and how do you communicate this joy to those around you?
Do you greet people with joy, openness and enthusiasm of conscious of the living presence of Christ in your heart? Are your greetings to others uneventful, lack of happiness and un-encounter of christ present in your heart?
What is your devotion to Mary, the Mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ? Do Mary, Joseph, and Christ, the Holy Family of Nazareth, hold a special place in your life, especially at this season of Christmas?
Advent gives us models to bring into line our wills with the holy will of God. Christmas is upon us: are we ready to love and do the will of God to welcome Christ into our lives?
As we anticipate the magnificent celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Saviour. We can prepare ourselves in these final days by listening to the Word of God and asking for the purity of heart to align our will with the Will of God.
OUR PRAYERS
O Come! O Come Emmanuel and help us to transform our will into yours by doing the insignificant things that accumulate to the riches of your grace. By loving doing your will and so bring Your kingdom: of love, peace, grace, light, justice and among us.
And Lord Jesus Christ, in these last few days of Advent and waiting for your coming at Christmas. As preparation and anticipation begin to mount an intense joy in us. May God, through his heavenly gifts, graces, and blessings, enriches all our seasons of life. Amen.
And may our presence and daily encounter with each other be a joyful one. Amen! Maranatha!
2 Comments