Christmas Ramblings
For me, Mass last night and this morning looked similar to this:
And for some, it may have looked closer to this:
But many went to church like this:
And this:
Let us remember, as through liturgy, song and prayers we give holy praise and share our sacred joy, that we are blessed even in this increasingly godless society we in America are still able to worship freely. All of us went to Mass last night or this morning with little difficulty, although perhaps it meant waiting for a snow storm to pass or dragging along unwilling family members. But we didn't have to prepare to go to Mass by checking our pockets for metal, by passing through streets of a city that would gladly stamp us off the earth, by walking near armed guards there to protect us against the deadly persecution of our neighbors.
Christ did not enter a world that was prepared to receive Him. No one had planned to come to the crib; not one who approached the manger that night was dressed for the entrance of a King into the world. He came into a world waiting, anxious, but not knowing for what it waited. We are granted the great blessing of foreknowledge; the grace of celebrating again through a happy memory and more than a memory, the birthday of a God. In the Masses of Christmas is brought before our eyes once again, as every year since and for every year to come, the greatest paradox of "Eternity touching time". Prince of Peace! Come to our world again and bring peace to our hearts; the peace of order and truth and understanding, peace that is ordered to the greatest Good of all.
Christ could have come down as a majestic King, in the splendor of the ancient false gods, to awe mankind into reverent submission. He could have come down as an irresistably lovable, benevolent prince. He could have come down as a warrior, to gather an army and lead his followers into a swift, sharp battle.
He came as an infant.
He came to be killed.
He came to live forever among us.
And for some, it may have looked closer to this:
But many went to church like this:
And this:
Let us remember, as through liturgy, song and prayers we give holy praise and share our sacred joy, that we are blessed even in this increasingly godless society we in America are still able to worship freely. All of us went to Mass last night or this morning with little difficulty, although perhaps it meant waiting for a snow storm to pass or dragging along unwilling family members. But we didn't have to prepare to go to Mass by checking our pockets for metal, by passing through streets of a city that would gladly stamp us off the earth, by walking near armed guards there to protect us against the deadly persecution of our neighbors.
Christ did not enter a world that was prepared to receive Him. No one had planned to come to the crib; not one who approached the manger that night was dressed for the entrance of a King into the world. He came into a world waiting, anxious, but not knowing for what it waited. We are granted the great blessing of foreknowledge; the grace of celebrating again through a happy memory and more than a memory, the birthday of a God. In the Masses of Christmas is brought before our eyes once again, as every year since and for every year to come, the greatest paradox of "Eternity touching time". Prince of Peace! Come to our world again and bring peace to our hearts; the peace of order and truth and understanding, peace that is ordered to the greatest Good of all.
Christ could have come down as a majestic King, in the splendor of the ancient false gods, to awe mankind into reverent submission. He could have come down as an irresistably lovable, benevolent prince. He could have come down as a warrior, to gather an army and lead his followers into a swift, sharp battle.
He came as an infant.
He came to be killed.
He came to live forever among us.
Good thing to keep in mind, especially the next time we complain without actually intending to do something about bad situations.
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