The Birthday of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

While all things were

      in quiet silence,

And that night was

      in the midst of

   her swift course,

Thine Almighty Word,

           O Lord,

Leaped down out

of thy royal throne,

                            Alleluia! 

~ And the Word became flesh and lived among us.  John 1:14

WE Christians tend to sentimentalize the Christmas story. 

And yet the whole message is there beneath the charming Christmas pageants with the cute little girls holding baby dolls and boys dressed up in bathrobes as St. Joseph.

Yes, it’s all there. Now let’s think about what it means.

John sums the whole story in one sentence(!) saying “the Word became flesh and lived (dwelt) among us”  or as the Greek word actually translates as “pitched his tent among us.”  Thus, he intended to move in with us and stay with us a while!

He is Emmanuel ~ God  with us!

Now there are two words here that Christians generally don’t like.  One is “flesh” as in “the world, the flesh and the devil.”  And the other is in the middle of the Christmas part of our faith story in theology. That theological word is “Incarnation. The “carn” part is carnal.  A lot of Christians don’t like that word.  We think it ~ um ~refers to sin!

But there you are, folks “flesh” and “carnal” referring to what our God has taken upon himself.

 Let’s look at what this charming Christmas story means ~ what its implications mean for your life today . . . .

If God accepted our “fleshiness” (by becoming flesh, by taking on a human body) – then so we should (must)  accept our own bodies and, yes, our sexuality, our “fleshiness.”

This was the reason he became Man: to throw his lot with the human race and show us how to  become fully human, fully alive!

Dear Friends,

Our waiting is over.

Christmas is here

I think I’m ready to receive whatever gift Jesus chooses to give me this Christmas.

Christmas is not about giving. It’s about receiving. Receiving as Mary received.  

Open your heart, dear friend.  

Take some quiet time today and tomorrow to prepare yourself to be ready receive . . . .

Just be receptive to God as Mary was. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word.” 

And I pray so very earnestly that you receive the special gift God wishes to give you.

Cleanse your heart of resentments ~ of preoccupations with unnecessary things.

Ask yourself what really is the meaning of life ~ your life.

For me the answer is to love as best I can.

I also have some wisdom to share that arises out of  my own crosses I’ve carried over the years.

But it’s all gift!

So, I hope you have received something nourishing and sweet in the 22 posts I’ve been able to create this Advent.

They are my gift to you.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

And if your Christmas is lonely with no one really special with whom to share,

know that you have someone here who understands and who reaches out to you from my heart to yours.

And be sure to open yourself to the holiness ~ the wholeness ~ the peace of Christmas.

It is there beneath all the craziness and hype.  It is yours if you seek it and ask for it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will!

Here is a very special Christmas music video for you. Click here. Be sure to turn up your speakers and enter full screen.

If you would like the Scripture readings for the Scripture readings for any of the several Masses for Christmas. Click here. You’ll find a list of the Vigil, Mass at Night, at Dawn, etc.; click on the one(s) you want.

With love, 

Bob Traupman

contemplative writer