Father Bob's Reflections

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 

 (YOU CAN FIND THE MASS READINGS FOR TODAY AT A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.)

LUKE TELLS US THE CHARMING STORY THAT GOD BECAME INCARNATE — ENFLESHED — AS A LITTLE VULNERABLE BABY BOY.

IT’S AMAZING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.

EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT READY TO ACCEPT THE STORY AS TRUE, THE MEANING OF THAT STORY CAN REALLY GRAB YOU IF YOU LET IT.

BUT, SADLY, SO MANY OF US CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ALL OUR LIVES WITHOUT REALLY REFLECTING ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STORY FOR OUR LIVES.

JESUS WAS NOT ONLY VULNERABLE IN HIS BIRTH, BUT ALSO IN HIS DEATH.

HE CHOSE TO STAND BEFORE PILATE, BOUND, SCOURGED AND SILENT.

HE CHOSE TO SAY NOTHING OR DO ANYTHING IN HIS DEFENSE.

VULNERABLE INDEED.

WHAT’S THE MESSAGE HERE?

ST. PAUL GIVES US A CLUE:

“WHEN I AM POWERLESS THEN I AM STRONG”                                                                                                                                                            ~ (2 COR 12:9-10.)

HOW CAN THAT BE?

I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE I AM POWERLESS A LOT WHEN I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION.

THERE WERE DAYS I COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CHAIR.  I SPENT OVER A YEAR INSTITUTIONALIZED BECAUSE OF MY BIPOLAR ILLNESS OVER THE YEARS.

YES, I LEARNED THE MEANING OF PAUL’S WORDS, “WHEN I AM POWERLESS, THEN I AM STRONG.”  I HAD TO.  FOR MY SURVIVAL’S SAKE.

AND AS A RESULT, I BEGAN TO THRIVE.  HOW?   BECAUSE I FOUND THE SECRET.  I FOUND THE SOURCE  OF  POWER  IN CENTERING PRAYER IN THE CORE OF MY BEING ~ EMMANUEL: GOD~WITHIN~US!

JESUS IS SHOWING US HIS OWN VULNERABILITY AS A BABY AND IN HIS DEATH: 

“HE EMPTIED HIMSELF”  (PHIL 2:1-11)

AND IN OUR WEAKNESSES,

IN OUR POVERTY OF SPIRIT,

IN THE BROKENNESS OF OUR LIVES

WE WILL FIND GOD.

JESUS,

YOU CAME INTO THIS WORLD AS A LITTLE CHILD,

AS NEEDY AS ANY OTHER BABY.

YOU SUCKLED AT MARY’S BREAST 

AND RECEIVED YOUR NOURISHMENT AS GOD FROM A HUMAN MOTHER.

YOU BECAME ONE OF US AND WITH US.

YOU ACCEPTED OUR FLESHINESS,

~ OUR MISERY, OUR JOYS AND SORROWS.

YOU CAME DOWN TO OUR LEVEL TO RAISE US UP TO THE DIGNITY OF GOD.

THANK YOU, JESUS!

COME INTO OUR WORLD THIS DAY.

TEACH US TO ACCEPT OUR OWN VULNERABILITY AS SOMETHING POSITIVE.

TEACH US TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FACE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US

FOR THEY CAN BE OUR MOST RADICAL SPIRITUAL TEACHERS.

THEY KNOW. THEY UNDERSTAND.

HELP US UNDERSTAND TOO, LORD.  HELP US TO TRULY UNDERSTAND

~ THAT VULNERABILITY AND POWERLESSNESS ARE VERY GOOD TEACHERS.

I THANK YOU, LORD.

COME, LORD JESUS!  COME INTO OUR HEARTS THIS DAY.

 

NOW, BEFORE YOU GO, HERE’S ANOTHER YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM HANDEL’S MESSIAH ~ UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, PERFORMED BY THE MIGHTY MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR. BE PREPARED TO BE INSPIRED.

 CLICK HERE BE SURE TO TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS AND ENTER FULL SCREEN.    

HERE ARE THE MASS READINGS.  CLICK HERE. 

WITH LOVE, 

BOB TRAUPMAN 

CONTEMPLATIVE WRITER