
Between the chaos of wrapping paper everywhere and noisy toys,
I say to you
Merry Christmas!!!
Between the screams and the hurry to get Lunch ready,
I say to you
Merry Christmas!!!
Between the kids laughts and the running around looking for batteries and a screw driver for the toys,
I say to you
Merry Christmas!!!
Between the tiredness of staying up for midnight Mass and getting early because children never sleep in,
I say to you
Merry Christmas!!!
And even if you had a Christmas:
– without toys
– without a family lunch
– without the going to Church for whatever reason
– without the family member who is missing
– without the traditions you are used to
– without the joy you generally feel…
Even if you had a sad Christmas, I need to remind you that Jesus was born for YOU. And if you don’t feel the joy of this wonderful miracle of God made man for all of us, I also need to remind you that God’s presence had a reason that would be fulfil in the Holy Week. From the moment of His conception by the Holy Spirit a Sacrifice of the Lamb was seal in His future.
This little child that was born and raised by Mary and Joseph, had to got through years and years of earthly life. He lived like you and like me.
He was critised (isn’t He “only” the Son of the Carpenter?).
He was mocked.
He was unfairly judge.
He was hit and spit.
He was crowned with thorns.
He was born poor and gifted with the presents from the Magi as a way for Our Lord to look after Him and provide… because God always provides.
Life’s suffering is a redeeming suffering when you put your sorrows at the feet of Our Lord.
You can be at the foot of the Cross… but today, we adore Him at the foot of the Manger, in a stable surrounded by animals and under the light of the stars…
After all the huzzle and buzzle of the Celebrations and traditions, and after the good and the bad that this season can bring in our lifes or memories; after all that is gone and you take a deep breath, look up to the Cross… look up to Our Lord… He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and no matter what you are going through today, we are celebrating that He was Born, a King has made Himself Man to redeem our sins and be forever saved, because the story of today doesn’t end in the Crucifixion… it continues after His Resurrection!
The Apostles Creed says it all:
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.”
AMEN!
Merry Christmas!!!
Liza, a Maronite Mum