Christmas season always brings with an interesting dynamic for Christians. We have a sense of defense for the season because it is in fact a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and yet it seems like Jesus is not quite as marketable as the Christmas feeling that is thrust upon us earlier and earlier every year.
A friend of mine tells the story of her sister in line at a store during the weeks before Christmas. When seeing a sign near the checkout that said "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" a woman in front of her exclaimed "Ugh, they have to put religion into everything these days!". This story makes me aggitated and yet I have to ask myself, do I really understand the meaning of Christmas?
I think there is a much more fundamental question there....Do I know Jesus? I mean do I really know who he is. Do I believe in Him? That He existed? That He did the things we say He did? Sometimes we're afraid to ask these questions because if the answer to them is Yes then it demands on us that our life become something quite different than what it is today.
One of my favorite authors, Fr. Lorenzo Albacete, speaks of the reality of the presence of Jesus. He says, if this Jesus is real then he's got to be something or someone that has a REAL presence. We cannot change our lives and live as daily martyrs for a 'nice idea' or a 'warm feeling'. If He is real then he's got to be something, someone that has a very real presence.
If He is real, have you encountered his presence? Do you know Him? Is he transforming your life? With the coming of Christ into the world, everything changed and our eternal salvation was made possible. Are you sharing this news with others?
Tiger Woods hit a fire hydrant in his driveway this week and the whole world new about it within hours. Not only did we know about it but the media wont stop talking, speculating and forcing the non eventful updates down our throats. This is the kind of news that we find so easy to spread these days. But Jesus, we keep to ourselves, and that is a tragedy.
Advent (which is the season in the Church that comes BEFORE Christmas)" blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event." Are you preparing yourself for the celebration of the birth of the one who made new life possible in you? Are you preparing yourself for the time when He comes again?
Here are some
daily reflections for Advent.
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/Advent/index.htm
