25/12/2005 - CHRISTMAS
Midnight Isaiah 9:1-3; 5-6 Psalm 95/96 Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
Dawn Isaiah 62:11-12 Psalm 96/97 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:15-20
Day Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 97/98 Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18
We kneel among the shepherds of Bethlehem before the Baby, lovingly cared for
by Mary!
Mary knows that this Child comes from above. The shepherds know that He is the
Saviour, the most desired One for whom the world longed for!
The words of the angel, nine months prior, resound in the heart of Mary, who
is admired more and more, and who is grateful for Joseph's behaviour, who welcomed
her through an act of faith. The shepherds follow the song of the angels, which
surprised them with two words: glory and peace. They expect great things, because
"Gloria" is a term regarding the greatness of God; the great and awesome
God, whom the prophets speak of. They expect to see someone who is capable of
establish rules of peace, to bring about serenity to all people. But none of
this happens; yet, the shepherds are not discouraged, and we are amazed just
like the shepherds.
The glory of God is that Baby. Peace is still in the arms of that mother with
the sweet and certain glance. The glory is God's expression, and God is expressed
in the life of man, since He was born. That child is a source of joy because
He urges us to believe that God loves us this very day! Peace cannot come to
man except through that personified humility which is within a fragile, innocent
baby.
Among the shepherds, we remain silent, and we begin to believe that our security
and our wishes of greatness and riches deceive us and take us to ruin. As we
move towards the Baby, we hope that, from the mother's mouth, a word will be
spoken; that, through Joseph's gestures, we will be better able to understand.
But nothing happens. There is silence! We can only look in our own heart for
a word. This happens! See it begin to bloom upon our lips: "Here I am,
Baby Jesus, here I am. Will You use me? Can I be of service to You? Here I am.
When You are grown and You will call me, here I am."
Like the shepherds, we return, always ready to say: "here I am". In
fact, it is not necessary to look for an occasion; it is always present. We
fully understand that in meeting someone who is sad, someone who is suffering,
someone who is angry and feeling resentful, the memory of the Baby and His Mother's
glance encourages us to provide a helping hand, a smile, or a word of peace.
"Here I am", and we need never wait, does not mean that the baby must
grow up. Now! I am now ready to do God's will and bring peace to men! God begins
to shine through my actions; peace begins to grow through my actions. Everyone
will soon realize that I have met the Baby!
I will be witness to His truth; witness that He is true man and true God, just
as John said. It is really true that the Word of God was made flesh and lives
among us. My flesh, as well, my humanity, is now different. It will bring realities
which do not come from the earth; but from heaven. He is the light and the life
and I will testify to that because, from the moment that I encounter Him, I
will no longer live in darkness and I will no longer feel that something is
missing in my life. From the moment that I said to Jesus "here I am",
all sense of lacking, of frustration, of anger have disappeared. From then on,
I am sure that my existence is precious, that it is needed, and that it is great
in the eyes of God and of all who belong to Him!
The Baby and His Mother live among us. I will not forget Him tomorrow, I will
not forget Him next Sunday, I will not forget Him in a month. His living among
us is faithful. I, too, will be faithful to His presence in this world! I am
not used to being faithful and I am not strong. I will ask His Mother's help:
In fact, she glances at me with the same glance with which she observes Her
Son!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for having come and having made your home in our midst.
I will live in memory of You, loving You, taking You with me wherever I go,
because You are needed everywhere and, without You, the world is empty; without
you there is fear and animosity. I will take You with me so that You may transform
many places to places of peace, and You will be seen as the glory of God, the
God who loves us and wants to free all men from the bondage of deceit and fear.
Jesus, here I am!