“Adoration of the Shepherds” (detail) by Balestra
As we continue to celebrate Christmas, spend time with the baby born that night. A baby who came into this world because He loves you, personally, individually. A baby born that night in order to reconcile you with Himself.
Looking at that baby in the manger, I think we have to ask ourselves: would I recognize him? Would I have had the faith of the shepherds who sought him out? It seems that the vision of angels was more glorious than the sign they were told to seek. After glimpsing the splendor of a heavenly host, they were sent to find a baby in a manger.
Would we have had the faith to receive that lowly sign? To pay homage to a baby? When the magi from the east find the child and his mother, they worshiped him. Would we have the trust to make that act of worship to a baby?
So often we look for signs. We want miracles to point us in the right direction. Yet that isn’t often the way God works. His sign is in the quiet simplicity of Bethlehem. It is in humble obedience and recognized only in the stillness.
In one of my favorite homilies, Pope Benedict reminds us, “God’s sign is the baby in need of help and in poverty. Only in their hearts will the shepherds be able to see that this baby fulfills the promise of the prophet Isaiah.” He continues, “God’s sign is simplicity. God’s sign is the baby. God’s sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby—defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love…God made himself small so that we could understand him, welcome him, and love him” (Homily at Midnight Mass, December 24, 2006).
He didn’t just come that night in Bethlehem. God comes every day on our altars, humbly coming to us at the command of priests. He continues to come in simplicity, as a defenseless host. Do I recognize Him? Do I have the faith to bow before the mystery? Do I have the humility and love to prepare my soul to receive Him?
He comes to us in love, asking only for our love in return.
Spend some time with the baby in Bethlehem. In the quiet stillness, close your eyes and make yourself present that night with Mary and Joseph. Kneel before the Christ child. Take him into your arms. Speak to His mother and his father. Be with them. Ask that child what He wants from you.
Give Him your heart.
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