“The Baby Jesus is born soon and needs a pure and clean manger to be placed in. Your soul is His manger. Enjoy the divine infant laying on you and resting in peace. See the multitudes coming to adore the Christ child in you! O, Holy night!!”

A friend of mine in Mount Angel, Oregon, Tony Morris, texted me this meditation a few years ago. I think that it captures the essence of our spiritual pilgrimage each December from Nazareth to the City of David, Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

We celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, the Birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve and Day! Today’s Gospel tells us that it was in the small town of Nazareth that the Son of God-became-flesh — Incarnate is the specific word — when Mary said her yes, her ‘Fiat’ to the Angel Gabriel, her ‘Yes’ to God’s will for her and all mankind:

What a privilege we now have to come and adore and worship Him, Jesus, the King of Kings, born in a stable in Bethlehem, first wrapped lovingly in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, greeted both by Angels and by shepherds and amazingly celebrated in the stars, as the universe announced His arrival every night to a world much in need.

We Arrive This Weekend In Bethlehem: As it was a very short Advent Season, just three weeks, we may be very tired from the journey and all of the many preparations. In the profound words and musings of the famous Irish author, John B. Keane, which I read long ago in a magazine called Ireland’s Own which I paraphrase here:

The truth is that Christmas is a also a challenging and even difficult time for many people, especially those who have suffered loss during this past year. “Yet the truth is also that Christmas is simply so great, so joyous and so glorious a celebration that it can take all of the world’s pain, suffering, sadness and loss and, like a sponge, soak it all up and still have so much of God’s love left over in abundance!

Thank you, sweet Jesus, for giving us this great Hope, always, everywhere and to everyone of your children.

And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us and we saw His glory the glory as of the Father’s Son full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

And Mary brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. And She laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

Make room for Jesus in your heart. Make a place for Him in your soul.

A Holy and Merry Christmas to you all.

Fr. Kilian, Fr. Williams, our Deacons and all of our great Parish Staff, Council Members and wonderful Volunteers

BACK TO LIST BACK