Tag: christmas

Dec 24

Under His Roof

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb. I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Under the roof of a cave, God manifest on earth as a Divine and human Child. Were the shepherds worthy to enter under his roof to give him homage? No more or less than me. Yet the Good News for all creation sprang forth from the glimmer of simple faith that recognized the Redeemer. Each year at the manger, I, too, enter under his roof and celebrate that good news. I recognize him as my Redeemer and I give him my heart.

When the paralytic was carried to Jesus for healing, he was lowered through the roof of the place where Jesus taught and healed that night. Was the paralytic worthy? No more or less than me. What did Jesus do when this man was under the same roof? He forgave his sins – healed his soul – and he healed the man’s body – the man took up his mat and walked. No questions asked, only humble faith received by Jesus.

Because he is worthy, I enter under his roof known as the Church – both physical and spiritual. Am I worthy? No more or less than anyone else.  In that place and wherever I am, if I but ask with even the simplest faith, his Precious Body and Blood heal me – body and soul. And I am made worthy.

I am blessed, for I am called to the ultimate feast, the Supper of the Lamb – the Lamb who was born on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Dec 23

Christmas – Is That All There Is?

 

The Franciscan Friar was a friend of a friend. He traveled by foot from Canada to St. Louis, Missouri to enter the monastery. At one point he stopped short when he reached the top of a mountain, mesmerized by the sight of a long, fertile valley lush with wildflowers of every imaginable color. After many minutes, he thought to himself, “What a waste of beauty. For I am the only one to set my eyes upon this glory.” But immediately his thoughts turned. “God sees this. It belongs to Him. He made the earth and all that is in it not merely for us but also for His own delight.”

At that moment God was also the observer of the beauty He created. There is never a moment when beauty is not being appreciated by Him, if not us.

If we can only see the glitter and lights and pretty packages because we have not prepared our hearts, we may find ourselves asking, “Is that all there is?” Perhaps we haven’t seen Christmas for what it really is. What a waste.

Thankfully, Christmas celebrations are never wasted. There is always One who observes our nativity scenes and plays, our trees decorated with the Star that points the way, and enters the worship at His table regardless of what we believe.

And that One also continually calls us to communion with Him. And He calls us to enter into Christmas joy as we place His only begotten Son in the manger.

If we feel a void on Christmas night, it’s never too late to say, “Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you.” He will transform our hearts and together with God, we can observe and enter into the greatest miracle of all time. Then with our Creator, and our hearts full of peace, we will sing, “Merry Christmas!”

 

P.S. If it seems you have no need of a Redeemer, for any one of myriad reasons, invite Him anyway – with at least some sincerity in the effort – and see what happens.

 

Merry Christmas with LOVE!

(At this writing, we were still in the  Season of Advent – the time to prepare, Not just our homes, our gifts, our menus. It is the time we take to prepare our hearts to receive once more Love that was born on that first Christmas Day.)

Midnight Mass, Our Lady of Hope at At Our Lady of Sorrows, KCMO

Christmas Morning, St. Thomas More Church, KCMO