Here we all are, Lord.
It’s Christmas Eve 2008.
Some of us believe in You, Lord.
And some of us are so cynical about life that we don’t believe in anything much.
I wish you could touch these folks, Lord. Some of them are people I care for very much.
Most of all, I hope my own heart is ready, Lord Jesus.
The story of Your birth has been told thousands of times and so we tend not to pay much attention to it anymore.
The mystery of the story of your becoming Emmanuel — God with us is so huge, so deep we will never exhaust it’s meaning. Let me find the meaning meant for me this year 2008 that is different from last year.
I yearn for the world to receive You, Lord.
We would be so much better off if we did.
Some of us have “no vacancy” signs up.
No room for anyone.
Simon and Garfunckel sung about that syndrome years ago, “I am a rock, I am an island and a rock feels no pain.”
That’s the sorry state of our world today, Lord.
And is there room for You in our country, Lord?
Or have we shut You out — given You the bum’s rush — Go away, God.
We’re self-sufficient here in America. We can solve our own problems.
We don’t have any room for a weak God like You born in a stable with those low-life shepherds all around you.
We admire strength here in America. We cant’ stand people who are weak, Lord — in ourselves, in others.
How can we adore a God who comes to us as a homeless baby and remained homeless all his life?
I know you can only come to those who are humble, Lord, who have come to the wisdom that every single one of us is absolutely, utterly poor without You.
I pray that I may realize that I depend on You for everything. Everything I am, everything I have — my life, my family, my home, the food on my table is Your gift.
That is what St. Luke teaches us in this age-old story.
May we find You in our own poverty and in the poor around us,
especially the spiritually poor young people of our country who are so locked within themselves.
May be ready, Lord. As open as I can be.
Come, Lord Jesus — Yeshua, Messiah — come into my heart
and in the lives of people I care about and pray for.
Come into our world this Christmas 2008.
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Dear brothers and sisters,
Even though may be cynical about life and your heart closed to the story that God lived among us in Jesus that you might just try to believe. Try it. It just might work for you. If your life is in a shambles, if you find little hope, what do you have to lose?
I wish all of my friends and readers a wonderful coming of Light and Love into your heart.
Open yourself to the gift God wants to give you this Christmas.
As for me, I spent a delightful time with my Lord in the dark and silent hours this morning and a sense absolute peace with everyone in my life came over me. What a wonderful moment that was for me, a moment I will cherish and I pray also for the gift of peace in your own heart.
I wish you joy and peace even in the midst of the difficulties of your life.
Bob Traupman
priest / writer
Christmas Eve 2008
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Luke’s story about the birth of Jesus (2:1 – 10).
Note: Look is giving us the meaning of Jesus’ birth, not so much recording historical fact.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke: 2: 1-10 NIV
Note: Shepherds were despised and rejected outcasts of Jewish society of the time,
Father Bob's Reflections 