"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and you are lovely." (Song of Songs 2:13-14)
*****
Once upon a cold Christmas Eve, a man sat in reflective silence before the flames flickering in the fireplace, thinking about the meaning of Christmas. "There is no point to a God who became human," he mused. "Why would an all-powerful God want to share even one of his precious moments with the likes of us? And even if he did, why would God choose to be born in a stable? No way! The whole thing is absurd! I’m sure that if God really wanted to come down to earth, he would have chosen some other way."
Suddenly the man was roused from his musings by a strange sound outside. He sprang to the window and leaned on the sash. Outside he saw a gaggle of snow geese frantically honking and wildly flapping their wings amid the deep snow and frigid cold. They seemed dazed and confused. Apparently, due to exhaustion, they had dropped out of a larger flock migrating to a warmer climate.
Moved to compassion, the man bundled up and went outside. He tried to "shoo" the shivering geese into the warm garage, but the more he "shooed," the more the geese panicked. "If they only realized that I’m trying to save them," he thought to himself. "How can I make them understand my concern for their well-being?"
Then a thought came to him: "If for just a minute, I could become one of them, if I could become a snow goose and communicate with them in their own language, then they would know what I’m trying to do."
In a flash of inspiration, he remembered it was Christmas Eve. A warm smile crossed his face. The Christmas story no longer seemed absurd. He visualized and ordinary-looking infant lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. He understood the answer to his Christmas problem: God became one like us to tell us, in human terms, that we can understand, that he loves us, that he loves us right now and that he is concerned with our well-being. (Anonymous) [1]
We continue to reflect upon God’s love this Christmastime. It is, after all, what gives meaning to this annual celebration of Jesus’ birthday. It is the one significant message of Christmas that we all should think about.
The First Reading, taken from the Song of Songs, is only read during Advent. The above Scriptural snippet is a beautiful rendering of God’s fondness for us, His people. Our Father in heaven intensely cares for us and our well-being, and we are being invited to respond in the same manner: "Arise, my beloved, come… let me see you, let me hear your voice," He urges us.
How awesome is God’s love for us! His unconditional affection for the entire human race ought to have a humbling effect upon each of us. Just think of it: What have we actually done to deserve this Divine ardor?
The above anecdote very well explains the meaning of Christmas. There is no need to expand upon the message being given. It clarifies to one and all why the Son of God wanted to become just like us, in order to free us from the enslavement of sin.
May the significance of Christ’s birthday celebration instill in our hearts the same desire to cooperate with His mission in this world. May it arouse in all of us an enthusiasm toward self-sacrificing initiatives in the Lord’s Vineyard. May it evoke in us the same tenderness for humanity in response to God’s love for us. Let us all pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to meet these objectives.
Suddenly the man was roused from his musings by a strange sound outside. He sprang to the window and leaned on the sash. Outside he saw a gaggle of snow geese frantically honking and wildly flapping their wings amid the deep snow and frigid cold. They seemed dazed and confused. Apparently, due to exhaustion, they had dropped out of a larger flock migrating to a warmer climate.
Moved to compassion, the man bundled up and went outside. He tried to "shoo" the shivering geese into the warm garage, but the more he "shooed," the more the geese panicked. "If they only realized that I’m trying to save them," he thought to himself. "How can I make them understand my concern for their well-being?"
Then a thought came to him: "If for just a minute, I could become one of them, if I could become a snow goose and communicate with them in their own language, then they would know what I’m trying to do."
In a flash of inspiration, he remembered it was Christmas Eve. A warm smile crossed his face. The Christmas story no longer seemed absurd. He visualized and ordinary-looking infant lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. He understood the answer to his Christmas problem: God became one like us to tell us, in human terms, that we can understand, that he loves us, that he loves us right now and that he is concerned with our well-being. (Anonymous) [1]
We continue to reflect upon God’s love this Christmastime. It is, after all, what gives meaning to this annual celebration of Jesus’ birthday. It is the one significant message of Christmas that we all should think about.
The First Reading, taken from the Song of Songs, is only read during Advent. The above Scriptural snippet is a beautiful rendering of God’s fondness for us, His people. Our Father in heaven intensely cares for us and our well-being, and we are being invited to respond in the same manner: "Arise, my beloved, come… let me see you, let me hear your voice," He urges us.
How awesome is God’s love for us! His unconditional affection for the entire human race ought to have a humbling effect upon each of us. Just think of it: What have we actually done to deserve this Divine ardor?
The above anecdote very well explains the meaning of Christmas. There is no need to expand upon the message being given. It clarifies to one and all why the Son of God wanted to become just like us, in order to free us from the enslavement of sin.
May the significance of Christ’s birthday celebration instill in our hearts the same desire to cooperate with His mission in this world. May it arouse in all of us an enthusiasm toward self-sacrificing initiatives in the Lord’s Vineyard. May it evoke in us the same tenderness for humanity in response to God’s love for us. Let us all pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to meet these objectives.
End Notes for this Bible Sharing
1. "Fresh Packet of Sower’s Seeds" third Planting, by Brian Cavanaugh, TOR, n. 67, "Meaning of Christmas," pp. 63-64, St. Pauls Philippines, 1996.
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