If we look back in Church History, Christmas was not a major celebration in the early years as it is today. The primary focus was more on Easter, and not so much on Christmas.
One of the pioneers of making Christmas a major celebration is St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was the first one to create a Manger Scene. St. Francis was never a priest, but a Deacon in the Church. On Christmas Night, St. Francis preached an eloquent and uplifting sermon.
When St. Francis created his Manger Scene, he didn't use an already prepared kit like what we buy at the store. He created a Manger Scene with real animals like an ox, donkey and sheep. (By the way, I was thinking about asking the Pastor if we could have real animals this year, but he may put me in charge of cleaning up after them).
During the time of St. Francis, the Christmas Mass was celebrated in the presence of real animals, to relive the Christmas story. The manger was filled with real hay. There were real people playing the parts of St. Joseph, the Blessed Mother, Shepherds of the Field, Three Magis, and the Angels.
St. Francis refers to Christmas as "the feast of feasts." He kisses the image of the Christ-child with great devotion. If you asked St. Francis what is his favorite time of the year, he would say it is Christmas. He absolutely loved Christmas.
Retired Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said this of St Francis: "St Francis loved the child Jesus, because for St Francis, it was in this child-like estate that God’s humility shone forth. God became poor. His Son was born in the poverty of the stable. In the child Jesus, God made himself dependent, in need of human love, he put himself in the position of asking for human love – our love. Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity. Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light." Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Emeritus offers a valid point. How difficult it is during this season to avoid the commercial nature of this celebration so as to focus on the humility of God.
The Holy Father also shared a good insightful about Christmas. He once spoke of the entry door to the Church where Christ was born. The entry door use to be five and half meters high which was about 18 feet. The reason the doors were built high, so that emperors and dignitaries could enter the church on horseback.
Now, the entrance of the church has a low opening of about 1 1/2 meters high, about 4-5 feet. The intention of having a small entrance door was first to safeguard from potential attacks. Secondly, to prevent people from entering God's house on horseback. Anyone who wishes to enter the place of Christ's birth has to dismount from their horse and stoop down. In order to approach the "God born in Bethlehem," one has to dismount from areas of intellectual pride, familiarity and certainty. So that we could have the freedom to embrace the gift of faith. So that we could encounter the God who is Emmanuel, God with us.
Christmas Story
There was a Christmas story told about a middle-aged man who did not believe in Christmas, that God became human. He didn't believe in the Doctrine of Incarnation, the Word Made Flesh. Also, he was also too honest to pretend to believe.
He admitted all these things to his wife, who was a devout churchgoer. He said: “I am sorry to disappoint you. But I simply cannot understand the teaching that an All-Powerful God would choose to become human. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to Church for the Midnight Mass. He declined to accompany them. He said to his wife: “I'm sorry, honey, but if I go, I would feel like a hypocrite. I rather stay at home. But I'll be sure to wait up for you.”
Shortly after his wife and children drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the snow falling down. He thought to himself: “If we MUST have Christmas, at least it is a White Christmas.”
The man went back to his comfortable chair by the fireplace, and started to read a novel. A few moments later, he was startled by a pounding sound at the window. It was quickly followed by another, then another.
He thought that someone was throwing snowballs at his living room window. He got up and went to the window to see what it was, he saw a flock of gold-finches caught in the snow storm, and in desperate search for shelter. They were trying to fly through his window.
He thought to himself: “I can’t let these poor creatures freeze. But how can I help them?” Then he thought about his barn where they could have warm shelter.
He put on his coat and quickly darted outside to the barn. He opened wide the doors of the barn, turned on the lights, but the birds didn't come in. He thought: “Maybe food will bring them in.” So he ran back to the house, grabbed some bread crumbs and sprinkled it on the snow, hoping to make a trail for them into the barn.
But the finches continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn, running around, waving his arms, shouting and screaming. But they scattered in every direction, except into the barn.
He thought to himself: “They must think I'm a strange creature. They must be terrified of me. I can't seem to think of any way to let them know that they can trust me. I want to help them. If only I could become a bird for a few minutes, perhaps, I could communicate with them and lead them to safety.”
Just at that moment the midnight church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the church bells. Then he sank to his knees in the snow. “Now, I do understand,” he whispered. “Jesus, I now see why you had to become human."
God has always communicated with humanity, from the very beginning of time. But in the fullness of time, God chose to communicate through His Beloved Son.
God did not communicate in a a majestic and glorious way, but in a humble manner. Through a child with a humble beginning. Imagine as St. Joseph desperately knocking on many doors in Bethlehem, hoping that someone would be kind and gracious to give them lodging. “Excuse me, my wife is having a child. Can you please spare a room for us to stay?” “But there was no room for them at the inn.”
The Holy Family traveled to Bethlehem because of a census demanded by Caesar Augustus. Everyone had to return to the town of their birth. St. Joseph was born in Bethlehem, the City of King David. The prophecy is that the child will be born in Bethlehem, the city of King David.
King David, while living in a house of made from Cedar, wanted to build a house or temple for God. Instead, God will build a house for David. God will raise up a descendant of King David to become the Messiah. His house will last forever because of Christ.
At this time, Bethlehem was overcrowded. Is my life so overcrowded, that I don't have room for the Christ-Child, the newborn King? Can I make room for Christ throughout the upcoming new year? Lord Jesus, you can find refuge and shelter in my soul.”
“God, I now see why you had to do it. I now see why you have to become like us. Because you want to lead us to verdant pastures and still waters. You are paving a way to heaven.” You had to become one of us, so that we can understand how to live our life and prepare for heaven.
