That night, the promise made to Mary at the conception of a child was fulfilled. A promise of joy; a promise that will change the world and transform it.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35
The angels sent to proclaim the time of joy, the time of the new age, proclaim it:
“To you is born, this day, in the City of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2: 11-12
Jesus, I approach the barn and stare into the night you were born.
Nothing external indicated that you were the ruler of the world and the heavens. Quite the opposite. The barn, the manger, your simple parents, the shepherds, in the distance a loud and busy city, and here the darkness somewhere on the outskirts of Bethlehem.
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What an insignificant, miserable and pitiful birth of a king!
Which mother would want to give birth in a barn? Among animals, without proper care and in poor hygienic conditions?
But now I understand why.
Lord, You came in this simplicity to be fully “God with us – Emmanuel”. Now we have no excuse not to approach You, to reject you because we would find ourselves too fine, sublime, rich, too capable, educated, tame, with a beautiful home, with security and a future, with strength and prestige.
Now all our excuses and concerns fall before You, before Your eternal wisdom.
You’re in the crib. And I am only a man before you.
You are just a baby holding your tiny arms close to me and begging me to take you in my arms. To accept You, to caress You, to hold You to my heart, to embrace You, to caress You, perhaps to sing a song.
You, baby, only long to touch my world with your arms and the innocent soul of a child.
I look at You and You stare into my eyes. You cringe, You laugh. You are so small and yet full of the Holy Spirit. You smell like heaven like any newborn. Full of God’s power that warms my heart and makes it available, gentle.
I marvel at You and You marvel at me. The joy of feeling that I exist is born in my heart. That is the true essence of Christmas. Nothing more and nothing less.
It is the fullness that touches my emptiness, it is the love that enters my relationships, it is the salvation that has to come and be fulfilled.
Thank you, dear Jesus, thank you, because I can mature with you for eternity. More every year.
Amen.
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