The lights in our homes, on our Christmas tree are there to represent hospitality and generosity. We are meant to reflect this back to others as Christ did to us when he came into the world as a baby. I was reading a few days ago a reflection piece from St. Josemaria pertaining to Christ's humility.
"There is great simplicity also about his birth. Our Lord comes without any fanfare. No one knows about him. On earth only Mary and Joseph share in the divine adventure. And then the shepherds who received the message from the angels. And later on, the wise men from the East. They were the only witnesses of this transcendental event which unites heaven and earth, God and man... God humbled himself to allow us to get near him, so that we could give our love in exchange for his, so that our freedom might bow, not only at the sight of his power, but also before the wonder of his humility" (Christ Is Passing By, p. 38-9).
I was moved with his words, his explanations and reflection. I think we can often forget the reverence, value and deep meaning of Christmas sometimes. We know the story and become used to it, like it's second nature and can go through the motions. I think there is always something new to take from the story, meaning, feast and celebration of Christmas. Each year looks a little different because we're a little different maybe we are wiser, more experienced, more mature and have grown in various ways including spiritually.
The commercialism is a given and it too can cloud our vision of the true meaning of Christmas and how to prepare ourselves. Recently, I saw the brightest, loudest and most popular light show entourage on the block. It looks the same every year but it always bring about many people- children, families, couples, young adults. There's contemporary Christmas music playing, lights sparkling and moving and pictures being taken right and left. It's a sight to see but it's also a lot to look at, along with a crowd of people to peruse.
The house right next to it has a nice decor of lights and a simple but radiant nativity scene of Mary, Joseph and Jesus on their lawn. I took sometime to look and reflect upon it. It is such a contrast to the busyness, the loud and bourgeois and ever glowing lights and festivities next door. Jesus was born in the most simple and humblest of ways. There were no parading lights, loud noises, or flashes for all to see and pay attention to. "His Father is the God who has made heaven and earth and there he is, in a manger, 'because there was no room at the inn'- there was nowhere else for the Lord of all creation" (Christ Is Passing By, p.39). Instead there was peace, there was silence and there was love. Love for you and me, that God humbled himself and sent his only Son to be born into the world. "God's will is fulfilled in the simplest, most ordinary of circumstances: a woman who gives birth, a family, a home" (p. 43).
Through Jesus' humble and ordinary way of coming into the world, of living on earth and becoming one of us for our sake, our most ordinary and simple experiences and circumstances is where God is as well. As St. Josemaria writes, "There is no human situation, no matter how trivial and ordinary it may seem, which can not be a meeting place with Christ and a step forward on our journey toward the kingdom of heaven" (p.43). May we be open to Christ to come into our lives, and our hearts this Christmas season. I wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!