Wish you all a blessed Christmas!
One of the pioneers of making Christmas a major celebration is St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was the first one to create a Manger Scene. St. Francis was never a priest, but a Deacon in the Church. On Christmas Night, St. Francis preached an eloquent and uplifting sermon.
When St. Francis created his Manger Scene, he didn't use an already prepared kit like what we buy at the store. He created a Manger Scene with real animals like an ox, donkey and sheep. (By the way, I was thinking about asking the Pastor if we could have real animals this year, but he may put me in charge of cleaning up after them).
During the time of St. Francis, the Christmas Mass was celebrated in the presence of real animals, to relive the Christmas story. The manger was filled with real hay. There were real people playing the parts of St. Joseph, the Blessed Mother, Shepherds of the Field, Three Magis, and the Angels.
St. Francis refers to Christmas as "the feast of feasts." He kisses the image of the Christ-child with great devotion. If you asked St. Francis what is his favorite time of the year, he would say it is Christmas. He absolutely loved Christmas.
Retired Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said this of St Francis: "St Francis loved the child Jesus, because for St Francis, it was in this child-like estate that God’s humility shone forth. God became poor. His Son was born in the poverty of the stable. In the child Jesus, God made himself dependent, in need of human love, he put himself in the position of asking for human love – our love. Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity. Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light." Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Emeritus offers a valid point. How difficult it is during this season to avoid the commercial nature of this celebration so as to focus on the humility of God.
The Holy Father also shared a good insightful about Christmas. He once spoke of the entry door to the Church where Christ was born. The entry door use to be five and half meters high which was about 18 feet. The reason the doors were built high, so that emperors and dignitaries could enter the church on horseback.
Now, the entrance of the church has a low opening of about 1 1/2 meters high, about 4-5 feet. The intention of having a small entrance door was first to safeguard from potential attacks. Secondly, to prevent people from entering God's house on horseback. Anyone who wishes to enter the place of Christ's birth has to dismount from their horse and stoop down. In order to approach the "God born in Bethlehem," one has to dismount from areas of intellectual pride, familiarity and certainty. So that we could have the freedom to embrace the gift of faith. So that we could encounter the God who is Emmanuel, God with us.
Christmas Story
There was a Christmas story told about a middle-aged man who did not believe in Christmas, that God became human. He didn't believe in the Doctrine of Incarnation, the Word Made Flesh. Also, he was also too honest to pretend to believe.
He admitted all these things to his wife, who was a devout churchgoer. He said: “I am sorry to disappoint you. But I simply cannot understand the teaching that an All-Powerful God would choose to become human. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to Church for the Midnight Mass. He declined to accompany them. He said to his wife: “I'm sorry, honey, but if I go, I would feel like a hypocrite. I rather stay at home. But I'll be sure to wait up for you.”
Shortly after his wife and children drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the snow falling down. He thought to himself: “If we MUST have Christmas, at least it is a White Christmas.”
The man went back to his comfortable chair by the fireplace, and started to read a novel. A few moments later, he was startled by a pounding sound at the window. It was quickly followed by another, then another.
He thought that someone was throwing snowballs at his living room window. He got up and went to the window to see what it was, he saw a flock of gold-finches caught in the snow storm, and in desperate search for shelter. They were trying to fly through his window.
He thought to himself: “I can’t let these poor creatures freeze. But how can I help them?” Then he thought about his barn where they could have warm shelter.
He put on his coat and quickly darted outside to the barn. He opened wide the doors of the barn, turned on the lights, but the birds didn't come in. He thought: “Maybe food will bring them in.” So he ran back to the house, grabbed some bread crumbs and sprinkled it on the snow, hoping to make a trail for them into the barn.
But the finches continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn, running around, waving his arms, shouting and screaming. But they scattered in every direction, except into the barn.
He thought to himself: “They must think I'm a strange creature. They must be terrified of me. I can't seem to think of any way to let them know that they can trust me. I want to help them. If only I could become a bird for a few minutes, perhaps, I could communicate with them and lead them to safety.”
Just at that moment the midnight church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the church bells. Then he sank to his knees in the snow. “Now, I do understand,” he whispered. “Jesus, I now see why you had to become human."
God has always communicated with humanity, from the very beginning of time. But in the fullness of time, God chose to communicate through His Beloved Son.
God did not communicate in a a majestic and glorious way, but in a humble manner. Through a child with a humble beginning. Imagine as St. Joseph desperately knocking on many doors in Bethlehem, hoping that someone would be kind and gracious to give them lodging. “Excuse me, my wife is having a child. Can you please spare a room for us to stay?” “But there was no room for them at the inn.”
The Holy Family traveled to Bethlehem because of a census demanded by Caesar Augustus. Everyone had to return to the town of their birth. St. Joseph was born in Bethlehem, the City of King David. The prophecy is that the child will be born in Bethlehem, the city of King David.
King David, while living in a house of made from Cedar, wanted to build a house or temple for God. Instead, God will build a house for David. God will raise up a descendant of King David to become the Messiah. His house will last forever because of Christ.
At this time, Bethlehem was overcrowded. Is my life so overcrowded, that I don't have room for the Christ-Child, the newborn King? Can I make room for Christ throughout the upcoming new year? Lord Jesus, you can find refuge and shelter in my soul.”
“God, I now see why you had to do it. I now see why you have to become like us. Because you want to lead us to verdant pastures and still waters. You are paving a way to heaven.” You had to become one of us, so that we can understand how to live our life and prepare for heaven.
Wish you all a blessed Christmas!
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